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Small business group discusses global support strategies for MSMEs
By Globe Banner | Oct 18, 2024
The recent meeting focused on the significant role of business support organizations like the Enterprise Europe Network and the International Trade Centre. These entities assist small businesses in connecting with partners, facilitating exports to international markets, and leveraging opportunities from free trade agreements. The discussions highlighted how these organizations aid in the flow of information between public and private sectors, particularly benefiting small businesses by providing feedback and advisory services to access financing.
WTO seminar informs Latin American journalists on global trade challenges
By Globe Banner | Oct 18, 2024
The joint seminar organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) for journalists from Latin America concluded recently. The event was opened by WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill, who emphasized the importance of promoting knowledge and critical discussion on key issues for the future of global trade. She highlighted that these discussions are crucial in the current context marked by significant changes and challenges to the multilateral trading system.
Market access committee discusses strategies for resilient global supply chains
By Globe Banner | Oct 18, 2024
The Committee on Market Access recently held its third thematic session focused on supply chain resilience. The session was moderated by Mr. Iain Fifer from the United Kingdom, who highlighted the importance of trade data in understanding and improving supply chains. He pointed out challenges in obtaining reliable data and emphasized its role in decision-making.
WTO concludes advanced workshop on agriculture notifications
By Globe Banner | Oct 17, 2024
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has concluded the second phase of its advanced workshop on agriculture notifications. The two-day program, held in October 2024, provided practical training sessions that built upon the first phase conducted a year earlier. Participants received an overview of the WTO's agricultural notification requirements, focusing particularly on market access and domestic support notifications. They were also guided on using the WTO's Agriculture Information Management System.
Burkina Faso joins WTO effort against harmful fishing subsidies
By Globe Banner | Oct 16, 2024
Burkina Faso has officially ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 85th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to do so. This step highlights Burkina Faso's commitment to international obligations, as emphasized by Minister Traoré: “Burkina Faso's ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is testimony to the emphasis our country places on honouring its international commitments, in this case its WTO commitments."
Liechtenstein supports EIF Interim Facility with CHF 40,000 donation
By Globe Banner | Oct 16, 2024
Liechtenstein has become the sixth donor to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Interim Facility, contributing CHF 40,000. This facility was established to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs) during the transition period until a new multilateral support mechanism is operational.
WTO opens registration for US-Argentina tubular goods dispute hearing
By Globe Banner | Oct 16, 2024
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has opened registration for the second public hearing in the dispute between the United States and Argentina regarding tubular goods. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM Geneva time on November 19, 2024, and may continue until 5:00 PM. It will resume at the same time on November 20.
Okonjo-Iweala urges WTO members to maintain constructive negotiations
By Globe Banner | Oct 15, 2024
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged members to remain constructive in their negotiations to achieve meaningful outcomes. In a recent address, she highlighted ongoing discussions on several key issues.
Aligning carbon measurement standards crucial for future global trade
By Globe Banner | Oct 14, 2024
The alignment of carbon measurement standards is crucial for the future of global trade, according to DDG Paugam. Speaking at a recent event, Paugam emphasized the importance of this topic in the context of globalization and the world trading system. He noted that approximately 30% of steel products are traded internationally, highlighting the resilience of global trade despite major economic crises like the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic.
WTO chief stresses importance of trade for global food security
By Globe Banner | Oct 14, 2024
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, addressed the World Food Forum, emphasizing the critical role of trade in ensuring global food security. She highlighted the collaboration between the WTO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in food and agriculture sectors.
WTO aims for accelerated discussions in dispute settlement reform talks
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady, the facilitator for the dispute settlement reform talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO), emphasized the need to accelerate discussions among members. "We have been working steadily and making good progress, but I think we can all agree that we now need to further intensify our discussions at a more accelerated pace and focus specifically on finding convergence, in particular on appeal/review issues, to get to a final solution," she stated.
WTO concludes 2024 SPS Transparency Champions Course focusing on international trade
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently concluded its 2024 SPS Transparency Champions Course in Geneva. The event focused on the importance of transparency within the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, emphasizing notifications of health and safety regulations. Participants also received hands-on experience with the ePing SPS&TBT Platform, which aids in this process.
Trade policies key driver for clean energy transition says WTO Director-General
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of trade policies in driving renewable energy and efficiency at a high-level event during Trade and Environment Week. She stated that tripling renewable energy production and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 is crucial to meeting Paris Agreement goals. "We are at a pivotal moment where trade policies have become a powerful catalyst for environmental sustainability," she said.
Lithuania donates EUR 20k to boost trade skills in developing economies
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
Lithuania has contributed EUR 20,000 to the World Trade Organization's Global Trust Fund, aiming to support developing economies and least developed countries (LDCs) in enhancing their trade skills. The fund finances approximately 280 activities annually, providing training at both national and regional levels in areas such as agriculture, services, and trade facilitation. Over two decades, nearly 2,800 activities have been organized under this initiative.
WTO committee discusses boosting developing economies' integration into global trade
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
The first meeting of the Committee's negotiating session since the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) focused on enhancing the integration of developing economies into global trade. At MC13, ministers adopted a Declaration on Special and Differential Treatment to ensure that developing economies, including least developed countries (LDCs), receive timely training and technical assistance for implementing standards or technical regulations.
WTO hosts training for accession countries on market access negotiations
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
A training course on market access for governments in the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) has concluded in Geneva. The event saw participation from countries including Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The course aimed to guide these nations on preparing initial goods offers and consolidating bilateral market access agreements.
China files WTO complaint against Türkiye over vehicle import measures
By Globe Banner | Oct 11, 2024
China has initiated a dispute complaint against Türkiye regarding measures on vehicle imports. The measures in question include additional duties on electric vehicles, an import certificate requirement, and additional duties on other types of vehicles, as well as investment certificate exemptions. China claims these measures appear to be inconsistent with various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures.
WTO reports gradual recovery in global merchandise trade
By Globe Banner | Oct 10, 2024
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its October 2024 update on the "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics," highlighting a 2.3% year-on-year increase in global merchandise trade for the first half of 2024. This growth follows a -1.1% decline in 2023, which was influenced by high inflation and rising interest rates. The WTO anticipates moderate expansion in trade through the rest of the year and into 2025, with world real GDP growth expected to remain steady at 2.7% during this period.
WTO explores new strategies for advancing stalled agricultural trade talks
By Globe Banner | Oct 10, 2024
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed optimism about advancing farm trade talks following an initiative by Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye. The initiative outlines two options to move the negotiations forward.
Ecuador joins global effort against harmful fisheries subsidies
By Globe Banner | Oct 9, 2024
Ecuador has formally accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming one of 84 World Trade Organization (WTO) members to do so. The agreement, which aims to curb harmful fisheries subsidies, was adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022. It will come into effect once two-thirds of the membership have accepted it.