At a meeting of the full Global trade regime membership today, director-general Roberto Azevêdo noted the emerging debate on ‘WTO reform’ and highlighted the importance that this discussion is inclusive.
He said that the state of WTO is an issue in which everyone has an interest, so it is important for all members to engage, whatever your perspectives may be. DG Azevêdo also pointed to the links between this debate and efforts to solve the rising trade tensions between some major trading partners.
"One element which is at the root of current frictions is the argument that the trading system is allowing distortive trade practices to go unchecked and that therefore the system needs to change," the director-general said, adding, "In this context, WTO reform or modernisation has increasingly been on the minds and in the speeches of many."
"Such a modernising effort is being seen as a way to ease some of the trade problems that some members have identified," he said, adding that precisely, which issues are taken forward, and how, is for members to determine and he would suggest that there are also members who are not convinced that a reform is needed at all. "I would encourage members to engage with each other and exchange views through a range of channels and formats. The state of this organisation is an issue in which everyone has an interest, so it is important for all members to engage, whatever your perspectives may be."
DG Azevêdo also provided an update on the situation regarding the impasse in appointments to the Appellate Body. He stated that despite continuing discussions, there is no progress to report. He cited the warnings of Appellate Body chair Ujal Singh Bhatia on the potential delays in processing appeals which could arise from this impasse, and urged members to continue working to resolve the situation and maintain this 'essential pillar' of the WTO's work.
He said that the state of WTO is an issue in which everyone has an interest, so it is important for all members to engage, whatever your perspectives may be. DG Azevêdo also pointed to the links between this debate and efforts to solve the rising trade tensions between some major trading partners.
"One element which is at the root of current frictions is the argument that the trading system is allowing distortive trade practices to go unchecked and that therefore the system needs to change," the director-general said, adding, "In this context, WTO reform or modernisation has increasingly been on the minds and in the speeches of many."
"Such a modernising effort is being seen as a way to ease some of the trade problems that some members have identified," he said, adding that precisely, which issues are taken forward, and how, is for members to determine and he would suggest that there are also members who are not convinced that a reform is needed at all. "I would encourage members to engage with each other and exchange views through a range of channels and formats. The state of this organisation is an issue in which everyone has an interest, so it is important for all members to engage, whatever your perspectives may be."
DG Azevêdo also provided an update on the situation regarding the impasse in appointments to the Appellate Body. He stated that despite continuing discussions, there is no progress to report. He cited the warnings of Appellate Body chair Ujal Singh Bhatia on the potential delays in processing appeals which could arise from this impasse, and urged members to continue working to resolve the situation and maintain this 'essential pillar' of the WTO's work.
No comments:
Post a Comment