BUSINESSEUROPE CALLS FOR MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES FROM THE 14TH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

Today, BusinessEurope is publishing its priorities for the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), taking place from 26 to 29 March in Yaounde, Cameroon. At a time when the rules-based multilateral trading system is facing unparalleled pressures, BusinessEurope is calling for concrete, meaningful deliverables that will build trust in the multilateral trading system and provide much needed predictability for companies.

Commenting on the publication, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said:

“It is clear that without credible commitments from the WTO members in Yaounde to advance the reform of the Organisation, the risk of the WTO falling into irrelevance is high. This will be particularly detrimental for businesses that use these rules on a daily basis and need a certain level of stability and predictability to be able to provide goods and services globally.

As representatives of the business community in Europe, our focus is to instill a greater sense of urgency about the need to move the WTO forward. BusinessEurope will be travelling to Yaoundе at the end of the month, and we are ready to contribute to the discussions with practical solutions.”

Among BusinessEurope’s key asks for the 14th Ministerial Conference are:

• A Ministerial decision to launch a formal Work Programme on WTO Reform, including on decision making, level playing field questions and development issues, with concrete timelines and accountability mechanisms.
• An agreement to extend the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, having a permanent solution in mind.
• Anchoring the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Agreement on Electronic Commerce in the WTO legal framework.
• Consider the adoption of a Work Programme on Trade and Industrial Policy to explore linkages between policies and navigate the discussion around industrial policy and level playing field.   

To read BusinessEurope’s position paper, click here.