Dr. Adelia Jansen Van Rensburg Highlights Africa’s Interim Solutions to Global Trade Disputes
Dr. Adelia Jansen Van Rensburg, WTO Chair of South Africa at North-West University, delivered a keynote presentation on “The WTO Dispute Settlement System in an Era of Geopolitical Fragmentation” at the international conference held on 19–20 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The event, organized by the IRIC WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) Chair and OBREAL Global Observatory, served as a prelude to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference and brought together global trade experts, policymakers, academic leaders, and WTO Chairholders from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
The hybrid conference explored the future of the multilateral trading system and Africa’s strategic role in trade governance. Panels and discussions focused on African perspectives on trade and development, including special and differential treatment, WTO reform priorities, and environmental considerations in trade. Other sessions addressed multilateralism and regional integration, highlighting the potential of AfCFTA for regional resilience, digital trade, and strengthening value chains, as well as balancing national sovereignty with global regulatory coherence in multilateral trading system reforms. South–South–North perspectives were also explored, revisiting the foundations of the multilateral trading system and development-oriented trade policies. The conference emphasized practical strategies for African countries to enhance participation in global trade negotiations, strengthen regional mechanisms, and foster knowledge exchange through capacity building in trade law and policy.
In her presentation, Dr. Jansen Van Rensburg analyzed the prolonged deadlock in WTO Dispute Settlement System (DSS) reform, ongoing since 1997, and highlighted the impact of current geopolitical fragmentation on global trade governance. She advocated for interim measures for Africa, noting that while regional mechanisms like AfCFTA can be used as a temporary solution, they are limited: they only address intra-African disputes and cannot resolve multilateral disputes. She emphasized that the AfCFTA dispute settlement mechanism will take years to be fully established and operational, and that interim measures such as the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), while helpful in practice, are not a substitute for meaningful multilateral WTO DSS reform. She also highlighted the role of African WTO Chairs in building capacity and expertise in international trade law through education and practical engagement, particularly at the Master’s level. Dr. Jansen Van Rensburg urged African nations to move from passive participation to proactive engagement, adopting strategies that protect trade interests in the interim and position Africa as a constructive player in multilateral negotiations.
Dr. Jansen Van Rensburg’s insights underscored the urgency for African countries to strengthen dispute settlement capacity, leverage regional agreements, and take active steps in shaping trade policy. Her contribution highlighted the critical role of knowledge, education, and strategic regional action in ensuring that Africa can navigate the challenges of a fragmented global trade system.
The Chair would like to thank Dr. Jeanette Visagie and Dr. Gustav Brink for their valuable contributions to the study, research, and presentation. This work forms part of a broader research project examining the WTO dispute settlement system and Africa’s strategic response within a changing global trade environment.
The conference programme is attached.
