ELDR European Liberal Democratic and Reform Par : Cecilia Malmström joins WTO Ministerial meeting in Davos

Liberal European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmströmjoined trade ministers from 30 countriesin the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial gathering on Saturday 23 January in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the future of trade. This was the first time trade ministers meeting since the WTO's Nairobi ministerial conference in December.

Ahead of the meeting, Malmström said in an opinion article on POLITICO Europe: 'Given the importance of trade for achieving growth and development, the continuing uncertainty in the global economy and the fact that protectionist measures have been on the rise - as the 2015 Global Trade Alert report showed - ministers should use the meeting to reflect on how to revitalize negotiations in the WTO.'

'In Nairobi, WTO members reached several important agreements that will improve the trade prospects of developing countries in particular. That negotiation was an intense process, but the results provide an excellent base for future work. Despite many doubts in advance, the meeting - like the Paris climate conference - showed the world that multilateral institutions can produce results. It allows us to start reflecting on new issues for the future in a positive, forward-looking spirit,' she continued.

In the article, Malmström suggests that the WTO should continue working on oustanding Doha Development Agenda (DDA) issues while beginning to discuss and eventually negotiate topics critical for the world economy not addressed under the DDA. The Commissioner also believes that the World Trade organisations should favour 'more focused negotiations.'

'Trade is critical to development and growth. The world needs a World Trade Organization that can effectively develop global rules on the issues that matter to developed and developing countries alike. Whether Doha is dead or alive, the WTO needs to spur growth and support development,' concludes Malmström.

You can read more in detail the Commissioner's proposals for the future of trade in the online article.