WTO Members Hold Retreat to Talk Trade, Industrial Policy Reform Efforts

World Trade Organization members conducted an "informal retreat" at the trade body's headquarters Sept. 25-26 to talk trade and industrial policy as part of a broader reform discussion, the WTO said. The members emerged with three primary themes: "policy space in support of industrialization in developing countries including least developed countries; industrial subsidies -- opportunities and challenges for the global trading system; and the way forward." WTO members' senior officials will meet Oct. 23-24 to hand their negotiators "political direction" ahead of the 13th Ministerial Conference, which is set for Feb. 26-29.