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2/27/24, 3:45 PM Nations call for equal access to WTO and China pledges more support
Several representatives said the membership process was too long, preventing countries –
particularly those that are least-developed – from availing the 164-member global trade body's
benefits.

China pledged to boost its support for aspiring members.

The Geneva-based WTO oversees the global rules of trade between nations, with benefits ranging
from promoting fair trade and economic growth to settling disputes and encouraging good
governance.

However, time taken between application and actual
accession, and associated aspects such as politics, have
become hindrances to speedier accession, countries say.
Arab acceding governments can
look to the example of their fellow It takes anything between mere months and decades to
acceding governments when become a member, the latest WTO data shows.
navigating their own accessions Iraq has spent nearly 20 years in its process, having started

Mena Hassan, WTO negotiations in May 2004.

Algeria, Comoros, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and
Timor-Leste are also in the process of accession, with Comoros and East Timor expected to be
formally accepted as members at the Abu Dhabi conference.

"Passing through the accession process is a very complex task and they require extensive work," said
Gebremeskel Challa, Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration.

"Some of these issues may not be simple and easy to understand when you add constraints.
Assessed with limitations of development, human, institutional and infrastructural capacities worsens
the challenges of the accession process of least developed countries."

13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

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