The governments of Burkina Faso, Burundi, Haiti, Madagascar, Mauritania, Rwanda, Suriname, Uganda and Uruguay have applied for accession to the GSTP Agreement. At its 21st, 22nd and 23rd sessions held in July, September and November 2005 respectively, the Committee of Participants welcomed the applications and invited the governments of the acceding countries to participate in the Third Round of negotiations.

The Committee also requested the Negotiating Committee to examine the applications with a view to making recommendations, which may include draft protocols of accession.

The Negotiating Committee supervises the Third Round of GSTP negotiations, launched in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June 2004.