The trade ministers of 164 countries and customs blocs of the World Trade Organization will gather for the 13th Ministerial Conference, which will be held from February 26 to 29 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This important event in global trade will take place against a backdrop of significant challenges, including geopolitical tensions.

The WTO Agenda MK-13 contains more than ten key issues on the international trade agenda, including trade and development issues, WTO dispute resolution reform, agriculture, fishing subsidies, e-commerce, global industrial and supply chains, WTO accession and a number of other key issues. Two new members, the Comoros and the Republic of Timor, are expected to join the WTO during the MC.

Given the current challenges, the WTO MK-13 agenda is becoming an extremely important event for world trade. This is an opportunity for ministers to approve measures to stimulate growth and create new opportunities for international trade and the global economy as a whole.

The successful implementation of the MC-13 will confirm the readiness of WTO members for further reforms necessary for effective functioning in the modern world, and will be evidence that trade and the WTO can play a key role in improving living standards and ensuring stability in the face of global uncertainty.

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