As World Trade Organization negotiations reach their final day on Thursday, trade ministers continue to discuss extending the ban on e-commerce tariffs, but if negotiations fail to result in a key trade deal, ministers will The meeting may be extended.
Following the renewal of the so-called moratorium on the imposition of tariffs on electronic communications in 2022, the extension of the WTO's ban on e-commerce tariffs is on the table, with the understanding that there is a time limit for extensions. There is.
“Members will discuss it, but I don't know where they will come to a conclusion on whether it will be extended or suspended or whatever. Since the inception of this system at the WTO, they have been We have extended it. We are discussing how long this situation will last and how we will deal with it, so let's wait and see,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The four-day WTO talks will include setting new global rules on a range of key trade issues, including fishing subsidies and agriculture. The main progress achieved so far is the formal admission of two new members to the Geneva-based organization: East Timor and the Comoros.
“We're working very hard at the WTO to try to reach a kind of consensus where we can all come together and make the right trade-offs and compromises. Look, we're doing pretty well. But I always We are cautious,” the WTO chief said.
Also on the agenda during MC13 are the difficult issues of reforming the trade association dispute resolution system and how to overcome a four-year impasse over the appointment of new judges to the appellate body.
“I think we'll come up with something reasonable. We've done a lot of work in Geneva, and our original mission was to restore a fully functioning dispute resolution system by 2024. , we still have to accomplish the rest of the year,'' she said. Okonjo-Iweala said.
Daniel Prusin, head of the WTO's media department, said: National: “We have made significant progress, but we are clearly short on time. We will be checking on the state of play between facilitators early this afternoon.”
the clock is ticking
On Wednesday, the WTO Director-General told members at the Heads of Delegation (HoD) meeting that time was ticking, but if delegates continued to work hard, a positive outcome at the MC13 was within reach, and Ministers They said they should be able to return home in time. Thursday, the last day of the conference.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of MC13, said now is the time to put aside differences and work together towards common goals.
“This is consensus, and I know that you all value it,” he said.
The Minister also looked forward to the adoption of the results at the formal closing ceremony of MC13.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Wald Eide said WTO members may not be able to complete their dispute resolution reform work at MC13.
However, he recognized the meaningful progress made so far, recognized that more work was needed, and urged the Geneva authorities to work towards a complete and well-functioning dispute resolution system that is accessible to all. He added that the government should be able to direct the government to accelerate its efforts. By 2024.
Updated: February 29, 2024, 8:13 a.m.
