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.
Photo: WTO DG Okonjo-Iweala calls on LDCs to focus on most pressing priorities for MC 12. 16 May 2022: "Delivering the opening address at the “South-South Dialogue on Least-developed Countries (LDCs) and Development” on 16 May in Geneva, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stressed the need to deliver tangible outcomes for LDCs at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) to be held on 12-15 June.
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.
"WTO members noted the sharp decline in least-developed countries’ (LDCs) participation in world trade since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on LDCs on 16 February. The chair, Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi (Finland), underlined the need for the international community to work together to promote trade opportunities in LDCs." More at WTO | 2022 News items - WTO members look at how trade can help LDCs recover from COVID-19
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) has become a new participant of both the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and ITA Expansion (ITA II), making it the first least developed country to join these agreements. More here.
