Indonesia Advocates For Concrete Solutions To Global Food Security At WTO Meet In UAE

As the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi from 26th to 29th February 2024, Indonesia has called for urgent action on global food security issues. Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, the Director-General of International Trade Negotiations at Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, emphasized the need for concrete solutions to overcome the deadlock in agriculture negotiations and tackle the escalating food security crisis. This plea was made during an email interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) from Jakarta.

The UAE is gearing up to host MC13 after successfully organizing COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in December 2023. The conference will bring together representatives from 164 nations and trading blocs, highlighting the UAE's significant efforts and hospitality. Witjaksono expressed Indonesia's full support for the UAE's chairmanship and its initiatives to strengthen the multilateral trading system. He also mentioned Indonesia's commitment to fostering positive engagement among all members to address shared interests and concerns.

MC13 aims to introduce crucial reforms into the global trading system, including expanding WTO membership, enhancing dispute resolution mechanisms, and adopting frameworks for digital trade. The conference will also focus on addressing current challenges such as supply-chain disruptions, inflation, protectionism, and climate change. Additionally, it will explore opportunities to increase investments in trade technologies for more sustainable and resilient supply chains.

Indonesia's Priorities

Witjaksono outlined Indonesia's support for achieving a comprehensive agreement on fisheries subsidies at MC13, following the mandate of WTO’s previous conference (MC12). He also stressed the importance of establishing a fully functional and accessible dispute settlement system by 2024. Regarding climate change measures, Witjaksono highlighted the need for these efforts to consider the social and economic development of developing countries and LDCs without serving as protectionist measures contrary to WTO agreements.

On the topic of customs duties on electronic transmissions, Indonesia believes that the current moratorium should not be made permanent. Any decision should be based on a clear definition and scope of electronic transmissions that are multilaterally agreed upon.

UAE’s Support to Global Trade

The UAE has emerged as a global logistics hub and an advocate for a more inclusive global trading system. It has initiated Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with major partners worldwide to establish open, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trading relations. These agreements aim to remove trade barriers, simplify customs procedures, and streamline supply chains. To date, UAE has concluded CEPA with 11 countries including India, Indonesia, Israel, Türkiye, Cambodia, South Korea, Colombia, Georgia, Mauritius, Congo-Brazzaville, and Costa Rica, with the first five agreements already in effect.

The upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi represents a pivotal moment for addressing longstanding global trade issues. With Indonesia's proactive stance and the UAE's facilitative role, there is a collective effort towards creating a more balanced and equitable global trading environment.

With inputs from WAM