The topic has generated months of contentious negotiations. Okonjo-Iweala hopes the member nations, which make decisions by consensus, also can strike an agreement about whether to temporarily waive WTO’s protections of intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines.

trade representative, referring to the 12th ministerial conference at the WTO. “I strongly urge the WTO members with the capabilities to commit at MC12 to exempt their donations to the World Food Program from any export restrictions,” said Katherine Tai, the U.S. They also will decide whether to increase support for the U.N.’s World Food Program to help needy countries around the world. Ministers at the meeting will consider whether to lift or ease export restrictions on food to help countries facing a shortage of wheat, fertilizer and other products because of the war in Ukraine. The WTO chief insisted that trade has lifted 1 billion people out of poverty, but poorer countries – and poor people in richer ones – are often left behind.īlockaded ports in Ukraine have impeded exports of up to 25 million tons of grain from the key European breadbasket. “This is the time to summon the much-needed political will to show that the WTO can be part of the solution to the multiple crises, the global commons that we face.” “With history looming over us, with that multilateral system seemingly fragile, this is the time to invest in it, not to retreat from it,” Okonjo-Iweala said. She noted higher prices are“hitting poor people the hardest.” She cited an array of crises facing the world such as the COVID-19 pandemic environmental crises like droughts, floods and heat waves and inflationary pressures that have been compounded by food shortages and higher fuel costs linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Stock Photo by THP 7 / 179 Bumpy Rural Road Picture by beinder 2 / 196 country road Stock Photo by prawny 4 / 373 Solutions For Business Stock Images by focalpoint 8 / 77 Bumpy road Stock Photography by 4774344sean 1 / 34 Bumpy road Stock Image by focalpoint 8 / 465 3d Render of a Bumpy Road Picture by apotterdd 1 / 131 bumpy road Stock Photography by prawny 2 / 880 Bumpy road backdrop Stock Image by 4774344sean 2 / 27 Bumpy road Picture by smuay 2 / 12 Bumpy road background Stock Photo by 4774344sean 2 / 39 Bumpy road leading to city Stock Photography by 4774344sean 2 / 53 Bumpy road background Stock Photos by 4774344sean 2 / 32 Bumpy road background Stock Photos by 4774344sean 2 / 40 Bumpy Road Ahead Yield Sign Stock Photos by ulegundo 3 / 107 Bumpy road background Stock Photo by 4774344sean 1 / 15 Bumpy road background Stock Photo by 4774344sean 1 / 24 bumpy road Stock Photo by maurus 2 / 4 Bumpy road background Stock Photo by 4774344sean 1 / 36 bumpy road Stock Photos by maurus 1 / 9 Bumpy road Stock Photography by 4774344sean 0 / 48 Bumpy road Stock Photography by 4774344sean 0 / 14 Bumpy road Stock Photography by 4774344sean 0 / 16 Bumpy road Stock Photography by 4774344sean 0 / 27 Slow down, bumpy road ahead.Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities Bumpy road background Stock Photos by 4774344sean 1 / 22 Bumpy road Stock Images by PinkBadger 1 / 13 Bumpy road background Stock Photos by 4774344sean 1 / 17 Heat haze rises and the road gets a little bumpy.

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