WTO reform, food security, ecomm among issues for 2024 ministers' meet: WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Geneva: WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday said food security, reform of the multilateral trade watchdog, development agenda, moratorium on ecommerce transactions, and fisheries subsidies agreements are the deliverables for the ministerial conference (MC) next year.

She also said that work is on to introduce "deliberative sessions" at the MC13 for ministers to discuss issues related to carbon taxes, climate, MSMES, women, industrial subsidies and trade.

"For MC13, we're trying to get a breakthrough in food security and agriculture but the issues are tough. Some members want to look at trade distorting subsidies and others want to work on stockholding (issues) like India," she said.


Public stockholding is a policy tool used by governments to purchase, stockpile and distribute food when needed. Developing countries' food subsidies are protected by an interim peace clause which shields food procurement programmes against action from WTO members.

India, Indonesia, South Africa and China are among 80 WTO member countries that have called for initiating text-based negotiations to find a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security. Developing countries and the African Group have demanded a food security package at the 2024 meet.

"Even if we get 2-3 outcomes, it will be a success," she said.

WTO reform is a crucial area as its Dispute Settlement Body is dysfunctional due to which alternatives to the key function are being explored by some members such as the EU.

On intellectual property rights waiver for Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, she said the issue is not dead and the US is yet to submit its report.

(The reporter is in Geneva at the invitation of the WTO)