The World Trade Organization Fails to Reach Agreement on Fishing and Agriculture
The recent Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Abu Dhabi, failed to reach an agreement on issues related to fishing and agriculture. Despite this, significant progress was made in other areas, such as e-commerce.
WTO ministers and delegates agreed to expand the e-commerce work program and extend the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions. They also renewed their commitment to improving the dispute settlement system by 2024 and strengthening special and differential treatment provisions for developing countries.
Regarding fishing, although some differences were narrowed, a comprehensive agreement was not reached, leaving important negotiations pending for future conferences. As for agriculture, divergences persisted on issues such as public stocks for food security and flexibility in food imports for vulnerable countries.
Despite the challenges, WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala expressed optimism about concluding negotiations at the next ministerial conference.
To read the full article: https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/La-Organizacion-Mundial-de-Comercio-no-alcanza-acuerdo-sobre-pesca-ni-agricultura-20240301-0102.html