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236 business organisations urge WTO Ministers for time-bound reform and e-Commerce Moratorium renewal
At the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO presented WTO Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala with a Global Business Statement on behalf of 236 business organisations worldwide. The statement calls for a time‑bound WTO reform process and the renewal of the e‑Commerce Moratorium, underscoring the urgency felt across the global business community for a well‑functioning multilateral trading system that meets the realities of the 21st century.
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ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO presented WTO Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala with the Global Business Statement, signed by 236 business organisations from every region of the world.
The statement underscores a shared sense of urgency across the global business community over the future of the multilateral trading system.
Signatories urge ministers to take concrete steps to safeguard economic stability and enable the digital economy to continue to drive development worldwide.
They call on ministers to launch time-bound reform negotiations that restore the WTO’s capacity to negotiate, deliberate and settle disputes, and modernise the system for 21st‑century trade.
The statement also stresses the importance of maintaining the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions. Allowing it to lapse, business warns, would risk fragmentation, raise costs and hinder the ability of businesses to participate in cross-border digital trade – particularly for micro‑, small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The message from business is clear: predictable, rules‑based trade remains essential for investment, innovation and sustainable growth. Governments must seize this moment to revitalise the multilateral trading system and secure an open, inclusive and future‑ready digital economy.
See all 236 business organisations who have already joined the Global Business Statement
Related publications and resources
See ICC’s Call for Action for MC14 and resources on why a well-functioning WTO is key to business and the global economy:
Revitalising the multilateral trading system: Call for action
Ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), ICC calls on members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to launch a structured, time-bound WTO reform round and preserve the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions – essential steps to restore stability and confidence in global trade.
The impact on developing economies of WTO dissolution: Regional and country-level analysis
Two studies commissioned by ICC and conducted by Oxford Economics highlight the devastating effects of a collapse of the WTO system. The 2024 report shows the severe impact on developing economies across regions. The 2025 follow-up report provides a detailed, country-level analysis across ten developing economies — Brazil, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Türkiye, and Vietnam — confirming how a breakdown of the WTO would have damaging country-level consequences.
The WTO’s hidden value: How the multilateral trading system delivers for business beyond tariffs
The full value of the World Trade Organization (WTO) rarely makes headlines. But in reality, it is a cornerstone of national competitiveness. Its agreements, daily technical work and tools quietly make the trading system work day to day for businesses. These practical benefits are often unseen, but essential for every economy.
