The WTO conducts its sixteenth Trade Policy Review of Japan on 27 and 29 May 2026, based on reports from both the WTO Secretariat and the Government of Japan. The review examines Japan’s trade policies and practices across all sectors.
Topic Archives:Fta
DDG Nordquist calls for urgent action on fisheries subsidies at Monaco Blue Initiative
WTO Deputy Director-General Nordquist urged members to complete acceptance and implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and advance negotiations on additional disciplines targeting overcapacity and overfishing. She warned that harmful fisheries subsidies undermine ocean sustainability and coastal livelihoods. The remarks were delivered at the Monaco Blue Initiative on 27 May 2026.
EU and Canada launch negotiations for a Digital Trade Agreement
The EU and Canada formally launched negotiations for a bilateral Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) in Toronto. The announcement was made by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.
EU–Canada CETA Joint Committee Fifth Meeting Joint Statement
The EU and Canada held the fifth meeting of the CETA Joint Committee, issuing a joint statement on implementation and advancement of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The meeting addresses ongoing CETA implementation across trade in goods, services, investment, and related disciplines.
EU and Australia conclude FTA negotiations and announce Security and Defence Partnership
The EU and Australia have concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement described as ambitious and balanced. The announcement was made alongside a new Security and Defence Partnership. No further details on FTA specifics are available from the snippet.
Outcome of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference
The WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) concluded on 29 March without Members agreeing on a final package of outcomes. The European Commission published this summary of the conference results. No multilateral agreements were reached at the session.
Commission proposes full resumption of EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement
The European Commission has proposed the full resumption of the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement, marking a significant step in normalizing trade and economic relations with Syria. This agreement covers trade and cooperation frameworks between the EU and Syria. The proposal would restore preferential trade arrangements that had been suspended.
EU and US launch strategic partnership on critical minerals
The EU and US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership on critical minerals, accompanied by an EU-US Critical Minerals Action Plan. The agreement formalizes bilateral cooperation on securing critical mineral supply chains. Details of specific commitments or measures under the Action Plan are not provided in the snippet.
EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement Enters Provisional Application
The EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) begins provisional application on 1 May 2026, enabling EU producers, exporters, and farmers to immediately access the deal’s benefits. This marks a major milestone in one of the world’s largest FTAs, covering trade in goods, tariffs, and market access between the EU and Mercosur bloc.
Commission welcomes political agreement on implementation of EU-US trade deal
The European Commission welcomed a political agreement between the European Parliament and Council on two Regulations to eliminate tariffs on all US industrial goods and grant preferential market access for certain US agricultural and seafood products. This implements the EU-US trade deal framework. The agreement covers both tariff elimination and agricultural/seafood access provisions.