Australia and Timor-Leste conclude bilateral market access negotiations at the WTO

I am pleased to announce the conclusion of Australia’s market access negotiations with Timor-Leste as part of its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

I am particularly pleased to make this announcement following a meeting with my Timor-Leste counterpart H.E. Mr Joaquim Amaral, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, in the sidelines of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva.

The conclusion of bilateral market access negotiations will be formalised with an exchange of letters between Australia’s and Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representatives to the WTO.

Australia looks forward to working with Timor-Leste to enhance its access to, and benefits from, the multilateral rules-based trading system.  Its accession to the WTO will support Timor-Leste’s further integration into the regional and global economy, and promote its sustainable growth and economic resilience.

Australia will continue to support Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO through targeted technical assistance and capacity building to help Timor-Leste accede and implement its WTO obligations.

Timor-Leste applied for WTO Membership in 2016 and is aiming for WTO accession by early 2023.