EU Statement at the General Council, 14-15 July 2026

• Let me start by expressing our best wishes for all outgoing Ambassadors and colleagues, and our warmest welcome to the newcomers.

4. Updated LDC Elements - Communication from the Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group (WT/GC/W/1003)

• I would like to thank the LDC Group for adding this item as four separate sub-items, points 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 on today's agenda, and welcome the opportunity to make progress on elements of the LDC package.

4.1. WTO Smooth Transition Support Measures in Favour of Countries Graduated from the LDC Category (Paragraph 4, WT/MIN(24)/34 - WT/L/1189) - Request from the Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group

• The EU will continue to engage in the discussions on measures to support the transition of members from the LDC category. We, however, consider that we need to be cautious and avoid a hard deadline to find a solution by October 2026. While understanding the urgency of the matter, we need to provide us the best chance to conclude with a satisfactory solution on time.

4.2. Follow-Up LDC Decisions (Paragraph 10 Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration) - Request from the Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group

• The EU has actively engaged in the follow-up actions to the MC12 ministerial declaration in favour of LDCs and can therefore support this draft text as a reflection of matters of importance to those countries.

4.3 Special and Differential Treatment Agreement Specific Proposals (ASPs) (Paragraph 8 Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(24)/DEC) and Paragraph 4 of WT/MIN(24)/36 - WT/L/1191) - Request from the Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group

• As regards S&DT, the EU can support the text of the GC decision proposed under this agenda item as a constructive step and useful foundation for continuing work in the TRIPS Council.

4.4 Enhanced Integrated Framework - Request from the Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group

• As regards the EIF, the EU welcomes the launch of Phase 3 of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, and, along with Member States, the EU will continue to support the implementation of its new phase.

• We can therefore support the text put forward by the LDC group under this agenda item.

6. Follow-Up to Outcomes of Ministerial Conferences: MC13 (Abu Dhabi), MC12 (Geneva, co-hosted by Kazakhstan), MC11 (Buenos Aires), MC10 (Nairobi), and MC9 (Bali) - Statement by the Chairperson of the General Council

E-COMMERCE MORATORIUM

• Like many speakers before me, the EU deeply regrets that no agreement was reached in Yaoundé on the extension of the e-commerce moratorium and the continuation of the Work Programme.

• The EU's view remains clear: restoring the e-commerce moratorium on a multilateral basis is the only viable long-term solution. Only a multilateral outcome can guarantee the legal certainty, predictability and level playing field needed to support global digital trade, innovation and inclusive growth.

• We therefore welcome efforts including those announced by the chair to relaunch consultations on this issue after the summer, and we call for the sustained engagement by all members to work towards a durable multilateral solution.

• The EU remains fully engaged and ready to work with all partners to support an outcome that strengthens global digital trade and responds to the concerns of all Members, including on development.

IFDA

• We strongly support the efforts that are undertaken by Chile and Korea to continue work on this matter. We also see how support for the IFD Agreement continues to grow. And we should not forget that in Yaoundé virtually all members but one wanted the IFDA to be anchored in the WTO.

• It is important that the decision on IFDA incorporation is not held hostage by wider WTO reform issues. This Agreement will first and foremost benefit least developed and developing countries. It is also an Agreement whose benefits will extend to all members whether they are parties to it or not. It is very difficult to continue to have an impasse, a blockage on what should be a very clear decision for the Organisation to take.

7. WTO Reform - Statement by the Chairperson

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The European Union looks forward to this new phase of work on WTO reform. We view this process as Member-driven, grounded in and shaped by Members' contributions. In this regard, we are encouraged by the active engagement of Members and the range of submissions that are being tabled. In our view, these contributions provide a valuable basis for identifying areas of convergence and guiding our collective work going forward.

In that spirit, the European Union has submitted papers in three areas that we consider particularly relevant to the reform discussion. We will table further contributions, on these or other issues as the process evolves.

On governance and decision-making, the European Union has put forward ideas on possible tools and approaches that could help Members address persistent challenges in consensus-based decision-making. We have also proposed ways to enhance the effectiveness of WTO bodies, with the objective of supporting the functioning of the Organization and strengthening its ability to deliver for Members.

On the level playing field, the European Union has submitted ideas aimed at updating WTO rules so that Members are better equipped to address distortive interventions of state enterprises. This submission represents an initial contribution to a broader discussion on transparency, disciplines, and the effectiveness of available remedies. We also believe that this work may contribute to addressing resilience-related concerns that are increasingly relevant to many Members and that may benefit from collective reflection.

Finally, on foundational issues, we believe there is value in engaging in an open discussion on how current global realities interact with the existing balance of rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements. To that end, we have tabled a paper that we hope can serve as a constructive starting point for further exchanges among Members.

While we have not submitted a separate paper specifically on development, let me underline that development remains of central importance to the European Union and is reflected across all three of our contributions.

We look forward to continuing these discussions with all Members in a spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and cooperation.

Thank you.

9. Institutional and Legal Questions Arising from the Interim Arrangements on the Agreement on Electronic Commerce -Request from Pakistan

and

10. Concerns on the Interim Arrangements of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce - Request from India

Electronic Commerce

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thanks to Pakistan and India for allowing this type of discussion today on the basis of the question put on the table.

Like many others, the European Union attaches great value to the Agreement on Electronic Commerce and to its swift implementation among interested parties.

This Agreement was born as a common project in this organization at MC11 in Buenos Aires in 2017. This is almost 9 years ago. A large and diverse group of Members came together around a shared objective: the setting by the WTO of the basic rules required for digital trade.

Members first pursued this goal multilaterally and, when that did not prove possible, through a plurilateral agreement intended for incorporation into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement.

Throughout, we negotiated in a spirit of openness and full transparency. Participation has been open to all Members from the outset. Plenary meetings were open to any Member wishing to attend, and the wider membership was kept regularly informed of progress.

We fully respect that some Members chose not to join the negotiations. At the same time, we regret that consensus on incorporation into Annex 4 could not be reached, despite the breadth and diversity of the Members supporting the Agreement and the considerable efforts undertaken to achieve the necessary support.

Madam Chair, the Agreement is too important to be left on a shelf. Interim application is therefore a pragmatic and legitimate way forward while we continue to pursue our ultimate objective: incorporation into the WTO Agreement.

With this in mind, let me to address, in a constructive spirit, some of questions and concerns that have been raised regarding the Agreement and its interim application.

Nothing in the WTO Agreement prevents Members from bringing into force an agreement negotiated at the WTO prior to its incorporation into Annex 4.

We also think the Agreement creates no obligations for non-participants and in no way diminishes their rights. On the contrary, it remains open to all, setting basic rules that will generate predictability and trust from which all Members stand to benefit.

Third, plurilateral agreements are an integral part of the WTO architecture. Interim application helps preserve the WTO's ability to deliver negotiated outcomes and strengthens confidence in its rule-making function, something that is essential at the present juncture. Also, in our assessment, nothing precludes the Director-General from serving as depositary at the request of participating Members.

In short, interim application allows participating Members to give practical effect to a carefully negotiated outcome while keeping the door open to future participation and continue work for the incorporation of the agreement into the WTO framework.

As already said by a number of members in their interventions, ultimately, the importance of what we are discussing today goes beyond the E-Commerce Agreement itself. It is about the capacity of this organization to adapt. If the WTO is to remain relevant, it must be able not only to negotiate new rules, but also to ensure that those rules can enter into operation and deliver benefits in practice.

Thank you.

14. Dialogue on Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues - Communication from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Peru, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Uruguay (WT/MIN(26)/40)

The European Union would like to thank Switzerland and the other co-sponsors of the initiative of a dialogue on emerging agricultural trade issues, for their updates of this process. We take note as well of the calendar of events to be organised in the months to come as well as of the list of topics.

We remain interested in any reflection meant to look at how the multilateral trading system can better support agriculture and food systems towards sustainability and resilience, given their contribution to food security.

The EU will continue to engage with the membership, to explore further ways on how the multilateral trading system can help tackle shared challenges and support the shift towards sustainable agriculture, cherishing any opportunities for closer cooperation in support of the commitments made under international environmental agreements. In particular, discussions on reforming agricultural subsidies towards less trade distorting and more environmentally friendly support could be an important contribution towards a wider goal of repurposing. The EU is open to share our experiences.