The joint UNDP/WTO training course on goods schedules took place in Tashkent for the Government officials of Uzbekistan. More than 20 participants from the government ministries and agencies benefited from the training by enhancing their knowledge on the bilateral market access negotiations on goods and technical aspects of goods schedules.

“It is important to keep in mind that the WTO accession is essentially an instrument of domestic reform. Applying for WTO membership signals the readiness of a government to undertake deep reforms; it can be a mechanism to intensify and accelerate domestic structural reforms beyond simple trade policy.

Typically WTO accession is part of a broader structural reform package and not its cause. Many newly acceded Members have used the accession process to promote domestic reform and modernization, and to attract foreign direct investment,” noted Mr. Jurgen Richtering, the international consultant on WTO and the trainer of the course in the opening of the course.

The participants were trained on practically all aspects of bilateral negotiations on market access for goods starting from compilation of the Initial Offer to the Consolidated Schedule. The training also allowed for combination of theoretical presentations with practical simulation exercises on market access negotiations aimed at improving skills of government officials in carrying out effective bilateral negotiations.

As a follow up to this training course, it is expected that participants will apply the knowledge and gained skills in compiling Uzbekistan Goods Offer for WTO accession.

Since the founding of the WTO in 1995, 36 new Members have completed their accession processes, bringing the WTO membership to 164 countries and customs territories. Another 21 acceding governments, including Uzbekistan are currently in the process of pursuing their negotiations to join the WTO.