Azerbaijan’s membership in the World Trade Organization will be resolved in 2014-2015, as stated by Vahid Ahmedov, a member of the parliamentary committee for economic policy, AZE.az reports.
The MP reminded that Azerbaijan has fees for imports and exports of agricultural products to protect the domestic market. The fee rates are under discussion. Azerbaijan will have some years to decide. Some states get 5-6 years to adjust their custom rates.
Oil and petroleum are the main export products of Azerbaijan and do not cause any problems for WTO membership. The issue in need of talks is exports of non-petroleum products, Ahmedov notes.
Azerbaijani membership in the WTO would end state monopolies. A special commission for WTO membership was formed. Ahmedov believes that the sooner Azerbaijan joins the international organization the better.
Azerbaijan will hold the next round of talks on WTO membership in Geneva on February 24.
