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TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jan26/15) Geneva, 29 Jan (D. Ravi Kanth) — Several African developing countries and the least-developed countries (LDCs) have apparently demanded that listening facilities be provided during the closed-door ministerial exchanges at the upcoming World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon on 26-29 March 2026. This was a practice that was assiduously followed during previous ministerial meetings, said people familiar with the development. During a closed-door “green room” meeting held on 26 January, Mozambique, on behalf of the African Group, and Gambia, the coordinator for the LDCs, raised the issue of continuing the practice of providing listening rooms for officials whose ministers are taking part in small-group consultations led by the vice-chairs of MC14, said people familiar with the development. Apparently concerned about the denial of such facilities, the coordinators of the two groups said that ministerial meetings, which are normally convened among key countries in a “pressure-cooker” atmosphere, must provide transparency. In particular, they argued that officials whose ministers are selectively called to small-group meetings should be allowed to attend so that they can take notes and accordingly guide their ministers on their positions, said an African official who asked not to be quoted. There is growing concern that the issue of transparency and inclusiveness will be given short shrift in Yaounde, as had happened at previous ministerial meetings. Also, developing countries raised sharp concerns over the seemingly secondary treatment being accorded to the mandated issues that are not being discussed as part of the WTO reform discussions, said people familiar with the development. In the restricted document (Job/TNC/Rev.2/Add.1) on the “revised road to Yaounde MC14,” including the “draft schedule of MC14 sessions,” issued by the WTO’s Director-General, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, last week and seen by the SUNS, it is noted that “as we approach the Conference, many Members have underscored the need for greater clarity regarding what will be expected of Ministers and how they will engage at MC14.” She pointed out that “such clarity will facilitate timely preparations in capitals, support effective agenda planning, and help ensure productive and meaningful ministerial discussions in Yaounde, conducted in a fully inclusive and transparent manner, with all Ministers engaging on the same topics at the same time.” Given the constraints on the negotiating resources of different coalitions, delegations would need listening room facilities, said a South American trade official who preferred not to be quoted. “Against this background, and under my own responsibility,” the DG said, “I have prepared a draft schedule of MC14 sessions for Members’ consideration. In order to ensure that this schedule can be transmitted to capitals in a timely manner, I will consult all Members on this document, in the context of my usual consultation groupings in the week of 26 January, with a view to reflecting Members’ views. The Chair of the General Council will join these consultations.” The draft schedule of sessions for MC14 is expected “to ensure a business-like, transparent and inclusive Conference – with the full participation of all Ministers in all sessions,” Ms. Okonjo-Iweala claimed. “The table below sets out the order of sessions at the Conference. The programme comprises an Opening Session, breakout sessions and plenaries, subject-specific ministerial sessions, a final informal Heads of Delegation meeting, and a Formal Closing Session.” MINISTERIAL SESSIONS Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March are allotted for side events, bilateral and group coordination meetings. On Thursday, 26 March, there would be “bilateral and group coordination meetings from 07h00-08h30”, opening session and ceremonial session where there would be “welcome remarks by MC14 Chairperson (the Cameroonian trade minister)”, “welcome remarks by Director-General,” and “formal transmittal of work to the Ministerial Conference – remarks by the General Council Chairperson.” Besides, there will be sessions on “Accessions – acknowledgment of progress”, “fisheries subsidies – celebration of entry into force (of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement)” and “explanation of conduct of ministerial sessions, including breakout sessions, by the Director-General.” In the afternoon, the meeting will witness “WTO Reform Breakout Session: Foundational Issues on WTO and its Principles, including MFN (most-favoured-nation treatment or non-discriminatory access)” and a gala dinner by Cameroon. The second day of 27 March has scheduled a plenary session on “WTO Reform Transparency” followed by “WTO Reform Breakout Session: Decision-Making”, and “WTO Reform Breakout Session: Development and S&DT”. Towards the end of the day, there will be a “Breakout Session: Ministerial Conversation on Past Mandates”, which ought to have been clubbed together as part of WTO reform, said people familiar with the development. On the third day of 28 March, there will be a plenary session on “WTO Reform Transparency” and an “Update on Dispute Settlement Reform by the DSB Chairperson (Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand)”, and a “Ministerial Session on E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium.” Besides, a ministerial session on agriculture will be convened only for two hours, followed by a ministerial session on fisheries, and then on the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) and Agreement on Electronic Commerce (into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement), the agenda suggested. On the final day of 29 March, there will be “Bilateral and group coordination meetings”, “Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting at ministerial level in preparation for the Closing Session”, and the “Formal Closing Session of the Ministerial Conference” at 12h00-13h00. The DG also noted that “there will be 7 to 10 groups for each breakout session – the exact number to be confirmed later.” Further, “each group will have two Minister co-Facilitators – one from a developed Member and another from a developing Member. Each group will be balanced not only by geography and level of development, but also by the diversity of perspectives represented.” +
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