Ethiopia has reached the final and most decisive stage of its 23-year journey to join the World Trade Organization, according to Dr. Kassahun Gofe, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration.
The WTO, a 31-year-old institution comprising 166 member nations that control 98 percent of global trade, is currently in the process of formally admitting Ethiopia. Dr. Kassahun emphasized that the ongoing negotiations are rooted in a "give and take" principle, carefully designed to safeguard Ethiopia's national interests. As part of this final push, bilateral negotiations have already been conducted with 12 parties, including major economic powers like the United States and the European Union.
Securing full membership requires Ethiopia to meet several key prerequisites, including harmonizing its domestic laws with international regulations, enacting tariff and customs reforms, and implementing robust overarching economic changes. Once admitted, Ethiopia will elevate its status from a mere observer to a key decision-maker, gaining crucial voting power in the drafting of future international trade laws.
The economic benefits of this milestone are expected to be substantial. Kassahun Mamo, Deputy Secretary General of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, noted that WTO membership will make targeted Ethiopian commodities, such as honey, coffee, textiles, and leather goods highly competitive in the global market.
Echoing this optimism, Abule Mehary, a researcher at the Ethiopian Economics Association, highlighted that a successful membership bid will drastically expand Ethiopia's international market access. He stressed that the move will also drive foreign exchange growth, stimulate investment flows, and significantly boost the nation’s diplomatic influence on the world stage.
Ethiopia’s quest for WTO membership, which officially began in 2003, is now expected to cross the finish line, propelled by the country's ongoing series of comprehensive economic reforms. This momentum was further amplified by the recent BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi, where member states officially backed Ethiopia's bid to join the global trade body, marking a major diplomatic triumph for the East African nation.
