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Participating Members

Afghanistan
Signature, date of signature: 22-12-04, date of entry into force: 21-01-05

Algeria
Signature, date of signature: 10-01-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Antigua and Barbuda
Accession, date of accession: 06-10-05, date of entry into force: 05-11-05

Barbados
Signature, date of signature: 31-12-04, date of entry into force: 30-01-05

Benin
Signature, date of signature: 14-02-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Bhutan
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Bolivia
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Burkina Faso
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 06-06-03, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Burundi
Signature, date of signature: 19-06-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Cambodia
Signature, date of signature: 03-03-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Cape Verde
Signature, date of signature: 12-11-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Central African Republic
Accession, date of accession: 30-03-05, date of entry into force: 29-04-05

Chad
Signature, date of signature: 28-04-04, date of entry into force: 28-05-04

Congo, Dem. Rep. of the
Signature, date of signature: 03-02-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Congo, Rep. of the
Accession, date of accession: 23-11-06, date of entry into force: 23-12-06

Cuba
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Dominica
Accession, date of accession: 19-10-05, date of entry into force: 18-11-05

Dominican Republic
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Ecuador
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 11-11-05, date of entry into force: 11-12-05

El Salvador
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 23-12-04, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Ethiopia
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Gabon
Accession, date of accession: 10-05-06, date of entry into force: 09-06-06

Gambia
Signature, date of signature: 24-11-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Georgia
Accession, date of accession: 10-04-06, date of entry into force: 10-05-06

Guatemala
Signature, date of signature: 13-12-04, date of entry into force: 12-01-05

Guinea
Signature, date of signature: 20-10-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Guyana
Signature, date of signature: 13-09-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Haiti
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Honduras
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Jamaica
Signature, date of signature: 23-12-04, date of entry into force: 22-01-05

Jordan
Signature, date of signature: 07-07-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Kyrgyz, Rep.
Accession, date of accession: 21-09-06, date of entry into force: 21-10-06

Lao People’s Dem. Rep.
Accession, date of accession: 28-11-06, date of entry into force: 28-12-06

Madagascar
Accession, date of accession: 03-01-07, date of entry into force: 02-02-07

Mali
Signature, date of signature: 13-12-04, date of entry into force: 12-01-05

Mauritania
Signature, date of signature: 23-07-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Mauritius
Signature, date of signature: 24-03-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Moldova, Rep. of
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 17-12-04, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 17-12-04, date of entry into force: 16-01-05

Mongolia
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 21-12-04, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 18-03-05, date of entry into force: 17-04-05

Montenegro
Accession, date of accession: 02-06-05, date of entry into force: 02-07-05

Morocco
Accession, date of accession: 14-06-05, date of entry into force: 14-07-05

Mozambique
Signature, date of signature: 11-03-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Nepal
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 30-01-03, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Nicaragua
Signature, date of signature: 10-10-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Nigeria
Signature, date of signature: 31-01-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Paraguay
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Rwanda
Signature, date of signature: 17-12-04, date of entry into force: 16-01-05

Saint Lucia
Accession, date of accession: 21-06-05, date of entry into force: 21-07-05

Samoa
Accession, date of accession: 17-06-05, date of entry into force: 17-07-05

Senegal
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 23-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Sri Lanka
Signature, date of signature: 20-05-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Sudan
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: —, date of entry into force: —

Suriname
Accession, date of accession: 20-07-07, date of entry into force: 19-08-07

Togo
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Trinidad and Tobago
Accession, date of accession: 30-02-07, date of entry into force: 30-03-07

Tunisia
Accession, date of accession: 12-07-06, date of entry into force: 11-08-06

Uganda
Signature, date of signature: 13-12-04, date of entry into force: 12-01-05

Vanuatu
Signature, date of signature: 12-09-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Yemen
Signature, date of signature: 25-03-03, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Zambia
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04
 
DOCUMENTS
HTML
PDF
Date
*Members only*
Background Note: The WTO’s Role in Resolving the Food Price Crisis: Relevant or Superfluous?  
June 2008
Background Note: Chairman’s Report – Services Negotiations: “Slow and Steady Wins the Race!”   
June 2008
*Public*
Background Note: UNCTAD XII: Testing Development Solidarity, Accra, Ghana, 20 – 25 April 2008
June 2008
Background Note: Revised Agricultural Modalities: A Cleaner Draft but Far from the Final Version
May 2008
Background Note: The Second Revision of the NAMA Modalities: Basis for Negotiation, or Recipe for Confrontation?
May 2008
Informe sobre Seminario Nacional: La Facilitación del Comercio: Negociaciones Multilaterales y Tratados de Libre Comercio (7 y 8 de mayo de 2008) (for the moment only in spanish)
May 2008
Informe sobre Seminario Regional: La Facilitación del Comercio en América Central (28 - 30 de abril de 2008) (for the moment only in spanish)
May 2008
AITIC Special Session for the Republic of Mauritius’ Trade Policy Review: “Aid for Trade and Reform of the Economy”, 25 April 2008
April 2008
Trade Facilitation and Aid for Trade: Unlocking the Landlocked
April 2008
AITIC Background Note: Trade Facilitation: So Near, Yet So Far
April 2008
Report on the Joint AITIC/OECD Workshop: Aid for Trade Self-Assessment Questionnaire – Challenges for Developing Countries (7 April 2008)
April 2008
UNCTAD XII: The Preparatory Process
April 2008
The Aid for Trade Questionnaire
April 2008
Summary of the Draft Consolidated Chair’s Texts on AD and SCM Agreements: an Obstacle to the “Horizontal” Negotiations?
March 2008
The Revised NAMA Modalities Text: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
February 2008
AITIC Background Note: Revised Agricultural Modalities – Cutting the Gordian Knot?
February 2008
AITIC Report on the 15th Geneva Week for Non-Resident Members and Observers of the WTO (19 – 23 November 2007)
February 2008
Report on AITIC Flash Meeting - The Doha Negotiations: Potential Benefits for the Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) (14 December 2007, CCV)
February 2008
Farm Bill, the US Political Process and the Doha Negotiations: a “Catch-22”?
January 2008
AITIC NEWS

AITIC’s Official Fellowship Programme and Professional Training Programme.

Since April 2007, AITIC has set up two programmes aiming to strengthen the capacities of the less-advantaged countries Members of AITIC to participate in the multilateral trading system and the ongoing WTO negotiations.

  • The Official Fellowship Programme, financed by the Agency’s regular budget, aims to host for a period of six months government officials dealing with multilateral trade issues. The selected fellows will work in AITIC’s premises to develop a project of particular interest to their Government, concerning the activities of the WTO or international trade negotiations. Moreover, the professional experience gained in the multilateral trading system will enable the fellows to take part in the work and activities of the WTO and other trade-related international organisations in Geneva.

  • With similar objectives, the Professional Training Programme is implemented in collaboration with the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

Please click here for additional information on these programmes. This area is restricted to AITIC Members only.

Aid for Trade – An AITIC Project for the Private Sector
Since May 2007, AITIC’s website contains two pages which focus respectively on Aid for Trade and the Integrated Framework. These pages present the most recent developments in these two areas and contain information on official meetings, documents as well as a glossary of the main technical terms used in the context of these initiatives. The Aid for Trade page also includes a chronology of past and forthcoming main events.

With a view to further improving the services provided to its Members, AITIC is pleased to announce that a Members’ Area is available on its website, for their exclusive use. Members are not only able to consult all of AITIC’s publications long before these become available for the general public, but they are also able to browse the online version of the Glossary of Commonly Used International Trade Terminology with Particular Reference to the WTO, AITIC’s Constituent Documents and those relating to the meetings of its main Bodies, as well as other useful information for AITIC Members only.

Click here to register.
Our direct links to:


- Maseru Declaration, LDC Trade Ministers' Meeting (Maseru, Lesotho, 27-29 February 2008)

- UNCTAD XII, Accra - Ghana, 20 - 25 April 2008.

- Ulaanbaatar Declaration adopted at the Meeting of Trade Ministers of LLDCs, held in Ulaanbaatar, 28-29 August 2007.

- Istanbul Declaration on LDCs: Time for action, adopted at the Ministerial Conference of LDCs titled “Making Globalisation Work for LDCs”, Istanbul, Turkey, 9-10 July 2007

- The Addis Ababa African Union Trade Ministers Declaration on WTO Trade Negotiations, adopted by the Trade Ministers of the Members of the African Union, at their Third Extraordinary Session, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15 – 16 January 2007.

- The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference, Hong Kong (China), 13 to 18 December 2005. Hong Kong host government website.

- Fourth LDC Trade Ministers' Meeting, Livingstone, Zambia, 25 – 26 June 2005.

- Cairo Declaration and Road Map on the developments of the Doha Work Programme (DWP), adopted by the Trade Ministers of the Members of the African Union, at their Third Ordinary Session in Cairo, Egypt, on 8-9 June 2005.

- AUSAID: Australian Agency for International Development.

- Chinese Tapei

- NZAID: New Zealand Agency for International Development

- Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

- International Law Institute (ILI)

- Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

- Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)

- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Liaison Office in Geneva (LOGE).

- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

- The WTO Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC)

- Trade Policy Review, WTO

- Aid for Trade, WTO

- The Integrated Framework

- Information on Geneva for Delegates
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Sponsoring Members

Denmark
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Finland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 04-02-05, date of entry into force: 06-03-05

Ireland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 13-02-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Netherlands
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 22-01-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Sweden
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 20-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Switzerland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 12-03-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

United Kingdom
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 08-02-05, date of entry into force: 10-03-05

Denmark
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Finland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 04-02-05, date of entry into force: 06-03-05

Ireland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 13-02-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Netherlands
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 22-01-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Sweden
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 20-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Switzerland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 12-03-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

United Kingdom
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 08-02-05, date of entry into force: 10-03-05

Denmark
Signature, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Finland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 04-02-05, date of entry into force: 06-03-05

Ireland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 13-02-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Netherlands
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 22-01-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Sweden
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 20-12-02, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

Switzerland
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 12-03-04, date of entry into force: 30-04-04

United Kingdom
Signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, date of signature: 09-12-02, date of ratification, acceptance or approval: 08-02-05, date of entry into force: 10-03-05

AITIC Briefing Session during the 16th Geneva Week for Non-Residents

The 16th Geneva Week for Non-Resident Members and Observers of the WTO is being held from 30 June to 4 July 2008. In this context, AITIC organised a Briefing Session on “ AITIC’s Non-Residents’ Unit – A Home Away from Home” on Tuesday 1 July 2008 from 15:00 to 18:00 at the Centre William Rappard.

The Session focused first of all on the services provided by AITIC to the Non-Residents through its Non-Residents’ Unit. Different speakers went on to present the role played by the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Geneva in terms of the establishment of permanent missions in Geneva.

The experiences of two non-resident countries were also presented, one having recently set up a mission and the other in the process of doing so.

AITIC takes part in the Sub-regional Trade Policy Course in Guinea Bissau

From 24 to 27 June 2008, AITIC took part in the Sub-Regional Trade Policy Course in Bissau, Guinea Bissau, jointly organised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) for the member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

As well as representatives from the country hosting the event, the course brought together 31 participants from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger Senegal and Togo.

The course focused mainly on the WTO negotiations and the EPA negotiations between West Africa and the European Union (EU) and provided a reminder of some of the basic principles of the multilateral trade system. In addition to its contribution to the discussions, AITIC made presentations on Aid for Trade, the Enhanced Integrated Framework and the negotiations on trade facilitation.

Interview with Dr Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of the WTO’s Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC)


Dr Hakim Ben Hammouda

Training Session on Services for delegates from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East

The last AITIC Training Session on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) took place over two half-days on 17 and 18 June 2008 on the AITIC premises. The session was for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Middle East Geneva-based delegations.

The event aimed to reinforce the technical knowledge of Geneva-based delegates, allowing them to better understand the main provisions of the GATS and to participate more effectively in the WTO negotiations on services.

The session covered, inter alia, the main provisions of the GATS and the structure of the schedules of specific commitments. It also offered an overview of the current negotiations on services according to the interests of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Middle East countries. Presentations involved practical examples and exercises.

These training sessions are part of AITIC’s technical assistance and capacity building activities. Earlier sessions were held for groups of countries from Africa as well as from Asia, Pacific and the Caribbean.

AITIC and OAPI sign a Cooperation Agreement

AITIC and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) have signed a Cooperation Agreement. The ceremony took place on 16 June 2008 on the AITIC premises in the presence of Dr Paulin Edou Edou, Director General of OAPI, and Dr Esperanza Durán, Executive Director of AITIC.

The Agreement formalises the relations between the two institutions and aims to increase their collaboration to strengthen trade-related capacities and to promote the protection of intellectual property rights in Africa as a development factor.

Several joint projects are already under review. In addition, AITIC is invited to take part in the International Conference on Intellectual Property and the Economic and Social Development of OAPI Member States due to take place in Dakar, Senegal, from 4 to 6 November 2008.

Cooperation between AITIC, WTO and OIF in Central Africa

Together with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), AITIC took part in the Sub-Regional Trade Policy Course in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) from 10 to 13 June 2008. The course was organised by the WTO and the OIF for the French-speaking African member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The course brought together 45 participants from countries of the sub-region (Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tomé and Principe), ECCAS and CEMAC.

After a reminder of the basic principles of the multilateral trade system, the course provided an update on the state of play of the WTO negotiations as well as the EPA negotiations between the European Union and the Central African region. AITIC contributed to answer the participants’ questions on a variety of subjects and made presentations on the Enhanced Integrated Framework, Aid for Trade and the negotiations on trade in services.

The Sub-Regional Course was very successful amongst participants. They appreciated the quality of the information and analyses that were presented to them as well as the excellent cooperation between the WTO, OIF and AITIC on this occasion.

AITIC held a Training Session on Services

As part of its technical assistance and capacity building activities, AITIC held a Training Session on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) for the Asia, Pacific and the Caribbean WTO delegates. The session took place over two half-days on 4 and 5 June 2008.

The event aimed to reinforce the technical knowledge of Geneva-based delegates, allowing them to better understand the main provisions of the GATS and to participate more effectively in the WTO negotiations on services.

The session covered, inter alia, the main provisions of the GATS and the structure of the schedules of specific commitments. It also offered an overview of the current negotiations on services according to the interests of Asia, Pacific and Caribbean countries. Presentations involved practical examples and exercises.

Similar sessions took place for African delegates in April 2008.

A delegation from Sudan visits AITIC

On Friday 16 May 2008, HE Mr Badr Eddin Sulieman, National Negotiator for Sudan’s accession to the WTO, accompanied by a delegation from the Sudanese Mission paid a courtesy visit to AITIC.

HE Mr Sulieman is in Geneva for two weeks to conduct bilateral negotiations with WTO members on the accession of his country.

Sudan has been benefiting from the services of AITIC for many years. HE Mr Sulieman was very appreciative of the personalised assistance his country had received in the recent past, in particular on the agriculture negotiations. Discussions focused on the needs of Sudan for further assistance, especially to support their WTO accession process. The subjects of most interest to them were trade in services and the role of trade in economic development. HE Mr Sulieman would welcome the organisation of national workshops on these subjects with representatives from the universities, parliament, media, private sector and other interested parties. Sudan was also interested in the way to make the various AITIC publications and documents more accessible nationally.

The latest version of AITIC’s Glossary of Commonly Used International Trade Terminology with Particular Reference to the WTO was presented to the delegation.

AITIC and ITC National Seminar on Trade Facilitation

As part of its trade-related capacity building activities, AITIC, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), held a National Seminar on Trade Facilitation: Multilateral Negotiations and Free-Trade Agreements in Mexico City, Mexico, on 7-8 May 2008.

The seminar discussed trade facilitation experiences in Latin America, considered the progress made in the related WTO negotiations and the relevance of free trade agreements. It provided a forum for government officials and representatives of other organisations to share their experiences in this area.

Various experts presented their views and experience on trade facilitation. The seminar was made up of three sessions which focused first on the current trade facilitation negotiations before considering experiences of implementation of trade facilitation measures at national and then at regional level. The private sector of Mexico participated in the seminar and contributed to the discussions.

AITIC recently issued two Background Notes on Trade Facilitation: “Trade Facilitation and Aid for Trade: Unlocking the Landlocked” and “Trade Facilitation – So Near, Yet So Far”.

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