WTO to Hold Ministerial Conference in Cameroon 2026

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has scheduled its next ministerial conference in Cameroon for March 26-29, 2026, aiming to showcase Africa's potential for investment and sustainable development. However, the WTO's future appears uncertain as analysts expect challenges, particularly with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House, which may reignite trade wars. Recent negotiations have struggled to yield significant results, with the last meeting in Abu Dhabi achieving only minimal outcomes. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emphasized the need for a fresh and dynamic approach to negotiations to break the current deadlock. The ongoing blockade of new judges to the WTO's dispute settlement system has also compounded these challenges, further complicating the organization's efforts to reform. WTO members aim to create a functioning dispute system accessible to all by 2024, though clarity on this timeline remains elusive.