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2/27/24, 3:45 PM                        Nations call for equal access to WTO and China pledges more support





































             The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Abu Dhabi this month. All photos: Pawan Singh /
             The National

            There is, however, "room for improvement" for the WTO's rules, falling under the responsibility of its
            members, said Dmitry Lyakishev, ambassador of the Russian Federation.

            "The requests to the acceding countries should not be extended beyond the existing scope of the
            WTO agreement and the level of mutual commitment between the members. The accession process
            should not be used as a testing ground for disciplines that are not agreed," he said.

            "The WTO rules are about foreign trade and its regulation and not about soaring states political and
            economic models ... accessions should not be suspended if the political stances of the acceding
            countries do not match some members' aspirations."

            Arab world challenges


            The WTO acknowledges that the Arab region is one of its most under-represented areas.

            Of the 22 members of the Arab League, only 13 are WTO members, while nine are observers.

            Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said gaining membership is "complex
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            and challenging", and although a one-size-fits-all approach may not be practical, the criteria for
            accession could be improved.

            This challenge is particularly felt by developing nations, he said, but if WTO members close ranks, it
            will "help strengthen the institutional capacity of aspiring members, enhance their understanding of
            WTO rules and process, and build the necessary expertise to navigate the accession process".

                                          "By doing so, we'll empower more nations to engage more fully in
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                                          global trade and unlock their potential economic excellence," Dr Al
                                          Zeyoudi added.

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