Bhutan successfully convened the 5th Working Party Meeting on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 9 July 2026. The meeting formally resumed Bhutan’s accession negotiations after an interval of eighteen years, marking a historic milestone in the country’s accession journey. The Bhutanese delegation, led by Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Hon’ble Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE), comprised the Secretary of the Ministry, senior representatives of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), and members of the Country Working Party Team drawn from the Department of Trade and other key government agencies. Bhutan’s WTO accession journey began in 1999 with the establishment of its Working Party. Four Working Party Meetings were subsequently held between 2003 and 2008. The decision to resume the accession process was approved by the Lhengye Zhungtshog in 2025, paving the way for the resumption of formal negotiations following extensive national preparations, including the updating, validation and circulation of nineteen accession-related documents covering the country’s trade regime, laws, regulations, institutional arrangements and market access commitments. Addressing the Working Party, Hon’ble Lyonpo reflected that although eighteen years had passed since Bhutan’s last Working Party Meeting, the passage of time had enabled the country to learn more, strengthen its institutions and become better prepared for WTO membership.
Hon’ble Lyonpo updated WTO Members on the considerable economic, legislative, institutional and regulatory reforms undertaken by Bhutan over the intervening years. These include improvements to the country’s trade and investment environment, modernization of laws and regulations, strengthening of public institutions, and continued efforts to diversify the economy. At the same time, Hon’ble Lyonpo highlighted the structural challenges faced by Bhutan as a small, landlocked developing country that recently graduated from the Least Developed Country category. Members were called upon to calibrate their expectations to Bhutan’s present realities and development needs as the accession negotiations progress. On the sidelines of the Working Party Meeting, Hon’ble Lyonpo and the delegation held bilateral meetings with H.E. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); H.E. Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Acting Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD); and H.E. Mr. Alexander Kmentt, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Austria to the WTO and Chair of Bhutan’s WTO Working Party. The delegation also undertook bilateral market access negotiations with interested WTO Members to advance Bhutan’s accession process.
The successful resumption of Bhutan’s WTO accession process marks an important step in the country’s ongoing economic development. Bhutan remains committed to pursuing an accession outcome that is balanced, practical and aligned with its long-term development aspirations by fostering a more open, transparent and predictable business environment, strengthening confidence among investors and trading partners, promoting private sector growth, and creating greater opportunities for economic growth, trade and employment.
The Royal Government’s approved WTO Accession Roadmap targets Bhutan’s accession by the end of 2028, subject to the successful conclusion of all negotiations and the fulfilment of the accession process.
