WTO: 2016 NEWS ITEMS

MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES


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> Chair’s summary of the informal ministerial meeting

In assessing the state of WTO negotiations after the successful outcome at the 10th Ministerial Conference held last year in Nairobi, the participants heard from WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo that interaction among members has been constructive in discussing the way forward but that negotiators now needed to move from a period of reflection to one of action.

“The period of reflection was valuable and many good ideas have been explored and tested. But we must now move to the next stage where governments make concrete proposals on what they would like to see in terms of outcomes at the 11th Ministerial Conference and beyond,” said DG Azevêdo.

He urged ministers to be engaged and to provide political support to the negotiating process.

“Ministers need to be involved directly or agreements will not be reached. You need to meet often, be engaged and be active,” he said.

The discussion also saw support for the rapid implementation of agreements reached in Nairobi and at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement and on agriculture issues. They also discussed the need to bridge long-standing differences in agriculture, including trade in cotton, industrial goods, trade in services and WTO rules.

In seeking to advance work, there was also a strong view from a number of the ministers that new thinking would be required — and there was a willingness to intensify their own involvement in the discussions to help facilitate this process.

Many also supported discussing issues such as digital trade, enhancing the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the trading system and services facilitation.  

There was also strong support for development to remain a key consideration in all this work.

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