Minister Al Zeyoudi said he could detect the participating ministers' commitment to build on the discussions, with a view to delivering outcomes at MC13. The informal meeting addressed the topics of development and e-commerce following an earlier “mini-ministerial” on 28 November which focused on agriculture.

“There is a clear desire to advance together to enable the WTO to facilitate the achievement of members' development objectives, including addressing challenges and seizing opportunities provided by e-commerce,” Minister Al Zeyoudi said. 

“Given what is at stake, we cannot afford to waste another second,” he said. “Now is the time to get together and deliver on development and e-commerce for the benefit of all.”

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on ministers to use the remaining time left before MC13 to focus on delivering meaningful outcomes that will “deliver for all our citizens” at a time of increased economic challenges.

“MC13 presents an opportunity for us to deliver for all our citizens at a time of increasing stress on their living standards and future opportunities,” she added. “For us to truly respond to their plight, the outcomes that you will agree at MC13 should be meaningful.”

“The shocks of the past three years have pushed tens of millions more people into extreme poverty and hunger,” the Director-General said. “Many developing economies are looking at a lost decade of slow growth, debt distress and extreme weather. Against this backdrop of polycrises, it behoves us to step back and look at the WTO development negotiations with fresh eyes — and with a more urgent sense of purpose.”

“We also need to deliver on e-commerce,” she noted. “E-commerce can be better harnessed as a tool to achieve development objectives.” With regards to the specific issue of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, the Director-General said members have said clarity on this matter will be key in the run-up to MC13 but “everybody agrees that this is a vital issue to try to get to agreement”.

Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme, the Chair of the WTO's General Council, promised to “spare no efforts to ensure that we work towards a meaningful 13th Ministerial Conference,” one which contributes to strengthening and modernizing a rules-based multilateral trading system in tune with the needs and concerns of all its members and which delivers for the people. 

“It is crucially important that we stay engaged in a collaborative and pragmatic manner to ensure that the WTO delivers in Abu Dhabi,” she said.

Ambassador Molokomme noted the recent agreement by WTO members to support least-developed countries (LDCs) on their path to graduation from LDC status. “This can hopefully put the work and discussions that lie ahead of us ahead of MC13 on a positive trajectory,” she said.

MC13 will take place in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2023.  More information on MC13 can be found here.