Published
May 22, 2026
The U.S. Chamber recently returned from Geneva with a clear message: the global multilateral system is in flux, and the decisions being shaped now at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will have lasting implications for innovation, investment, and growth.
The big picture: Geneva is entering a period of transition—and influence is up for grabs. While WIPO Director General Daren Tang was recently appointed for a second term, senior leadership roles at WIPO are still being decided, with geopolitical considerations likely to shape outcomes. As a result, it will be critical that WIPO’s senior management team have strong pro-IP credentials, deep technical expertise, and a proven ability to engage with governments, stakeholders, and leadership transparently.
WIPO committee conversations ongoing: Despite leadership transitions, substantive work at WIPO is continuing—particularly in the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). Delegates advanced discussions on longstanding issues like the Broadcasters Treaty while also reviewing two U.S.proposals aimed at improving data on the economic impact of copyright-intensive industries. The Chamber supports these efforts to close key knowledge gaps, better reflect how copyright operates in today’s economy, and strengthen evidence-based policymaking at WIPO.
Uncertainty persists at the WTO: In the wake of MC-14, key negotiations remain stalled, including on digital trade issues following the expiration of the e-commerce moratorium and the moratorium on TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints.
Our take: Legal certainty and predictability are foundational to the credibility of the global rules-based trading system. Failure to reach consensus on a ministerial package has put the WTO’s role into question as members largely move forward with plurilateral efforts. The Chamber will continue to press for durable outcomes that enhance enforcement, reinforce certainty, and preserve confidence in the global rules-based trading system.
The bottom line: GIPC’s Geneva delegation reinforced a core truth: a strong, rules-based system remains essential to protecting innovation and enabling global growth. With divisions growing and outcomes uncertain, institutions like WIPO and the WTO—and credible policy work therein—support the creation of predictable, transparent IP frameworks that businesses rely on.
This moment underscores the need to actively support and strengthen the system’s next phase in Geneva and beyond. The Chamber will continue working with partners to ensure global IP rules deliver certainty for innovators and creators and sustain confidence in the global system.
About the author
Kelly Anderson
Kelly Anderson serves as vice president of international policy at the U.S. Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC). Anderson oversees the GIPC’s global advocacy efforts and leads the GIPC’s policy engagement in the multilateral organizations and developed economies.
