WTO News

1. Global Review concludes with a declaration on partnerships for trade and development

   Marking the 20th anniversary of the Aid for Trade Initiative, WTO members adopted a declaration on 30 October repositioning the initiative as "Aid for Trade: partnerships for trade and development". The declaration was adopted at a meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development, which wrapped up the two-day 10th Global Review of Aid for Trade held at WTO headquarters in Geneva.

2. New report looks at role of South-South and triangular cooperation for trade development

   The growing importance of trade between developing economies - South-South trade - is highlighted in a joint publication launched on Day 1 (29 October) of the 10th Global Review of Aid for Trade by the WTO and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). The publication examines how the partnerships fostered through South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation – South-South partnerships supported by a developed economy - are helping strengthen developing economies' trade capacities and facilitate market access.

3. Global Review 2026 spotlights partnerships for trade and development

   "Developing economies seeking trade success need stronger partnerships with all stakeholders," WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in her opening remarks at the 2026 Global Review on 29 October, marking 20 years of the Aid for Trade initiative. Over two days, ministers, heads of international organizations and trade and development experts will take stock of the initiative's impact, discuss evolving trade needs and explore how stronger partnerships can help developing economies, including least-developed countries (LDCs), turn trade opportunities into economic growth, jobs and better livelihoods.

4. Côte d'Ivoire President: Re-globalization an opportunity to move beyond traditional trade

   "Re-globalization presents an opportunity for developing countries to move beyond their traditional areas of specialization in exporting primary products, and to occupy a more prominent place in the spheres of innovation, transformation, industrial production and marketing." That was the key message on 29 October of H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d'Ivoire, who delivered the latest edition of the Presidential Lecture under the WTO’s Presidential Lecture Series.

5. WHO, WIPO and the WTO to hold 13th Joint Technical Symposium on 25 November 2026

   The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold the 13th Joint Technical Symposium on Enabling Ecosystems for Local and Regional Health Products Manufacturing: Considering the Role of Trade, IP, AI and Digital Innovation on 25 November 2026, hosted by WHO at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG). The deadline for registration is 23 November 2026.