African countries face many trade barriers today. Wealthier countries subsidise their farmers, making African agricultural exports less competitive. Global trade rules promise extra support but are rarely implemented. Many African countries also lack the infrastructure, funding or political will to build industries. This leaves them stuck exporting raw materials instead of higher-value finished goods. They miss out on bigger economic gains.

The 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 25-27 March 2026 could be an opportunity to change this. Ministerial conferences are the highest decision making forums of the WTO. They’ve always been attended by the ministers of trade from countries around the world and are the place where decisions are taken that make a direct impact on the global economy.

However, the WTO is dysfunctional. It has not been able to get agreement on major issues for more than 15 years because the interests of its powerful members have often conflicted with the need for a fairer regime for all. At the last ministerial conference, in 2024, the WTO again postponed decisions on areas that matter to the developing world.