H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, participated in the Informal Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Davos, Switzerland, on 22 January 2026, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meetings.

Chaired by H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin, Vice President of the Swiss Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, the meeting was attended by H.E. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, alongside Their Excellencies Ministers of Trade and Economy from WTO member states.

Key discussions focused on strengthening the multilateral trading system and enhancing cooperation among WTO members. Ministers also examined mechanisms for integrating cooperative initiatives among groups of countries within the WTO framework, including the Investment Facilitation for Development initiative, as well as the future of extending the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and prospects for progress within ongoing negotiations.

Broader deliberations addressed ways to enhance the functioning of the World Trade Organization, particularly its role in the global economy amid current challenges. Exchanges covered the principles of most-favoured-nation treatment and non-discrimination, options to improve the dispute settlement mechanism and overcome the current impasse, and the impact of industrial policies, national security considerations, development issues, and environmental protection on the global trading system. Preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, were also discussed.

The meeting concluded with a review of overall outcomes, within the context of ongoing efforts to achieve tangible progress on priority global trade issues, in preparation for upcoming ministerial milestones of the World Trade Organization.