Page 665 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2024

2/22/24, 2:44 PM Al Zeyoudi addresses final WTO General Council ahead of MC13 in Abu Dhabi
He remarked, “The 13th Ministerial Conference is an important opportunity to review and refine the rules of

international trade and ensure that supply chains remain open, agile and resilient. It is important that we
come together, think creatively and collaboratively, and work to reconcile our national positions with the

long-term promise of a sustainable and inclusive global trading system.”

Statements at the General Council revealed that while all delegations shared a commitment to the rules-
based trading system, there were still a number of gaps between nations that will need to be bridged ahead
of MC13. Acknowledging these differences and the hard work required to achieve consensus against a

backdrop of broader tensions in international trade, His Excellency expressed his hope that delegations

will continue to seek out areas of agreement and common ground. He stressed that the upcoming
Ministerial Conference was part of a continuum, and encouraged delegations to take the long view,
ensuring that outcomes at MC13 built on those of MC12, and set the stage for MC14 and beyond.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is comprised of 164 Member States and is the only multilateral

organization overseeing the rules of trade between nations, dedicated to enabling member states to use
trade as a means to raise living standards, create jobs, and improve people’s lives across the world. The

Ministerial Conference, which meets biannually, is the topmost decision-making body of the World Trade
Organisation.

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