World Trade Organisation - The African Mirror

Dec

21

2023

Trade rules and climate change: Africa stands to lose from proposed WTO policy tools

THE World Trade Organisation launched its Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action during the COP28 conference. International economic law expert Olabisi D. Akinkugbe discusses whether the new Trade Policy Tools benefit Africa. OLABISI D. AKINKUGBE, Associate Professor & Viscount Bennett Professor of Law, Dalhousie University What are the WTO’s new Trade Policy Tools? The new tools offer opportunities for countries to mitigate the climate change effect of their trade practices. The tools align with the Paris Agreement, the 2015 legally binding United Nations Treaty on Climate Change. However, the global contribution of African states to climate change remains very low:…

May

06

2021

By The African Mirror

U.N. chief pushes voluntary sharing of COVID-19 vaccine licenses

COVID-19

MICHELLE NICHOLS U.N. chief Antonio Guterres believes vaccine makers should allow other companies to produce versions of their COVID-19 shots, a U.N. spokesman said yesterday, as the World Trade Organisation discussed waiving patent rights to boost supply to developing countries. "The Secretary-General has often called for technology transfers and sharing of know-how and voluntary licensing or sharing of licensing," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. WTO members are assessing signs of progress after seven months of talks on a proposal by South Africa and India to waive patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines. WTO decisions are based on consensus, so all 164 members…

Mar

05

2021

By The African Mirror

Okonjo-Iweala in the WTO top job: breaking the glass ceiling is a win for all women

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as director-general of the World Trade Organisation. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade asks Dr Monica Orisadare, an assistant professor of economics and director of the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria about Okonjo-Iweala’s achievement and what it means. MONICA ORISADARE, Assistant Professor of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University What does her career rise represent for Nigerian women? Actually this is a great achievement. Not only from the Nigerian woman’s perspective but the African woman’s perspective as well as…

Nov

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Africa‌ ‌rallies‌ ‌behind‌ ‌Okonjo-Iweala‌ ‌for‌ ‌top‌ WTO ‌job‌

BUSINESS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE African Union (AU) has come out strongly in support of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose appointment as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been supported by the majority of WTO member states. Nigerian Dr Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the only candidate proposed for endorsement by the WTO general council on November 9. If elected, she will become the first African to hold the post. However, the US has opposed the appointment of the former finance minister of Nigeria and an executive at the World Bank. AU Chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa said the AU stood behind…

Oct

09

2020

By The African Mirror

Africans asked to help Okonjo-Iweala make world history

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER The African Union (AU) has asked all Africans to rally behind Nigerian Dr Nkonzo Okonjo-Iweala, who stands on the brink of making history as the first African to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO). AU chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has heaped praise on Dr Nkonzo Okonjo-Iweala who together with South Korean Yoo Myung-hee are the two finalists for the position of the director-general of the WTO. Ramaphosa said Okonjo-Iweala was a highly distinguished African, who has excelled in various public offices, in her native Nigeria, including responsibilities in the AU, and in numerous international…

Sep

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Kenya’s WTO candidate says she will focus on climate change if selected

BUSINESS

DUNCAN MIRIRI KENYA’S candidate to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation pledged on Thursday to integrate climate change issues into the WTO agenda if selected. Amina Mohamed, who is the East African nation's sports minister, progressed to the second round of selection to become the next director-general of the WTO, along with four other candidates, on Friday. "How is it possible that the WTO does not discuss climate change?... WTO must be a part of the global conversation on climate change," she told an online media briefing from Geneva. Mohamed, who was involved in the development of…