The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has postponed the ministerial conference due to the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus “omicron”. The decision was taken “unanimously” in connection with travel restrictions that a number of countries have introduced.
“The General Council agreed … to postpone an upcoming ministerial conference after an outbreak of the highly contagious strain of COVID-19 forced several governments to impose travel restrictions that would prevent many ministers from coming to Geneva,” the WTO website said in a statement. The conference is expected to take place when the conditions are right.
WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said travel restrictions would prevent many ministers and senior delegates from engaging in personal negotiations. In her opinion, in these conditions it is impossible to hold a meeting on an equal basis.
The WTO Ministerial Conference was to be held from November 30 to December 3. The participation of trade ministers from all 164 countries and territories of the organization was expected. The last time the conference was held in 2017. The 12th conference was originally scheduled for June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
About the influence of the new strain on world markets – in the material “b” “Two strains for the price of one.”
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