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Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar26/11) Geneva, 10 Mar (D. Ravi Kanth) — A “Road to Yaounde MC14 – Modalities, Schedule of MC14 Sessions and Minister-Facilitators” document issued by the World Trade Organization’s Director-General on 6 March appears to have confused several member countries, prompting a rethink on participation, according to people familiar with the development. A rethink on participating at the WTO’s 14th ministerial conference (MC14), which is scheduled to begin in Yaounde, Cameroon, on 26 March and conclude on 29 March, is currently underway in capitals due to the unprovoked war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, which has now expanded into a regional war, said a trade envoy who asked not to be quoted. The WTO Director-General, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, sent a restricted informal document (WT/MIN(26)/ INF/9) to members on 6 March, setting out the roadmap for the meetings to be held in Yaounde. Even though the chair of the General Council is the ultimate authority to decide on MC14’s events as per the WTO’s General Council decision of 2002, the DG seems to be deciding matters without prior consultation, the trade envoy said. Speaking to SUNS on a background basis, a Middle East envoy, whose country has been drawn into the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran, sought to know whether MC14, scheduled to begin on 26 March, can be held at all. The envoy said he had heard from several trade envoys that they are seriously reconsidering whether to attend the meeting due to growing fears over the impact of the conflict, notwithstanding the DG’s modalities. At the General Council meeting scheduled to be held on 10-11 March, the issue of convening the meeting in Yaounde amid several countries’ decision to close their airspace could arise, said trade envoys who asked not to be quoted. ROAD TO YAOUNDE In her introduction to the “Road to Yaounde” document, seen by the SUNS, the DG said: “I would like to thank all Members for participating in the consultations since last year on the Road to Yaounde document, including the Schedule of MC14 Sessions, and for the constructive feedback provided.” Although the DG stated that she has reflected on members’ inputs, together with the General Council Chair and the WTO Reform Facilitator, it is unclear what those inputs were. However, the schedule of meetings suggests that very little time has been allotted to the central issues plaguing the WTO, such as ministerial conversations on “foundational issues”, “decision-making and past mandates”, “development”, and “level-playing field” issues, among others. The schedule of meetings will follow these timings: 1. Starting Time: On 26 and 27 March, sessions will begin at 10:00. On 28 and 29 March, sessions will start at 09:00. These adjustments respond to concerns raised about the previous 07:00 start time. 2. Length of Opening Session: In response to concerns about the length of the opening session, and in balance with the plans of the host, who requested it not be cut too short, it is proposed that the opening session now last three hours instead of four. This addresses concerns from those who found the previous duration too long, while respecting the host’s request and still providing sufficient time for the ceremony to be conducted in a manner that ensures its significance. 3. Breaks: Lunch breaks and other breaks are now clearly indicated in the schedule. During breaks, meeting rooms will be available for members who wish to hold their bilateral or group coordination meetings. 4. Breakout Sessions: Given the feedback on the number of topics in breakout sessions, and in consultation with the WTO Reform Facilitator and General Council Chair, these have now been streamlined as follows: * Ministerial Conversation on Foundational Issues on WTO, including its principles * Breakout Session on Decision-Making and Past Mandates * Breakout Session on Development * Breakout Session on Level Playing Field Issues. The Director-General says that the number of breakout groups is being scaled back to six. “This enables us to also have six listening-in rooms to cover the six Ministerial groups.” Given the appointment of Minister-Facilitators, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said: “There will now be one Minister- Facilitator per group instead of two. There will also be only one WTO Reform transparency plenary to hear the takeaways from all topics discussed on 26 and 27 March, now scheduled for Friday, 27 March at 19:30.” Ministerial Sessions According to the Director-General’s note, “All Ministerial Sessions on specific areas will be held in plenary format on Saturday, 28 March.” The Director-General’s roadmap provides very little time for the issues plaguing the WTO, such as: * Dispute Settlement Reform update: 30 minutes * Fisheries subsidies: 1 hour * IFDA (Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement) incorporation: 1.5 hours * E-commerce work programme and moratorium: 1.5 hours * Agriculture: 2.5 hours * Development including LDC issues: 2 hours The closing session, according to the Director-General’s note, is as follows: “The schedule for the last day, 29 March, remains the same. As with previous Ministerial Conferences, there will be an Informal HODs meeting prior to the closing session, to prepare all Ministers, review all documents to be put forward for Ministerial consideration, and gather feedback before moving to the formal closing session. If the Informal HODs finishes ahead of the time allotted, the closing session may also take place earlier than scheduled. The only certainty is that MC14 will finish no later than 13:00 on 29 March. For Members who wish to conduct their own bilateral or group meetings, rooms will be available before the Informal HODs and after the formal closing session.” SCHEDULE OF MC14 SESSIONS The DG said that to “ensure a business-like, transparent, and inclusive Conference – with the full participation of all Ministers in all sessions, the table below provides the order of sessions during the Conference. The sessions will consist of an Opening Session, Breakout Sessions on WTO Reform, a transparency plenary session on WTO Reform, Ministerial Sessions on specific topics, an Informal HODs at Ministerial level and a Closing Session.” Tuesday and Wednesday, 24 and 25 March: Time for Side Events, Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings Thursday, 26 March: Opening Session 10:00-13:00 Ceremonial session – Welcome Remarks by MC14 Chairperson – Welcome Remarks by Director-General – including acknowledgment of progress on accessions – Remarks by Host and invited guests, including Heads of State or Heads of Government Formal Transmittal of work – Formal transmittal of work to the Ministerial Conference – Remarks by the General Council Chairperson Fisheries Subsidies – short celebration of entry into force – Deposits of Instruments of Acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and Celebration of the Agreement’s Entry into Force Explanation of Conduct of Ministerial Sessions, including breakout sessions by Director-General Lunch Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 13:00-15:00 Breakout Session: Ministerial Conversation on Foundational Issues on WTO, including its principles 15:00- 18:00 Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 18:00-19:00 Ceremonial Reception and Gala Dinner hosted by Cameroon – 19:00 Friday, 27 March: WTO Reform Breakout Session – Decision-making, Past Mandates 10:00-12:00 Lunch Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 12:00-14:00 WTO Reform Breakout Session – Development 14:00-16:00 Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 16:00-16:30 WTO Reform Breakout Session – Level Playing Field Issues 16:30-18:30 Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 18:30-19:30 WTO Reform Transparency Plenary Session 19:30 Saturday, 28 March: Update on Dispute Settlement Reform by the DSB Chairperson 09:00-09:30 Ministerial Session on Fisheries Subsidies 09:30-10:30 Ministerial Session on Incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) 10:30-12:00 Lunch Break Rooms will also be available for Bilateral and Group Coordination Meetings 12:00-14:00 Ministerial Session on E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium 14:00-15:30 Ministerial Session on Agriculture 15:30-18:00 Ministerial Session on Development including LDC Issues 18:00-20:00 Sunday, 29 March: Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting at Ministerial-Level in Preparation for the Closing Session 09:00-12:00 Formal Closing Session of the Ministerial Conference 12:00-13:00 Rooms will be available for bilateral and group coordination meetings before the Informal HODs and after the Formal Closing Session Notes: 1. Pre-recorded General Statements of Ministers and Heads of Delegation: Traditionally, Ministers have delivered their general statements during the plenary sessions of a conference. In line with the views expressed by Members at MC12 and MC13 to organize Ministerial Conferences in a more business-like and streamlined manner – and consistent with practice at the previous two MCs – Ministers’ general statements will again be pre-recorded. All statements will be made available on the WTO website and will be streamed at various locations throughout the Conference Centre in Yaounde from 26 to 29 March 2026. * Ministers and Heads of Delegation will be given the opportunity to pre-record their political statements and send them to the Secretariat by Monday, 16 March for uploading on the WTO website. * Statements should not exceed a maximum of 5 minutes. * Please refer to the Information Note on the technical specifications and how to submit the pre-recorded statements – WT/MIN(26)/INF/7 issued on 20 January 2026. 2. WTO Reform Breakout Groups: There will be 6 groups for each breakout session. Each breakout group session will be facilitated by a Minister-Facilitator. The six groups will discuss the same topic at the same time. Ministers will rotate through the different groups so that they can meet and interact with as many of their colleagues as possible. This is based on Members’ feedback. Each group will be balanced by geography, level of development, and diversity of perspectives on topics. * A separate information note on WTO Reform, including guiding questions for Ministers, has been circulated as WT/MIN(26)/INF/15. * Listening-in facilities will be available to allow Members to follow the discussions of the group to which they are not assigned. Access to a listening-in room will be limited to one delegate per Member. The listening-in audio will be provided in English only. 3. Ministerial Sessions on Specific Areas: Each session will be chaired by a Minister-Facilitator. Ministers will engage in exchanges to provide political direction for work ahead; and address unresolved issues to finalize specific decisions, Ministerial guidance, or other outcomes. Ministers will also meet in various configurations, as needed, including during the time allocated for bilateral and group coordination meetings. 4. Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting at Ministerial Level in Preparation for the Closing Session: On 29 March, the MC14 Chairperson and the Director-General will convene an Informal Heads of Delegation meeting. This will provide an opportunity to hear reports from Minister-Facilitators on the discussions in their respective areas, including any outreach conducted. Ministers will also use this occasion to consider any potential outcomes that may be presented for approval or endorsement during the formal closing session. 5. Formal Closing Session of the Ministerial Conference: Immediately after the Informal Heads of Delegation meeting, the Ministerial Conference will convene in formal mode to take any necessary action, including gavelling final decisions. Following this, the Director-General and the MC14 Chairperson, on behalf of the MC14 Officials (Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons), will deliver closing statements. MINISTER-FACILITATORS WTO Reform: H.E. Mr Espen Barth Eide (Norway), Minister of Foreign Affairs, WTO Reform Coordinator. H.E. The Honourable Todd McClay (New Zealand), Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice Chairperson – Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. H.E. Mr Han-Koo Yeo (Republic of Korea), Minister for Trade. H.E. Sir Chris Bryant (United Kingdom), Minister of State for Trade. H.E. Ms Grace Fu (Singapore), Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. H.E. Mr Manuel Tovar Rivera (Costa Rica), Minister of Foreign Trade. Fisheries Subsidies: H.E. Minister Francisco Tiu-Laurel (Philippines), Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Vice Chairperson – Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement: H.E. The Honourable Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Diaspora Affairs (Non-IFDA Participant). H.E. Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Nigeria), Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium: H.E. Senator The Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith (Jamaica), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Vice Chairperson – Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. Agriculture: H.E. Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah (Pakistan), Federal Minister, Prime Minister’s Office. Development including LDC Issues: H.E. Mr Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana (Cameroon), Minister of Trade, Chairperson – Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. +
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