The Latest Breaking News from World Trade Organization

Action urged on export ban

Thailand is joining 53 member countries to propose the World Trade Organization (WTO) address export bans on food and agricultural products after members who are net food importers raised concerns about food shortages based on the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bangkok Post · May 4, 2022

WTO chief, U.S. trade representative discuss pandemic response

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Thursday and discussed about the ongoing talks among WTO Members to reach an outcome on a pandemic response, Tai's office said.

Reuters · Apr 28, 2022

World Bank, IMF, WTO leaders urge quick action on action plan to address food security

The leaders of the International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization and the World Bank on Friday called for quick work on a new action plan on food security to be prepared by international financial institutions.

Reuters · Apr 22, 2022

Food supplies take Ukraine war hit

The war in Ukraine is causing immense, heart-wrenching human suffering. At the World Trade Organization (WTO), an institution based on the rule of law and established to help forge peace, we find the violence abhorrent to our fundamental principles. We echo UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call for the bloodshed to…

Bangkok Post · Mar 29, 2022

Why a leaked WTO 'solution' for a COVID patent waiver is unworkable and won't make enough difference for developing countries

There was a brief moment of euphoria last week, when it seemed that COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and supplies might be liberated from the World Trade Organization’s intellectual property rights straitjacket and a patent waiver would make them available and affordable to the unvaccinated in the global south.

The Conversation · Mar 21, 2022

World Trade Organization appoints panel to rule on Australia China wine dispute

The world's trade umpire appoints an independent panel to hear Australia's dispute with China over damaging wine tariffs.

ABC News · Mar 18, 2022

EU considers suspending equal treatment for Russia at WTO

The European Union said it was looking into suspending 'most-favoured nation' (MFN) treatment for Russia at the World Trade Organization over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, meaning the bloc would be able to hike tariffs or set quotas on Russian imports.

Reuters · Mar 3, 2022

BOI hosts the first APEC IEG meeting of 2022

As part of Thailand’s chairmanship of the APEC meetings in 2022, under the theme “Open. Connect. Balance.”, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), as Thailand’s main investment agency, hosted during 14 – 15 February 2022 the first meeting of the year of the APEC Investment Experts’ Group (IEG), which is…

Bangkok Post · Mar 1, 2022

WTO leader Okonjo-Iweala chosen to address MIT grads

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization, has been named the keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s commencement

The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2022

US accuses China of backing away from free-trade commitments

The United States has accused China of failing to meet its commitments to the World Trade Organization

The Independent UK · Feb 16, 2022