WTO: China initiates dispute regarding Indian measures on solar cells and modules, and IT goods
China has requested WTO dispute consultations with India regarding certain Indian measures on solar cells, solar modules, and information technology goods. China said the measures in question include India’s tariff treatment and certain measures that China said are contingent upon the use of domestic inputs and otherwise discriminate against Chinese imports. The request was circulated to WTO members on 23 December. Source
WTO members grant EU authorization to impose countermeasures against US in olives dispute
At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 19 December, WTO members agreed to a request from the European Union for authorization to impose countermeasures on imported goods from the United States in line with a WTO arbitrator decision in the US-EU ripe olives dispute. Source
WTO: Chinese Taipei initiates dispute regarding Canadian measures on steel, derivative goods
Chinese Taipei has requested WTO dispute consultations with Canada regarding Canadian measures imposing tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and surtax on imports of certain steel goods and a global duty on imports of certain steel derivative goods. The request was circulated to WTO members on 18 December. Source
WTO, World Bank launch new tools to support developing economies on services trade
At the Trade in Services for Development (TS4D) Conference on 3 and 4 December, the WTO Secretariat and the World Bank launched new analytical and capacity building tools to help developing economies harness the potential of services trade to drive economic growth. The new tools, accessible through an online platform unveiled at the conference, include a services trade competitiveness dashboard to help policymakers assess their economy’s performance and the Handbook on Good Regulatory Practices, which includes a diagnostic and planning tool for regulatory reform. Source
WTO members review five regional trade agreements, discuss transparency issues
At a meeting of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on 2 December, WTO members reviewed five regional trade agreements involving China, Ecuador, Israel, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Türkiye, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also reviewed other topics relevant to the Committee’s work under the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs. Source
WTO MSME Group launches joint WCO-WTO-ICC study and spotlights entrepreneurs
The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) held its fourth and final open-ended meeting of 2025 on 2 December, focusing on deepening the presence of MSME voices at the WTO and sharing new resources to support MSME internationalization. The Group launched the WCO, WTO and ICC Joint Study Report on Integration of MSMEs into Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programmes, also now available in Spanish. Source
WTO: Large increase in new tariffs but also measures to ease global trade, WTO report shows
The value of global goods imports affected by new tariffs and other import measures increased more than fourfold from mid-October 2024 to mid-October 2025 compared to the prior 12-month period, marking the highest coverage in over 15 years of WTO trade monitoring, according to the WTO Director-General’s latest annual overview of developments in the international trading environment. At the same time, WTO members introduced trade-facilitating measures on both imports and exports, covering one-and-a-half times more trade than the previous period, and were pursuing dialogue more than retaliation. Source
United States launches safeguard investigation on quartz surface products
On 1 December 2025, the United States notified the Safeguard Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the initiation of a safeguard investigation on products made of quartz surfaces on 17 November 2025. The product covered by this investigation is quartz surface products (QSPs), which consist of plates and other surfaces made up of a mixture of materials that consists mainly of silica (e.g. quartz, quartz powder, krystobalite, glass powder) as well as a bonding resin (e.g. unsaturated polyester). For customs purposes, the QSPs under investigation are listed in the United States Harmonized System of Tariffs ("HTSUS") under statistical numbers 6810.99.0020, 6810.99.0040 and 7020.00.6000. Source
WCO: EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme Steering Committee examines 2025 impact and paves the way for Origin Self-Certification implementation in Africa
the Steering Committee – which includes beneficiaries of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme – met to review the work carried out in 2025 and to discuss the way forward. The Programme aims to facilitate and strengthen intra-African trade, as well as trade between Africa and Europe and other regions of the world. It represents a substantive joint effort by the European Union (EU) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), working in partnership with key stakeholders, to support African partners in implementing the AfCFTA. Source
WCO launches the Second Cycle of the WCO Performance Measurement Mechanism with call for Members to participate in self-assessment phase
The second cycle of the WCO’s PMM reached a new stage in its development with the launch of the self-assessment phase during the 3rd Meeting of the Performance Measurement Mechanism Project Team (PMMPT) from 8 to 9 December 2025. This self-assessment phase aims to empower Customs administrations to enhance their strategic decision-making by providing them with a comprehensive and standardized assessment framework, covering the full spectrum of Customs competencies, namely Trade Facilitation and Economic Competitiveness, Revenue Collection, Enforcement, Security and Protection of Society and Organizational Development. Source
WCO: International Customs crackdown stops tonnes of dual-use materials bound for illicit IED manufacture
During the four-week operation, 93 Customs administrations carried out intensified border checks, resulting in 475 seizures under Operation GLOBAL GATEWAY. Explosive precursors and other Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) components are legally available on the market. Customs administrations play a crucial role in ensuring these materials are traded legally and in stemming their illicit diversion and trafficking by organized crime or terrorist groups, which often divert these dual use materials from their licit determination into illicit channels. The Operation was the most successful since the WCO launched PGS in 2010. Not only did it remove over 54 tonnes of explosive precursors and additional IED components from the international supply chains - enough material for the illicit manufacture of thousands of IEDs - it also intercepted a significant number of illicit drugs, weapons and currency. The large volumes of IED components seized in or near conflict zones suggest potential diversion from mining to illicit IED use. These include:
- 54.05 metric tonnes of Explosive Precursors
- 76,110 pieces of IED components (dynamite sticks, detonators, parts)
- 17,252 meters of detonating cords
- 1,550 meters of safety fuses