What Changed
- Adoption of a WTO declaration on partnerships for trade and development to support LDCs and developing economies.
- Call to leverage grants, concessional finance, and blended finance to mobilize private sector trade partnerships.
- Review of India's communication on South-South and triangular cooperation through its ITEC Programme training over 80,000 participants since 2014.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Committee on Trade and Development Aid for Trade has concluded its Global Review with a declaration on partnerships for trade and development. The declaration represents the first multilateral outcome on this topic in 20 years. It aims to support developing economies and least developed countries (LDCs) by enhancing technical assistance, capacity building, and financial cooperation to facilitate their integration into the global trading system.
The newly adopted declaration recognizes the importance of technical assistance and capacity building for implementing WTO rules. It addresses an evolving development cooperation landscape and highlights the necessity of exploring, attracting, and scaling up additional resources. This includes leveraging grants, concessional finance, and blended finance to catalyze effective partnerships with the private sector.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the declaration as part of ongoing efforts to renew the WTO, emphasizing the need for members to work together to drive global economic growth and development. Ambassador Elmer José Germán Gonzalo Schialer Salcedo of Peru, Chair of the Committee on Trade and Development, highlighted the active engagement of all WTO members and recognized the leadership of Australia and Barbados in facilitating the agreement.
In addition to the declaration, WTO members considered a communication submitted by India regarding trade-related capacity building. The communication detailed India’s South-South and triangular cooperation efforts, notably through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, which has strengthened the skills of more than 80,000 participants since 2014.
The text of the declaration will be made available under document reference WT/COMTD/AFT/2. The Chair encouraged members to maintain momentum and build stronger trade partnerships.
Who May Be Affected
Developing economies, least developed countries (LDCs), private sector partners involved in trade development, and WTO member states.
Cross-Border Context
Multilateral multilateral agreement across WTO members affecting international trade assistance, capacity building, and financing frameworks.
What to check next
- Publication of formal document WT/COMTD/AFT/2 by the WTO Secretariat once issued.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.