Ethiopia has successfully concluded a Bilateral Market Access Protocol with New Zealand. The agreement, signed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, marks a pivotal breakthrough in Ethiopia’s long-standing pursuit of full WTO membership and signals a renewed momentum for East Africa’s largest economy on the international stage.
The protocol was formalized by two high-ranking diplomats: Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew, Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, and Ambassador Clare Kelly, New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and the current Chair of the WTO General Council.
For Ethiopia, the signing is much more than a routine diplomatic procedure; it represents a concrete advancement in an accession process that has spanned years. Addressing delegates at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Tsegab emphasized that the accord is a testament to the burgeoning economic relationship between Addis Ababa and Wellington, while also underscoring both nations’ steadfast commitment to a predictable, open, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system.
He noted that WTO membership remains a core strategic national priority for Ethiopia that is deeply intertwined with the country’s broader home-grown economic reform agenda. Ethiopian officials view this accession as a critical catalyst for domestic transformation, anticipating that aligning with global trade standards will enhance trade competitiveness by forcing local industries to upgrade standards, attract foreign direct investment by providing regulatory predictability, expand market access for exports like agriculture and textiles, and foster sustainable, long-term economic growth.
Ambassador Clare Kelly congratulated the Ethiopian delegation on reaching this milestone, reaffirming New Zealand’s continuous backing of Ethiopia’s integration into the global trade network. As the current Chair of the WTO General Council, Kelly’s endorsement carries significant diplomatic weight, potentially encouraging other member states to expedite their bilateral negotiations with Ethiopia. Ambassador Kelly expressed strong confidence in Ethiopia’s capability to sustain its current momentum, praising the technical and political dedication demonstrated by the Ethiopian negotiation team in overcoming complex regulatory hurdles throughout the process.
The journey to WTO accession is notoriously rigorous, requiring aspiring nations to secure individual bilateral agreements with interested member states while simultaneously reforming domestic laws to align with multilateral agreements. Currently, Ethiopia’s bilateral negotiations are in an advanced stage as they continue to sign market access protocols with key partners, while domestic policy alignment remains underway to update customs, intellectual property, and investment laws. The final multilateral review to approve the Working Party report and the complete accession package stands as the upcoming definitive phase.
By successfully locking in the protocol with New Zealand, Ethiopia has cleared one of the most substantial hurdles remaining on its roadmap.
The agreement not only injects fresh energy into the country’s economic modernization agenda but also sends a clear message to the international community that Ethiopia is ready, willing, and opening its doors to the global marketplace. As domestic reforms continue to align with international benchmarks, full WTO membership moves from a distant aspiration to an approaching reality.
