WTO: Nigeria Customs develops a robust national pool of Harmonized System and Rules of Origin trainers
Under the framework of the EU-WCO HS and RoO Africa Programmes, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held a national training of trainers workshop on HS and rules of origin for Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The workshop was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8 to 12 July 2024 with the objective to assist Nigeria in enhancing its knowledge and application of the Harmonized System and preferential rules of origin.
This workshop was conducted as part of the comprehensive technical assistance and partnership with NCS in relation to the implementation and launch of an advance rulings system in Nigeria in May 2024, and builds on the acquis from the basic, intermediate and advanced trainings conducted since January 2024. The support provided under the EU-funded RoO and HS Africa Programmes allows for the deployment of all-inclusive and wide-ranging capacity building activities, to enhance the infrastructure and capacity of NCS on both rules of origin and HS.
WTO: EU initiates dispute complaint regarding Chinese Taipei’s wind installation measures
The European Union has requested WTO dispute consultations with Chinese Taipei regarding measures in Chinese Taipei relating to investments in off-shore wind installations. The request was circulated to WTO members on 31 July.
WTO: Dispute panels established to review EU measures on imports of South African citrus fruit
The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed at its meeting on 26 July to requests from South Africa for the establishment of two dispute panels to review European Union measures affecting the import of South African citrus fruit into the EU. The DSB also considered a request from China for a panel to examine US tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.
WTO: Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on certain types of edible vegetable oils
On 18 July 2024, Madagascar notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 18 July a safeguard investigation on certain types of edible vegetable oils.
WTO members consider four regional trade agreements
At the meeting of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) on 2 July, WTO members reviewed four RTAs involving Cambodia, Iceland, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Ambassador Salomon Eheth of Cameroon, the new CRTA chair, also provided an update on RTAs still to be considered by the Committee.