[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1134, 524], "category": "Text", "text": "**WTO Accession Negotiations** – Timor-Leste attaches great importance to WTO accession in order to integrate into the world trading system. In November 2016, the Government submitted its application for accession to the WTO. The Working Party to examine Timor-Leste’s WTO membership was established in December 2016. As a first step in the accession process, the Government submitted its Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) in June 2017 for review by other WTO members. As of today, two Working Party meetings have been held to review the MFTR and discuss the terms and conditions of accession. The Government has also made two initial market access offers on goods and services and started bilateral negotiations on tariffs and services with some WTO members. During the multilateral and bilateral WTO membership negotiations, the Government needs to conduct extensive consultations with the private sector and other stakeholders on the rights and obligations embedded in WTO membership. On the legislative front, Timor-Leste is required to update its laws and regulations through a Legislative Action Plan (LAP) which should bring legal and regulatory systems consistent with WTO principles, rules and practices and to submit translations of its draft and adopted WTO-related legislation to enable members to track its legislative reforms under the LAP. The WTO accession negotiations have been led by the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs (CMEA)."}, {"bbox": [96, 534, 1134, 1041], "category": "Text", "text": "**EU Pacific EPA Negotiations** – Timor-Leste informed the EU on 19 July 2020 of its intention to accede to the EU-Pacific EPA, to which Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Island and Samoa are already signatories. As a signatory to the Cotonou Agreement, Timor-Leste is eligible to join, despite being in Southeast Asia. The EU-Pacific EPA was intended to make easier for the businesses and people from EU and the Pacific countries to invest in and trade with each other and to spur development across the Pacific. The EPA will continue to provide tariff- and quota-free access to the EU market once Timor-Leste graduates from Least Developed Country Status. The EU-Pacific EPA foresees asymmetric provisions in favour of Pacific countries, such as the exclusion of sensitive products from liberalisation, longer liberalisation periods, more flexible rules of origin, etc. In addition, there are also special safeguards and measures for agriculture, food security and infant industries. Under the EPA the Parties have reaffirmed their commitment to the respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and to good governance, which constitute essential and fundamental elements of the post-Cotounou Agreement, and to sustainable and equitable development, along with greater involvement of an active and organised civil society and the private sector, which, along with the market economy, are the main elements recognised in the post-Cotonou Agreement as contributing to achieving the objectives of the partnership. Both parties have initiated technical talks with the view to EPA accession, subject to the submission by Timor-Leste of a GATT 1994 Article XXIV compliant market access offer, to the EPA Parties for a decision. The Government of Timor-Leste is currently preparing an offer and is receiving support from the PRISE programme (Pacific Regional Integration Support Programme). The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI) is leading and coordinating the EU-Pacific EPA negotiations for the country."}, {"bbox": [96, 1052, 1134, 1239], "category": "Text", "text": "As a very small island and least developed country, Timor-Leste is facing enormous challenges in negotiating the above three major agreements at the same time. The conclusions of these agreement negotiations and accession and subsequent implementation of the commitments and obligations under the ASEAN (AEC), WTO and EPA will have huge impacts on the country and the people. As a result, this proposed Action is closely linked to the economic growth and sustainable development of Timor-Leste, particularly to its economic integration, trade and connectivity in the region and with the rest of the world. It will contribute directly to SDG 8 and underwrite the objective of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific."}, {"bbox": [96, 1249, 1134, 1384], "category": "Text", "text": "Timor-Leste has ratified most international human rights and ILO conventions, committing to uphold universal human rights obligations, norms and standards. Acknowledging that trade agreements can affect the enjoyment of human rights, including women's rights, the Action will contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and gender equality. It is aligned with the Gender Action Plan III and its intention to promote economic and social rights and empower girls and women."}, {"bbox": [85, 1409, 340, 1441], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 1468, 405, 1496], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Main Problems and Challenges:"}, {"bbox": [96, 1507, 1134, 1642], "category": "Text", "text": "Timor-Leste has determined to integrate its economy better into the Southeast Asia and with the world trading system. This is a non-partisan issue in Timorese politics, although the country had presidential elections in April 2022 and will have parliamentary elections next year. Membership of ASEAN, WTO and EPA is considered as a key element to diversify the economy that has the potential to contribute to the job creation and poverty reduction for the country. However, to complete the above three major accession and subsequently implement the"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 22"}]