Conclusions on the 11th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details 10.12.17
Publication Date 10/12/2017
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Further information:

At the beginning of the conference, the Council adopted conclusions setting out the EU's position for the negotiations. Member States were then informed on a regular basis by the Commission on developments throughout the conference.

At the end of the conference, the Council adopted conclusions where it expressed disappointment at the outcome achieved. Ministers also regretted that it was not possible to achieve an ambitious but realistic and balanced package for the conference.

In the framework of the conference, the EU subscribed to a number of statements relating in particular to e-commerce, an informal work programme for MSMEs, investment facilitation for development and services domestic regulation. The Council also endorsed the Ministerial Decisions presented to the conference.

Background information:

The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO (‘the WTO Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1995. The European Union and all 28 EU Member States are parties to the Agreement. The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO and meets at least once every two years.

+ Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken in the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization as regards public stockholding for food security purposes, trade-distorting domestic support including for cotton, export restrictions in agriculture, fisheries subsidies, domestic regulation in services, and SMEs/transparency of regulatory measures for trade in goods

The Council of the European Union met in the margins of the 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference on 10-13 December 2017 to coordinate the EU's position.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/12/10/council-conclusions-on-the-11th-world-trade-organization-ministerial-conference/
Related Links
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 08.12.17: The WTO and plurilateralism: What lessons can we draw from the EU’s experience with ‘differentiated integration’? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-wto-and-plurilateralism-what-lessons-can-we-draw-from-the-eus-experience-with-differentiated-integration/
WTO: Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc11_e/mc11_e.htm
EPRS: Briefing: Multilateralism in international trade: WTO achievements and challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/multilateralism-in-international-trade-reforming-the-wto/
Deutsche Welle, 12.12.17: US broadside leaves WTO meeting in tatters http://p.dw.com/p/2pF2y
Politico, 09.12.17: Trump’s disdain casts unease over World Trade Organization summit https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-trade-disdain-for-system-casts-unease-over-wto/
Reuters, 13.12.17: WTO meeting ends in discord, ministers urge smaller-scale trade talks https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1E71IJ
The Economist, 14.12.17: The WTO remains stuck in its rut https://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21732555-its-ministerial-meeting-buenos-aires-finishes-virtually-no-noticeable
Bloomberg, 13.12.17: WTO Meeting Ends in Buenos Aires Without Substantial Agreements https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-13/europe-says-substantial-deal-unlikely-at-world-trade-talks

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