The WTO’s Introductory Trade Policy Course is currently underway in Geneva until 26 April. Over three weeks, 26 French-speaking government officials from 12 least-developed country (LDC) members of the WTO will improve their knowledge of the rules that underpin the multilateral trading system ..read more

Government officials from WTO members and observers eligible to benefit from technical assistance activities are invited to submit applications to take part in the 2024 Advanced Course on Analyzing Trade in Services to be held from 4 to 7 June at the WTO. Officials can submit applications until 25 April ..read more

On 15 April 1994, 123 countries gathered in Morocco to sign the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, the foundation of today’s rules-based international trading system. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala marked the anniversary by underlining the critical role trade has played in improving peoples’ lives around the world ..read more

Participants in the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Expansion Agreement on 11 April reviewed a proposal from China on how to improve the work of the ITA Committee. They also heard the WTO Secretariat’s overview of work on non-tariff barriers in the Committee and a report on ongoing discussions relating to ITA products in the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee. Participants also raised trade concerns related to the implementation of the Agreement ..read more

The latest edition of the WTO’s “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” foresees a gradual recovery in world merchandise trade volume in 2024 and 2025. This follows a contraction in 2023 driven by the lingering effects of high energy prices and inflation in advanced economies, particularly Europe. So, what does our forecast indicate ..read more

The new Global Services Trade Data Hub now available on the WTO website provides access to comprehensive WTO data on services trade. It provides visualizations and customizable features for download — catering to the diverse needs of trade negotiators, analysts, researchers and decision-makers — to deliver insights into global services trade ..read more

The WTO has launched a new online series designed to improve the trade capacity of WTO members, particularly developing economies, in terms of harnessing the potential of digital technologies for sustainable trade. In a video message delivered at the launch ceremony on 11 April, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted the unique ways that digital technologies can drive more efficient, inclusive and sustainable international trade ..read more

The United Kingdom has contributed GBP 673,000 (just over CHF 770,000) to bolster economic growth in the world’s least-developed countries (LDCs) through the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). The UK’s contribution was confirmed at a ceremony held with Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the UK’s WTO Ambassador, Simon Manley on 10 April at the WTO ..read more

Global goods trade is expected to pick up gradually this year following a contraction in 2023 that was driven by the lingering effects of high energy prices and inflation, WTO economists said in a new forecast on 10 April. The volume of world merchandise trade should increase by 2.6% in 2024 and 3.3% in 2025 after falling 1.2% in 2023. However, regional conflicts, geopolitical tensions and economic policy uncertainty pose substantial downside risks to the forecast ..read more

At the meeting of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on 8 April, WTO members considered six RTAs involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, Colombia, the European Union, Japan, Pacific Island countries, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Viet Nam. Members furthermore discussed how to improve the functioning of the Committee ..read more