Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan will accelerate work on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This is stated in the draft state program for 2018 - ‘Year of active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies’.

The document implies the preparation of proposals on bringing the legislation of Uzbekistan in line with the norms of the organization.

To this end, a new composition of the interdepartmental commission should be approved, which will deal with questions of accession to the WTO. As a rule, it implies the need for a large number of changes and reforms in the country.

The set of measures also involves an assessment of the consequences of membership in the organization and the preparation of proposals for institutional reforms.

During his recent trip to South Korea, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that Uzbekistan is renewing its work on WTO accession.

A memorandum and a road map have been signed between the governments of the two countries on Korea’s assistance to Uzbekistan in the matters of joining this organization, including by assessing the consequences of entry, examination of national legislation in accordance with the requirements of WTO agreements, as well as technical, consultative and expert support to the ministries and departments concerned.

A number of large countries-members of the organization have already expressed their support in this process.

There are 164 members of the World Trade Organization. That's 84 percent of the 196 countries in the world.

They enjoy the privileges that other member-countries give to them and the security that the trading rules provide. In return, they had to make commitments to open their markets and to abide by the rules — those commitments were the result of the membership (or “accession”) negotiations.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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