WTO updates March 2023

E-commerce negotiations enter final lap, Kyrgyz Republic joins initiative

Participants in the negotiations on e-commerce intensified efforts to seek convergence on various topics during their 13-16 February meetings, aiming to wrap up talks by the end of 2023. The co-convenors of the negotiations — Australia, Japan and Singapore — welcomed the Kyrgyz Republic as a new participant, bringing the total number of WTO members participating in the e-commerce initiative to 88.

Seychelles is first WTO member from Africa to formally accept fishing subsidies agreement

Seychelles deposited its instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 10 March, making it the third WTO member and first African country to do so. Acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.

Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on wheat or meslin flour

Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 18 February 2023 a safeguard investigation on wheat or meslin flour and that it imposed a provisional measure.

Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on concentrated milk

Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 11 February 2023 a safeguard investigation on concentrated milk and that it imposed a provisional measure.

WCO supports the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to enhance its Post Clearance Audit function

A training workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) was delivered to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in Liberia from 20 to 24 February 2023. The workshop was conducted under the auspices of the WCO’s Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, financially supported by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The Programme seeks to provide technical assistance and capacity building to effectively implement the trade facilitation measures of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) by applying the WCO’s international standards and tools. The objective of this training workshop was to support LRA for effective implementation of the PCA function in accordance with the WCO’s PCA Guidelines. Specifically, the aim is to increase LRA’s PCA technical capabilities on complex and specialized key sectors of Liberia’s economy and aligning the PCA work with the objectives of TFA Article 7.5.

WTO: Application opens for online workshop on WTO Agreement on Government Procurement

Government officials from WTO members and observers are invited to submit applications to take part in the 2023 WTO Advanced Global e-Workshop on the Agreement on Government Procurement 2012 (GPA 2012) to be held virtually from 17 April to 12 May 2023. The course is aimed exclusively at developing and least-developed economies. Officials can submit applications until 26 March 2023.