The World Trade Organization (WTO) marked the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures with a presentation by the WTO Secretariat. The presentation focused on the history of import licensing in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO, highlighting the Committee's role in overseeing the implementation of this agreement. Former Chairpersons shared their reflections through video remarks.
Import licensing involves administrative procedures requiring documentation submission to authorities before importing goods. These procedures can be automatic or non-automatic. The Agreement aims for transparency and predictability in import licensing systems, ensuring they do not create unnecessary trade barriers. Members must publish all rules related to import licensing to help traders understand them and ensure neutrality.
The Secretariat reported that over 30 years, nearly 2,500 notifications related to import licensing measures have been submitted by WTO members. The Committee has held 60 formal meetings where more than 350 questions were exchanged, raising a total of 176 new and recurring trade concerns.
Efforts to enhance transparency include clarifying notification requirements and developing improved templates for import licensing legislation notifications. A public website and database on notified licensing procedures have been created alongside an online Notification Portal for all requirements under the Agreement.
Committee Chair Tyesha Turner from Jamaica informed members that since November 2024, there have been 38 notifications received under various provisions of the Agreement. She emphasized that members must notify changes within 60 days of publication. Additionally, since the last meeting, there were 19 notifications under Article 7.3 concerning annual questionnaires on import licensing procedures.
Turner noted that some WTO members have yet to respond to annual questionnaires or submit any notification under the Agreement since joining. She encouraged these members to engage with their obligations and seek support from the Secretariat if needed.
During its meeting on May 8, the Committee addressed a record number of twelve specific trade concerns regarding various countries' import licensing regimes:
- Egypt's requirements for agricultural products raised by the European Union.
- India's quality control measures raised by Indonesia.
- India's pneumatic tyres regulations raised by Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.
- India's viscose staple fibre imports raised by Indonesia.
- India's electronic products measures raised by Japan.
- Indonesia's commodity balancing mechanism raised by the EU and Japan.
- Indonesia's textile product regime raised by EU and Japan.
- Indonesia's steel product registration raised by Japan.
- Indonesia's air conditioner restrictions raised by Japan.
- Indonesia's registration requests for agricultural products raised by the UK.
- Mongolia's alcoholic beverages requirements raised by the UK.
- Türkiye's two-wheeler restrictions raised by India.
The next Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 10, 2025.