The United States launched a strong critique of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its ministerial conference began in Yaounde, Cameroon, highlighting deep divisions over the future of global trade governance [1]. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that U.S. trade policy measures are a 'corrective response' to a trading system, embodied by the WTO, which has contributed to 'severe and sustained imbalances.' Greer described the current status quo as 'economically unworkable and politically unacceptable,' and advocated for a 'new order' based on agreements between smaller groups of countries, rather than consensus-driven multilateral deals that can take years or decades to finalize [1].
The conference, attended by trade ministers from the WTO's 166 member countries, is taking place amid global economic turmoil, heightened trade tensions, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that the global trading system is experiencing the 'worst disruptions in the past 80 years,' and emphasized that the world order and multilateral system have 'irrevocably changed.' She called attention to the scale of the challenges facing the institution [1].
Cameroon's Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana stressed the need for reform to restore confidence in the multilateral trading system, while Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao defended the WTO, describing it as facing an 'unprecedented existential challenge.' Wang urged countries to 'jointly oppose acts of unilateralism and protectionism' and to support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core [1]. The European Union echoed the need for reform, stating that the WTO is 'at a critical juncture' and requires 'deep and comprehensive reform' to maintain its relevance [1].
The ministerial conference marks the first such gathering since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, a period characterized by renewed attacks on multilateralism and WTO rules, including sweeping tariffs and bilateral trade deals [1]. While all WTO members agree on the necessity of reform, there is significant disagreement on the approach and desired outcome, with Washington particularly critical of the WTO's 'most-favored nation' principle [1].
CONCLUSION
The WTO ministerial conference in Yaounde has exposed sharp disagreements among major economies regarding the future of global trade governance. The U.S. is pushing for fundamental changes, while China and the EU advocate for preserving and reforming the multilateral system. The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for global trade and market stability.