MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO

The document identifies systemic failures in the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) internal processes, asserting that a lack of transparency and the exclusion of developing countries from decision-making undermine the organization's claim to be a "rules-based organisation". It details problems across general operations, pre-Ministerial preparations, and the conduct of Ministerial Conferences, specifically citing the "green room" process and "chair driven" negotiations as barriers to democracy. To remedy this, the authors propose a shift toward inclusive meetings, the cessation of "Mini Ministerials", and the establishment of a general committee of all members to serve as the primary decision-making forum during conferences.

• The WTO's decision-making processes are characterized by a lack of transparency and the exclusion of developing countries, which the authors argue can lead to the introduction of new rules that are "detrimental to people and the environment".
• General operational problems include an unfair application of the consensus system, an overloaded agenda that disadvantages resource-poor developing nations, and the application of political and economic pressures to influence negotiating positions.
• Preparations for Ministerial Conferences are criticized for being "chair driven" rather than "member driven", featuring a proliferation of undocumented, informal meetings and the use of "Mini Ministerial" meetings that create an unelected "steering group".
• During Ministerial Conferences, the "green room" process and the use of the opening ceremony to push through substantive decisions are identified as undemocratic practices that ignore the views of many members.
• Proposed reforms include making all consultations open to all members, ending "Green Room" meetings, ensuring the Secretariat maintains neutrality, and requiring that the main decision-making forum during conferences be a committee consisting of all members.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cancun_21July03_ExecSum.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cancun_21July03_ExecSum.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cancun_21July03_ExecSum.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndmemorandum, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cancun_21July03_ExecSum.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }