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The European Union (EU) on Monday urged “serious” reforms to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ahead of a high-level ministerial conference scheduled this week in Cameroon.
The WTO’s top decision-making meeting will take place in Yaoundé from March 26 to 29, 2026, amid rising global trade tensions, including US tariffs and economic disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East.
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the gathering represents a defining moment for global trade governance, stressing the need for deep institutional reforms.
He said the EU will push for stronger rules to ensure fair competition, address industrial overcapacity, and better regulate market policies, arguing that global economic conditions have changed significantly.
Sefcovic also called for a “new balance” between rights and obligations within the WTO system, noting that different economic models have contributed to global overproduction and trade distortions affecting European industries.
“For the European Union, this meeting is a defining moment.
“We would like to see a new balance between the rights and obligations, because situations have dramatically changed, ” he added.
The EU frequently accuses China of significant overcapacity in some industrial sectors, including steel, which Brussels says is driving down prices and harming manufacturers within the bloc.
The WTO has faced long-standing calls for reform, particularly over its consensus-based decision-making system, which many members argue has slowed effective responses to global trade challenges.
