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.
Country/Institution Archives:Int
WTO DG Calls for Simultaneous Progress on Reform and Negotiations at General Council Meeting
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.
South Africa notifies WTO of safeguard investigation on cold-rolled steel products
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.
United States launches safeguard investigation on lamb meat
The United States notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 17 July 2026 that it initiated a safeguard investigation on lamb meat imports on 13 July 2026. This is a formal WTO notification of a trade remedy proceeding.
WTO Trade Policy Review: India (Eighth Review, July 2026)
The WTO conducts its eighth Trade Policy Review of India on 21 and 23 July 2026, based on reports from the WTO Secretariat and the Government of India. The review covers India’s trade policies and practices across all sectors.
WTO Fish Fund Approves $2.2M in Grants to 17 Members for Fisheries Subsidies Agreement Implementation
The WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee approved grants totalling nearly USD 2.2 million to 17 additional developing and LDC members to support implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The grants were approved under the Fund’s second Call for Proposals, which closed on 8 May 2026.
SPS Committee addresses record number of trade concerns, transparency and SPS mentoring
The WTO SPS Committee met June 24-26 and addressed a record number of sanitary and phytosanitary trade concerns affecting food product trade. Members also received updates on transparency work and agreed to renew a mentoring program for SPS officials in developing and least-developed countries.
WTO CRTA Reviews Five Regional Trade Agreements, Discusses Gender Provisions
The WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreements reviewed five RTAs covering 17 members and two non-members at its June 25 meeting. The committee also examined topics under the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs and heard presentations on trade and gender provisions in various members’ agreements.
General Council Chair outlines way forward on WTO reform, identifies facilitators
WTO General Council Chair Ambassador Clare Kelly (New Zealand) presented next steps for advancing to the substantive phase of WTO reform at a heads of delegation meeting on 26 June 2026, including indicative checkpoints to monitor progress. Facilitators have been identified for the main reform areas based on member nominations. Members emphasized the urgency of […]
WAEMU Facilitates Origin Determination by Aligning to HS 2022
WAEMU has updated its rules of origin product list to align with HS 2022, resolving inconsistencies that arose after member states adopted the new nomenclature. Previously, the WAEMU Treaty referenced older HS editions for determining originating goods, undermining preferential treatment and trader compliance. The alignment ensures consistent application of preferential rules across the bloc.