About: WTO
Ambassador: EU and South Korea born to be best like-minded partners
Climate change is likely to be a key area to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EU in the coming years, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Yoon Soon-gu, told EURACTIV in an interview about multilateralism, climate cooperation and the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy.
In first, WTO names women to half of deputy chief posts
World Trade Organization head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Tuesday (4 May) named two women to the WTO's four deputy leader jobs for the first time in its history.
MEPs vote down call for COVID vaccine IP waiver
An amendment calling on the EU to back India and South Africa's proposal to temporary lift intellectual property rights for the COVID-19 vaccine was rejected by the European Parliament on Thursday (29 April).
Commission, industry dubious about IP rights waiver for COVID-19 vaccines
Both the European Commission and vaccine manufacturers are not convinced by the potential benefits of waiving the intellectual property (IP) rights of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
WTO chief targets EU’s farm policy as part of global discussion on subsidies
The managing director of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said she wants to discuss China’s industrial subsidies but also state aid given to farmers, such as Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy, as part of efforts to improve the multilateral trading system.
UK calls for end to ‘pernicious’ trade practices, in apparent swipe at China
Britain said it will push G7 allies to do more to ban "pernicious practices" in trade, such as forced labour and intellectual property theft, in an apparent call for a tougher line towards China at the World Trade Organization.
EU official: Imposing animal welfare standards on imports would be WTO compliant
It would be wise to impose the equivalent standards of animal welfare on meat imports coming into the EU, according to a top EU official, who said this would be compliant with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, provided it...
Farming chiefs meeting signals thaw after EU-US trade row
A meeting between EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack showed the first signs of thawing relations after the trade dispute that has soured transatlantic relations in recent years.
Poor countries in line to receive funds from EU carbon border levy
The future carbon border adjustment mechanism is part of the "new own resources" for the EU budget and must be used to "combat global warming" across the world, Green MEP Yannick Jadot said on Wednesday (3 March). EURACTIV France reports.
New WTO chief’s pile of problems
The coronavirus pandemic, log-jammed trade talks and a long-delayed meeting of member states are just a few of the crises awaiting Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as she takes the helm of the World Trade Organisation next month.
Okonjo-Iweala elected as the first female WTO chief
The World Trade Organisation appointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its new director-general on Monday (15 February). The WTO's first female chief and the first one to come from the African continent takes the reins at a time when the organisation needs to reform to respond to growing global challenges and trade tensions.
Macron floats brokered Airbus-Boeing accord to Biden
French President Emmanuel Macron told US President Joe Biden that the leaders could broker a settlement to the long-running trade dispute between Boeing and Airbus, according to a media report on Wednesday (10 February).
The best basis for re-setting EU-US relations
What’s the quickest win for the Biden Administration and Europeans looking to turn a page after years of turmoil? Daniel S. Hamilton has the answer: settle the Boeing-Airbus dispute.
New US tariffs on French, German aircraft parts become effective
The US government on Monday (11 January) said it would begin collecting new duties on aircraft parts and other products from France and Germany from Tuesday after failing to resolve a 16-year dispute over aircraft subsidies with the European Union.
OECD candidate: The US is back as ‘guarantor’ of international liberal order
With the new US administration, Washington has again taken up its role as a guarantor of multilateral system, former EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou who runs for the OECD top job, told EURACTIV.com in an interview. “I think it has become...
Shortages, jams and shutdowns: Brexit ‘no-deal’ expectation creates chaos
Food shortages, tailbacks and congested ports: as talks with Brussels remain unresolved three weeks before leaving the EU single market, the UK is preparing for a chaotic "no-deal".
No time for empty promises: Europe must lead on harmful fisheries subsidies
The European Union (EU) claims to be a leader in sustainability and multilateral cooperation. But so far in the World Trade Organization’s fisheries subsidies talks, the EU has failed to lead. With the talks facing an end of year deadline, Europe has just six weeks to take the reins, write Rashid Sumaila and Daniel Pauly.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: ensuring fairness
‘I want Europe to be a global advocate for fairness’, said President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address in September. But how do we design fairness into the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)? The CBAM is...
EU backs Nigerian candidate for WTO leadership
Nigerian finance ministrer Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala picked up crucial backing from the EU on Monday (26 October), sources said, giving her bid to become the first African head of the WTO a major boost.
WTO authorises EU tariffs on $4 billion of US goods over Boeing dispute
The World Trade Organisation authorised on Tuesday (13 October) the EU to impose tariffs on US exports worth $4 billion in compensation for the subsidies given to Boeing by Washington.
EU set to get WTO green light for US tariffs
One year after sanctioning the EU for its support of Airbus, the World Trade Organization is expected Tuesday (13 October) to let the bloc impose sanctions on the United States for aid to Boeing.
Dombrovskis announces new defense instrument against trade ‘bullies’
The European Commission's executive vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis, told the European Parliament on Friday (2 October) that he will put forward a new mechanism to protect the EU from the coercive manoeuvres of trade partners like US and China.
Kenya’s WTO candidate says she will focus on climate change if selected
Kenya's candidate to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation pledged on Thursday to integrate climate change issues into the WTO agenda if selected.