By Stefan Armbruster BBC News Online business reporter

Afghanistan starts on the long road to WTO membership

Afghanistan has asked to join the 146-member World Trade Organisation (WTO), but it could take years before it is admitted.

The transitional government, installed by the US in December 2001, sent the request to the trade body on 10 April, a WTO spokesman told BBC News Online.

The 146-member general council meets on 15 May when the request will be tabled, and if accepted will give Afghanistan observer status.

This would allow officials from Afghanistan to attend WTO meetings, even though the country wasn't yet a proper member of the organisation.

"If there are no objections, a working party will be established to consider the application but it is the start of a fairly long process," said WTO spokesman Luis Ople.

Afghanistan would join a waiting list of 26 countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Serbia who also want to join.

Fast track

The working party will negotiate terms and conditions of membership.

"Afghanistan is eligible under the fast track procedures recently adopted by the WTO for poorer countries," said Mr Ople.

"The applicants are given extensive technical assistance and the demands are less stringent," he added.

Usually applicants must make their laws consistent with the WTO rules before they become members.

Fast tracking gives poorer countries longer transition periods to introduce the necessary laws.

Waiting list

But it could still take many years before Afghanistan is admitted.

China's application took a record 15 years to process before it joined in December 2001.

Requests by Iran, Syria and Libya have been blocked by the US and as a result they do not even enjoy observer status.

Cambodia and other countries could be given full-membership at the WTO's ministerial meeting in September in Cancun, Mexico.