Ethiopia and Brazil Sign Bilateral Market Access Protocol in WTO Accession Push.

Hornpost staff Reporter January 29, 2026 No Comments

Geneva, Switzerland (Horn post) Ethiopia and Brazil on Tuesday signed a Bilateral Market Access Protocol on trade in goods and services at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, marking a significant step forward in Ethiopia’s long-running accession process to the global trade body.

The agreement was signed by Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew, Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, and Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the WTO.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew described the protocol as both a major technical achievement and a strong political signal reflecting the deepening partnership between Ethiopia and Brazil. He noted that the agreement is rooted in South–South cooperation, multilateralism, and development-oriented engagement, and emphasized that the successful conclusion of bilateral negotiations with Brazil represents an important milestone in Ethiopia’s WTO accession journey.

He further stated that the protocol will contribute to Ethiopia’s greater integration into the multilateral trading system, supporting the country’s broader economic reform agenda and efforts to expand trade and investment.

In his remarks, Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota highlighted the longstanding and friendly relations between Brazil and Ethiopia, reaffirming Brazil’s continued support for Ethiopia’s bid to join the WTO. He noted that Ethiopia’s eventual membership would strengthen the multilateral trading system by incorporating a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, while also opening new opportunities for deeper economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Patriota reiterated Brazil’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia as it advances toward the successful completion of its accession process, underlining Brazil’s interest in expanding bilateral trade and investment ties.

Both ambassadors expressed appreciation to the WTO Secretariat for its ongoing technical support and facilitation throughout the negotiation process.

The ceremony concluded with the formal exchange and deposit of the signed protocol and its annexes with the WTO Secretariat, formally recording the agreement as part of Ethiopia’s accession documentation.

Ethiopia has been negotiating bilateral market access agreements with WTO members as a core requirement for accession, and the signing of the protocol with Brazil represents a notable advancement in that process.

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