This publication covers the treaty instruments drawn up by WTO Members in relation to the Agreement Establishing the WTO and the multilateral and plurilateral trade agreements annexed to this Agreement. It lists the signature dates of WTO agreements and the dates of acceptance or amendments to these agreements. It also provides the date of their entry into force as well as for other communications and declarations received by the WTO Director-General in his capacity as depositary. This publication reflects several WTO accessions and treaty amendments since the previous edition. Following a brief introduction, a dedicated section provides a comprehensive summary of the establishment of the WTO and the evolution of its treaty instruments. It also provides information on depositary notifications by the WTO Director-General, the relevant volumes of the WTO and UN Treaty Series, and treaty registration with the United Nations. Hyperlinks in the PDF allow readers direct access to the relevant WTO and UN documents.

Open global trade has had positive effects for African industrialization and development. Keeping markets open and predictable, as well as fostering a more generally favourable business environment, will be critical to spur renewed investment in Africa and support the continent’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This report looks at efforts to help African countries build capacity and to take fuller advantage of the benefits that trade brings. It examines various activities and projects the WTO is implementing in the continent, including in the areas of trade facilitation, compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and capacity building for trade and production. The report also looks into projects aimed at mainstreaming trade into the national development strategies of African countries. International cooperation, a multilaterally coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis and a reinvigorated multilateral trading system have the potential to lessen the effects of the pandemic and bolster Africa’s economic growth.

Cette nouvelle édition donne un aperçu de l’objet et de la portée de l’Accord sur les obstacles techniques au commerce (OTC), des types de mesures qu’il couvre et des principes clés de l’Accord. Il vise à améliorer sa compréhension.