The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has emphasized the “strong and unequivocal” support of global business for the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a statement issued at a major forum held December 12 alongside the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The statement also highlights the importance of safeguarding existing multilateral trade commitments, avoiding protectionism, and sustaining the WTO’s dispute settlement function.
The statement emphasizes the key role that the WTO system has played in driving economic growth and development, and urges governments to commit to a new and pragmatic agenda for the WTO in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Priority areas for new WTO workstreams identified by the statement include negotiations to establish new frameworks for e-commerce to help small businesses access global markets; a new WTO work program to support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); and the adoption of an action plan on investment facilitation.
“Global business believes that there is a unique opportunity for WTO Members to launch new negotiations on e-commerce to foster an open and trusted global ecosystem that better enables MSMEs to access global markets by leveraging new technologies.
“As a priority—and with the overarching aim of promoting inclusive trade—such negotiations should seek to enhance connectivity and capacity building in developing economies; simplify and expedite the clearance of small e-commerce shipments; and lower costs in destination markets for remote MSME traders,” said the statement.
“Business also considers that it would be timely for Members to agree on an agenda for an MSME initiative within the WTO, with a special focus on regulatory and transparency issues. An action plan for online training and trade courses for MSMEs to facilitate their participation in international trade should also be adopted.”
ICC also called on the WTO to adopt an action plan on investment facilitation and to intensify multilateral investment policy coordination in this area.
ICC secretary general John Danilovich said: “Business is clear in its strong and unequivocal support for the WTO. We encourage governments to take pragmatic steps to strengthen the global trading system at MC11. This will require a flexible approach to ensure that the WTO can respond effectively to global challenges.”
“We believe the WTO has a vital role to play in enabling more small businesses to grow and succeed in the global economy. We encourage as many WTO members as possible to move forward with new workstreams on e-commerce and MSMEs at MC11. This is a vital response to the challenge to make trade more inclusive.”
The ICC presented the statement to WTO director-general Roberto Azevêdo and the chair of MC11 Susanna Malcorra at the culmination of the business forum held on the sidelines of MC11.
Photo courtesy of WTO
