The Union of the Comoros, an Indian Ocean island state, has joined the World Trade Organization as its 165th member, following 17 years of negotiations, the WTO announced in Geneva. East Timor is to become the 166th in a few days. “Comoros can use WTO accession as a vehicle for modernization, economic transformation and a complement to the country’s regional integration agenda on the African continent,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. The WTO promotes sustainable global trade through treaties and easing technical barriers to trade. It also supports low-income countries in settin…