ACC25-1

Following CRT-12 in Abu Dhabi, the first Round Table organized in the Arab region, the 13th China Round Table (CRT-13) will convene on 12-14 May 2025 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. This event, building on the achievements and outcomes of the previous round table, including the Arab Study, will further delve into Arab perspectives on WTO accessions and the multilateral trading system, with particular insights from Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) , all of which are either Original Members or Article XII Members. The CRT-13 aims to leverage the momentum and insights gained to support Arab acceding governments in navigating the accession process, utilizing WTO membership to foster economic policy coherence, and achieving economic growth and development through accelerated accession. The focus of this Round Table will be Advancing Arab Economies: From Strategic Accessions to Trade Integration Through Private – Public Partnership. Additionally, with the recent accession of Comoros and active efforts by other Arab nations, there is some momentum toward greater WTO representation for the region. This round table will explore post-accession progress and how such experiences can inform the strategies of other acceding countries.
Against this background, the 13th China Round Table will aim to:
• Commemorate Oman's 25th Anniversary of WTO Membership
• Evaluate the efforts in implementing recommendations from the Arab Study and its subsequent impact in facilitating Arab countries' WTO accession efforts.
• Assess the role of regional Arab integration for Arab acceding governments as a stepping stone to WTO membership.
• Examine the role played by the private sector in advancing Arab accessions.
• Draw from the experiences of Arab Members to outline practical steps for acceding governments, emphasizing economic policy coherence and how to best utilize WTO membership for economic growth and diversification.