Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference
26 February - 2 March 2024 Abu Dhabi (UAE)
The WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) took place from 26 February to 2 March 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ministers from across the world attended to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO. The Conference was chaired by H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
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Video recordings of the Opening Ceremony, press conferences, WTO-organized side events and the Closing Ceremony are available.
The opening session took place on Monday 26 February followed by a ceremony to mark the accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste and a ceremony for the latest acceptances of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. On the same day, two "ministerial conversations" were held on "Trade and Sustainable Development, including Trade and Industrial Policy and Policy Space for Industrial Development" and on "Trade and Inclusion". Pre-recorded general statements by ministers were posted on the website as soon as they were made available.
A "scene-setting" Heads of Delegation meeting on 27 February included reports by Geneva chairs. From 27 to 29 February, working sessions were held on various topics followed by convergence-building sessions. A Heads of Delegation meeting was held at the end of each day.
On 29 February, it was decided to extend the conference by one day, until 1 March, in order to facilitate outcomes on the main issues at stake. The closing ceremony was held in the early hours of 2 March.
Practical information for accredited NGOs attending the 13th Ministerial Conference is available here.
Practical information for journalists attending the Conference is provided on the link below.
These briefing notes were prepared ahead of MC13 to provide background information on issues relevant to the Ministerial Conference. While every effort has been made to ensure the contents are accurate, they are not legal interpretations of the WTO agreements, nor do they prejudice member governments’ positions.
