Paro — June 2, 2026 — Bhutan has restarted its accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a significant step in its economic transition after graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2023. The move reflects Bhutan’s ambition to strengthen competitiveness, deepen global engagement, and build resilience in an increasingly fragmented global trade environment.
WTO accession is complex, requiring institutional readiness, regulatory reforms, and technical negotiations on market access and commitments. For small economies like Bhutan, the process is particularly challenging due to limited resources and competing development priorities. To address this, Bhutan has turned to South-South cooperation, drawing lessons from peers across the Global South.
With support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Indian think tanks, Bhutanese officials have engaged in peer learning and practical exchanges with experienced negotiators. This approach has helped Bhutan’s WTO team deepen their understanding of accession issues, from scheduling commitments to post-accession obligations, while also exploring strategies for economic diversification such as Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Peer learning has proven more effective than theoretical models, offering real-world insights into how developing countries navigate trade-offs, institutional reforms, and negotiation challenges. Bhutan’s experience highlights the importance of regional cooperation and practical expertise-sharing, especially as multilateralism faces growing pressures and geopolitical divisions reshape trade relations.
As Bhutan advances in its WTO journey, its reliance on South-South cooperation underscores a broader lesson: developing countries are often strongest when they learn from one another. By combining local priorities with peer-driven knowledge, Bhutan is building confidence to undertake complex reforms and integrate more effectively into global markets.
