Kathmandu, December 18

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun took up the issue of blockade faced by Nepal at the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Pun said the current disruption of supplies and hassles in transit has created severe shortages of essential goods and services. “It has not only severely affected the economy of the country but also created a humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Without naming any country, he also stated the need for implementing all agreements and treaties framed under the WTO by its member-states, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva.

Addressing the 10th Ministerial Meeting, he further urged all WTO members, particularly the transit states to fully abide by the international laws regarding the transit rights of land-locked countries.

He urged the WTO to play proactive roles towards fully implementing the body’s principles and other international obligations to protect the trade rights of geographically difficulties countries, read the statement.