In July, the Republic of Liberia (Liberia) and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). Liberia and Afghanistan are the 163rd and 164th countries, respectively, to join the WTO, and they also are the eighth and ninth “least-developed countries” (LDCs) to accede to the organization.

Liberia

Liberia officially joined the WTO on July 14 as the organization’s 163rd Member. After its application to join the WTO was submitted in June 2007, Liberia began the process of bilateral negotiations on tariffs and market access for goods and services with WTO Members and the multilateral negotiations to align its foreign trade regime with WTO disciplines. Progress was slow but steady until 2014, when the accessions process received a political boost as Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson threw her support behind a quick conclusion to the negotiations in time for the Tenth WTO Ministerial Council meeting at the end of 2015.

Under the able leadership of Liberian Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief WTO Accession Negotiator Axel Addy, and with the support of governmental, non-governmental and private sector partners (including pro bono support from King & Spalding LLP), Liberia achieved its goal to have its negotiations completed in October 2015 and its accession package accepted by the WTO Ministerial Council in December 2015. After completing the domestic ratification process in the first half of 2016, Liberia officially deposited its instrument of acceptance of its Protocol of Accession on June 14, and by WTO rules became an official Member 30 days later. Liberia is now a full-fledged Member of the WTO with access to the rules-based international trade regime to support its economic development.

Afghanistan

After submitting its application for WTO membership in 2004, and after over ten years of negotiations with the WTO, Afghanistan officially deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Protocol of Accession to the WTO on June 29. Per WTO rules, Afghanistan officially became the 164th member of the WTO on July 29 (i.e., 30 days after depositing its instrument of acceptance). At the Tenth WTO Ministerial Council in December 2015, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo stated that “this is the culmination of an almost 11-year long process of negotiations. . . . It is an endorsement of the extensive programme of domestic reforms you have undertaken to accelerate economic growth. And it is a clear sign for all the world to see that Afghanistan is building a business-friendly environment.”

Overview of WTO Commitments for Afghanistan and Liberia

The WTO and its Members hope that these countries’ important accessions to the WTO will assist these countries in their development and economic growth. Along those lines, during a Post-Accession Forum held on July 19, WTO Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah encouraged “the international community, including WTO members, to sustain this momentum as you (Liberia and Afghanistan) embark on your post-accession endeavours.” While both Liberia and Afghanistan have benefited from U.S. trade assistance programs like the Generalized System of Preferences (as well as the African Growth and Opportunity Act for Liberia), their accession to the WTO will provide them better economic development opportunities through integration into the world trade system.