On 9-10 October, a Ministerial Meeting was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, as part of the preparations for the 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to be held in Buenos Aires on 10-13 December 2017.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy of Morocco, Moulay Hafid Elalamy and co-chaired by Minister Susana Malcorra, the MC11 Chair. The WTO Director-General, Roberto Azevedo, also attended the meeting. The Argentine delegation was comprised of the Minister of Production, Francisco Cabrera, and the Secretary for International Economic Relations, Horacio Reyser.
The meeting was held in a constructive environment and the 37 Ministers of Trade present undertook to devote their best efforts in order to achieve advances in December, in Buenos Aires, that strengthen the multilateral trade system in the face of 21st century challenges. The main issues discussed, the potential results of which were assessed, included the elimination of fisheries subsidies, agricultural trade reform matters, trade in services and issues of interest to developing countries.
The Ministers also acknowledged the importance of the 11th Ministerial Conference's special focus on the new forms of global trade and the international insertion of small and medium-sized enterprises, the promotion and facilitation of foreign investment, and digital trade.
In Marrakesh, the city where the WTO was established, the Ministers renewed their commitment to Buenos Aires becoming a milestone in strengthening investment and promoting international trade as a tool for inclusive development.