The Struggle for Middle Eastern Nations to Join the World Trade Organization

Abstract

The article explains the significant positive impact the World Trade Organization (WTO) could have on the Middle East and international trade globally, but the struggle Middle Eastern countries are having in their accessions to the WTO. There is a comparison within the article, between Middle Eastern Countries that have acceded to the WTO and Middle Eastern Countries that have been the accession process for many years with very little progress in gaining membership. The article makes suggestions on how the Middle Eastern Countries stuck in the accession process can advance by following in their neighbors’ steps, as well as, why current WTO members should support Middle Eastern Countries’ accession, due to the vast benefits membership would reap bringing about peace, security, and solidarity.