As activity gears up at the WTO’s dispute settlement body, here a quick update on the latest developments at today’s monthly meeting.
World Trade Organization
WTO dispute settlement: reform proposals to be tabled after summer break
Work will commence in September on drafting concrete proposals for a new dispute settlement system for the WTO, a Geneva-based trade official said today. A sense of momentum is evident following a series of informal but extensive consultations over the past few months between WTO members and the diplomat charged …
WTO Corner: Plastics pollution, Argentina vs US, EU fish deal ratification
Here a roundup of notable developments at WTO headquarters in Geneva this week.
THINK TANK: Digitally competitive EU, WTO and export controls, US-China
This week’s selection of interesting think tank pieces on international trade. By Maia Wilson and Iana Dreyer.
THINK TANK: WTO reform, EU data flows, Turkish elections and the customs union
After a few weeks of being fairly quiet, think tanks doing things on trade policy have been churning out reports again – long or short – on some big-ticket items: WTO reform, EU data flows and EU Turkey relations.
Members call for fresh thinking on WTO’s negotiating function
The WTO would function better if it could become more flexible in drawing on cross-cutting expertise both from within the organisation and from external stakeholders. This was one of a range of messages floated at this week’s meeting of the WTO’s general council, as discussions picked up speed on how …
WTO Corner: Industrial and fish subsidies in focus
This week was a lot about putting up a public show, with Botswana’s president Mokgweetsi Masisi giving the second Presidential Lecture at WTO headquarters and director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala playing star at an event co-organised with the global football federation FIFA on ‘Making Trade Score For Women’. In the quieter nooks …
WTO Corner: EU Indonesia steel dispute, Hong Kong case, Korea washer case resolved
It’s getting interesting again at the WTO’s dispute settlement body.
Week in Brussels: Plenty of WTO news for EU, Ukraine import bans, rice safeguard
A look back at a week dominated by a fierce internal EU fight over imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. By Rob Francis and Iana Dreyer.
WTO reform moves to centre stage as MC13 countdown continues
Pressure from WTO member countries for improvements in the way the organisation conducts its business is starting to build, as the next ministerial meeting of the organisation starts to loom larger on the horizon.