GENEVA: The head of the World Trade Organization expressed cautious optimism on Sunday, as global trade ministers gathered to tackle the threat to food security. Russiaattack of UkraineOverfishing and equitable access to COVID vaccines.
speaking further world trade organizationAt the first ministerial meeting in nearly five years, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that “the road will be bumpy and rocky.”
But she told reporters she was “cautiously optimistic” that the more than 100 ministers present would manage to agree on a long line of at least one or two pressing issues, and that it would be a “success”.
The WTO is under pressure to scrap long-sought trade deals on a range of issues and show unity amid the still-raging pandemic and the impending global hunger crisis.
But since the global trade body only makes decisions by consensus, reaching agreements can be more than difficult.
Top of the agenda at the four-day meeting is the toll Russia’s war in Ukraine, traditionally a breadbasket that feeds hundreds of millions, on food security.
‘Do the right thing’ – Ministers are expected to agree on a joint declaration in which they “commit to taking concrete steps to facilitate trade and improve the functioning and long-term resilience of global markets for food and agriculture.”
According to the draft text, countries will also pledge that “special attention will be given to the specific needs and circumstances of developing country members, in particular those of less developed and net food-importing developing countries.”
“I hope you do the right thing collectively,” Ngozi told delegates.
EU trade commissioner valdis dombrowskiThose who accused Russia of “using food and grain as weapons of war” gathered ministers and representatives from 57 countries, including Kyivbusiness representative of Taras KachakFor an event just before the World Trade Organization conference, to show solidarity with Ukraine, and to reduce Russia’s “illegal and barbaric invasion”.
Fish deal in sight? – The WTO expects Russia’s war in Ukraine to continue to be criticized for several scathing statements issued on the first day of talks.
But there are fears that this could go on till the next days, when the WTO wants to focus on slashing trade deals after nearly a decade without a major deal.
There is some optimism that after more than 20 years of negotiations, countries may finally agree to a ban on subsidies that contribute to illegal and unregulated fishing.
“Will our children forgive us if we let our oceans run out?” Nagozi asked.
The WTO says talks have never been close to the finish line, but diplomats remain cautious.
“Recently there has been progress in talks, but these remain difficult topics,” a diplomatic source in Geneva told AFP.
One of the main sticking points for developing countries, including major fishing nation India, is so-called special and differential treatment (SDT), which may request exemptions.
India blocked – The period of the exemption remains undefined, with environmental groups warning that anything over 10 years would be disastrous.
India has sought a relaxation of 25 years, and has so far refused to budge.
Fishing in India is “large-scale subsistence fishing”, which is used by many for a living, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal “Their right to life and livelihood cannot be curtailed in any way,” he said at the conference in a video address.
Annoyed by non-compliance with promises made at the WTO ministerial meeting nearly a decade ago for food policy measures, India is proving adamant on other issues as well, jeopardizing the prospect of closing deals.
“There is not a single issue that India is not stopping,” a Geneva-based ambassador said, separating WTO reform and agriculture.
Patent exemption? – Ministers are also set to take a joint WTO response to the pandemic, although significant obstacles remain.
In October 2020, India and South Africa called for the suspension of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and other pandemic responses to ensure more equitable access in poor countries.
After several rounds of talks, The European UnionThe United States, India and South Africa reached an agreement that became the basis for a draft text sent to ministers.
The text, which would allow most developing countries, though not China, to produce a COVID vaccine without authorization from patent holders, still faces opposition from both sides.
Britain and Switzerland are reluctant to sign up with the pharmaceutical industry, arguing that the exemptions would undermine investment in innovation.
Meanwhile, public interest groups say the text is only needed to cover vaccines and not COVID treatment and diagnosis.
“The conversation is still far from ensuring everyone, everywhere, has access to life-saving COVID medical equipment,” warned medical charity Doctors Without Borders.
speaking further world trade organizationAt the first ministerial meeting in nearly five years, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that “the road will be bumpy and rocky.”
But she told reporters she was “cautiously optimistic” that the more than 100 ministers present would manage to agree on a long line of at least one or two pressing issues, and that it would be a “success”.
The WTO is under pressure to scrap long-sought trade deals on a range of issues and show unity amid the still-raging pandemic and the impending global hunger crisis.
But since the global trade body only makes decisions by consensus, reaching agreements can be more than difficult.
Top of the agenda at the four-day meeting is the toll Russia’s war in Ukraine, traditionally a breadbasket that feeds hundreds of millions, on food security.
‘Do the right thing’ – Ministers are expected to agree on a joint declaration in which they “commit to taking concrete steps to facilitate trade and improve the functioning and long-term resilience of global markets for food and agriculture.”
According to the draft text, countries will also pledge that “special attention will be given to the specific needs and circumstances of developing country members, in particular those of less developed and net food-importing developing countries.”
“I hope you do the right thing collectively,” Ngozi told delegates.
EU trade commissioner valdis dombrowskiThose who accused Russia of “using food and grain as weapons of war” gathered ministers and representatives from 57 countries, including Kyivbusiness representative of Taras KachakFor an event just before the World Trade Organization conference, to show solidarity with Ukraine, and to reduce Russia’s “illegal and barbaric invasion”.
Fish deal in sight? – The WTO expects Russia’s war in Ukraine to continue to be criticized for several scathing statements issued on the first day of talks.
But there are fears that this could go on till the next days, when the WTO wants to focus on slashing trade deals after nearly a decade without a major deal.
There is some optimism that after more than 20 years of negotiations, countries may finally agree to a ban on subsidies that contribute to illegal and unregulated fishing.
“Will our children forgive us if we let our oceans run out?” Nagozi asked.
The WTO says talks have never been close to the finish line, but diplomats remain cautious.
“Recently there has been progress in talks, but these remain difficult topics,” a diplomatic source in Geneva told AFP.
One of the main sticking points for developing countries, including major fishing nation India, is so-called special and differential treatment (SDT), which may request exemptions.
India blocked – The period of the exemption remains undefined, with environmental groups warning that anything over 10 years would be disastrous.
India has sought a relaxation of 25 years, and has so far refused to budge.
Fishing in India is “large-scale subsistence fishing”, which is used by many for a living, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal “Their right to life and livelihood cannot be curtailed in any way,” he said at the conference in a video address.
Annoyed by non-compliance with promises made at the WTO ministerial meeting nearly a decade ago for food policy measures, India is proving adamant on other issues as well, jeopardizing the prospect of closing deals.
“There is not a single issue that India is not stopping,” a Geneva-based ambassador said, separating WTO reform and agriculture.
Patent exemption? – Ministers are also set to take a joint WTO response to the pandemic, although significant obstacles remain.
In October 2020, India and South Africa called for the suspension of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and other pandemic responses to ensure more equitable access in poor countries.
After several rounds of talks, The European UnionThe United States, India and South Africa reached an agreement that became the basis for a draft text sent to ministers.
The text, which would allow most developing countries, though not China, to produce a COVID vaccine without authorization from patent holders, still faces opposition from both sides.
Britain and Switzerland are reluctant to sign up with the pharmaceutical industry, arguing that the exemptions would undermine investment in innovation.
Meanwhile, public interest groups say the text is only needed to cover vaccines and not COVID treatment and diagnosis.
“The conversation is still far from ensuring everyone, everywhere, has access to life-saving COVID medical equipment,” warned medical charity Doctors Without Borders.