Ngozi Okonjo-Iwala speaks during the opening of the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi (Reuters)

The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Abu Dhabi, reached an impasse on crucial agriculture, fisheries and other outstanding issues, leaving key players, including India, China, the United States and the European Union, unable to find common ground. Despite the prolonged negotiations.

The conference, which was supposed to conclude its work yesterday, Thursday, entered additional time as the stalemate continued, but it did not produce a result, while some negotiators were reported to have described the matter as giving priority to national interest over collective responsibility.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi said that the suspension of customs duties on e-commerce has been extended for two years, but no consensus was reached on government support for agriculture and fishing at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi.

While the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said at the end of the conference, “I will conclude with a phrase that I attribute to Winston Churchill, who said, and I quote, success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that matters.”

“We worked hard this week, accomplished some important things and were unable to finish other things,” she added.

Iwala noted that the results of the ministerial meeting highlighted the deep divisions among the 164 members of the World Trade Organization "in an international context characterized by more uncertainty than ever before."

Since 1998, members of the World Trade Organization have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transactions (Pixels)

Tough negotiations

The lengthy discussions saw most of the commerce ministers leave by the fifth day, with only a few, including Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, staying on until the end.

While there was no consensus on key issues, one important outcome emerged: an agreement to extend the moratorium on customs duties on e-commerce for an additional two years, until the next Ministerial Conference.

The extension was initially met with resistance from India and South Africa, but was accepted after the intervention of the host country, the United Arab Emirates.

Since 1998, members of the World Trade Organization have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transactions.

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who expressed relief despite the lack of consensus on agriculture and fisheries, said: "We have not lost anything. I will come back happy and satisfied," as the talks began to wind down.

The Indian delegation stressed the country's commitment to ensuring food security for vulnerable population groups, and to benefit from the permanent peace clause that allows unlimited purchase of food grains without commitment to standard support accounts.

According to experts, the permanent peace clause, which remains in effect until a permanent solution is agreed upon, protects India and other G33 members from legal challenges related to public grain stocks, and preserves their right to support their agricultural sectors without facing disputes in the WTO system.

India called for special treatment for small-scale fishermen and artisanal fishermen (Getty)

unresolved problems

While the Conference reaffirmed the commitment to an effective dispute settlement system by 2024 and improved use of special and differential treatment provisions for developing countries and least developed countries, the issue of fisheries subsidies remained unresolved.

India called for special treatment for small-scale and artisanal fishermen, and suggested that developing countries expand subsidies within exclusive economic zones or up to 200 nautical miles from shore.

Meanwhile, India has proposed that rich countries stop subsidizing fishing outside this zone over the next 25 years.

In the closing session, the WTO Director-General acknowledged the mixed results, saying: “We worked hard this week, achieved some important things, and were unable to complete other things.”

The conference also witnessed heated debate on the China-led Investment for Development Facilitation Plan.

While South Africa withdrew its opposition, India maintained its position, citing concerns about sovereignty and the integrity of the global trading system.

The plan, which was considered outside the scope of the World Trade Organization, has been a point of contention since the start of the meeting.

As the WTO Ministerial Conference concluded without a comprehensive agreement on agriculture and fisheries, the international community found itself grappling with the challenges of reconciling diverse interests and priorities in the global trade landscape.

There is no doubt that the results of this conference will shape the course of future negotiations and the effectiveness of the World Trade Organization in meeting the evolving needs of its member states.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies