The LDC Trust Fund is set up for each Ministerial Conference, which is the WTO's top decision-making body. The contribution will help defray travel expenses (i.e. ticket and accommodation) for officials from LDCs to participate in MC12. Multiple WTO members contribute to this fund.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: "It is of the utmost importance that all the WTO's least-developed countries are able to make their voices heard at MC12 to negotiate multilateral trade agreements that will bring growth and prosperity to their people. I thank New Zealand for helping to achieve this goal and for its generosity."

New Zealand's WTO Ambassador, David Walker, said: "New Zealand strongly supports the rules-based multilateral trading system and looks forward to a successful MC12 that delivers meaningful outcomes for all WTO members. Trade is a necessary tool for development and economic growth. Through our new contribution, we seek to help LDCs participate...

Concluded at the WTO's 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, the TFA seeks to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

What are sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures?

SPS measures are adopted by governments to ensure that food is safe for consumers, and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases among animals and plants. These measures apply to both domestically produced and imported goods.

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) aims to ensure these measures protect human, animal, plant life or health while avoiding unnecessary barriers to trade.

More information on the SPS Agreement can be found here.

What is the SPS Information Management System (SPS IMS)?

The SPS IMS is a comprehensive database allowing users to search all notified SPS measures and Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) raised in the SPS Committee. Users can also browse information on SPS National Notification Authorities and Enquiry Points, as well as other SPS-related documents circulated at the WTO.

Click on help for more...

The draft declaration reaffirms the Group's commitment to address challenges facing MSMEs seeking to trade internationally. In addition, it recognizes the negative impact of COVID-19 on small business and the need for a global coordinated response to help MSMEs bounce back. It also takes stock of the Group's work since it was established at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017.

The Group aims to produce a final draft by its next meeting at the end of July and to use the period leading up to MC12 at the end of the year to reach out to other WTO members to join the declaration. The aim of the Group is to adopt the declaration at MC12.

On the implementation of the package of recommendations for MSMEs, Côte d'Ivoire updated the Group on its proposal to help MSMEs gain access to trade finance, which was first discussed at the Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance in May this year. The proposal responds to the Group's...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

"The multilateral trading system has again proven its value. As was the case during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago, the system has been a solid and effective bulwark against any acceleration of protectionism as we face the worst economic and health crisis in generations. As the world struggles to overcome the enormous human, economic and social impact of the pandemic, we must not be complacent. Trade recovery will not be sustainable unless vaccine equity is assured," said the Director-General.

“While the report's findings indicate trade-restrictive measures are coming down, G20 economies have more work to do to ensure the free flow of the medical inputs and supplies critical to saving lives. Trade restrictions hamper our efforts to ramp up production, particularly in the developing world, and ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines. Vaccine policy is trade policy and we must do everything we can to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic, which...

Australia claims the measures in question appear to be inconsistent with various provisions under the WTO's Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.

Further information is available in document WT/DS602/1

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The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on 28 June 2021, of the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members and oversees legal disputes among them. The meeting notice is circulated in the form of a document officially called an “airgram”.

Thank you, Serge and greetings to all!

It is my great honour to take part in the launch of the 2021 Global Peace Index. I would like to convey sincere apologies from Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who could not join you today. However, as I am settling in my new role as Deputy Director General, this event gives me a first?hand opportunity to dive into the Trade for Peace topic – a very important subject, that is dear to my heart and one that is not enough talked about.

I am pleased to join a distinguished panel of speakers, including His Excellency Mr. Augusto Santos Silva, Foreign Minister of Portugal; Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy; and Mr. Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). I would also like to extend my special appreciation to our moderator Mr. Serge Stroobants, IEP's Director for Europe and Mena, for his great work.

I am...

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) exercise that will underpin the Aid for Trade Global Review, due to take place in mid-2022, was one item discussed by members at the meeting. Ambassador Mujtaba Piracha of Pakistan, the chair of the committee, outlined the process that he envisaged would lead to the Aid for Trade Global Review based on the theme "Empowering connected, sustainable trade".  

The need to facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighted by some members as a theme to be explored.  Members noted that the Aid for Trade Stocktaking event last March was a first attempt to survey the trade impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Another theme that several delegations highlighted as a topic for consideration was the gender dimension to Aid for Trade  and how it can contribute to the work in the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender.

Several WTO members provided overviews of their Aid for Trade...

The Committee on Agriculture oversees the implementation of the Agriculture Agreement. Its key responsibility is to monitor how WTO members are complying with their commitments. The committee, made up of all WTO members, usually meets three or four times a year.

The current chair is

The Committee on Agriculture oversees the implementation of the Agriculture Agreement. Its key responsibility is to monitor how WTO members are complying with their commitments. The committee, made up of all WTO members, usually meets three or four times a year.

The current chair is

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Institute for Economics and Peace are pleased to invite you to the European launch of the 15th edition of the Global Peace Index. The event will take place virtually on Thursday, June 17 at 10:00 (CEST).

Produced by the international think tank the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index (GPI) report presents the most comprehensive, data-driven analysis to date on trends in peace, its economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies. As the first analysis to methodically rank countries according to their levels of peacefulness and to identify potential determinants of peace, the GPI measures the peacefulness of 163 countries and territories, covering 99.7 percent of the world’s population. It is comprised of 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources. These indicators are grouped into three key domains: ongoing conflict, safety and security, and...