Minister Grace Fu leads Singapore delegation in Cameroon, pushing for global trade reforms and digital economy progress.

Singapore has pledged to continue working closely with global partners on trade reforms and digital economy issues at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026.

Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu led Singapore’s delegation at the meeting, which brought together 166 members of the World Trade Organization.

During the conference, members held detailed discussions on WTO reform, digital trade, and fisheries subsidies. Progress was made in areas such as decision-making and fair competition, but no full agreement was reached on key issues, including extending the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions.

Despite the lack of consensus, Singapore said it will continue working with other members to find solutions. Minister Fu expressed disappointment but welcomed broad support from developed and developing countries.

A major highlight of the conference was the adoption of interim arrangements for the WTO E-Commerce Agreement (ECA), led by Singapore and supported by 66 members. This agreement is the first global framework for digital trade rules and includes a permanent ban on customs duties for electronic transmissions.

The ECA is expected to take effect once 45 members formally approve it. It aims to lower costs, reduce barriers, and build trust in cross-border digital trade for businesses and consumers worldwide.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Fu also took part in several key meetings, including discussions with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union, as well as sessions on investment, trade cooperation, and dispute resolution systems.

She also met with international counterparts to explore opportunities in digitalisation, green trade, and strengthening the global trading system.

Minister Fu later shared that the trip was productive and reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to open trade. She emphasized that continued cooperation is important to ensure the global trading system remains strong and effective in a changing world.

Source: MTI