Liberia – the road to the WTO

In 2013, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Liberia had the objective to get the country into the World Trade Organization. In 2016, this became a reality. National Board of Trade Sweden was there to support the country on its road to WTO. Listen to Jesse Jefferson Fahn from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry when he describes the journey.

Jesse Jefferson Fahn from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Liberia about becoming a member in the WTO.

At that time, Liberia was in big need of technical and financial assistance. We had the opportunity to receive the intervention through the National Board of Trade. It was timely and it also supported the country’s objective and the political agenda of acceding the World Trade Organization, says Jesse Jefferson Fahn.

The aim of the project for National Board of Trade Sweden was to enhance the capacity of the Ministry and to assist the country on its road into the World Trade Organization. To become a member of the WTO, a country needs to negotiate an agreement that receives the approval of all WTO member states. To make that happen, a number of domestic reforms is usually required. Liberia succeded to do this in a short period of time and in 2016, the country became a member of the WTO, much earlier than expected.

National Board of Trade Sweden assisted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry throughout the entire process, in Geneva and in Monrovia. But our cooperation did not end after acceding the WTO, National Board of Trade are still working with us, it is a partnership in progress.