The Chair of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, reported on her bilateral conversations with over 20 delegations and group coordinators. These discussions focused on the Council's functioning, recent improvements, and future expectations. According to Ambassador Kelly, members expressed satisfaction with the significant reforms implemented by the CTG over the past two years. Notably, the introduction of digital tools such as the e-agenda and annotated agenda has enhanced access to information and facilitated meeting preparations.
Ambassador Kelly noted that members had various suggestions for further improving different aspects of the Goods Council's work. These included enhancing the functioning of the CTG and its subsidiary bodies, improving discussions on trade concerns, and identifying steps to improve notification compliance in goods areas, particularly aiding developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The Council agreed to hold an informal meeting in September to discuss these matters.
The CTG reviewed 42 specific trade concerns (STCs), six of which were raised for the first time. The new trade concerns include:
- European Union — Proposal for a Regulation on Shipments of Waste — Request from Indonesia
- India — Medical Textiles Quality Control Order — Request from Indonesia
- India — Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order — Request from Indonesia
- Türkiye — Additional Tariffs on Imports of Passenger Vehicles from China — Request from China
- United States — New Section 301 Tariffs on Certain Goods from China and New Investigation on Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Industry of China — Request from China
- Chinese Taipei — Industrial Relevance Policies in the Offshore Wind Sector — Request from the European Union
Previously raised trade concerns addressed a wide range of measures including non-tariff barriers, environmental policies, import/export restrictions, national security issues, halal certification requirements, subsidy schemes and investigations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), discriminatory domestic taxes, administrative procedures, and trade disruptive measures. These concerns span multiple sectors such as agriculture, information technology, forestry products, food products as well as specific items like electric vehicles, batteries, liquors, air conditioners, apples and pears, cheese pulses cosmetics tires.
The Chair reminded delegations that links to related discussions in other bodies were provided in the annex to the Annotated Agenda. Direct links to the trade concerns database were also made available where possible.
Bangladesh reiterated a request on behalf of LDCs for graduated LDCs to benefit from flexibilities under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures regarding export subsidies. Some developed economy members indicated willingness to discuss this issue but suggested it might be better suited for relevant technical committees.
Additionally considered was a communication from the European Union concerning "Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Procedures Under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994" as well as a Draft Decision on "Procedure for Introduction of Multiple Changes to Harmonized System Schedules Using Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database," which was forwarded to General Council for approval.
The next formal CTG meeting is scheduled for December 2-3 2024 with an informal meeting set for September.