The biennial Ministerial Conference of members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), or MC12, will not take place as scheduled from 8 to 11 June in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, it was learned on Thursday, 12th March. Another cancellation is the trip to America by Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.
On Thursday 12 March, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo confirmed the decision of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev not to host the international meeting over the scheduled dates.
“It is our considered view that holding MC12 as previously agreed from 8-11 June will not be feasible”, says a note that circulated among members of the multilateral organisation.
The Director and Chair of the WTO General Council will consult with members and advise them on the arrangements to be made for this ministerial, including a special meeting of the General Council to be held “as soon as conditions permit”.
At the time of going to press, no European institution had yet given their reaction to this information.
Mr Hogan will not be going to North America
Another cancellation is Phil Hogan's visit to North America. The European Commissioner would not have waited for US President Donald Trump's decision to ban Europeans from US soil: the two events to which he was invited had already been cancelled (see EUROPE 12439/24). However, it was also the WTO that was to be addressed in his speech at Georgetown University, where Mr Hogan was to unveil the broad outlines of the European vision for reforming the organisation in order to catalyse international efforts around this project (see EUROPE 12441/12).
“The trip has been postponed and will be rescheduled as soon as possible. If necessary, contacts will continue through other means” confirmed the Commission spokesman. He added that, “if necessary, contact will continue to be made by other means”. It should be noted that Mr Hogan is also trying to put in place a commercial “mini-agreement” with his American partner before 18 March (see EUROPE 12431/4). (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)