Azerbaijan submits new proposals to EU, Japan for WTO accession

The work carried out in 2021 on Azerbaijan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been made public, Report informs referring to a report by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan on the results of activities in 2021.

In 2021, as part of bilateral discussions, requests for negotiations on goods and services with the EU and Japan were considered, new proposals were prepared and submitted to the opposite side.

It is emphasized that work has been coordinated in Azerbaijan on the preparation of schedules for domestic support for agriculture for the next period (2018-2020), comments and questions received from the WTO Secretariat in connection with the schedule were answered based on information from the relevant structures.

In 2021, work continued on the execution of relevant works within the project “Strengthening Capacity of the Government of Azerbaijan in the WTO Accession negotiations and other trade related activities” launched on September 24, 2020 and funded by the European Union.

As part of the project, round table meetings were organized on the topics: “Binding Decisions and Authorized Economic Operators,” “GATS Help Center,” “Kazakhstan’s experience in eliminating VAT exemptions,” “Creating a website on trade remedies,” “Entry into force of intellectual property rights” and many others.

Azerbaijan is negotiating with about 20 WTO member countries. So far, negotiations have been completed with Turkey, Oman, the UAE, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and relevant protocols have been signed.

The WTO includes 160 states. Azerbaijan has had observer status in the WTO since 1997. On July 16, 1997, a working group on Azerbaijan was established under the WTO Secretariat.