The UAE continues its international efforts to adopt a rules-based global multilateral trading system

Yaounde, 30 March / WAM / The United Arab Emirates has renewed its emphasis on continuing its contribution to mobilizing international efforts to adopt a rules-based multilateral trading system, as it is a fundamental engine for sustainable economic growth around the world, especially in light of the unprecedented challenges that the global trading system is currently witnessing due to geopolitical tensions and the rise of protectionism, with all its negative impacts on global supply chains and the movement of the flow of goods and services across borders.

This came during the participation of the UAE delegation in the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC14), which Cameroon hosted during the period from 26 to 29 March.

The UAE delegation was headed by His Excellency Fahd Al Gergawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, with the participation of a number of officials from the ministry, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE representation to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

The active participation of the UAE in this important international event reflects the growing position that the country has become as a major actor in shaping the future of global trade, especially after the successful hosting of the organization’s thirteenth Ministerial Conference in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, at the beginning of 2024, and the outcomes it issued contributed to consolidating the positive role of the UAE – as the host country – in shaping the future of international trade towards greater openness and common prosperity.

His Excellency Fahd Al Gergawi said: “The UAE’s participation in the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization is the culmination of an ambitious strategy developed by the country to enhance its role as a major player in shaping the future of global trade and as a global commercial center, especially after it succeeded in transforming its economic vision open to the world into a tangible reality, as the country’s non-oil foreign trade in 2025 recorded record numbers, exceeding 3.8 trillion dirhams (equivalent to 1.03 trillion dollars), achieving growth by 27% compared to 2024, supported by a jump in UAE exports of goods, which strengthens its position as a global trade center thanks to the comprehensive economic partnership agreements that the country continues to conclude with strategic partners in major growth regions around the world.

His Excellency added: “This record growth in the country’s non-oil foreign trade comes as a result of the strategy of commercial openness to the world that the UAE continues to implement, in conjunction with its adoption of rules-based freedom of trade as a catalyst for growth, which in turn was reflected in the success of the economic diversification policies pursued by the UAE, and also strengthened the country’s ability to overcome the geopolitical and economic challenges that the world is witnessing, to remain a leading model in trade openness and integration into the global economy.”

The UAE’s participation in the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference takes on a new dimension in light of the rapid developments taking place in the global trading system. At a time when the risks associated with trade wars and tariffs imposed by some major countries are increasing, and barriers to the flow of goods are increasing globally, the UAE is emerging as a moderate voice calling for maintaining an open and rules-based trading system.

This call was not only theoretical, but the state translated it into concrete practical steps. The UAE recently joined the Future Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT) initiative, which includes 14 countries that believe that the principles of free trade represent an essential foundation for stability and prosperity. In addition to the UAE, the founding group includes: Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, and Uruguay.

The members of this international partnership work to cooperate on a wide range of vital trade issues, including strengthening supply chains, removing non-tariff barriers to trade, supporting foreign direct investment, and adopting and integrating emerging technologies. These priorities are expected to form a fundamental focus on the agenda of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference, as the UAE seeks to translate this partnership into tangible results that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system.

During participation in the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, the UAE delegation was keen to stress that trade restrictive measures at the global level threaten to fragment the global economy, weaken economic growth, and increase inflationary pressures and unemployment rates. From this standpoint, the UAE renewed the call at the conference to mobilize international support to maintain the flow of trade and enhance the resilience of the global economy in the face of shocks. The country’s delegation, during its active participation in the conference, also highlighted the UAE development model, affirmed the country’s commitment to the principles of economic pluralism, and strengthening international partnerships in light of the delicate stage that global trade is going through.

At the level of bilateral relations, the UAE’s participation in this important international forum was distinguished by its ability to combine multilateral action and strengthen bilateral relations, as the UAE continued to explore opportunities to expand its network of trade partners, by taking advantage of its distinguished geographical location and advanced infrastructure, as well as exploring new horizons for trade cooperation with African countries, especially with the conference being held in the African continent, which is witnessing increasing economic growth.

On the sidelines of the conference activities, the UAE delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of Austria, the Bahamas, New Zealand, Peru, Guatemala, and others.

The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body in the World Trade Organization, and brings together trade ministers and senior officials from the 166 member states. This year’s session is of exceptional importance, as it is the second session hosted by an African country after the tenth conference in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015, which highlights the growing interest in the role of the African continent in the multilateral trading system.

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