Trade Ministers in Davos discuss way ahead in WTO

Bern, 26.01.2018 - At the invitation of Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Ministers in charge of WTO matters and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo convened today in Davos. The purpose of the informal meeting was to start a dialogue on the way forward following the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in December 2017 in Buenos Aires.

29 Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) representing a broad range of interests participated in the gathering, which was held in the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Most Members attended at Ministerial level.

Ministers shared their assessment of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in December 2017 in Buenos Aires. They also discussed possible ways forward in trade negotiations and on other aspects of the WTO.

Ministers welcomed the positive outcomes achieved in Buenos Aires, notably on fisheries subsidies. At the same time, they expressed their disappointment over the lack of further multilateral outcomes and acknowledged significant challenges lying ahead in the WTO. Ministers expressed their willingness to pursue their active engagement in view of preserving and further developing the multilateral trading system.

Address for enquiries

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Holzikofenweg 36
CH-3003 Bern
Tel. +41 58 462 56 56
medien@seco.admin.ch