Geneva Insights - March 2024

Welcome to the March Edition of the Geneva Insights Newsletter. Following its 13th Ministerial Conference, the World Trade Organization (WTO) resumes regular activities. The Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) addresses trade concerns, crucial for preventing or resolving disputes. The WTO's spring session includes the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, emphasizing transparency and early resolution of trade frictions. Meanwhile, the World Customs Organization (WCO) seeks applications for its Private Sector Consultative Group, aiming for diversity in expertise and representation. Emerging regulatory approaches to combat plastic pollution gain momentum, aligning with the UN's resolution. Various UN and UNECE committees convene to discuss harmonization of vehicle regulations, waste management, and environmental issues. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) focuses on AI, radio communications, and network technologies, highlighting the global importance of these discussions. The World Health Organization (WHO) engages in negotiations on pandemic prevention and response, holds a meeting on immunization, and addresses issues related to drug statistics. Environmental and sustainability initiatives include discussions on wildlife conservation, hazardous waste control, climate change's impact on transport, and regional forums promoting Sustainable Development Goals. The science and technology sector involves sessions on intellectual property, frontier technologies, and particle collider development. Additionally, social and humanitarian discussions cover living wages, road transportation decarbonization, and intellectual property law. The youth and sports sector examines innovative approaches to child data collection and hosts discussions on regional statistics. Finally, the UNHCR meets to address global refugee issues, assessing progress and discussing the situation in conflict zones.