World Trade Organization
Recent News About World Trade Organization
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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.
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DG Okonjo-Iweala addresses largest gathering of acceding governments at IGAG meeting
The Informal Group of Acceding Governments (IGAG) recently held a meeting, chaired by Ambassador Eldiyor Toshmatov of Uzbekistan and attended by the Director-General (DG) Okonjo-Iweala. This marked the second time DG Okonjo-Iweala has addressed the IGAG, following her initial meeting in November 2021. The participants included representatives from Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Curaçao, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This assembly represented the...
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WTO Workshop Reviews Technology Transfer Incentives under TRIPS Agreement
A workshop held by the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently allowed participants to assess the incentives for technology transfer under the TRIPS Agreement, focusing on the challenges and experiences of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in utilizing technological advancements for economic development.During the workshop, WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill highlighted the significant efforts made by developed members in submitting 318 reports since 2003, detailing actions related to technology transfer in accordance with Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement....
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High-level dialogue marks 30 years of TRIPS Agreement
The 30th anniversary of the TRIPS Agreement was commemorated with a high-level dialogue that brought together key stakeholders to reflect on the past, present, and future of international intellectual property (IP) rights. The event featured insightful remarks from prominent figures in the field.Director-General Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the enduring relevance of the TRIPS Agreement in promoting social and economic welfare through a balanced approach to intellectual property rights. She highlighted the pivotal role of the Agreement during the HIV/AIDS crisis, where access...
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E-commerce negotiators finalize “technical discussions” and outline next steps
E-commerce negotiators have completed their "technical discussions" and are now outlining the next steps towards concluding the negotiations. Ambassador James Baxter of Australia expressed satisfaction with the progress made, stating, "I think it's safe to say that as a group, we achieved our objective for the week of resolving all the technical issues required to move this negotiation to the final decision-making phase."Ambassador Hung Seng Tan of Singapore emphasized the significance of the negotiations, highlighting, "Members have participated actively, contributed...
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Energy Transition Takes Center Stage at WTO Environment Committee Meeting
At a recent thematic session of the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), discussions centered around the topic of energy transition and its impact on climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. According to the report given by the United States and Kenya, who co-facilitated the session, participants gained valuable insights from experts during panels that explored various aspects of clean energy and trade-related climate measures."The first panel explored the trade landscape of rapidly evolving areas of clean energy, including hydrogen and wind energy," noted the...
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Members Review Anti-Dumping Actions and Regulations at First Biannual Meeting of 2024
Members of the Committee gathered for their first biannual meeting of 2024 to review anti-dumping actions and regulations. The Chair of the Committee, Mrs Ayşegül Şahinoğlu Yerdeş (Türkiye), presided over the discussions.During the meeting, the Committee reviewed notifications of legislation from various countries. The Chair urged members to promptly submit reports of actions and welcomed the extensive use of the anti-dumping portal for submissions.Questions were raised by several delegations regarding actions contained in the semi-annual reports submitted by multiple...
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South Africa Challenges EU Citrus Fruit Measures in WTO Dispute
South Africa has initiated a second dispute complaint against the European Union concerning its measures on citrus fruit imports. The issue at hand involves the EU's ban on importing South African citrus fruit affected by the fungus known as "citrus black spot."According to South Africa, the EU's import prohibition on citrus fruit impacted by citrus black spot may be in violation of the WTO's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. This marks the second time South Africa has raised concerns about the EU's import regulations on citrus fruit.The first dispute,...
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Trade Growth and Poverty Reduction Over 30 Years
---Global trade has experienced significant growth over the past three decades, resulting in positive impacts on poverty reduction and economic development. According to experts Barbara D’Andrea, Christophe Degain, Florian Eberth, Stela Rubínová, Monia Snoussi-Mimouni, and Ankai Xu, the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization in 1994 marked the beginning of a transformative period in global trade.The World Trade Organization, established as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, has played a crucial role in...