There was significant success at Bali yesterday. This has resulted in the ‘Bali Package’ of new global trade rules, relating to among other areas, trade facilitation. (But there was only limited success concerning agricultural subsidies because of India’s opposition.) This is the first successful effort of the WTO since its founding in updating provisions of global trade law. Perhaps more important than this limited success is that the WTO avoided outright failure. This achievement now allows the WTO to move forward.  Hopefully allowing it to regain some negotiating momentum and to arrest global drift toward mega-regionals.   “Bali Package.” WTO News (December 7, 2013). “A Wobbling WTO Lurches Forward with Trade Deal.” Washington Post (December 7, 2013.)