WTO: COVID-19 farm support packages and export-restrictive measures under scrutiny

COVID-19 farm support packages and export-restrictive measures under scrutiny At a special meeting of the Committee on Agriculture on 18 June 2020, WTO members reviewed a number of farm support packages and export-restrictive measures adopted in response to the COVID-19 crisis. A strong call was made for enhanced transparency of trade-related COVID-19 measures in the... Lees verder South Africa launches safeguard investigation on "U, I, H, L and T sections of iron or non-alloy steel" On 23 June 2020, South Africa notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 19 June 2020 a safeguard investigation on "U, I, H, L and T sections of iron or non-alloy steel, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of 80 mm or more and other angles,... Lees verder Members underline importance of facilitating safe agri-food trade in times of crisis WTO members stressed the importance of providing a coordinated response to global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring that trade in agricultural and food products is not unduly restricted at a meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures on 24 June. The... Lees verder Republic of Korea nominates Ms Yoo Myung-hee for post of WTO Director-General The Republic of Korea, on 24 June 2020, nominated Ms Yoo Myung-hee for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on 31 August 2020. Lees verder Fisheries subsidies negotiations chair introduces draft consolidated text to WTO members At the 25 June meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules concerning the fisheries subsidies negotiations, the chair, Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia, introduced to heads of WTO delegations a draft consolidated text of disciplines in anticipation of the text-based phase of the negotiations. He... Lees verder DDG Wolff: Openness, balance and trust are underlying values of the WTO Openness, balance and trust are some of the key underlying values of the WTO that will support future reform of the organization, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 25 June. "WTO members can make progress toward improving the organization to help it to create a better world through building... Lees verder DG Azevêdo: Tackling challenges facing MSMEs is critically important Addressing a webinar on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) held on 26 June to mark MSME Day, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo stressed that addressing the challenges faced by small businesses is a critical part of ensuring a socially inclusive economic recovery. He said that the... Lees verder WTO, UNCTAD, ITC chiefs announce rollout of revamped trade data tool for small businesses The heads of the WTO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) announced on 26 June the rollout of an improved and expanded digital tool, the Global Trade Helpdesk, that will help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) gain... Lees verder WTO awards winners of John H. Jackson Moot Court competition's final round The WTO and four academic institutions on 28 June awarded winners of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition on WTO Law, a simulated hearing of the WTO dispute settlement system for law students which mainly took place virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. India's Government Law... Lees verder WTO report on G20 shows moves to facilitate imports even as trade restrictions remain widespread While import-restrictive measures introduced by Group of 20 (G20) economies continue to cover a growing share of trade, the WTO's latest biannual monitoring report on trade measures — the first to cover a time period coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic — points to significant moves to... Lees verder