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Article: WTO Approves Saudi Arabia Membership Bid
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- November 11, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Associated Press. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Associated Press. (Hide copyright information)
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BRADLEY S. KLAPPER, Associated Press Writer
AP Online
11-11-2005
Dateline: GENEVA
The World Trade Organization on Friday approved Saudi Arabia's bid to become the 149th member of the global group, winding up a 12-year negotiating process slowed by the country's participation in the Arab League boycott of Israel.
The acceptance by all WTO members is necessary before a new member can be admitted, and Saudi Arabia made a number of agreements with different countries on opening up its markets.
Itzhak Levanon, Israel's ambassador to the WTO, said Saudi Arabia had provided sufficient guarantees in its accession process that it would follow the WTO's rules, which include "not having a boycott ...