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Ph:DR: Group photo after the official opening of the CM13 works in Abu Dhabi
“Continue to revitalize reforms at the WTO to provide member countries with the benefits of trade”
The official opening of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (CM13), the 2024 edition took place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), in the presence of His Highness, Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, President of MC13, the President of the WTO General Council, Ms. Athalia Moloko from Bostwana and the Director General of the Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. A strong appeal is launched by the DG/WTO to the 164 Member States: “Exploit the full potential of the multilateral trading system to deliver results for the people it serves, accelerating the green transition and fostering socio-economic inclusion around the world.
Abu Dhabi, Aline AssankPON
Ph:DR; The Director General very optimistic about the search for results
WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged Members to demonstrate leadership, flexibility and a spirit of compromise to achieve important outcomes at MC13 for the benefit of people and all the planet. The ministerial conference Who brought together ministers, senior officials et key partners, aims to advance key international trade discussions aimed at fostering development.
Ph:DR: His Highness the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates alongside the DG/WTO
In its words of appreciation to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the DG/WTO said: “Commerce runs in the veins of this nation. The UAE is a testament to how trade can improve people’s lives and livelihoods and transform a small or undiversified economy into a formidable, resilient and prosperous economy.”
The delegates’ challenge, obtaining concrete results
Recalling the success of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022 in Geneva in Swiss, where ten consensual multilateral outcomes with tangible benefits for people and the planet were achieved, DG Okonjo-Iweala noted that members sent a powerful signal that the WTO can respond to contemporary challenges through strategic cooperation in the pursuit of common objectives.
“Success changes the tone of the WTO, both externally and internally. We will always have our naysayers and detractors, but there is no doubt that Members have shown that we can deliver nos promises when they rolled up their sleeves and mustered the political will required. Over the past few weeks, the atmosphere in our preparatory discussions in Geneva has been more constructive and supportive than it was in the run-up to MC12. has she recalled.
“Our challenge this week is to prove that we can still keep our promises and to demonstrate that CM12 was not a one-off miracle on Lake Geneva. We must turn the improvement of the atmosphere into concrete results. We must show the world that not only does the WTO supportnt more than three-quarters of global trade in goods – it is also a forum where members bring new benefits to people through trade”she added.
For four days (February 26 to 29), if all goes well, the delegates will seek to obtain “results” during their meeting in areas such as: fisheries subsidies, agriculture, WTO reform, development, e-commerce, services and investment facilitation. Ministers’ agenda will also focus on how to move forward in their discussions on gender and the environment.
The opening session saw the adoption of the accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste, both least developed countries which have made tremendous efforts to be at this stage of admission. The conference took decisions on the accession of Comoros and Timor-Leste, two island LDCs in Africa and Asia.
Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Timor-Leste President José Manuel Ramos-Horta signed the respective WTO accession protocols, which were also signed by DG Okonjo-Iweala. The two governments will now submit their protocols for ratification by their legislative assemblies. In accordance with WTO rules, Comoros and Timor-Leste will become members of the WTO 30 days after the deposit of their respective instruments of acceptance of the Protocol.
Ph:DR: Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, President of MC13
«That demonstrates the world’s confidence in the WTO and jI firmly believe that through their future membership of the WTO, Comoros and Timor-Leste will have stable and predictable frameworks for economic engagement with other countries, which will boost trade, growth and prosperity” testified, CM13 Chairman Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates.
Ph:DR: DG Okonjo-Iweala receiving acceptances on fisheries
Uwave of acceptances of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement
The MC13 opening ceremony was also marked by a wave of acceptances of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. Eight (08) Member States have deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement, putting the historic agreement on ocean sustainability on track to enter into force at a record pace. These are the ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Malaysia, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo and Turkey having presented their instruments of acceptance to Director-General Okonjo-Iweala by cheering ovations.
“This demonstrates your governments’ commitment to the sustainability of our oceans and the desire to ensure that outcomes negotiated multilaterally within the WTO are not only agreed – but implemented. As one of the first to ratify, the United Arab Emirates welcomes the new ratifications as a reaffirmation of this collective commitment. indicated the president of CM13 to also encourage these States.
Deliberation sessions on the menu of commitments
A new element for ministers at MC13 will be deliberative sessions on trade and sustainable development, as well as trade and inclusion. These sessions aim to provide a space for engagement on issues at the center of contemporary economic debate and the future of trade policy. “We asked questions of ministers to facilitate constructive discussions. These sessions are an experiment – one that I hope goes well so we can replicate it in the future” reassures oneself vs. DG Okonjo-Iweala.
In a very challenging geopolitical and economic environment, characterized by higher prices for food, energy and other essential goods, disruptions to navigation in vital waterways and upcoming elections in around 60 countries this year, trade remains resilient. “Despite everything we have experienced, global trade in goods and services remains at or near record levels. International markets anchored in the rules-based global trading system have remained largely open, helping businesses, households and economies adapt and adjust to one shock after another. But it would be dangerously naive to take the continued resilience of trade for granted.”
La DG/OMC also stressed that multilateralism was under attack. “Despite the response from MC12, the multilateral trading system, which I describe as a global public good since its creation 75 years ago, continues to be misinterpreted in certain circles and weakened”.
However, trade remains essential to achieving many national and global priorities: boosting growth, expanding economic opportunities, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and solving collective action challenges such as protecting our environment or preparing for next pandemic, these are the objectives of the conference. “Without trade cooperation, we would move towards an increasingly fragmented global economy, and all of these priorities would become more difficult, more expensive and, in some cases, impossible to achieve. People would become more disappointed, more vulnerable, more frustrated. Faced with these realities, we need the WTO to remain strong as it approaches its 30th anniversary.” noted the DG/WTO.
As regards the pre-recorded and written statements delivered by trade ministers and heads of delegation, in line with the practice initiated at MC12, WTO members and observers were asked to submit these statements before the Abu Dhabi meeting rather than to deliver them in person during plenary sessions. These statements were published on the WTO website after the opening session.
A press conference hosted by the DG/WTO and the president of the CM13 Conference under the supervision of the press officer at the WTO, Dan Pruzin, allowed the media to return to certain issues raised during the plenary session.
