The WTO & Business –
Toward a New Dialogue

A group of business representatives from 14 countries on six continents, representing millions of companies have come together to provide our input on how we as a business community can contribute more to the WTO.

Geopolitically challenging times mean difficulties for world trade and the WTO. The Russian invasion of Ukraine first and foremost causes immense human suffering, but also has severe effects on global value chains. Furthermore, the issue of national security takes centre stage in trade policy-making and protectionist winds are blowing strong on a global scale. Yet, global challenges need global solutions now more than ever.

Building on a letter sent to DG Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, we emphasize through this film the importance of a more structured dialogue between business and the WTO.

WTO is at the heart of world trade. A modernized WTO with updated rules is crucial to all businesses, small and large, around the world. The green and digital transformations, as well as the increased role of services, call for modernized trade rules fit for the 21^st century. This modernization is long overdue.

It is businesses that trade, not countries. And it is businesses that, in a very concrete way, suffer from barriers to trade. The input from businesses would provide valuable insights when shaping the new trade rules for the future. A stronger, more structured dialogue between the WTO and the business community is a key to success in the reform of the WTO and for our common multilateral trade rules.

Summary of our five proposals for increased business engagement in the WTO

Establish an advisory council
Organize regular trade dialogues, consultations and hearings on specific negotiations
Create an online platform where stakeholders can register to improve dialogue and transparency
Organize official business summits at the margin of WTO Ministerial Conferences
Strengthen the role and mandate of the WTO Secretariat

Comments on the initiative

Hear the Deputy Director-General of the WTO, Anabel González, express her views on the initiative.

The Ambassador of Sweden to the WTO, Mikael Anzén, expresses his views on the initiative.

About the initiative

This film has been made possible through an initiative by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise together with representatives from the following organizations:

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Keidanren (Japan), Business Association of Georgia (BAG), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, The Industrial Organization of Argentina (UIA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), Business NZ (New Zealand), Coparmex (Mexico) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)

The initiative has also gained invaluable contributions from the Geneva Trade Platform and Geneva Graduate Institute.

Subscribe here to get follow-up information on the next step of this project and of our proposals.