March 30, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

As the global economy faces increasing uncertainty and complex trade challenges, Canadians are relying on a strong and reliable international trading system for stability, growth and prosperity. The World Trade Organization (WTO) plays a central role in ensuring international trade remains predictable, transparent and fair.

Last week, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, participated in the 14^th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), held from March 26 to March 29 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Trade ministers and senior officials from around the world came together for MC14 to discuss the future of the international trading system and the role of the WTO in supporting economic growth, development and stability. Canada reaffirmed its commitment to a strong, reliable, rules-based trading system and to working with partners to ensure the WTO remains relevant and effective in today’s evolving global economy.

In furtherance of that commitment, Minister Sidhu discussed with his counterparts the importance of taking forward high ambition WTO reform, advancing plurilateral agreements, and levelling the playing field for businesses and workers. These exchanges allowed ministers to reflect on the WTO’s role in addressing today’s complex economic challenges and to explore ways to modernize the organization.

Minister Sidhu also addressed priority negotiating areas such as fisheries subsidies, agriculture, digital trade, and investment facilitation for development. Canada emphasized the importance of practical and inclusive solutions that support sustainable economic growth and reinforce confidence in the global trading system.

Minister Sidhu joined 65 other WTO members in adopting a pathway to bring into force the WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce – a milestone to deliver increased predictability and certainty for consumers and businesses in the digital economy.

Canada also actively supported a renewal of the WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions   which provides stability for a tariff-free global digital economy that maintains lower costs for consumers. While discussions did not result in agreement on the moratorium or an ambitious reform plan, Canada remains engaged and determined to support progress, and we will continue working closely with partners in Geneva to achieve a constructive and forward‑looking outcome.

While in Cameroon, and on the margins of the conference, Minister Sidhu engaged with international partners to advance cooperation on shared trade priorities. More specifically, the minister met with:

• Julien Paluku Kahongya, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of International Trade
• Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry
• Cham Nimul, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce
• Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Chris Bryant, United Kingdom’s Minister of State (Minister of Trade)
• Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Yeo Han-koo, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources
• Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
• Fernando Brun, Argentina’s Secretary for International Economic Relations
• Valeria Csukasi, Uruguay’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Patricia Frutos Ruíz, Paraguay’s Vice Minister of Economic Relations and Integration within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Manuel Tovar Rivera, Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade
• Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations
• Hairil Yahri Yaacob, Malaysia’s Secretary General for the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry

During the conference, Minister Sidhu also co-chaired a meeting with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU. Participants of the meeting endorsed a joint statement and discussed how dialogue can support rules-based trade and the multilateral trading system to ensure it is able to respond to current challenges.

Finally, Minister Sidhu met with Canadian companies with operations in Africa and international financial institutions during an African Business Roundtable. The meetings provided him with an opportunity to hear first-hand the commercial opportunities in Cameroon and across Africa and highlight Canada’s commitment to strengthening its economic partnerships on the continent.