WTO Charts Focused Path Toward MC14 as Members Weigh Readiness for Decisions

Setting the tone for the discussions, DG Okonjo-Iweala described the current moment as both challenging and pivotal for the multilateral trading system.

At a meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) on 12 December, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and chairs of negotiating bodies reviewed the state of negotiations and assessed which issues could realistically be elevated for ministerial decisions at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled for 26–29 March in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Chairing the TNC, DG Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the need to deliver a manageable, focused and meaningful agenda for MC14, warning against overloading ministers with issues that are not sufficiently mature for decision-making.

“The purpose of today’s TNC is to chart a path to identify a common understanding of which negotiating issues are ready for ministerial action, which are not, and what should be done in each case,” she told members.

She recalled members’ earlier agreement to lay the groundwork for ministerial clarity ahead of MC14, with the upcoming General Council meeting in Geneva expected to play a key role in shaping and endorsing the agenda.

A Potentially Defining Ministerial Conference

Setting the tone for the discussions, DG Okonjo-Iweala described the current moment as both challenging and pivotal for the multilateral trading system.

“We are living through difficult but also exciting times. MC14 may well be the most consequential ministerial conference in the history of this organization,” she said, stressing that outcomes would depend on members’ choices and the quality of preparations in the coming months.

She invited the chairs of six negotiating bodies established under the TNC to provide candid assessments of readiness for ministerial action and to outline possible next steps. Issues outside the TNC’s mandate, she clarified, would continue to be addressed under the General Council.

In her capacity as TNC Chair, DG Okonjo-Iweala also presented proposed recommendations across negotiating areas, while underlining that responsibility for shaping the agenda remains a collective one among members.

Strong Engagement and a Call for Realism

The Director-General closed the meeting by noting an exceptionally high level of engagement, with a record number of member interventions reflecting strong interest in shaping a credible and results-oriented path toward MC14.

Members broadly reaffirmed the “Geneva-first” principle, emphasizing that substantive technical work must continue in Geneva before issues can be credibly brought to ministers. Many stressed the importance of realism, cautioning against an overly expansive agenda that could dilute focus and limit ministers’ ability to deliver concrete outcomes.

At the same time, members called for balance, transparency and inclusivity, underscoring that decisions at MC14 should not foreclose further negotiations after the Conference where progress remains possible.

Mixed Readiness Across Negotiating Areas

DG Okonjo-Iweala reported that discussions revealed varying levels of convergence across negotiating areas. In some fields, members share a basic understanding of next steps, while in others, no technical outcomes are expected to be put before ministers at MC14.

• Fisheries subsidies: Members acknowledged that concluding additional disciplines by MC14 is unlikely. However, there was support for a possible ministerial reaffirmation committing to continued negotiations beyond the Conference.

• Agriculture: The Director-General highlighted strong and widespread interest across the membership. While no single negotiating text is currently ready for ministerial decision, she noted that recent submissions provide a foundation for intensified work in Geneva, with a view to exploring whether a consolidated outcome or another form of ministerial engagement could be crafted.

• Trade and development (G-90 proposals): DG Okonjo-Iweala noted broad support for advancing a process-based approach through the General Council, building on work carried out since the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).

Toward a Clear and Deliverable MC14 Agenda

Concluding the meeting, DG Okonjo-Iweala said the discussions had helped narrow differences, clarify expectations and sharpen priorities. She confirmed that members’ guidance would be reflected in her report to the General Council, with the goal of securing endorsement of a clear, focused and productive agenda for MC14.

The coming weeks in Geneva will therefore be critical, as members seek to balance ambition with realism and position MC14 as a milestone for restoring confidence and momentum in the multilateral trading system.