PTPolicyTraderThe policy behind the trade.
Trade policy, commodities, and sustainability across the Indo-Pacific
Wto·Int·
South Africa notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 14 July 2026 of a safeguard investigation initiated on 10 July 2026 covering certain cold-rolled iron and steel products imported into the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The notification follows standard WTO transparency requirements for safeguard proceedings.
Wto·Int·
WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala urged members to advance both institutional reform and outstanding negotiations simultaneously at the July 14-15 General Council meeting. Members adopted several decisions in favor of developing and least-developed countries following MC14. The DG framed reform and negotiations as two sides of the same coin requiring parallel progress.
Dtic·Za·
South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition led a government delegation to a public hearing in Washington DC on 9 July 2026, hosted by USTR, concerning Section 301 investigations into forced labour practices across 60 economies. The hearing examines acts, policies, and practices related to failure to impose and effectively enforce measures against forced […]
Wto·Int·
The WTO TBT Committee met July 7-10, 2026, addressing standards for critical/emerging technologies, climate-resilient buildings, and lithium-ion batteries. The Committee adopted improvements to transparency procedures and digital notification tools. Members also reviewed 70 specific trade concerns.
Wto·Int·
WTO Secretariat analysis shows urea and phosphate fertilizer trade severely disrupted by conflict in the Persian Gulf, with African and Asian economies most vulnerable to shortages and price hikes. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key fertilizer trade route, is cited as a major factor. Reopening the strait is identified as necessary to […]
Mofcom·Cn·
China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs jointly announced a temporary export ban on helium effective immediately. The measure is published as Announcement No. 29 of 2026, constituting a formal export control restriction on this critical industrial gas. No expiry date is specified in the snippet.
Dg Trade·Eu·
On 7 July 2026, the European Commission published a regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of passenger car and light lorry tyres originating in China. This follows an investigation into dumped Chinese tyre exports affecting EU producers.
Doc India·In·
India’s DPIIT has amended Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for footwear, which function as mandatory standards/technical regulations affecting both domestic production and imports. The amendments aim to ease compliance burdens while reinforcing domestic manufacturing standards. QCOs in India serve as non-tariff measures by requiring Bureau of Indian Standards certification for covered products.
Wto·Int·
Bhutan’s Working Party on Accession held its 5th meeting on 9 July 2026, marking the country’s return to WTO accession negotiations after an 18-year pause. WTO members welcomed Bhutan back to the negotiating table, and Bhutan reaffirmed its commitment to joining the organization while noting economic progress since 2008.
Doc India·In·
India hosted the 13th Joint Committee Meeting for the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to advance the ongoing review of the trade pact. The meeting focused on progressing negotiations to modernize and improve the agreement covering trade in goods between India and ASEAN member states. This is part of a formal review process aimed […]