Understanding WTO Accession: Lessons from an IDRC research project

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Understanding WTO Accession Lessons from an
IDRC research project

• Simon J. Evenett
• www.evenett.com

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Contents of this short presentation

• Significance of WTO accession.
• Findings from an analysis of the first 20
  accessions.
• Some questions for discussion.

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Significance of WTO Accession

• Conditioned the terms upon which a significant
  group of territories have joined the WTO.
• A prominent vehicle for getting countries to
  adopt a substantial package of reforms.
• The far reaching potential for such reforms links
  accession to national development strategy.
• Accession process has had implications for the
  DDA negotiations.

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Concerns expressed about the WTO accession process

• Cost and complexity of negotiations is high and
  growing
• Negotiations are taking longer to complete
• Price is too high including being asked to sign
  WTO commitments and WTO- rights
• Price is growing
• Can these claims be supported with evidence and,
  if so, what are the policy implications?

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The Price of Accession

• Market access related commitments
• Agricultural products.
• Non-agricultural products.
• Services.
• Special commitments.
• Transition periods.
• Exemptions.
• Special reference to Bulgaria, Ecuador, and
  Jordan.

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Average agricultural tariff rates
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Average non-agricultural tariff rates
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Type of specific commitments

• Statements of fact.
• Obligations to abide by existing WTO rules.
• Obligations not to have recourse to specific WTO
  provisions (WTO minus rights)
• Specific transition periods.
• Authorisations to temporarily depart from WTO
  rules.
• Obligations to abide by commitments not contained
  in WTO Multilateral Agreements (WTO plus)

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Types of specific commitments
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Questions for discussion

• Has the growing price of accession detracted from
  the developmental benefits of joining the WTO?
• Is the take-it-or-leave-it nature of WTO
  accession negotiations the best way to get a
  country to adopt a package of market opening
  reforms?
• What lessons should be drawn by those countries
  seeking to joining the WTO?
• Are there any systemic benefits or costs from the
  current WTO Accession process?