Ecuador became the first country to join the World Trade Organization after its founding members in 1996.
The WTO began operating on 1 January 1995 with the members that accepted the Marrakesh Agreement and the results of the Uruguay Round. Ecuador completed its accession process and became a WTO member on 21 January 1996, making it the organization’s first new member after its founding membership took effect.
Accession is not automatic. An applicant must negotiate the terms of entry, bring its trade laws into conformity with WTO rules, and secure approval from the membership. The process can take years and may involve detailed negotiations on tariffs, services, agriculture, and intellectual property.
China joined the WTO in 2001, while Russia joined in 2012 and Vietnam in 2007. Those countries are sometimes remembered more prominently because of the scale or political importance of their accessions, but none was the first post-1995 entrant. Ecuador’s accession therefore marks an early milestone in the WTO’s expansion.