Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom stressed the need for comprehensive reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Rostom made the remarks on Tuesday during a panel discussion themed “The WTO at a Crossroads: Can Global Trade Rules Survive in a Fragmented World?” as part of the third edition of the Cairo Forum, organised by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES).
He underlined the need for clear, enforceable rules that take into account the priorities of developing countries and emerging economies.
Rostom stressed the importance of independent and impartial panels to adjudicate disputes, alongside an appeals mechanism to review legal findings and facilitate international trade.
He also called for timely decision-making and effective implementation as key elements of reforming the global trading system.
Rostom said economic development priorities should be placed at the heart of the WTO’s agenda.
Developing countries, he added, need sufficient policy space to pursue time-bound industrial policies linked to clear performance indicators, as well as firm rules to address competitive distortions.
Addressing emerging economic challenges, the minister underscored the importance of greater transparency and dialogue within the WTO on new issues, particularly digital trade, climate-related measures and restrictions arising from economic security requirements.
Rostom also outlined Egypt’s national efforts in this regard, highlighting the success of the National Single Window for Foreign Trade Facilitation (Nafeza), which he described as a leading model for streamlining and integrating customs, logistics and regulatory procedures.
Egypt is pursuing parallel efforts to simplify domestic procedures and strengthen its international negotiating and legal capabilities, Rostom said.
These efforts are also intended to help Egyptian companies improve their competitiveness and access foreign markets.
