Talks between trade representatives and high-level officials from about 166 countries ended early Monday with no major deals signed after four days of negotiations in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Delegates had hoped to finalize an agreement on e-commerce but Brazil blocked the text at the last minute. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “We worked hard,” noting that the US and Brazil in particular “need more time” to resolve differences over proposals to impose levies on cross-border online orders.
Hopes for at least a joint declaration were dashed when Brazil objected to the e-commerce resolution in protest over issues linked to a separate agricultural debate. The US sought a permanent extension of a moratorium on taxes for such transactions, while Brazil wanted the moratorium limited to four more years. A US official described the split as “Brazil and Turkey vs 164 members,” while Brasilia accused Washington of “wanting the sky.”
The WTO has faced a prolonged crisis after repeated failures to reach consensus, raising questions about its relevance. Delegates said talks will continue at WTO headquarters in Geneva until at least May.
Economists and business leaders criticized the stalemate. International Chamber of Commerce Secretary General John Denton called it “particularly concerning at a time of real strain on the global economy.”
Edited by: Natalie Muller