China initiates dispute regarding US tax credits for electric vehicles, renewable energy
China has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding certain tax credits under the US Inflation Reduction Act to promote the production of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects. The request was circulated to WTO members on 28 March.
WTO News and EventsApplications open for WTO Regional Workshop on Trade and Public Health
The WTO is organizing a Regional Workshop on Trade and Public Health, in Rabat, from 28 to 30 May 2024 for government officials from WTO members and observers from French-speaking Africa. Officials can submit applications until Wednesday 3 April 2024.
WTO News and EventsOver 60 students participate in 2024 edition of Model WTO
On 26 March, over 60 students from around the world took part in the concluding session of “Model WTO”, an annual, week-long simulation of WTO negotiations organized by St. Gallen University students with the support of the WTO.
WTO News and EventsWTO and EIF host discussion on trade policy and women’s economic empowerment
An event titled “A joint conversation on women’s economic empowerment”, hosted by the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) on 26 March, provided a platform to showcase recent advances and initiatives aimed at addressing gender inequality in trade and fostering women’s empowerment.
WTO News and EventsMembers agree on timetable for market access thematic sessions, discuss trade concerns
At a meeting of the Committee on Market Access (CMA) on 25-26 March, members agreed on a timetable for thematic sessions in 2024 focusing on supply chain resilience and on how to promote a greener Harmonized System (HS), the system used to classify traded goods, in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO). Members also addressed a high number of trade concerns and elected Mr Kenya Uehara of Japan as interim Chair of the Committee.
WTO News and EventsWTO members examine ways to support smooth transition after graduation from LDC status
Welcoming the decision on LDC graduation reached at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, WTO members shared experiences at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on 25 March on how to support LDCs as they graduate from the LDC category. “It is very encouraging to see that WTO members have shown commitment to support a smooth transition for graduating LDCs,” said the newly elected chair of the Sub-Committee, Ambassador Ib Petersen of Denmark.
WTO News and EventsCanada gives CAD 250,000 to boost safe food exports from developing economies
The Government of Canada is contributing CAD 250,000 (approximately CHF 160,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing economies and least developed countries (LDCs) meet international food safety, animal and plant health standards for trade.
WTO News and EventsWTO chairpersons for 2024
The WTO General Council, on 22 March 2024, noted consensus on a slate of names of chairpersons for WTO bodies. The General Council decided that consultations on a candidate for the Chair of the Committee on Trade in Services will continue under the leadership of the new General Council Chair, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, with the aim of filling the vacancy as rapidly as possible.
WTO News and EventsMembers make progress with SPS Agreement Sixth Review, discuss trade concerns
WTO members made progress with the Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and addressed a high number of trade concerns at a meeting of the SPS Committee on 20-22 March. Members also took note of the Declaration adopted at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on the implementation of special and differential treatment (S&DT) provisions of the SPS Agreement and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
WTO News and EventsApplications open for WIPO-WTO Executive Programme on Intellectual Property Issues
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the WTO welcome applications for the WIPO-WTO Executive Programme on Intellectual Property Issues for Senior Government Officials. The activity will take place from 3 to 14 June 2024. The application deadline is 10 April 2024.
WTO News and EventsDG Okonjo-Iweala lauds MC13 work, urges members to swiftly complete unfinished business
Speaking at the formal meeting of the WTO’s General Council on 21 March, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala commended members for concluding a package of 10 outcomes at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) and urged them to deliver results on the remaining issues as soon as possible.
WTO News and EventsIndia, US announce mutually agreed solution in dispute over agricultural import measures
On 15 March, India and the United States submitted a notification to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body of a mutually agreed solution in dispute DS430, “India — Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural Products.” The notification was circulated to WTO members on 20 March.
WTO News and EventsSTDF promotes safe trade for development in Africa on International Francophonie Day
An event held at the WTO to mark International Francophonie Day on 20 March highlighted how compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures can foster economic growth, create jobs and promote international trade opportunities in Francophone Africa. The event was organized by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) in partnership with the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), the permanent missions of Cameroon, Canada and France, and the Committee Linking Entrepreneurship, Agriculture and Development (COLEAD).
WTO News and EventsTalks on Costa Rica’s accession to government procurement agreement intensify
Parties to the Government Procurement Agreement 2012 (GPA 2012) intensified negotiations on 20 March on Costa Rica’s accession to the GPA 2012 at a meeting of the Committee on Government Procurement. This was the Committee’s first meeting since Costa Rica circulated earlier this month its initial market access offer, a key document required to kick off negotiations. Parties also held a workshop on 21 March, discussing the role of digital technologies in supporting trade and competition in government procurement.
WTO News and EventsChair briefs members on consultations regarding post-MC13 dispute settlement reform work
The Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, briefed WTO members on 19 March regarding recent consultations he had to hear delegations’ views on how to follow up on the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) decision on dispute settlement reform and on the appointment of a facilitator for the reform process. The DSB also adopted on 19 March a compliance panel report in a dispute between the European Union and the United States over US duties on imported olives from Spain.
WTO News and EventsWorking group on small business discusses way forward post MC13, welcomes 99th member
At its first meeting of the year, on 19 March, the Informal Working Group (IWG) on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) considered possible topics for discussion in their future work. The Group welcomed the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a new participant, bringing the total number of WTO members taking part in the initiative to 99. Participants heard an update on the Trade4MSMEs platform, aimed at improving MSMEs’ ability to trade internationally, and discussed various issues facing small businesses.
WTO News and EventsMembers supporting Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement discuss next steps
WTO members who are parties to the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement discussed the way forward at a meeting on 19 March, reiterating their aim to incorporate it into the WTO framework as a most-favoured-nation-based plurilateral agreement open to all members. Participants welcomed two members (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Côte d’Ivoire) who joined the Agreement during the 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi. Burkina Faso also announced it was joining, bringing to 125 the number of co-sponsors requesting the Agreement to become part of the WTO’s legal architecture.
WTO News and EventsApplications open for WTO Advanced Course on Economic Analysis of Trade Policy
Government officials from WTO members and observers eligible to benefit from technical assistance activities are invited to submit applications to take part in the 2024 Advanced Course on the Economic Analysis of Trade Policy to be held from 24 to 28 June 2024. Officials can submit applications until 25 March 2024.
WTO News and EventsRussia formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
The Russian Federation deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 18 March. Ambassador Nikolai Platonov presented Russia’s instrument of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
WTO News and EventsAdvanced course on trade in services concludes at the WTO
An advanced five-day course on trade in services, conducted for the first time in French, ended on 15 March in Geneva. The training course was attended by 28 government officials from 17 developing country members.
WTO News and EventsCo-convenors mark recent round of e-commerce negotiations an important milestone
During the second round of e-commerce negotiations in 2024, held from 11 to 14 March, e-commerce negotiators reviewed a second iteration of the Chair’s text that had been circulated shortly before the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference. Co-convenors of the talks — Australia, Japan and Singapore — said that this version is comprehensive and could pave the way for the conclusion of the agreement by the summer.
WTO News and EventsDDG Zhang welcomes 2024 FIMIP and NTP cohorts to the WTO Secretariat
The 2024 cohorts of the French and Irish Mission Internship Programme (FIMIP) and the Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP) were officially welcomed to the WTO on 14 March by Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang. The 32 government officials from diverse developing and least-developed WTO members and observers will have the opportunity over the next ten months to enhance their expertise in various aspects of international trade and the work of the WTO.
WTO News and EventsDDG Ellard and fisheries subsidies negotiations chair share next steps at World Ocean Summit
At a “fireside chat” of the World Ocean Summit on 13 March, organized by The Economist Group, WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard and Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, chair of the negotiations on fisheries subsidies, provided an update on the work ahead to implement the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and to capture progress made in the second wave of negotiations for additional provisions.
WTO News and EventsThe United States launches safeguard investigation on fine denier polyester staple fiber
On 11 March 2024, the United States notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 28 February 2024 a safeguard investigation on fine denier polyester staple fiber.
WTO News and EventsGoods barometer continues to signal weak upward momentum in trade
Global merchandise trade could start to show some modest gains in the first quarter of 2024 after a weak performance in 2023 according to the latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer issued on 8 March. However, geopolitical tensions continue to pose a downward risk to the near-term outlook.
WTO News and EventsWTO launches call for candidates for 2025 Young Professionals Programme
The WTO has issued a call for candidates for the 2025 Young Professionals Programme (YPP). Candidates up to the age of 32, as of 1 January 2025, from eligible developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) are invited to submit their application by 2 April 2024. The selected candidates will work in the WTO Secretariat for one year, starting in January 2025.
WTO News and EventsEU contributed EUR 75,000 for LDC participation in MC13
The European Union contributed EUR 75,000 (about CHF 72,000) to support the participation of government officials from least-developed countries (LDCs) in the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), which took place from 26 February to 1 March in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
WTO News and EventsDDG Hill: Digital and services trade foster socio-economic inclusion of women
Delivering a keynote speech on 7 March at a “Women in Trade” event organized by Trade Finance Global in London, Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill emphasized the powerful role digital trade and trade in services can play in fostering women’s socio-economic inclusion.
WTO News and Events