The 11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference concluded here on Wednesday with no substantial agreements reached after three days of debate.
Author: Xinhua
WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo described the gathering of the WTO’s 164 members as a « disappointment, » but meanwhile acknowledged that « some progress » had been made.
« They (the sessions) have been a disappointment, but we have made some progress, (and) the work continues, » said Azevedo at a press conference after the closing of the conference.
« What is most important is we have heard the commitment to continue the work and intensify it, » he added.
Azevedo admitted « there was no outcome whatsoever » in the field of agriculture, one of the main topics on the agenda at the conference which Argentina was most interested in.
« We have brought positions closer together, but not close enough. The work continues, the negotiations are going to continue, and it couldn’t be any other way, » the WTO chief said.
Some 20 proposals were put forward in a bid to curb agricultural subsidies and other measures considered as counter-free-trade, but none were agreed on.
« The different sides must show flexibility. You can’t get everything you want, but you can’t stop participating either, » said Azevedo, amid rumors that the United States had taken a particularly stiff stance during the debate about the direction the WTO should take.
The conference, the first of its kind in South America, ended without a declaration of consensus among members.
Argentina’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Susana Malcorra, who served as president of this conference, said « without doubt it was a very complex conference » which took place « at a watershed moment for international trade. »
« It’s clear there are really very different outlooks on the topics at play, » she said.
The Ministerial Conference is the top decision-making body of the WTO which has been held every two years since 1996. Enditem