ACCESSION OF THE UNION OF THE COMOROS

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME LIMIT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROTOCOL
ON THE ACCESSION OF THE UNION OF THE COMOROS

Communication from the Union of the Comoros

        The following communication, dated 11 July 2024, addressed to the Director‑General and the Chairperson of the General Council, has been received from the Union of the Comoros.

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        I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Union of the Comoros completed the ratification of the Protocol of Accession (contained in _WT/L/1186) on 19 June 2024. However, due to unforeseen domestic circumstances, the Government of the Union of the Comoros has not yet accomplished the ratification of the 2022 Fisheries Protocol, which inserts the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies into the WTO Agreement.

        As per the provisions of paragraph 178 of the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros (_WT/ACC/COM/51), Comoros has made a commitment to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at the same time as it accepts its Protocol of Accession to the WTO. To respect this commitment, Comoros would need additional time, beyond the time limit of 31 August provided for under paragraph 7 of the Protocol on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros to the WTO.

        Under these circumstances, the Union of the Comoros would like to request the inclusion in the agenda of the next WTO General Council meeting of an item concerning the extension of the time limit for acceptance of the Protocol of Accession until 31 December 2024. If this time limit were granted, it would allow Comoros to accomplish all necessary procedures relating to the ratification of the 2022 Fisheries Protocol.

        However, should it turn out that it is possible to complete all the necessary requirements sooner, the Union of the Comoros will immediately take all the steps required to deposit the instrument of acceptance well in advance of the new time limit of 31 December 2024.

        While renewing the thanks of the Comorian Government under the leadership of His Excellency Mr Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, for the constant and constructive engagement Your Excellencies have shown in the accession of Comoros to the WTO, and trusting that the request set out herein will be granted, please accept, WTO Director‑General and Chair of the WTO General Council, the assurance of my highest consideration.

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