Agriculture food and safety
Implementing the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference marks a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies which are a key factor in the widespread depredation of the world’s fish stocks. Implementing the new disciplines will present challenges for many developing country members especially least-developed countries. The objective of this report is to examine existing bilateral and multilateral assistance in support of sustainable fisheries including how this may help countries meet obligations under the new Agreement.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement
A new booklet launched on 27 July highlights strong engagement from WTO members at all levels of development in transparency and prevention of trade disputes. The information contained in the booklet is based on the 2020 review of members’ implementation of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the “SPS Agreement”).
Acuerdo sobre la aplicación de medidas sanitarias y fitosanitarias
En un nuevo folleto presentado el 27 de julio se destaca el firme compromiso de los Miembros de la OMC en todos los niveles de desarrollo con la transparencia y la prevención de diferencias comerciales. La información contenida en el folleto se basa en el examen de 2020 de la aplicación por los Miembros del Acuerdo sobre la Aplicación de Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias (el “Acuerdo MSF”).
Accord sur les mesures sanitaires et phytosanitaires
Une nouvelle brochure présentée le 27 juillet souligne le ferme engagement des Membres de l’OMC quel que soit leur niveau de développement en faveur de la transparence et de la prévention des différends commerciaux. Les renseignements contenus dans cette brochure sont fondés sur l’examen de la mise en œuvre par les Membres de l’Accord sur l’application des mesures sanitaires et phytosanitaires (Accord SPS) réalisé en 2020.
Canada - Measures Governing the Sale of Wine
On 25 May 2021 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Australia in “Canada — Measures Governing the Sale of Wine” (DS537).
Canadá - Medidas que rigen la venta de vino
El 25 de mayo la OMC distribuyó el informe del Grupo Especial encargado de examinar el asunto “Canadá — Medidas que rigen la venta de vino” (DS537) planteado por Australia.
Canada - Mesures régissant la vente de vin
Le 25 mai 2021 l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial chargé d’examiner l’affaire “Canada — Mesures régissant la vente de vin” (DS537) introduite par l’Australie.
“Agricultural Products” and “Fishery Products” in the GATT and WTO
The WTO Agreement on Agriculture applies to those “agricultural products” as defined in its Annex 1. This definition expressly excludes “fish and fish products” from the scope of application of the Agreement. In light of this exclusion the paper is intended to provide a historical account of the relationship between agricultural products and fishery products in the context of the negotiations leading to and during the GATT period up to the conclusion of the Uruguay Round and some of its implications for WTO negotiations.
Illicit Trade and Infectious Diseases
We collect a novel dataset that covers about 130 countries and the six four-digit live animal categories in the Harmonized System (HS) over a sixteen-year period to study the link between illicit trade in live animals and threat to animal health from infectious diseases.
Indonesia - Medidas relativas a la importación de carne de pollo y productos de pollo
El 10 de noviembrede 2020 la OMC distribuyó el informe del Grupo Especial sobre el cumplimiento encargado de la diferencia planteada por el Brasil “Indonesia — Medidas relativas a la importación de carne de pollo y productos de pollo” (DS484).
Indonesia - Measures Concerning the Importation of Chicken Meat and Chicken Products
On 10 November 2020 the WTO circulated the compliance panel report in the case brought by Brazil in “Indonesia — Measures Concerning the Importation of Chicken Meat and Chicken Products” (DS484).
Indonésie - Mesures concernant l’importation de viande de poulet et de produits à base de poulet
Le 10 novembre 2020 l’OMC a publié le rapport du Groupe spécial de la mise en conformité dans l’affaire “Indonésie — Mesures concernant l’importation de viande de poulet et de produits à base de poulet” introduite par le Brésil (DS484).
Future Resilience to Diseases of Animal Origin
The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note about trade issues associated with the spread of diseases of animal origin. The note maps out the international framework in place to address these issues along with ongoing efforts to ensure safe trade in animals and animal products including in wildlife.
COVID-19 and Agriculture
The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world agricultural trade. The paper notes that agricultural trade has fared better than other sectors and that initial measures focused on guaranteeing the immediate availability of food have been followed by a second phase of policies seeking to mend broken supply chains and help producers to cope with the “new normal” situation.
Standards, Regulations and COVID-19
Mainly affecting trade in medical products and food such standards and regulatory measures typically account for two-thirds of the notifications members submit to the WTO in line with obligations under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). These agreements set out disciplines for standards and regulatory measures used to protect human animal and plant life and health the environment and product safety. The paper notes that most of the COVID-related notifications were submitted under the emergency/urgent notification provisions in the two agreements in response to the pressing health problems posed by the pandemic. The notifications mainly concern trade in personal protective equipment food live animals medical equipment and medicines. The notified measures fall under four main categories: streamlining certification procedures; ensuring safe medical goods; making food available by relaxing technical regulations; and addressing COVID-19 risks from international trade in live animals.
The WTO's TPR Coverage of SPS Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
The main purpose of the paper is to present the coverage of SPS systems in SSA countries by TPR reports and their main findings. It also opens the discussion as to whether the SPS analytical framework in TPR reports has been sufficiently comprehensive and beneficial in guiding technical assistance (TPR follow-up) activities in SSA. At the outset we briefly present the strategic importance of agriculture in SSA countries with a description of the link between an effective SPS regulatory system and the performance of agriculture.
Chine - Soutien interne aux producteurs agricoles
Le 28 février 2019 l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial chargé d’examiner l’affaire introduite par les États-Unis “Chine — Soutien interne aux producteurs agricoles” (DS511).
China - Ayuda interna para los productores agropecuarios
El 28 de febrero de 2019 la OMC distribuyó el informe del Grupo Especial encargado de examinar el asunto “China — Ayuda interna para los productores agropecuarios” (DS511) planteado por los Estados Unidos.
China - Domestic Support for Agricultural Producers
On 28 February 2019 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by the United States in “China — Domestic Support for Agricultural Producers” (DS511)