02 Dec 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
WTO Secretariat launches trade policy toolkit at COP28 to support action on climate goals
The WTO Secretariat on 2 December launched a 10-point set of “Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action” at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai to present governments with a toolkit to draw from in their efforts to meet global climate targets. The new publication explores how integrating the trade policy options, such as reviewing import tariffs on low-carbon solutions, into national strategies can help economies mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to its consequences.
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NEWS ITEM
Heads of WTO, FAO sign agreement to boost cooperation on trade, food and climate change
The WTO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed on 1 December to boost cooperation and collaboration on a range of issues in the area of food and agricultural trade and climate change. The initiative comes at a time of growing crises affecting global food security and sustainable agriculture production.
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WTO members review farm policies, discuss food security, technology transfer
At a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture on 27-29 November, WTO members exchanged views on a range of issues under the committee’s work mandate, with the issue of food security once again a main focus of the discussions. Members also carried out their regular review of each other’s farm policies to ensure compliance with WTO disciplines.
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Members discuss ways for developing economies to benefit more fully from global trade
WTO members discussed ways for developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) to benefit to a greater extent from their participation in the multilateral trading system during meetings of the Committee on Trade and Development held on 17 and 24 November. Dedicated sessions on regional trade agreements, preferential trade arrangements and the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment were also held on 17 November.
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NEWS ITEM
Mini-ministerial on agriculture seeks political guidance for negotiators ahead of MC13
At a virtual mini-ministerial gathering on agriculture on 28 November, the United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Trade Minister, Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, urged ministers to provide political guidance to agriculture negotiators in the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) scheduled for February 2024 in Abu Dhabi. This call was echoed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. At the end of the meeting, Minister Al Zeyoudi thanked ministers for their full support and clear guidance and committed to issue a summary report under his own responsibility as Chair of the meeting.
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Members consider seven regional trade agreements, discuss improvements to Committee’s work
WTO members considered five regional trade agreements (RTAs) between the United Kingdom and various trading partners, namely Central America, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Mozambique, Moldova, Albania and Georgia at the 20, 21 and 27 November meetings of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA). They also considered two RTAs between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and two trading partners — Ecuador and Indonesia. In addition, they continued their discussions on improvements to the functioning of the CRTA and adopted the Committee’s annual report.
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