Discussion on mutual obligations between Azerbaijan and WTO states ends

By AzerNews

Azerbaijan completes the negotiations on mutual obligations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) member-states, head of financial-tariff and exchange regulation department of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee Mirgasim Vahabov said at the meeting of the Azerbaijani parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy last week.

"According to the WTO procedures, around 13 rounds of negotiations must be held to join this organization. Azerbaijan is at the ninth stage of the consultations. The intensive talks on mutual obligations are held within it," he said.

The procedural rules will be discussed with WTO member-states within the next (10th) phase.

He said Azerbaijan held the bilateral talks with about 50 countries as part of joining the WTO and relevant documents were adopted.

"It is important for Azerbaijan to join the organization in terms of increasing the trade turnover, but some negative impact on the economy of the country is possible," he said.

Currently, the maximum rate of import customs duty is 15 percent.

"During the initial negotiations, the Azerbaijani side offered the rate of 50-60 percent, but while discussing, the limit was lowered.Today, some countries are willing to import their products to Azerbaijan at a zero rate. This can be a serious obstacle to the economic development and agriculture," he said.

Despite the development of the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan, in particular, agriculture, the products produced in the country are not very competitive. "Therefore, we must be careful in the process of negotiations to protect the domestic market and national interests," he said.

Azerbaijan has been represented at the World Trade Organisation as an observer since 1997 and began negotiating in 2004. Azerbaijan is holding bilateral negotiations with the United States, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, Canada, Switzerland and Honduras.

Negotiations with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan have been completed and protocols were signed. The country is in the process of signing the protocol with Moldova and China.

"According to the WTO procedures, around 13 rounds of negotiations must be held to join this organization. Azerbaijan is at the ninth stage of the consultations. The intensive talks on mutual obligations are held within it," he said.

The procedural rules will be discussed with WTO member-states within the next (10th) phase.

He said Azerbaijan held the bilateral talks with about 50 countries as part of joining the WTO and relevant documents were adopted.

"It is important for Azerbaijan to join the organization in terms of increasing the trade turnover, but some negative impact on the economy of the country is possible," he said.

Currently, the maximum rate of import customs duty is 15 percent.

"During the initial negotiations, the Azerbaijani side offered the rate of 50-60 percent, but while discussing, the limit was lowered.Today, some countries are willing to import their products to Azerbaijan at a zero rate. This can be a serious obstacle to the economic development and agriculture," he said.

Despite the development of the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan, in particular, agriculture, the products produced in the country are not very competitive. "Therefore, we must be careful in the process of negotiations to protect the domestic market and national interests," he said.

Azerbaijan has been represented at the World Trade Organisation as an observer since 1997 and began negotiating in 2004. Azerbaijan is holding bilateral negotiations with the United States, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, Canada, Switzerland and Honduras.

Negotiations with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan have been completed and protocols were signed. The country is in the process of signing the protocol with Moldova and China.