Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the World Trade Organization Raimondas Ališauskas presented his Letter of Credentials
Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the World Trade Organization Raimondas Ališauskas presented his Letter of Credentials
On October 9th, Ambassador-at-Large, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the World Trade Organization Raimondas Ališauskas met with the Director-General of the organization Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and presented his Letter of Credentials.
After the ceremony, both parties discussed the priorities of Lithuania, current affairs of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and preparation for the WTO Ministerial Conference MC13. Lithuania's Permanent Representative together with the Director General condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and expressed the hope that the attention of the international community will not decrease in relation to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The Permanent Representative of Lithuania emphasized the importance of WTO reform in order to maintain the stability of the world trade system and the effectiveness of the WTO. R. Ališauskas emphasized the need for the organization to modernize and create new trade rules that would help solve such problems as industrial subsidies distorting international trade. The Lithuanian diplomat emphasized that the WTO must help to develop digital trade, and the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission is a necessary result of WTO MC13.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that she appreciates Lithuania's contribution to strengthening the WTO and supporting multilateralism and the international trade system. The WTO Director-General agreed that modernizing the WTO and international trade rules is a priority, and she is putting a lot of personal effort into keeping the WTO relevant and making MC13 a success. She emphasized the readiness to continue further close cooperation with Lithuania.
The World Trade Organization was founded in 1995. Almost all international trade is governed by the rules of the WTO Agreements. Lithuania has been a member of this organization since 2001. Lithuania's economy is strongly dependent on international trade. Lithuania's membership in the WTO facilitates the resolution of trade disputes and helps to open up export markets for Lithuanian companies.
