Kazakhstan, Astana, Aug. 6 / Trend D.Mukhtarov /
Kazakhstan's main bilateral talks to join the World Trade Organization with States Parties will be held this year, the Kazakh Ministry of Economic Integration said on Monday.
"The processes of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on WTO accession will be completed before the end of 2012," the ministry said.
According to the ministry, as a result of the work in the first half-year protocols on completion of bilateral negotiations on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO with Argentina and Saudi Arabia have been signed.
"At the same time Kazakhstan has completed bilateral negotiations on access to market of goods and services with all WTO member countries interested in access to markets of Kazakhstan," the report said.
Among them are Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Pakistan, Turkey, China, Korea, Oman, Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Norway, Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Egypt, Israel, Brazil, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, India, Ecuador, El Salvador, U.S., EU, Guatemala, Argentina, Saudi Arabia.
"In addition, given the need to adjust tariff rates on goods in connection with obligations under the Customs Union until October 2012 it's planned to complete negotiations with some members of the working group on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO," the report says.
In addition, bilateral negotiations with the European Union on the issue of application of Kazakhstan's export duties on sensitive products for the EU within the framework of Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO are nearing completion.
In the period from May to September this year, talks are held on measures of state support for agriculture.
"Later, before November 2012 the multilateral negotiations will be completed and the final version of the draft report of the working group on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO will be prepared. In the future, the entire package of documents signed is subject to ratification," the report stresses.
In April 2012 Geneva hosted the 11th session of the working group on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO, which considered and discussed the draft final document, which describes the trade and economic regime in Kazakhstan and secures the conditions and obligations of States under the WTO membership.
According to the ministry, at this meeting, the working group members learned about the latest developments in the Kazakhstan legislation and plans for legislative reform to bring it into line with WTO agreements.
"In general, the negotiations are conducted based on the priorities of the state's economy, taking into account development objectives of the processing industry sector," the ministry said.
Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO will allow to bring to a new level foreign economic relations with the countries participating in the organization, as well as deepen the cooperation with the states - partners in the formation of Common Economic Space.