NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) — Tonga’s plan to become a member of the World Trade Organization WTO in July this year is now in doubt, according to Paulo Kautoke, the chief executive officer for the Ministry of Labor Commerce and Industries.
Kautoke said nothing has been done to follow up Tonga’s application for WTO membership since it was deferred last June for 12 months.
He said the event of Nov. 16 last year and the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa has preoccupied the government, but “hopefully by the end of this month or early next month, government will be in a good position to make a firm decision with regards to Tonga’s accession to the WTO,” said Paulo.
Tonga was scheduled to accede to the WTO in July last year, but it was deferred to enable Tonga to fulfill some essential requirements, such as the implementation of a new taxation system, and a new tariff system.
The numerous disruptions in the proceeding of the Tongan parliament last year and its abrupt closure in November left a number of measures essential for the economic development of the country unattended.
Tonga since 1995 has been restructuring it economy with the intention of eventually becoming a member of the WTO and be part of the global economy, but the events of Nov. 16 have forced a halt on a number of these development programs.