Ministers and senior officials gathered in Cameroon for the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) to address key issues on the WTO agenda and set the course for future work. The conference focused on topics such as fisheries subsidies, the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, E-Commerce, agriculture, and development, particularly for least developed countries.
During the conference, discussions were held on dispute settlement reform, with Ambassador Clare Kelly updating members on the progress made in advancing these discussions. Members emphasized the importance of dispute settlement reform while acknowledging the challenges surrounding this issue.
At the Ministerial Session on Fisheries Subsidies, WTO members commended the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and welcomed new acceptances of the Agreement. India reiterated its commitment to negotiating a comprehensive Fisheries Subsidies Agreement that considers the needs of current and future fishing practices while protecting the livelihoods of vulnerable fishers.
Facilitated sessions also addressed the IFD Agreement and electronic commerce, with members reviewing the potential incorporation of these agreements into the WTO legal framework. India emphasized that investment falls outside the scope of trade issues under the WTO agreement and cautioned against sidelining multilateral mandates with plurilateral agreements.
Discussions on agriculture covered various issues such as market access, food security, and public stockholding. India stressed the importance of addressing long-pending issues like public stockholding for food security, special safeguard mechanisms, and cotton, crucial for the livelihoods of many.
