What are the requirmnets for nations to Join the World Trade
organization.  I need a complete list.

Hello nedgold~

According to the World Trade Organization?s website,  ?Any state or
customs territory having full autonomy in the conduct of its trade
policies may join (?accede to?) the WTO.? (?Membership, alliances and
bureaucracy,? WTO: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org3_e.htm#join
) However, all applying nations must agree on terms.

Here is the process for becoming a member:

1. The government applying to WTO must first describe to WTO ?all
aspects of its trade and economic policies that have a bearing on WTO
agreements.?

2. Next, bilateral talks begin between WTO and the country in question
take place. ?These talks cover tariff rates and specific market access
commitments, and other policies in goods and services...the talks
determine the benefits (in the form of export opportunities and
guarantees) other WTO members can expect when the new member joins.?

3. ?Once the...examination of the applicant?s trade regime, and the
parallel bilateral market access negotiations are complete,? WTO
finalizes the terms of membership.

4. Finally, a report is produced by WTO, which includes a protocol,
and lists of commitments for the applying nation. This is ?presented
to the WTO General Council or the Ministerial Conference. If a
two-thirds majority of WTO members vote in favour, the applicant is
free to sign the protocol and to accede to the organization. In many
cases, the country?s own parliament or legislature has to ratify the
agreement before membership is complete.?


For a thorough run down of the membership (or ?accession?) process,
please see ?How to become a member of the WTO,? WTO:
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/acces_e.htm

For a discussion of WTO?s provisions about new members, see ?Relevant
WTO Provisions,? WTO:
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/acc7_3_e.htm

To view a WTO video on becoming a member, see:
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm#acc ,
?Accessions.?

Finally, this WTO page with links about accessions may prove helpful:
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/docum_e.htm


Kind regards,
Kriswrite

RESEARCH STRATEGY:
A search of the World Trade Organization?s website

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Request for Answer Clarification by nedgold-ga on 20 Oct 2004 13:14 PDT

Dear kriswrite-ga:

Thanks for the data.  I am still woundering if I can get a comlete
list of qualifications for joining the WTO.

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Clarification of Answer by kriswrite-ga on 20 Oct 2004 13:23 PDT

According to WTO the only qualification is that a nation must have
"full autonomy in the conduct of its trade policies." Everything else
is done nation by nation, and is negotiable.

Kriswrite

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Request for Answer Clarification by nedgold-ga on 20 Oct 2004 14:01 PDT

Dear Kriswrite-ga:

Thanks again for the info, I agree that a nation by nation review is
conducted, but there must be a list (As small as it is)  to serve as a
common denominator in deciding if the basic requirements are met.

Regards,

Ned

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Clarification of Answer by kriswrite-ga on 20 Oct 2004 14:28 PDT

Hi again nedgold~

If such a list of requirements exists--beyond the requirements that
the nation have "full autonomy in the conduct of its trade policies,"
and be willing to negotiate terms that the WTO finds satisfactory--WTO
keeps it private. However, it's unlikely such a list exists at all.
Terms are negotiated on a nation by nation basis, and are designed to
be agreeable both to the applying nation and all the other nations in
WTO. This would depend entirely upon what the applying nation has to
trade.

WTO's also stresses that their basic mission is to merely come up with
"rules of trade between nations." ("What is the WTO," WTO:
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/whatis_e.htm )

Kind regards,
Kriswrite