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The Minister of Trade and
Industry, Rob Davies, attended an informal World Trade
Organisation (WTO) Ministers Meeting in India from 19 to
20 March 2018.
"The purpose of the informal WTO Ministers Meeting in
New Delhi is for ministers to engage on free and frank
discussions on the issues in the WTO to safeguard and
strengthen the multilateral trading system," said the
Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
The two-day meeting in New Delhi followed the 11th WTO
Ministerial Conference (MC11) that took place in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, in December 2017.
The dti said the lack of substantial outcomes at MC11,
especially on outstanding issues in the Doha Development
Agenda (DDA), revealed the scope and depth of
divergences among countries.
It also highlighted the lack of a shared understanding
between countries on development.
The DDA is the latest trade negotiation round of the
WTO, which commenced in November 2001. Its objective is
to lower trade barriers around the world to facilitate
increased global trade.
"The Indian Government that is organising this meeting,
expressed the hope that this will lead to political
guidance on some of the major issues, both at the
negotiating table and also provide an opportunity for
Ministers to share ideas on issues they consider to be
critical for reinvigorating the WTO," said the dti. ¡V
Source:
www.SAnews.gov.za |
