Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference – Geneva: Resource page

Sam Smith News 13 June 2022

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Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference – Geneva: Resource page

13 Jun 2022Topic NewsGlobal trade governance

WTO members secure unprecedented package of trade outcomes at MC12

WTO members successfully concluded the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), co-hosted by Kazakhstan, in Geneva on 17 June, securing multilaterally negotiated outcomes on a series of key trade initiatives. MC12 was originally scheduled to take place in June 2020 but the conference was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package of outcomes confirms the historical importance of the multilateral trading system and underlines the important role of the WTO in addressing the world’s most pressing issues, especially at a time when global solutions are critical.

In welcoming the final “Geneva Package” delivered after five and a half days of marathon talks, the Director-General said the deal showed to the world that “WTO members can come together, across geopolitical fault lines to address problems of the global commons, and to reinforce and reinvigorate this institution.”

“The package of agreements you have reached will make a difference to the lives of people around the world. The outcomes demonstrate that the WTO is, in fact, capable of responding to the emergencies of our time,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “They show the world that WTO members can come together, across geopolitical fault lines, to address problems of the global commons, and to reinforce and reinvigorate this institution. They give us cause to hope that strategic competition will be able to exist alongside growing strategic cooperation.”

On this page:

Remarks by the WTO Director General
Thematic areas
MC12 Documents, Decisions and Declarations
Contributions from African countries and the African Group
Civil society contributions
tralac Analysis and commentary

Director-General’s Opening Remarks

WTO members were urged at the opening session of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva on 12 June 2022 to demonstrate that the WTO can deliver for the international community and the people it serves. As the world grapples with uncertainty and crises on multiple fronts, this is a time to show that multilateralism works, said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the Opening Session.

Selected excerpts

“As we grapple with uncertainty and crises on multiple fronts – the war in Ukraine and the inherent international security crisis that comes with it, the health, economic, environmental and geopolitical crises – this is a time to demonstrate that multilateralism works. A time to demonstrate that the WTO can deliver for the international community, and the people we serve.”

“Now, more than ever, the world needs WTO members to come together and deliver. We also need to deliver for those who seek to join us – the many countries, especially from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East who want to accede to the WTO.”

“Trade is an instrument for development, it's not an end in itself. In fact, tapping into international markets for value-added goods and services has been history's most proven path towards development. But too many of our members have not been able to start or stay on this path.”

pdf MC12 Opening Session: Statement by Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, WTO Director-General (91 KB)

In closing, the Director-General stated that MC12 achieved an “unprecedented package of deliverables”. Furthermore,

“The package of agreements you have reached will make a difference to the lives of people around the world. The outcomes demonstrate that the WTO is, in fact, capable of responding to the emergencies of our time. They show the world that WTO members can come together, across geopolitical fault lines, to address problems of the global commons, and to reinforce and reinvigorate this institution. They give us cause to hope that strategic cooperation will be able to exist alongside growing strategic competition.”

pdf MC12 Closing Session: Speech by the Director-General (191 KB)

Thematic areas

MC12 has a number of thematic areas to be covered during the Conference. Briefing notes designed to provide background information on issues relevant to the Ministerial Conference are available to read online:

WTO reform

MC12 Documents, Decisions and Declarations

The following non-exhaustive list of outcome documents from MC12:

pdf MC12 Outcome Document (81 KB)

pdf Ministerial Statement on WTO reform (56 KB)

pdf Declaration of Ministers of the Group of Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) (79 KB)

pdf Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration: Responding to modern SPS challenges (Revision) (82 KB)

pdf Statement on Inclusive Trade and Gender Equality (55 KB)

pdf G-33 Ministerial Statement on WTO Agriculture Negotiations (58 KB)

pdf Ministerial Declaration on Cotton (146 KB)

pdf MC12 Draft Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement (114 KB)

pdf MC12 Draft Ministerial Decision on Agriculture (88 KB)

pdf MC12 Draft Ministerial Declaration on Trade and Food Security (71 KB)

pdf Draft Ministerial Decision on World Food Programme Food Purchases Exemption from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions (63 KB)

pdf Draft Ministerial Declaration on the WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics (76 KB)

pdf Agreement on Fisheries subsidies: Draft text (131 KB)

pdf Agreement on Fisheries subsidies: Draft text – Addendum (267 KB)

Contributions from African countries and the African Group

African Trade Ministers have recognised the need to build coherence by ensuring that the African Group’s negotiating objectives at the WTO fully support continental objectives such as industrialisation, structural transformation and integration of the continent; taking note that, due to the unprecedented challenges facing African Countries, the existing rules based multilateral trading system is in need of a reform that addresses the structural deficiencies in the system while re-enforcing the principles of fairness, transparency and equity. They have committed to strengthen coordination in the African Group at the WTO on our common positions and to ensure that development is an integral component of all negotiating outcomes for all African economies.

Relevant documents and statements are available to download below.

pdf Statement by H.E. Ms Assome Aminata Diatta, Minister of Trade and SMEs, Senegal (63 KB)

pdf African Ministers of Trade Declaration on WTO Issues (108 KB)

pdf Work programme on electronic commerce: Communication from India, Indonesia, South Africa (67 KB)

pdf Africa and Development: Communication from the African Group (80 KB)

pdf Public stockholding for food security purposes: Proposal by the African Group, ACP and G-33 (135 KB)

pdf OACPS Ministerial Declaration (126 KB)

pdf EAC Trade Ministers Statement on WTO (79 KB)