22 June 2022. From the WTO: The latest Annual Report from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), launched on 22 June, spotlights how ongoing dialogue and cooperation among partners have helped developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) strengthen their food safety, animal and plant health capacity and facilitate safe trade despite the ongoing pandemic. News item here.
Trade and trade policy can play a key role in fostering a more sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic. They also remain a powerful driving force in supporting the global efforts towards the realization of broader women’s economic empowerment and gender equality goals. For this to happen, an in-depth understanding of the gender ramifications of trade policy is necessary to make trade a tool for achieving more inclusive and gender-equal economies after the pandemic.
11 June 2022. "WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Mr Sandagdorj Erdenebileg of the UN High Representative for Least-Developed Countries signed a partnership agreement on 11 June in Geneva aimed at strengthening cooperation to boost the participation of least-developed countries in the global trading system.
More information here.
18 May 2022. The LDC Group at the WTO has highlighted that implementation of the services waiver was one of their priorities for the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June. They have made specific requests to improve implementation. See the WTO's news item here and more on the services waiver here.
16 May 2022.
Press release here: WTO | 2022 News items - DG Okonjo-Iweala calls on LDCs to focus on most pressing priorities for MC12
Programme
Session 1. The session will focus on the topics that are being discussed in the run up to MC12. LDCs will have an opportunity to articulate their interests and perspectives in the ongoing negotiations. The session will also explore avenues to achieve tangible outcomes that can boost growth and development worldwide.
Excerpt: "Proposal on graduated LDCs
WTO news article here.
21 February 2023. From the WTO: Increasing the participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in global supply chains was the focus of an experience-sharing session on 20 February bringing together WTO members and business representatives from LDCs. The event was organized under the aegis of the Sub-Committee on LDCs. WTO members welcomed the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme which is expected to enter into force later this year.
