The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) commenced today in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ethiopia is attending the four-day meeting as an observer member of the organization.

At the conference, WTO members will have for the first time dedicated discussions on sustainable development.

Moreover, groups of WTO members will present concrete outcomes and next steps for their respective initiatives on plastics pollution, trade and environmental sustainability, and fossil fuel subsidies reform.

Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Chief Negotiator for Ethiopia’s WTO accession Chala Gebremeskel, Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Finance, Eyob Tekalign, and Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UAE, Oumer Hussien are among members of the Ethiopian delegation.

The conference is expected to deliberate on a range of issues that are affecting the world including multilateral trade system, WTO’s institutional reform, food security, t
ax and tariff reform activities.

Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba, Chairperson of the WTO General Council, delivered a report highlighting progress on implementing commitments from the previous conference, including strengthening trade reviews and advancing negotiations on fisheries subsidies and e-commerce.

Accession processes for Comoros and Timor-Leste are nearing completion, paving the way for their WTO entry.

Discussions are ongoing regarding the Ministerial Declaration, with a draft document circulated for further consultations. Dedicated sessions are planned to finalize the declaration.

According to Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia is working to complete its accession to World Trade Organization.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency