The European Union and the World Trade Organization

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href="/taxonomy/term/400309_en?s=69" hreflang="en">EU mission to the WTO in Geneva - Press and information team</a> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="info-text"> </div> <div class="toc-container"> <div class="item-list"><h3>On This Page</h3><ul><li><a href="#45604">Overview</a></li><li><a href="#45607">Role of the WTO and its importance</a></li><li><a href="#45619">Multilateral negotiations</a></li><li><a href="#45627">Plurilateral negotiations</a></li><li><a href="#45630">Dispute settlement</a></li><li><a href="#45633">EU and WTO reform</a></li><li><a href="#45636">Regular work of the WTO</a></li><li><a href="#45639">Trade Policy Review Mechanism</a></li><li><a href="#45641">Trade and development</a></li></ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45604"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Overview</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>The EU Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) represents the interests of the EU and its 27 Member States in the </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="http://www.wto.org"><span>WTO</span></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>. The EU Mission is part of the </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en"><span>European External Action Service</span></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span> (EEAS) established following the </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A12007L%2FTXT"><span>Lisbon Treaty</span></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span> of 2007. The </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva_en"><span>Permanent Delegation of the EU to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva</span></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span> deals with other international organisations in Geneva, such as UN, WIPO etc. whereas the </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/switzerland_de"><span>Delegation of the European Union in Bern</span></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span> focuses on bilateral relations with Switzerland. Visa and consular matters are dealt with by delegations of EU Member States in Bern.</span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45607"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Role of the WTO and its importance</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The overall objective of the WTO is to help its members use trade as a means to raise living standards, create jobs and improve people’s lives. The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who usually meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU supports the central role of the WTO in rule-making, trade liberalisation and sustainable development. EU plays a major role in the WTO since the EU is the world’s biggest trading bloc. And the WTO is at the centre of trade because more than 60% of EU trade is conducted on WTO terms. The EU is therefore a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system. The EU and its Member States are collectively the largest Aid for Trade donor, representing a third of all support provided globally. The EU and its Member States are also by far the biggest contributors to the </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/secre_e/budget_e/budget2021_member_contribution_e.pdf"><span>WTO budget</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> with a share of more than 30%. In recent years, the EU has taken on a leading role in WTO reform, not least to ensure that the WTO remains fit for purpose to support a green and inclusive recovery from the </span><span>COVID-19</span><span lang="EN-GB"> crisis and greater future resilience to such crises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The WTO provides a forum for its members to negotiate trade agreements and to resolve the trade problems they face with each other:</span></span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45619"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Negotiations</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"> <div class="field field--name-field-subtitle field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Multilateral negotiations</div> </h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>AGRICULTURE</h2> <p><strong>MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The current WTO negotiations were launched in November 2001 in Doha (Qatar) with a view to further liberalising trade, whilst making it easier for developing countries to integrate into the WTO multilateral system. Despite the EU's efforts, negotiations in agriculture have stalled. Changes in levels of economic development have in particular increased the importance of some developing countries as major exporters and players in agricultural trade. Negotiations are blocked particularly due to the unwillingness of some WTO members to reform their agricultural policies. Nevertheless, WTO members continue to negotiate to reform agricultural trade.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">These multilateral negotiations on agriculture take place in the framework of special sessions of the committee on agriculture with a view to making proposals for the WTO ministerial conferences. </span><span>At MC12, in a joint Declaration on Food Security, WTO members committed to avoiding unjustified export restrictions on food and improving transparency on any export restrictions that do occur. Moreover, a Decision was taken to completely exempt humanitarian purchases for the World Food Programme from export restrictions</span>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The EU regrets that members were not able to overcome their differences on a work programme for agriculture. The EU remains committed to reaching a realistic, focused and balanced outcome in the run up to MC13</span>. The EU <span>remains </span>involved in the negotiations on all pillars:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><strong>On Domestic support:</strong> reducing trade-distorting measures is an important step towards a fairer agricultural trading system. The EU has transformed its domestic support system, which now mostly comprises non-trade distorting measures. This has improved the functioning of the market for agricultural goods and trade. The EU continues to press other members to move away from trade distorting support measures. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><strong>On Market access:</strong> market access for agricultural products forms an integral part of the global trading system. Improvements in market access at the WTO could be best achieved by inclusive and comprehensive negotiations that encompass both agricultural and non-agricultural market access and services. Market access issues are naturally at the heart of bilateral negotiations for free-trade agreements.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><strong>On Export competition:</strong> building on the progress achieved in Nairobi, negotiations continue notably with regard to further disciplines on export credits and export credit guarantees, international food aid, and agricultural export state trading enterprises.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <h2><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">FISHERIES SUBSIDIES</span></span></span></span></h2> <p><strong>MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The fisheries subsidies negotiations aim at implementing what world leaders agreed in 2015 sustainable development goal 14.6, namely by 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and eliminate subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing, and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>MC12 witnessed a landmark multilateral Agreement to curtail harmful fisheries subsidies. These include rules on subsidies contributing to IUUs, overfished stocks, a complete ban on fishing in the unregulated high seas, and transparency obligations to ensure the Agreement’s implementation. While negotiations over subsidies contributing to overfishing and overcapacity were not completed, future work is being set on this areas with the aim of concluding them by MC13.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The agreed text can be seen </span><a href="https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/MIN22/33.pdf&Open=True">here</a><span>.</span></span></span></span></p> <h2><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">TRADE AND HEALTH</span></span></span></span></h2> <p><strong>MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, the EU has been actively promoting initiatives whereby the WTO, as the cornerstone of the international trading system, could help deliver an effective and comprehensive global response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to the health crisis situations, in particular, so that WTO Members to make their utmost efforts to prevent or minimise disruptions in the supply chains of essential medical goods. The EU has proposed specific actions relating to export restrictions, trade facilitation, technical regulations, tariffs, transparency and review, and called for the WTO to enhance its cooperation with other relevant international organizations, such as the World Trade Organisation or the World Customs Organisation. The EU also made a concrete </span><a href="https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S009-DP.aspx?language=E&CatalogueIdList=274473&CurrentCatalogueIdIndex=0&FullTextHash=&HasEnglishRecord=True&HasFrenchRecord=True&HasSpanishRecord=True"><span>proposal</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> in the area of IP submitted to the Trips Council.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The coronavirus pandemic has rekindled the global debate on whether the multilateral trade regime for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection limits access to essential medical products. Despite embedded flexibilities in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), India and South Africa, co-sponsored by a large number of developing countries, submitted an initial proposal for a temporary waiver in response to <span>COVID-19 </span>in October 2020, followed by a revised proposal in May 2021, which continues to divide opinion. The US administration voiced its support for a vaccines waiver. EU leaders indicated an openness to discussion, while putting forward an alternative plan with a focus on limiting export restrictions, compulsory licensing and using the existing TRIPS flexibilities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>During MC12, Ministers agreed on a Declaration on the WTO response to the pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics which affirms their commitment to transparency, timely and comprehensive information sharing, and restraint on imposing export restrictions. Responding to the requests from developing countries during the Pandemic, Ministers agreed on a waiver of certain procedural obligations under the TRIPS Agreement allowing for the swift manufacture and export of COVID-19 vaccines without the consent of the patent owner</span>. <span>The Declaration maintains both a strong intellectual property system and provides a key environment for vaccine production and development in African countries</span>. </span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45627"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Negotiations</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"> <div class="field field--name-field-subtitle field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Plurilateral negotiations</div> </h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><span><span><span><span><a><span lang="EN-GB">TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT</span></a></span></span></span></span></h2> <p><strong>PLURILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU is active in the area of the environment in the WTO. Besides actively engaging in the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, the EU is a cosponsor of three environmental initiatives: the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP), and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR). The goal of all three is to engage with the WTO membership to examine how trade and trade rules can play a positive role in addressing environmental concerns and how the WTO could support members' environmental objectives.</span></span></span></span></p> <h2><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT</span></span></span></span></span></h2> <p><strong>PLURILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The investment facilitation for development was among the three plurilateral initiatives launched at MC11 in Buenos Aires end of 2017. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The Joint Initiative aims at developing a multilateral agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development that will improve the transparency and predictability of investment measure as well as streamline and speed up administrative procedures and requirements applying to foreign investors. Furthermore, such an agreement will aim to enhance international cooperation and regulatory coherence, increase the impact of capacity building and technical assistance and contribute to sustainable development. The initiative does not cover market access, investment protection and investor-state dispute settlement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The initiative now has over 110 participants, with many developing country and LDCs being part of it, and can be seen as an initiative, which can considerably contribute to the economic recovery efforts following the global pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">EU attaches a great importance to this initiative and has signed both ministerial statements in Buenos Aires and Shanghai as well as the joint statement from December 2021. The EU contributes actively to the negotiations in Geneva. </span></span></span></span></p> <h2><span><span><span>DOMESTIC REGULATION JOINT INITIATIVE</span></span></span></h2> <p><strong>PLURILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span>On 2 December 2021, a group of 67 World Trade Organization (WTO) members, including the EU, have concluded negotiations in the so called Services Domestic Regulation Joint Initiative. This is a landmark agreement that will significantly cut red tape in services trade and will help to reduce the costs of global services trade by more than USD 150 billion every year. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>Services represent the largest and fastest growing sector of today's economy, but complicated rules and procedures have limited the amount of trade in services significantly. The agreed domestic regulation disciplines will align qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, licensing requirements and procedures for services providers.  It will facilitate trade in services significantly. Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises who do not have the same resources and experience to cope with complex processes as do their larger competitors.  The negotiated outcome will also commit Members to non-discrimination between men and women in authorisation processes. This is the first rule of this kind in the WTO.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The negotiated disciplines (in the form of the Reference paper) will be included in each member's GATS Schedules, in line with the timeframe agreed in the Declaration that concluded the negotiations. Members are currently undertaking the necessary domestic procedures ahead of the launch of certification procedures in the WTO later in the year.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For more information: </span></span><span lang="FR"><span><span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/jsdomreg_e.htm">https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/jsdomreg_e.htm</a></span></span></span></p> <h2>E-COMMERCE</h2> <p><strong>PLURILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS</strong></p> <p><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>Global rules are needed to develop a common, coherent approach that tackles global challenges effectively, fosters new opportunities, and encourages the expansion of digital trade (or 'e-commerce' as it is historically called in the WTO).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>During the 11<sup>th</sup> WTO Ministerial Conference, held in Buenos Aires in December 2017, a group of WTO Members decided to explore the opportunity to negotiate rules on e-commerce in the WTO. After a year of exploratory talks, plurilateral WTO negotiations on e-commerce were officially launched in January 2019. 86 WTO Members, including EU Member States, are currently engaged in these negotiations.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>Some of the topics in the on-going negotiations include: the facilitation of electronic transactions (e.g. e-contracts, e-signatures, e-payments); enhancing consumer and business trust; addressing barriers related to cross-border data flows and data localisation requirements; protecting computer source code; facilitating online trade in goods (e.g. paperless trade); improving the regulatory conditions for telecommunications services; and improving market access in services sectors and goods that are key for e-commerce.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>The EU’s objective in the e-commerce negotiations is to reach an agreement on a comprehensive and ambitious set of WTO rules and obligations. The EU wants to enhance both global and domestic digital trade, facilitate business operations, especially those of SMEs, and to strengthen consumer trust in the online environment. The EU will seek the negotiated outcome to be supported by as many WTO Members as possible, taking into account the different opportunities and challenges that Members may face in relation to e-commerce. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>During </span><span>MC12, the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions (the ‘<strong><span>e-commerce moratorium</span></strong>') was extended, a critical win for the digital economy. WTO members agreed to maintain the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until MC13. The members also agreed to reinvigorate their work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including challenges and opportunities affecting the developing countries and LDCs</span>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>More on e-commerce negotiations: <a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ecom_e/joint_statement_e.htm">https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ecom_e/joint_statement_e.htm</a></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45630"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dispute settlement</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">With more than 600 registered disputes and more than 500 adjudications since 1995, the </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm"><span>Dispute Settlement Mechanism</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> has been by far the most active function of the WTO.  This system of peaceful resolution of disputes between sovereign states or customs territories is the feature that most distinguishes the WTO from all other international organisations, past and present.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU is one of the most active supporters of the WTO Dispute Settlement system and has consistently intervened as a Third Party in all WTO disputes.  The EU has also been involved in many cases as a complaining or defending party.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>The operation of the Appellate Body was blocked in December 2019.  However, the EU has continued to participate in Panel proceedings both as a main party and as an intervening Third Party.  Moreover, the EU actively participates in all initiatives and negotiations that aim to restore the Appellate Body.  In order to preserve the smooth functioning of the WTO Dispute Settlement system during the absence of the Appellate Body, the European Union has participated in the creation of a </span></span></span><span lang="FR"><span><span><a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/15/council-approves-a-multi-party-interim-appeal-arbitration-arrangement-to-solve-trade-disputes/">Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement</a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>, which aims to reproduce as much as possible the operation of the Appellate Body.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Crucially, during MC12, Ministers agreed </span><span>to restore a fully functioning dispute settlement system no later than 2024</span>.</span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45633"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">EU and WTO reform</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The WTO is in crisis, affecting all three functions of the WTO: negotiations have failed to modernise the rules, the dispute settlement system has de facto reverted to the days of the GATT where panel reports could be blocked, and the monitoring of trade policies is ineffective. In addition, the trade relationship between the US and China, two of the three largest WTO members, is currently largely managed outside WTO disciplines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>During MC12, Ministers committed to undertaking a major reform of the WTO looking into all aspects of its activities. This should reinforce its capacity to be a credible forum for negotiations and to monitor global trade policy developments. Reforming the WTO is an essential priority for the EU since it is key to ensure stability and to promote a rules-based approach to international trade. This is why the EU has played the leading role on WTO reform and intends to continue to do so as discussions advance in Geneva. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-1-column paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-card-wo-image field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45636"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Regular work of the WTO</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU plays an active role in the regular work of the WTO. This work is mainly carried out in the </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/monitor_e/monitor_e.htm#councils_committees"><span>Councils and Committees</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> tasked with the administration of various WTO agreements and with monitoring their implementation. Additional and important regular work in the WTO includes </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm"><span>trade policy reviews</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> as a central part of the surveillance of WTO members' trade policies.</span></span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="row g-4 paragraph paragraph--type--text-box-2-columns paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="col"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45639"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Trade Policy Review Mechanism</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"> <div class="field field--name-field-subtitle field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Regular work of the WTO</div> </h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU attaches great importance to the transparency pillar or the WTO. At the centre of this work is the Trade Policy Review Mechanism. The importance of transparency of trade measures has increased even further during the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The EU participates actively in the regular surveillance of the national trade policies and practices of all the WTO Members as well as well in the preparation of the trade monitoring reports.  </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The Trade Policy Reviews are essentially peer assessment exercises that aim </span><span lang="EN-GB">to enhance transparency of trade policy measures and practices of all the WTO Members and provide a platform for an exchange and clarification. </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm"><span>https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm</span></a></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The frequency of each Member’s review varying according to its share of world trade. The EU – together with the US, Japan and China as the biggest global traders - goes through the review exercise every three years. The last EU TPR took place in February 2020: </span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp495_e.htm"><span>https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp495_e.htm</span></a></span></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>The trade monitoring reports provide the WTO Members with up-to-date overviews on the trade policy developments around the world and on the trends of implementing trade liberalizing as well as trade restricting measures. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/trade_monitoring_e.htm"><span>https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/trade_monitoring_e.htm</span></a></span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card h-100 text-box paragraph paragraph--type--card-wo-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <span id="45641"></span> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h2 class="card-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Trade and development</div> </h2> <h5 class="card-subtitle"></h5> </div> <p class="card-text"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB">The European Union is motivated by the economic reality that trade is a driver of development. The EU is keenly aware of the benefits of a rules-based system for global trade and development. The WTO has contributed to global sustainable development by enhancing transparency and economic openness, which in turn helped developing countries integrate into the world economy, lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and decrease inequalities between countries. The great development challenge for the WTO is how the organisation can effectively assist the efforts of those developing countries that are not yet sufficiently integrated into the global economy. Against this backdrop, the EU is working closely with developing-country members of the WTO, with special attention for least-developed countries (LDCs). The EU remains the biggest donor of aid for trade, and a champion of sustainable (economic, social and environmental) and inclusive development, with a particular focus on women and youth.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/devel_e.htm"><em><span>https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/devel_e.htm</span></em></a></span></span></span></p> </div> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="container-xxxl"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-9 six-items"> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="field field--name-field-manual-links field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="card paragraph paragraph--type--manual-links paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="text-box-header"> <h3 class="manual-links-title"> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">SEE MORE</div> </h3> <h5 class="manual-links-subtitle"></h6> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-manual-links field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--manual-link-item paragraph--view-mode--default"> <ul class="list-group list-group-flush"> <li class="list-group-item manual-link"><a href="https://www.wto.org/">World Trade Organization</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--manual-link-item paragraph--view-mode--default"> <ul class="list-group list-group-flush"> <li class="list-group-item manual-link"><a href="https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/acc_e.htm">WTO accessions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--manual-link-item paragraph--view-mode--default"> <ul class="list-group list-group-flush"> <li class="list-group-item manual-link"><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/eu-and-wto/index_en.htm">EU and WTO</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--manual-link-item paragraph--view-mode--default"> <ul class="list-group list-group-flush"> <li class="list-group-item manual-link"><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/development/index_en.htm">Development</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </article> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="mainfooter" class="site-footer"> <div class=""> <div id="scroll-to-top" class="site-footer__top clearfix footer-scroll-to-top"> <div class="container-xxxl"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby=""> <div class=""> <a href="#top"> <i class="e-circle-arrow-up2" aria-hidden="true" style="font-size: 0.9em; padding-right: 2px;"></i> Back to top </a> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__bottom footer-4"> <div class="region 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