Muted outcome of WTO talks throws trade body into ‘crisis’
- A high-level conference ended with no deals on agriculture and fisheries, spotlighting sharp divisions among the organisation’s 164 members
- The fishing deal faced strong objections from India, where agricultural agreements are also a sensitive topic amid sweeping farmers’ protests
A high-level WTO conference ended Saturday with the extension of an e-commerce moratorium but no deals on agriculture and fisheries, throwing into doubt the effectiveness of the multilateral trade body.
The outcomes of the World Trade Organization’s 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi highlighted the sharp divisions among the body’s 164 members amid geopolitical tensions and economic headwinds that are threatening global commerce.
“The WTO needed a good crisis and perhaps this will lead to a realisation that we cannot continue like this,” said a senior European Union official taking part in the talks.
“We will have to see how we pick up the pieces,” the official said, on the condition of anonymity.
Speaking at the closing press conference, the Emirati chair of the so-called MC13 gathering, Thani Al Zeyoudi, acknowledged the shortcomings.
