USA has become more engaged on dispute settlement reform, WTO chief says

(26 Feb 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Abu Dhabi - 26 February 2024
1. Wide of news conference
2. Close of signage
3. Mid of media
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO (World Trade Organization) Director-General:
“I think that during my time, I've been three years, I've seen the US engage more, and I have to say that they've been quite constructive and I said it in my speech. We've seen them engaging on the issue of dispute settlement reform, which for a number of years, they did not, now they're engaging and they've been working actively. They are very engaged in fish, in fisheries, for instance, and have been very active on that. I would say that across the board I see a constructiveness and an engagement of the US. So I'm slightly not of the opinion that, you know, they are not engaging or showing lead, I think things have changed. That may have been the case in the past, but it's not the case now.”
5. Mid of media
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO (World Trade Organization) Director-General:
“It's good to have strategic competition, this is what we’re about, but we also need to remember when strategic cooperation, matters. So, these are the three, without global cooperation we'll not be able to solve many of the problems we have and that's why coming together to strengthen the multilateral trading system is important. So, resilience, cooperation and no complacency, those are the three words.”
7. Wide of briefing
STORYLINE:
The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) warned on Monday that war, uncertainty and instability are weighing down the global economy and urged the bloc to embrace reform as elections across nearly half the world's population could bring new challenges.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sought to offer some praise for her organization as it held its biennial meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

Okonjo-Iweala praised the constructive engagement of the United States on the disputed settlement reform.

“I have to say that they've been quite constructive," she said.

"We've seen them engaging on the issue of dispute settlement reform, which for a number of years, they did not,” Okonjo-Iweala added.

The United States has deep reservations over the WTO.

The US under the past three administrations has blocked appointments to its appeals court, and it’s no longer operating.

Washington says the WTO judges have overstepped their authority too often in ruling on cases.

The US also has criticized China for still describing itself as a developing country as it did when it joined the WTO in 2001.

Washington, Europe and others say that Beijing improperly hampers access to emerging industries and steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

The US also says China floods world markets with cheap steel, aluminum and other products.

During the four-day conference the WTO’s member-nations will discuss a deal to ban subsidies that contribute to overfishing, extending a pause on taxes on digital media such as movies and video games, and agricultural issues while meeting this week in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi.

“Without global cooperation will not be able to solve many of the problems we have," added Okonjo-Iweala.

"That's why coming together to strengthen the multilateral trading system is important. So, resilience, cooperation and no complacency, those are the three words,” she concluded.

AP video shot by Bassam Hatoum

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