Eu clears way for ukraine to join wto
17 January 2008
Published in Reuters
The European Union cleared the way on Wednesday for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after Kiev agreed to a deal on the duties it applies to exports, an EU official said.
Ukraine is the biggest country besides Russia and Iran outside the 151-member WTO which oversees global trade.
The European Union cleared the way on Wednesday for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after Kiev agreed to a deal on the duties it applies to exports, an EU official said.
Ukraine is the biggest country besides Russia and Iran outside the 151-member WTO which oversees global trade.
European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Hryhory Nemyrya
reached the agreement at a meeting in London, the EU
official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"This is a very significant step forward for Ukraine's accession to the world trading system," the official said.
Chile's WTO ambassador Mario Matus, who chairs the working party on Ukraine's accession, said this month he hoped to have a meeting of WTO members in the second half of January to finalise the accession package, provided the export duty issue was resolved.
The way would then be clear for the next WTO general council on Feb. 5-6 to vote on Ukraine's accession request.
WTO membership will provide new export opportunities for Ukraine's industry, still saddled with Soviet-era plants, and its farmers, who cultivate some of the most fertile land in Europe.
"This is a very significant step forward for Ukraine's accession to the world trading system," the official said.
Chile's WTO ambassador Mario Matus, who chairs the working party on Ukraine's accession, said this month he hoped to have a meeting of WTO members in the second half of January to finalise the accession package, provided the export duty issue was resolved.
The way would then be clear for the next WTO general council on Feb. 5-6 to vote on Ukraine's accession request.
WTO membership will provide new export opportunities for Ukraine's industry, still saddled with Soviet-era plants, and its farmers, who cultivate some of the most fertile land in Europe.