G20 Leaders have repeatedly called for and supported the necessary reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In Argentina (2018), Leaders recognized the contribution that the multilateral trading system has made to “growth, productivity, innovation, job creation and development” and that “[t]he system is currently falling short of its objectives and there is room for improvement”, and therefore supported “the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functioning.” In Japan (2019), Leaders reaffirmed their “support for the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functions” and committed to “work constructively with other WTO Members, including in the lead up to the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference.” Additionally, in endorsing the “G20 Actions to Support World Trade and Investment in Response to COVID-19” at their Extraordinary Meeting of 14 May 2020, the Trade and Investment Ministers noted that the long-term actions identified in the document “support the necessary reform of the WTO and the multilateral trading system.”
