World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised Ethiopia's "dynamic progress" in accession negotiations, describing the country's process as among the most active in the organization's 2025 Annual Report on Accessions.
The praise, delivered to the WTO General Council on March 11, specifically highlighted developments Ethiopia achieved in 2025 as the country continues its pursuit of membership in the global trade body, according to Fana Broadcasting.
Ethiopia applied for WTO membership in 2003, making it one of the longest-running accession processes in the organization's history. The country has been navigating the complex requirements for membership for over two decades, a timeline that reflects both the technical complexity of WTO accession and Ethiopia's gradual economic liberalization.
The Director-General's recognition comes as Ethiopia has accelerated economic reforms that align with WTO requirements. The country has liberalized its telecommunications sector, ending Ethio Telecom's monopoly with the entry of Safaricom Ethiopia in 2022. The banking sector is opening to foreign investment for the first time, while the government launched the Ethiopian Securities Exchange in 2021.
Most significantly, Ethiopia floated its currency in July 2024 as part of an IMF-backed macroeconomic reform program, moving away from the fixed exchange rate system that had created foreign currency shortages and hindered trade.
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The developments reflect Ethiopia's broader Homegrown Economic Reform agenda, which aims to transform the country from a largely state-controlled economy to a more market-oriented system. WTO accession would represent a capstone achievement for these reforms, potentially opening new export opportunities for Ethiopia's coffee, textiles, and horticulture sectors.
However, membership would also require painful concessions, including tariff reductions that could expose domestic industries to increased competition and limits on agricultural subsidies that support millions of smallholder farmers.
The most recent African country to join the WTO was Comoros in 2024, which completed its accession process after 17 years of negotiations. Ethiopia's process has been longer, reflecting both the country's larger, more complex economy and its historically cautious approach to economic liberalization.
While the Director-General's praise signals positive momentum, diplomatic recognition does not guarantee imminent membership. Ethiopia must still complete technical negotiations on market access commitments and resolve outstanding issues with WTO members before accession can be finalized.
