COVID-19 Hits WTO Kazakhstan Govt says No to June WTO Ministerial Meet in Nur-Sultan

· Geneva HQ Out of Bounds till April End

Accreditation for media and non-governmental organizations for the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) has been suspended, following host country Kazakhstan’s request to revisit the decision to hold MC12 in Nur-Sultan on 8-11 June due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo informed WTO members on 12 March that he and the chair of the General Council will consult with them on how to proceed with revised arrangements for MC12, including through a special General Council meeting to be held as soon as conditions permit.

All meetings at the WTO have been suspended until the end of April.

Journalists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be informed of the revised accreditation arrangements in due course.