While in-person meetings at the WTO and other Geneva-based international organisations have been suspended since mid-March in line with Swiss government recommendations to curb the spread of the virus, a virtual meeting of the organisation last week discussed the idea of continuing its work “virtually”.
Different WTO bodies have continued with smaller-group conference calls and written exchanges since the lockdown started, this was the first virtual meeting of the entire membership.
In his remarks, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said the virtual meeting responded to the desire expressed by a large number of members to find ways forward on WTO work during the lockdown. He also noted that several delegations had underscored the challenges involved in maintaining proper consultations with officials and other stakeholders, both in capitals and in Geneva, during the pandemic. He therefore invited delegations to indicate whether they would be comfortable conducting informal meetings and information exchange through virtual platforms. He also asked if they would be open to formal decision-making through virtual meetings or written procedures until traditional in-person gatherings could resume.
According to Azevêdo there appeared to be overwhelming support for the idea.
