Kingdom Prepares Ground for WTO: Yamani Brings New Momentum to WTO Talks. (Economy)

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In a fresh move to restart stalled World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession talks, the government is preparing to conclude all pending bilateral negotiations with WTO working party members by the end of this year. The ambitious plan was announced by Commerce & Industry Minister Hashim Yamani during the Saudi Ministerial Business Conference at the Royal United Services institute (RUSt) in London on 24 June.

The government has been in formal negotiations over possible accession to the WTO since 1993, but although the process has been held up at times, it has remained a key goal for many Saudi policymakers. With the appointment of Yamani as Commerce & Industry Minister in …