With the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum taking place this week in Switzerland, USCIB Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs Rob Mulligan and Senior Director for Trade, Investment, and Financial Services Eva Hampl, along with several USCIB members, are on the ground in Geneva to engage in various side meetings with WTO officials and staff.

According to Mulligan, the main issues of concern are WTO reform, including the Appellate Body, as well as the E-Commerce negotiations, with a particular focus on the Moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission which is about to run out the end of the year.

On October 9, USCIB co–hosted a breakfast with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), several ICC National Committees, including from the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, and the Digital Trade Network. The governments of Benin, Canada and Switzerland also supported the event. Several ambassadors exchanged views with business in the room about various aspects of current WTO activities. The event concluded with remarks by WTO Secretary General Roberto Azevedo, speaking about the importance of international trade and finding solutions.