Canada to host virtual Ottawa Group meeting on World Trade Organization reform and COVID-19

Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng takes part in a press conference on Parliament Hill amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Monday, May 25, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Mary Ng; Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, made an announcement today about Canada stressing that the country on June 14 of the following year would experience a host of the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Ottawa Group on World Trade Organization Reform.

The meeting is aimed to build on the development which Canada and other countries similarly made over past few months keeping certain the trade stays having no enclosing barriers and predicted to provide stability to the people in the following indefinite period.

There would be a discussion held among ministers from the 13 Ottawa Group countries on WTO and rules-based trading system calling how they can provide assists to mitigate the outcomes and influences of the new novel coronavirus and lay the groundwork for a sustainable recovery. However, there would talks how they adapt trade rules for the best preparation for crises expected in coming future.

“Canadian businesses need long-term stability and predictability to thrive at home and around the world—that is why Canada is leading efforts to modernize the rules-based multilateral trading system for businesses in the 21st century, particularly in these extraordinary times,” Ng stressed in a statement.

The focus of talks will remain on the top priorities along greater transparency around export bans, ways to make certain the smooth flow of goods and services from which the people around the countries will take great advantages and also provide help in businesses and workers adapt to an growing digital economy.