A proposal suggests the World Trade Organization could redefine its role by focusing less on initiating trade deals and more on consolidating agreements reached through other channels. This shift would allow the WTO to streamline existing negotiations rather than leading them, potentially improving efficiency in global trade governance. The idea highlights concerns over the organization’s ability to deliver new major agreements independently. Critics argue this approach could help address stagnation in multilateral trade talks while maintaining the WTO’s central role in overseeing trade rules.
The WTO should shift from originating trade agreements to aggregating agreements negotiated elsewhere.
