Foreign and European Affairs Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric on Monday attended a foreign affairs (trade) council and underscored that Croatia supports efforts to modernise the World Trade Organisation with the aim of facing the challenges of international trade, the foreign ministry reported.

The main topics discussed tat the meeting were reforms and negotiations in the WTO and trade relations between the EU and the USA.

The ministers warned of serious challenges facing the WTO and supported the EU’s leading role in efforts to preserve a multilateral trade system.

Addressing the council, Pejcinovic Buric underscored that Croatia strongly supports a multilateral trade system based on WTO rules and “all efforts aimed at maintaining and improving the existing system in order to adapt to the challenges of international trade,” the ministry said in a press release.

The council also discussed EU-SAD trade relations and the need to maintain dialogue with transatlantic partners in an effort to defuse the tension caused with the introduction of protectionist measures that negatively impact trends in global trade.

With regard to preparations for a EU-Vietnam free trade agreement and investment protection agreement, the ministers discussed the agreement which is an important step forward for the EU toward the Asian economy.