NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has begun preparations for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled to take place from March 26 to 29, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, as global trade faces mounting pressure from protectionism, geopolitical tensions and tariff escalations.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the government said the conference will mark the second time an African country hosts the high-level WTO meeting, following Kenya’s successful hosting of the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi in December 2015.
As a founding member of the WTO since 1995, Kenya said it is leveraging the multilateral trading system to promote exports, protect domestic industries, and integrate more effectively into global markets.
The government noted that a predictable market access regime and a robust dispute settlement framework remain critical for developing economies such as Kenya.
The State Department for Trade said it has intensified stakeholder engagements across sectors to consolidate Kenya’s position on priority negotiation areas ahead of MC14.
These consultations aim to ensure alignment with other WTO members’ positions before deliberations at the Ministerial Conference, the organization’s highest decision-making body comprising all 166 member states.
According to the ministry, key discussion areas at MC14 will include WTO reform, fisheries subsidies, agriculture, e-commerce, and investment facilitation for development.
On WTO reform, Kenya is pushing for the restoration of a fully functioning dispute settlement system, improvements in consensus-based decision-making, and the strengthening of special and differential treatment for developing countries.
The reforms are expected to make the WTO more effective and responsive to contemporary global trade challenges, particularly those affecting developing economies in agriculture, fisheries and digital trade.
Fisheries subsidies will also feature prominently, with WTO members working towards eliminating harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity. Kenya said it stands to benefit from the promotion of sustainable fishing practices and noted that it deposited its instrument of ratification for the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement in June 2025.
The government is currently establishing an inter-agency implementation committee to operationalise the agreement.
Agriculture remains a core priority for Kenya, with negotiations focusing on public stockholding for food security, domestic support subsidies, and market access. The ministry said these talks are aimed at safeguarding national interests while supporting farmers and enhancing food security.
In the digital economy, discussions will centre on establishing a dedicated WTO work programme on e-commerce and maintaining a provisional moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.
Kenya said these measures are expected to support developing countries’ participation in the digital economy and expand market access for businesses.
The proposed Investment Facilitation for Development agreement is also expected to take centre stage, with the government saying it would help streamline regulatory frameworks, promote sustainable investment flows, and boost competitiveness while contributing to broader development goals.
The ministry said Kenya’s engagement ahead of MC14 underscores its commitment to a reformed and inclusive WTO that advances Africa’s development priorities and strengthens the role of developing countries in global trade governance.
The press release was signed by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, and dated December 22, 2025.
