GEN26-6

This global workshop is organized by the WTO Secretariat in collaboration with the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), with the WTO delivering a comprehensive programme drawing on its internal expertise and partner organizations. It responds to a clear demand from francophone parliamentarians for more structured engagement with the WTO and a better understanding of how global trade rules and negotiations relate to their national priorities. Established in 1967, the APF brings together 99 members from parliaments and interparliamentary organizations across five continents, united by the shared use of the French language. It serves as a platform for political dialogue, exchange, and collective reflection on issues of common interest. Building on the APF’s 2024–2025 report on the monitoring of international trade negotiations, the WTO Secretariat will deliver a targeted programme aligned with the issues identified by parliamentarians. The workshop will focus on key WTO agreements and processes, including WTO reform, agriculture negotiations, fisheries subsidies, and investment facilitation, as well as broader systemic developments within the multilateral trading system. It will also address cross-cutting themes highlighted in the report, including trade and gender equality, digital trade, environmental sustainability, and food security, situating these within current WTO discussions and initiatives. The workshop will provide a space for direct dialogue with WTO leadership and experts, practical insights into ongoing negotiations, and peer exchange among 30-40 francophone legislators. Through interactive sessions and tailored capacity-building modules, it will support parliamentarians in engaging more effectively with trade policy and in strengthening the link between domestic policymaking and the multilateral trading system.