The UN’s Our Common Agenda as Inspiration for International Organizations

The “Geneva Package” confirms the historical importance of the multilateral trading system and underlines 3 | The UN’s Our Common Agenda as Inspiration for International Organizations the important role of the WTO in addressing the world’s most pressing issues, especially at a time when global solutions are vital.10 The package adopted by Members includes the following documents: 1. [...] This is an important and timely initiative that will help further strengthen the dialogue between the WTO and businesses on how business can support the WTO and play a role in its reform.15 Moreover the WTO recognizes the value of participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade, noting that “[t]he smaller the company, the greater the challenges faced in pa. [...] The key element permeating discussions in the WTO today is that the Organization needs reform.23 As part of the MC12 outcomes, ministers agreed to address the challenges that the WTO is facing and to ensure the WTO’s proper functioning. [...] According to the EU, the most urgent of the WTO reforms is finding an agreed basis to restore a functioning dispute settlement system and to proceed to the appointment of the Members of the AB.36 According to the United States, the WTO’s dispute settlement system is also a must on the reform agenda as serious concerns about “the overreach” of the AB rulings have been raised for more than 15 years. [...] Conclusion After the success of the WTO DG, the Secretariat and the WTO Membership in booking some progress with WTO negotiations and agreement, which to a large extent aligns with the vision and areas of action of the UN’s OCA, the WTO needs to keep working on its reform with this focus and spirit.