12th June 2022
Food security, Russian invasion of Ukraine, fisheries subsidies and access to vaccines high on the agenda of meeting of trade ministers from around the world
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, will today (Sunday, 12 June) attend the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This is the first meeting of world trade ministers since 2017 as the last planned Ministerial Conference was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Food security, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fisheries subsidies and vaccine availability and distribution, the so-called ‘TRIPs’ waiver, will be high on the agenda as trade ministers from all over the world gather in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Tánaiste will speak at the conference today, focusing on the need for all members to make progress on these critical issues and the importance of free, multi-lateral trade and reforming the WTO as an organisation, as we navigate uncertain times ahead.
The Tánaiste said:
“Putin’s war on Ukraine has seriously disrupted global food supplies. We all face the unwelcome prospect of higher food prices. In some countries, particularly in the global south, they face major food shortages. We’re lucky in Ireland that we produce more food than we eat, but I’m really conscious that is not the case in many nations and I hope we can reach an agreement on a declaration, agreed by all members on food security. Sanctions do not apply to food or medicines and we must work together to ensure that Ukraine can export its grain this year.
“Fisheries subsidies is another area I hope we can make some progress on. We want sustainable fishing, that protects the traditions and jobs of our coastal towns and village into the long-term. The WTO as an organisation can play an important role in reaching such over-arching agreements, so I hope we get a positive outcome this week.
“On the proposal around TRIPs and the provision of vaccines globally, especially to developing countries, this is an EU competence but we will support any proposal that results in more vaccines being produced and distributed while protecting research and innovation.”
As part of the conference, the Tánaiste will attend a solidarity event in aid of Ukraine to highlight Ireland’s continued support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and within the context of the WTO, identify measures adopted at EU level to better support and facilitate Ukrainian trade.
The Tánaiste said:
“Ireland continues to be there for the people of Ukraine in their hour of need, following the brutal invasion of their country by Russian forces. The people of Ireland have shown their generosity in welcoming many thousands of our Ukrainian friends into their homes and the Government has been a staunch ally of Ukraine in its efforts to join the European Union and to cement its rightful place as a sovereign, peaceful and democratic country within the European family of nations.”
The solidarity event as part of a programme of trade related events under the framework of the WTO, will also highlight the efforts that the European Union and other partners are engaged in to assist Ukraine economically including the removal of tariffs on Ukrainian goods entering the EU Single Market.
The Tánaiste will also have a number of bilateral engagements including with the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Mr Guy Ryder, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General of the World Health Organisation with both the ILO and WHO headquartered in Geneva, as well as Trade Ministers from the wider WTO membership.
Note for Editors
The World Trade Organisation was established in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The latter was founded in 1947 as one of the multilateral institutions to deliver peace and economic development after World War II.
The WTO currently has 164 members, with Ireland joining the GATT in 1967 as part of its strategy to open up the economy to imports and foreign investment, to make the economy more competitive and to develop a strong export sector.
The WTO meets at Ministerial Conference (MC) level every two years. The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) will take place in Geneva on 12–15 June 2022.
There is a package of four main ‘pillars’ of negotiations, which are seen as a priority for MC12:
- A Ministerial Outcome Document and WTO Reform
- Agriculture – including Food Security
- WTO response to the pandemic – including the TRIPS waiver and an overarching Trade and Health package
- Fisheries Subsidies
The European Commission, which represents EU Member States at the WTO, has stated that the EU is committed to a successful MC12 and to showing that the WTO can respond to global challenges.
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