World Trade Organisation

(asked on 18th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the UK's policy is on the future of the World Trade Organisation.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 22nd May 2020

The UK believes a strong, rules based, multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core, is in the best interests of all nations. The UK is working to strengthen and reform the WTO, so it can continue to deliver?a?free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent framework for trade between countries. This will play an important role?in resolving the economic effects of the global pandemic.

We are engaging closely with the WTO Secretariat and the wider Membership to achieve an early resumption of the WTO’s regular work. Our priorities are making progress on updating the WTO rulebook, in particular in the areas of digital, services and the environment, and to improve transparency.

We continue to support a fully-functioning dispute settlement system with an appeal function and remain committed to finding a permanent resolution to the impasse of the Appellate Body.

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