Launch of the WTO Secretariat's 2030 Strategy

My congratulations to the Director General, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to the authors, Victoria Donaldson and Willy Alfaro, with thanks to Ambassador Dacio Castillo for his guidance to this project, this first of its kind report on how the secretariat can best contribute to taking the WTO to a new level.

For the WTO to fulfill its promise, it must be the premier place where members have full access to available knowledge on trade, where the members can confer on trade matters, where trade negotiations take place, where agreements are reached among all who are able to do so, and where trade disputes are settled.  The WTO secretariat is critical to achieving all of these objectives.

No WTO member is self-sufficient; each relies on the global trading system. In turn, that system, which includes regional trade agreements and bilateral free trade agreements, is dependent on the WTO. The system's functioning well in turn rests on the expertise and dedication of the WTO secretariat.

The secretariat is expected to provide skilled support for functions as varied as member discussions on dealing with a pandemic, bringing disciplines to fisheries subsidies, meeting the challenge of food insecurity brought about by climate change, bringing together donor members to discuss how to help the very poorest cotton-growing countries to increase the value of their production of cotton, making sure that standards serve their intended purpose and do not needlessly impede trade, bringing a degree of order to the world of digital commerce and greater openness to trade in services. 

Transparency is the very basis for the smooth functioning of the global trading system. This report highlights the secretariat's role in creating the knowledge hub that is central to meeting the need for trade intelligence.  Harnessing AI will be invaluable to this effort. More, however, is required.  We expect the secretariat to help members anticipate emerging challenges, to see around corners.

We expect the secretariat to extend a helping hand to countries seeking to accede to the organization, especially those that are conflict-affected and those that are among the least developed, to help members to meet the need for inclusiveness in trade regardless of gender and size of the entities involved.

We expect the secretariat to support dispute resolution at all stages, from identifying the problems at issue to aiding panel members in litigation if it comes to that, and even to help to devise the dispute resolution system of the future to which all members without exception can subscribe.

The vision in this report, when implemented, should serve the WTO's members and world trade very well.  The report should be read widely by those interested in the success of this organization, by any who care about delivering on the promise of trade.  It is time for there to be a new mandate for the secretariat to aid the members in reaching their objectives. 

Thank you.