Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard has outlined progress on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) negotiating and reform priorities during a recent APEC ministerial meeting. The event, hosted by Peru, brought together leaders to discuss key issues affecting global trade.
Ellard began by acknowledging the contributions of Minister León, Minister Schialer, and Peru for their hospitality. She conveyed greetings from Director-General Okonjo-Iweala, who was attending COP29 meetings in Baku.
Emphasizing the importance of the WTO's role in supporting economic growth in the APEC region, Ellard stated that "APEC economies have been steadfast champions of a strong WTO." She highlighted several areas where reforms are needed to enhance the organization's functions.
One priority is advancing fisheries subsidies negotiations. Ellard noted significant progress towards a mature text but emphasized that consensus had not yet been reached. "The question is whether Members have the political will to finish by December," she said, urging high political engagement to achieve an outcome.
Another focus is on implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies concluded at MC12. With 86 ratifications secured out of 111 needed, Ellard called for swift action from remaining members. "More than half of APEC Members have already done so — thank you for your leadership," she added.
Dispute settlement reform also remains critical, with efforts underway to address appeal/review and accessibility issues before a year-end deadline. Ambassador Usha Dwarka-Canabady of Mauritius is leading these efforts with support from expert-level co-convenors.
Agriculture negotiations continue to be challenging as consensus remains elusive despite Brazil's initiative following MC13. Members are encouraged to explore options for bridging gaps through various configurations.
Ellard also discussed incorporating the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement into WTO rules and praised Chile and Korea's roles as co-coordinators. Significant progress has been made in e-commerce initiatives led by Australia, Japan, and Singapore.
Lastly, she touched upon climate-related discussions taking place at COP29 in Azerbaijan and reiterated the WTO's commitment to integrating trade into climate policies through knowledge products and events organized with international organizations.
Ellard concluded by underscoring APEC's leadership role in strengthening multilateral trading systems: "Your continued guidance...is crucial."