“With Vanuatu the WTO receives a least-developed country into the family. Its membership will strengthen the multilateral trading system and provide this country with a stable and predictable trade environment. Vanuatu’s accession brings the WTO one step closer to our goal of universal membership” declared WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy.
Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, declared: “This is a happy moment of historical significance for Vanuatu. This accession will bring substantial gains to our country.”
WTO members congratulated Vanuatu for completing its accession process.
Vanuatu applied for WTO membership in 1995 and the Working Party concluded the negotiations on 2 May 2011.
Vanuatu’s accession package contains the Working Party report outlining its reformed trade regime and its commitments as a WTO member, the market access schedules on goods and services, the General Council Decision and the Protocol of Accession.
WTO welcomes Vanuatu as a new member
Special Correspondent - 2011-10-26 18:49
The General Council today paved the way for Vanuatu’s membership in the WTO by approving its accession package. Vanuatu would have to ratify the deal by 26 April 2012 and would become WTO’s 154th member 30 days after the ratification.