12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization

12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization
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Name	12th Ministerial Conference
Date	12–17 June 2022
Venue	WTO Headquarters
City	Geneva
Country	Switzerland
Participants	WTO Members
Chair	Timur Suleimenov
Preceded	11th Ministerial Conference
Followed	13th Ministerial Conference

12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization. The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) was a pivotal gathering of the World Trade Organization held in Geneva in June 2022. Convened after multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference aimed to address urgent global trade issues and demonstrate the relevance of the Multilateral trading system. The meeting, chaired by Kazakh Minister Timur Suleimenov, resulted in a package of decisions known as the "Geneva Package."

Background and Context

The conference was originally scheduled for Nur-Sultan in June 2020 but was postponed and relocated to the WTO Headquarters in Geneva because of global health restrictions. This delay occurred amidst a period of significant strain on the Multilateral trading system, marked by geopolitical tensions, criticisms of the Appellate Body, and the profound economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key preparatory work was led by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who emphasized the need for the WTO to deliver tangible results on issues like vaccine access, food security, and fisheries subsidies. The context was further defined by ongoing debates about Special and differential treatment for developing countries and the broader reform agenda for the institution.

Key Negotiations and Outcomes

Intense negotiations took place among the 164 member states on several long-standing and emergent issues. A central and contentious debate revolved around a proposed TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, pitting proponents like India, South Africa, and many developing nations against the European Union and other developed members. Parallel talks on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies, under negotiation for over two decades, faced hurdles from major fishing nations including China, India, and the European Union. Other critical discussions focused on a proposed World Food Programme food purchase exemption and the extension of the moratorium on e-commerce tariffs, with positions often divided along North-South lines.

Major Agreements Reached

The conference concluded with the adoption of the "Geneva Package," comprising several multilateral agreements. Members finalized the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the first WTO treaty with environmental sustainability at its core, which prohibits subsidies for illegal fishing and for stocks that are overfished. On the COVID-19 pandemic response, a Ministerial Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement was adopted, facilitating compulsory licenses for COVID-19 vaccine production but falling short of the original broad waiver. A separate decision was taken to exempt World Food Programme humanitarian food purchases from export restrictions. Furthermore, members agreed to extend the moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions and committed to work on reforming the Dispute Settlement Body.

Criticisms and Challenges

The outcomes were met with significant criticism from various quarters. Public health advocates and countries like South Africa argued the TRIPS decision was too narrow, failing to cover COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics. Environmental groups, including the WWF, criticized the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies for leaving key issues like overfishing capacity subsidies for future negotiation. The process itself highlighted deep-seated challenges within the WTO, including persistent negotiating deadlocks, the consensus-based decision-making model, and the difficulty of achieving comprehensive agreements that satisfy both advanced economies and the G77 coalition of developing nations.

Significance and Impact

MC12 was widely regarded as a crucial test for the Multilateral trading system and a modest success for Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. By delivering the first new multilateral trade agreements in years, particularly the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the conference provided a much-needed demonstration that the WTO could still conclude negotiated outcomes. The agreements on COVID-19 vaccines and WFP food purchases addressed immediate global crises, while the commitment to Dispute Settlement Body reform signaled a path forward on a critical institutional issue. The conference set the agenda for future work at WTO headquarters and laid the groundwork for the subsequent MC13 in Abu Dhabi.

Category:World Trade Organization ministerial conferences Category:2022 in economics Category:2022 in Switzerland Category:June 2022 events