Tonga will become a full member of the World Trade Organisation on July 27, after filing formal ratification papers with the WTO Headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday.

The Tonga government believes that joining the WTO is the right thing to do, according to Tevita Kolo-ki-Hakau-Fisi, a senior officer with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Tevita said that his ministry filed Tonga's formal ratification papers in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 27, "and Tonga will become a full member of the WTO 30 days from that date."

Tonga was originally scheduled to become a member of the WTO, last July, but according to the Secretary for Finance, 'Aisake Eke, because of opposition from church groups it was then deferred for another year while government held dialogues and discussions with these groups.

Tonga will become the 151st member of the World Trade Organisation on July 27Edit summary [2]

The WTO stated that as part of its accession package, Tonga has agreed to make several commitments to liberalize its trade regime, including lowering all import tariff lines to 15 or 20 percent within one year.

The Tongan parliament last week passed a bill lowering all tariffs to 20%.

Tonga's Minister of Finance, Hon. Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, in a Press Conference on Friday June 29, said that the introduction of Excise Duties would help government reclaim the revenues that it is going to lose by lowering its tariff rates.