WTO Members Call for Quick Appointment of WTO Head, Open Medical Supply Chains
Senior trade officials from 29 World Trade Organization member states called for the “swift” appointment of a new WTO director-general and the restoration of the nonfunctioning dispute settlement system (see 2012110032), during a Jan. 29 virtual ministerial meeting, according to a summary released by Guy Parmelin, president of Switzerland and host for the meeting. The officials -- representing the U.S., China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Kenya and others -- also stressed the importance of maintaining open trade during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery period.
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The officials specifically pointed to the importance of open supply chains for “affordable access to medical goods, including vaccines.” In statements, Japan urged other members to refrain from imposing export restrictions on medical supplies, and China said the WTO should “strive to keep the market open,” according to unofficial translations.
Members also said a comprehensive agreement on fisheries subsidies “should be concluded as soon as possible”; called for “further progress in agricultural trade policy reform”; and pushed for WTO revisions. Several ministers “insisted” on addressing issues related to the treatment of developing and least developed countries and proposed adjustments to WTO rules to meet “present-day economic and competitive conditions.”