The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated the arbitration award in case DS611, China — Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, concluding appeal proceedings initiated by the EU under Article 25 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). The dispute concerns China’s use of anti-suit injunctions (ASIs) in litigation involving standard-essential patents (SEPs), and an alleged unwritten ASI policy. The arbitration was conducted under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), following the suspension of panel proceedings in April 2025. The arbitrators reviewed the panel’s findings and considered whether China’s measures were consistent with obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), including Articles 1.1, 28.1, 28.2, 41.1, 44.1, 63.1 and 63.3.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body met on 24 March 2025 to address multiple trade disputes. China submitted its first panel request challenging European Union countervailing duties on electric vehicles, following failed December 2024 consultations. The EU announced it needs a reasonable period to implement the DS593 palm oil ruling, while the US-Hong Kong origin marking dispute continues. The meeting marked the 85th unsuccessful attempt by 130 members to restart Appellate Body appointments, with the US maintaining its position on need for fundamental reforms.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that its Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions has begun discussions on the US’ temporary 10% import surcharge, which the US states were introduced to address the balance-of-payments deficits. The measure, introduced under Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974, took effect on 24 February 2026 and is scheduled to expire on 24 July 2026 unless extended by Congress.

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment met on 4 November 2025 to discuss proposals from China and Japan aimed at strengthening cooperation on carbon emission policies that impact trade. China presented a proposal focusing on the systematic review of carbon standards, enhanced information sharing, and increased support for developing members. The proposed non-binding guidance seeks to promote regulatory coherence without introducing new obligations for WTO members.

This tracker is intended to be used to track the progress of disputes at the World Trade Organization. It is organised per year of consultation request for ease of use. Consultations requested—2026 Dispute No Dispute Complainant Current Status 646 United States—Additional Duties on Certain Products from Brazil Brazil • Consultations requested 30 July 2026 • Press release 30 July 2026 645 Indonesia—Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports of Hot-Rolled Steel Coils from Kazakhstan Kazakhstan • Consultations requested 15 April 2026 • Press release 15 April 2026 Consultations requested—2025 Dispute No Dispute Complainant Current Status 644 India—Measures Concerning Trade in Goods in the Solar Cell, Solar Module, and Information Technology Sectors China • Panel requested 12 May 2026 • Consultations requested 19 December 2025 • Press release 23 December 2025 643 Canada—Tariff Rate Quotas and Surtax on Imports of Certain Steel Goods and Global Tariff on Certain Steel Derivative Goods Chinese Taipei • Consultations requested 15 December 2025 • Press release 18 December 2025 642 India—Measures Concerning Trade in the Automotive and Renewable Energy Technology Sectors China

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body has agreed to establish a panel to review Indian measures concerning incentives for advanced chemistry cell batteries, automobile components, and electric vehicles following China's second request on 24 February 2026. China alleges India's incentive schemes discriminate against foreign businesses and violate national treatment principles and import substitution subsidy prohibitions, while India maintains its measures comply with WTO obligations. The United States has appealed the panel report in case DS623 regarding tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, with the panel report having been circulated on 30 January 2026. Additionally, the European Union submitted its first request for panel establishment concerning Chinese patent licensing measures for standard essential patents, alleging China's measures restrict patent owners' rights and undermine patent territoriality principles. China declined to accept the EU's panel request. Canada, Colombia, the European Union, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States reserved third-party rights in the India-China proceedings.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), at its meeting on 25 September 2026, established a panel to examine Russia’s claims that the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism restricts imports and that its Emissions Trading System provides an export subsidy. The EU rejected the claims. The panel has not yet been composed, and the UK is among the members that reserved third-party rights. The DSB also agreed to delay consideration of a panel report until 27 October 2026 while China and Türkiye continue discussions. China’s dispute concerns additional duties and import permit requirements imposed by Türkiye on electric vehicles and other vehicles from China. Members did not agree to begin filling Appellate Body vacancies after the US opposed a proposal backed by 130 members. The DSB also held an information session on dispute settlement reform and received updates on the implementation of rulings in other disputes.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that global trade growth is expected to slow in 2026 following a stronger‑than‑anticipated expansion in 2025, according to its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. The WTO forecast that world merchandise trade volume growth would decline to 1.9% in 2026 from 4.6% in 2025 as the exceptional surge in trade in AI‑enabling goods moderates and earlier import front‑loading unwinds, while combined goods and services trade growth is projected to ease to 2.7%. Commercial services trade is expected to grow by 4.8% in 2026 and global GDP growth is projected to moderate slightly to 2.8%, with WTO analysis confirming that most global trade continues to be conducted on a most‑favoured‑nation basis despite recent tariff adjustments.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report on 16 April 2025, projecting a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade volume for 2025. The report, which includes services trade forecasts for the first time, warns of potential further decline to -1.5% if reciprocal tariffs are implemented. North American exports are expected to fall by 12.6%, while services trade is forecast to grow by 4.0%. The WTO notes significant trade diversion effects, particularly impacting US-China trade flows and creating new opportunities for least-developed countries in textiles and electronics sectors.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a notification outlining safeguard investigation procedures, establishing two concurrent 20-day deadlines for interested parties. The first deadline requires parties to register their interest in the investigation, while the second covers written submissions and hearing requests before the Commission. The notification specifies that safeguard actions, which allow temporary import restrictions, may only be implemented if increased imports are determined to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to domestic industry.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) members have brainstormed methods to reinvigorate the WTO’s work on services trade at a meeting of the Council for Trade in Services on 4 July 2024, in line with the mandates contained in the Declaration from the 13th Ministerial Conference held in February 2024. The Council was mandated to discuss WTO reform, short-term challenges when confronting global and domestic crises, and the WTO response to pandemics and trade services. Other issues including methods to increase the participation of least-developed countries in services trade, development dimension of trade in services, trade in services related to the green transition, the cost of remittances, services domestic regulation and AI were also discussed.

The Word Trade Organization (WTO)’s Sub-Committee on least-developed countries (LDCs) has held a session to explore way to boost LDCs' capacity to participate in services trade. Speakers underlined that LDCs' capacity to participate in services trade is hindered by infrastructure issues, skills development, the regulatory environment and limited technological capacity. The importance of international cooperation in tackling these challenges was stressed, with some speakers citing the importance of an Aid for Trade roadmap to address these constraints. While LDCs' exports of commercial services have grown above the world average in the last decade, their share in global services exports remained at 0.53% in 2022. Stressing the high degree of concentration of LDC services exports in traditional services such as tourism and transport, speakers underlined the potential of high-skilled services sectors, such as information and communication technologies, finance and business services. Speakers also pointed to significant opportunities in digitally delivered services. Other idea floated include deeper integration into regional networks through regional trade agreements, leveraging technologies and embracing digitalisation.