China initiates dispute complaint regarding EU definitive duties on electric vehicles
China has requested WTO dispute consultations with the European Union regarding the EU’s imposition of definitive countervailing duties on new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China. The request was circulated to WTO members on 6 November.
The Philippines launches safeguard investigation on cement
On 4 November 2024, the Philippines notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 31 October 2024 a “preliminary safeguard investigation” on cement.
WTO members review latest notifications of anti-dumping actions
The WTO's Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices met on 30 October 2024 to review members' latest notifications of new, amended or previously reviewed anti-dumping laws and regulations as well as reports on anti-dumping actions.
The WCO Smart Customs Project Launches the First Domestic Study Mission on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in China
From October 28 to November 1, 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held the first domestic study mission under the Smart Customs Project in China, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Supported by the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF China), this mission gathered officials from key departments including Risk Management, Science and Technology, Port Control, and International Cooperation in the headquarters, alongside the representatives from National Targeting Centers in Shanghai, Qingdao, and Huangpu, and officials from regional and local Customs offices. In the opening session, Lin Wei, Director General of the Department of Risk Management, highlighted the transformative role of digitalization and intelligent Customs systems in enhancing Customs performance and the security and efficiency of global trade. Leadership's active engagement and the level of participation in the mission underscored the strong commitment driving advancements in AI and ML implementation in China Customs.
WCO: Exploratory Study on the possible Strategic Review of the Harmonized System: A Step Toward Modernization
The World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretariat is releasing a report summarizing the findings of the "Exploratory Study on the Possible Strategic Review of the Harmonized System (HS)." This study marks a critical step in evaluating the current state and long-term sustainability of the HS, which has served as the backbone of global customs classification for decades. The HS now faces new challenges, including the rapid growth of e-commerce, increasing complexity of product lines, and diversification of users, as well as increasing demands for sustainability and climate action in trade. These shifts prompted crucial questions about whether the HS, in its current form, could continue to meet the evolving needs of its users in an effective and timely manner.
The WCO’s Exploratory Study is a response to these concerns, providing an opportunity to consider and assess how the HS can evolve and adapt to these changes while maintaining its role as a global standard. The report highlights key observations and recommendations from an in‑depth review of the HS and its related tools, offering insights into potential areas for improvement. This study, launched two years ago, aimed to deliver an analysis of the Harmonized System's "health." Its ultimate goal was to identify enhancement opportunities and propose strategic options to ensure that the HS remains a relevant and effective tool in an evolving global trade landscape. With the world moving toward digitalization, new trade patterns, and a stronger emphasis on sustainability, the WCO recognizes the need for the HS to stay adaptable, user-friendly, and future-proof.
As an exploratory study, its focus was to promote focused discussion by giving concrete ideas to start the discussions among WCO members on the HS’s future. In this it has succeeded as the Harmonized System Committee, Policy Commission and Council have taken up the challenge to critically examine the report to assess which findings and recommendations should be further explored or developed into specific change proposals.
The publication of this final report marks the conclusion of the initial study but also the beginning of a new chapter in the evolution of the Harmonized System.
WTO: EU and Taiwan reach understanding on WTO dispute over Taiwan’s offshore wind auctions
The EU and Taiwan have reached an understanding on the WTO dispute over Taiwan’s offshore wind auctions, outlining terms to address the EU's concerns about unfair treatment of imported goods and services. Sabine Weyand (the director-general for trade in the European Commission) and Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Jyh-Huei Kuo exchanged letters setting out the terms of this understanding.
Taiwan has now committed to introducing greater flexibility in the way the winning projects from the latest auction are taken forward. This added flexibility will effectively address past implementation difficulties faced by offshore wind developers, including those from Europe. Another important achievement is Taiwan’s commitment to no longer include localization requirements in future allocation rounds, either as eligibility conditions or as award criteria. Provided that Taiwan follows through with the outlined commitments, the EU does not intend to pursue this matter further within the WTO.
Addressing barriers in Taiwan’s offshore wind market is crucial for a sector of strategic importance. The EU wind energy sector alone has an annual turnover of €60 billion (2024 figure) and provided around 300,000 jobs in the EU in 2022. The EU will continue to work with Taiwan to ensure that the agreed way forward is fully implemented.