Ethiopia’s WTO Membership Negotiations Enter Final Phase: Ministry 

Addis Ababa, September 23, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s long-standing bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) is entering its final stretch, according to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.

After series of discussions for a long period, the ministry emphasized that successfully concluding the negotiation process and securing full WTO membership will bolster the nation's ongoing economic reforms and drive sustainable economic growth.

The Ministry stated that the accession process remains a high national priority, built on two core pillars: multilateral negotiations and bilateral market access agreements.

Under the multilateral framework, Ethiopia has navigated multiple rounds of reviews, addressing macroeconomic and trade-related inquiries from WTO member states. 

These efforts have successfully advanced the country to the final stage of drafting the Working Party Report. 

In parallel, Ethiopia has pursued bilateral market access negotiations with 17 countries. 
Formal agreements have been finalized with 11 of them, while discussions with the remaining six continue through diplomatic channels.

According to the Ministry, WTO membership will provide Ethiopia with a modern, predictable trading system, enabling the nation to safeguard its interests and participate actively in the legal and legislative processes governing global trade. 

By making export procedures more predictable and non-discriminatory, the country will unlock greater opportunities to attract foreign direct investment.
 
Furthermore, membership will expand market access, support the transition from raw material exports to deeper integration into global value chains, and strengthen institutional capacity by aligning domestic laws with international standards.

To ensure the country reaps the full benefits of membership, the government has carried out extensive preparatory work. 

This includes boosting the international competitiveness of domestic manufacturing and agriculture, enacting vital legal reforms, and raising awareness among the local business community.

Looking ahead, the Ministry outlined key priorities to finalize the accession process swiftly, including preparing for the eighth Working Party meeting, wrapping up bilateral talks with the remaining six nations, and resolving issues that require high-level government decisions. 

Sustained momentum across these areas will be critical to bringing Ethiopia's long-running WTO accession journey to a successful close.