Reformation Urged for World Trade Organization’s Handling of Non-Market Practices and Dispute Settlement

The International Trade Council acknowledges the recent remarks by U.S. Trade Representative, Ms. Katherine Tai, emphasizing the need for significant advancements within the World Trade Organization (WTO). The focal points are addressing ‘non-market’ practices and strengthening the dispute settlement mechanisms.

Ms. Tai has expressed the U.S. commitment to fostering a WTO that champions its foundational principles: openness, transparency, and fair-market-oriented competition. She emphasized the necessity to address non-market practices undertaken by certain nations that, while not directly named, have exhibited tendencies to support specific industries disproportionately, promote national entities, and discriminate against foreign competitors. Such practices create an uneven playing field, disadvantaging workers globally, and contradicting the primary mission of the WTO, which aims to empower and uplift nations irrespective of their development status.

The forthcoming 13th Ministerial Meeting of the WTO, slated for February 26-29 in Abu Dhabi, offers a pivotal platform for member countries. Ms. Tai has urged the organization’s 164 member nations to capitalize on this opportunity by solidifying any possible reforms, instead of prolonging the status quo.

While the WTO’s consensus-driven framework has historically made rule changes challenging, there are evident successes, like the recent agreement to curtail detrimental state fishery subsidies. These achievements signify the potential to bridge the differences among member countries.

WTO Director, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also speaking at the forum, emphasized the commitment of WTO members towards ongoing negotiations and expressed optimism about potential reforms, especially concerning the dispute settlement system. Addressing trade imbalances stemming from various subsidies and revamping the dispute settlement system are of paramount importance.

The International Trade Council stands with the global community in aspiring for a WTO that ensures transparency across all members, implements better rules and tools to address non-market policies and practices, and adequately addresses pressing global issues, including the climate crisis.