World Trade Organization — Latest news
World Trade Organization — Latest news
Public Forum session highlights importance of youth engagement in trade and peacebuilding
A Public Forum session on 30 September entitled “The Missing Peace” looked into how to involve youth in trade, policy-making and peacebuilding for a more sustainable future. In her opening remarks, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “I always say the WTO is about people — about making people’s lives better — and this has to include the young, wherever they happen to live because they are the future.”
30 September 2022
Public Forum explores role of trade in accelerating transition to a green economy
Leading representatives from international organisations, the private sector and academia discussed on 29 September how trade rules can be strengthened to address the environmental challenges the world is facing. At the high-level session on “Delivering a Trade Agenda for a Sustainable Future”, panellists shared their views about possible ways to reinforce partnerships between the various stakeholders involved in ensuring the transition towards a green economy and the role the WTO should play.
29 September 2022
With right tools and policies, women can break the glass ceiling in trade — DG Okonjo-Iweala
A high-level session held on Day 3 of the Public Forum showcased the experiences of women entrepreneurs in overcoming barriers in sectors traditionally dominated by men. Introductory remarks were delivered by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and International Trade Centre head, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, who stressed that participating in trade can empower women. “With the right tools to compete and the right policies, women can break the glass ceiling in trade,” DG Okonjo-Iweala said.
29 September 2022
High-level panel explores the need to leverage technology to promote inclusive growth
New technologies can help businesses play a bigger part in world trade but more needs to be done to tackle the digital divide, said a high-level panel at the 2022 Public Forum on 28 September. Coordinated action on this issue is more important than ever as the world grapples with an unprecedented series of crises encompassing the pandemic, supply chain restructuring, food insecurity, the energy shortage and economic recession, the panel highlighted.
28 September 2022
Put landmark Fisheries Subsidies Agreement into motion, governments urged at Public Forum
WTO members must seize the opportunity to take a major step forward for ocean sustainability by setting into motion the implementation of the historic Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, speakers said in a Public Forum session held on 28 September. Work needs to be urgently undertaken for members to align their policies at home to implement the Agreement while also preparing for further negotiations in Geneva.
28 September 2022
WTO, FIFA team up to use trade and football as drivers of economic and social development
The WTO and FIFA have agreed to work together to examine how international trade and football can serve as catalysts for economic growth and social inclusion. The collaboration, spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeks to foster synergies in relation to the economic dimension of sport and empowerment, especially for least-developed countries (LDCs) and women. Cooperation within the context of the WTO’s cotton programme is also a central element of the agreement.
27 September 2022
Public Forum 2022 opens with DG Okonjo-Iweala warning against “business as usual”
The WTO’s 2022 Public Forum opened on 27 September with Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warning that the world faces multiple crises which will require new ways of thinking about trade and how the WTO works. The Director-General delivered her remarks at the opening of the Forum, the theme of which is “Towards a sustainable and inclusive recovery: ambition to action.”
27 September 2022
DDG Paugam: “Clear that sustainability is at the heart of trading models of the future”
In opening remarks delivered to the Graduate Institute’s “Geneva Trade Week” on 26 September, Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam underlined the importance of combining classical trade policy and environmental sustainability to formulate the sustainable trade policy of the future. “The good news is that this has really started to happen in the WTO,” he said. “And our members are now taking determined action.” His remarks are below.
26 September 2022
Ambassador Alan Wolff discusses WTO reform in second Chiedu Osakwe memorial lecture
Former WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff was on 26 September the guest speaker of the second lecture in a series dedicated to the memory of Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe (1955-2019), Director-General and Chief Negotiator at the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations and former Director of the WTO’s Accessions Division.
26 September 2022
DG Okonjo-Iweala thanks outgoing Chair, urges members to build on fish subsidies deal
At an informal meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules on 26 September, WTO members bid farewell to Ambassador Santiago Wills, the outgoing Chair. Director-General Okonjo-Iweala praised Ambassador Wills for his leadership and service over the past few years in leading negotiations on fisheries subsidies to a successful outcome at the 12th Ministerial Conference in June. “You have been so positive, so determined not to give up, and there’s been so much hope in your approach,” she said. “So, I really want to thank you and the members.”
26 September 2022