WT/GC/W/873  
 
27 April 2023  
(23-2991) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
MAXIMISING THE VALUE  OF WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES  
COMMUNICATION FROM AUSTRALIA  
The following communication, dated 27 April 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Australia.  
 
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1.  Ministerial Conferences play a critical role in carrying out the functions of the WTO. There is 
growing interest in maximising the value of future WTO Ministerial Conferences1 to make them better 
fit for purpose for the challenges facing the multilateral trading syst em.  
2.  The WTO reform mandate is an opportunity to consider how Ministerial Conferences can best 
serve the interests of Members. We need to maximise the value of ministerial exchanges on 
rulemaking and acknowledge the value to the Membership of regular polit ical input and exchange 
on issues of shared interest. We need to find new ways of ensuring steady, constructive negotiations 
intersessionally. Elevating the engagement of Ministers would give them the opportunity to review 
rule-making and deliberate on how  the WTO can contribute to the major challenges impacting the 
global commons. Changing the approach to Ministerial Conferences will minimise the risks posed to 
the credibility of the Organization.  
3.  There are at least five new approaches that would help the Membership better use Ministerial 
Conferences:  
• Deeper policy engagement: Ministerial Conferences could be used for Ministers to 
engage more seriously with and deliberate on emerging policy issues facing the global 
trade regime on a thematic basis. Building on the successful 'challenges ' thematic 
session at the WTO 's Twelfth Min isterial Conference, future Conferences could spotlight 
global challenges that intersect with trade policy, including climate change, inclusivity, 
gender, health and development.  
• A focus on WTO reform: World leaders and trade ministers consistently list WT O 
reform as a top priority for the Organization. For the next few Ministerial Conferences, 
Ministers ' engagement should focus on reforming the WTO to address future trade 
challenges.  
• Deliberative and rulemaking work: Ministerial Conferences could continue to be 
used for Ministers to consider emerging trade policy issues and launch new rule -making 
projects where deemed appropriate. In doing so, Ministers could provide officials with 
early direction to guide their negotiations, as well as to bring fu rther attention to the 
WTO's contribution to important trade policy debates.  
 
1 The role of Ministerial Conferences is set out in the Marrakesh Agreement. Article IV states that: "There 
shall be a Ministerial Conference composed of representatives of all the Members, which shall meet at least once 
every two years. The Ministerial Conf erence shall carry out the functions of the WTO and take actions necessary 
to this effect. The Ministerial Conference shall have the authority to take decisions on all matters under any of 
the Multilateral Trade Agreements… In the intervals between meeting s of the Ministerial Conference, its functions 
shall be conducted by the General Council. " WT/GC/W/873  
 
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  • Intersessional Ministerial gatherings: As necessary, the Director -General, as Chair 
of the Trade Negotiations Committee, could call a gathering of Ministers – as she did on 
the fisheries subsidies negotiations in mid -2021, or in other configurations. As needed, 
such Ministerial gatherings could occur between Ministerial Conferences on an ad hoc  
basis.  
• Endorsing outcomes and negotiating guidance:  Ministerial Conferences could 
endor se negotiations concluded in substance, building on improved processes to foster 
convergence in relevant WTO bodies in Geneva. Ministers could also provide guidance 
during Ministerial Conferences for ongoing negotiations. This approach would avoid the 
challenges associated with short, often high -pressure and unpredictable Conferences, 
which can impact negatively on the credibility of outcomes.  
4.  As a first step, there is an opportunity for Ministers to use the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference 
in Abu  Dhabi t o reflect upon and consider options for reforming the Membership 's approach to future 
Ministerial Conferences. A Decision on this issue in Abu Dhabi could ensure that MC13 becomes our 
first genuine WTO Reform Ministerial.  
 
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