State of Play in WTO Negotiations in Abu Dhabi
Challenges Faced by WTO Negotiators
World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiators in Abu Dhabi faced hurdles as new draft deals failed to bring about a breakthrough on critical issues. This led to a third extension for the delegates to reach a consensus.
Stagnation in Agriculture Talks
One of the key sticking points revolved around agriculture talks, with India spearheading reforms. Negotiators emphasized the importance of these talks, especially concerning public stockholding (PSH) for food security measures.
Contentious E-Commerce Discussions
Discussions on e-commerce faced opposition from countries like India and South Africa regarding the extension of a moratorium. This extension is crucial to businesses to avoid tariffs on digital goods.
Efforts in Fisheries Negotiations
Countries aimed to agree on curbing government subsidies in the fishing industry to protect the world’s oceans. Resolving issues around subsidies for developing countries, including major subsidizers like China and India, remained a challenge.
Dispute Settlement System Concerns
Efforts were made to address the crisis in the WTO’s dispute settlement system, which has been hindered for years due to various reasons. Countries committed to continuing negotiations in 2024 to resolve these issues.
It is vital for negotiators to find common ground on these crucial matters to ensure the smooth functioning of global trade agreements.
