WTO’s Abu Dhabi ministerial meeting

Source: The post is based on the article “Make the WTO’s Abu Dhabi ministerial meeting count” published in “Live mint” on 10th November 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International relation- Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.

News: The article discusses the World Trade Organization’s recent meetings where countries showed unity and planned future discussions. It emphasizes the need to fix the dispute system, help developing countries with food security and farming, and manage fishing to protect livelihoods and resources.

About Ministerial Conference of WTO

The Ministerial Conference, the highest authority in the WTO, convenes biennially with all member nations and customs unions participating. It has the power to make decisions on any aspect of the various multilateral trade agreements. So far, there have been 12 meetings, and the 13th is scheduled for Abu Dhabi in 2024. Some of the important ministerial conference of WTO

For more information on 12th ministerial conference of WTO read here

What reforms should be pushed in the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO?

Dispute Settlement Reform: The WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism is stalled since 2019 due to the U.S. blocking appointments to the Appellate Body. A formal process is needed to meet the commitment for a functional system by 2024.

Agriculture Support for Developing Countries:

Public Stockholding (PSH): A permanent solution for PSH is critical for developing countries to ensure food security. The Bali Decision of 2013 provided a temporary fix, but a lasting solution is still pending.

Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM): Developing countries need an SSM to shield against volatile agricultural markets, an issue under discussion for over a decade but still unresolved.

Fisheries Subsidies Discipline: The agreement from MC-12 left overcapacity and overfishing disciplines undecided. A balance is necessary between industrial fishing and the rights of developing countries for sustainable fishing, ensuring food security and social justice.

Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Adjustments: Developing countries are urging for the extension of the TRIPS waiver to include diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19, as proposed by South Africa and India, to enhance access to medical products.

Development-Centric Reforms: The Africa Group is pushing for reforms that consider the development needs of poorer nations, including policy space for industrialization and support for least-developed countries (LDCs) facing graduation challenges.

Terminology used:

Peace clause: To address disparities in food subsidies, WTO members introduced the Peace Clause at the 2013 Bali ministerial meeting. This mechanism shields developing nations from arbitration if they exceed the 10% support limit for farmers. The Peace Clause manages such disputes until a lasting resolution is established.

Question to practice

Examine the key reforms that need to be discussed and addressed during the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO.