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29/05/2020 - WTO General Council to discuss Kazakhstan’s proposal to host the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2021.

argomento: News del mese - Diritto Internazionale e Comunitario

Articoli Correlati: WTO - ministerial conference - DG appointment

The WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference was planned to take place on 8-11 June 2020 in Nur-Sultan but because of the COVID-19 outbreak the conference was put on hold. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan offered to host the same conference in Nur-Sultan in June 2021 and submitted its proposal to the WTO General Council. WTOs General Council discussed such proposal at a virtual meeting on May 29th, 2020, considering the impossibility of having a real meeting. After having discussed the issue at length, there were new and different opinions. For instance, New Zeland Ambassador, David Walker, claimed that all delegations were keen on the proposal; nevertheless, other delegations pointed out the difficulties of setting a date with the COVID-19 pandemic and that consequently it would be wiser to wait on the decision since it would need reevaluation afterwards. At the same meeting WTO members also discussed the timetable proposed by the General Council chair for the appointment of the next WTO Director-General, since Director-General Roberto Azevêdo informed members that he intended to step down on 31 August 2020.