The World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Cameroon (Africa) concluded on Monday (March 30, 2026) without agreements on key issues such as institutional reform, e-commerce, and agriculture, according to a statement. officially The WTO at the close of the conference. Given the lack of final consensus, the members decided to move the negotiations to Geneva to continue the work within the framework of the General Council.
The Fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14), held after four days of intense negotiations, achieved technical progress but failed to reach the political consensus necessary to adopt a comprehensive package of ministerial decisions. According to the organizers, the difficult international situation—particularly the war in the Middle East and its impact on rising energy prices—forced numerous ministers to return to their countries early, which also affected the conclusion of the negotiations. This context demonstrates that countries tend to prioritize their national interests over collective action.
The “Yaoundé package”
The set of documents that will continue to be negotiated includes:
- the draft Ministerial Declaration on WTO reform and its work plan;
- the ministerial decision on electronic commerce;
- the decision regarding the moratorium on claims for non-violation under the TRIPS Agreement;
- and the package of measures aimed at the least developed countries (LDCs).
El Cameroon's Minister of Trade and Chairman of CM14, Luc Magloire Mbarga AtanganaHe highlighted the delegations' efforts and stated that the ministers worked to finalize as many issues as possible under negotiation. However, he acknowledged that "time has run out" to resolve outstanding matters, including the work program on e-commerce and the continuation of moratoriums related to electronic transmissions and the TRIPS Agreement.
Despite the absence of final agreements, the WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaHe stated that much was achieved during the conference. He explained that the texts negotiated in Yaoundé would be preserved and used as a basis for finalizing the remaining agreements in Geneva during the next meeting of the General Council.
Likewise, The Director General warned about the urgency of the negotiation timetable. He pointed out that the two existing moratoriums and the work program on e-commerce expire at the end of March —that is, tomorrow, the 31st—, which increases the political pressure to reach definitions at the upcoming meetings in Geneva.
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