Lebanon will be present in Cancun, Mexico for the World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings in early September as an observer, putting aside the empty chair position adopted in Doha in 2001 and reflecting the country’s commitment to accede to the WTO. Following two negotiation rounds – the first was in October 2002 and the second is slated for fall 2003 – Lebanon hopes to achieve member status by 2005. Without debating globalization, the WTO is an evolving mechanism that regulates international trade. With over 145 member countries, a small economy that relies heavily on trade – as is the case of Lebanon – cannot develop and move forward if it opts to stay out of the global economy. Lebanon was a member of the GATT (founding institution of the WTO) and would have been automatically a member of the WTO had it not withdrawn due to the participation of Israel.
