MBABANE – Eswatini has renewed its call for urgent reforms to the global trading system.
This highlights the need for full implementation of trade facilitation measures, improved transit systems and strategic investment in infrastructure.
This was described as critical pillars for sustainable economic growth.
The country made these submissions at the World Trade Organization 14th Ministerial Conference, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon where global leaders convened at a time of heightened uncertainty in international trade.
Representing the kingdom, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Phesheya Dube, delivered the country’s position on behalf of Commerce Minister Manqoba Khumalo, reaffirming Eswatini’s commitment to advancing the interests of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
At the heart of Eswatini’s message was the urgent need to address structural constraints that continue to weigh heavily on LLDCs, particularly high trade costs and limited competitiveness stemming from lack of direct access to seaports.
“Trade facilitation remains a top priority,” Dube said, emphasising that fully implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement, strengthening transit corridors and investing in trade-related infrastructure would significantly enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business.
For Eswatini and other LLDCs, these constraints are not merely theoretical, but translate into real economic barriers that limit export competitiveness, delay the movement of goods and reduce participation in global value chains.
The country’s intervention comes as global trade faces mounting pressure from geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and shifting policy priorities among major economies, developments that have collectively dampened optimism for a stable and predictable trading environment.
Against this backdrop, Eswatini stressed the critical role of the World Trade Organization in promoting economic development and poverty reduction, calling for renewed confidence in a rules-based multilateral trading system.
Dube highlighted that a transparent, predictable and inclusive system remains essential for smaller economies that rely heavily on global markets for growth. “LLDCs must speak with one voice. Unity is essential to ensure that our unique challenges are addressed and that longstanding commitments are fulfilled,” he said. Eswatini has consistently advocated for a dedicated work programme within the WTO framework aimed at reducing transit costs, improving logistical efficiency and unlocking the trade potential of landlocked economies.
The MC14 conference, which officially opened on March 26, has placed reform of the multilateral trading system at the centre of its agenda, an indication of the urgency with which member States are approaching the current challenges facing global commerce.
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