WTO: DG calls on members to agree on pandemic response, fisheries subsidies by end-February

DG calls on members to agree on pandemic response, fisheries subsidies by end-February Following last week's eleventh-hour decision by WTO members to postpone the 12th Ministerial Conference, negotiations are continuing in Geneva, and Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala today (2 December) urged delegation heads to redouble their efforts to bridge differences. She called on them to... Lees verder DDG Ellard cites role of WTO in promoting open markets, need for transatlantic cooperation Speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany's Transatlantic Business Conference on 3 December, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard discussed the role of the WTO in promoting open markets and rules-based free trade as well as the importance of transatlantic cooperation. She noted that... Lees verder Timor-Leste remains actively engaged in WTO accession talks despite MC12 postponement A large delegation from Timor-Leste, led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and WTO Accession Chief Negotiator, Mr Joaquim Amaral, visited Geneva between 27 November and 4 December, holding bilateral meetings with WTO members, the WTO Secretariat and development partners despite the... Lees verder Trade Policy Review: Tajikistan The first review of the trade policies and practices of Tajikistan takes place on 6 and 8 December 2021. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Tajikistan. Lees verder Trade thoughts, from Geneva — By DDG Anabel González Omicron stopped trade ministers from meeting. It need not stop WTO members from delivering. Lees verder DDG Ellard stresses need to maintain WTO momentum, importance of dispute settlement reform In her remarks to the American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution on 6 December, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard highlighted that work continues at the WTO despite the postponement of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). Lees verder DG Okonjo-Iweala bids farewell to internship, young professionals participants A virtual ceremony took place on 7 December to mark the conclusion of three 2021 internship programmes as well as this year's programme for young professionals from developing and least-developed countries. A total of 39 government officials and 14 young professionals from across the world took... Lees verder WTO report recommends ways to ease trade bottlenecks in landlocked developing countries A new WTO publication launched on 8 December highlights the high trade costs faced by landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) due to their isolation from the world's largest markets. The report recommends ways to address these trade challenges so that LLDCs can increase their participation in... Lees verder Monitoring report shows continued but slow rollback of COVID-19 related trade restrictions WTO members showed restraint in the imposition of new trade-restrictive measures related to COVID-19 and continued to roll back restrictions adopted earlier in the pandemic, according to the Director-General's annual overview report on trade-related developments. Despite a slowdown in new trade... Lees verder Germany gives CHF 2.8 million to help developing countries meet SPS standards, combat COVID-19 Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has contributed EUR 2,675,000 (approximately CHF 2.8 million) for 2021-2024 to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) meet international food safety, animal and... Lees verder