WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo on 5 October welcomed news that the European Union has completed its ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), giving a big boost to efforts aimed at bringing the Agreement into force. European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn met with DG Azevêdo in Istanbul, where the three are attending a Group of 20 trade ministers meeting.

On 1 October 2015, the European Council adopted a decision approving, on behalf of the EU, the conclusion of the Protocol establishing the TFA.  The TFA will enter into force once two-thirds of the WTO membership has formally accepted the Agreement. 

“I am delighted that the European Union has completed its ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement Protocol,” DG Azevêdo said, adding that he hoped WTO members would build on this momentum to have as many TFA acceptances as possible by the organization's Nairobi Ministerial Conference in mid-December.