The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its 2024 Annual Report, marking the organization's 30th anniversary. In an opening message, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the WTO's role in leveraging trade to enhance living standards, create better jobs, and promote sustainable development.
“Despite trade tensions, political uncertainty, and shocks like COVID-19, world trade has been remarkably resilient in recent years," said Okonjo-Iweala. "The value of total goods and commercial services trade in 2023, at US$ 30.4 trillion, was close to record highs."
Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the future trajectory of global trade: “The future of trade is services, digital, green — and it must be inclusive. This Annual Report describes how, over the course of 2023 and through to our 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, the WTO and its members moved forward on all these fronts.”
The report begins with a summary of the WTO's activities over the past year, particularly focusing on the outcomes of the 13th Ministerial Conference and efforts to address global trade challenges and opportunities. It then provides detailed accounts of various areas of activity within the organization.
French and Spanish editions of the report are scheduled for publication in September.