World Trade Organization
Recent News About World Trade Organization
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WTO launches trade policy course for least developed countries
A new trade policy course for government officials from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is currently underway at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The training includes lectures, interactive sessions, and practical exercises that cover the main WTO agreements with a focus on development issues. It aims to help LDCs implement WTO decisions to boost their trade activities.
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WTO Trade and Public Health Workshop begins in Geneva
The 2024 WTO Trade and Public Health Workshop commenced in Geneva on September 30, 2024. In her opening remarks, WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill emphasized the importance of WTO rules in ensuring equitable access to health-related products and services. She stated, “WTO rules facilitate equitable access to health-related products and services: starting with research and development, continuing through production, and culminating in last mile distribution to patients and medical personnel around the world.”
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WTO's Trade and Environment Week 2024 to focus on inclusive sustainability
The World Trade Organization (WTO) will host its annual Trade and Environment Week in 2024, focusing on the inclusive shift to sustainability. This event aims to foster discussions around trade-related environmental issues among WTO members, business representatives, international organizations, academics, leading experts, and civil society.
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WTO-FIFA initiative concludes consultations on advancing African cotton industry
The "Partenariat pour le Coton" initiative, launched in February 2024 following a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and FIFA in 2022, has concluded its national consultations. The initiative aims to support C4+ countries in enhancing their cotton value chain.
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WTO holds workshop to improve compliance with import licensing
The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently held a workshop aimed at enhancing capacity on import licensing and notifications. In her opening remarks, Ms. Tyesha Turner, Chairperson of the Committee on Import Licensing, emphasized the importance of transparency within the multilateral trading system. She noted that import licensing has been on the global trade agenda since the 1970s and became part of the WTO's multilateral agreements after the Uruguay Round.
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Azerbaijan progresses towards WTO membership
Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy and newly appointed WTO Chief Negotiator, led Azerbaijan's high-level delegation to Geneva for the Working Party meeting. This meeting occurred 14 months after the previous one in July 2023, which marked the resumption of accession negotiations following a six-year gap. The delegation included Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the WTO, Galib Israfilov, senior government officials, and experts from various ministries and agencies.
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International bodies update WTO Committee on global food security challenges
The Chair of the Committee, Ms. Anna Leung of Hong Kong, China, facilitated discussions on various farm policies and food security measures.
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WTO regional trade policy course begins in Togo
The WTO Regional Trade Policy Course has commenced in Togo, with participants set to engage in discussions over eight weeks. The course will cover the modernization and reform of the multilateral trading system, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and digital and green initiatives shaping global trade's future. Participants will interact with WTO and regional experts, as well as academics from the University of Lomé, which has partnered with the WTO since 2023 for this course.
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WTO releases documents on Kazakhstan’s trade policy review
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released several documents related to the recent Trade Policy Review of Kazakhstan. These documents include a detailed report by the WTO Secretariat and a policy statement from the Kazakh government.
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EU initiates WTO dispute over Chinese anti-subsidy probe on dairy
The European Union has initiated a dispute complaint against China's anti-subsidy investigation on EU dairy products. The EU argues that the measure in question seems to be inconsistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. According to the EU, the application did not provide enough evidence of a countervailable subsidy, injury, or a causal link between subsidized imports and the alleged injury.
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Roundtable highlights global cooperation's role in advancing low-carbon hydrogen
A roundtable discussion on low-carbon hydrogen emphasized the importance of global cooperation to leverage renewable resources and advance sustainability. WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam highlighted the role of trade in connecting regions rich in renewable resources with areas of high demand. “Trade can act as a bridge, linking regions rich in renewable resources with areas of high demand. We have been told that it offers a unique opportunity for developing economies to leverage their green comparative advantage, tapping into their vast renewable resources and...
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Integration urged at UN Committee's business and trade statistics meeting
DDG Ellard opened the 7th meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on Business and Trade Statistics on September 24, 2024. In her address, she emphasized the need to integrate traditional trade statistics with business statistics to gain a comprehensive view of global trade patterns.
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UN committee highlights importance of integrated business-trade stats
The 7th meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on Business and Trade Statistics took place at the World Trade Organization. This event underscored the collaboration between the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in statistics, covering methodological work and capacity building in developing economies.
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Indonesia initiates safeguard probe on plastic tarpaulins
Indonesia has initiated a safeguard investigation on tarpaulins made from plastics and synthetic fibers. The notification includes contact information for the Investigating Authority, the Indonesian Safeguards Committee (Komite Pengamanan Perdagangan Indonesia - KPPI), located at Jl. M.I. Ridwan Rais No.5, Building I, 5th floor, Jakarta 10110. Interested parties can reach them via telephone or facsimile at (62-21) 385 7758 or email at kppi@kemendag.go.id.
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WTO panel established amid disputes over US Inflation Reduction Act tax credits
China has submitted a second request to establish a panel to review certain tax credits under the United States Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The request aims to determine if these tax credits align with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The United States had previously rejected China's first request in July, citing the necessity of these actions to combat climate change. China argues that the IRA's subsidies favor US goods over imports, which they claim violates WTO rules against such discrimination.
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Canada pledges CAD 250K for global food safety standards
Canada has pledged CAD 250,000 to support food, animal, and plant health standards through the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), a global partnership promoting safe and inclusive trade. This contribution was welcomed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who emphasized its significance for agricultural innovation and global food security.
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WTO concludes advanced course on trade in services
An advanced course on trade in services, organized by the WTO Trade in Services Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, concluded in Geneva. The course saw participation from various countries including Bangladesh, Madagascar, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, Tanzania, The Gambia, Zambia, and Bhutan.
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UAE contributes $4 million for LDC trade capacity enhancement
The UAE's contribution—its first to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)—will finance initiatives in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) aimed at strengthening trade capacities and facilitating these countries' integration into the global trading system. Discussions on establishing a new multilateral support mechanism for LDCs are currently taking place in a taskforce at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The UAE is the fifth donor to the EIF Interim Facility, which was established to maintain momentum in supporting LDCs during the transition period until the new...
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WTO dialogues address enhancing capacities and inventories for tackling plastic waste
On September 18, 2024, discussions at the Plastics Pollution Dialogue focused on two critical areas: capacity building and inventories of trade-related plastic measures (TrPMs). These discussions are essential for addressing plastics pollution while maintaining trade as a part of the solution.
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WTO-FIFA partnership begins national consultations on cotton initiative in Benin
The “Partenariat pour le Coton” initiative, launched in February 2024 following the signing of the WTO-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2022, brings together public and private sector partners to support the C-4 plus countries in moving up the cotton value chain and ensuring greater benefits for these nations.