Exchanges continue over Lebanon’s accession to the WTO

Diverging stands continue surfacing over Lebanon’s planned accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the private sector obviously in favor for a number of reasons. This view was clearly articulated by the head of the Federation of Lebanese Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Mohamad Shucair, who said the country cannot remain outside the organisation like other economically weak states. Similarly, the head of the Lebanese Businessmen Gathering, Fouad Zmk7hal, considered that joining the international organization will constitute an incentive for starting sectoral and legislative reforms at the national level. In fact, he said, many WTO-stipulated provisions, notably public health and intellectual property protection, require reforms that fall in the interest of any member or non-member country. On the other hand, the president of the Lebanese Farmers’ Association, Antoine Howayek, pointed out  to An Nahar newspaper, some of the negative outcomes on agriculture, building his analysis on similar ramifications that have befallen the sector after an earlier accession to the Agreement for the Facilitation and Promotion of Intra-Arab Trade and the Lebanese-European Partnership Agreements. “Why venture into a new, probably bad, experience,” Howayek asked, describing Lebanon’s would-be membership as an outdated move. He explained that most member states are now dropping out, particularly in the wake of the 2008 world financial crisis. Only 5% of the Lebanese population, mostly big investors will benefit from the process, he added. His view was shared by the head of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi who expressed his total rejection to Lebanon’s membership for the same reasons mentioned above. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, March 17 and 18, 2016)