25th anniversary of the WTO - World Trade Organization
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W O R L D T R A D E O R G A N I Z AT I O N O U T R E AC H
Spotlight
25th anniversary of the WTO
On 19 November, the WTO hosted a virtual event to commemorate its 25th
anniversary. “WTO at 25: Past, Present & Future” looked at the organization’s
achievements and current challenges. Participants underlined the importance
of the multilateral trading system as well as the need for reform to strengthen
the WTO to deal with global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
I
n his keynote address, Swiss A political perspective
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin
said the COVID-19 crisis A high-level panel with government
has underlined the relevance of officials reflected on the role of the
rules-based free trade, as open WTO in shaping their economies
markets and uninterrupted global (see Table 1). Speakers considered
supply chains are fundamental for the benefits and shortcomings of the
access to medicines and other global trading system and discussed
essential products. General Council ways to make it more inclusive.
Chair David Walker said WTO Panellists agreed that WTO reform
members’ ability to update and must be a priority to ensure the
adjust the WTO rulebook organization’s continued relevance.
“is ultimately the only way to Despite differences on what the reform
keep the WTO relevant to our agenda should look like, all government
economies and to foster our trade representatives reiterated the need to
relations”. Deputy Director-General reinvigorate the WTO’s negotiating
Alan Wolff called for institutional function and deliver a meaningful
and substantive reforms to achieve outcome on fisheries subsidies
the WTO’s mission. (see page 53).
Vonai Muyambo
of the WTO’s
Information and
External Relations
Division moderated
the panel on political
perspectives.
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O U T R E AC H W O R L D T R A D E O R G A N I Z AT I O N
Table 1: The political perspective – panellists
Soraya Hakuziyaremye ê Rwanda's Minister for Trade and Industry
Dennis Shea ê United
States Deputy Trade Representative and
Ambassador to the WTO
Wang Shouwen ê China's Vice Minister and Deputy International
Trade Representative, Ministry of Commerce
Cheryl Spencer ê Jamaica's
Ambassador to the WTO; Coordinator
of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group
Sabine Weyand ê European Union Director-General, Trade
George Yeo ê Formerly Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs
and for Trade and Industry
Some panellists called for progress The stakeholders’ perspective
in negotiations on the joint initiatives,
Bernie Kuiten such as e-commerce (see page 57). A second panel, with prominent
of the WTO’s Others said these initiatives among representatives from the private
Information and groups of members give developing sector, international organizations,
External Relations countries limited space to shape civil society and media, exchanged
Division moderated
the panel on the
the agenda. They encouraged views on how the multilateral trading
stakeholders’ progress on trade and sustainability, system has served society and how
perspective. development and food security. to ensure it better addresses
society’s needs and expectations.
Speakers stressed the need
to deepen public understanding
of the WTO’s role and relevance
by expanding its outreach activities
(see Table 2). They proposed a
more structured relationship with
stakeholders that allowed them
to give new impetus to ongoing
negotiations. Several panellists
underlined the increasing importance
of labour and environmental
standards in regional trade
agreements and called on the
WTO to consider these standards
in its work.
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W O R L D T R A D E O R G A N I Z AT I O N O U T R E AC H
Panellists agreed that WTO reform must be a priority
to ensure the organization’s continued relevance.
Table 2: The stakeholders’ perspective – panellists
Joshua Bolten ê President and CEO, US Business Roundtable
Céline Charveriat ê Executive Director, Institute for European Environmental Policy
Exhibitions and quiz
Martin Chungong ê Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union
Frank Heemskerk ê Secretary-General, European Round Table for Industry
Two photo exhibitions looked back at
key moments in the life of the WTO. Soumaya Keynes ê Trade and Globalization Editor, “The Economist” magazine
Both collections were displayed in
the WTO’s headquarters and made
Guy Ryder ê Director-General, International Labour Organization
available on the WTO website. They
were also compiled in a publication
entitled “25 Years of the WTO: the trading system and how to ensure Other 25th anniversary events
A Photographic Retrospective”. trade continues to support economic
growth, development and job creation. Events were also held throughout
Another exhibition paid tribute to the the year to mark the 25th
women who have played a pioneering Interviews with former anniversaries of the WTO
role in the activities of the WTO. The WTO Directors-General Agreement on Agriculture, the
exhibition and a series of videos of Agreement on Trade-related Aspects
these exceptional women are available Former WTO Directors-General of Intellectual Property Rights, the
on the WTO website. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Pascal Lamy Customs Valuation Agreement,
and Roberto Azevêdo reflected on the Agreement on Sanitary and
A quiz aimed at deepening the WTO’s 25 years in conversations Phytosanitary Measures and the
understanding of the WTO was with WTO Spokesperson Keith Agreement on Rules of Origin.
developed and published on the Rockwell. The interviews are
WTO website. Participants learn available on the WTO website.
more about the WTO by answering
questions at six different levels of
difficulty. They can share their results
via Twitter and Facebook.
Messages from stakeholders
Thirty representatives of the private
sector, international organizations and Mari Pangestu,
non-governmental organizations sent the World Bank’s
messages of congratulations to the Managing Director
WTO on its 25th anniversary. In short of Development
Policy and
video messages they reflected on what Partnerships,
the multilateral trading system has contributed a
meant to them, what they expect from video message.
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