WTO Reform: Officials: Current situation 'no longer sustainable'

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Europe

02:34

Organizers of the World Trade Organization reform meeting are urging members to work together to bring lasting change. The meeting doesn't include the two largest economies and is simply the first step towards reforming the troubled global trading organization. CGTN's Dan Williams has the latest from Ottawa.

A gathering of global trade ministers to discuss the future of the World Trade Organization. But without the United States and China.

The representatives from 12 countries and the EU had been described as 'a small group of like-minded' trade diplomats. Their focus, developing a vision for a modernized and strengthened WTO.

JIM CARR CANADIAN MINISTER OF INT'L TRADE DIVERSIFICATION "The current situation at the WTO is no longer sustainable. And action must be taken. We recognize that we are in the process of setting the table for a larger effort, broadening to all members. And that effort must include the United States and China."

The meeting follows threats by U.S. President Donald Trump that he may pull the U.S. out of the WTO altogether, claiming the WTO's system for settling disputes between member states has treated the U.S. 'very badly'.

The WTO reaffirmed the settlement system as a central pillar of the organization. But say improvements need to be made.

JIM CARR CANADIAN MINISTER OF INT'L TRADE DIVERSIFICATION "We have to engage with the United States for obvious reasons, the United States has said that they are not happy with the WTO. We want to engage them in ways that I hope will lead to ways that are a common understanding of what is in the interests of all of the nation states of the WTO."

The meeting also takes place against a backdrop of heightened trade tensions between China and the U.S.. A number of ministers here hope that will be resolved by the time of the next reform meeting this January.

SIMON BIRMINGHAM AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR TRADE, TOURISM & INVESTMENT "What we hope out of this discussion is that, by being pro-active in providing pathways forward for reform and options around the future of the World Trade Organization, that that does engage the United States, China and every other nation in thinking about how to move the WTO forwards."

DAN WILLIAMS OTTAWA "What has become clear from this meeting is the understanding from the WTO that reform is required. That will likely take time. It may also become more complicated once the rest of the WTO members are included in that discussion. This meeting is simply the first step towards reforming the troubled global trading organization. Dan Williams, CGTN, Ottawa."