WTO members met on 2-3 February for focused discussions on the development dimension of the WTO’s reform agenda. The informal General Council meeting on WTO reform offered members an opportunity to kickstart an exchange on cross-cutting aspects of the development dimension with a view to finding mutually acceptable ways forward.
A high-level event held on 2 February as part of the 11th China Round Table on Accessions celebrated the 10th anniversary of Lao People’s Democratic Republic joining the WTO. Participants commended Lao PDR’s active participation in the WTO. A study entitled “Lao PDR: a Retrospective on 10 Years of WTO Membership” provided the backdrop for an exchange of views on the benefits and challenges of membership.