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Policy  /  Economic Affairs
  

 Accession process of Latvia to the WTO – chronology of events


1992

  • September 29

The start of Latvia's accession process to the WTO, which prior to the conclusion of the Uruguay Round was known as General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), where Latvia was participating as the observer.


1993

  • October 26

Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia adopts a decision on the launching of accession process with the aim to obtain the status of Member. 

  • December 11

Latvia submits to the WTO a communication with respect to the accession to GATT.

  • December 17

Latvia's communication to commence the accession process is included in the agenda of the GATT Council meeting. The Council supports Latvia's wish to accede to the GATT and decides on the establishment of a working party, which is to examine the memorandum by Latvia on its foreign trade regime. The protocol adopted by the working group is to be the basis for the formal accession of Latvia to the GATT.

 

1995

  • January 1

In the result of Uruguay round negotiations GATT is transformed into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

  • February 7

Considering the organizational changes, Latvia's accession process to the GATT is reformulated as the accession process to the WTO. Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia adopts a corresponding decision.

  • March, 28-29

The first meeting of the working party of the accession. Representatives of Mexico, Australia, Brazil and Canada express will to engage into bilateral market access negotiations with Latvia. Later bilateral negotiations are held also with Switzerland, New Zealand, Argentina. Latvia similarly consults with the European Commission.

  • November 7

Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia establishes a working group to prepare for negotiations with the WTO Members on Latvia's market access conditions – both for trade in goods and services.

  • November 13

The second meeting of the Working party of Latvia's accession to the WTO, in Geneva. Members conclude that the next meeting presumably could be the wrap up of the fact finding on Latvia's foreign trade regime and the work on drafting the accession protocol could be started.

 

1996

  • March 4-8

Conference on Global Trade liberalization and the perspectives of the Singapore Ministerial conference.

  • March 22

The third meeting of the Working Party of Latvia's accession to the WTO, in Geneva. The meeting reviews the situation in bilateral negotiations on market access with the interested WTO Members, submitted replies by Latvia to the questions concerning its trade regime, which were put after the second meeting, as well as the proposed suggestions by Members to be included in the accession Working party report, which will be an integral part of the accession protocol. 

  • July 11

Cabinet of Ministers approves the mandate for the bilateral negotiations with the WTO Members on market access for trade in goods and services.

  • September 11-19

Round of bilateral negotiations with the interested WTO Members (US, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico and Australia) concerning the access conditions of Latvia's market.

  • September 16

The fourth meeting of the Working party, in Geneva.

 

1997

  • February 19-27

Round of bilateral market access negotiations with the interested WTO Members, in Geneva.

  • February 27

The fifth meeting of the Working party. The review of the Latvia's foreign trade regime is completed and is considered, with a few exceptions, to be compatible with the provisions of WTO Agreements. Discussions with regard to the commitments Latvia will have to undertake with the accession. Members recognize the achieved progress in harmonizing the national legal acts with the provisions of the WTO. The main outstanding problem is whether Latvia will be able to fully comply with the requirements of WTO Agreement on trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS).

  • September 22-24

Round of bilateral negotiations with the interested Members on Latvia's commitments in market access for trade in goods and services, agricultural support and export subsidies. An informal meeting of the Working party to discuss the final formulation of the accession protocol. Formal conclusion of bilateral negotiations with New Zealand and Canada, and agreement with Australia, Mexico and Switzerland.

  • October 16-17

Bilateral talks with US in Washington, however no agreement is reached with respect to Latvia's commitments in audiovisual services sector.

  • December 11-16

Round of bilateral negotiations with remaining interested Members concerning market access, agricultural support and export subsidies.

  • December 11

Consultations with the European Commission, particularly concerning the European Commission's position with respect to Latvia's market access for audiovisual services, but no solution is reached.

  • December 11 and 15

Completion of bilateral negotiations with Australia on market access for trade in goods.

  • December 15

Completion of bilateral negotiations with Mexico on market access for trade in goods.

  • December 15

Negotiations on agricultural support and export subsidies (5+1) with a participation of US, Australia, European Commission, New Zealand and Canada representatives. Discussions concerning the form and document which is to reflect commitments in agriculture, undertaken by Latvia.

  • December 16

Bilateral negotiations with Switzerland on market access for trade in services.


1998

  • January 16

Signed US – Baltic Charter of Partnership, which affirms US political commitment to support Latvia and the other Baltic States in acceding to the WTO and integration to the EU, whereas both of these processes are closely related and interdependent, as the commitments undertaken by Latvia in the framework of accession to the WTO must be approximated with the EU common commercial with respect to third countries. While signing the Charter, the agreement was reached that the issue concerning the market access for trade in audiovisual services will be subject to bilateral consultations between US and the European Commission. With the agreement in audiovisual services sector, which is essentially the last outstanding issue, the process of bilateral negotiations will be concluded.

  • May 5

Informal meeting of the Working party, in Geneva. Review of the draft accession protocol, considering the resolution issued by the Prime minister of the Republic of Latvia.

  • May 26

Bilateral US – Latvia economic consultations in Washington.

  • June 2

According to the order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, a working group comprising the representatives of line ministries is established in order to coordinate the completion process of Latvia's accession process to the WTO. 

  • June 29

Meeting of the European Commission representatives in Brussels, in which also the issue of audiovisual services and potential solutions are considered with a view to proceed with the finalization of Latvia's accession to the WTO.

  • July 15

Meeting of the WTO General Council, the accession of Latvia to the WTO is included in the agenda. Delegation of Latvia emphasizes the quality of its undertaken market access commitments and the compatibility with the corresponding Members' requests, and consequently invites to conclude the accession process. The soon accession of Latvia to the WTO is explicitly supported the European Commission, Norway, Australia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Japan, Jamaica.

  • July 28

Cabinet of Ministers adopts Latvia's position (mandate) for negotiations with the WTO Members on market access in the sector of audiovisual services. Mandate provides for undertaking commitments on market access with respect to foreign investment in the sector of movie theatres and video rentals according to the effective provisions of the Republic of Latvia.

  • August

A compromise solution concerning the US request to Latvia in the sector of audiovisual services is reached within the consultations between the European Commission and US. This issue was the sole unresolved item standing in the way to conclude Latvia's accession process to the WTO.

  • September 13-16

Final round of bilateral negotiations in Geneva with the interested WTO Members to discuss Latvia's commitments and their formulation.

  • September 15

Informal meeting of the Working party, in which Members assess highly the work done by Latvia in preparing the documentation relating to accession and agrees on the schedule of formal conclusion of the accession process.

  • September 29

Formal meeting of the Working party, which adopts Latvia's accession protocol and its annexes.

  • October 14

Signed Latvia's accession protocol to the WTO, in Geneva.