Algerian Minister of Trade Mustapha Benbada is hopeful that the country can complete the process of accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by the end of 2015.
“We are due to answer questions at the 12th (WTO negotiation) round in June, which will make it possible for us to hold a new series of negotiations before the end of the year. I hope that the 13th meeting will be the penultimate round of negotiations,” he told a news conference here Thursday.
According to Benbada, the working team tasked with Algeria’s adherence to the two commitments, consisiting of the European Union and the United States, appreciated Algeria’s progress in the accession process as well as the quality of the documents presented during the 12th round.
“The delegations consider that Algeria is nearing completion of the accession process.”
During the last round of negotiations, Algeria agreed to receive additional questions of WTO members as well as their requests concerning market access by the beginning of next March.
Algeria will answer the new questions and requests by the end of 2014, ahead of the next meeting next autumn, the minister said.
