WTO reforms plagued by obstacles

Trade ministers from some 160 member countries are gathered in Abu Dhabi for the World Trade Organization’s biennial meeting amid issues that threaten global trade and economic growth


 Global fish stocks under threat*  Juvenile yellow fin tuna

6% 60% sustainably fished 34% overfished
 Could catch more Fish stocks safe Fish stocks in decline

Digital trade: Maintain 1998 ban on tariffs on digital goods and data transmissions. Ban opposed by India, South Africa and Indonesia

Dispute settlement: Most members want WTO Appellate Body – which decides trade disputes between
member countries – reinstated after it was effectively killed in 2019 by Trump administration

Fisheries Funding Mechanism: Ban government funding of US$35bn per year to support fish stocks

Food security: India wants its anti-hunger programme permanently protected against challenges that it violates cap on trade-distorting farm subsidies

Patent waivers: South Africa, India and other developing countries want to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostics. Move fiercely opposed by U.S. pharmaceutical industry

*UN’s most recent status of world’s fish stocks (1974 to 2017)
    

Sources: Our World in Data, Politico, Reuters Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS