UK Statements at WTO General Council 5-6 October – Day One
Statement by Kumar Iyer, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO. Delivered at the General Council of 5-6 October 2026, Geneva, under Agenda Item 2.
Thank you, Chair.
I just wanted to come in support of the statement made by our colleague from Sri Lanka in him noting our inability to make progress. It is both worrying and it is accurate.
The inability to make progress in decisions is both relevant to the negotiations track and also to the reform track, and as many noted last week, the two are not separate.
Like Sri Lanka, the UK seeks the political moment that allows Members to seek convergence and make progress together.
And I’d also agree with what our Malaysian colleague has said in referencing the World Trade Report and the cost of inaction. 7% of global GDP by 2050 – a larger number for developing countries, is a number us all worth paying attention to.
Thank you.