Comoros officially becomes the 165th member of the WTO

After 17 years of negotiations, Comoros has officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). While WTO members gave their formal approval for Comoros’s accession last February, the country only became a full member on Tuesday.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sees this development as an opportunity for Comoros to modernize and transform its economy. She also believes it could support the country’s efforts to integrate more fully into the African continent’s regional markets.

However, for these benefits to be realized, Comoros will need to adapt to its new role within the WTO and adhere to its commitments. Each new member must meet the concerns of existing members and resolve any outstanding issues through both bilateral and multilateral negotiations. This process ensures that all parties agree before a country is granted membership.

As the 165th member of the WTO, Comoros will be required, among other obligations, to eliminate agricultural export subsidies entirely. Agriculture remains a vital part of the Comorian economy, with subsistence farming being the predominant activity.

The European Union and the United Arab Emirates are currently the most significant trading partners for Comoros, according to the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP).

Meanwhile, 22 other governments, including eight from Africa, are still in the process of negotiating their accession to the WTO. The organization oversees the global rules of trade, aiming to ensure smooth and predictable commerce between nations.