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WTO accession and compliance

World Trade Organization

The WTO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade in goods, facilitating trade in services, protecting intellectual property rights, harmonizing trade rules, and strengthening the rule of law. 

RTLC will work to improve compliance with key WTO agreements, including: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT), Trade-related Intellectual Property Standards (TRIPS), TRIMS, and Customs Valuation.  Visit WTO information for more details on WTO and key relevant agreements.

Key Constraints

• Insufficient compliance of existing rules and regulations with the WTO (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan)
• Lack of compliance with WTO commitments (Kyrgyzstan)
• Technical barriers to trade that create unnecessary obstacles to import and export
• Insufficient understanding of WTO accession and related reforms

Planned Activities

RTLC will work with countries on the following activities:

• Revising legislation and regulations to comply with the WTO rules (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan)
• Improved compliance with WTO commitments (Kyrgyzstan)
• Establishment of WTO-compatible regimes for food safety, animal health and plant health
• Modernization of technical regulations and standardization
• Improved compliance and effective enforcement of intellectual property rights
• Increased awareness and understanding of WTO accession through training, education programs and information dissemination
• Training for government agencies and businesses on WTO compliance: food safety, standardization, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights
• Establishment of an effective notification mechanism covering WTO agreements (Kyrgyzstan)
• Preparation for and conduct of WTO accession negotiations

Expected Output

• Progress towards WTO accession in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
• Improved compliance with WTO commitments in Kyrgyzstan
• Greater compliance of technical regulations and product standards with WTO agreements
• Improved understanding of WTO accession and support for related reforms

This website is made possible by the support of the American People through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of The Service Group (recently acquired and currently doing business as AECOM International Development) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.