chargement...
On the sidelines of the second edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum, a ministerial retreat convened on Thursday in Marrakech, gathering ministers and representatives from across Africa. According to a statement, the retreat aimed to «solidify Africa's stance on crucial issues slated for discussion at the 14th WTO ministerial conference, scheduled for March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and to bolster coordination and collective efforts within the African Group».
Chaired by Morocco and facilitated by Mozambique, the coordinator of the African Group at the WTO, the meeting drew the participation of 16 African ministers and over 30 delegations from the continent. Discussions centered around «the consolidated document of the African Group recently published at the WTO, outlining African perspectives on key WTO themes», the statement added.
The primary objective was to «reaffirm Africa's dedication to an open, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and rules-based multilateral trading system». Ministers and representatives also deliberated on «the significance of maintaining special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) to ensure inclusive and sustainable development, as well as the necessity to overcome restrictive and unilateral trade measures, which are perceived as barriers to economic recovery and supply chain stability».
The African Group's perspective on WTO reform was also a focal point. Participants underscored the importance of ensuring that this reform is «development-driven, enhances transparency, preserves the dispute settlement function, and is rooted in consensus and the involvement of all member countries».
Additional topics addressed included «agriculture and food security, fisheries subsidies, trade in services, and e-commerce».
