The first WTO ministerial meeting in more than four years began in Geneva on Sunday with low hopes that 164 member states would agree on fishing, patents for COVID-19 vaccines or a strategy to prevent a world food crisis, but the differences remain large. .
At the outset, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, cautiously optimistic and demonstrated measurable ambitions. He believes that if the leading WTO decision-making body manages to agree at least one or two topics, it will be a success.
The path it will be chaotic and there may be mines on the way, we need to avoidsaid Ms. Ngozi, at the helm of the organization for 15 months.
L ‘WTO works according to consensus, all that is needed is the opposition of one member to derail everything. The organization lost relevance due to the inability to conclude major agreements, the last of which came in 2013.
There is no guarantee of a significant result in Geneva despite the vigorous efforts of Ms. Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first person from Africa to lead the organization.
This includes helping to find a solution to the risk of a serious food crisis looming around the world as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, whose fertile lands have traditionally fed hundreds of millions of people on the planet. The rivalry triggered on February 24 by Moscow resulted in a price increase.
Empty seat policy against the Russians
Tensions erupted at a closed-door meeting on Sunday where delegates came forward to condemn the Russian aggression. A standing ovation greeted the Ukrainian delegate, who also spoke, according to the spokespersonWTODan Pruzin.
Then, before Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Maxim Rechetnikov spoke, about 30 delegates leave the roomexplained Mr. Pruzin.
A draft ministerial declaration promises take concrete steps to facilitate trade and improve the functioning of markets, including grains and fertilizer.
The text pays particular attention to the poorest countries. International leaders have not forgotten the food riots and the Arab Spring a decade ago.
” I hope you do the right thing together “
Shortly before, more than fifty countries includingEU and the United States reiterated its solidarity with Ukraine in the presence of Ukrainian Trade Representative Taras Kachka in a joint ceremony and statement.
Fishing as a major issue
Fishing remains the main issue of the meeting. The text, which is part of the millennium goals ofUNshould in particular eliminate subsidies that may encourage overfishing or illegal extraction.
Progress has been made in recent months on disputes that previously seemed unresolved. The idea that territorial membership clashes (multiple and ultra-sensitive) are discussedWTO was discharged.
Progress has also been made in defining the mechanism of exceptional treatment for developing countries, but India is calling for a 25-year exemption period. Too long, answer many members, who are just aiming for 2030.
” Can our children forgive us? Will the poor fishermen forgive us if we let our oceans empty? “
The success of the meeting depends largely on the fate of this text.
There is not a single subject that India does not block
India’s intransigence, underlined by many diplomats, could derail other issues.
There is not a single subject that India does not blockregretted a Geneva -based ambassador, specifically citing the reform ofWTO and agriculture.
In his first speech, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal gave no sign of opening. He recalled that in agriculture, the firm promises in the developing country almost 10 years ago were still not being fulfilled. He also pointed out that the rights of Indian fishermen cannot be limited in any wayensuring that it is in countries that leave subsidies to the ocean to perform their responsibilities.
COVID-19 pandemic ministers are also expected, with two texts discussed. One must facilitate the circulation of substances necessary for the fight against pandemics, one must allow the temporary removal of patents for anti-COVID vaccines.
This last topic is divisive, where the pharmaceutical industry sees it as a weakening of intellectual property, while for NGO, the text does not go away. Here too the outcome remains uncertain.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
