Thread by @CoppetainPU

#G7 #G7TradeMinisters communiqué:

Now circulated in @wto. Its 6 pages includes a couple of paragraphs on “#TradeTransparency”

Includes “transparency in all respects” but the focus is narrow:

• market distorting practices
• notifications on goods

1/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

But #TradeTransparency and #wtoTransparency are much more than that.

The #G7TradeMinisters have nothing to say on improving external transparency so the world knows what is happening in the WTO and in other trade negotiations

2/16 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/wto…

What else do the #G7 #G7TradeMinisters say?

First some nice words on being committed to “free and fair trade” (who isn’t?), tackling the pandemic (who isn’t?), sustainable development goals (who isn’t?), and support @wto reform (who isn’t?)

3/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Then straight into the real priority, tackling market-distorting practices.

No need to explain what this is about 🇨🇳

But the G7 also have market-distorting policies. Can we look forward all WTO members scrapping trade-distorting farm subsidies. No?

4/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

And that explains why transparency comes next, starting with “the opaqueness of market-distorting policies and practices”

5/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Next comes a massive problem facing the WTO, the crisis in the appeal stage of dispute settlement. …

A problem so massive the text can fit into a tweet

“We engaged in frank and constructive discussions regarding reform of the WTO Dispute Settlement System, and committed to continuing these discussions ahead of our meeting in October.”

Sure.

6/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Next, special treatment for developing countries. This is a reasonable statement

Which are the developing countries already willing to undertake full commitments? Those in or close to the OECD. China in fisheries subsidies talks, some other subjects

7/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Next “plurilaterals” = talks among a subset of members, seen as the way to make progress in negotiations when part of the membership is not ready to join in.

Why restrict discussion on WTO reform to “this presidency”?

8/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Forced labour

Perhaps it should be “forced labor” since this comes from the focus of the Biden administration and @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai: “worker-centered trade policy”

Good to see no mention of doing this in @wto, but in ILO and UN

9/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Modernising trade

This isn’t really about modernising trade. Trade will modernise itself anyway.

It’s about modernising trade *policies* and the international *system of rules and commitments*

10/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Trade and environment

Some details, no surprises. I suspect environmentalists will say this is more than about carbon emissions and deforestation. Plastics? Minerals?

#G7TradeMinisters

11/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Fisheries subsidies

More nice words. “We’re engaged. We encourage you to be more engaged.”

MC12 = 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, Nov 30 to Dec 3 this year in Geneva

#G7TradeMinisters

11/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Women’s economic empowerment

More nice words but better said than not. #SheTradesOutlook gets a mention

#G7TradeMinisters

12/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Trade and Health

Understandably a lengthy statement here on keeping supply chains open, working with COVAX on vaccines etc

No mention:

• The proposed intellectual property waiver. #G7TradeMinisters are split on this

• #G7 = part of the problem

13/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Trade and Health, continued

Why are the #G7 part of the problem? @gtalert monitors trade barriers by #G7 and others

See globaltradealert.org and globaltradealert.org/global_dynamics and globaltradealert.org/reports
Follow @SimonEvenett

14/16

Digital trade

“We think it’s important and useful. We don’t have much to say on what we should do about it”

#G7TradeMinisters are committed to transparency in the WTO negotiations. So where are the drafts for us to see?

15/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Closing remarks

“See you in October. Until then, over to you, our civil servants”

#G7TradeMinisters

16/16 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…