Reform urged for WTO on free, fair trade

Less developed countries want more involvement, UAE conference hears

In the face of many challenges, developing and least-developed countries have urged for reforms in the World Trade Organization to ensure multilateral cooperation, fair and free trade, and the normalization of dispute settlement mechanisms.

These issues were highlighted during the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference as the three-day event opened in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign trade and chair of the conference, said the growth of WTO membership and its diverse priorities "requires a dynamic approach from the WTO", one that "respects the rules that bind us all as WTO members", but also "enables the WTO to advance "to "achieve our collective goals".