World Trade Organization to open biennial meeting in the United Arab Emirates as challenges loom

The World Trade Organization is opening its biennial meeting in the United Arab Emirates as the bloc faces pressure from the United States and other nations ahead of a year of consequential elections around the globe. The WTO’s 164 member nations will discuss a deal to ban subsidies that contribute to overfishing, extending a pause on taxes on digital media like movies and video games, and agricultural issues. But headwinds remain for the organization and the world’s economy. Meanwhile, there are more than 50 elections affecting half the planet’s population planned for this year — perhaps none more critical for the WTO than the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. Former President Donald Trump, running again, has threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the WTO.