WTO: Business leaders stress role of trade and WTO in COVID-19 response

Business leaders stress role of trade and WTO in COVID-19 response Senior business representatives from around the world discussed the role of trade policy in tackling the health and economic implications of the COVID-19 crisis at a virtual Trade Dialogues meeting facilitated by the WTO on 19 May. Over 70 business representatives took part in the meeting, sharing... Lees verder Chancellor Merkel, DG Azevêdo and other agency heads discuss COVID-19 pandemic WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo took part in a virtual meeting hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on 20 May to look at the health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the international policy response. The heads of the ILO, IMF, OECD and the World Bank also... Lees verder WTO report looks at standards and regulations notified by members in COVID-19 response The WTO Secretariat has issued a new information note on the standards­­­­— and regulation-related policies WTO members have adopted in response to COVID-19 and formally notified to the WTO. Around half of the measures are trade facilitating. Lees verder WTO establishes nomination window for DG selection WTO members have established a month-long period in which candidates seeking to succeed Roberto Azevêdo as Director-General may submit their nomination bids. General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand informed members on 20 May the appointment process for the next Director-General would... Lees verder South Africa launches safeguard investigation on bolts with hexagon heads of iron or steel On 21 May 2020, South Africa notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 15 May 2020 a safeguard investigation on bolts with hexagon heads of iron or steel. Lees verder Chair of agriculture negotiations announces he will step down on 30 June At a virtual meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 25 May, the Chair of the Committee, Ambassador John Deep Ford (Guyana), informed WTO members that his term as Chair will come to an end on 30 June as he will be leaving Geneva. Lees verder WTO members highlight COVID-19's impact on agriculture negotiations At a virtual meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 25 May, WTO members shared preliminary views on COVID-19's impact on the WTO's agriculture negotiations and discussed how to move forward with these talks. Members reaffirmed the importance of upholding WTO rules during the... Lees verder Members discuss impact of COVID-19 on developing economies' participation in world trade On 26 May, WTO members assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trading capacity of developing countries in a virtual meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development. The new chair, Afghanistan's WTO Ambassador, Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, said: "Trade must form part of the solution in... Lees verder DDG Wolff: This is the time to consider the future of the multilateral trading system The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the urgent need to examine the underlying principles and values of the WTO and whether the organization needs change, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 27 May. Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Korean International Trade Association,... Lees verder 2020 WTO Public Forum cancelled After careful consideration of COVID-19 related uncertainties and health concerns, the WTO has decided to cancel this year's WTO Public Forum, scheduled for 29 September to 2 October. This decision responds to the complexities around planning to host thousands of people from around the world for a... Lees verder