42 Organizations Represented ICC Event Express Support for WTO Ministerial
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ICC Chair Ajay Banga of
Master Card Organises Meet
Business
leaders from around the world met at a virtual Trade Dialogues session on 23 June
to discuss pressing issues to be taken up at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference
(MC12) and shared ideas and recommendations on what topics the organization should
tackle in the future. Among the issues under discussion were how the WTO could address
current and future challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Business leaders also
expressed strong support for a conclusion of the various negotiations underway and
called for an urgent resolution of the Appellate Body impasse.
The
fourth Trade Dialogues session dedicated to the business community was organized
jointly with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and brought together over
80 business representatives who discussed their priorities in the various areas
of the WTO's work. The Dialogues have been organised since
2016 and involve both the ICC and the B20, the business arm of the G20.
During
the opening session, WTO Director-General Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala was joined by General Council Chair Ambassador
Dacio Castillo, ICC Chair Ajay Banga
and B20 Italy Chair Emma Marcegaglia.
DG
Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am very pleased to have facilitated
another Trade Dialogues with the private sector. Our rules directly impact businesses’
ability to move goods and services across borders and tap into new markets. Because
they deal with these realities every day, they can help us and the members understand
what is working well, and more importantly, what is not. This is much needed input
as we work to deliver results between now and our 12th Ministerial Conference in
early December.”
General
Council Chair Ambassador Castillo said: "I believe I speak on behalf of all
WTO members when I express our appreciation for the continued support of the ICC
and the B20 to the multilateral trading system. These yearly meetings allow us to
connect the WTO with the needs, concerns and expectations of businesses, both new
and long-established."
ICC
Chair Ajay Banga said: "Global trade is the foundation
for global prosperity and global trust. Over the past decades, global trade has
helped to close economic gaps, foster diversity, drive innovation and efficiencies.
We have to be ready to make the most of this moment – and that will come not by
talking about the future of the WTO, but by empowering and building the WTO of the
future. The ICC stands ready to shape a more inclusive, sustainable global trading
system that will benefit us all."
B20
Chair Emma Marcegaglia said: "The B20 and the international
business community look at the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference as a milestone
in the history of the WTO. We stand ready to support the modernization and the reform
of the Organization, and we are committed to help it deliver, take again the centre stage in the multilateral trading scheme and regenerate
its legitimacy for the benefit of all."
After
the opening session, participants engaged in three simultaneous breakout sessions
with a number of WTO members on three main themes: the WTO response to COVID-19,
MC12 deliverables, and the future work programme of the
WTO.
Participants
shared their ideas on how the WTO can facilitate the fight against the pandemic
and what could be done differently at the WTO in order to support the response to
COVID-19 and future health crises.
They
voiced strong support for an early conclusion of the fisheries subsidies negotiations
and urged members to make progress on agriculture at MC12. Business representatives expressed strong interest
in the work of the so-called joint initiatives and hoped to see tangible outcomes
in these areas.
Participants
also discussed priorities for the future agenda of the WTO, which should take into
consideration 21st century challenges related to the environment and sustainability.
They made a strong plea for a clear and decisive work programme
to resolve the ongoing Appellate Body impasse and to restore fully the WTO dispute
settlement mechanism.
A
summary of the issues raised at the meeting is available here.
The
companies and organizations represented at the event were:
1.
Aspen pharmacare
2.
Altana
AI
3.
AmCham
EU
4.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters
Association
6.
Bharat Biotech International
7.
Boniswa
Corporate Solutions
8.
Brazilian National Confederation of Industry
9.
Business Unity South Africa
10. BusinessEurope
11. Canadian
Chamber of Commerce
12. Coalition
of Service Industries
13. Confederation
of Swedish Enterprise
14. Deloitte
15. Deutsche
Post DHL Group
16. Dow
Chemical Company
17. European
Roundtable for Industries (ERT)
18. European
Services Forum
19. FedEx
20. Global
Tuna Alliance
21. Google
22. ICC
National Committees
23. IFM
Investors
24. IKEA
25. Incepta
26. Investor
AB
27. Jumia
28. Keidanren
29. Mantra
Beauty
30. Maybank
31. Mastercard
32. Merck
Group
33. Pernod
Ricard
34. Pfizer
35. Rags2Riches
36. Taneja
Global Trade Consulting Wll
37. The
Hi-Tech Group
38. The
Singapore Business Federation
39. United
States Council for International Business
40. UPS
41. US
China Business Council
42. Walmart