At the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), John WH Denton AO, presented a Global Business Declaration to the WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on behalf of 236 business organizations from around the world.
According to the document distributed this Friday, March 26, 2026, the declaration calls for a WTO reform process with defined deadlines and the renewal of the moratorium on electronic trade, underscoring the urgency of the global business community for a multilateral trading system that functions properly and adapts to the realities of the 21st century.
The declaration underscores the shared urgency of the global business community regarding the future of the multilateral trading system. The signatories urge ministers to take concrete steps to safeguard economic stability and enable the digital economy to continue driving global development.
They urge the ministers to begin reform negotiations with defined deadlines that will restore the WTO's capacity to negotiate, deliberate and resolve disputes, and modernize the system for 21st-century trade.
The statement also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the Moratorium on Customs Duties for Electronic Transmissions. Allowing it to expire, the companies warn, would lead to fragmentation, increased costs, and hinder participation in cross-border digital trade, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The message from businesses is clear: predictable, rules-based trade remains essential for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth. Governments must seize this moment to revitalize the multilateral trading system and ensure an open, inclusive, and future-proof digital economy.
Among the signatories of Argentina they find the Chamber of Commerce and Services of Argentina (Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services), Italian Chamber of Commerce in Argentina (Italian Chamber of Commerce in Argentina) and Santa Fe Foreign Trade Chamber. Document
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