Heads of delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) exchanged views on Monday (03.05.2021) on issues that have a real chance of reaching agreement before the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (CM12), which is scheduled for the end of 2021.
Fisheries, agriculture subsidies and the COVID-19 pandemic occupied prominent places in the discussions, with several Members stressing that achieving concrete negotiated outcomes was crucial to the credibility of the WTO.
Summarizing the interventions of the members in the Meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee and Heads of Delegation, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that they highlighted three concrete results: an agreement to curb harmful fisheries subsidies; effects on agriculture, with a focus on food security; and a framework that would better equip the WTO to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises.
The new WTO Director-General expressed hope that by July members could finalize an agreement on fishing subsidies and to gain clarity on what can be achieved by MC12, scheduled to take place from 30 November to 3 December in Geneva. Negotiations on fisheries subsidies have been ongoing for the past 20 years and their conclusion is important to secure the livelihoods of millions of people involved in them.
Regarding the results in farmingOkonjo-Iweala said the pandemic and rising global hunger made a strong case for a WTO “food security package.”
Okonjo-Iweala also welcomed the view expressed by many delegations that the 12th World Conference can provide concrete answers on trade and health. He added that the WTO's focus on export restrictions and the need to increase vaccine production volumes was attracting attention and engagement from leaders.
With respect to dispute resolution, the Director expressed hope that MC12 members “can reach a shared understanding on the types of reforms needed.” The Appellate Body of the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism has been dysfunctional since December 2019 due to the lack of appointment of new members.
He reported that the president of the General Council, Ambassador Dacio Castillo of Honduras, is requesting proposals from the least developed countries, such as those of the G-90 on special and differential treatment and also on small economies and electronic commerce.
“Member groups expressed their desire to make progress in areas such as domestic regulation of services, e-commerce, investment facilitation, women's economic empowerment, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as issues related to trade and climate change,” she said.
Finally, Okonjo-Iweala indicated that she would work closely with the Chairs of the General Council and the negotiating bodies, as well as the Chair of MC12, Kazakhstan, to carry out these meetings.
"Nothing will be done behind closed doors that people do not know about (…) The road to July will involve a large number of intensive meetings aimed at bridging differences," he concluded.
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