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