Ukraine‘s accession documents were adopted by the WTO’s General Council in February.

Kiev then ratified its accession package on April 16, which was the final step in the accession process before it could officially join the WTO.

Under WTO rules, a country becomes a member 30 days after national ratification.

“I am very pleased to welcome Ukraine as a new member. It is a significant step for the WTO as this new membership will strengthen the multilateral trading system,” WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said in a statement.

Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country by area, is a land of agriculture and heavy industry with a population of 46.6 million people. Its main trading partners are the European Union, Russia, Turkey, Belarus and the United States.

The country started its WTO accession negotiations in 1993. (Xinhua)