WTO accepts Kazakhstan as new member

The World Trade Organisation on Monday formally accepted Kazakhstan’s bid to join the body, ending nearly two decades of negotiations that the WTO has called among the most difficult in its history, reports AFP from Geneva.
Meeting at its headquarters in Geneva, the WTO General Council approved the membership terms finalised last month.
After the formal approval, WTO Director General Robert Azevedo described the protracted accession process as “very challenging”.
But, he said, talks moved quickly once the government in Astana made clear that it was finally serious about WTO membership.
“Once Kazakhstan decided to join the organisation, really, and they clearly gave that message to me less than two years ago, we managed to finalise this despite the immense complexity of the process,” Azevedo told journalists.

WTO accepts Kazakhstan as new member

The World Trade Organisation on Monday formally accepted Kazakhstans bid to join the body, ending nearly two decades of negotiations that the WTO has called among the most difficult in its history, reports AFP from Geneva. Meeting at its headquarters in Geneva, the WTO General Council approved the membership terms finalised last month. After the formal approval, WTO Director General Robert Azevedo described the protracted accession process as very challenging. But, he said, talks moved quickly once the government in Astana made clear that it was finally serious about WTO membership. Once Kazakhstan decided to join the organisation, really, and they clearly gave that message to me less than two years ago, we managed to finalise this despite the immense complexity of the process, Azevedo told journalists.