WTO, France Seal €6m Deal To Deepen Trade In Developing Countries

France is donating approximately €6 million to finance the World
Trade Organisation’s (WTO) technical assistance programmes for
developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) from 2021
to 2023.
The intervention is aimed at improving participants’ understanding
of global trade rules and standards.

French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire and the country’s
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, confirmed the
contribution at a signing ceremony with WTO Director-General, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, held at Geneva, recently.

In the meeting with Okonjo-Iweala, they discussed a number of
issues, including the role of the WTO in supporting a post-COVID-19
economic recovery, WTO reform, climate change and sustainability
issues, gender and e-commerce.

The internship programme sponsored by France and Ireland would
receive an annual contribution of €900,000 to finance internship
for government officials at the permanent missions of developing
countries and LDCs in Geneva.

According to the statement, a yearly amount of €550,000 would be
targeted to support the new phase of the WTO’s Chairs Programme
aimed at helping academic institutions in developing countries and
LDCs build their expertise in trade policy, international trade
economics, international relations and international economic
law.

Since the launch of the Programme, which has been part of the
Global Trust Fund for ten years and is covered by the technical
assistance plans, the WTO has provided financial support.

The Standards and Trade Development Facility would receive
annually €400,000 to help developing countries and LDCs implement
food safety, animal health and plant health standards required for
international trade and to improve their sanitary and phytosanitary
capacity.

Commenting on the agreement, Okonjo-Iweala said: “The technical
assistance activities which France is supporting will provide
developing countries and LDCs with essential skills and knowledge
so that they may more effectively participate in multilateral
trade, including trade negotiations, and achieve meaningful
outcomes for the people they serve. I welcome France’s continued
generosity.”

On his part, Maire, said: “France is convinced that the WTO has
a major role to play in the wake of the economic crisis. We need to
move forward on a number of reforms so that the WTO can play its
role again in easing trade tensions and settling disputes, so that
every country can reap the benefits that international trade
offers, including developing countries.

“Our discussions with the Director-General focused on
transforming and improving the WTO’s Appellate Body, on clarifying
and respecting multilateral trade rules, and on strengthening the
WTO’s role in the fight against global warming.

“Trade must serve sustainable development. France is committed
to limiting the impact of global warming on a global scale, and to
supporting developing countries in this effort, through the
strengthening of their industrial and commercial capacities.”

In his comment at the meeting, Riester, said: “This is a crucial
moment for the WTO. We are experiencing an unprecedented paralysis.
At the same time, this period offers exceptional opportunities to
reform the Organisation so that it can build dynamic, fair, just
and sustainable international trade.

“We support reforms that will revitalise the multilateral
trading system and level the playing field, especially for
developing countries. The WTO has a crucial role to play in
preserving global common goods, including in regards to the
environment and health. France supports Dr Ngozi’s ambition to
create a third way to ensure that access to vaccines is universal.
Citizens around the world are waiting for us regarding these
issues.”

France has contributed approximately €28 million to WTO trust
funds in 20 years.

France is donating approximately €6 million to finance the World
Trade Organisation’s (WTO) technical assistance programmes for
developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) from 2021
to 2023.
The intervention is aimed at improving participants’ understanding
of global trade rules and standards.

French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire and the country’s
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, confirmed the
contribution at a signing ceremony with WTO Director-General, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, held at Geneva, recently.

In the meeting with Okonjo-Iweala, they discussed a number of
issues, including the role of the WTO in supporting a post-COVID-19
economic recovery, WTO reform, climate change and sustainability
issues, gender and e-commerce.

The internship programme sponsored by France and Ireland would
receive an annual contribution of €900,000 to finance internship
for government officials at the permanent missions of developing
countries and LDCs in Geneva.

According to the statement, a yearly amount of €550,000 would be
targeted to support the new phase of the WTO’s Chairs Programme
aimed at helping academic institutions in developing countries and
LDCs build their expertise in trade policy, international trade
economics, international relations and international economic
law.

Since the launch of the Programme, which has been part of the
Global Trust Fund for ten years and is covered by the technical
assistance plans, the WTO has provided financial support.

The Standards and Trade Development Facility would receive
annually €400,000 to help developing countries and LDCs implement
food safety, animal health and plant health standards required for
international trade and to improve their sanitary and phytosanitary
capacity.

Commenting on the agreement, Okonjo-Iweala said: “The technical
assistance activities which France is supporting will provide
developing countries and LDCs with essential skills and knowledge
so that they may more effectively participate in multilateral
trade, including trade negotiations, and achieve meaningful
outcomes for the people they serve. I welcome France’s continued
generosity.”

On his part, Maire, said: “France is convinced that the WTO has
a major role to play in the wake of the economic crisis. We need to
move forward on a number of reforms so that the WTO can play its
role again in easing trade tensions and settling disputes, so that
every country can reap the benefits that international trade
offers, including developing countries.

“Our discussions with the Director-General focused on
transforming and improving the WTO’s Appellate Body, on clarifying
and respecting multilateral trade rules, and on strengthening the
WTO’s role in the fight against global warming.

“Trade must serve sustainable development. France is committed
to limiting the impact of global warming on a global scale, and to
supporting developing countries in this effort, through the
strengthening of their industrial and commercial capacities.”

In his comment at the meeting, Riester, said: “This is a crucial
moment for the WTO. We are experiencing an unprecedented paralysis.
At the same time, this period offers exceptional opportunities to
reform the Organisation so that it can build dynamic, fair, just
and sustainable international trade.

“We support reforms that will revitalise the multilateral
trading system and level the playing field, especially for
developing countries. The WTO has a crucial role to play in
preserving global common goods, including in regards to the
environment and health. France supports Dr Ngozi’s ambition to
create a third way to ensure that access to vaccines is universal.
Citizens around the world are waiting for us regarding these
issues.”

France has contributed approximately €28 million to WTO trust
funds in 20 years.