Brussels, 20 October 2017/ ACP/ EC: During the Joint Ministerial Trade Committee held on 20 October 2017, the ACP and the EU discussed preparations for the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Buenos Aires on 10-13 December 2017.

The ACP and the EU exchanged views regarding the current situation in the WTO and reaffirmed the crucial role of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and the importance of enhancing trade for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth and development. They emphasised the contribution of trade to development, and acknowledged the importance of development support to building trade capacity.

The ACP and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to work together with all Members of the WTO to make the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference a success with ambitious and concrete results. They further agreed on the objective of ensuring that the WTO functions as an efficient and effective negotiating forum covering issues of interest to its Members and agreed to work together to ensure that this was reflected in the results of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, with development at the centre of negotiating outcomes.