Ethiopian Parliament, WTO delegation discuss Ethiopian accession

Feb 11, 2020; Addis Ababa: Trade and Industry Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the FDRE hold a discussion with the delegation from World Trade Organization on preconditions of Ethiopian accession to the organization.

During then, His honor Zewudu Kebede, Chairperson of the Trade Sub-committee of the Standing Committee recalled that the request of Ethiopia to join WTO is still unfinished business. The parliament, as the legislature of the nation, is eager-full to see Ethiopia join the organization, he pointed.

The Investment Sub-committee Chairperson, His honor Abdullahi Hamu, on his part mentioned; the parliament is in a state-of-readiness to scrutinize and ratify if the long awaited agreement is reached between Ethiopia and the WTO. As well, he requested the delegation how WTO can help Ethiopia overcome its import export imbalances along with market competition and interdependence with other member countries of WTO.

Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, Deputy Director-General of WTO and head of the delegation appreciated the recent moves of Ethiopia in reinstating its desire to join the organization. He extended it to the parliament due to its readiness to ratify the hoped agreement, in which most of the frameworks are believed to be wrapped-up by the end of 2020.

According to the Ambassador, Ethiopia applied to the WTO for observer status in 1997, when the WTO was only two years old.  It began its accession process in May 2008 with an Accession Working Party meeting in Geneva. This process was put on hold by the Government of Ethiopia in 2012.  Just two weeks ago, Ethiopia formally resumed its WTO accession process with the holding of an Accession Working Party as a complement to Ethiopia's extensive program of domestic economic reforms.

“The rate of change in Ethiopia, and the prospects for further change, is outstandingly positive, moving the country toward greater openness and connecting it more closely with other African nations and the world.  The new government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), has embarked on an ambitious economic reform plan, with the aim of taking full advantage of the country's development potential and transforming it into an icon of prosperity for the African continent by 2030.  Trade and regional economic integration are given special emphasis in this reform plan”, the Deputy Director-General said.

“What can Ethiopia expect from the process of WTO accession?” Ambassador Wolff asks back in an attempt to respond the request rose from the committee.

As to him, Ethiopia aspires to become one of the leading economies in Africa by 2030, through pursuing WTO accession aggressively. Hence, the WTO accession process will support regulatory and administrative changes while improving the quality of economic management institutions. Through its accession to the WTO and its domestic reform agenda, the government of Ethiopia hopes to raise the standard of living of its people and contribute to peace.  And it is intent on finding ways of achieving its objectives in a more sustainable way. 

Ambassador Wolff concluded his remarks saying; “support for Ethiopia's accession and the fulfilment of the promise of the African Continent Free Trade Area must be, and I am sure will be high priorities for the WTO.  The result of the efforts of all those involved must be, and I believe will be, to improve the opportunities that you will have going forward as you choose your professions and enter the workforce.”

Ms Maika Oshikawa, Director for the Accessions Division of the WTO and part of the delegation on her part said; all the necessary legislation should be in place before embarking the full membership. And the parliament, as the committee said, shall consider the ratification process of the agreement before endorsing.

Ethiopian Parliament shall also participate in the coming major meeting of the WTO to retain some lessons from other countries legislature so that an additional exposure can help, she added.

It is learnt that members expressed unanimous support for the resumption of Ethiopia’s WTO membership negotiations at the 4th meeting of the Working Party on the country’s accession, held on 30 January 2020. It was the first meeting of the working party in almost eight years. The Ethiopian delegation said it was ready to work jointly with members to advance and, hopefully, conclude, the accession process by the end of 2021.

A 10-member national committee, formed on June 10, 2019, following the framework that was approved by the Council of Ministers to provide a legal framework for the accession, chaired by Mamo Mihretu, the chief trade negotiator and senior advisor to the Prime Minister, is composed of delegates from the Office of the Prime Minister, ministries of Foreign Affairs, Revenues, Finance and Trade and Industry; the National Bank of Ethiopia; the National Planning and Development Commission; the Attorney General’s Office and the Policy Study Institute, according to the additional info.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. It was established with the main objective of liberalizing multilateral trade, based on the belief that the liberalization of trade brings multiple of benefits to the world population.

By AsratAddisu

 House writer