"The WTO is not a trade war museum; it's an institution that should be relevant for today and tomorrow."
This quote emphasizes the need for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to adapt and remain relevant in the present and future. It suggests that the WTO should not merely serve as a repository of past trade agreements or a symbolic monument, but rather, it should be an active and dynamic institution that addresses contemporary trade issues and fosters progress. The implication is that the WTO should continually evolve to meet the changing needs of global commerce, ensuring fairness, cooperation, and sustainable growth in international trade.
"We have to be ready to walk away from negotiations if we don't get what we need to protect our interests."
This quote by Roberto Azevedo signifies a firm stance in negotiations, indicating that one should not compromise on core principles or interests for the sake of agreement. He is suggesting that parties involved in negotiations should be prepared to abandon talks if they do not secure terms that safeguard their essential concerns. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining self-interest and integrity during discussions to ensure fair outcomes.
"Trade policy cannot be based on a country's size or economic power, but rather on its ability to adapt to the changing world."
This quote suggests that a nation's trade policies should not be dictated solely by its geographical size or current economic standing. Instead, it should be guided by its capacity to evolve and adjust to the dynamic global landscape. In other words, regardless of a country's strength today, what truly matters is its readiness for tomorrow, which includes flexibility, innovation, and the ability to seize opportunities presented by change.
"The multilateral trading system is facing unprecedented challenges and requires a strong response from its members."
This quote suggests that the current global trading system, established to facilitate fair and open trade among nations, is encountering unparalleled difficulties. The challenges could range from protectionist trade policies, geopolitical tensions, economic instability, to digital disruptions. Azevedo emphasizes the need for all member countries to respond collectively with a strong commitment to reforms and cooperation in order to address these complex issues and preserve the effectiveness of the multilateral trading system.
"We have to remember that trade is not a zero-sum game; it creates winners and losers, but overall it benefits everyone."
This quote emphasizes the idea that international trade doesn't result in gains for some at the expense of others (zero-sum), rather it produces both winners and losers. However, when viewed holistically, trade generates more overall benefit than harm. The underlying principle is that economies grow through specialization and exchange, where countries focus on producing what they are most efficient at and trading for goods or services they need but can't produce as efficiently themselves. This reciprocal exchange promotes prosperity and development among all participants in the global trade system, even though some individuals or industries may experience temporary hardships during this process.
One thinks that one is winning when we slap tariffs or introduce barriers to imports from another country, and we think we win. But you lose when you export because the other countries are going to raise tariffs as well. They're going to introduce barriers as well. So you win with one hand and you lose with the other.
- Roberto Azevedo
New technologies, innovative management, higher productivity, displacements in the labour market, increased migration - these are all provoking major economic, social, and political shifts. These shifts need to be better understood if we are to address them in a positive and effective manner.
- Roberto Azevedo
I think what helps me is that delegations of all sizes - the small, the medium, the large, the largest - they all have seen me in action. They all have seen me unlocking blockages, unlocking impasses for several years now, and they all know that... I can bring a constructive mood to the table.
- Roberto Azevedo
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