Practical Guide to WTO Accession for States and Separate Customs Territories: Article XII, Working Parties, MFTR, and Current Accessions
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Practice notes
This Practice Note offers practical guidance on the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) accession process.
Introduction
To become a member of the World Trade Organization, a state or customs territory must hold full autonomy over the conduct of its trade policy. Once that independence is in place, the applicant begins negotiating accession, as entry requires agreement by all existing WTO Members and the terms are settled through negotiations with them. This accession route applies to states or customs territories seeking to join after the WTO’s creation. By contrast, the original contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947 became original WTO Members under Article XI of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (Marrakesh Agreement).
Legal basis for accession
Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement sets out the legal basis for accession to the WTO...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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