EU and CPTPP Discuss Trade, Security at WTO Conference

EU Trade News

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

The European Union and CPTPP member countries met at the WTO Ministerial Conference on March 27, 2026, to discuss strengthening the rules-based trading system and reforming the WTO. They reaffirmed commitments to incorporate electronic commerce and investment facilitation agreements into the WTO framework and address market-distorting practices.

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What changed

The European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) member countries issued a joint ministerial statement following their meeting at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference. The statement outlines a shared understanding on the importance of rules-based trade, the critical juncture of the WTO, and the need for urgent reform. Key points include commitments to support WTO reform, enhance cooperation among like-minded members, and incorporate agreements on electronic commerce and investment facilitation into the WTO legal framework. They also expressed shared concerns regarding market-distorting practices and economic coercion.

This notice serves as a high-level statement of intent and cooperation between the EU and CPTPP members regarding the global trading system. While it does not impose new direct obligations on regulated entities, it signals ongoing efforts to shape international trade policy, particularly concerning digital trade, supply chain resilience, and WTO reform. Compliance officers should note the continued emphasis on these areas in international forums, which may lead to future regulatory developments. Senior officials have been tasked with developing workplans for continued cooperation.

Source document (simplified)

We, Ministers and Representatives of the Parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union (EU), met on the occasion of the 14 th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 27 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
At this meeting, we discussed how the EU Trade and Investment Dialogue (CPTPP-EU Dialogue) could support rules-based trade and the multilateral trading system to ensure it is able to respond to current challenges. Discussions were comprehensive, solutions-focused and forward-looking. We reached a shared understanding that:

a) Free and open markets and rules-based trade have contributed to our prosperity and are essential to our future economic growth and security;

b) The WTO is at a critical juncture amid heightened tensions in the global trading system;

c) Recognising the critical importance of urgent, deep, comprehensive and inclusive reform of the WTO, we will take concrete steps to support and strengthen the multilateral trading system;

d) We support the WTO reform process and welcome the work undertaken by the facilitator and will seek to collaborate in tangible, pragmatic ways, in order to deliver concrete reform recommendations by MC15;

e) We seek to enhance cooperation among like-minded WTO members in order to drive better outcomes for the broader membership;

f) We strive to lead in delivering concrete outcomes in areas relevant to supporting the rules-based trading system;

g) We recognise the positive role of plurilateral negotiations at the WTO, including the Joint Statement Initiatives, as a means to advance issues of interest, foster new ideas and approaches, and build momentum towards multilateral agreement of new rules;

h) In line with our 2025 CPTPP EU Trade and Investment Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement, we underscore our efforts to incorporate the Agreement on Electronic Commerce and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO legal framework; we reaffirm our commitment to a long-term solution for the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions; and we affirm the need to encourage greater participation in the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA);

i) We share concerns about market-distorting practices, which distort trade and investment flows, affect resilient supply chains, and cause excess capacity. We also share concerns about economic coercion that seeks to exploit economic vulnerabilities and dependencies, and;

j) We will continue cooperating on areas such as trade diversification and facilitation and supply chain resilience, digital trade, and the global trading environment.

We will continue our collaboration, including through informal exchanges and, where appropriate, technical-level engagement to explore potential areas for practical cooperation.

We have instructed Senior Officials from CPTPP Parties and the EU to continue the development of workplans on areas of cooperation of mutual interest in preparation for a progress report and recommendations, as appropriate, to be provided to our next CPTPP-EU Dialogue.

Details

Publication date 27 March 2026 Author Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security Location Yaoundé Trade topics
- Trade policy
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