Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 / Trend A.Akhundov /
Member-states participating in multilateral negotiations regarding Azerbaijan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) must submit their new proposals to Baku by late January of 2013, head of the negotiating group on Azerbaijan's joining WTO, Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told Trend today.
Last week, the Azerbaijani delegation took part in bilateral and multilateral negotiations in Geneva. Azerbaijan's updated proposals on goods and services, domestic support for agriculture and trading system were discussed during negotiations.
"Bilateral meetings were held with the U.S., Brazil, Japan, Canada, Norway and the European Union," he said. "As usual, the parties asked Azerbaijan to reconsider the proposals and to give more concessions. There was a useful exchange of information and data. Multilateral negotiations on agriculture and the trade regime passed normally. The countries asked questions, clarified certain things. The Azerbaijani delegation answered all questions.
He added that the date of the next (6th) round of talks has not been determined yet.
"We agreed that the countries will submit written proposals on agriculture and trade regime within the multilateral negotiations by late January," he said. "Some member-states participating in bilateral talks have submitted updated proposals to Azerbaijan. Others will submit them soon. We will work on these issues and new proposals. When everything is ready, we will submit the documents. Afterwards, a date for the next round of talks will be determined."
Today, Azerbaijan is in the process of bilateral negotiations with the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, the European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, Canada, Switzerland and Honduras.
Azerbaijan started negotiations in 2004.
Negotiations have been completed and protocols were signed with Turkey, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The signing of protocol with Moldova is underway; the country is still considering the document.
Azerbaijan's working group to the WTO was established on July 16, 1997.Since 1997, has held observer status at the World Trade Organization.