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GENEVA / WAM
All World Trade Organisation (WTO), meetings are suspended until the end of April and Secretariat staff have been requested to work from home until the end of March.
Director-General Roberto Azevedo has informed WTO members and staff that access to the organisation’s premises will be restricted as of March 16.
“In light of developments related to the Covid-19 virus and after meeting with UN agencies and observers in Geneva, we have taken a decision to suspend all meetings at WTO until the end of April. This decision will be reviewed as appropriate,” the Director-General said. “Additionally, all WTO Secretariat staff – except on-site critical staff – are to work from home until the end of March this year. This decision will be reviewed by the end of March.”
The WTO is reviewing alternatives for arranging virtual meetings to enable members to participate remotely.