Outcome of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference

On 29 March, the World Trade Organization's 14^th Ministerial Conference (MC14) ended without Members reaching agreement on a final package of outcomes. The EU regrets that Members were unable to demonstrate the level of flexibility needed to agree on a way forward on WTO reform, the e-commerce moratorium and other outcomes, at this pivotal moment for the global trading system.

On WTO reform, the outcome does not reflect the strong and consensual call from Members for reform at MC14, nor the convergence that had emerged towards a work plan post Yaoundé. The EU remains committed and will continue to push for a reform agenda.

It was also regrettable that Members could not agree on the extension of the Moratorium on customs duties on e-commerce. The Moratorium has been an essential element in the development of the digital and non-digital economy since 1998. The lack of agreement on e-commerce also meant that the package as a whole - i.e. including the urgent reform declaration- could not be finalised.

At the same time, the EU welcomes that groups of members are finding ways to move ahead to make progress on areas of common interest:

• On e-commerce, 66 Members, including the EU and covering 70% of global trade, agreed to implement the first set of global rules on digital trade.
• All Members but one were ready to accept the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), and IFDA Members will now move ahead and work to ensuring the implementation of that agreement.
• 61 Members of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), together representing 60% of world trade, met and, emphasised the importance of the MPIA for the stability, security and predictability of international trade, pending the reform of the WTO dispute settlement system.
• Importantly, the EU and members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) released a ministerial statement expressing their joint support for the WTO and commitment to cooperate on its reform.

The WTO system remains highly relevant for the predictability of international trade and investment, and the EU is determined to work with other members to make progress on the different elements of the Yaoundé package, in Geneva. In particular, the EU will continue to work with like-minded WTO Members to provide meaningful and ambitious ideas for reform.

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More information on MC14

Memo: The E-Commerce Agreement

Memo: The Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA)