Kazakhstan, EU agree on market access terms as part of WTO accession bid
ASTANA. July 26 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan, which is planning to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), has completed bilateral talks over the terms of access to its national market of goods from the European Union, the country's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said.
"Talks on the terms of access to the Kazakh market for goods from the United States and the EU have been completed. All in all, the bilateral talks over the market access for goods and services have been completed with 24 member states of the working group and relevant protocols have been signed," Economic Development and Trade Minister Kairat Kelimbetov said in a report distributed by the ministry.
Talks over the republic's accession to the WTO are being held on the basis of a "harmonized position on the issues which are within the remit of the Customs Union commission," the ministry said.
It was reported earlier that Kazakhstan is hoping to conclude the talks over its WTO accession before the end of 2012. Talks with the U.S. over access of its goods to the Kazakh national market were completed in November 2010.