Ottawa, 4 June 2022 (TDI): The Canadian Minister for International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business, and Economic Development, Mary Ng, spoke to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the WTO.
The Canadian Minister and the head of the international body discussed preparations for the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference.
The conference will take place from June 12 to 15 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Discussion Between the Officials
Minister Ng expressed Canada’s commitment to working with the WTO and other international partners to maintain predictable markets and trade.
She stressed the need for openness and predictability in the agricultural trade to ensure the continued flow of food. Moreover, products, services, and inputs essential for agricultural and food production and supply chains should be openly traded.
They highlighted the importance of WTO members creating rules that limit trade distortion and improve transparency on agricultural trade policies.
The officials addressed the challenges to the international rules-based trading system as a result of the War in Ukraine.
They also noted that the challenges are especially important to tackle in the case of food security and agriculture trade.
In addition, the Canadian Minister highlighted the importance of constructive engagement among members in the areas of health and trade.
She further reiterated Canada’s support for Director-General Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership to ensure a sustainable outcome in WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies.
Additionally, International Trade Minister Mary Ng expressed Canada’s hope to find solutions to key issues at the WTO conference.
Finally, she said that Canada will maintain leadership in WTO reform through the engagement of the Ottawa Group.
Canada leads the Ottawa Group for WTO reform. This group demands WTO reform to strengthen the international organization to ensure that a rules-based framework shapes the global trade environment.
Previously, the WTO organized a virtual ministerial meeting in January 2022. That meeting focused on trade and health, fisheries subsidies negotiations, agriculture negotiations, and the WTO reform.
Meanwhile, Canada is an important player in the WTO and participates in most WTO-led activities and frameworks. See More
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