G-20 trade restrictions increase as trade flows slow down, says WTO report: In the last six months, most G-20 members have put in place new trade restrictions or measures that have the potential to restrict trade, according to the latest WTO report on G-20 trade measures published on 18 December 2013. A total of 116 new trade restrictive measures were identified since the last WTO report, up from 109 measures recorded for the previous seven-month period.

WTO report says restrictive trade measures continue to rise in G-20 economies: Restrictive trade measures introduced by G-20 economies since 2008 continue to rise, according to the latest WTO report on recent trade developments issued on 6 November 2014. Given the continuing uncertainties in the global economy, the report stresses the need for countries to show restraint in imposing new measures and to eliminate more of the existing measures.

WTO sees “slight deceleration” in G20 trade restrictions but calls for continued vigilance: The WTO’s thirteenth trade monitoring report on G20 trade measures, issued on 15 June, shows a slight deceleration in the application of new trade-restrictive measures by G20 economies, with the average number of such measures applied per month lower than at any time since 2013. The report also underlines that it is not yet clear that this deceleration will continue and it calls on G20 leaders to show continued vigilance and reinforced determination towards eliminating existing trade restrictions.

G20 trade restrictions reach highest monthly level since the crisis: The WTO’s fifteenth trade monitoring report on G20 trade measures, issued on 21 June, shows the application of new trade-restrictive measures by G20 economies increased compared to the previous reporting period, reaching the highest monthly average registered since the WTO began its monitoring exercise in 2009.

G20 countries show restraint in new trade restrictions, despite economic uncertainties: The WTO’s eighteenth monitoring report on Group of 20 (G20) trade measures, issued on 9 November, shows that G20 economies introduced fewer trade-restrictive measures compared to the previous review period. The estimated trade coverage of these restrictions recorded during the period of mid-May 2017 to mid-October 2017 slightly exceeded the coverage of trade-facilitating measures.

The WTO’s 20th monitoring report on Group of 20 (G20) trade measures issued on 22 November shows that the amount of trade covered by new import-restrictive measures hit a new high during the current reporting period. The estimated US$ 481 billion in trade coverage of these new measures imposed by G20 economies from mid-May to mid-October 2018 is more than six times larger than that recorded in the previous reporting period and the largest since this measure was first calculated in 2012. The report also shows that the trade coverage of new import-facilitating measures (US$ 216 billion) rose significantly during this period but is less than half that of trade-restrictive measures. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo warned the report’s findings constitute a source of serious concern and called for immediate action to de-escalate the situation.

The WTO's latest Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures shows a slowdown in the number and coverage of trade-restrictive and trade-facilitating measures on goods implemented by G20 countries between mid-May and mid-October 2020, primarily as a result of the sharp decline in overall global trade since the COVID-19 outbreak. The report also documents numerous trade-facilitating and support measures introduced by G20 economies in response to the economic downturn in order to prepare the ground for a strong economic recovery.

The WTO’s latest Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures shows a slowdown in the number and coverage of trade-restrictive and trade-facilitating measures on goods implemented by G20 countries between mid-May and mid-October 2020, primarily as a result of the sharp decline in overall global trade since the COVID-19 outbreak. The report also documents numerous trade-facilitating and support measures introduced by G20 economies in response to the economic downturn in order to prepare the ground for a strong economic recovery.

G20 economies have continued to roll back COVID-19-related trade-restrictive measures and demonstrated restraint in the imposition of new ones, but the value of trade covered by pandemic-related restrictions still in place now exceeds that of trade-facilitating measures, according to the latest WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures released today (28 October). Ahead of a G20 leaders’ summit in Rome this weekend, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on G20 economies to continue to unwind pandemic-related trade restrictions and to push for a strong WTO response to the pandemic at the 12th Ministerial Conference.

WTO-OECD-UNCTAD: Despite crisis, G20 governments largely resist protectionist pressures: The WTO, OECD and UNCTAD, in a joint report on G20 trade and investment measures released on 14 June 2010, noted the imposition of fewer trade restrictions but warned “they are accumulating”. In a separate report to WTO members on trade-related developments, Director-General Pascal Lamy confirmed this trend but urged governments to remain “vigilant” and to give priority to “exiting current restricting measures”. The OECD and UNCTAD also released a separate report on G20 investment measures.

Lamy reports no slowdown in new trade restrictions: Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report on trade-related developments issued on 29 June 2012, said that “there has been no slowdown in the imposition of new trade restrictions over the past seven months”. He noted that “the more recent wave of trade restrictions seems no longer to be aimed at combatting the temporary effects of the global crisis, but rather at trying to stimulate recovery through national industrial planning, which is a an altogether longer-term affair”.

DDG Agah notes no acceleration of new restrictions, urges more trade transparency: Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah, in presenting the Director-General’s report on trade-related developments (mid-November 2013 to mid-May 2014) to the Trade Policy Review Body on 11 July 2014, said that “the pace at which new trade restrictions have been introduced has not accelerated during the period under review”. He urged members to provide more trade information for the monitoring reports: “I am convinced, and the Director-General’s recent meetings with business groups have confirmed this, that members must accept their collective responsibility for promoting the transparency and predictability which importers and exporters demand”.

Report urges WTO members to resist protectionism and “get trade moving again”: WTO members need to avoid putting up barriers and “get trade moving again” in order to address slow global economic growth, according to the Director-General’s mid-year report on trade-related developments issued on 25 July. The Trade Monitoring Report concludes that the “best safeguard we have against protectionism is a strong multilateral trading system”.

WTO members introduced more trade-restrictive measures from mid-October 2017 to mid-May 2018 compared to the previous review period (mid-October 2016 to mid-October 2017), according to the Director-General’s mid-year report on trade-related developments presented to members on 25 July at a meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body. While WTO members continued to implement more trade-facilitating than trade-restrictive measures, the value of trade covered by the restrictive measures rose and the value covered by facilitating measures fell. The report draws attention to this shift, and to the fact that it is taking place at a time of heightened trade tensions and associated rhetoric, which should be of concern to the international community.

Cette brochure de la Division du commerce et de l’environnement vise à améliorer la compréhension du rôle du commerce et des règles commerciales en ce qui concerne les questions environnementales. Il cherche à répondre, dans des termes faciles à comprendre, à certaines des questions clés du débat sur le commerce et l’environnement en ce qui concerne le système commercial multilatéral.

The WTO Secretariat has prepared this booklet to assist public understanding of the SPS Agreement, it concerns the application of food safety and animal and plant health regulations. The first section of the booklet presents the basic structure of WTO agreements; the second looks at the key features of the SPS Agreement; the third addresses a number of frequently-asked questions; and the fourth is the legal text of the agreement.

Esta nueva edición ofrece una descripción general del propósito y alcance del Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio (OTC) de la OMC, los tipos de medidas que cubre y los principios clave del Acuerdo. Tiene como objetivo mejorar la comprensión del Acuerdo OTC.

Services Profiles 2014 provides key statistics on “infrastructure services”, i.e. transportation, telecommunications, finance and insurance, for some 150 economies. The information is derived from multiple sources, such as national accounts, employment statistics, balance of payments statistics, foreign affiliates’ trade in services statistics, foreign direct investment statistics and quantitative indicators largely sourced from international/regional organizations and specialized bodies. The profiles reflect data as contained in the WTO’s Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal (I-TIP) services database as of July 2014.

This booklet by the Trade and Environment Division aims at improving understanding of the role of trade and trade rules with regards to environmental issues. It seeks to answer, in easy-to-understand terms, some of the key questions of the trade and environment debate as they relate to the multilateral trading system.

L'édition 2011 des Statistiques du commerce international présente un aperçu général de l'évolution la plus récente du commerce mondial, donnant des renseignements détaillés sur le commerce des marchandises par produit et sur le Commerce des services commerciaux.

L'édition 2013 des Statistiques du commerce international présente un aperçu général de l'évolution la plus récente du commerce mondial, donnant des renseignements détaillés sur le commerce des marchandises par produit et sur le Commerce des services commerciaux.

L'édition 2015 des Statistiques du commerce international présente un aperçu détaillé de l'évolution la plus récente du commerce mondial, donnant des renseignements détaillés sur le commerce des marchandises par produit et sur le Commerce des services commerciaux.

This publication covers the treaty instruments drawn up by WTO Members in relation to the Agreement Establishing the WTO and the multilateral and plurilateral trade agreements annexed to this Agreement. It lists the signature dates of WTO agreements and the dates of acceptance or amendments to these agreements. It also provides the date of their entry into force as well as for other communications and declarations received by the WTO Director-General in his capacity as depositary. This publication reflects several WTO accessions and treaty amendments since the previous edition. Following a brief introduction, a dedicated section provides a comprehensive summary of the establishment of the WTO and the evolution of its treaty instruments. It also provides information on depositary notifications by the WTO Director-General, the relevant volumes of the WTO and UN Treaty Series, and treaty registration with the United Nations. Hyperlinks in the PDF allow readers direct access to the relevant WTO and UN documents.

Open global trade has had positive effects for African industrialization and development. Keeping markets open and predictable, as well as fostering a more generally favourable business environment, will be critical to spur renewed investment in Africa and support the continent’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This report looks at efforts to help African countries build capacity and to take fuller advantage of the benefits that trade brings. It examines various activities and projects the WTO is implementing in the continent, including in the areas of trade facilitation, compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and capacity building for trade and production. The report also looks into projects aimed at mainstreaming trade into the national development strategies of African countries. International cooperation, a multilaterally coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis and a reinvigorated multilateral trading system have the potential to lessen the effects of the pandemic and bolster Africa’s economic growth.

Cette nouvelle édition donne un aperçu de l’objet et de la portée de l’Accord sur les obstacles techniques au commerce (OTC), des types de mesures qu’il couvre et des principes clés de l’Accord. Il vise à améliorer sa compréhension.