Recent World Trade Organization Notices
The World Trade Organization recently posted the following notices:​
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- Mexico appeals compliance panel rulings on revised US “dolphin-safe” tuna labeling measure. Mexico filed a notice of appeal on Dec. 1, in the cases brought by the United States and Mexico in “United States -- Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products -- Recourse to Article 21.5 of the [Dispute Settlement Understanding] DSU by the United States” and “United States -- Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products -- Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico” (DS381). The panel circulated its reports on Oct. 26 (here).
- Canada initiates WTO dispute proceedings on US softwood lumber duties. Canada has requested WTO consultations with the United States regarding US anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on imports of softwood lumber from Canada. The requests were circulated to WTO members on Nov. 30 (here).
- Items proposed for consideration at the next meeting of Dispute Settlement Body. The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on Dec. 4, of the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members and oversees legal disputes among them (here).
- WTO members show restraint in trade restrictions despite ongoing economic uncertainties. WTO members introduced fewer trade-restrictive measures from mid-October 2016 to mid-October 2017 compared to the previous year, according to the Director-General’s annual overview report on trade-related developments presented to members on Dec. 4. WTO members continued to implement more trade-facilitating than trade-restrictive measures. The estimated trade coverage of the import-facilitating measures recorded in the review period was more than double the import-restricting measures. In addition, the import-facilitating measures implemented during the review period in the context of the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA) amounted to around $385 billion (USD) (here).
- DG Azevêdo details process for MC11 as preparations enter final stages. Statement by Director-General Roberto Azevêdo (here).
- United Kingdom donates GBP 100,000 to support LDCs’ participation in Ministerial Conference. The United Kingdom Government is contributing approximately $132,000 to help least-developed countries (LDCs) participate in the eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), which will take place Dec. 10-13, in Buenos Aires (here).
- DG Azevêdo welcomes Mali’s Prime Minister Maïga to WTO. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga of Mali to the WTO on Nov. 29. The two discussed the concerns of Mali and the other “Cotton Four” (C4) countries regarding cotton subsidies, development issues and the WTO’s upcoming Dec. 10-13 Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires (here).
- DG Azevêdo thanks first participants in WTO’s Young Professionals Programme. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo thanked the first participants in the WTO Young Professionals Programme on Nov. 27, for their hard work and contributions as they wrapped up their one-year placement at the WTO. The group said their “eye-opening” experience has “equipped us with the capacity to excel as international trade practitioners” (here).
- Trade Policy Review Body: Overview of developments in the international trading environment. Remarks by Director-General Roberto Azevêdo (here).