Recent World Trade Organization Notices
The World Trade Organization recently posted the following notices:​
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- U.S. files second WTO complaint over Canadian wine sale restrictions. The U.S. has requested WTO consultations with Canada regarding measures maintained by the Canadian province of British Columbia governing the sale of wine in grocery stores. The request was circulated to WTO members on Oct. 2 (here).
- Members review implementation of preferential rules of origin for LDCs. WTO members reviewed efforts to implement the Nairobi Decision on preferential rules of origin for least developed countries (LDCs) at a meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin on Oct. 4. The Decision aims to facilitate export of LDC goods to both developed and developing countries under unilateral preferential trade arrangements in favour of LDCs (here).
- WTO members finish combing through matrix of proposals on fisheries subsidies. WTO members meeting as the Negotiating Group on Rules (NGR) on Oct. 6 finished combing through a compilation matrix of seven proposals for an agreement in December at the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11) to limit harmful fisheries subsidies. The members behind the proposals indicated that they hope to produce a “vertical” document integrating their proposals as a contribution to the NGR’s further work on fisheries subsidies (here).
- China’s import ban on solid waste queried at import licensing meeting. Five WTO members questioned China’s import ban on solid waste, particularly for certain scrap materials, at the Oct. 3 meeting of the WTO Committee on Import Licensing. The U.S., EU, Australia, Canada and Korea sought more information on which types of materials would be affected, with some noting that this issue was of great interest to their business sectors (here).
- Registration opens for public access to oral hearing in “EC – Large Civil Aircraft” appeal. At the request of the EU and the U.S. in the dispute “European Communities and Certain Member States – Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU” (DS316), the Appellate Body division hearing the appeal has authorized access to the oral hearing for WTO members and the general public via delayed broadcast. The audio broadcast of the opening and closing statements will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19, at WTO headquarters in Geneva (here).
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries launch Safeguard investigation on prepared additives for cements, mortars or concretes (chemical plasticizers). On Oct. 3, Bahrain notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that the GCC’s competent authority initiated on Sept. 20 a safeguard investigation on prepared additives for cements, mortars or concretes (chemical plasticizers) (here).
- Trade Policy Review: Iceland. The fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Iceland took place on Oct. 4 and 6. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Iceland (here).
- Members commend sustained engagement by Comoros as it approaches final WTO accession stages. At the third meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of the Comoros held on Oct. 12, members commended the sustained and constructive engagement of the national authorities in this process as the Indian Ocean state approaches the final stages prior to WTO membership. Members reiterated their full support to Comoros’ efforts to become a member of the organization and said they would keep working with the country with a view to conclude negotiations as soon as possible (here).
- Azevêdo tells ministers more commitment is needed to deliver success at MC11. At an informal ministerial gathering in Marrakesh, Morocco, Oct. 9-10, hosted by Morocco and Argentina, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo told ministers that there were some promising issues on the table, but in all areas there remains a long way to go in order to deliver a successful outcome at the 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December (here).
- Registration opens for WTO symposium on the TRIPS Agreement and the national judiciary Registration is now open for the WTO’s first symposium on the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the national judiciary, which will be held at the WTO’s headquarters Dec. 12-15, as part of the WTO’s technical assistance programme. Participants will include up to 30 judges currently dealing with IP matters from developing countries or economies in transition. Applications must be made by Oct. 20 (here).
- EU gives EUR100,000 to help LDCs participate in Ministerial Conference. The EU is contributing EUR100,000 (over $114,000) to support the participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in MC11, which will take place Dec. 10-13 in Buenos Aires (here).
- New Zealand gives 21,000 Swiss francs (CHF) for LDCs’ effective participation in Ministerial Conference. The government of New Zealand is contributing CHF 21,000 (approximately $30,000) to support the participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in MC11 (here).
- Susana Malcorra notes a positive and constructive atmosphere for a successful Eleventh Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires. At the end of the informal ministerial meeting held in Marrakesh, on Oct. 9 and 10, Minister and Chair of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, Argentine Susana Malcorra, recognized the participants’ commitment to ensuring that the Buenos Aires Conference in December is a success and contributes to the adoption of decisions that strengthen the multilateral trading system (here).
- Azevêdo discusses preparations for MC11 with the WTO’s Africa Group. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo met Oct. 4 with the WTO’s Africa Group to discuss preparations for MC11, which will be held in Buenos Aires, Dec. 10-13 (here).
- Azevêdo: International community must work together to fulfill the right to health. Speaking at the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council on Oct. 2, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo highlighted how the WTO’s trade rules and its close cooperation with the World Health Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization have been essential in improving access to medicines. He also underlined the importance of the WTO’s close cooperation with the wider UN family towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (here).
- Azevêdo welcomes constructive engagement of francophone countries in global trading system. Speaking to the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Geneva on Oct. 4 about preparations for MC11, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed the constructive engagement of francophone countries in supporting the multilateral trading system and the process leading to the Buenos Aires conference at the end of the year. He said the Francophonie can build strength from its diversity and contribute to consensus building among WTO members (here).