DG Azevêdo welcomes B20 support for the WTO

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed the support of the business community to strengthen the multilateral trading system during his visit to Buenos Aires on 4 October 2018, where he attended the B20 Summit.

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The Director-General participated in a panel discussion on the “Present and Future of Multilateralism” together with  Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Faurie, the Minister of Treasury Nicolás Dujovne and the Chair of the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force Paolo Rocca.

The Director-General said:

“As the international community responds to rising trade tensions around the world, we are seeing growing calls for reform to strengthen the WTO to help meet these challenges. As this conversation evolves, I urge the business community to make their voices heard. It is vital that everybody who believes in trade and the trading system as a force for good speaks up – including the private sector.

“In this context, the B20’s strong emphasis on the importance of the WTO is very welcome. I believe that this organization is essential for stability, growth and job creation around the world. Therefore I will continue to work with all our members and stakeholders to make the case for the WTO and to discuss how we can make the system even more inclusive and responsive in the years to come.”

The B20 (or Business 20) is the private sector’s voice in the G20. It aims to build consensus among business leaders and civil society on how major global challenges and priorities should be addressed.