As World Trade Organization (WTO) member governments move forward this year with efforts to reform the WTO, USCIB issued recommendations on how business can support the WTO and its efforts to improve the organization.  USCIB’s recommendations also noted the importance of the WTO as a cornerstone of the global rules-based trading system that has helped spread growth and development for decades.

USCIB recommendations focused on addressing subsidies and other market-distorting support provided to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the establishment of new rules for current issues such as digital trade and customs processes on electronic transmissions, and ensuring a properly functioning appellate body, among others.

“Our recommendations for modernizing the WTO should not in any way be read as questioning the business support for WTO,” said USCIB Senior Vice President Rob Mulligan. “Instead, they are intended to highlight areas for action that would strengthen the ability of the organization to more effectively meet the demands of a changing world as it deals with the rapid evolution of technology that can quickly reshape the way companies do business and operate globally. USCIB believes that effective WTO dispute settlement is a critical part of the global rules-based trading system.”

USCIB’s recommendations also urged Member States, as they continue to discuss modernization and improvements of the WTO and its underlying agreements, to be mindful that among the WTO Member States, private entities conduct the transactions that constitute trade and investment.

“The private sector has a direct stake in the rules that will be the outcome of the government-to-government discussions and, accordingly, private sector comments and recommendations should be actively solicited and given careful consideration by the Member States,” added Mulligan.