WTO updates March 2024

WTO: EU wins WTO compliance action against US in ripe olives dispute

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has confirmed that the EU was right to challenge the US for not complying with a ruling relating to ripe olives from Spain. Today's WTO panel report presents again a clear and full win for the EU. It confirms that the US failed to implement the recommendations of the original panel, namely the finding that the US law, based on which anti-subsidy duties on Spanish ripe olives were imposed, is incompatible with WTO rules. In 2017, before the duties were imposed, Spain was the biggest exporter of ripe olives to the US, with imports worth USD 67 million representing 76% of US ripe olive imports. In 2022, Spain's exports to the US were only USD 20 million, covering only 26% of US imports. Following the result of today's report, both parties can now request the adoption of the compliance panel report by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) at the earliest at the DSB meeting held at least 20 days after the publication of the compliance report. If adopted, the report will become binding between the EU and the US, and the US will have to take immediate action to implement the ruling and remove the duties.

WCO: Togo Customs takes steps in its Rules of Origin competency development

Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), held a national training workshop on rules of origin in Lomé, Togo, from 11 to 15 March 2024 with the participation of officials from Togo Customs, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry, Chamber of Commerce and private sector. The objective of the workshop was to assist Togo in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin.

WCO: South Sudan Customs takes steps for competency development on rules of origin

Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Regional Training Center (RTC)  Kenya and the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), held a national training workshop on rules of origin for South Sudan Customs. The workshop was held in Juba, South Sudan, from 4 to 8 March 2024 with the objective to assist South Sudan in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin. The training is part of a workplan established with the RTC for competency development for several countries in the ESA region.

The WCO supports the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs in implementing the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement

The WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), conducted a Risk Management mission from 13-17 February 2024 in The Philippines in conjunction with a donor/HMRC Monitoring & Evaluation mission. The objective was to take stock of the progress made in recent years and to reaffirm the various collaborations in strengthening the capacity of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to effectively implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme has a multi-year strategic partnership with the BOC including capacity building on TFA technical measures such as Expedited Shipments, Time Release Study, Authorized Economic Operator, and Risk Management, while also supporting cross-cutting enablers within the Customs organizational development domain such as Gender & Diversity, Competency-based Human Resource Management, Integrity, and Leadership & Management Development.

WCO supported Namibian Revenue Agency in competency development on the Harmonized System

From 20 to 23 February 2024, the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) hosted a National Advanced Workshop on the Harmonized System and Commodity Classification in Windhoek, Namibia. The workshop was delivered by three experts from the WCO within the framework of the EU-WCO Programme for the Harmonized System in Africa (HS-Africa Programme), funded by the European Union as part of the comprehensive package of assistance to support NamRA’s work on competency development on Harmonized System and classification. The workshop was attended by 30 officers from different Customs Offices across the country and from the headquarters of the NamRA. The objective of this course was to deliver an advanced training on theoretical and practical aspects of the HS in the areas of mineral products, chemicals, medicaments versus food products, plastics, textiles, machinery and high-tech products, as well as to ensure that the participants understand the principles of tariff classification of goods in the HS.

WCO: Tunisia Customs strengthens its national pool of Harmonized System trainers

Under the framework of the EU-WCO HS Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF), through GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation), held a national training of trainers’ workshop on HS for Tunisia Customs, in Tunis, Tunisia, from 19 to 23 February 2024. Building on the knowledge and skills acquired by the participants through their successful completion of the WCO e-learning modules and on-site training at intermediate and advance levels on HS from May 2023 onwards, the workshop focused on further honing the technical competencies on tariff classification, enhancing the participants’ competencies in the areas of adult learning principles, training material design and development, training delivery and evaluation.

WTO: The United States launches safeguard investigation on fine denier polyester staple fiber

On 11 March 2024, the United States notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 28 February 2024 a safeguard investigation on fine denier polyester staple fiber.

WTO panel issues report regarding EU measures affecting palm oil, palm crop-based biofuels

On 5 March 2024, the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Malaysia in “European Union and Certain Member States — Certain measures concerning palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels” (DS600).

WTO: South Africa Launches Safeguard Investigation on Certain flat-rolled products of Iron, Non-alloy Steel, or Other Alloy Steel

On 29 February 2024, South Africa notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 23 February 2024 a safeguard investigation on certain flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy steel, or other alloy steel.

WTO: Morocco launches safeguard investigation on coated fiberboard

On 20 February 2024, Morocco notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 20 February 2024 a safeguard investigation on coated fiberboard.

WTO panel issues ruling on US compliance with Spanish olive duties ruling

On 20 February, the WTO circulated the panel report in the compliance proceedings initiated by the European Union in “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Ripe Olives from Spain”.