Panel discussion entitled “The WTO without the US” led by Ambassador Wilson along with (from left to right) – Professor James Bacchus, former EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malstrom, and Vice President of Cato Institute, Scott Lincicome. (Photo courtesy MFAFT)
Barbados played a leading role at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) annual Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, held from September 17 to 18, with several pre-events taking place earlier in the week.
On September 15, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley strongly endorsed the ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, while Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, delivered the keynote address.
The following day, Ambassador Wilson moderated the High-Level Platform for Least Developed Country Partnerships at the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Global Forum. This session featured keynote addresses from WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and other high-level ministerial representatives.
During the Public Forum, Barbados also collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to highlight its efforts in investment facilitation for development.
Deputy Permanent Representative Kay Sealy outlined national initiatives to strengthen Barbados’ investment framework, while Ambassador Wilson urged the IDB to establish a regional platform to promote peer learning and capacity building across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Barbados took centre stage at one of the Forum’s most highly attended sessions, “The WTO Without the US”, where it advocated for a stronger multilateral trading system with active U.S. participation. Panellists included Ambassador Wilson, Professor James Bacchus, former EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, and Scott Lincicome of the U.S.-based CATO Institute.
Ambassador Wilson also contributed to several high-level discussions on “Nature-Based Trade”, “Trade Solutions for Small Economies”, and “Digital Trade in Latin America and the Caribbean”. In addition, he moderated an event on “Digitalization in Small Vulnerable Economies”.
The Permanent Mission partnered with the World Spirits Alliance to feature Barbados rum at a special rum and spirits reception. The event showcased how new and innovative barcoding technology, piloted by the World Summit Awards, will help tell the story of rum’s origins in Barbados. Ambassador Wilson and the United Kingdom’s Ambassador Kumar Iyer delivered the keynote remarks.
As Chair of the WTO Working Group on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Ambassador Wilson also held meetings with:
- the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) at its Global Trade & Investment Policy Commission;
- The ICC UK on intellectual property issues;
- The European Services Forum on e-commerce matters;
- DHL GoTrade on SME support; and
- EuroChambers on ensuring MSME perspectives are reflected in trade policy.
The WTO’s annual Public Forum brings together thousands of policymakers, business leaders, and academics from around the world to discuss the latest developments in global trade and explore ways to strengthen the multilateral trading system.
