5.10 Geneva – World Trade Organisation

5.8 London

5.10 Geneva – World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The Department’s team at the Irish Embassy in London is responsible for leading the development, support and strengthening of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the UK and Ireland, under the leadership of Ireland’s Ambassador.

As a small open trading economy, reliant on international trade and investment for its economic development and job creation, Ireland is a strong supporter and beneficiary of the global, rules-based, trading system.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement lays out the framework for our new trading relationship with the UK. The UK is, and will remain, a major market for Irish companies and this comprehensive agreement has provided much needed certainty for the thousands of businesses trading between the two islands. As a small open economy, our relationships across the globe have always mattered, and in this context we have placed a particular emphasis on our nearest neighbour, the UK. Our strategy is to deepen and extend Ireland’s global business and trade through support for the development of new opportunities in international trade and investment.

There are 164 members of the World Trade Organisation ranging from the EU, US and China to small developing economies such as Vanuatu, Ezwatini and Grenada.

The Department has prioritised the economic importance of maintaining and enhancing our connections with key stakeholders in the UK, and building the new bilateral relationships required following the UK exit from the EU. An economic counsellor, who is responsible for the economic and commercial affairs section in the Embassy, leads the Department presence in London with support from two senior officials, all seconded from DETE.

The WTO negotiates global agreements, commitments and rules in various aspects and sectors of trade. It monitors compliance with those commitments and rules and it provides a system for settling disputes between members.

The WTO also seeks to ensure that trade policies support wider global objectives such as the response to the global pandemic crisis and the challenge of environmental sustainability.