Ethiopian Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe and U.S. Officials Negotiate Market Access and Final WTO Accession Terms

Ethiopia’s Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe meets US officials to finalize WTO market access and expand the $1.5 billion bilateral trade relationship in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 8:12 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Ethiopian News Agency

Bilateral Economic Dialogue in Cameroon

High-level diplomatic discussions between Ethiopia and the United States took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, signaling a renewed push to strengthen economic ties between the two nations. Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe led the Ethiopian delegation in talks with Ambassador Joseph Barloon, the Deputy United States Trade Representative and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization. The meeting serves as a critical touchpoint for the 120-year diplomatic relationship, which officials are now looking to leverage into more robust commercial exchange. According to Gofe, the primary objective of these sessions was to identify concrete pathways for expanding bilateral trade and addressing current imbalances in the exchange of goods and services.

Expanding the $1.5 Billion Trade Corridor

Current data indicates that the economic partnership between Addis Ababa and Washington has maintained a steady upward trajectory, with bilateral trade volumes hitting approximately $1.5 billion in 2024. Despite this growth, both parties acknowledge a significant untapped potential within their respective markets. Minister Gofe emphasized that the Ethiopian government places a high premium on this relationship, viewing it as a cornerstone of its broader foreign investment strategy. The discussions highlighted a mutual desire to not only increase the volume of trade but also to diversify the types of commodities and services being exchanged, moving beyond traditional exports to create a more resilient economic link.

Accelerating WTO Accession Protocols

A central theme of the negotiations was Ethiopia’s ongoing effort to conclude its accession to the World Trade Organization. The Ethiopian delegation reiterated its full commitment to finalizing this process expeditiously, recognizing that WTO membership is vital for integrating into the global trading system. According to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, both sides reached a shared understanding to conclude bilateral market access negotiations promptly. Finalizing these specific agreements is a mandatory step in the accession roadmap, requiring Ethiopia to align its domestic trade policies and tariff structures with international standards as defined by the U.S. and other major member states.