Press Releases

On January 22, State Minister Horii attended the Informal WTO Ministerial Gathering hosted by Switzerland which was held in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting. This year, 22 countries and regions/organizations participated in the meeting, and held candid discussions on the possible outcomes of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in March this year and WTO reform.
State Minister Horii emphasized the relevance of the WTO as an fundamental infrastructure for the global economy, while stressing the need to advance WTO reform, realize the Agreement on Electronic Commerce and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, and maintain the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. He also expressed deep concern over arbitrary export restrictions that significantly deviate from international practice.

• H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Federal Council, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of the Swiss Confederation
• H.E. Mr. Fernando Brun, Secretary of International Economic Relations, Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic
• H.E. Mr. Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security
• H.E. Mr. Han-Koo YEO, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea
• Hon Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand
• H.E. Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates
• The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• The Honorable Ambassador Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative)
• Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization