WTO
TRIPS at 30: Charting the way ahead
- Title
- TRIPS at 30: Charting the way ahead
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- WTO members commemorated on 25 April the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), concluded in Marrakesh as part of the historic package of multilateral agreements that brought the WTO into existence in 1995. Speaking at a High-level Dialogue to mark the date, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the anniversary was an opportunity to engage in a forward-looking dialogue on how the WTO can best respond to current and future intellectual property needs and interests of its members.
More information:
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/trip_26apr24_e.htm
Speakers in this video:
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)
Mr Daren Tang
Director-General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Ms Johanna Hill
Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)
Thierry Calame
- Title
- 30 years of the TRIPS Agreement
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- The WTO's Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) was concluded on 15 April 1994 as part of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. Whereas the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the GATT), established in 1947, mainly dealt with trade in goods, the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations (1986-1994) led to the inclusion of TRIPS as a central pillar of the multilateral trading system.
The three decades since then have seen a transformation in how trade enables and disseminates knowledge and cultural work. Trade and intellectual property have become more and more intertwined.
The WTO's TRIPS Agreement eases the flow of this valuable form of international trade.
- Title
- 30 years of the Marrakesh Agreement #shorts
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala invites you to join the celebrations of the WTO's 30th anniversary, and unleash the spirit of the Marrakesh Agreement.
Full video: https://youtu.be/pOL0X90FgF4?si=hDwPTvJ1Cxrhr0Br
- Title
- Red Sea Crisis
- Date posted
- 16 days ago
- Description
- 6 factors limiting the trade impact
- Title
- 30 years of the Marrakesh Agreement
- Date posted
- 18 days ago
- Description
- The global community came together 30 years ago to reinvent the multilateral trading system, signing the Marrakesh Agreement, which established the World Trade Organization at its centre – a global cooperating achievement.
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala narrates the history that led the world to that moment, and the achievements since then under the spirit of Marrakesh.
- Title
- World Trade Outlook and Statistics 2024
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- Excerpts from the press conference on 10 April 2024
- Title
- Global Trade Outlook and Statistics: Press conference
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- Learn more on wto.org.
- Title
- Global Trade Outlook 2024
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- Learn more at wto.org
- Title
- Public Forum 2024: Better trade for a better world
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- Since its inception in 1995, the WTO has facilitated rapid global trade expansion, lifting 1.5 billion people out of extreme poverty and creating diverse economic opportunities. Despite these gains, trade benefits are unevenly distributed, exacerbating inequalities and marginalizing underserved communities, including women and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As the global economy reaches an inflection point, there's a pressing need to re-globalize trade inclusively.
Let's come together to debate how re-globalization can deliver Better Trade for a Better World.
- Title
- High-level visit from Nigerian parliamentarians
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed a delegation from Nigeria's parliament on 25 March. Godswill Akpabio President of the Nigerian Senate, and Benjamin Kalu, Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, led the group. Here is what they had to say after their meeting.
- Title
- Looking back at MC13
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- WTO members concluded the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of 2 March after five days of intensive talks.
During MC13, ministers took a number of decisions, approved the membership terms for Comoros and Timor Leste, and agreed to continue negotiations in all areas where convergence was elusive at MC13, such as the second part of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and agriculture.
Other outcomes include the entry into force of new disciplines for services domestic regulation, the conclusion of the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development, and a series of successful side events.
More information:
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/mc13_01mar24_e.htm
- Title
- Fisheries Subsidies: Russia's acceptance
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Russian Federation deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 18 March. Ambassador Nikolai Platonov presented Russia's instrument of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Russia's instrument of acceptance brings the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement to 72. Thirty-eight more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.
- Title
- Fisheries subsidies: wave of acceptances
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Several WTO members deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 26 February at the opening of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), putting the historic agreement for ocean sustainability on track for entry into force at record pace.
- Title
- Closing press conference
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- More information on wto.org/mc13
- Title
- Closing Session of the Ministerial Conference
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- More information on wto.org/mc13
- Title
- MC13: Business Forum
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Business Forum was held on 28 February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), during the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).
The Business Forum was organised jointly by the International Chamber of Commerce and the WTO, bringing together officials and business leaders from around the world for a dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the WTO. The opening session featured remarks by DG Okonjo-Iweala, MC13 Chair Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and ICC Secretary General John Denton.
- Title
- Accession of Comoros to the WTO
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ministers formally approved the WTO membership terms of Comoros and Timor-Leste at a special ceremony held at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 26 February 2024.
The ceremony was attended by President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste.
- Title
- Accession of Timor-Leste to the WTO
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ministers formally approved the WTO membership terms of Comoros and Timor-Leste at a special ceremony held at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 26 February 2024.
The ceremony was attended by President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste.
- Title
- Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The entry into force of new disciplines on services domestic regulation, announced at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 27 February, is expected to lower trade costs by over USD 125 billion worldwide. The announcement was made at an event attended by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, MC13 Chair Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayoudi and participating members in the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, represented by Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Minister, Manuel Tovar, and the European Commission’s Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.
- Title
- Business Forum at MC13
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Business Forum will be held on 28 February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), during the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13). Private and public sector speakers from around the world will offer their perspectives on some of the most pressing issues facing the WTO.
- Title
- The Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ministers representing 123 WTO members issued on 25 February a Joint Ministerial Declaration marking the finalization of the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement and made it available to the public. Participants represent three-quarters of the WTO membership, including close to 90 developing economies and 26 least-developed economies.
- Title
- Financing Women Exporters in the Digital Economy
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) today (25 February) launched a USD 50 million global fund to help women tap into opportunities in international trade and the digital economy on the sidelines of the 13th Ministerial Conference taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund will help women-led businesses and women entrepreneurs in developing economies and least-developed countries adopt digital technologies and expand the online presence of their enterprises.
More information:
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/women_25feb24_e.htm
- Title
- MC13 day 1: Opening ceremony highlights
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) opened in Abu Dhabi on 26 February with a call to WTO members to seize the full potential of the multilateral trading system so that it delivers for the people it serves, accelerating the green transition and fostering socio-economic inclusion around the world.
- Title
- Opening press conference by Director-General and MC13 Chair
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- More information on wto.org/mc13
- Title
- 13th WTO Ministerial Conference - Opening Session
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- More information on wto.org/mc13
- Title
- WTO-ITC High-Level Event on Women and Trade
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- More information on wto.org/mc13
- Title
- All set for MC13 Abu Dhabi
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place from 26 to 29 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ministers, delegates, journalists and NGO representatives have gathered in Abu Dhabi on 24-25 February for a two-day program of side events such as the WTO-ITC High-Level Event on Women and Trade and the WTO-FIFA High-Level event "Parteneriat pour le Coton".
In the coming days, ministers from across the world will attend to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO. The Conference will be chaired by H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
- Title
- WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism: Donation from Korea
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Republic of Korea is contributing USD 1 million (about CHF 860,000) to assist developing members and least-developed country (LDC) members in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Inkyo Cheong, Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea, presented the contribution to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 24 February in Abu Dhabi ahead of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).
- Title
- Partenariat pour le coton
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- West African cotton is of high quality, and producers are yet to reap the full benefit of their production. The WTO, FIFA and other organizations are working to help Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali move up the cotton value chain.
- Title
- Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Haiti's acceptance
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Haiti deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 21 February. Ambassador Justin Viard presented Haiti’s instrument of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
- Title
- Road to MC13: E-commerce
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The topic of electronic commerce was first introduced in the WTO at its second Ministerial Conference in 1998. The objective was to examine all trade-related issues arising from it.
Members also agreed to continue their practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the following Ministerial Conference. This is known as the “moratorium on electronic transmissions”.
Since 1998, WTO members have periodically agreed to extend the moratorium and continue their work under the E-commerce Work Programme. The last extension was agreed in June 2022 at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). The moratorium is due to lapse at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in February 2024, unless WTO members decide to extend it again.
- Title
- Road to MC13: Achieving a sustainable, inclusive future through trade
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The 13th Ministerial Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024, is a pivotal opportunity for WTO members to deliver tangible trade outcomes for the benefit of people across the globe.
Alongside WTO negotiations, trade ministers will engage in discussions on gender equality, inclusion, sustainable development, industrial policy and many more topics.
- Title
- Barbados, Dominica, Senegal, Uruguay formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Four more WTO members—Barbados, Dominica, Senegal, and Uruguay—deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 14 February 2024. Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados, Acting High Commissioner Janet Charles of Dominica, Ambassador Coly Seck of Senegal, and Ambassador Alvaro Moerzinger Pagani of Uruguay presented the instruments of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
- Title
- Road to MC13: Addressing LDC challenges
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Comprising over two-thirds of the WTO membership, developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) benefit from flexibilities in applying WTO rules.
Over 150 "special and differential treatment" provisions are available to developing economies and LDCs across WTO agreements. These provisions include providing longer timeframes to implement WTO rules and providing technical assistance to assist implementation.
- Title
- Road to MC13: WTO reform
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- For the first time, WTO members agreed at their 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022 to undertake a comprehensive review of the WTO's functions in order to ensure the organization is capable of responding more effectively to both the challenges facing the multilateral trading system and the opportunities provided by contemporary developments in global trade.
Ministers adopted an MC12 Outcome Document, which addresses the way forward on WTO reform and the commitment to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system in place by 2024.
- Title
- Road to MC13: Curbing harmful fisheries subsidies
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- At the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference, to be held from 26 to 29 February 2024, doing more to curb harmful fisheries subsidies is high on the agenda. Around 260 million people depend directly or indirectly on marine fisheries for their livelihoods; moreover, global reliance on aquatic food for nutrition is increasing.
- Title
- Road to MC13: Accessions of Timor-Leste and Comoros
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- After completing their accession process in January 2024, Timor-Leste and Comoros are ready to be welcomed as the newest members of the World Trade Organization.
The accession packages will be submitted to ministers for a formal decision at the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 26-29 February.
These are the first two accessions since Afghanistan and Liberia joined the organization in 2016.
- Title
- Road to MC13: Updates on food security and agriculture negotiations
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- As global challenges fuel an unprecedented food crisis, trade plays a key role in ensuring food security.
WTO members are currently negotiating an update to global rules on trade in food and agricultural products, with the aim of facilitating food trade and improving how global agri-food markets function. Learn more about ongoing negotiations on agricultural reform ahead of the 13th Ministerial Conference to take place from 26 to 29 February in Abu Dhabi.
- Title
- Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Cabo Verde's acceptance
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Cabo Verde deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 26 January. Ambassador Clara Manuela da Luz Delgado Jesus presented Cabo Verde's instrument of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Cabo Verde's instrument of acceptance brings the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement to 56. This is 51% of what is needed for the Agreement to come into effect (two-thirds of the WTO membership).
- Title
- High-level visit from New Zealand
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with the Minister for Trade of New Zealand, Todd McClay, and his delegation at the WTO on 24 January and discussed about the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) taking place in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024. Minister Todd McClay is also the Vice Chair of the 13th Ministerial Conference.
"New Zealand is committed to making sure we have a positive outcome for both developing and developed countries, particularly around agriculture, the ability for countries to have the right to feed their own people, but also to make sure that we have a functioning world market that delivers for all countries," said Minister McClay.
- Title
- WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism: Donation from Portugal
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Portugal is contributing EUR 50,000 (about CHF 48,000) to assist developing members and least— developed country (LDC) members in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Ambassador Rui Macieira presented the contribution to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 24 January.
- Title
- Fisheries subsidies negotiations: last steps ahead of MC13
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- "The clock is ticking louder and louder" says Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, Chair of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations, in a video message at the opening of the crucial "Fish Month" before the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) which will take place in Abu Dhabi on 26-29 February. Ambassador Gunnarsson expressed optimism over members' support for negotiating on the basis of the new draft text in the next four weeks ahead of MC13.
- Title
- Timor-Leste: Conclusion of WTO membership negotiations
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- WTO members negotiating the accession of Timor-Leste on 11 January 2024 agreed by consensus, ad referendum, on the terms of the country’s WTO membership, paving the way for the least-developed country (LDC) to join the organization. With the conclusion of the Working Party's mandate, the accession package for Timor-Leste will be submitted to ministers for a formal decision at the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 26-29 February.
- Title
- Comoros: Conclusion of WTO membership negotiations
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- WTO members negotiating the accession of Comoros on 9 January 2024 agreed by consensus, ad referendum, on the terms of the country’s WTO membership, paving the way for the least-developed country (LDC) to join the organization. With the conclusion of the Working Party’s mandate, the accession package for Comoros will be submitted to ministers for a formal decision at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 26-29 February.
- Title
- Ministerial Conferences: how to deposit valid credentials
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Learn more at wto.org
- Title
- Presidential Lecture: Senegal's Macky Sall
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Equitable global trade offers all countries the opportunity to engage their populations, especially young people and women, through the creation of employment, the creation of other income generating activities, and the development of value chains and value-added employment, President Sall told the audience. In contrast, unequal trade excludes and marginalizes the majority of countries and impoverishes them, contributing to growing problems such as surging migration.
Learn more at wto.org
- Title
- Presidential Lecture: Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal, will deliver the next WTO Presidential Lecture on 13 December 2023 at the WTO's headquarters in Geneva. The lecture will be the fourth to be delivered in the WTO's Presidential Lecture Series WTO's Presidential Lecture Series launched in 2022.
- Title
- Fisheries Subsidies: The Gambia, UK's acceptances
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Gambia and the United Kingdom deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 13 December, advancing the tally of formal acceptances to the halfway mark required for entry into force. Seyaka Sonko, Minister of Interior of the Gambia, and Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State (Development and Africa) of the UK presented the instruments of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The UK also announced its pledge to donate up to GBP 1 million (approximately CHF 1.11 million) to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism.
- Title
- Senegal's President at the WTO
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Upon the occasion of delivering a Presidential Lecture at the WTO, Macky Sall, President of Senegal, met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 13 December 2023.
- Title
- Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Chile's acceptance
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Chile deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 12 December.
Learn more at wto.org