DILI, 06 july 2021 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE), organizes a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Commission on Timor-Leste’s preparation for its World Trade Organization (WTO) membership.
“Today’s meeting is an important meeting, in which all ministries are presented here today to discuss the preparation of Timor-Leste’s accession to WTO. So, nine ministers are presented here who are considered as part of the negotiation team,” Joaquim Amaral, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE) made the comments at the City-8 hall, in Dili, today.
Amaral said the meeting is crucial for the Inter-Ministerial Commission to prepare for Timor-Leste’s participation in the second High-Level Negotiation meeting of the WTO Working Group, to be held in july 29, 2021.
“In the first High-Level Negotiation meeting of the WTO Working Group, we presented Timor-Leste’s Trade Policy Regime and the WTO accepted it and we also received inputs and recommendations from the WTO member states. So, now we are preparing to participate in the second High-Level Negotiation meeting of the WTO Working Group,” said Amaral.
He said regarding Timor-Leste’s preparation for its WTO membership, Timor-Leste had been having good cooperation with the WTO secretary: “The WTO Secretary told us that once we get through all of the phases, then by the end of 2021, we will be officially becoming the new member of WTO.”
He said one of the requirements is that Timor-Leste needs to list its products for the upcoming negotiation, including agricultural and non-agricultural products.
Amaral said as a developing country, Timor-Leste would not be completely open to all kinds of economic trade.
At the same place, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEK), Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno said since the beginning of Timor-Leste’s preparation for its WTO membership, MNEK has been in close cooperation with the office of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE), and Chief Negotiator, Joaquim Amaral, by facilitating communications and collaborations between Timor-Leste, WTO and other relevant organizations.
“MNEK has also contributed to the technical preparation of Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO,” said Magno.
She said joining the WTO and ASEAN will be an important milestone for Timor-Leste’s development, saying it is one of the defined pathways to Timor-Leste’s strategic plan for developing its economy.
“Successful accession to the WTO and ASEAN will require a whole government approach, strong commitment, and an effective cross-sectoral coordination,” added Magno.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
