Viet Nam to join WTO on Jan 11

Viet Nam informed the WTO on 12 December 2006 that it has ratified its membership agreement. It will now become the WTO s 150th member on 11 January 2007.

More information on Viet Nam s membership negotiations and the final deal in ascending order:

Viet Nam is set to become the WTO s 150th member following a decision by the General Council on 7 November 2006 to approve the Southeast Asian country s membership agreement. The remarkable efforts that Viet Nam has put into preparing for membership should be an inspiration to us all, as several members have observed, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said.

WTO members negotiating the terms of Viet Nam s membership completed their task on 26 October 2006 by accepting the documents spelling out Viet Nam s commitments and rights. The documents will now go to the full membership in the General Council, which will meet in on 7 November, to decide on accepting Viet Nam.

WTO members negotiating Viet Nam s membership deal began intensive consultations on 9 October 2006 aimed at putting the final touches to the package of agreements and completing the deal by the end of the month.