26 Jul 2023
Latest news
Dear maria CHADZIDAKIS VAVOURANAKIS,
Below are the news items published today on the WTO public website which match with your news preferences.
NEWS ITEM
DG Okonjo-Iweala underlines role of trade in transforming food systems at UN summit
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the crucial role of trade in transforming food systems in an address centred on food security at a UN summit held in Rome from 24 to 26 July. “We cannot solve the food systems problems we face without trade. We cannot achieve the food systems transformation we need without reforming trade policy,” she said.
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Panel explores role of trade in addressing global fragility and conflict
A panel discussion entitled “Measuring Peace in an Interconnected and Unstable World” brought together on 20 July experts to explore the role of trade and the WTO in addressing global fragility and conflict. The discussion was based on the 2023 Global Peace Index, recently published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a partner of the research pillar under the WTO Trade for Peace Programme.
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Public Forum registration closes on 17 August
Online registration for this year’s in-person Public Forum must be completed no later than 17 August 2023. Last-minute and onsite registrations will not be accepted for the event, which takes place from 12 to 15 September. Participation at the Forum is free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs are to be borne by participants.
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DDG Ellard showcases WTO’s work in delivering global public goods at award event
Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard showcased the WTO’s work in delivering benefits for its members and their people during an event at the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) on 19 July. WITA presented DDG Ellard with a Lifetime Achievement Award for “extraordinary contributions in the field of international trade” at its Annual Dinner on 19 July, with Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, paying tribute to her.
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DG Okonjo-Iweala: Africa has many of the ingredients for digital success
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on 21 July that digital trade holds great promise to act as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. “This promise is especially palpable in Africa,” she added. The Director-General was speaking at the launch of a joint WTO-World Bank policy note entitled “Turning digital trade into a catalyst for African development”.
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Chair praises “more concrete” farm trade talks as members explore ways forward
At agriculture negotiating meetings open to all WTO members on 17-18 July, the Chair — Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye — praised the more concrete discussions among members on possible ways forward in the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024. He highlighted that MC13 is an important milestone in the negotiating process. “It should deliver on the MC12 commitment of trade ministers to take ‘concrete steps’ to facilitate trade and improve the functioning and long-term resilience of global markets for food and agriculture,” he said.
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Trade Perspectives, by Xiangchen Zhang, Deputy Director-General
South-South cooperation is key to sustainable growth
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Government officials complete training course on promoting gender equality in trade
Twenty-two government officials from developing and least-developed countries completed on 20 July a four-day training course on trade and gender at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. Participants learned about how to integrate gender issues into trade policy-making and developed new skills to make them better equipped to promote women’s economic empowerment through trade.
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Dear Journalist,
Soundbites and footage from the WTO General Council on 24 July 2023, where the dates and the venue of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the WTO are announced are now available at https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/media_e/broadcast_video_e.htm.
The videos offered on this page are free for news broadcasts. You may archive these videos for news-related use only. For any other use, including documentaries for television broadcast, please contact the WTO to request authorization.
Best regards,
WTO Webmaster
NEWS ITEM
WTO issues 2023 Annual Report
The WTO has published its 2023 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive account of the organization’s activities in 2022 and the early part of 2023. The Report looks back at key events over the past year, such as the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), and WTO work in addressing global challenges, including climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and food security.
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Food security work programme enters decisive phase
The Committee on Agriculture’s food security work programme has entered a decisive phase, with the release of the coordinator’s report outlining his views on where there could be convergence among members. At a meeting on 19 July, members reviewed the report, which focuses on the needs of least-developed countries (LDCs) and net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs), for the first time, welcoming its circulation and considering it a good basis for further discussions. The aim is to find agreement on recommendations by November 2023.
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