WTO Closing Session Delayed For A 3rd Time Amid Stalemate

The formal closing session of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s 13th ministerial conference has been delayed for a third time amid continued disagreements between key nations. The session is now scheduled for 1700GST (0800ET/1300GMT/1400CET), having initially due to have taken place at 2000 local time on 29 Feb.

• Speaking to Reuters on the evening of 29 Feb, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai stated that "We're going to be seeing kind of some extraordinary efforts over the course of these next hours into tomorrow. So some really interesting breakthroughs could still happen...But if fewer things happen. If some of these areas break down...it looks like some of that intra-BRICS dynamic will have contributed."
• One of the major sticking points remains theformal objection to a Chile and South Korea-proposed, Chinese-backed investment agreement that proponents argue could unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of FDI. India and South Africa are believed to have have objected, with India media mentioning required protections for fishing industries and calling for richer countries to eliminate 'disproportionate and high subsidies.'