WAM, Wednesday, Nov 29, 2023 | Jumada Al-Uola 15, 1445
UAE, WTO chair Mini-ministerial meeting on agriculture ahead of MC13
DUBAI,
The UAE and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today chaired a
Mini-ministerial meeting on Agriculture in preparation for the 13th World
Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) from 26th to 29th
February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
Co-chaired by Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, the virtual meeting
brought together a representative group of Ministers from member countries
to consider how to move forward negotiations in agriculture, a key priority
for all 164 WTO members.
Ministers discussed the growing urgency to reform agricultural trade to
better address rising food insecurity and the challenges confronting
agriculture, including the impact of climate change and meeting the
nutritional needs of an increasing global population.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi said, "This was a positive meeting that took stock of
progress on agriculture negotiations as the 13th Ministerial Conference
approaches. We looked at advancing negotiations in this area and examined
where we may find the compromises needed to unlock solutions. The discussion
provided a significant platform for our future work and was an encouraging
indication of high-level commitment. The Ministerial Conference is less than
three months away and we must seize every opportunity to build the consensus
needed to make it a success."
WTO Director-General said, "I'm hopeful that the exercise of flexibility,
where appropriate, will enable us to reach outcomes [at MC13] that would
eventually constitute a meaningful step towards strengthening the
multilateral trading system. More importantly, these steps would allow
agriculture to address the contemporary challenges we face today."
MC13 will be chaired by Dr. Al Zeyoudi in Abu Dhabi. It will bring together
all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions, to
review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action
on the future work of the WTO. The Ministerial Conference is the topmost
decision-making body of the WTO and can make decisions on all matters under
multilateral trade agreements.