WTO members examined a “road map” for advancing talks on reform of the organization with regards to its deliberative function during a 24-25 July meeting of the General Council.
Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme of Botswana, the Chair of the General Council, outlined what she said were emerging milestones or “stations” where members will need to reflect and determine the topics to be addressed in order to ensure the issue of WTO reform is successfully addressed at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) next February.
In her road map, Ambassador Molokomme noted the first of these stations was the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) meeting held on 20 July, where Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala outlined the work ahead leading up to an important senior officials meeting in Geneva on 23-24 October to prepare for MC13, and the General Council meeting of 24-25 July.
The Chair noted that at the TNC meeting she heard “that the prevailing global situation of polycrisis, and the challenges faced by the WTO itself, including with respect to dispute settlement, demanded genuine WTO reform. This is why some suggested that MC13 needs to be a genuine ‘reform Ministerial’”.
The second of the stations will be an informal meeting on WTO reform scheduled for 25-26 September where, at the request of the African Group and the European Union, the focus will be on trade and industrial policy.
She noted that this station could, depending on other proponents, include other stops such as retreats focusing on trade and climate and trade and inclusion in early October.
The third station will be a joint informal Heads of Delegation meeting on 10 October to finalize preparations for the senior officials meeting.
After this Heads of Delegation meeting, the Chair said she and the Director-General will send a letter to the senior officials informing them about the modalities for their meeting and what will be expected of them.
