Kosovo is one of the newest countries in the world, which, after independence in 2008, has made many efforts to establish a western democratic system and a free market economy. As a partially recognized state and disputed territory by Serbia and its allies, Kosovo became a part of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in 2007, initially as UMNIK, then under its official name. This research paper intends to highlight the need for Kosovo to be a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), taking into account the challenges and opportunities encountered in the process of starting negotiations and being a member or observer in this organization. Through the analysis of statistical data on Kosovo's foreign trade and other relevant indicators for this research, as well as through data obtained from interviews conducted with the heads of the Department of Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Kosovo, we conclude that obstacles that Kosovo has not yet applied to be part of the WTO are mainly technical and political. Kosovo's challenges and opportunities categorize into three levels: international, state, and microeconomic. Kosovo's participation in the international trade arena will be a challenge for the government which has to make legislative changes and the custom tariffs revenues will be lower; for domestic companies facing external competition, and it will be a good option for consumers who will pay less for their products and services.
Keywords: WTO, Kosovo, negotiation, trade, accession
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