Hopes of capitalising on the momentum delivered by the successful WTO ministerial meeting in June to make swift progress on the various follow-up topics arising from MC12 appear to be receding.
MC12
MC12: trade policy community gives sigh of relief
The sun sets on the WTO’s 12th ministerial conference in Geneva to the sound of mutual backslapping and self-congratulation from members. But in general there is simply relief in the trade policy community that a package of measures was agreed at all despite its low ambitions after seven years of …
The WTO’s new ‘Geneva Package’: What’s been agreed?
WTO trade ministers have brought the institution’s 12th ministerial to a successful conclusion with a compromise deal on a package of measures on a TRIPS waiver, agriculture, fisheries and WTO reform. The deal, which has been christened the ‘Geneva Package’ by diplomats, also includes a 2-year extension of the existing …
MC12 update: A moment of truth
World Trade Organization negotiators were arguing late into the night on Wednesday in last-ditch negotiations to try and forge a compromise deal to rescue the ministerial negotiations from the prospect of ignominious failure. Chris Horseman reports in Geneva.
MC12 update: extra time beckons as hopes of a deal recede
The prospect of the week’s World Trade Organization ministerial meeting – MC12 – running into an unscheduled fifth day of talks is looming large after Tuesday’s (14 June) talks finished on a downbeat note. Rob Francis and Chris Horseman report from Geneva.
MC12 update: Still plenty of banana skins ahead
The air of cautious – and even somewhat surprised – optimism that has accompanied the negotiations at the start of the twelfth WTO ministerial conference in Geneva has persisted on Monday (13 June). Chris Horseman and Rob Francis report from Geneva.
WTO MC12 in Geneva this week: What to expect
After two postponements, a global pandemic, and a war between two WTO members, MC12 is finally here. Rob Francis and Chris Horseman on where negotiations on some of the key items on the table are on the second day of the ministerial conference.
OPINION: WTO e-commerce moratorium : act before it’s too late
The Global Services Coalition calls on World Trade Organization members to prolong the institution’s moratorium on duties on cross-border digital transmissions – and explains why.
Perspectives: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s impossible job
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala seemed confident on appointment as director-general that her leadership could reverse the decline of the World Trade Organization. This was wildly over-optimistic. The WTO’s director-general could offer realistic leadership by articulating a more compelling vision for global trade rules.
‘Cautious optimism’ as WTO delegations make final preparations for MC12
WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said she is “increasingly cautiously optimistic” that an overall compromise deal can be reached on the various issues at stake at next week’s WTO ministerial conference, according to a WTO official. This assessment followed a ‘stocktaking’ meeting of the WTO’s ruling General Council on Tuesday …
