DDG Ellard said: “The postponement of MC12 doesn’t mean the work has stopped. In fact, we are doing everything possible to increase the momentum to get to the point where ministers can make decisions.” She outlined the areas of negotiations where considerable progress has been achieved, such as domestic services regulation, gender and the environment.

MC12 was postponed indefinitely late last November due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant outbreak.

With respect to fisheries negotiations, DDG Ellard noted that while members have made tremendous progress, work remains to be done. In particular, she noted that divergences remain on issues relating to special and differential treatment for developing countries. Underlining the continued deterioration in the state of global fish stocks, she noted that most WTO members have little interest in simply codifying the status quo and are aiming to impose discipline on fisheries subsidies. She also emphasized that delivering on a fisheries deal can be seen as signalling whether members can deliver in other areas.

With respect to the pandemic response, DDG Ellard observed that the issues surrounding negotiations on a TRIPS waiver remain contentious, but the Director-General is working with members to bridge the gap.  At the same time, she said that members are productively discussing trade-related issues relating to the pandemic, such as trade facilitation, preparedness, transparency, and export restrictions.  In addition, the WTO has been providing members with concrete factual information on issues such as supply chain bottlenecks and listing the inputs needed to make vaccines, which enables policymakers to make sound decisions on trade facilitation.

In response to a question regarding the use of industrial subsidies by members, DDG Ellard noted that the WTO is a member-driven organization and that the initiative to launch negotiations on this issue has to emanate from members. She noted that the first step is to gather the relevant facts.  To that end, the WTO, together with the World Bank, the IMF and the OECD, has been conducting a study on subsidies, which is at an advanced stage.

Commenting on dispute settlement, DDG Ellard noted the progress made in talks regarding WTO reform, and she observed that there is more dialogue between members on this issue than in the past. She pointed to some positive trends, such as the United States' decision not to appeal the panel report in DS577 (US — Ripe Olives from Spain) as well as members' use of creative ways to resolve disputes, such as bringing in facilitators to help find mutually agreed solutions.

Regarding the state of e-commerce negotiations, DDG Ellard noted that participants in the plurilateral initiative on e-commerce have reported good progress. At the same time, she stressed the need to address broader issues such as bridging the digital divide and the extension of the e-commerce moratorium.