DILI, 08 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Coordinating of Economic Affairs (MCEA), Joaquim Amaral, said that several member countries of the World Trade Organization are committed to support Timor-Leste to become a member of the WTO.
“WTO member countries are committed to support Timor-Leste to become a WTO member, this statement was conveyed by WTO member countries when Timo -Leste delegation was invited by the WTO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland last november 2021, at that time Timor–Leste has also declared itself to be a definitive member of the WTO,” Amaral told TATOLI in Hotel Novo Turismo, Dili, today.
Amaral explained that Timor-Leste wishes to become a member of the WTO with the aim of strengthening the bilateral and multilateral cooperation relations in the world economy and trade sector to promote Timor-Leste’s local products in the international market.
“We have submitted a proposal to the WTO Headquarters in Geneva and several WTO member countries such as Canada, United States, European union, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and Indonesia, is committed to support Timor-Leste to become a member of the WTO, therefore they recommend to Timor-Leste to prepare before to become a member of the WTO,” Amaral said.
To expedite the process of bilateral and multilateral negotiations in the economic and trade sectors, MCEA has conducted the first consultation with Timor-Leste’s development partners. The United States and Australia have agreed to send the economists to Timor-Leste to conduct the research on local l products in Timor-Leste and after that will recommend it to the WTO Center in Geneva for appreciation.
To become a member of the WTO is not an easy thing but Timor-Leste must strive to fulfill all the WTO accession processes such as; Members, Goods and services to be offered through submissions, Modern on Regimes of Foreign Trade, Observers and Procedures, Commitments to Tariffs, and Access to markets for goods and services.
With the confidence of Timor-Leste and supported by development partners, Timor-Leste will become a WTO Member in some day.
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Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafy Belo
