Permanent representatives from the World Trade Organization member countries will meet Thursday, November 29, in Geneva, Switzerland to analyze Cape Verde’s application to join the world body. On December 6, they will meet again to review the report elaborated by United States ambassador Skark, who presides over the commission in charge of Cape Verde’s candidacy. The report will subsequently be sent to the WTO secretary general to be discussed in the next General Council meeting.

The process through which Cape Verde will join the World Trade Organization is practically complete. On November 29, representatives from WTO member countries will meet in Geneva to analyze the trade accords Cape Verde has signed with the European Union, the United States, Brazil, Japan and Canada.

The representatives will meet again on December 6 to review the final report from US ambassador Skark, who presides over the commission responsible for the process through which Cape Verde intends to become a WTO member. The same report will then be sent on to general director Pascal Lamy, who is expected to place it on the agenda of the next WTO General Council meeting, also scheduled for December. Following this step, the General Council must approve a recommendation authorizing the WTO to sign an accord with Cape Verdean authorities.

Cape Verde’s State Secretary of the Economy, Jorge Borges, will travel to Switzerland tomorrow to follow the unfolding of this final phase in the process.

Source: A Semana