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TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Feb26/21)
WTO: DG’s MC14 “Minister-Facilitator” list sparks accusations
of bias Geneva, 20 Feb (D. Ravi Kanth) — The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unveiled the “list of Minister-Facilitators” tasked with overseeing the discussions at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled to begin in Yaounde, Cameroon on 26 March. The roster is dominated by ministers from the so-called “Friends of the System” group of nations – including Norway, Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom – as well as Costa Rica and Nigeria (the DG’s home country). Notably, these countries have seemingly aligned their positions with the proposals of Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, the facilitator overseeing the discussions on the reform of the WTO. The most startling nomination is that of the Philippine agriculture secretary to lead the agriculture negotiations, a choice that has left trade envoys somewhat puzzled. “The biggest surprise is the nomination of the Philippine agriculture secretary to oversee the negotiations on agriculture even though the Philippines had little to do with the ongoing Geneva negotiations,” said trade envoys, who asked not to be quoted. Sources familiar with the development recall a similar situation during the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi in February-March 2024. The DG initially appointed the Philippine agriculture minister to facilitate the discussions but later reversed her decision, appointing the Kenyan cabinet secretary instead. Those negotiations ultimately collapsed, partly due to what sources describe as the “step-motherly” treatment accorded to the long-pending issue of the permanent solution for public stockholding (PSH) programs for food security in developing countries. “This is an utterly compromised list of Minister-Facilitators who are bound to manufacture the outcomes in a way that suits the interests of the United States, the European Union, and other middle-income countries,” asserted a trade envoy, who asked not to be identified. “The list does not inspire confidence in the negotiations to be held in Yaounde, as they lack credibility and integrity even before the commencement of MC14,” the envoy added. Further fuelling the unease is a point of procedure. A former chair of the General Council from Africa, speaking anonymously, noted that members are puzzled as to how the DG can issue the list of Minister-Facilitators, a task “normally done by the chair of the powerful General Council during the ministerial conferences.” DG’S LETTER In a letter sent to members on 19 February, seen by the SUNS, the DG, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, wrote: “I am pleased to circulate, for the attention of Members, the list of Ministers who have responded to this call, together with the areas they will be facilitating which largely reflects their expressed interests.” The DG expressed her gratitude to the nominated ministers, stating that “we are planning to soon convene a virtual meeting of the MC14 Chair (the Cameroonian head of the conference), Vice-Chairs, and Minister- Facilitators to discuss how best to support all Members in ensuring that the Conference is meaningful and well organized, and responsive to the needs of Members.” To begin with, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Espen Barth Eide, will serve as the Coordinator for the “WTO Reform” discussions. However, the choice has drawn some criticism. A former African trade envoy, speaking on a background basis, suggested that confidence is lacking: “Despite the fact that the Norwegian trade envoy is the facilitator for controversially managing the discussions at the WTO, it appears his minister is tasked with the coordinating role to lead the discussions in a manner that seems to lack confidence.” The Norwegian Minister-Facilitator will be assisted on WTO reforms by: Mr. Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Sir Chris Bryant, UK Minister of State for Trade; Ms. Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Sustainability and Environment; and Mr. Manuel Tovar Rivera, Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade. Incidentally, New Zealand is a member of the “Friends of the System” group at the WTO. On the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), the DG announced that Mr. Dwight Fitzgerald, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (a non-IFDA participant), will oversee the IFDA discussions alongside Korean Trade Minister, Mr. Han-Koo Yeo. Ms. Okonjo-Iweala noted that the Korean minister also volunteered to facilitate on WTO reform. On the e-commerce work programme and moratorium, as per the MC13 decision, the e-commerce moratorium is set to expire at MC14: “We agree to maintain the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the 14th Session of the Ministerial Conference or 31 March 2026, whichever is earlier. The moratorium and the Work Programme will expire on that date.” While the United States is advocating for a permanent moratorium, Barbados is proposing a two-year extension. On agriculture, sources familiar with the development expressed bewilderment at the DG’s decision to appoint Philippine Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Francisco Tiu-Laurel, as the Minister-Facilitator for Agriculture at MC14, especially in light of the MC13 debacle. The Cameroonian Minister of Trade, who will also chair MC14, has been asked to oversee the discussions on “Development including LDC issues.” In short, trade envoys, speaking anonymously, concluded that the DG’s selection of Minister-Facilitators for MC14 “appears to lack integrity and credibility, while raising serious doubts about the outcomes of MC14.” +
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