China initiates dispute complaint against Canadian surtax measures
China has requested WTO dispute consultations with Canada regarding surtax measures imposed by Canada on certain products of Chinese origin, including electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products. The request was circulated to WTO members on 11 September.
EU initiates dispute complaint against Chinese anti-subsidy investigation on EU dairy
The European Union has requested WTO dispute consultations with China concerning the initiation by China of an anti-subsidy investigation on certain dairy products from the EU. The request was circulated to WTO members on 25 September.
Indonesia launches safeguard investigation on tarpaulins made from plastics and synthetic fibers
On 23 September 2024, Indonesia notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 18 September a safeguard investigation on tarpaulins made from plastics and synthetic fibers.
Indonesia launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene
On 11 September 2024, Indonesia notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 9 September a safeguard investigation on polyethylene containing 5% or less alpha-olefin monomers in other than liquid/paste form.
United States: Dispute panel established to review certain tax credits under US Inflation Reduction Act
The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed at its meeting on 23 September to a request from China for the establishment of a dispute panel to rule on the WTO compatibility of certain tax credits under the US Inflation Reduction Act.
WCO organizes a session at the WTO Public Forum 2024: “Leveraging digitalization in Customs for inclusive trade”
Under the umbrella of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2024 (PF24), the World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted a panel session on 12 September 2024 focusing on digitalization, Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), Single Window and Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs).
One of the WTO’s largest annual outreach events, the Public Forum took place this year from 10 to 13 September 2024 at WTO Headquarters in Geneva. The event brought together more than 4000 representatives from civil society, academia, business, the media, government, and inter-governmental organizations and more than 600 speakers in over 130 sessions. This year’s Public Forum, titled Re-globalization: Better Trade for a Better World, explored how re-globalization can help make trade more inclusive and ensure that its benefits reach more people.
The WCO has been playing an active role in the WTO Public Forum for a number of years by organizing sessions, providing speakers and sharing information, with the aim of raising the profile of Customs and its relevance in cross-border trade.
WCO: Strengthening Tariff Classification Expertise Nepal Hosts a WCO National Workshop on HS
A National Workshop on the Harmonized System (HS) for tariff classification was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 2 to 6 September 2024. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Nepal Customs Administration, with the sponsorship of the Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) of China. The event was facilitated by two experts from the WCO Secretariat, bringing together 24 Customs officials from Nepal, aiming to enhance their expertise in tariff classification.
The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Harisharan Pudasaini, Director General of the Department of Customs of Nepal, who extended his gratitude to the WCO and CCF China for the invaluable support. He emphasized the significance of the HS as the backbone of global trade and highlighted that improving knowledge and collaboration in this area is a key to more efficient customs procedures, fair revenue collection, streamlined trade facilitation, and ultimately, a stronger and more resilient economy. He encouraged participants to seize the opportunity to improve their technical skills for uniform interpretation and application of the HS and to foster connections with experts.
The Workshop focused on building critical knowledge of the HS and enhancing practical skills to apply the knowledge in tariff classification. It also provided a platform to discuss WCO tools and resources designed to assist users of the HS to modernize their tariff classification work. Key presentations covered the application of the General Interpretative Rules, legal provisions related to the classification of a wide range of goods, including agricultural and food products, mineral products, chemicals, textiles, metals, and machinery, and case studies on various products. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions, sharing experiences and opinions on areas where they faced challenges in tariff classification. The interactive sessions allowed for a deeper understanding of complex classification issues and strategies to address them.