The World Trade Organisation (WTO) announced that its members of the Working Party on the Accession of Yemen had, on 26 September 2013, agreed the terms of WTO membership for Yemen. The following is the media release issued by the WTO. The accession package will be presented to the WTO General Council for adoption by all 159 WTO members and subsequently to the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, 03 to 06 December 2013, for a formal decision by ministers. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed the decision of the Working Party. “I am honoured to close my first accession chapter as the new WTO Director-General,” said Mr Azevêdo. “The accession of Yemen will further the universal nature of the multilateral trading system. I am sure that integration into the global trading system will help spur Yemen’s economic growth and promote further social development.” While negotiating the terms took some time, the Director-General quoted a Yemeni proverb to illustrate the importance of ensuring the right legal framework for the accession. “Setting the conditions before you make an agreement is better than having an argument once the deal has been done,” said Mr Azevêdo. In the 11th meeting of the Working Party, WTO members concluded 13 years of negotiations. Yemen’s terms of membership, contained within its accession package, include reforms to Yemen’s trade laws, commitments on market access for goods and services, a draft decision for adoption by the General Council, and Yemen’s draft Protocol of Accession. Yemeni Minister of Industry and Trade H.E. Dr Saadaldeen Talib said: “Although Yemen accession has taken more than a decade to achieve, this is not to say that Yemen has reached the finishing line, but rather a new starting point for integration into the multilateral training system, global economy and most significantly a better future for the New Yemen.” The Chairman of the Working Party, H.E. Hartmut Röben stated: “It gives me great pleasure to note that the Working Party on the Accession of Yemen has accomplished its task successfully. Accession to the WTO is a long and arduous process, which requires difficult policy decisions. This is a tribute to both the Multilateral Trading System and the Government of Yemen.” Yemen would become the seventh least-developed country to join the multilateral trading system since 1995. During the accession process, WTO members have worked with Yemen to adapt its trade laws to WTO rules and have trained its government officials. Members said they would continue to provide Yemen with required technical assistance in its post-accession process.