World Trade Organization
Recent News About World Trade Organization
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WTO announces Cambodia accepts Fisheries Subsidies Agreement
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that Cambodia has formally accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The country's instrument of acceptance was presented by its Minister of Commerce, Cham Nimul, to WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard. This brings the total number of WTO members who have accepted the agreement to 73.
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WTO dispute settlement reform talks proceed with new facilitator
Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady, who was appointed as facilitator by members and announced by the General Council Chair on 18 April, has reported her consultations with 34 delegations and group coordinators. These groups represent more than two-thirds of the membership and have been consulted on how to advance the work on dispute settlement reform. In addition to these discussions, Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady also met with technical experts from member delegations.
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Trade data reveal changing patterns in electric vehicle market
The electric vehicle (EV) market is undergoing a significant transformation, with EVs accounting for over a third of all car imports in value terms by the end of 2023. This radical shift is redefining the automotive industry and reshaping global trade in transport equipment.
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Mauritius formally accepts WTO's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala has expressed her approval of Mauritius's formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, describing it as a "concrete demonstration of Mauritius's commitment to the WTO system and to global efforts to improve the sustainability of the world's marine fisheries." She highlighted that the fisheries sector has been a significant source of employment and exports for Mauritius and continues to play a vital role in its plans to develop its blue economy.
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Lao PDR formally accepts WTO's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has formally accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, as confirmed by Director-General Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Keomany.
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WTO to Open its Doors to the Public on 9 June
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to welcome the public on 9 June for a day filled with activities and insights into the organization's headquarters. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, along with the Chair of the General Council, Petter Ølberg, and representatives of the Swiss authorities, will kick off the day with an opening ceremony.According to WTO's announcement, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in guided tours of the Centre William Rappard in multiple languages, including English, French, and Spanish. These tours will allow guests to...
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WTO members discuss trade aspects of cotton, market trends, and World Cotton Day
Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye, the Chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations, facilitated the discussion on the trade aspects of cotton, while Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam, acting on behalf of Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chaired the meeting on the development dimension of cotton.
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DG Okonjo-Iweala concludes high-level visit to Latin America
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala recently concluded a high-level visit to three Latin American countries: Chile, Uruguay, and Peru. The week-long tour began in Santiago, Chile, where she attended the CEB's biannual session chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The event brought together heads of the UN system and associated organizations.
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Cambodia Formally Accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Cambodia has formally accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, with Deputy Director-General Ellard expressing his warm welcome towards this development. He stated, "I warmly welcome Cambodia's formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. By disciplining subsidies worldwide to harmful fishing, the Agreement will strongly benefit Cambodia, for which fisheries plays an important role in its food security and economic growth. Cambodia's formal acceptance underscores the significance that it, as a least-developed country, attaches to international...
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Committee on Market Access Hosts Second Thematic Session on Supply Chain Resilience
The moderator, Mr Iain Fifer from the UK's Department for Business and Trade, highlighted the challenges facing global supply chains, including those relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and rapid changes in technology. Emphasizing the importance of collaborative solutions, Mr Fifer stressed the value of sharing diverse technical insights and practical experiences in the Committee.
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Workshop on WTO Government Procurement Agreement concludes in Geneva
A workshop on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) concluded in Geneva on May 3, 2024. The event, held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the GPA 2012, featured insightful discussions and practical exercises aimed at enhancing understanding and implementation of the agreement.During the opening session on April 29, WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill emphasized the significance of the GPA 2012 in promoting sustainable development and fostering mutual benefits for exporters and governments involved in...
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Goods Council takes stock of progress to improve its functioning, advance WTO reform
The outgoing Council Chairperson, Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid of Nigeria, highlighted the value of the informal sessions on digital tools, emphasizing their role in providing members with a better understanding of how these tools can assist delegations. He noted that these sessions help prepare members for committee meetings and follow up on them.At the formal meeting, the Secretariat presented a report summarizing various actions taken to improve the Council's functioning, including adjustments to the eAgenda, the launch of the Trade Concerns Database, and...
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WTO and ADB strengthen collaboration for sustainable economic growth
The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have solidified their partnership to bolster sustainable economic growth through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by key representatives.The MoU, inked by WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam and ADB Vice-President (Sectors and Themes) Fatima Yasmin, signifies a deeper strategic alliance focusing on regional cooperation, trade, economic integration, and the trade and environment agenda to benefit their respective memberships and observers.Paugam expressed his enthusiasm for this...
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Intensified Preparations for 2024 Global Review of Aid for Trade
Preparations for the upcoming 2024 Global Review of Aid for Trade are well underway. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has outlined the agenda for the event, which includes high-level plenaries and expert discussions focusing on the role of trade in food security, digital connectivity, and development strategies. Over 300 speakers are expected to participate, with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann set to launch the joint flagship report, "Aid-for-Trade at a Glance."
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Aid for Trade Global Review to discuss trade mainstreaming, food security, connectivity
The upcoming Aid for Trade Global Review, scheduled for April 30, 2024, will be a significant event focusing on trade mainstreaming, food security, and connectivity. The event will feature four high-level plenaries and close to 55 sessions over two and a half days, bringing together ministers, heads of international agencies, and trade and development experts.According to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the event aims to examine the support provided to developing economies to enhance their trade capacity, with a particular focus on the financing needs and how the...
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Members review reforms to facilitate participation in rules of origin work
The interim Chair of the committee, Mr Guna Seelan Balakrishnan from Malaysia, highlighted the implementation of measures to improve the functioning of the committee and facilitate the work of delegates. He mentioned, "A total of seven measures were agreed and have already been implemented, such as using an e-Agenda and an annotated agenda to facilitate the work." The Secretariat provided updates on the status of these measures and demonstrated some of the tools to members.Regarding the Draft Transparency Decision on Non-Preferential Rules of Origin, the interim Chair...
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Members Discuss Future Pandemics Preparedness and TRIPS Implementation Review
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) engaged in discussions regarding future pandemic preparedness and the implementation review of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) at a recent meeting held on April 26, 2024.During the meeting, members agreed to rename the agenda item concerning intellectual property (IP) and COVID-19 to "IP, COVID-19, and Pandemic Preparedness" to better reflect the focus on pandemic preparedness moving forward.Delegations also addressed a communication from Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, and India regarding "TRIPS...
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Proposed Agenda Items for the Dispute Settlement Body Meeting on April 26, 2024
Items proposed for consideration at the next meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body on April 26, 2024 include a range of topics. According to the agenda, the meeting will focus on addressing various issues related to international disputes and trade.The proposed agenda items were highlighted in a recent announcement, with one of the key points being, "." This suggests that a significant discussion will be centered around this particular subject during the upcoming meeting.Furthermore, the meeting is scheduled to delve into specific matters with the intention of...
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Members welcome appointment of facilitator for WTO dispute settlement reform talks
New facilitator of dispute settlement reform processThe Chair of the DSB, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, noted that on 18 April he communicated to members that Ambassador Usha Dwarka-Canabady of Mauritius had accepted the role of facilitator for the dispute settlement reform talks following the departure of Mr Marco Molina, the convenor of the informal dispute settlement reform process.The Chair said the new facilitator will report at each regular meeting of the General Council, and to the DSB, as appropriate. She will present a work plan and a timetable for the...
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WTO reports significant increase in accession activity in annual report
Ambassador Eldiyor Toshmatov of Uzbekistan, along with other dignitaries, recently participated in an exchange with the Informal Group of Acceding Governments (IGAG). This marked the second interaction with the group since November 2021. The event followed MC13, where the accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste were significant outcomes for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Membership.