YEMEN SIGNS AUSTRALIA WTO ACCESSION DEAL

GENEVA, Oct. 09 (Saba) - After four-year negotiations, Yemen and
Australia have signed a WTO Accession Deal, the third in this regard
after the signing with the European Union and China, under bilateral
talks with each, to finalize requirements for the accession.

The deal signed by Yemen's envoy to the Geneva-based U.N. Office
Ibrahim al-Adoufi and Australia's representative at the WTO Peter
Jerry was for custom fees or tariff connection of product items
agreed by the states during talks as well as special obligations for
market access for service providers.

Commenting on the agreement, minister of Industry and Trade Yahya
al-Mutawakil said the deal was as evidence for Yemen's commitment to
its pledges toward the WTO member states in regard of market access
and for progress on implementing political and economic reforms as
well as improving trade legislation.

It was also a step ahead for Yemen's to join the organization, he
said, expecting to complete the already-launched bilateral talks
with the rest members over the few next months.

Most of the members have shown consent to the outcomes of both
bilateral talks with each and multilateral talks, he said, adding
all the members support Yemen to complete accession requirements.

"The deal will doubtlessly accelerate bilateral negotiations with
other members for Yemen to get all concessions and avoid pressure
over market access," he said.

Al-Mutawakil, moreover, expected the seventh meeting of the Yemen
Team on WTO Accession to be held by this year, voicing Yemen's
keenness to look into the draft report on the matter after Yemen
promised to develop action plans and legislative scheme.

The sixth meeting of the team in July came up with important
outcomes supporting Yemen to join the organization and encouraging
it to finalize accession requirements.

The meeting also helped Yemen's economy to integrate with the world
economy and to attract more investments into Yemen, he said.

FR