Samoa

Amplifying Samoa's voice in global trade

Ambassador Nella Pepe Tavita-Levy of Samoa shares how Samoa's participation in the WTO's Geneva weeks, which bring together representatives of WTO members who do not have permanent missions in Geneva, amplified Samoa's voice in global trade.


What was Samoa's main challenge when it came to participating in global trade discussions?

Until 2022, Samoa did not have a permanent mission in Geneva. This meant that Samoa's trade officials had limited opportunities to attend WTO meetings, follow trade negotiations or engage with its trading partners on a daily basis to participate effectively in the multilateral trading system. There was a real risk that Samoa's voice and interests would be absent from discussions that directly affected the country.

How did Samoa make use of Geneva Weeks?

During Samoa's accession to the WTO – which began with its application for WTO membership in April 1998 - Geneva Weeks became an important working tool. Samoan officials used Geneva Weeks, which provided opportunities to learn about recent developments taking place at the WTO, to combine Accession Working Party meetings with bilateral negotiations and direct consultations with the WTO Accessions Division. Instead of dealing with Geneva from a distance, they could ask questions in real time, clarify obligations and return home with practical guidance.

What practical difference did Geneva Weeks make?

One of the clearest outcomes is how Samoa now develops trade policy. Officials began cross-checking domestic regulatory decisions against WTO rules, ensuring that national policies are consistent with international obligations. This was a meaningful shift in how trade decisions are made at home.

What was the impact?

One major result was Samoa’s first unified trade policy document following its WTO accession. This was an important step that helped lay the foundation for broader engagement at the WTO. Samoa has since become actively involved in regional and bilateral trade negotiations.

What is the significance of Samoa now having a permanent mission in Geneva?

Since Samoa established a Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, including the WTO, in 2022, this presence in Geneva has allowed Samoa to follow WTO activities more closely, understand trade rules better, and meet its obligations, including submitting the notifications that WTO membership requires.

What is the lesson to be drawn from Samoa's experience?

Samoa's experience shows that in-person participation matters. Building networks, understanding how the WTO works in practice, and engaging directly with other members are difficult to replicate remotely. For smaller and developing members, programmes like Geneva Week can meaningfully strengthen trade capacity over time and support more effective participation in the multilateral trading system.