Новости за 09.04.2018

WTO members discussed how to improve work on enhancing the transparency of regional trade agreements (RTAs) at a meeting of the Committee on RTAs on 9-10 April at the WTO. They reviewed five RTAs covering countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The new chair of the committee, Ambassador Julian Braithwaite of the United Kingdom, presided at this first committee meeting of 2018

Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhanova of Kazahkstan has taken over as chair of the WTO services negotiations. Her appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the WTO’s Council for Trade in Services in Special Session on 9 April.

At the request of Canada, the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed on 9 April to establish two panels to examine Canada’s complaints regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed by the United States on imports of Canadian softwood lumber. The DSB also formally adopted the panel ruling, as modified by the Appellate Body, regarding Russian anti-dumping duties on imported vehicles from Germany and Italy.

China has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States concerning certain US duties imposed on imports of steel and aluminium products. The request was circulated to WTO members on 9 April.

The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on 9 April 2018, 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”.

Korea filed an appeal on 9 April against a WTO panel report in the case brought by Japan in “Korea — Import Bans, and Testing and Certification Requirements for Radionuclides” (DS495). The panel circulated its report on 22 February 2018.

Ambassador John Deep Ford of Guyana has taken over as chair of the WTO farm trade talks. WTO members confirmed his appointment at a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 9 April. In addition to the ongoing negotiations on agricultural reform, Ambassador Ford will also facilitate the negotiations on cotton.

The WTO has issued a call for proposals for this year’s Public Forum, whose theme is “Trade 2030”. Participants interested in organizing sessions at the Forum, scheduled to take place on 2-4 October, are invited to submit their proposals by 4 June 2018.