Our Call For a Renewed Multilateral Trading System

March 10, 2026

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G7 economies have significantly benefited from the common rules, the level playing field and the tariff liberalization that have operated under the aegis of the World Trade Organization in the past 3 decades.

G7 companies have been able to prosper, create jobs and growth thanks to a system that offered them predictability, stability and facilitation to trade and to invest worldwide.

Since 1995, annual growth in world trade has been approximately 4% in volume and 5% in value, rates that reflect sustained trade liberalization through the WTO framework. Today, approximately 98% of global trade takes place between the 166 WTO members.

The collapse of the Organization is not an option. In the context of increasingly strained supply chains, an effective WTO is the last shield against isolationism and unilateralism.

At the upcoming Ministerial Conference, G7 countries must act with responsibility and engagement to prevent the Organization from becoming marginalized in a world marked by geopolitical tensions, deep transformations and excessive dependencies. The MC14 provides the best opportunity to capitalize on momentum and launch a formal WTO work programme on reform, which will provide WTO members and businesses with a path to follow in the coming months and years.

Reform should prioritize core issues such as decision-making. The consensus rule as practiced at the WTO often leads to paralysis. In order to overcome the current inertia, plurilateral negotiations must be promoted and facilitated. This would allow groups of willing countries to move forward on specific issues without being blocked by a minority, while leaving the door open for those who wish to join them.

Trade digitalization constitutes a key factor of today’s global economy. Businesses need consistent multilateral rules regarding digital trade, to effectively operate globally. Therefore, the B7 supports a permanent WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions and a modern WTO framework for digital trade and e-commerce, including through the Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce.

Rules without enforcement often do not deliver the expected results. It is crucial to restore the WTO Dispute Settlement system to prevent unfair unilateral measures and the risk of escalation. G7 countries should play a proactive role in moving toward a reformed and implementable system to promote enforcement and compliance.

Transparency is also an important factor in rules’ enforcement. The notification of subsidies is a good example of an area where transparency and efficiency must be urgently improved.

While trade restrictive measures in the name of national security are increasing, it is essential to prevent economic coercion and set up frameworks to countervail when such measures are taken.

To further promote investment – a source of industrial development and job creation – rules should be established for investment facilitation, starting with implementing the JSI Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development.

Finally, the B7 calls on the G7 to consider the adoption of a Work Programme on Trade and Industrial Policy to explore linkages between such policies and initiate an active dialogue.

Our Organizations stand ready to support the G7 governments in modernizing a much-needed system, for our mutual future prosperity and growth.

Sincerely,

BDI – Federation of German Industries
BusinessEurope
Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Confindustria
Keidanren
Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF)
US Chamber of Commerce

About B7

Bringing together the most representative business organizations from the G7 countries, as well as leading business executives, the B7 (Business 7) has been amplifying the voice of the business community in G7 discussions since 2007. It aims at providing recommendations to the G7 on issues impacting the global economy and the business activities. The Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF) has the honour and the responsibility of guiding the B7 activities during the French G7 presidency in 2026.