Yaoundé (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 31 March 2026) The Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC14) concluded its work on 30 March 2026. He walks In Yaoundé, the capital Cameroon. With the ministers adopting a number of decisions and committing to continue working on them Geneva on the main outstanding issues.
Cameroonian Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, President of the 14th Conference, said that the ministers worked to resolve as many issues as possible in various areas of negotiation during the four-day meeting. He thanked the ministers for facilitating the discussions as well everyone The ministers and delegations present for their “hard work.”
“You have shown constructive engagement during very long days and short nights,” he said. “You have shown your determination to make MC14 a historic conference.”
However, he admitted that “time has run out” on several outstanding issues such as the WTO’s work program on e-commerce. commerce The current suspension of customs duties on electronic transfers and complaints of non-violation under the law continues deal On Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
General Manager Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed progress In discussions on a work program to advance the ongoing talks on WTO reform, and the decision on strengthening work on further disciplines on harmful fisheries subsidies, and other issues.
“A lot has been accomplished,” she declared. “We have decided to work differently. I believe we have a new WTO way of working to modernize the way we work a job“So we can be smarter and more responsive as we move forward.”
She suggested that members use the draft texts developed during the four days of ministerial discussions to finalize agreements on outstanding issues. Geneva At the next general council meeting.
The Ministers agreed to continue participating in negotiations on fisheries subsidies, with the aim of submitting recommendations to the Fifteenth Ministerial Conference to achieve the comprehensive disciplines on fisheries subsidies referred to in Article 12 of the Convention. deal On fisheries subsidies.
The Ministers also adopted two decisions of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference that were earlier approved by the members Geneva: Improving the integration of small economies into the multilateral trading system; and on strengthening the precise, effective and operational implementation of special and differential treatment provisions in the agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT).
The Ministerial Conference, which is usually held every two years, is the highest decision-making body in the World Trade Organization. Nearly 2,000 trade officials, including more than 90 ministers, attended the four-day 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaounde, the second time a ministerial conference has been held in Africa.