ABU DHABI: Poland hopes the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi later this month will help rebuild trust in international economic relations, Jacek Tomczak, Polish Deputy Minister for Development and Technology, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
‘The most important challenge we now face is to rebuild the trust in international economic relations. The key to it will be the reforms into the WTO, including the restoration of the effective functioning of the dispute settlement system (DSB),’ he said in an email interview from Warsaw.
He made these remarks as MC13 aims for pivotal reforms into the global trading system, spanning from expanding WTO membership to strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms and adopting digital trade frameworks.
Instead of limiting the WTO reforms into procedural issues, Tomczak suggested, substantive issues should be addressed. He cited the crucial issues such as creating rules to limit the use of prohibited subsidies as part of a b
roader consensus, which will ensure the level playing field for all parties.
The Deputy Minister urged that WTO must strengthen its monitoring and deliberating function, as well as its role as a negotiating forum to develop new and updated rules on key matters.
UAE’s leading role
After successfully organising COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in December 2023, the UAE is set to host MC13 from 26th to 29th February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
The WTO ministerial meeting will convene representatives of 164 nations and trading blocs.
The Polish official stressed that Poland is ready to cooperate with UAE during the whole conference to seek good outcomes.
‘Poland congratulates and welcomes the leading role of the UAE in facilitating global trade and searching for new ways of connecting the world through trade and investments,’ Tomczak said.
MC13 to address key issues
The WTO ministerial meeting also aims to address challenges such as supply-chain disruption, inflation, protectionism, and climate change. In
addition, MC13 will explore ways to boost investments in trade technologies for sustainable and resilient supply chains.
Talking about that agenda, the Polish Deputy Minister asserted that Poland strongly supports environmental and climate issues in the discussions in the conference. International trade may play a positive role in mitigating the climate change, he added.
Fisheries subsidies, food security, e-commerce, and facilitating investments for trade development are other important topics, Tomczak said.
As commercial policy is an exclusive domain of the European Union, Poland as the EU member will support the European Commission in its efforts to strengthen the WTO as a central organisation, and multilateral and rules-based trading system, he affirmed.
Polish-UAE ties
Poland has enhanced its cooperation in trade and investments with the UAE during the past three years, the Polish official said.
‘We are looking forward to further develop this cooperation especially in the field of investment, finan
ce, renewable energy and advanced technologies.’
The high-level visits between both countries, including the visit of the Polish President to the UAE twice in 2023, first in March and later during COP28, helped strengthen the ties, Tomczak noted.
‘MC13 will bring the opportunity for bilateral and multilateral discussions with UAE and others for the benefit of Poland, the UAE and our other partners.’
He said the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with major countries are the best example of its ambitious goals to build free trade networks with global partners.
The UAE initiated CEPA in 2021, aiming to establish more open, sustainable and mutually beneficial trading relations by removing barriers to trade in goods and services, simplifying customs procedures and streamlining supply chains.
The UAE has concluded CEPA with 11 countries such as India, Indonesia, Israel, Trkiye, Cambodia, South Korea, Colombia, Georgia, Mauritius, Congo-Brazzaville and Costa Rica. The first five agreeme
nts have already come into effect.
Source: Emirates News Agency
