After years of debate, Iran filed a membership application with the WTO July 19, 1996. But Iran did nothing about the application for years. In 2001, some WTO members proposed taking up Iran’s application, but the Bush Administration vetoed that every quarter until May 2005.
With the end of U.S. opposition, a formal working party was established in May 2005. But Iran was required to submit a memorandum describing its current trade regime so the WTO could see what needed to be changed to bring Iran in line with WTO rules.
Iran finally submitted that memo November 24, a total of 4 1/2 years after the Bush Administration veto was lifted.
The Islamic Republic regularly and bitterly complained about the Bush veto, but has been silent on why it has delayed acting on its application for longer than the Bush veto held up the application.
The WTO told the Iran Times last week that the memorandum is currently being studied. But it also said no chair for the Iran working party has yet been appointed and this must be done before the working party can meet and start active negotiations for Iran’s membership.
