2012 a “Crucial” Year For Algeria's WTO Accession, Benbada

The year 2012 is “crucial” for Algeria’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), said Monday Minister of Trade, Mustapha Benbada.

At the sidelines of a meeting with executives of the sector held in Algiers, Mr Benbada told reporters that “2012 is going to be the year of the firm resume oftalks with the WTO, as we are intending to make a big and crucial step forward,” adding that Algeria’s file is ranked “complete,” according to both Head of the working group in charge of accession of Algeria, and Director General of the WTO, Pascal Lamy.

The minister further stressed that the support of the United States and the European Union is likely to speed up the access of Algeria.

“US Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Jose W.Fernandez has already mentioned that his country is ready to back up the access of Algeria to the WTO.”

Earlier, Mr Benbada said informal talks to be held in March with members of the working group to prepare the 11 round of multiparty negotiations scheduled for June or September 2012.