Chaired by Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, ambassador Omar Zniber, the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the bilateral negotiations between the Union of Comoros and the WTO member states on market access, to examine the new version of the draft report of the Working Party following the answers provided by Comoros to the additional questions posed by members and the status of the “legislative action plan to ensure compliance of national laws with WTO agreements” and finally, to determine the next steps of the work of this Group.
During the meeting, Zniber praised the work that Comoros has done since the 6th meeting of the Group, held last September, to complete its bilateral negotiations with WTO member states, culminating in the signing of the agreement with the United States and the European Union. He also recalled that the accession of Comoros remains the most mature file, and that the established objective of completing the accession of the Union of Comoros to the WTO before the end of this year has become more achievable than ever.
Furthermore, the ambassador reiterated his strong encouragement to delegations to show more flexibility and work towards completing the accession process within the stipulated time.
He also urged the WTO Secretariat to continue to provide the necessary technical assistance to accelerate this process, especially in areas where Comoros would need specific support.
The meeting was marked by the presence of a large Comorian delegation, led by Mze Abdou Mohamed Chanfiou, Minister of Finance, Budget and Banking, Chief Negotiator, as well as the Vice-President of the National Assembly.
The Comorian minister reiterated his country’s commitment to rapidly complete the accession negotiations, noting that the Comorian Parliament continues to intensify the legislative agenda in line with the commitments made.
Several regional groups including the European Union, the African Group, the Arab Group and the Least Developed Countries Group, as well as WTO member states, particularly the United States, China, Canada, Brazil and the Sultanate of Oman, have all welcomed Comoros’ legislative efforts to bring its economic and trade regime into compliance with WTO rules.
For its part, the Moroccan delegation made a statement in which it reiterated its continued support for the accession of this brotherly country to the WTO.
Morocco welcomed the firm determination of the authorities of the Union of Comoros to adopt the necessary legislation, while encouraging their undeniable efforts to harmonize their legislative and legal arsenal and align it with the rules and requirements of the accession protocol to the WTO.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse