About the WTO
A Global Framework for Climate Mitigation Policies
European Union and Certain Member States - Certain measures concerning palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels
The Trade Effects of a New Agreement on Services Domestic Regulation
United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Ripe Olives from Spain
Tariff spillovers and new rules for multilateral tariff negotiations
International export regulations and controls
Measures such as prohibitions export licences and restrictions assist in risk management and the regulation of trade in controlled and sensitive goods. They are established pursuant to international agreements and conventions on protecting people and the environment on controlling drugs and harmful substances and on contributing to international peace and weapons controls. This publication explores how particular international agreements and conventions operate in practice and how they link to the multilateral trading system. Prepared or reviewed by the secretariats and implementing bodies of the relevant international agreements and conventions the chapters delve into the export-related controls covered by these legal instruments and how these restrictions tie in with WTO agreements. The agreements and conventions included in this publication were selected on the basis of three criteria: the presence of provisions in the agreement or convention that seek to regulate exports; the extent to which WTO members are party to those provisions; and how often members refer to them in their notifications submitted to the WTO Secretariat. The aim of the publication is to provide a better understanding of how international agreements and conventions regulate the export of high-risk and controlled goods and how these regulations co-exist with WTO rules.
Introduction
WTO members utilize a wide range of measures such as prohibitions export licences regulations and other controls to assist in risk management and regulating trade in controlled and sensitive goods. Examples include measures for fulfilling specific environmental objectives the management of hazardous wastes and chemicals combating illicit drugs and harmful substances contributing to international peace and weapons controls and regulating trade in cultural property. Many of these export licences and controls are established pursuant to international agreements and conventions focused on these specific areas and are the result of many years of international cooperation in the respective fields.
Acknowledgments
This publication was coordinated by Roy Santana and Adeet Dobhal of the WTO Market Access Division. The coordinators are grateful to the Office of the Director-General for their cooperation former Deputy Director-General Anabel González and Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis Director of the Market Access Division for their encouragement constant support and guidance.
Foreword
The world has been confronted by multiple challenges in recent years. From the devastating health and economic consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the growing impact of climate change these crises have risen alongside longstanding global concerns such as alleviating poverty and fostering sustainable development. International trade has a pivotal role to play in addressing these pressing issues. However the trading of certain products can entail risks necessitating the need for measures such as export licences and restrictions in certain circumstances to manage these risks.
Turkey - Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States
Acknowledgments
This publication was coordinated by Roy Santana and Adeet Dobhal of the WTO Market Access Division. The coordinators are grateful to the Office of the Director-General for their cooperation former Deputy Director-General Anabel González and Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis Director of the Market Access Division for their encouragement constant support and guidance.
Introduction
WTO members utilize a wide range of measures such as prohibitions export licences regulations and other controls to assist in risk management and regulating trade in controlled and sensitive goods. Examples include measures for fulfilling specific environmental objectives the management of hazardous wastes and chemicals combating illicit drugs and harmful substances contributing to international peace and weapons controls and regulating trade in cultural property. Many of these export licences and controls are established pursuant to international agreements and conventions focused on these specific areas and are the result of many years of international cooperation in the respective fields.
Foreword
The world has been confronted by multiple challenges in recent years. From the devastating health and economic consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the growing impact of climate change these crises have risen alongside longstanding global concerns such as alleviating poverty and fostering sustainable development. International trade has a pivotal role to play in addressing these pressing issues. However the trading of certain products can entail risks necessitating the need for measures such as export licences and restrictions in certain circumstances to manage these risks.
WTO’s Contribution to Attaining UN Sustainable Development Goals
This report which was submitted to the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2023 highlights the role of trade in helping countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also underlines the WTO’s contribution to improving livelihoods and making trade work for people.
Acknowledgments / Disclaimer
This publication received guidance from Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang and from Yuvan Beedjadhur of the Office of the Director-General. Preparation of the publication was a joint effort across several divisions of the WTO.
China - Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures on barley from Australia
China - Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States
United States - Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products
India - Additional duties on certain products from the United States
Dominican Republic - Anti-dumping measures on corrugated steel bars
Introduction
The overall objective of the WTO is to help its members use trade as a means to raise living standards create jobs and improve people’s lives. The WTO operates the global system of trade rules and helps developing economies build their trade capacity. It also provides a forum for its members to negotiate trade agreements and to resolve the trade problems they face with each other.
Annual Report 2023
The WTO Annual Report 2023 provides a comprehensive account of the WTO’s activities in 2022 and the early part of 2023. At the start of the report Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reflects on the current challenges facing world trade and the role of the WTO in helping the world address these challenges.
What we do
The WTO operates the global system of trade rules guaranteeing WTO member governments important trade rights.
What we stand for
Simple fundamental principles form the foundations of the multilateral trading system. These principles have lain at the core of all WTO activities since its creation in 1995.
Who we are
The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole either by ministers (who meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva). Decisions are normally taken by consensus. The WTO Secretariat coordinates the activities of the WTO.