Today it turns 19 years when Albania joined the WTO

On September 8, 2000, Albania officially joins the World Trade Organization. Albania applies a liberal market regime. Meanwhile, Kosovo has not yet joined this organisation.

Foreign trade has been liberalised since 1990 and follows standards set by the European Union and the World Trade Organization.

For 19 years she has been a member of the WTO and applies the WTO regime on the import licensing procedure. As a result of market liberalisation and the ongoing process of linking the customs regulatory framework with EU system standards, import and export of goods, as a general rule, do not depend on any particular authorisation.

Bilateral or multi-racial agreements in which Albania is a party can set quotas, or search requirements. Also, the need for license devices exists in the case of specific items with limited circulation within the country, such as military and strategic goods, radioactive materials and psychotrope substances, medicines, and so on.

Albania has committed to liberalising its tax regime by implementing a tariff reduction process, - implementing all commitments stemming from agreements on Technical Bars at Exchange (TBT) and the Sanitary and Fiscanial Standards (SPS) ; -The Albanian Customs Code stresses that the customs assessment will be made in accordance with WTO requirements;- Albania is a member of the OBPI (World Intellectual Property Organization) since 1992 and it has recognised several international agreements in this area.

Albania commits to implementation of T Agreement RIPS and all copyright legislation. Albania has also signed the relevant memorandum on the Regime of Intellectual Property.

Exporting goods does not subject to any particular export, tarifa or other barrier. Also, import of goods is not subject to any tax import obligation except to customs duties. Import of goods is subject to T SUCH and such products as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and fuels are subject to excises.