The Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 26 February to 2 March 2024. Australia was represented by Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell and Assistant Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres.

Australia helped achieve solid outcomes on WTO reform and e-commerce demonstrating the WTO's value for our businesses, exporters, workers, and reinforcing support for the rules-based multilateral trading system, including:

• a decision to accelerate efforts towards fixing the dispute settlement system by 2024
• renewal of the e-commerce moratorium
• concluding a new plurilateral agreement on investment facilitation
• establishing ministerial conversations on global trade-related challenges – environmental sustainability, industrial policy and inclusion
• a package of institutional reforms, to make the organisation work better, and a package of assistance and flexibility for developing and least-developed countries to maximise the benefits of trade.

Importantly, the Conference also welcomed the accessions of Timor-Leste and the Comoros to the WTO.

Australia is disappointed that MC13 did not reach outcomes on other key Australian interests. The lack of agricultural reform is particularly concerning, and Australia remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving this goal as leader of the Cairns Group. New rules to discipline fisheries subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing also remained out of reach during MC13. We will continue to pursue Australia's interests in these areas, and to invest in strengthening and reforming the WTO.