Trade ministers from more than 160 countries have gathered in Cameroon for a pivotal meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as efforts to reform the global trading system face growing divisions among major economies, according to Reuters.
The talks are expected to focus on key issues including dispute settlement reform, agricultural trade rules, and digital commerce, all seen as critical to restoring the effectiveness and credibility of the WTO in a rapidly evolving global economy, Economic Times reported.
However, progress has been constrained by sharp disagreements, particularly after the United States rejected a draft reform proposal ahead of the meeting, underscoring the challenges of reaching consensus within the multilateral system.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has warned that while the global trade body remains functional, it urgently requires reform to stay relevant amid rising protectionism and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Investing.com says the outcome of the Cameroon talks could prove decisive, with failure to secure meaningful reforms likely to accelerate the shift toward regional trade blocs and fragmented global commerce, weakening the influence of the WTO.
