News from the ACWL
Costa Rica joins the ACWL
On 29 March 2005, Costa Rica initiated the process of acceding to the Agreement Establishing the ACWL. The terms and conditions for Costa Rica's accession will be agreed between Costa Rica and the ACWL's General Assembly.
Costa Rica's accession would bring the number of Members eligible for the services of the ACWL to 28. About two-thirds of the developing countries and customs territories that have participated in the WTO dispute settlement proceedings as complainant or respondent have decided to become a Member of the Centre. The developing countries and customs territories that have participated in the WTO dispute settlement proceedings actively but not sufficiently often to have acquired substantial experience in that area have been particularly interested in becoming Members of the ACWL. Once Costa Rica is a Member, all of the developing countries and customs territories that participated in such proceedings more than twice and fewer than 18 times will have joined the Centre.