By Emma Farge

GENEVA, (Reuters) –Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai reiterated Thursday the Biden administration’s support for the World Trade Organization (WTO). Tai stated that consensus could be reached on numerous trade and health issues at a next-month meeting.

Questions are being raised about the relevance of this 25-year-old international trade body. Director-general Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has been under intense pressure to implement quick reforms at the meeting Nov. 30-Dec. 3.

“The Biden-Harris Administration believes that trade – and the WTO – can and should be a force for good that encourages a race to the top and addresses global challenges as they arise,” Tai said in a speech set to be delivered later on Thursday in the WTO’s host city of Geneva, Switzerland.

We all recognize the value of the WTO and want its success.

Washington was blamed for the inability to convene the WTO top dispute resolution panel. Judge appointments had been blocked by Trump’s administration.

Since Dec. 2019, the Appellate Body was unable to resolve a trade dispute. Biden’s trade representatives haven’t withdrawn their objection.

Tai also reiterated U.S. criticisms of the panel. She said WTO dispute settlement was now “synonymous avec litigation”, which she stated was “prolongued. expensive. and contentious”.

Washington is open to the views of all members regarding how to reform the dispute settlement system in order to provide “confidence that it’s fair.”

The WTO reform negotiations were more positive for her, with the statement that reform could succeed “if the WTO is more flexible and changes the way we approach issues collectively, transparency, inclusiveness and the restoration of the organisation’s deliberative function.”

Tai indicated that there should be consensus on several health and trade proposals within the next month.

WTO member countries are looking to strike a deal on fish subsidies, among other things. This is after twenty years of negotiations at the ministerial meetings.

Tai advised that there should be a greater focus on commonalities and pressing priorities, such as fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help to ensure the Trade Body is more relevant for workers around the world.

Washington had options available to meet the demands of the developing nations for “flexibility” during the talks on fisheries, however she stated that Washington will insist that no agreement be reached regarding forced labour in fishing vessels.

A draft ministerial decision was being prepared by the United States. It would allow for better sharing of experiences and information from COVID-19 to assist border agencies in responding to future crises.