WTO: Gearing up for Senior Officials Meeting

World Trade Organization (WTO) members convened to discuss the array of issues laid out by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). Despite the discussions, doubts persist among those familiar with the matter regarding the potential for meaningful outcomes from this high-profile event.

The SOM, scheduled for October 23-24, has been specifically organized to prepare deliverables and provide guidance for the negotiations leading up to the WTO's 13th ministerial conference in February 2024. During an informal heads of delegations meeting, the Director-General emphasized that the SOM should be structured to ensure full participation, inclusiveness, and transparency.

Priority Topics

In a confidential document (Job/TNC/112) circulated on October 3, the Director-General outlined the issues and structure for the two-day SOM to be held at the WTO. She identified several priority topics that have emerged for focused discussions in breakout sessions by Senior Officials:

a. Agriculture, including Food Security: Many delegations emphasized the need for comprehensive discussions among Senior Officials regarding agriculture and food security. They stressed the significance of their agriculture sectors in economic development, livelihoods, and food security. These discussions aim to address the elusive progress in agriculture negotiations and seek political guidance to resolve specific issues.

b. Development, including LDC Graduation: In response to repeated calls for developmental outcomes, there is a dedicated space for discussion at the SOM. This includes discussions on development beyond the graduation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and addressing specific issues related to LDC Graduation and Trade and Development.

c. Second Wave of Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations (Fish 2): Given ongoing technical discussions, Senior Officials will reaffirm political support and commitment to concluding negotiations in the fisheries subsidies negotiations.

d. Dispute Settlement Reform: Dispute Settlement Reform is a top priority for Members, and there is a strong interest in reaffirming political support at the SOM. Technical discussions will continue in Geneva, while the SOM will focus on providing political support to fulfill the commitment made by Ministers at MC12.

e. Subjects for Deliberation: Senior Officials will have the opportunity to discuss current global issues affecting the WTO membership. Topics such as trade and environmental sustainability and trade and industrial policy have been frequently mentioned and will be included in the deliberations.

Mandated Issues Missing

However, the Director-General's reflections on these five topics remain somewhat unclear. Notably, she did not mention two mandated issues: the permanent solution for public stockholding programs for food security and the special safeguard mechanism. Some participants familiar with the discussions view her reflections as a delay tactic.

At a time when the WTO is unable to address mandated issues, there is skepticism about the necessity of deliberations on non-mandated issues at this juncture.

While "trade and environmental sustainability" is primarily advocated by the European Union and the United States, the African Group emphasizes the need to discuss industrial policy. Participants who attended the recent industrial policy retreat found it unproductive.

In her note to members, the Director-General clarified that her suggestions for topics (trade and environmental sustainability and industrial policy) should not diminish the importance of other areas mentioned by Members, which may also become part of the MC13 agenda.

SOM Agenda

The Director-General presented a proposed agenda for the SOM based on Members' input:

Day 1: I. The first day of the SOM will commence at 8 am with an Opening Session and Scene Setting, where Chairs and Facilitators will provide updates on ongoing processes. This will be followed by breakout sessions, with two hours allocated for Agriculture including food security and Development including LDC Graduation, and one hour each for DS Reform and Fish 2. Senior Officials will be assigned to breakout groups designed for balanced representation.

II. Listening-in rooms within the WTO building will allow Members to observe the discussions of their chosen breakout group.

III. After the last breakout session, a one-and-a-half-hour plenary will enable Senior Officials to discuss Other Areas in view of MC13, including WTO Reform, Ministerial Conferences, E-Commerce Work Programme, MC12 Decision on the TRIPS Agreement, SPS, Incorporation of JSIs, and Accessions.

IV. At the end of Day 1, there will be a reception and a Fish ratification ceremony in the Atrium.

Day 2: I. The second day of the SOM will begin at 8 am with a two-hour plenary, during which facilitators will report on the previous day's breakout discussions and provide an opportunity for Senior Officials to discuss Reform-by-Doing work and other matters.

II. A 30-minute coffee break will precede deliberations on Trade and Environmental Sustainability and Trade and Industrial Policy, with two hours allotted for each in large breakout groups.

III. A one-and-a-half-hour break will allow for bilateral and other meetings before the closing and way forward session from 5 pm.

IV. A Chair's Summary will capture all the work done by Senior Officials during the two days, including actions taken and political guidance provided, to be reflected in an outcome document for Senior Officials to take back to their capitals.