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TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Aug25/05) Geneva, 7 Aug (D. Ravi Kanth) — The World Trade Organization’s Director-General, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on 6 August appears to have briefed a Congressional delegation from the United States about the ongoing discussions on reforming the WTO and the importance of the upcoming WTO’s 14th ministerial conference (MC14), to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon, in the last week of March next year, said people familiar with the development. The meeting with around 20 members of the US Congress touched on several issues, except on the damage being caused by US President Donald Trump’s allegedly unilateral reciprocal tariffs, said people familiar with the meeting. The DG is understood to have given a readout on the current activities of the global trade body in different areas, said people familiar with the development. The visit by the US Congressional delegation is a general one, and includes a meeting with other international bodies, said people familiar with the meeting. It was organized by the Ripon Society and the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange to host a US delegation under the Trans-Atlantic Capital to Capital Exchange (C2C) program. The DG’s second term, which begins from 1 September, has been clouded in controversy, said a trade envoy on background basis, suggesting that Ms Okonjo-Iweala would need Washington’s approval to continue in her position. Most of the members of the Congressional delegation are from the Republican Party. The WTO has so far not put out any statement about the meeting on its website. The 180-day deadline on reviewing all international organizations, as announced by the Trump administration on 4 February, expired on 4 August. The US administration has not paid its annual dues to the WTO for the past two years and has informed the WTO’s Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration that it is waiting for the review to be completed. +
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