WTO mulls future of global trade under cloud of Mideast war

The World Trade Organization’s 166 members appeared deeply divided as ministers gathered in the Cameroonian capital for a key conference starting Thursday, amid global economic turmoil linked to the Middle East war.

Over four days, WTO members will try to revitalise an institution weakened by geopolitical tensions, stalled negotiations and rising protectionism – against the backdrop of a war that poses a serious threat to international trade.

The atmosphere ahead of the meeting was “tense”, a Western diplomatic source told AFP, asking not to be named.

“I think that’s because it’s tense in the global trading system.”

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on Wednesday for the Yaounde meeting to “launch the next chapter of the multilateral trading system”.

She slammed “the unilateralism we have been seeing”, decrying the “collective failure” of WTO members over the years to confront their concerns and frustrations.

‘A pivotal moment’

The WTO…