WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo Iweala told delegates in Yaoundé that “the next chapter of the multilateral trading system must begin” as members clash over reform.
The World Trade Organization’s 166 members opened a key ministerial conference in Cameroon’s capital on Thursday, sharply divided over the future of the institution as rising geopolitical tensions, protectionism, and fallout from the Middle East war cast a shadow over global trade.
Diplomats described the atmosphere as “tense,” reflecting deep fractures in the global trading system. Several members, including Britain and the European Union, have warned that the WTO risks irrelevance without serious reform, while the United States has challenged the “most favoured nation” principle and China insists it remain central.
The WTO’s dispute settlement system has been paralysed since 2019, and consensus based decision making continues to stall progress, underscoring the urgency for change. Experts doubt a major breakthrough will be reached in Yaoundé on the core reform issues.
Former WTO chief Pascal Lamy said the conference will test whether the organisation can still lower trade barriers while many countries increase them. With past ministerial meetings falling short, Yaoundé is viewed as a crucial moment for the WTO’s relevance
Goodness Anunobi
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