WTO

This report by the Director-General looks at the latest trade policy measures undertaken by WTO members and observers. These includes measures that facilitate as well as restrict the flow of trade. It is one of two trade monitoring reports published each year covering the whole WTO membership. This trade monitoring function is overseen by the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body.

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”).

"Services Profiles" provides key statistics on infrastructure services, i.e. transportation, telecommunications, finance and insurance, for over 150 economies. This series of publications has been integrated into the "Trade Profiles" series since 2016.

Resúmenes de una página por caso ofrece un breve resumen de las principales constataciones contenidas en cada uno de los informes de los grupos especiales publicados y en el informe del Órgano de Apelación posterior, si procede.

Esta publicación contiene resúmenes útiles de una página de las principales constataciones contenidas en cada uno de los informes de los Grupos Especiales publicados hasta finales de 2022, así como en los informes correspondientes del Órgano de Apelación publicados en ese período. Cada resumen de una página se compone de los hechos fundamentales, las constataciones principales que figuran en los informes y otras cuestiones especialmente importantes. La publicación incluye dos índices en los que se enumeran las diferencias en función de los Acuerdos de la OMC abordados y del Miembro de la OMC demandado.

"Status of WTO Legal Instruments" covers the legal instruments drawn up by WTO members in relation to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and the plurilateral trade agreements annexed to that Agreement.

Dealing constructively with subsidies in global commerce is central to G20 leaders’ goal of reforming and strengthening the multilateral trading system. The growing use of distortive subsidies alters trade and investment flows, detracts from the value of tariff bindings and other market access commitments, and undercuts public support for open trade. This publication finds that governments need to cooperate more on subsidies. It seeks to highlight the potential benefits of closer cooperation and considers some areas where this might be pursued constructively.

Il est essentiel de traiter de manière constructive les subventions dans le commerce mondial pour atteindre l'objectif des dirigeants du G-20 qui consiste à réformer et à renforcer le système commercial multilatéral. Le recours croissant à des subventions ayant un effet de distorsion modifie les courants d'échanges et d'investissements, affaiblit la valeur des consolidations tarifaires et des autres engagements en matière d'accès aux marchés, et ébranle le soutien du public en faveur du libre-échange. Cette publication indique en conclusion que les gouvernements doivent coopérer davantage en ce qui concerne les subventions. Elle vise à mettre en évidence les avantages que pourrait présenter une coopération plus étroite et examine certains domaines dans lesquels cette coopération pourrait être poursuivie de manière constructive.

Natural energy sources, such as solar, wind and water, are abundant, but they are not evenly distributed worldwide. The transmission of power across borders can help address imbalances between electricity supply and demand from renewable sources, contributing to security of supply. Security of energy supply is a core concern for countries around the world, especially in the context of the transition to renewable energy, which lies at the heart of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, only 2.8% of electricity generated is traded across borders. As the share of weather-dependent renewable power generation increases in the global energy mix, the World Meteorological Organization has a critical role to play in upgrading climate services to support decision-making in the energy sector. Trade also has a role to play to help balance power grids through interconnection with overland and undersea electricity cables. Such cables open up the possibility of bringing new suppliers with significant natural solar, wind and water endowments into energy trade. However, interconnection cables are complex and costly infrastructure, with projects taking 10-15 years to complete. This report discusses how to speed up interconnection projects. Actions identified include ensuring better access to sustainable trade finance and climate finance. Also important is improving the predictability and transparency of regulatory approval processes for these projects. WTO rules may also help to address bottlenecks in the supply chains of goods and services needed for grid and interconnection expansion. Trading renewable energy across borders could help economies meet their decarbonization commitments and reduce the overall cost of the global transition to low-carbon energy.

S’adapter à l’ère du commerce numérique : défis et possibilités examine comment l’adoption rapide des technologies numériques pourrait aider les pays en développement à accroître leur participation au commerce mondial. Il analyse également le rôle que les politiques nationales et la coopération internationale peuvent jouer dans la création d’un avenir plus prospère et plus inclusif pour ces pays. Cette publication marque la conclusion de la deuxième phase du Programme de chaires de l’OMC (PCO). Elle rassemble des contributions de titulaires de chaires du PCO, de membres du Conseil consultatif, de l’équipe PCO à l’OMC et d’autres fonctionnaires du Secrétariat. Le PCO joue un rôle important dans les efforts déployés par l’OMC pour renforcer les capacités commerciales et travailler conjointement avec les institutions universitaires des pays en développement.