From 26 through to 29 February 2024, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reinis Brusbārdis, is taking part in the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) was held in its Trade configuration at the margins of the conference on 25 February.
At the EU Council meeting, the Parliamentary Secretary expressed support for the work of the European Commission in the WTO’s multilateral negotiations, emphasising that it was essential to achieve tangible and balanced results at the 13th Ministerial Conference.
“The WTO, being a multilateral negotiating platform, must be credible, and able to effectively address current challenges globally, also taking into account the existing geopolitical situation,” Reinis Brusbārdis emphasised.
It is in Latvia’s interests to maintain and strengthen a rules-based international trade environment, where the WTO is not only a pillar, but also an important forum for rulemaking.
As part of the meeting, the two years of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine were also commemorated, and the Parliamentary Secretary participated in an event organised by the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, in solidarity with Ukraine. Despite Russia’s destructive actions, Ukraine, as one of the world’s most important exporters of agricultural produce, especially grain, makes a significant contribution to trade flows and global food security.
In the coming days, the Ministerial Conference is hold an intensive debate on key issues: the reform of the WTO’s dispute settlement system; fisheries subsidies and agriculture; e-commerce; and development-related issues. Several ministerial-level discussions have also been scheduled on trade and sustainable development, trade and industrial policy, including a level playing field in competition.
Background information:
The World Trade Organisation is an international organisation established in 1995 to promote foreign trade and regulate trade relations between its member states. The WTO currently has 164 members, comprising more than 95% of global trade. Latvia joined the WTO on 10 February 1999.
The WTO Ministerial Conference, the main decision-making body of the WTO, is held every two years. The 14th Ministerial Conference could take place in Yaoundé at the end of 2025, and its organisation has been assumed by Cameroon.