WTO General Council May 2026: UK Statement
UK Statement at the World Trade Organization's General Council in Geneva.
Agenda item 5: Request for Observer Status by the African Union – Communication from Mozambique on behalf of the African Group (WT/MIN(26)/9 – WT/GC/W/995) – Request from Namibia on behalf of the African Group
The UK is a supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and was the first non-African country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the AfCFTA Secretariat in September 2021.
The UK is content with the request from the African Group for the African Union to be an observer, recognising the unique role of the African Union.
This should not, however, be a precedent for more regional and supranational groupings being observers. All requests should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Agenda item 8. Preserving the Spirit of Open and Predictable Trade: Collective Restraint Against Actions Undermining Trade Liberalization – Request from the Republic of Korea
We agree with much of Korea’s analysis. The gaps in the WTO framework and the poor implementation frameworks have left us unable to address systemic issues that are leading to politically unacceptable outcomes.
These problems, including those connected with subsidies and overcapacity, have been debated in many different parts of the WTO. In disputes, in the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and elsewhere.
We very much agree that these issues have long-standing and complex roots.
Yet all of our discussions, all of our conversations have not yielded any results. They have not resulted in any change.
It has left Members with no other option but to act. It underlines the urgency that we need to change our approach and get really serious about addressing the lack of a level playing field and move forward with reform.