The Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology met on 28 May to discuss how to continue advancing work on increasing flows of technology to developing economies following the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé in March. The newly elected Chair, Ambassador Sumathi Balakrishnan of Malaysia, told the Working Group that she will wo...
At the first meeting of the Committee on Agriculture since the 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in March, WTO members covered a wide range of issues on 27-28 May, with particular attention paid to farm support, including questions arising from members' notifications to the Committee. They also shared perspectives on determining the st...
At a meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) on 11-12 May, WTO members advanced work on transparency and notification practices, discussed the future direction of work on preferential rules of origin for least-developed countries (LDCs), and participated in an information session on the links between trade facilitation and rules of origin. The me...
At the first meeting of the General Council since the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), the newly elected Chairperson, Ambassador Clare Kelly (New Zealand), reported on her consultations with members on how to continue discussions in Geneva to build upon the high level of convergence on several areas of work at MC14 held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Members al...
WTO members held the first regular meeting of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies on 1 May 2026, marking a milestone in the implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. They approved various decisions on the functioning of the Committee.Members adopt rules of procedure at first Fisheries Subsidies Committee meetingThe Committee adopted its rule...
The WTO has opened online registration for this year's Public Forum, titled Powering the Future, which will take place at the WTO premises in Geneva from 15 to 17 September. It has also launched a call for proposals for the event, which this year will focus on services trade.The 2026 Public Forum will consider the role of services trade as an engine of...
At a meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 23-24 April, items discussed by WTO members included technology transfer, digitalization of IP offices, and TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints. In the meeting, chaired by Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand of France, members were also updated on notifications u...
WTO members examined Aid for Trade flows, the participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in global trade and capacity-building for developing economies during WTO Development Week held from 20 to 22 April.WTO members discuss Aid for Trade, technical assistance, LDC priorities in Development WeekAt the Aid-for-Trade session of the Committee on Trade ...
Eligible WTO members now have until 8 May 2026 to submit grant proposals under the WTO Fish Fund's second Call for Proposal, following an extension of the original deadline.Fish Fund extends deadline of second Call for Proposals to 8 MayThe second Call for Proposals opened on 2 February 2026 and is open to all developing and least-developed WTO members...
The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) concluded early 30 March with ministers adopting a number of decisions as well as making a commitment to continue work in Geneva on key outstanding issues.MC14 concludes with adopted decisions, progress on key outstanding issuesCameroon's Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the Chair of MC14,...
