The success of the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June must be built upon to deliver results at the MC13, according to Czech Trade Minister Jozef Síkela. At a meeting of Trade Ministers that he chaired on Friday 25 November, he said that it was necessary to “move forward more quickly and more effectively” in the WTO negotiations.
European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis reiterated the EU’s commitment to making progress on a reform plan by the next ministerial conference. The priority in this work is to find a solution for the dispute settlement system, which has proved ineffective.
In these efforts, “support from like-minded partners - especially the U.S. – will be critical to achieve these objectives”, the Commissioner stressed.
He also indicated that the Trade Ministers’ Climate Coalition would be officially launched in January 2024 (see EUROPE 12970/15).
The date of the MC13 is not yet known and the prospect of it being held before the end of 2023 is receding, according to a senior European official. WTO members had agreed to meet at MC13 to decide whether or not to extend the moratorium on electronic trade. This moratorium is dear to the EU (see EUROPE 12974/2).
Update on trade agreements
Member States were informed about the ongoing negotiations or ratification procedures for the upcoming Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The Ministers reiterated their support for the negotiation of new FTAs and the ratification of existing ones, according to Jozef Síkela.
He also made strong calls to “seize the political opportunity to conclude the agreement with Chile”. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)