The WTO ministerial meeting in Yaoundé should be a time for coming together in the face of the current political tensions, according to Swiss President Guy Parmelin. On Thursday, via video link, he called on members not to postpone the urgent reforms that are needed. In the face of growing economic fragmentation and the multiplication of unilateral approaches, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) must remain "a pillar of stability and predictability", insisted Parmelin at the start of the 14th ministerial meeting of the institution. Like the United States, the EU and China, he believes that the WTO "must be able to respond more flexibly to current needs". + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This issue will be at the heart of the meeting scheduled to last until at least Sunday. Some, such as the United States and, to a lesser extent, the EU, want to attack the most-favoured-nation principle, under which an advantage granted to one country is granted to all the ...
