Negotiations with WTO to continue

SANA'A, Oct 22 (Saba) - Positive signs for Yemen's accession to the
World Trade Organization were manifested by the attitude of the WTO
member states particularly main members such as the US and EU,
minister of Industry and Trade said.

Upon his departure for Geneva to take part in the proceedings of
fifth round of the negotiations with the organization, Yahya
al-Mutawakil said a technical team had preceded the current
delegation to Geneva to conduct bilateral negotiations with the
main members of the WTO topped by the US, EU, Canada, Japan and
Australia.

Al-Mutawakil hopes they will launch the final stage and moving
toward preparing the final report which would be as a draft
agreement.

For his part, minister of Legal Affairs Rashad al-Rasas noted that
there was an agreement with the WTO secretariat in Geneva to discuss
goods offer presented by Yemen, executive plans and progress made
for the accession.

" During the talks, the Yemeni delegation will affirm Yemen's
desire for speeding Yemen's joining the WTO after the involved sides
agree on the start of the review of the draft report deemed as a
group agreement step with the WTO member states.

He expected the upcoming round of talks will serve a great part of
the joining requirements in light of encouraging indicators either
at the level of legislation amendments or what Yemen has received
regarding the work environment report and bilateral negotiations
with main WTO members.
FR