Tonga's plan to become a member of the World Trade Organisation WTO in July this year is now very doubtful, according to Paulo Kautoke, the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industries.

Paulo said this morning that nothing has been done to Tonga's application for a WTO membership since it was deferred last June for 12 months. He said that the event of November 16 last year and the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa has preoccupied government, but "hopefully by the end of this month or early next month, Government will be in a good position to make a firm decision with regards to Tonga's accession to the WTO," said Paulo.

Tonga was scheduled to accede to the WTO in July last year, but it was deferred to enable Tonga to fulfill some essential requirements, such as the implementation of a new taxation system, and a new tariff system. The numerous disruptions in the proceeding of the Tongan parliament last year, and its abrupt closure in November left a number of legislations which were essential for the economic development of the country unattended to.

Tonga, since 1995 has been restructuring it economy with the intention of eventually becoming a member of the WTO and be part of the Global Economy, but the event of 16/11 has force a halt on a number of these development programs.