A training course on market access for governments in the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) has concluded in Geneva. The event saw participation from countries including Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The course aimed to guide these nations on preparing initial goods offers and consolidating bilateral market access agreements.
During the opening session, Maika Oshikawa, Director of the WTO Accessions Division, highlighted the program's significance. “Managing market access negotiations on goods alone can be a challenging task, even for the biggest economies with capacities,” she said. “This training is designed not only to equip you to start negotiations but more importantly to successfully conclude them.”
The curriculum featured lectures and interactive exercises led by WTO experts. Participants engaged in roundtable discussions with representatives from selected WTO members active in accessions and negotiators from recently acceded governments. These sessions provided insights into bilateral negotiations—a key aspect of market access talks with specific WTO members.
Bokhodirjon Bobokulov from Uzbekistan’s State Customs Committee noted that he gained valuable skills: “I gained practical knowledge on negotiating market access, analysing non-tariff barriers and aligning trade policies with WTO principles.” Sharmarke Abdi Jama from Somalia's Office of the President emphasized strategy: “The course significantly enhanced my understanding of tariff schedules...while also aligning with global trade rules.”
Diveen Abduraheem from Iraq’s Ministry of Trade praised the comprehensive nature of the training: “Through this course, I improved my understanding of WTO rules and trade agreements...Overall, the course has prepared me for real-world trade negotiations.”
A similar training session focusing on navigating WTO rules took place in December 2023.