Eleven countries under the FIT Partnership issued a joint statement in Cameroon, reaffirming their commitment to keeping global supply chains open and strengthening international trade cooperation.
On 31 March 2026, member nations of the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership released a joint statement during the 14th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The countries involved include Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay, who gathered between 26 and 29 March 2026 to strengthen cooperation on global trade matters.
The countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open and resilient supply chains by ensuring that land routes, air transport and seaports remain operational to allow trade to flow smoothly. They emphasized the importance of avoiding trade-restrictive measures such as export restrictions, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, especially for essential goods, while promoting transparency, competitiveness and collaboration in global trade systems.
Members also agreed to enhance coordination by exchanging timely information and working together through designated national contact points to support efficient supply chain management, share updates on alternative trade routes and contribute to stable global trade flows. The statement underlined their shared objective of maintaining a predictable, transparent and fair trading environment.
Launched in September 2025, the FIT Partnership focuses on advancing innovation in trade and investment policy among small and medium trade-dependent economies, with the aim of supporting a rules-based global trading system. Looking ahead, New Zealand will assume the role of coordinating chair from Singapore in April 2026, and the next ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in Auckland in July 2026.
Source: MTI
