Page 674 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2024

2/22/24, 2:45 PM Al Zeyoudi addresses final WTO General Council ahead of MC13 in Abu Dhabi
opportunity to formally negotiate on the major issues ahead of MC13.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi commended the delegates on their hard work to date, and

encouraged them to demonstrate the same flexibility and consensus in the run up to

MC13, which takes place in the UAE capital between 26-29 February.

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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