Jakarta. Indonesia is stepping up calls to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it heads into the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, aiming to secure a more inclusive and fair global trading system amid rising economic uncertainty.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the reform push is critical to strengthening the multilateral trading system without abandoning its core principles, particularly for the benefit of developing countries.

“Reforming the WTO will reinforce the global trading system while preserving its fundamental principles, including consensus-based decision-making and special and differential treatment for developing countries,” Budi said in a statement on Wednesday.

He stressed that Indonesia will continue to advocate for the restoration of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism to ensure legal certainty for all members.

“Indonesia will keep pushing for the dispute settlement system to be reinstated promptly to provide legal certainty for all members,” he added.

At the March 26–29 ministerial meeting, Indonesia is set to advance several key priorities, including fisheries subsidies, agriculture, digital trade, the incorporation of joint initiative agreements, and non-violation and situation complaints (NVSC). The positions have been closely coordinated across ministries and agencies to strengthen Indonesia’s stance in multilateral negotiations.

On fisheries and agriculture, Indonesia will continue negotiations on additional provisions under the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), while emphasizing food security, including public stockholding policies, as climate change increasingly disrupts global food production.

Indonesia argues that global rules must provide fair policy space for developing countries to safeguard domestic food stability.

“Indonesia consistently advocates support for small farmers and fishers in agriculture and fisheries subsidy negotiations, to ensure rules that are fair, effective, and sustainable,” Budi said.

In digital trade, Indonesia is calling for a comprehensive discussion on the future of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions (CDET), as well as the continuation of the WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce.

“Indonesia believes any decision on e-commerce must take into account development aspects and the digital divide, particularly for developing countries,” he said.

Indonesia’s delegation will be led by senior Trade Ministry advisor Johni Martha, who is scheduled to attend ministerial sessions, developing country coordination meetings, bilateral talks, and other engagements aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s negotiating position.

Add as a preferred source on Google +