About: WTO
United States accuses WTO’s Appellate Body of overreach in dispute handling
The US Trade Representative's office on Tuesday (11 February) accused the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body, which decides trade disputes between member countries, of "persistent overreaching" and failure to comply with WTO rules.
Davos 2020 diary – day #5
Welcome to Davos where the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place on 21-25 January. Throughout the week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into one of the world’s most exclusive conferences where political and business leaders meet every year to discuss global economic trends.
China, WTO members join EU’s ad-hoc appellate body in Davos
EU member states reached an agreement on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum with 16 World Trade Organisation members, including China, to establish an ad-hoc appeal body and overcome the US blockage of the global trade-regulating system.
Croatian Presidency praises Kazakhstan for readiness to host ‘difficult’ WTO ministerial
The Croatian EU Presidency praised Kazakhstan on Monday (20 January) for its initiative to host a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at a time when the world trade body is facing a deep crisis.
EU, US, Japan agree on proposals to limit subsidies
The EU, US and Japan put forward on Tuesday (14 January) a proposal to limit industrial subsidies among WTO members and explored ways to address forced technology transfers, two issues at the core of ongoing trade frictions with China.
France and US seek compromise on digital tax in 15 days
France and the US will try to settle their dispute over the French digital tax in 15 days to avoid further tariffs, French Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday (7 January).
EU charts path for ‘challenging’ post-Brexit UK deal
EU will keep engaging with the UK through the WTO and the UN as both sides work out a deal on their future ties once Britain leaves the bloc, according to the top Brexit negotiator in Brussels, Michel Barnier.
EU leaders to call for strengthening of trade sanction toolbox
EU leaders will urge co-legislators in the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to examine “as a matter of priority” the possibility to sanction countries breaching trade rules and blocking the dispute settlement process, according to the latest version of the summit conclusions seen by EURACTIV.
EU to strengthen trade sanctions as WTO paralysis starts
As the international system for settling trade disputes is set to become crippled on Tuesday (10 December), Europe will in the coming days propose ways to bolster its sanction toolbox against countries that adopt ilegal trade measures and block the renewal of WTO’s appellate body.
France ready to take Trump’s tariff threat to WTO
France is ready to go to the World Trade Organization to challenge US President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday (8 December).
A new trade policy with teeth and muscle
Europe is prepared to step up its response to unfair trade practices and push for a renewed WTO, aiming to display a more assertive stance towards its partners in the future.
US slams tariffs on EU goods, targeting Airbus, wine and whisky
The United States imposed tariffs on a record $7.5-billion worth of European Union goods on Friday (18 October), despite threats of retaliation, with Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies among the high-profile targets.
WTO clears US to target $7.5 billion of EU exports with tariffs
The World Trade Organisation formally authorised the US on Monday (14 October) to impose tariffs on up to $7.5 billion worth of EU exports after an arbitrator's decision over subsidies to planemaker Airbus.
Commission takes Colombia to WTO over ‘French fries’ dispute
The European Commission announced on Monday (14 October) that it will challenge at the World Trade Organisation the tariffs imposed by Colombia on frozen French fries, which the EU executive sees as “completely unjustified”.
The impact of US sanctions on European goods: a closer look
Scotch single malt whisky, German decals, Spanish stuffed olives, British cotton bed linen... These products have one thing in common: the US plans to tax them at 25%. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
WTO foresees global trade halved in 2019
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has lowered its global trade growth forecasts for 2019 to 1.2%, compared with its earlier 2.6% prediction issued last spring, with South and Central America bucking the downward global trend. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
WTO allows US to hit EU exports with record tariffs over Airbus case
The World Trade Organisation authorised the United States on Wednesday (2 October) to impose tariffs on EU goods worth up to $7.5 billion (€6.8 billion), as a response to illegal subsidies given by European governments to aerospace giant Airbus.
Chinese official: ‘Without a strong WTO, connectivity means nothing’
The EU and Japan have launched a new strategy to strengthen ties between Europe and Asia, seen as an alternative to China’s ‘Belt and Road’. But in view of the ongoing global trade disputes, for senior Chinese diplomat Xuejun Guo, the priority is nonetheless the renovation of the World Trade Organisation’s appellate body.
France and Germany show unity in response to US-China trade war
Paris and Berlin are sticking together in the face of the American trade threat. Both countries want to do everything possible to avoid the introduction of new customs duties between Europe and the US. EURACTIV France reports.
Commissioner Malmström: My successor will have a lot of work to do
"My successor will have a lot of work to do," the current EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström told Efe during her visit to Madrid on Tuesday (10 September). She pointed to relations with the US and China as being among the "very long list" of challenges facing her successor. EURACTIV's partner Euroefe reports.
Ambassador: ‘We should be more creative’ in finalising Azerbaijan-EU trade deal
It took 20 years for the EU and Mercosur to sign a trade agreement. “We don’t want to wait that much,” says the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the EU, urging the European Commission to drop its “bureaucratic matrix” thinking. "We don't hide our names," he insists.
Juncker Commission still hopes to finalise agreement with Azerbaijan
The Juncker Commission still hopes that it could conclude a new trade and political agreement with Azerbaijan in the next two months, provided that Baku moves forward on the trade part of the text, sources have told EURACTIV.
EU, Canada agree first workaround to avoid US block on WTO judges
Canada and the European Union announced a deal on Thursday (25 July) to stop their trade disputes falling into limbo at the World Trade Organization, where a US block on appointments of judges will paralyse the world's top trade court from December.