Accessions in progress:
> Afghanistan
> Algeria
> Andorra
> Azerbaijan
> Bahamas
> Belarus
> Bhutan
> Bosnia and Herzegovina
> Cape Verde
> Ethiopia
> Iran
> Iraq
> Kazakhstan
> Lao People's Democratic Republic
> Lebanese Republic
> Libya
> Montenegro
> Russian Federation
> Samoa
> Sao Tomé and Principe
> Serbia
> Seychelles
> Sudan
> Tajikistan
> Tonga
> Ukraine
> Uzbekistan
> Vanuatu
> Viet Nam
> Yemen

Completed accessions:
> Albania
> Armenia, Republic of
> Bulgaria
> Cambodia
> China
> Croatia
> Ecuador
> Estonia
> Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
> Georgia
> Jordan
> Kyrgyz Republic
> Latvia
> Lithuania
> Moldova
> Mongolia
> Nepal
> Oman
> Panama
> Saudi Arabia
> Chinese Taipei

News  back to top

• 27 March 2006: Viet Nam’s talks now ‘well into final stages’
• 15 December 2005: WTO Ministers successfully approve Tonga’s membership at Hong Kong Conference
• 11 December 2005: Saudi Arabia raises WTO membership to 149
• 2 December 2005: The Working Party negotiating Tonga's accession concludes its mandate

> See accessions news archive

Introduction  back to top

Basic information on becoming a member of (“acceding to”) the WTO
Links to the section of the WTO Guide “Understanding the WTO” on how to join the WTO.

A technical explanation on how to become a member of the WTO

The mandate  back to top

The legal provisions on becoming a member of the WTO

Accessions and the Doha Development Agenda

Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration

Detailed information documents on accessions procedures  

Technical note on the accession process    > help
Provides a detailed analysis of the process of becoming a WTO member

> Video: explanation of GATT Article XII procedures for accession

Work in the WTO on accessions  back to top

A working party of WTO members guides the accession process and negotiations for each membership applicant.

• Summary Table of Ongoing Accessions
    
• Protocols of accession for new members since 1995, including commitments in goods and services
    
• Secretariat technical note on current accessions    > help

> WTO membership in brief

> Summary Table of Ongoing Accessions