EU trade chief urges US to join talks on WTO reform
EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom says the US and China need to ease tension for the rest of the world
The EU has called on Washington to join talks on ways of reforming the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to prevent a paralysis of the international body. The EU published proposals on Monday for reform of dispute settlement at the WTO that it has agreed with China, India and other countries, hoping to overcome US objections voiced by President Donald Trump that have thrown the WTO into crisis. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the bloc and Japan had tried in vain to introduce the topic in trilateral talks with the US. “Lots of countries in the world are backing this. So please come, sit down and talk to us. That they haven’t done so far. Will that happen? Who knows,” Malmstrom told reporters on the sidelines of a trade conference in Brussels on Tuesday. The WTO is scrambling to develop a plan for the biggest reform in its almost 24-year history after Trump brought the world’s top trade court to the brink of collapse by blocking appointments of its judges and threatening a U...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.