The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged members to remain constructive in their negotiations to achieve meaningful outcomes. In a recent address, she highlighted ongoing discussions on several key issues.
On agriculture, Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude for the positive dialogue during the Trade Negotiations Committee meeting held on October 10. The focus was on advancing agricultural negotiations. She mentioned that she would soon meet with members alongside General Council Chair Ambassador Petter Ølberg from Norway and Agriculture Negotiations Chair Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy from Türkiye to address questions raised and establish a process for progressing these talks.
“We can't accept this important negotiation to be stalemated,” said Okonjo-Iweala. “It's been so for two and a half decades … let's try and take it very seriously and find a way through.”
Regarding fisheries subsidies, she noted progress in the acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies concluded in 2022. Only 25 more acceptances are needed for its entry into force, with additional acceptances anticipated soon. She emphasized nearing a deal on addressing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, stating: “There are some issues, not many, and some members who need more work to be done so that we can push towards a conclusion.”
On development matters, Okonjo-Iweala was pleased with resumed work on special and differential treatment proposals during an October 11 meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development. She encouraged achieving results in Geneva rather than waiting for the next Ministerial Conference.
Addressing dispute settlement reform, she noted it as a “collective desire of every member in this room,” underscoring its importance at recent G20 foreign ministers' meetings and the UN General Assembly in New York. She thanked those facilitating reform talks: “I hope we can continue to push along the work,” she stated. “I know it's not easy, and it requires a lot of listening, but slow and steady is what we need until we can get to where we want.”
Lastly, regarding investment facilitation for development (IFD), Okonjo-Iweala observed ongoing discussions about incorporating the IFD Agreement into the WTO framework. She welcomed constructive exchanges at the General Council meeting and sensed a “willingness to dialogue” among members.