1. WTO Ministerial Conference (MC) is the topmost decision-making body which usually consists of trade/commerce ministers, and convenes every two years (under normal circumstance). The MC makes decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.

2. Ministerial Conferences that have been convened to-date are:

   • MC12 - Geneva, 12-17 June 2022
   • MC11 - Buenos Aires, 10-13 December 2017
   • MC10 - Nairobi, 15-19 December 2015
   • MC9 - Bali, 3-6 December 2013
   • MC8 - Geneva, 15-17 December 2011
   • MC7 - Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009
   • MC6 - Hong Kong, 13-18 December 2005
   • MC5 - Cancún, 10-14 September 2003
   • MC4 - Doha, 9-13 November 2001
   • MC3 - Seattle, November 30 – December 3, 1999
   • MC2 - Geneva, 18-20 May 1998
   • MC1 - Singapore, 9-13 December 1996
      

3. Details of ‘Ministerial Declarations and Decisions’ made at these Ministerial Conferences can be accessed here.

Outcomes of MC12 – Geneva Package

1. MC12 was successfully concluded on 17 June 2022 with the adoption of a series of key trade initiatives called the “Geneva Package”:

   • Outcome Document (WT/MIN(22)/24)
   • Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (WT/MIN(22)/33).
   • package on WTO response to emergencies, comprising:
     1. Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics (WT/MIN(22)/31)
     2. Ministerial Decision on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (WT/MIN(22)/30)
     3. Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity (WT/MIN(22)/28)
     4. Ministerial Decision on World Food Programme (WFP) Food Purchases Exemptions from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions (WT/MIN(22)/29)
     5. Decision on the E-commerce Moratorium and Work Programme (WT/MIN(22)/32)
         

2. Other decisions adopted include:

   • Work Programme on Small Economies (WT/MIN(22)/25)
   • TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints (WT/MIN(22)/26)
   • Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration for the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference: Responding to Modern SPS Challenges (WT/MIN(22)/27).