For the European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, a result on fisheries subsidies is essential for the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December. He spoke at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, on Thursday 16 September.
“The text we have is a good basis. And it would require a little bit of courage from each of us to get into the landing zones. So, let’s be pragmatic. Let’s admit that the perfect can be the enemy of the good – and focus on delivering outcomes in the real world, rather than reaching for the stars”, he said.
Furthermore, Valdis Dombrovskis said he believes that the subject of e-Commerce could benefit from a strong boost at the 12th Ministerial Conference.
Similarly, ministers should begin work in earnest on the dispute settlement body in December, “with a view to have a fully functioning system no later than MC13”, he said.
On 2 September, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she was expecting results at the 12th Ministerial Conference on fisheries subsidies, trade and health, and possibly agriculture.
The Commissioner for Trade also called on the WTO to engage with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to ensure trade without forced labour. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)