WTO: Chair introduces streamlined agriculture negotiation texts for MC12

Chair introduces streamlined agriculture negotiation texts for MC12 At a meeting on 4 June, the chair of the agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta (Costa Rica), introduced revised versions of three draft negotiating texts based on feedback from delegates at the 1-2 June meeting. The chair said the texts were "simple, short, beautiful and... Lees verder DDG Paugam highlights WTO role in promoting sustainable agriculture At the 2022 edition of the International Grains Conference on 7 June, Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam stressed the WTO's role in addressing sustainability, international food standards and trade-related climate policies. He urged the business community to join forces with public actors,... Lees verder WTO resumes in-person training courses in Geneva A group of 26 government officials from developing countries and least-developed countries started the first in-person training course at the WTO headquarters since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Beginning on 7 June, the eight-week course seeks to enhance participants' ability to... Lees verder DG Okonjo-Iweala and negotiations chair join call to 'stop the fish meltdown' on Ocean Day On the occasion of World Ocean Day on 8 June, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Santiago Wills, chair of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, stood with environmental groups in urging WTO members to forge a long-awaited agreement to curb harmful fisheries subsidies at the... Lees verder Working group on small business launches Trade4MSMEs network The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 8 June launched the Trade4MSMEs network, a partnership of international organizations aimed at improving the capacity of MSMEs to participate in world trade and promoting collaboration among members of the network. Lees verder WTO report highlights role of trade in meeting SDGs and assisting economic recovery The WTO has highlighted the role of trade in helping countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a report submitted to the UN's High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development to be held in July. The report also examines the WTO's contribution to improving livelihoods, achieving... Lees verder DG Okonjo-Iweala, Chair urge members to support draft agriculture texts on eve of MC12 WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged members to move ahead on the basis of three revised draft negotiating texts introduced by the chair of the agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta (Costa Rica), at a meeting on 9 June, just three days before the 12th Ministerial... Lees verder WTO Chairs Programme activities launched in Peru A high-level launch event was held on 9 June by Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú to mark the start of its activities under the WTO Chairs Programme. The Peruvian academic team, led by Professor Victor Saco and Professor Yovana Reyes Tagle, will focus its work on digital trade facilitation... Lees verder Japan gives CHF 125,000 to help LDCs engage in fisheries subsidies talks at MC12 Japan is contributing CHF 125,000 in 2022 to cover the travel expenses of officials traveling to Geneva to participate in the negotiations to curb harmful fisheries subsidies that will take place at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). The contribution is to the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Trust... Lees verder Draft texts on WTO response to pandemic, IP response sent to ministers for decision Negotiators in Geneva finalized their work on 10 June regarding two draft texts setting out a WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an intellectual property (IP) response. The two texts will now be sent to trade ministers attending the organization's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12)... Lees verder