Plurilateral agreements could unlock WTO negotiations

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About trade

Published: 19 Mar 2026

WTO negotiations have become increasingly complex. A new analysis points to plurilateral agreements as a possible way forward.

The WTO currently has 166 members with different economic conditions and political priorities. This makes it difficult to agree on new trade rules. The analysis points to plurilateral agreements – where countries that wish to do so can move forward together – as one way to move negotiations forward.

“If properly designed, plurilateral agreements can help develop new trade rules while ensuring that the WTO remains the central forum for international trade negotiations,” says Isaac Ouro-Nimini Hansen, trade policy adviser at the National Board of Trade.

Read more and download the analysis
Plurilateral Agreements and the Future of WTO Trade Negotiations