Minister Ng speaks with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to advance WTO priorities

June 3, 2022 – Ottawa, Canada – Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, spoke with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, to discuss progress in preparations for the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), taking place from June 12 to 15, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Minister Ng noted the importance of MC12 to addressing the serious challenges to the global rules-based trading system inflicted by Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable, and illegal invasion of Ukraine, notably with respect to food security and agriculture trade. 

The Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to working with other WTO members and international partners to maintain open and predictable agricultural markets and trade to ensure the continued flow of food, as well as products, services and inputs essential for agricultural and food production and supply chains. On agriculture negotiations, Minister Ng emphasized the importance of WTO members working together to create rules that limit trade-distorting domestic support and improve transparency on related policies.

Minister Ng emphasized the importance of constructive engagement by members on the issue of trade and health. She also reaffirmed Canada’s support for Director-General Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership on efforts to ensure a meaningful and sustainable outcome at MC12 from the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies. 

Minister Ng reiterated Canada’s commitment to finding solutions on key issues at MC12 and beyond, and to maintaining Canada’s leadership on WTO reform through the engagement of the Ottawa Group.

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