The Azerbaijani government has received approval from four countries to hold bilateral negotiations in Geneva in February as part of the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), the head of the negotiating group, deputy foreign minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told media today.
"The U.S, EU, Canada and Ecuador are among them, but Norway and Japan are also likely to join the talks," Mr. Mammadguliyev said.
The bilateral talks will be held within the IX round of multilateral talks scheduled for Feb.24.
The last meeting (VIII round of multilateral talks) was held in Geneva on Oct.18, 2010 and bilateral meetings on issues of trade and services were held with the U.S., the EU, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Chinese province of Taiwan and the WTO other members on Oct.19-22, 2010.
The Azerbaijani delegation held bilateral talks with a number of countries in Geneva on July 25-29, 2011. These included EU, Ecuador, Switzerland, Brazil and China though this country is still in talks with WTO 12 members. The U.S. expressed desire to meet with Azerbaijani negotiators during multilateral talks.
During the next round of multilateral talks between Azerbaijan and the WTO new Factual Summary consolidated report by Azerbaijan's suggestions for member countries will be discussed. Earlier the Azerbaijani government presented its answers on question of the WTO members to the Secretariat and on this basis it prepared Factual Summary consolidated report. The document is a report on work carried out by Azerbaijan to become member of the WTO.
Mr. Mammad-Guliyev said that it is planned to hold multilateral talks on agriculture on Feb. 23.
Under the talks Azerbaijan continues work on adjusting national legislative base in accordance with the WTO requirements as well as on improving current trade regime. About 40-50 legislative acts should meet requirements of the organizations and 30 of them have already been unified and work in this direction will continue in 2012.
One of the main issues when holding multilateral talks on conditions of membership in the WTO is question of the country's status. Azerbaijan claiming on status of developing country grounds it with the fact that despite rapid development of the economy there is still one million of refugees and internally displaced persons in the country.
The government's task during the talks on membership in the WTO is maximum protection of national business and producer. Azerbaijan offered average level of bound tariff on agricultural complex to be 14.1 per cent while in developed countries it its 22.8 per cent, in developing - 12.7 per cent and in under-developed countries - 15.4 per cent.
Average customs tariff in Azerbaijan is 9.4 per cent against 9.6 per cent in developed and 17.7 per cent in underdeveloped countries.
Azerbaijan has been represented in the WTO as observer since 1997 and started talks in 2004. At present Azerbaijan is holding bilateral talks with the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri-Lanka, the EU, Norway, India, South Korea, Chinese province of Taiwan, Canada and Switzerland.
Talks have been completed and protocols have been already signed with Turkey, Oman, the UAE, Georgia. Azerbaijan is currently at stage of signing protocol with Moldova which still examines the document while Kyrgyzstan has already agreed to sign it./.