On 28 July 2022, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published the latest edition of its Annual Report, providing a comprehensive account of the organisation’s activities in 2021 and early 2022. The report also covers the successful conclusion of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), which was originally scheduled for end-2021 but postponed until June 2022.
In her opening message, the WTO Director-General says:
“I came to the WTO because I was firmly convinced that trade was part of the solution to the global common problems, from pandemic disease to climate change, which represent some of the biggest threats to our future prosperity.
“Speaking to members on my first day in office in March of last year, I recalled the fundamental goals of the WTO, as set out in the preamble to our founding Marrakesh Agreement: using trade as a means to improve living standards, create better jobs, and promote sustainable development. These goals are fundamentally about people.
“But one more reason I came here was that I felt the WTO had the potential to do much more to improve the lives of people around the world. MC12 is proof that the WTO can deliver results.”