WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva
(Last modification 27.11.2009)
Bern, 24.11.2009 - The seventh session of the WTO Ministerial Conference will take place in Geneva from 30 November to 2 December. At the meeting Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard will strive for a strengthening of WTO bodies, a swift conclusion to the Doha Round and a forward looking approach on the part of the WTO. In particular, the organisation should also do its part to tackle global warming. On the fringes of the Conference, Federal Councillor Leuthard will hold numerous bilateral meetings and chair a G10 Ministerial Conference.
will be attending the seventh session of the WTO Ministerial Conference from 30 November to 1 December where she will act as vice-chair. The ministers have the task of considering the role of the WTO and consequently the multilateral trading system in the current global economic climate. In addition to a review of the WTO's activities a key theme will also be the WTO's contribution to overcoming the economic crisis.
At the initiative of Switzerland and a number of other countries, a discussion platform should be established within the WTO to improve the functioning, efficiency and transparency of the WTO. Federal Councillor Leuthard will call for greater coherence between trade, environmental and social policy, as well as for better cooperation between international organisations specialised in these policy areas. Federal Councillor Leuthard will also encourage the WTO to play a more constructive role in efforts to tackle global warming and, once the Doha Round has been concluded, to also address issues such as investment, competition law and transparency in public procurement.
While the focus of this Conference is on the Doha Round, informal dialogues among ministers will take place on the fringes of the conference which also touch on the Doha Round. As such, Federal Councillor Leuthard has invited ministers to a meeting of G10 countries. The G10 consists of a group of countries(1), which import more agricultural products than they export and which seek the consideration of non-trade issues, such as environmental requirements.
1) South Korea, Israel, Iceland, Japan, Mauritius, Norway, Liechtenstein, Chinese Taipei, Switzerland
Address for enquiries
Christophe Hans, Head of Information FDEA, tel. 41 (0)31 322 39 60
Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Ambassador, SECO, tel. +41 (0)31 322 23 33
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
