The European Commission opened a public consultation regarding a list of U.S. imports that could become subject to tariffs in response to the flurry of U.S. trade action, should talks with the White House fall through, the commission announced. The list covers over $107 billion worth of U.S. imports, including a "broad range of industrial and agricultural products," it said.
Egypt opened a safeguard investigation on hot-rolled flat steel on April 22, the country told the World Trade Organization. Egypt's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade said interested parties should make themselves known within 30 days of April 22.
Bahrain formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on April 28, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 97. The WTO needs 14 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.
The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body on April 25 agreed to establish a panel to review the EU's countervailing duties on new battery electric vehicles from China. The panel was created following China's second request to do so, because Beijing says the CVD violate Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (see 2408140010).
Guatemala and Peru told the World Trade Organization on April 23 that they resolved a dispute brought by Guatemala against Peru's additional duties on imports of certain agricultural products. The Guatemalan government said Peru "has adopted the necessary measures to comply with the recommendations and rulings" of the Dispute Settlement Body. Specifically, the dispute concerned Peru's variable additional duties on agricultural products, which were calculated under a price band system. A DSB panel previously found that Peru's duties violate WTO commitments.
The EU opened arbitration proceedings at the World Trade Organization on April 24 to review a dispute panel's findings on China's enforcement of intellectual property rights. The EU started the proceedings under the WTO's Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), which has been regarded by some nations as an alternative to the defunct Appellate Body. The WTO said the case marks the second time both the EU and China have turned to the MPIA to settle a dispute between them.
World Trade Organization members elected Argentina's Gustavo Nerio Lunazzi the new chair of the Council for Trade in Goods, the WTO announced.
World Trade Organization members confirmed the appointment of Nigeria's Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid to serve as chair of the special session of the Council for Trade in Services, the council's "negotiating arm," the WTO announced. Abdulhamid will lead discussions to achieve a "progressively higher level of liberalization, as reflected in members' specific commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services," it said.
Moldova formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on April 8, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 96. The WTO needs 15 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.
Canada filed a dispute consultation request with the U.S. at the World Trade Organization on April 7, alleging that the U.S. government's 25% additional tariff on automobiles and automobile parts violate WTO obligations. The request said the duties "appear to be inconsistent with" U.S. obligations under Articles II and VIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.