Support
WTO, 44 Majors Signal Protest to US Actions
Ministers from
44 WTO members issued a joint statement on 11 December underlining their
support for the WTO and reaffirming the “centrality” of the rules-based
multilateral trading system.
More
"We, the Ministers
from 44 developing and developed Members that are strongly supportive of the
multilateral trading system, are concerned that the World Trade Organization is
facing challenges," they declared. "We reaffirm the principles and
objectives set out in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO and the
centrality of the rules-based multilateral trading system."
The group also
said they "greatly value the WTO's framework of rules, which has helped to
foster international trade and development, facilitate the peaceful settlement
of trade disputes, and served as a bulwark against protectionism. This has
contributed to the strength and stability of the global economy."
Signatories to
the statement were: Argentina; Australia; Benin; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa
Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Dominican Republic; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland;
Israel; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Liberia; Liechtenstein; Mauritania;
Mexico; Montenegro; Myanmar; Moldova; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan;
Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Qatar; the Russian Federation; Senegal;
Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia; Turkey; Ukraine; Uruguay; and Viet Nam.
The statement
of support came on the second day of the WTO's 11th Ministerial Conference
(MC11) in Buenos Aires. The biennial meeting is bringing together hundreds of
senior trade diplomats from the WTO's 164 members to take stock of the progress
made at the WTO in recent years and to discuss the future direction of the
organization.