The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The country has formally resumed its accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO), with 17 accession-related documents updated, verified and finalized for submission to the WTO Secretariat and member states for review.
The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji said that the move follows the approval of the 13th Five-Year Plan by the Cabinet in June 2025, after which the government undertook extensive technical work to align accession documents with current national laws, policies and institutional frameworks.
Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji said that the documents were finalized through a whole-of-government approach involving consultations and coordination among relevant agencies. The Cabinet has now endorsed the submission of the documents for onward circulation to the WTO Secretariat and WTO members.
According to MoICE, the circulation of the documents marks a significant milestone in Bhutan’s WTO accession process and will form the basis for upcoming Working Party negotiations with WTO member countries. Discussions are expected to take place through both multilateral and bilateral negotiations.
Among the key negotiation documents are the Draft Working Party Report, Bhutan’s Offer on Specific Commitments in Services, and its Offer on Specific Commitments in Goods.
The ministry stated that Bhutan’s approach to WTO accession remains calibrated, transparent and development-oriented, ensuring that the process aligns with national interests, economic priorities and the country’s broader development philosophy.
Lyonpo Namgyal said WTO membership is expected to support Bhutan’s deeper integration into the global trading system, improve market access opportunities, strengthen investor confidence, enhance trade predictability and contribute to long-term private sector development.
The 17 accession-related documents include the Draft Working Party Report, legislative inventory, legislative action plan, trade facilitation action plan, customs valuation checklist, state trading questionnaire, import licensing procedures questionnaire, and several action plans related to the implementation of WTO agreements.
Other documents include Bhutan’s commitments and implementation plans related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, technical barriers to trade (TBT), trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS), domestic support and export subsidies notification for agriculture, and a draft subsidy notification.
The ministry said the updated submissions are expected to guide the next phase of Bhutan’s WTO accession negotiations in the coming months.
