Accession to the World Trade Organization

A Legal Analysis

Elgar International Economic Law series

Dylan Geraets, Associate, Mayer Brown, Brussels and Associate Fellow, Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

This detailed and perceptive book examines the extent and scope of how rules for accession to the WTO may vary between countries, approaching the concerns that some countries enter with a better deal than others. Dylan Geraets critiques these additional ‘rules’ and aims to answer the question of whether new Members of the WTO are under stricter rules than the original Members, whilst analysing the accession process to the multilateral trading system.

‘With few volumes published on the accession process to the WTO over the past 20 years, Accession to the World Trade Organization: A Legal Analysis is a timely complement to the existing literature and delivers, beyond an analysis of the accession process, an extensive analysis of the legal status and the content of the protocols of WTO members. . . . Geraets maintains a clear and concise style throughout, tabulates information systematically where expedient, and focuses on relevant issues. The outcome is both reader-friendly and informative, making for a generally commendable read for all interested in trade law.’
– International Trade Law & Regulation

‘Close to one in four WTO members acceded to the WTO after its establishment in 1995. What is the legal status of their “entry fee” commitments? What WTO-plus and/or -minus rules can be found in the 36 Accession Protocols to date? Is the WTO veering toward a multi-tiered membership? This book is the first in-depth legal analysis of WTO accession rules and jurisprudence. An indispensable guide to understanding the role of “newcomers” such as China and Russia in the world trading system.’
– Joost Pauwelyn, Georgetown University Law Center, US

这是一个早该分析:how is one to classify and then interpret the widely different obligations found in the Accession Protocols of new members. Dylan Geraets does an admirable job in navigating these underexposed yet noteworthy new rules in the WTO system. With this book he has made his mark.’
– Marco Bronckers, Leiden University, the Netherlands