Civil Society Dialogue on the EU’s approach to the World Trade Organization

• Date: 02/12/2019, 11:30-13:30
• Location: Charlemagne Building, room Sicco Mansholt, 170 Rue de la Loi, Brussels

Meeting details

NEW VENUE: room Sicco Mansholt, 170 Rue de la Loi, Brussels

Providing a set of rules for international trade and a system for settling disputes between members, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the foundation of the multilateral trading system. This system is currently facing its deepest crisis since its inception: it has become unbalanced, its negotiating function has stalled with rules not updated for many years and the dispute settlement system is about to become paralysed. The EU is a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system and believes a major reform of the WTO is needed in order to put it back at the centre of global trade.

In September 2018, the EU issued a concept note outlining its comprehensive approach to modernising the WTO’s three main functions: making rules, monitoring adherence to rules and settling disputes. The EU is working on concrete proposals in all areas and has already submitted proposals on dispute settlement, transparency and trade concerns.

Unblocking the appointment of new Appellate Body (AB) members is the most urgent issue. There are only three left; after mid-December there will only be one, so the AB will not be able to hear any new appeals. To deal with the consequences of a possible blockage of the WTO, the EU is working towards an interim solution with interested third countries based on existing WTO rules. So far, the EU has entered into two interim appeal arbitration arrangements with Canada and Norway.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide the state of play of the challenges in the WTO and the EU’s proposed way forward to address these.

Speakers

Lead participant
Mr Denis Redonnet, Director, WTO, Legal Affairs and Trade in Goods, Directorate-General for Trade

Moderator
Head of Unit - Information, Communication and Civil Society, DG Trade

Agenda
1. State of play of the WTO
2. Open discussion with stakeholders.

We would be grateful if participants could arrive 30 minutes in advance in order clear security and gain access to the meeting room on time. Please bring with you the confirmation of your e-pass and an ID card or passport.

Related documents

• Meeting report, 03/12/2019