Ethiopia Moves Closer to WTO Membership After Fifth-Round Talks

ADDIS ABABA, March 26 (AGCNewsNet) – Ethiopia has reported significant progress in its bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), following the successful conclusion of its fifth round of negotiations.

Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe, Ethiopia’s chief negotiator, announced that the number of inquiries from WTO member states has decreased from 181 in 2020 to 110, signaling substantial advancements in the accession process. Ethiopia is set to submit comprehensive written responses by May 2025.

The announcement follows Ethiopia’s participation in the 5th WTO Working Group Summit in Geneva, where Kassahun led a delegation of senior government officials. Ethiopia has also commenced bilateral market access negotiations with 12 of 17 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

According to Kassahun, 19 countries and the World Bank have expressed strong support for Ethiopia’s membership, exceeding normal levels of endorsement. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for July 2025, with the government aiming to finalize its WTO accession by March 2026.

Ethiopia first applied for WTO membership in 1999 and has held observer status since 2003. After an eight-year pause, the country restarted its accession efforts in 2020, setting up a structured negotiation process with a 35-member technical committee conducting weekly reviews.

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