The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has released its first report on the resolution of trade concerns raised in the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), following a July 2025 mandate from the Council. The report compiles information from 32 WTO members, out of 66 contacted, regarding concerns they consider fully or partially resolved since 1995. The Secretariat emphasized that this initial report is partial, as some members requested more time to review their records. According to the findings, there are 97 trade concerns where at least one member considers them resolved or partially resolved, which accounts for nearly half of all concerns discussed by the Council between 1995 and July 2025.
Detailed data on these issues is available in the WTO's Trade Concerns Database. Ambassador Gustavo Nerio Lunazzi of Argentina, Chair of the Goods Council, thanked the Secretariat for its work and stated: "This important factual information would be beneficial for the discussions on WTO reform currently underway," highlighting the Council's role as a forum to address trade frictions.
Ten members commented on the report, many welcoming it and noting that it demonstrates the value of WTO’s monitoring functions and dialogue platform. They pointed out that such efforts contribute to reducing trade tensions but often go unnoticed despite their practical impact. Several members also updated the Council on other trade concerns that will be included in future versions of the report.
The meeting also addressed ways to improve notifications—formal communications required under WTO rules—from members about their trade measures. Thirteen reports from subsidiary bodies were reviewed along with a structured summary by the Secretariat. The summary underscored that timely and complete notifications are central to transparency and predictability in global trade. The Secretariat noted ongoing efforts to improve notification processes through digital platforms like ePing and new approaches such as oral notifications or automatic data transmission in certain committees.
Some subsidiary bodies have achieved mature notification procedures requiring no further changes, while others continue experimenting with new methods. Around a dozen members spoke on this topic; most welcomed continued work but expressed concern over persistent delays and incomplete notifications.
During this session, four new trade concerns were raised:
- Korea challenged the United Kingdom's safeguard measures on steel imports,
- Japan raised issues about cumulative EU restrictions on steel products,
- India and Russia questioned UK negotiations under Article XXVIII of GATT,
- China and Russia objected to proposed EU tariff rate quotas on steel imports.
Ongoing CTG discussions cover a broad range of topics affecting various sectors including agriculture, electronics, shipbuilding, food products, minerals, electric vehicles and batteries.
Another agenda item focused on global trade fragmentation due to tariffs. Switzerland, Norway, Australia and New Zealand led calls for greater transparency amid rising unilateral tariff actions they say undermine predictability in global markets. Ten other members echoed these concerns about protectionism’s impact on industries worldwide and called for urgent WTO reforms.
A responding delegation argued that autonomous national policies aimed at supporting domestic workers should take precedence over maximizing efficiency or deal-making alone: "The goal of trade policy is not to make the most trade deals or drive efficiency at all costs, but to support workers and families by building an economy oriented around production by the middle class..." This approach emphasizes flexible partnerships based on reciprocity rather than uniformity across all trading partners.
Additionally, Armenia and Kyrgyz Republic received extensions until early 2027 to conclude negotiations related to changes in their goods schedules following accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.
The next formal meeting of the Goods Council is scheduled for May 5–6, 2026.