MC14: US push on MFN sparks pushback as China defends core principles (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
The United States appears to have called for a deeper discussion on the issue of Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment at the World Trade Organization's 14th ministerial conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon on 27 March, even as a large majority of members continued to emphasize that MFN-based tariffs are the "scaffolding" of the multilateral trading system, said people familiar with the development.

Trade: MC14 opens with sharp rifts as major South nations diverge on agenda (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
The World Trade Organization's 14th ministerial conference (MC14) kicked off in Yaounde, Cameroon on 26 March, with China, India, and Indonesia making differing/conflicting demands, indicating how the Global South is seemingly unable to forge a common front on pressing global trade issues, said people familiar with the development.

MC14: G-33 urges WTO to deliver on food security, flags stalled farm talks (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
The G-33 group of developing countries, under the coordination of Indonesia, on 25 March called for seizing the momentum of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization to reinforce their commitment to "uphold a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive and transparent multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core for a predictable agricultural trade."

MC14: WTO "reform" push risks eroding development mandate, warn CSOs (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
Civil society groups from around the world have urged members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reject the proposed WTO "reform" agenda, warning that it would erode the global trade body's development mandate.

MC14: Trade activists, MEPs urge WTO to suspend Israel's MFN status (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
Trade justice activists, joined by several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), issued a global appeal urging members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to suspend Israel's access to Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) treatment until it ends its illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and complies with its obligations under international law.