The World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to approve the accession package for Timor-Leste’s membership, marking a significant step for one of the WTO's least developed countries. A formal decision on this matter is anticipated in the coming month.
According to the WTO's webpage on accession, joining the organization involves a process that allows any state or customs territory with full autonomy to become a member, albeit under certain conditions. One such condition is that all WTO members must agree on the terms of accession. The working party of Timor-Leste submitted their accession package on January 11. This follows an application for accession to WTO by the country's government in 2016, leading to the creation of a working group tasked with preparing the country’s accession package in December 2016. The discussion of this package is slated for Ministerial Conference 13, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi later in February.
WTO Deputy Director General Johanna Hill expressed her satisfaction at this development, stating, "It is indeed with great satisfaction we witness this year the completion of the Working Party process of a second LDC, this time from Asia, within the same week as Comoros. What a great way to start the new year at this organization as the membership prepares for MC13." Hill went on to highlight that "the completion of two LDC accessions represents a significant occasion for the WTO. We are opening the door to two new members for the first time since 2016 when Afghanistan and Liberia, both LDCs, joined the organization."
Timor-Leste gained its independence on May 20, 2002 following an August 1999 referendum where East Timor residents were given options between autonomy and integration into Indonesia or complete independence. According to Timor-Leste’s governmental timeline page, 78.5% of East Timor residents who voted opted for independence and rejected integration into Indonesia. However, this was not the first time that the country declared its independence. FREITLIN and Prime Minister Xavier do Amaral had previously declared the country’s independence in November 1975, which led to an invasion by Indonesia who subsequently declared it a province of Indonesia.
Rui Macieira, Chair of the Accession Working Party, commented on the significance of this step for Timor-Leste. He said, "This is the fastest accession among all the LDCs which have joined the WTO to date, as Timor-Leste has used it as a stepping stone for ASEAN accession, building a strong foundation for this young nation's economic development."