WTO | 2026 News objects

Notifications

At the assembly, the WTO Secretariat offered the findings of a survey carried out amongst members within the Workshop on Import Licensing and Notifications, held in September 2026, highlighting the sensible challenges confronted by members in making ready notifications. Some 68% of respondents reported difficulties acquiring info from the accountable authorities. For the annual questionnaire, 72% cited difficulties acquiring up-to-date info, whereas 48% reported challenges figuring out all related licensing and related administrative procedures.

Regarding doable enhancements, respondents highlighted clearer tasks amongst authorities (52%) and the designation of a nationwide point of interest (44%), alongside stronger inter-agency coordination, common reporting of modifications to licensing procedures, sensible steerage and examples, and additional technical help. The findings counsel that the principle challenges come up earlier than drafting, notably in figuring out related procedures and gathering present info. The survey permitted a number of responses, and its findings replicate members’ experiences reasonably than these of the WTO membership as an entire.

The Chair, Ms Mi Jin Ryu (Republic of Korea), knowledgeable members that for the reason that final Committee assembly in June, a complete of 49 notifications have been acquired underneath numerous provisions of the Agreement on Import Licensing. Of these, 16 had been acquired after the shut of the assembly agenda and will probably be reviewed on the subsequent Committee assembly.

Of the 33 notifications reviewed on the 15 October assembly, 23 notifications had been submitted underneath Article 7.3 of the Agreement. Article 7.3 requires members to finish the annual questionnaire on import licensing procedures promptly and in full.

Regarding the annual questionnaire, the Chair famous that 21 members have by no means submitted any reply to the questionnaire since becoming a member of the WTO.  In addition, 11 members have by no means submitted any notifications underneath the Agreement on Import Licensing. She inspired these members to take step one or contact the WTO Secretariat for technical help.

Trade issues

The Committee addressed follow-up questions relating to two beforehand raised commerce issues on the 15 October assembly. These comprised one from Brazil in regards to the submission of due diligence statements underneath the European Union Deforestation Regulation and the opposite from Japan relating to import restrictions in Indonesia on numerous merchandise, together with electrical merchandise, metal merchandise and materials.

The Committee then addressed 14 commerce issues relating to import licensing regimes of assorted merchandise. Two of those issues had been raised for the primary time, whereas the others had been raised on the Committee’s earlier assembly in June 2026 or at earlier conferences. The commerce issues cowl:

• Angola’s import licensing procedures for agricultural merchandise, raised by the United States;
• Egypt’s import licensing necessities for sure agricultural and processed merchandise, raised by the European Union;
• the European Union’s due diligence necessities underneath the EU Deforestation Regulation, raised by Australia;
• India’s Quality Control Order on plywood and picket flush door shutters, raised by Indonesia;
• India’s importation of pneumatic tyres, raised by the European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand;
• India’s import licensing measures on private computer systems, tablets and different digital merchandise, raised by Japan;
• India’s import licensing suspension for refurbished medical gadgets, raised by the United States;
• India’s furnishings high quality management order, raised by Indonesia;
• Indonesia’s commodity balancing mechanism, raised by Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom;
• Indonesia’s import licensing regime for sure textile merchandise, raised by Japan;
• Indonesia’s obligatory registration by importers of metal merchandise, raised by Japan;
• Indonesia’s import restriction on air conditioners, raised by Japan;
• Thailand’s import procedures for wheat feed, raised by the European Union;
• Türkiye’s import restrictions on two wheelers, raised by India.

Transparency and experience-sharing

The Chair famous that the Committee has undertaken a lot of initiatives to additional enhance transparency, with the lively involvement of members and the help of the Secretariat. These initiatives embody the group of two experience-sharing classes bringing collectively representatives from the private and non-private sectors.

The first experience-sharing session occurred in April 2025 and targeted on “Overcoming Roadblocks to Notifications”. Building on the sustained curiosity and engagement of members, a second experience-sharing session was organized on 4 June 2026, this time with the participation of private-sector representatives. 

Entitled “Enhancing Transparency and Trade Predictability by means of Effective Notification Practices, Public-Private Collaboration, and Digitalization of Import Licensing Procedures,” the second session offered a chance for members to change sensible experiences and views on the challenges related to import licensing procedures and their influence on merchants and companies. 

The Chair stated the displays and subsequent exchanges highlighted three intently associated areas for additional consideration: first, bettering notification practices; second, strengthening the communication and accessibility of data; and third, enhancing interplay amongst members and with the non-public sector.

Seven members took the ground to remark. The Chair stated the interventions confirmed members valued this sort of expertise sharing. She added that the Secretariat would compile all of the recommendations made and that she would maintain an off-the-cuff assembly to see transfer ahead.

Next assembly

The Chair stated the following Committee assembly is tentatively scheduled for 22 April 2027.