WTO: Standards committee showcases work on transparency, discusses digital and environmental issues

Standards committee showcases work on transparency, discusses digital and environmental issues At a meeting of the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) on 12-15 July, transparency was the focus of WTO members' activities. These included the official launch of the ePing platform, a dedicated thematic session on transparency, updates on the Transparency Working Group, and a call for candidates for the African Transparency Champions Programme. Lees verder DG Okonjo-Iweala to African Union: MC12 outcomes will make a material difference for people The WTO's successful 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) has produced outcomes that will have a material impact on the lives of people in Africa and around the world, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told heads of state and ministers at the African Union's mid-term Summit 2022 in Lusaka, Zambia, on 17 July. Lees verder Preparations under way for high-level event on environmental sustainability in December At a plenary meeting on 19-20 July, WTO members taking part in the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) explored the next steps in preparing for a high-level event in December and proposals for outcomes. The year-end stocktaking event is intended to be a stepping-stone towards the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13). Lees verder Members urged to find new ways to rejuvenate agriculture negotiations At a committee meeting on 21 July, WTO farm negotiators reflected on the outcomes on food and agriculture achieved at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) and discussed how to build on the momentum to revitalise the agriculture negotiations. The outgoing chair of the negotiations, Gloria Abraham Peralta (Costa Rica), stressed the importance of capitalizing on the work done and called on members to explore new approaches that could reset the negotiations in the coming months. Lees verder Tunisia launches safeguard investigation on iron or non-alloy steel wires for the manufacture of furniture springs On 21 July 2022, Tunisia notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 19 July 2022 a safeguard investigation on iron or non-alloy steel wires for the manufacture of furniture springs. Lees verder DDG Paugam calls on WTO Chairs Programme to contribute fresh ideas to food security debate Food security has increasingly taken centre stage at the WTO as members have explored next steps in agriculture reforms, Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam told a session of the Annual Conference of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) on 25 July. He highlighted the importance of outcomes at the 12th Ministerial Conference regarding the WTO's response to food insecurity and noted the potential for WCP members to contribute creative thinking that could help policy-makers improve their understanding of the issue and revitalize agriculture negotiations. Lees verder DG Okonjo-Iweala urges members to build on MC12 success to revitalize WTO core functions Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on WTO members to build on the substantive outcomes reached at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June this year and to step up efforts so that the organization continues to respond to the many challenges faced by the multilateral trading system. Speaking at a meeting of the General Council on 25 July, DG Okonjo-Iweala said that, in light of a changing global economy, the WTO needs to continue delivering for more people around the world. Lees verder DG stresses at Chairs Programme Annual Conference importance of implementing MC12 outcomes Opening the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) Annual Conference on 25 July in Geneva, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala encouraged participants to share best practices in supporting trade policy-making and to ensure their discussions pave the way for the implementation of the "Geneva Package" adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). Lees verder Arbitrators notify award in EU-Türkiye pharmaceuticals dispute On 25 July 2022, arbitrators circulated to WTO members their award in which they reviewed certain findings of the WTO dispute panel ruling in "Turkey — Certain Measures Concerning the Production, Importation and Marketing of Pharmaceutical Products" (DS583). The three arbitrators were appointed by the European Union and Türkiye in accordance with Article 25 of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). Lees verder DDG Ellard urges prompt acceptance of Fisheries Subsidies Agreement Addressing a session of the Annual Conference of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) on 25 July, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard highlighted the significance of the WTO reaching a deal on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies at the 12th Ministerial Conference, making it the first multilateral agreement with environmental sustainability at its core. She asked Chairs of the WCP to urge policy-makers in their respective regions to expedite acceptance of the Agreement so that it can enter into force quickly, allowing members to extend negotiations to disciplining subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. Lees verder