Trade ministers from 166 countries meet in Yaoundé to tackle WTO reforms and global market challenges.
The 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference opened on Thursday in Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, bringing together trade ministers from 166 countries to discuss reform roadmap, digital trade rules, and the global impact of the U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran.
John Denton, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Commerce, warned that rising energy prices and disruptions to fertilizer supplies could trigger “the worst industrial crisis in living memory,” with severe risks for food security in Africa.
The four-day meeting comes amid growing turbulence in the global economy and long-standing criticism of the WTO’s slow, consensus-based decision-making. Some countries advocate more flexible approaches, including plurilateral agreements among smaller groups of members.
Key topics include special treatment for developing countries, the organization’s dispute settlement system, and potential reforms to strengthen multilateral trade rules. Russia has called for the removal of unilateral sanctions affecting its goods and services, describing them as violations of WTO principles.
"The 14th Ministerial Conference will consider a compromise package that sets the framework for WTO reform and is intended, at a minimum, to secure a mandate for continued negotiations, including the integration of plurilateral agreements into the WTO system, development issues, and the leveling of competitive conditions in global markets. On fundamental operational matters, including the dispute settlement system, an open exchange of views is expected, along with confirmation of readiness to continue seeking mutually acceptable solutions,"
the Russian Ministry of Economic Development said.
The U.S. backs reforms but resists a detailed plan, while the EU, Britain, and China push for one. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala cautioned that negotiations are likely to be challenging, and officials warn that failure to reach an agreement could drive countries to seek alternative trade rule frameworks.
UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant said a lack of consensus could fragment the system. Meanwhile, the U.S. and India are expected to clash over the extension of a WTO moratorium on customs duties for digital downloads, with the U.S. favoring a permanent extension and India opposing it.
The conference, running until March 29, also addresses agriculture, fisheries subsidies, dispute settlement reforms, and measures to support developing nations, with ministers aiming to secure a framework for continued negotiations on WTO modernization.