WTO members discuss proposals on key trade and development issues

This note has been prepared by the WTO Secretariat to assist public understanding about the work of the WTO's councils, committees and other bodies. It is not intended as a complete account of all issues raised at the meeting. These can be found in the formal meeting minutes.

The proposal on trade as an engine for economic growth, submitted by Japan and Switzerland, calls for exchanges of experiences and best practices on trade policies that support economic growth and integration into global value chains. The communication on the integration of trade and investment for industrialization, submitted by Benin, China, Comoros, The Gambia, Mali and Togo, seeks to deepen discussions on how trade and investment can jointly support industrialization and development. The new proposal on capacity building for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, submitted by Bangladesh, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal and Pakistan, calls for targeted technical assistance to help developing and least-developed countries participate more effectively in international services trade.

At a Dedicated Session on Small Economies, members continued work towards implementing the Work Programme on Small Economies, focusing on the theme of digital inclusion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The session included presentations by the ITC and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on tools, insights and outreach on digital trade and inclusion. In addition, Belize and Sri Lanka shared their experiences with digital inclusion initiatives. Members also reviewed progress under the Work Programme and discussed next steps.

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