Lengthy negotiations among
delegations have produced the “Geneva Package” on a series of key trade issues.
Geneva- June 19, 2022
WTO members have successfully
concluded the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, Switzerland, and round-the-clock
negotiations among delegations have produced the “Geneva Package”, securing
multilaterally negotiated outcomes on key trade initiatives.
The Package contains a series of
unprecedented decisions on fisheries subsidies, WTO response to emergencies,
including: a waiver of certain requirements concerning compulsory licensing for
COVID-19 vaccines, food safety and agriculture, an Agreement on Fisheries
Subsidies, and WTO reform.
“The MC12’s decision on WTO emergency
response to food security issues is a triumph for the rights and interests of Net
Food-Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) that Egypt has greatly contributed
to,” said Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea who led Egypt’s
delegation at the meetings.
In
addition, ministers adopted two decisions - on the Work Programme on Small
Economies and on the TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints- and a
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration for the 12th WTO Ministerial
Conference.