WTO DG chairs strategic meeting ahead of conference in Cameroon.

Speaking at a WTO General Council meeting held from March10 to 12, the Nigerian woman said she intends to send to ministers an informal "state-of-play" package next week with documents representing the current state of work in Geneva, as well as a final "Road to Yaoundé" document outlining how MC14 will be conducted.

"MC14 will be consequential for the organization," DG Okonjo-Iweala told delegations, adding that: "It is what I call a 'Turning Point Ministerial', one in which we can show that the organization is up to the job of taking criticism seriously and using this to reposition itself”. 

The Director General said members were closing in on texts to be sent to ministers for their consideration, and which would deliver the political signals needed to advance post-MC14 negotiating work. 

Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the General Council, said the package "is informal in nature and does not constitute a formal transmission of work from Geneva. Rather, it serves as a briefing tool to help ministers prepare for their deliberations based on the MC [14] programme structure".

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Director General said she, the MC14 host, Cameroon, and the General Council were closely monitoring the situation and following developments that could affect the meeting and participation. 

In the meantime, she said arrangements for MC14 are still in place and plans have not changed. Members will be kept fully informed and relevant updates will be shared promptly, she added.

WTO reform

On the issue of WTO reform, which has been identified by many members as a priority for discussion in Yaounde, the Director General underlined the importance of securing political impetus to advance the work after MC14.

"The WTO has long spoken of unfinished negotiations and long-overdue reform, yet too often our promises have outpaced our results," she said. 

"This Conference must demonstrate that this time is different" she added.

Reporting in his capacity as the facilitator on WTO reform, Ambassador Petter Ølberg from Norway noted that "significant progress" has been made since the start of intensified engagement by WTO members in June 2025. 

He noted that a draft Yaounde Ministerial Statement on WTO Reform and draft WTO Reform Work Plan, which reflect the cumulative efforts of members over the past nine months, have been presented to members for consideration.

"I fully recognize that these texts may not reflect every preference," Ambassador Olberg said. 

But he added that "we have reached the limits of what can responsibly be achieved here in Geneva. If we are truly committed to advancing WTO reform - as I believe we all are - I appeal to you to approach these draft texts in that spirit".

"We have come a long way from where we were," the Director General said after members took the floor to comment on the facilitator's report. 

"Yes, there are still disagreements and discordant notes, but, I'm optimistic that we are going to make it" she continued.

Agriculture, fisheries…

Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, the Chair of the negotiations on agriculture, reported that nine new submissions have been received from members since his call for new inputs last December. 

Two rounds of consultations took place in mid-January and early February respectively to facilitate the negotiations. 

Responding to requests from several members, the Chair said he had presented a draft Ministerial Declaration in late February and, following further consultations, a revised draft on 5 March that was discussed at a transparency meeting the following day.

"It is my assessment that the majority of members, barring a few, are prepared to accept the revised draft ministerial text, as they believe that it sets the stage for focused negotiations to commence post-MC14 without prejudging their outcome," Ambassador Hussain said.

With regards to discussions on agriculture at MC14, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain said the majority of members favour holding a plenary session in Yaoundé, while some favour smaller breakout sessions. The Chair said he would forward a few guiding questions to help structure the discussions.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3735 of Wednesday March 18, 2026