Archive for the ‘News’ Category

News, Trade Policy

October 9, 2023

In a significant stride towards understanding the trade and development priorities of developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs), WTO members launched the Aid-for-Trade monitoring and evaluation exercise during a Committee on Trade and Development meeting on October 9th. This exercise aims to scrutinize how development finance, provided by partners, is addressing the unique needs of […]

News, Trade Policy

October 9, 2023

The International Trade Council applauds the recent strides made by the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), as detailed during their meeting on October 9th, in preparation for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) slated for February 2024. Under the astute guidance of Coordinator Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados, the group has […]

International Trade, News

October 9, 2023

October 9, WTO members initiated the sixth “Fish Week” of the year, marking the shift into the text-based phase of negotiations aimed at establishing regulations on subsidies linked to overcapacity and overfishing. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, who chairs the negotiations, emphasized the intensifying negotiations in anticipation of the WTO’s Senior […]

In a climate of persistent economic uncertainty, particularly regarding U.S. employment data, markets across the Asian sphere presented a largely positive front, despite subdued trading activity, the International Trade Council reported on Friday.   While Japan’s Nikkei 225 experienced a slight contraction, decreasing by 0.3% to settle at 31,129.06, other key market indicators in the […]

Indonesia, International Trade, News

October 6, 2023

Indonesia has revealed its intentions to bolster customs monitoring procedures for specific imported goods, encompassing cosmetics, footwear, apparel, toys, and electronics, as part of the country’s efforts to manage its import volume.   The decision to introduce this regulation comes in response to concerns raised by business associations regarding a surge in imported goods, which […]

Economic Development, News

October 6, 2023

At the 2023 Annual WTO Conference organized by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard delivered a keynote speech highlighting the transformative effects of technological developments on international trade. She emphasized the growing role of services, particularly digitally-delivered services, in the global economy and how new technologies have facilitated trade […]

International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The International Trade Council, based on notifications from developing and least-developed country members, has identified five specific measures within the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) where implementation assistance is most frequently sought for the upcoming two years. This update was presented by the WTO Secretariat during a meeting of the Committee on Trade Facilitation, which was […]

Brazil, International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The Brazilian auto export industry is poised for a substantial downturn in 2023, according to the recent announcement by the automaker association, Anfavea. This projected decline comes as a direct consequence of the severe economic challenges currently facing Argentina, a key trading partner. Anfavea, in a statement released on Friday, revised its export projections for […]

International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The latest release of the “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” by the World Trade Organization (WTO) offers revised projections for global trade in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the WTO has revised its forecast for the growth of world merchandise trade volume, downgrading it to 0.8%. This is less than half of the 1.7% growth […]

News, Supply Chain

October 5, 2023

GENEVA (International Trade Council) – The World Trade Organization (WTO) has adjusted its forecast for global goods trade growth in 2023, citing several factors, including inflation, higher interest rates, challenges in the Chinese property market, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict as influencing its outlook. The Geneva-based trade organization announced that it now expects merchandise trade […]

News, Supply Chain, United States

October 5, 2023

WASHINGTON (International Trade Council) – The United States trade deficit showed a more significant contraction than anticipated in August, primarily driven by a solid increase in exports. This development is expected to bolster economic growth in the third quarter.   According to the Commerce Department’s report on Thursday, the trade deficit shrank by 9.9% to […]

Canada, News, Supply Chain

October 5, 2023

OTTAWA (International Trade Council) – Canada reported an unexpected trade surplus of C$718 million ($521.88 million) in August, marking a swift recovery in trade following labor strikes that led to port closures on the West Coast, according to data released on Thursday. Statistics Canada revealed that higher crude prices and gold transfers to the United […]

International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

On October 5, the WTO Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) delved into the role of preferential rules of origin in expanding trade opportunities for LDCs. The session also featured an experience-sharing segment where representatives from academia and the private sector shed light on the challenges and opportunities LDCs encounter when making use of trade preferences. […]