Overview

Towards an immediate debt-free stimulus to the world economy that will generate badly-needed growth and jobs.

Background

ICC, in partnership with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched the ICC Business World Trade Agenda initiative to provide private sector leadership in helping to set a new multilateral trade policy agenda. The aim of this initiative is ultimately to drive World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral trade talks out of an 11 year deadlock and "beyond Doha".

Objectives

The World Trade Agenda is a strong business-led initiative to bolster rules-based trade. The WTO lends its support to this initiative by engaging business to provide recommendations to advance global trade negotations. The World Trade Agenda aims to:

  • Define multilateral trade negotation priorities for business
  • Help governments set a trade policy agenda for the 21st century that contributes to economic growth and job creation
  • Find answers to the current economic crisis and drive more effective trade talks
  • Set concrete recommendations to advance global trade negotations
  • Sound the alarm on protectionism
  • Gather input and validation from the global business community on trade agenda priorities and recommendations for achieving a Doha victory.

The voice of business

WTA policy conference room-large view

Global business in uniquely placed to recognize and identify areas where multilateral trade rules have been superceded by 21st century trading realities. Business is also positioned to suggest where innovative solutions to overcome the current obstacles in trade negotations may be found.

CEOs, senior corporate executives, and representatives of business organizations joined WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy at the first World Trade Agenda policy conference in March 2012 to define the elements of a world trade agenda, underscoring the private sector's desire to move global trade talks out of the Doha Development Agenda deadlock.

Partnering for a 'Doha Victory'

QCCI logo

ICC and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce launched WTA to help successfully conclude the round of multilateral trade negotiations that began in Doha, Qatar over a decade ago. Since the Doha Round was launched, the Qatar Chamber has helped oversee one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing economies in the world, thus giving the Qatar Chamber a unique understanding of the rapidly changing macro-economic conditions that now charaterize the current state of multilateral trade negotiations.

ICC and the Qatar Chamber are committed to mobilizing business around the world as one global voice towards one global solution: 'Doha Victory'.

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Business and the WTO

Debate: Business and the WTO

ICC's World Trade Agenda Press Conference

ICC's World Trade Agenda Press Conference