• Ethiopia, China sign market access deal as part of WTO accession process
• Agreement ends bilateral talks; follows similar deal with Turkey in October
• Ethiopia advancing reforms to align with WTO rules and attract investment
  

Ethiopia and China have signed a protocol on market access at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva.

 The Ethiopian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva announced the agreement in a Facebook post on Nov. 5, 2025, saying it concludes bilateral negotiations between Addis Ababa and Beijing on market access for goods and services under Ethiopia’s WTO accession process.

“This milestone follows constructive dialogue and technical negotiations between the two countries,” the Mission said. “It reflects their shared commitment to deepening economic cooperation and advancing a fair, inclusive, and rules-based global trading system.”

Advancing a Long-Delayed WTO Bid

Ethiopia has been pursuing WTO membership for years, though talks were suspended in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government says it has since introduced reforms to liberalize its economy and bring national regulations in line with WTO standards.

The measures include more open banking and foreign exchange sectors, easier conditions for foreign investors, and a larger role for the private sector.

In September, Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe Balami said WTO membership would give Ethiopia access to a market of 120 million people, create new opportunities for global trade and investment, and boost confidence in the country’s accession process.

The latest deal follows a similar agreement signed with Turkey on Oct. 17, 2025, as Ethiopia continues its drive to join the WTO.

Lydie Mobio