Instead of shying away, WTO must rally support for multilateralism

The WTO has to deal with an increasing number of complaints from countries across the world threatening to take retaliatory action against the US

There was little to cheer about at the end of the two-day mini-ministerial of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that saw representatives of 50 WTO member-countries coming together in New Delhi to “create a meeting of minds”. Nearly all countries expressed concern about the serious threat to the WTO posed by unilateral trade actions in a pointed reference to recent US import tariffs. Addressing the media at the end of the ministerial, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo warned of a potential global trade war as different nations retaliate against the US actions. But it was disappointing to see the open admission