WTO: DDG Wolff: Trade for peace is more than a slogan, it is hope for a better future

DDG Wolff: Trade for peace is more than a slogan, it is hope for a better future For the WTO, trade for peace is a dominant theme for the present and not just a part of its remote history, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 17 July. Speaking at a virtual event organized by American University, DDG Wolff said that the passion and conviction shown by recently acceded... Lees verder DG Azevêdo: "Decisions made at the WTO will matter" for economic recovery from COVID-19 crisis Addressing heads of WTO member delegations for the last time as Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo emphasized that "keeping markets broadly open to trade" would help build "a post-COVID economic recovery that is strong, sustainable and inclusive". He told... Lees verder Liechtenstein donates CHF 40,000 to help developing countries expand trading capacities Liechtenstein has contributed CHF 40,000 in 2020 to assist developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) in enhancing their trading capacities. This donation will finance training workshops and seminars supported by the WTO's DDA Global Trust Fund, with the aim of improving the... Lees verder WTO members appoint new chair for agriculture talks Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta of Costa Rica has taken the helm as the new chair of the WTO farm trade talks. WTO members confirmed her appointment at a Committee on Agriculture in Special Session (CoASS) meeting on 21 July. In addition to the ongoing negotiations on agricultural reform,... Lees verder Brazil underlines bid to join government procurement pact, Côte d'Ivoire becomes observer At a meeting of the Committee on Government Procurement on 21 July, Brazil's Secretary for Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs, Norberto Moretti, told parties to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) that the government of Brazil is preparing the documents required to kick-off negotiations to... Lees verder WTO members set work programme for text-based phase of fisheries subsidies talks At the 21 July meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules, heads of WTO delegations said they were ready to start a new phase of discussions on fisheries subsidies after the summer break and to work towards getting an agreement by end-2020. Members will use as a starting point the draft... Lees verder Members endorse Turkmenistan's WTO observer status At a meeting of the General Council on 22 July, WTO members agreed to grant Turkmenistan observer status in the organization. Turkmenistan, a state in Central Asia with a population of about 6.2 million, became the last former Soviet republic to establish a formal relationship with the WTO. Lees verder DG Azevêdo: "We've achieved a lot, but much remains to be done" In his farewell remarks to the General Council on 23 July, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo reflected on the achievements secured during his seven years at the helm of the WTO and the challenges facing the organization ahead. DG Azevêdo leaves office on 31 August. Lees verder WTO report shows members moving to facilitate imports even as trade restrictions remain high While import-restrictive measures introduced by WTO members continued to affect a growing share of global trade, the Director-General's latest mid-year report on trade-related developments presented to members on 24 July also indicates a shift towards import-facilitating measures, including... Lees verder Items proposed for consideration at the next meeting of Dispute Settlement Body The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on 29 July 2020, of the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members and oversees legal disputes among them. The meeting notice is circulated in the form of a document officially... Lees verder