“The United Nations faces an existential crisis as the United States leads other countries in defunding and withdrawing from key agencies such as the World Health Organization.”

“The World Trade Organization (WTO) may soon join the endangered list.”

“On March 26, its 166 member states will meet for their 14th Ministerial Conference over three and a half days in Cameroon.”

“Dubbed a 'reform ministerial', this is unlike any since the WTO was established in 1995.”

“Whether the organisation will survive these 'reforms' is uncertain.”

“The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference occurs against a backdrop of war, accelerating climate change, geopolitical polarisation, coercive unilateral trade sanctions, fractured supply chains and competition to control critical mineral resources.”

“Reform proposals driven by its more powerful members – carefully curated through an unorthodox process over the past year – are being pushed ahead without a consensus of members and despite repeated objections from a number of developing countries.”

“Significantly, the Trump administration has not formally withdrawn from the WTO.”

“The US has demanded reforms that would legitimise the use of tariffs against other countries and shield its actions from challenge via the WTO’s dispute system.”

“Middle powers such as New Zealand, Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom – so-called 'friends of the system', whose economies are premised on the WTO’s free-trade model – are supporting this process.”

“Three items dominate the first two days of a packed program. Their titles sound relatively innocuous, but the intent is to rewrite the fundamental tenets of the WTO: multilateralism, most-favoured-nation treatment, consensus decision-making, and development.”

“The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference will consolidate facilitators' reports into a 'single takeaway' document for ministerial endorsement.”

“Reformers have proposed an alternative of 'responsible consensus' which will make it easier to push through preferred outcomes.”

“New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has been reappointed vice-chair.”

“The United States advocates for a quicker and more streamlined process for implementing WTO reforms.”

“The EU's reform demands mirror those of the United States, with middle powers supporting the agenda.”

“The unlevel playing field on agriculture, allowing US and EU subsidies, remains off the agenda for WTO reforms.”

“Developing countries' voices are marginalized, leading them to reassess their future involvement in the WTO.”

“She will merely 'update' members at the meeting, with no discussion of revitalising the appeal process (or the hotly disputed weaponisation of tariffs by the US) on the agenda.”

“The 'levelling the playing field' reform aims to restrict state support for industry and limit most-favoured-nation treatment, targeting China's perceived unfair advantages.”

“New Zealand’s ambassador to the WTO, Clare Kelly, has been chairing the Dispute Settlement Body, which the US has paralysed by blocking the appointment of new judges.”

“The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference agenda includes facilitators from countries aligned with the reform agenda overseeing breakout groups.”

“The 'development and industrialisation' reform aims to limit how countries define their own level of development by restricting 'special and differential treatment'.”

“The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference agenda provides limited time for collective discussion and alternative reform proposals.”

“Developing countries advocate for genuine reform to support industrialization in ways that benefit their economies.”

“Developing countries fear their previously supported priorities are no longer included in the WTO reform agenda.”

“The WTO reforms will primarily impact state-supported industrialization in poorer countries rather than China.”

“Decision-making aims to dilute the multilateral model that accords all states an equal voice irrespective of their relative size or wealth.”

“Article Ten of the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO – its constitution – mandates decision-making by consensus.”

“Next year, the ambassador will chair the WTO General Council in charge of implementing the reform agenda.”