Speaking just hours before the opening of the WTO's first ministerial meeting in nearly five years, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that"the road will be bumpy and rocky, there may be a few landmines on the way".
The WTO is hoping to keep criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine to the first day of talks, when many of the more than 100 ministers due to attend are expected to issue blistering statements. A draft text sent to the ministers for review proposes exemptions should not apply to member states accounting for an as yet undefined share of the global volume of fishing.Environmental groups say anything beyond 10 years would be catastrophic. India has demanded a 25-year exemption.
India, however, appears to be sticking to its demands on fisheries and in other areas, jeopardising the chances of reaching deals since WTO agreements require full consensus backing.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
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