Getting the Fundamentals Right
The early stages of Afghanistan's WTO accession process.
Afghanistan should be in no rush to join the
World Trade Organisation.
Rapid accession would have few benefits and could undermine efforts
to reduce poverty. Careful planning and negotiation is the only
way to avoid onerous commitments that have been forced on other
very poor countries and to make the best of the potential benefits
that membership of the multilateral system can offer. Given the
country's severe poverty, massive reconstruction effort and
ongoing security concerns, all parties involved in the process
should promote an appropriate, pro-development accession package
for Afghanistan that is in line with its least developed country
(LDC) status.
Publication Date:
28 June 2007 
