On Thursday, 8 July, the World Trade Organization (WTO) presented its annual report on its activities in 2020.
The Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, introduced it by recalling the link between trade and the fight against Covid-19: “Trade’s resilience represented a lifeline for millions, enabling access to food and other essential supplies”, she said.
In 2020, four major events guided the WTO’s activities.
The selection process for the new Director General and the appointment of Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to this position kept the members busy from May 2020 to February 2021.
Because of Covid-19, the WTO has made a point of monitoring and analysing the various trade measures put in place by governments.
Negotiations on fisheries and agricultural subsidies were able to make progress towards an agreement this year. Delegations were also able to make progress on e-commerce, investment facilitation and services regulations.
Finally, it was decided in 2020 that the 12th Ministerial Conference would be held on 30 November 2021 in Geneva.
“To live up to its founding objectives of using trade to help people – to raise living standards, create jobs and promote sustainable development – the WTO must deliver results this year”, the Director General insisted.
See the annual report: https://bit.ly/3AUxQgL (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)