Omani trade minister begins last tour negotiations with WTO

Makboul Ali Soltan, the Omani trade and industry minister is due to head to Geneva on Thursday leading an Omani delegation. This will be the last negotiations tour with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Following this tour, Oman is anticipated to soon be joined to this organization. Makboul said that following Thursday's tour, things will be clear on whether Oman's efforts have removed the obstacles to joining.

The agreement of the WTO commits any country that wants to join it to implement its terms for market access, and to negotiate terms of entering the WTO with member countries.

The WTO provides rules and dispute settlement mechanisms for trade amongst nations, and had 135 countries as members as of last year.