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TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Dec22/19) Geneva, 20 Dec (D. Ravi Kanth) — Members on 19 December adopted a proposal to host the World Trade Organization’s 13th ministerial conference (MC13) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the week of 26 February 2024. At the WTO’s General Council (GC) meeting on 19 December, members also agreed to a proposal from Cameroon to host the 14th ministerial conference (MC14), at a date that is yet to be determined. However, according to the Marrakesh Agreement, MC14 can only be held at the earliest two years after the UAE meeting. After the last ministerial conference (MC12) in Geneva in June this year, the WTO seems to have gone into a paralysis during the last six months, as almost all issues remain unresolved, including paragraph eight of the MC12 Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement concerning diagnostics and therapeutics. As reported in SUNS #9713 dated 19 December 2022, the decision on MC13 and MC14 was first agreed at an informal General Council meeting on 15 December. The formal GC meeting on 19 December merely adopted the informal GC decision, said people, who asked not to be quoted. At the formal GC meeting, the WTO’s Director-General, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed disappointment over the continued paralysis in the last six months. It remains to be seen whether the impasse on several issues will be broken or matters will remain further muddied, said several people, who asked not to be quoted. According to a news item posted on the WTO’s website, “Following consultations led by Swiss Ambassador Didier Chambovey, the chair of the General Council, the UAE and Cameroon reached an amicable agreement to host the 13th and 14th Ministerial Conferences respectively.” The WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala thanked the UAE and Cameroon for the “partnership, pragmatism, and flexibility they exhibited in trying to get together and agree on a mutually acceptable outcome. They provide an example to all of us as we work to move this organization forward.” “The fact that two members offered to host the Ministerial Conference is a sign of good health for this organization. And the membership has demonstrated the value they attach to multilateralism and global solidarity by taking this important decision today,” she said. “The race is on, the countdown has begun,” she added. “We must now intensify our efforts so as to be on track to deliver meaningful outcomes, set up effective processes for others and put in place frameworks that will enable us to make significant progress in the various areas of work.” The UAE’s WTO Ambassador Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Jarman proposed that MC13 take place the week of 26 February 2024. Addressing the General Council, he said his country is aware of the amount of work ahead. “The UAE stands ready to make the necessary contribution to the ongoing efforts with a view to making international trade part of the solution, shedding more light on the expertise of the WTO and highlighting the role of the multilateral trading system,” he stated. “The government of the United Arab Emirates will do its utmost to ensure that all WTO members have the opportunity to advance the ongoing discussions and to take part in shaping outcomes for the benefit of all nations.” Ambassador Eheth Salomon of Cameroon stressed that his country’s proposal to host MC14 “is the manifestation of its constant commitment to trade multilateralism development, and the full and effective integration of our country and the African continent in trade and the global economy.” “We reaffirm our commitment and our determination to work with all the stakeholders of our organization for the total success of this event in Cameroon. We are convinced that MC14 on African soil – the cradle of the WTO – will be in line with the dynamics initiated at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12),” he said. +
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