Foreign Affairs Council - 10-13/12/2017, 10-13 December 2017

Main results

WTO ministerial conference

The Council met in the margins of the 11th World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Buenos Aires from 10 to 13 December to coordinate the EU's position. At the beginning of the conference, the Council adopted conclusions setting out the EU's position for the negotiations. Member States were then informed on a regular basis by the Commission on developments throughout the conference.

At the end of the conference, the Council adopted conclusions where it expressed disappointment at the outcome achieved, despite the strong effort made by the EU to make progress on the key issues for discussion. Ministers also regretted that it was not possible to achieve an ambitious but realistic and balanced package for the conference.

In the framework of the conference, the EU subscribed to a number of statements relating in particular to e-commerce, an informal work programme for MSMEs, investment facilitation for development and services domestic regulation. The Council also endorsed the Ministerial Decisions presented to the conference.

• WTO 11th ministerial conference