Conference primer: Trade and Economics / Guide de conférences : commerce et économie: Trade and Economics / Commerce et économie

Following the inclusion of illicit trade as the only new area of work in the outcome document of UNCTAD15, the Bridgetown Covenant, UNCTAD will host the second iteration of the Illicit Trade Forum in September 2022. The event will be organised in collaboration with the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT).

Data and Digitalization for Development

WTO News, 15 June 2022

View documents online

The General Council is the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body in Geneva, meeting regularly to carry out the functions of the WTO.

The topmost decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.

WEF report, 24 May 2022

Not only does 2022 mark the third year of a global pandemic, it also marks seven and a half years into the SDGs — the halfway point. This year, the World Economic Forum Annual meeting will convene in person for the first time in 2 years. This week-long event is an opportunity to reflect on crucial SDG goals and targets and to develop solutions to spring forward and achieve them in a post-pandemic era. Devex is on the ground in Davos covering the conversations and getting the insider scoop directly from global leaders.

By working together, the 10 founding members of the organizations: Academy of International Business (AIB), African Union, International Institute for Sustainable Development, International Trade Centre, OECD - OCDE, UNCTAD, United Nations ESCAP, WAIPA, The World Bank, World Economic Forum will create a transformational partnership that will jointly identify, define, and address key investment challenges and opportunities, and foster and accelerate sustainable transformational development impact.

WEF News, 10 May 2022

Swissinfo, 1 May 2022

Transformation Map on stakeholder capitalism in the COVID-19 era
WEF Strategic Intelligence - publications

27 September - 1 October 2021
Digital conference organized by the Geneva Trade Platform.

11 October 2021

Subscription under Thematic Newsletters. Monthly newsletter with quick and regular information about key debates, activities and events related to international trade relations.

The ETSG is a forum for academic discussion and research on international trade among European Universities and research institutes. The Conference regularly attracts staff of UN agencies presenting their work.

Selon Olivier De Schutter, il faudrait enquêter sur les abus de position dominante des grands traders agricoles.
La Libre.be, 3 juillet 2022

The agreements adopted at the World Trade Organization's recent ministerial conference lay a foundation for members to rebuild trust, reach further deals, and advance much-needed institutional reforms to keep the global trade body fit for purpose. The goal must be to continue delivering results for people around the world.
Project Syndicate.org, 1 July 2022

- While there are calls by many in the sustainable development policy community for the multilateral trading system to make further progress, both for the issue areas on the agenda at MC12 and elsewhere, the achievement of the Geneva Package is a laudable milestone.
- Coming just days before the UN Ocean Conference convenes in Lisbon, Portugal, the new WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsides has drawn a largely favorable welcome from intergovernmental officials, governments, and many NGOs.
- At MC13, both multilateral and plurilateral initiatives are likely to be sharing the limelight, unlike at MC12, where the attention of the trade community was focused primarily on the multilateral negotiating agenda.
IISD, 23 June 2022

For two nights, delegates toiled through the hot Geneva summer darkness, trying to thrash out a trade agreement that could satisfy the world. In the end, they clinched a deal around a package of issues on fishing subsidies, e-commerce, food insecurity, and Covid-19 vaccines during a pandemic.
Geneva Solutions, 17 June 2022

But not everyone is happy
After heavily contested negotiations, member states agreed on a deal that temporarily removes intellectual property barriers around patents for COVID-19 vaccines, and postpone the discussions on extending the waiver to treatments and tests by six months.
Devex, 17 June 2022

- Intense talks went on until dawn, still ongoing
- Negotiations cover fishing, vaccine, food security
- Agreement reached on Thursday on digital tariffs
- India, formerly seen as a spoiler, expects more deals
Reuters, 16 June 2022

The former finance minister of Greece was in Geneva for the Global Investment Forum. He slams the European Union for its half-hearted approach to the war in Ukraine.
Geneva Solutions, published 14 June, updated 15 June 2022

GENEVA: The United Nations on Monday begged global trade ministers meeting at the World Trade Organization (WTO) not to impose export restrictions on food for humanitarian purposes amid a food security crisis.
Manila Times, 15 June 2022

WTO ministerial: civil society groups urge ministers to reject TRIPS waiver text
As WTO Ministerial Conference nears its end, civil society organisations urged participating countries to push for a full IP waiver on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
Geneva Solutions, 15 June 2022

GENEVA – The World Trade Organization’s boss insisted Monday that turning trade green was now urgent business, with the WTO putting climate change at the heart of its negotiations.
Japan Times, 14 June 2022

- Following the opening ceremony, heads of delegation convened throughout Sunday afternoon and evening, with over 100 WTO members and observers giving statements setting out their priorities for the conference and for the Organization’s longer-term future.
- The subsequent days of the conference are due to see daily thematic sessions among WTO members, covering fisheries subsidies, agricultural trade and food security, the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, WTO reform, and the pandemic response.
IIDS, 13 June 2022

After talking about saving the world's fish stocks for 20 years, there is a whiff of optimism that the World Trade Organization (WTO) might be ready to clinch a deal to stop a fish meltdown on the planet.
Geneva Solutions, 13 June 2022

France 24, 11 June 2022

After more than 20 months of debate, the World Trade Organization is only days away from a self-imposed deadline to reach consensus on an agreement to waive at least some intellectual property protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Devex, 9 June 2022

IISD Publication

It's easier to make lofty pledges about saving the world when the world isn't battling multiple crises.
Swissinfo, 2 June 2022

Geneva Solutions, 23 May 2022

Heidi News, 22 mai 2022

Brief by IISD, 17 May 2022

WTO News, 4 May 2022

India must take a leadership role at the forthcoming WTO ministerial to ensure that the agenda in which developing countries have major stakes is not derailed by the refusal of Western nations to deal with Russia.
Financialexpress.com, 2 May 2022

Health Policy Watch, 3 May 2022

Geneva Solutions, 29 April 2022

WTO News, 25 April 2022

Reuters, 18 April 2022

WTO News, 12 April 2022

UN News, 14 April 2022

IISD Analysis, 24 March 2022