WTO gives cold shoulder to trade in services

Abu Dhabi: Trade in services such as movement of skilled professionals accounts for over 20 per cent of the global commerce, but the sector is still not getting sufficient attention in the negotiations of the WTO, according to experts and officials. The experts also said that developed or rich member nations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are only interested in pushing their own non-trade agenda and not focusing on issues, which really need special focus of the Geneva-based multi-lateral body.

Trade ministers and officials of the 166-member WTO are gathered here to discuss wide ranging issues such as agriculture, and fisheries subsidies. The 13thministerial conference (MC13) of the WTO on Wednesday entered the third day. MC is the highest decision making body of the global trade watchdog.