WTO News

1. WTO opens online registration for 2026 Public Forum, launches call for proposals

   The WTO has opened online registration for this year’s Public Forum, titled Powering the Future, which will take place at the WTO premises in Geneva from 15 to 17 September. It has also launched a call for proposals for the event, which this year will focus on services trade.

2. Canada commits CAD 500,000 to strengthen food safety and plant and animal health capacity

   Canada is providing CAD 500,000 (approximately CHF 286,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity of public and private sector stakeholders in developing and least-developed countries. The contribution will support STDF activities that help countries meet international food safety and plant and animal health standards and facilitate safe trade, based on the STDF Strategy for 2025-2030.

3. Members review notifications, anti-dumping actions at regular spring meeting of Committee

   The WTO’s Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices met on 28 April 2026 to review members’ latest notifications of new, amended or previously reviewed anti-dumping laws and regulations as well as reports on anti-dumping actions.

4. WTO members review safeguard actions, exchange views on measures affecting steel products

   At a meeting on 27 April, the WTO Committee on Safeguards reviewed safeguard actions covering 38 products, 12 of which were steel/metal products. These actions were notified by members since the Committee's last meeting in October 2025. Several members expressed their views on the European Union's and the United Kingdom's actions concerning steel products. The EU investigation on grain-oriented electrical steel and measure on ferro-alloying elements also generated interventions by several members. The outgoing Chair, Ms Milagros Miranda Rojas (Peru), thanked members for their participation in the Committee.

5. WTO project aims to step up ePing use to increase transparency and market access in Africa

   Implementation of a WTO initiative to strengthen use of the ePing SPS & TBT Platform is now under way, helping governments, exporters and other stakeholders better track and engage in evolving product requirements affecting international trade. Funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the three year project focuses on five African countries and aims to enhance transparency, predictability and market access.