Iraq/ WTO brief update

[nebraskadinar]

Here is the news out of Yesterday's meeting between Iraq and the World Trade Organization. This was meeting #2 in the accession process of Iraq inot the WTO. There was not a lot of news but here it is:

The red are the most significant.

WTO: 2008 NEWS ITEMS
2 April 2008
ACCESSIONS
2nd Working Party meeting on Iraq's accession
Working Party reviews Iraq's trade legislation
Working Party members, on 2 April 2008, supported Iraq's rapid accession to the WTO and argued it would contribute to the country's integration into the world economy. Iraq's Trade Minister, H. E. Dr. Al-Sudani, stated that Iraq was determined to overcome the country's difficult circumstances to move forward on the accession process and added that Iraq's membership would represent a significant addition to the international community.

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Review of trade legislation
At this stage of the accession, members examine all aspects of Iraq's trade and economic policies to assess their conformity with WTO principles.

Since the 1st Working Party meeting held in May 2007, Iraq has provided members with a legislative action plan which shows the state of play of the ongoing legal reforms. Iraq also provided information on its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) as on well as information its domestic support and export subsidies in agriculture.

Members requested more information on Iraq's pricing policy, investment rules, import licences, customs law, state trading enterprises, regulations on tariffs, free zones and telecom licences.

Bilateral negotiations
Iraq has met with several members on the margins of the Working Party. Market access negotiations will start once Iraq tables its initial offers on goods and services. There have been some discussions but no concrete proposals for the moment.

Technical assistance
Members and international organizations have been providing technical assistance to Iraq. The Chair of the Working Party, Claudia Uribe, Ambassador for Colombia, has urged members to continue and step up this support.

Next steps
Iraq will update its legislative action plan, as appropriate, and will continue providing information to members.

Next meeting
No date was decided.

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[creationworks]

Iraq cleared for next steps to WTO accession


Author: Moussa Ahmad
Source: BI-ME
Published: 03 April 2008

IRAQ. Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) working party in Iraq on 2 April 2008, supported Iraq's rapid accession to the WTO and argued it would contribute to the country's integration into the world economy.




Iraq's Trade Minister, HE Dr Al-Sudani, stated that Iraq was determined to overcome the country's difficult circumstances to move forward on the accession process and added that Iraq's membership would represent a significant addition to the international community.

At this stage of the accession, members examine all aspects of Iraq's trade and economic policies to assess their conformity with WTO principles.

Since the first working party meeting held in May 2007, Iraq has provided members with a legislative action plan which shows the state of play of the ongoing legal reforms. Iraq also provided information on its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) as well as information on its domestic support and export subsidies in agriculture.

Members requested more information on Iraq's pricing policy, investment rules, import licences, customs law, state trading enterprises, regulations on tariffs, free zones and telecom licences.

Iraq has met with several members on the margins of the working party. Market access negotiations will start once Iraq tables its initial offers on goods and services. A WTO statemtn said there have been some discussions but no concrete proposals for the moment.

WTO members and international organisations have been providing technical assistance to Iraq. The Chair of the working party, Claudia Uribe, Ambassador for Colombia, has urged members to continue and step up this support.

In the next steps, Iraq will update its legislative action plan, as appropriate, and will continue providing information to members. No date was decided or the next meeting.

A working party to examine the application of Iraq was established at the General Council meeting of 13 December 2004. Iraq submitted a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime in September 2005, Foreign Trade Regime in September 2005, followed by Replies to Questions raised by WTO Members in November 2006.

http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?id=18851&t=1&c=33&cg=4

[copper13]

This is all really good info!!!!! Good work on the posts!

[copper13]

Iraq bids for fast-track WTO membership

April 2, 2008

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 2 (UPI) -- The Iraqi government lobbied the World Trade Organization Wednesday for fast-track membership, pointing to its oil reserves and geopolitical significance.

Iraqi Trade Minister Abed Falah al-Sudani pushed for the membership, saying the country had a huge potential for expansion of commerce in the global community, al-Alam news network said.

"Iraq will be an active and positive member of the world community, and its integration in the international community will help in creating stability and faster development in the country,'' Sudani said.

Iraq received observer status at the WTO when it applied for membership in 2004, and Sudani said Iraq made significant steps in development since then.

The 151-member WTO council told Sudani it needed more evidence of concrete pricing regulation, trade measures and investment rules before full consideration.

Sudani noted Iraq overcame "difficult circumstances" and said Iraq's determination to enter the WTO would further benefit all of its trading partners.

http://www.upi.com/International_Sec...mbership/2771/

Also.....http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/Ne...ternational.na

[N.I.D.]

Since 2004 Irak Is Waiting For The Momento To Become A Member 0f The Wto, However Everything Looks Uphill For Them, I Think That They Have To Wait Until April 19-22 To See What Happens, Let's See What The Us Can Do Along With The Onu And The G8, I Hope Everything Works Out For... "our Sake"...

[JoeTT]

Iraq bids for fast-track WTO membership

April 2, 2008

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 2 (UPI) -- The Iraqi government lobbied the World Trade Organization Wednesday for fast-track membership, pointing to its oil reserves and geopolitical significance.

Iraqi Trade Minister Abed Falah al-Sudani pushed for the membership, saying the country had a huge potential for expansion of commerce in the global community, al-Alam news network said.

"Iraq will be an active and positive member of the world community, and its integration in the international community will help in creating stability and faster development in the country,'' Sudani said.

Iraq received observer status at the WTO when it applied for membership in 2004, and Sudani said Iraq made significant steps in development since then.

The 151-member WTO council told Sudani it needed more evidence of concrete pricing regulation, trade measures and investment rules before full consideration.

Sudani noted Iraq overcame "difficult circumstances" and said Iraq's determination to enter the WTO would further benefit all of its trading partners.

http://www.upi.com/International_Sec...mbership/2771/

Also.....http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/Ne...ternational.na

I assume the Dinar has to be worth more than the current exchange before WTO acceptance. Also, why is acceptance taking so long? Especially being on a fast-track. I thought they began the process several years ago.

[ETA]

I assume the Dinar has to be worth more than the current exchange before WTO acceptance. Also, why is acceptance taking so long? Especially being on a fast-track. I thought they began the process several years ago.

just look at vietnam , they just became a member and it took them 11 year's ,seeing Iraq started the application in 04, 4 to 5 year's is ....................................short

[NotAPHD]

I assume the Dinar has to be worth more than the current exchange before WTO acceptance. Also, why is acceptance taking so long? Especially being on a fast-track. I thought they began the process several years ago.

Security. Infighting. Sadr. Tinpot militia all trying to be James Dean.

All a slight hinderance to just breezing into Baghdad and holding a nice business conference or making deals on the web when your office in Basra suddenly gets stormed by hooded militia, or someone fires a surface to air missile into your office at lunchtime. The fact the major buildings HAVE to be in a 'Green Zone' when they should just be the 'financial district' (rather than being a 'compound'). Do you see where I'm going with this?

The country is not safe for conducting everyday business we take for granted everywhere else. It will be one day. But not yet.

In the meantime: good WTO steps. Let's keep hoping...

[JoeTT]

Security. Infighting. Sadr. Tinpot militia all trying to be James Dean.

All a slight hinderance to just breezing into Baghdad and holding a nice business conference or making deals on the web when your office in Basra suddenly gets stormed by hooded militia, or someone fires a surface to air missile into your office at lunchtime. The fact the major buildings HAVE to be in a 'Green Zone' when they should just be the 'financial district' (rather than being a 'compound'). Do you see where I'm going with this?

The country is not safe for conducting everyday business we take for granted everywhere else. It will be one day. But not yet.

In the meantime: good WTO steps. Let's keep hoping...

I have this gut feelings that Iraq will always have some lunatic blowing himself up or unloading a clip in a market place. God hope I'm wrong.