By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Ethiopia has signed a
bilateral market access agreement with the United Kingdom as part of its
ongoing process to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The agreement was signed by
Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and chief negotiator for
the country’s WTO accession, Dr Kassahun Gofe, and UK Ambassador to Ethiopia
Darren Welch.
The agreement marks another
step in Ethiopia’s efforts to conclude the bilateral negotiations required for
full WTO membership.
Gofe said the agreement
protects Ethiopia’s national policy space while supporting the country’s
broader objective of completing its WTO accession process.
The deal is also expected to
strengthen trade, investment and diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and the
UK, building on the longstanding ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Welch reaffirmed
the UK’s support for Ethiopia’s WTO accession process and its ongoing economic
reform programme.
With the agreement, the UK
becomes the 10th WTO member country to formally sign a bilateral market access
agreement with Ethiopia and the 11th to conclude bilateral negotiations with
the country.
Ethiopia has previously
concluded bilateral market access negotiations with China, Russia, Argentina,
Türkiye, Brazil, Japan, India, New Zealand and Thailand.
