General Council approves streamlined WTO membership talks for poorest countries

The following is a 25 July 2012 news item from the World Trade Organization.

WTO members, meeting as the General Council on 25 July 2012, formally approved new guidelines to enable least developed countries to negotiate membership of the WTO more quickly and easily.

The decision was taken following an agreement in the Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries on 29 June, subject to no further objections by 6 July.