WTO chief rebukes countries over stalled fishing negotiations

The head of the World Trade Organization chided countries for failing to make headway on negotiations covering fishing and agriculture because of infighting over who should lead them.

The WTO broke a multi-year deal-making drought in June by clinching a series of agreements at a major trade conference in Geneva in June, including a fisheries deal. But since then, little has happened because of a deadlock over who should chair the fisheries and agriculture talks, delegates said.

Delegates told Reuters that a proposal was floated for Turkey and Norway’s ambassadors to lead the agricultural and fisheries negotiations but these choices were rejected by India, delegates said. Pakistan preferred a Sri Lankan candidate.

“Six months of not negotiating is not acceptable,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told countries in a closed-door meeting of its General Council, according to remarks relayed by the body’s spokesperson late on Monday.

She was referring to the period of time from the June package to the present which encompasses the summer break and the months since the departure of the previous chairs. Okonjo-Iweala is aiming for further deals by the next ministerial meeting in the United Arab Emirates in February 2024.

By Emma Farge

https://www.reuters.com/world/wto-chief-rebukes-countries-over-stalled-negotiations-2022-12-19/