DUSHANBE, January 15, Asia-Plus  -- An interagency two-level commission for issues of Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been set up.

The two-level commission, set up by government’s resolution of November 20, 2007, is a body under the government to coordinate concerted actions of relevant central organs of the executive power to implement tasks on Tajikistan’s admission to WTO as well as provide interaction and participation of the country within the WTO.  

The first-level commission provides the single strategy of interaction between Tajikistan and the WTO, facilitates implementation of the national policy on development and improvement of trade activity, promotes preparation of draft resolutions requiring amendments to the existing foreign trade system of Tajikistan, including removal of discriminating obstacles, as well as organizes interaction among the relevant central organs of the executive power on cooperation with the WTO and considers proposals of the second-level commission, ministries and organizations on the terms of joining the WTO.  

The second-level commission, for its part, considers issues related to the process of Tajikistan’s admission to the WTO, participates at working meetings on Tajikistan’s joining the WTO, conducts bilateral negotiations with member nations of the WTO, conducts consultations with member nations of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) on coordinating positions in negotiations on joining the WTO, coordinates activities of the relevant ministries and organizations on examination of the country’s legislation for bringing it into compliance with the WTO, etc. 

Members of the first-level commission, led by Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda, include heads of the ministries of foreign affairs, energy and industries, agriculture, finance, and justices, as well as deputy economic and trade minister,  head of economic reforms department of the president’s office, and head of the WTO department of the ministry of economic development and trade.  

The second-level commission members include deputy heads of the customs services, agency for standardization and metrology, as well as senior representatives from the relevant ministries, central bank, central committee for statistics, central committee for investments and management of state-owned property, tax committee and the agency construction and architecture.  The second-level commission is led by deputy economic and trade minister.  

We will recall that after the third formal meeting of the Working Party, Tajikistan took necessary measures to remove obstacles on the way of the accession of Tajikistan to WTO, which were mentioned at the meeting.  Among them are issues related to reforming the commodity-and-raw-materials exchange, licensing transparency, export/import of alcohol drinks and so forth.  

The third formal meeting of the Working Party was held in Geneva on October 6, 2006.  The meeting in Geneva focused on the regime of foreign trade of Tajikistan. 

The Working Party on the accession of Tajikistan was established by the General Council on July 18 2001.  A Factual Summary of Points Raised (summarizing the discussions of the group) was circulated informally in April 2005 and revised in May 2006. Negotiations conducted in October 2006 discussed revised offers on goods and services.