Timor-Leste on June 18 kicked off negotiations with World Trade Organization members to allow the country to join the Government Procurement Agreement 2012, the WTO announced. Timor-Leste joined the WTO less than a year ago and is the first least developed country to open accession talks to the procurement deal. Timor-Leste committed to submitting an "initial market access offer" in its procurement agreement accession talks in August. In addition to discussing Timor-Leste, members of the Committee on Government Procurement celebrated the launch of the e-GPA Notification System, which will facilitate signatories' compliance with their transparency obligations under the agreement, the WTO said.
The European Commission on June 19 decided to exclude Chinese companies from EU government purchases of medical devices exceeding $5.7 million following the first investigation under the EU's International Procurement Instrument. The decision allows no more than 50% of Chinese inputs for successful bids, the commission said. The EU said it will add exceptions "where no alternative suppliers exist."
Panama formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on June 12, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 102. The WTO needs nine more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.
Joseph Barloon, who was a general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during Donald Trump's first term, told Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that he believes in rules-based trade.
Nicaragua formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on June 2, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 101. The WTO needs 10 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.
Malawi formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on May 28, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 100. The WTO needs 11 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.
The World Trade Organization released the agenda for the June 5 meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body. The meeting is held to exclusively consider Canada's request for a dispute panel in its case against Chinese import duties on certain agricultural and fishery products from Canada.
World Trade Organization members on May 27 elected chairpersons for the 14 subsidiary bodies under the Council for Trade in Goods, the WTO announced. They are:
The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body on May 23 heard China's first request to establish a dispute panel on Canada's surtax on Chinese products, including electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products, the WTO said. Canada said it's not ready to accept the panel at this time, punting the issue to the next DSB meeting, which is scheduled for June 23.
Russia opened a World Trade Organization dispute on May 19 against the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism, arguing that the mechanism violates various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. Russia's request for consultations also covered the EU's scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowances trading within the EU.