Meeting in Oslo on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 October to begin consideration of possible tangible results of the 11th WTO ministerial conference to be held in Buenos Aires in December 2017, the trade ministers of 25 member states of the organisation held “constructive discussions on a great many issues surrounding the work in the WTO and further trade negotiations in both the short and intermediate term”, said Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende afterwards.
“With slow growth in international trade and growing protectionism as the backdrop for the meeting, the ministers were concerned with the need for continuous political involvement leading up to next year’s ministerial conference. The Oslo meeting has provided new inspiration for further negotiations, and that we have laid a good foundation for concrete results”, Brende stated.
Maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system and further negotiations in the WTO, regional free-trade agreements and the interests of developing countries were at the heart of discussions, Brende said.
Speaking after the meeting, New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay stated that he and European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström had agreed on the importance of working in the WTO towards reducing non-tariff barriers (NTBs), addressing harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to over fishing, and reform of domestic support in agriculture. “Commissioner Malmström and I are committed to progressing these important issues in Geneva as part of preparations for the next WTO ministerial conference in 2017”, McClay said, indicating that “consensus is developing amongst some WTO members on these issues”.
“Much work remains, however, before a credible outcome can be expected. For New Zealand, non-tariff barriers and domestic support in agriculture remain issues that distort trade – and therefore need to be dealt with. With agreement to remove agricultural export subsidies at the end of last year we’ve seen some progress, however, my strongly held view is that much more must be done”, he stressed.
Indian Trade Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlined the need to create a level playing field for the developing countries in agricultural trade “by addressing inequities and distortions which are threatening the livelihood of millions of poor farmers across the world”. Drawing attention to the livelihood and food security concerns of fishermen in developing countries, she also underscored the importance of special and differential provisions in fisheries subsidies. In addition, she highlighted the need for trade facilitation in services. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)