Minister Davies Leaves for India to Attend the WTO Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, has left for New Delhi, India where he will be attending an Informal WTO Ministers Meeting on 13 and 14 May 2019.  The aim of the mini-ministerial is to exchange views and ideas on how to best address the challenges facing the Multilateral Trading System (MTS), as well as discuss issues of concern to developing countries.

There are different diagnoses of problems facing the MTS depending on which side of the spectrum a country is. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the exchange of views among participating countries on current developments in the Multilateral Trading System with a view to promote inclusive growth and development.

Minister Davies said “We need to shape a multilateral trade environment that is conducive and supportive of industrialisation, and supports structural transformation and economic diversification. This includes recognising the necessity of policy space for developing countries, especially African countries to pursue our development objectives and promote regional integration”.

Minister Davies reiterates that the meeting is taking place at a time when global trade is going through a period of uncertainty with an increase in protectionism in some countries and a backlash against trade agreements and globalisation due to lack of inclusive growth.

The Government of India that is organising this meeting, expressed the hope that this meeting will provide a direction on how to constructively engage on the various issues facing the WTO, including the current challenges in the appointment of Appellate Body Members, in the build up to the next WTO Ministerial Council meeting that will take place in 2020.

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti

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