At a virtual meeting of the Committee on Market Access on 8 June, WTO members commended the ongoing efforts by the WTO Secretariat to monitor governments' trade-related measures during the COVID-19 crisis. They discussed ways to ensure that the emergency measures introduced to restrict exports are...
Nigeria, on 9 June 2020, nominated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 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.
The commitment of acceding governments to the multilateral trading system during the COVID-19 crisis has brought a lot of energy to the WTO during this challenging process, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 9 June. Speaking at a virtual meeting of the Informal Group of Acceding...
Egypt, on 9 June 2020, nominated Mr Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh 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.
On 9 June the Appellate Body issued its reports in the cases brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic in "Australia — Certain Measures Concerning Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Other Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging" (DS435 and DS441).
A new information note published by the WTO Secretariat looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in global trade. The note stresses that LDCs have seen a significant decline in export earnings due to decreasing demand in key markets,...
In remarks delivered virtually to the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on 10 June, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said there is "strong and growing interest" among WTO members to craft improved multilateral trading arrangements through the process of WTO reform. "I strongly believe that the...
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) launched on 11 June its 2019 Annual Report. The report, "Facing the future: shaping safe trade outcomes for developing countries", highlights how STDF champions the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and responds to emerging needs.
On 12 June 2020, Indonesia notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 10 June 2020 a safeguard investigation on carpets and other textile floor coverings.
