The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has circulated an airgram outlining the proposed agenda items for the upcoming meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 25 July 2025. The DSB will review implementation status reports from the US, EU, and Indonesia concerning seven trade disputes, including US anti-dumping measures on Japanese steel products, EU biotech product approvals and palm oil restrictions, and Indonesian import restrictions. The meeting will also address a proposal for Appellate Body appointments, supported by over 100 WTO members.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has published its latest Trade Monitoring Report, noting a sharp rise in new tariffs and other import measures between mid-October 2024 and mid-October 2025. Merchandise worth $2.64bn, representing 11.1% of global imports, were affected, more than four times the previous period. Including similar export measures, the total reached $ 2.96bn. WTO members also introduced 331 trade-facilitating measures covering an estimated $2.09bn in merchandise. The report notes that almost one fifth (19.7%) of world imports are now subject to measures introduced since 2009. WTO economists forecast merchandise trade growth of 2.4% in 2025 and 0.5% in 2026.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has published the agenda for its Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) meeting to be held in person at the WTO building with hybrid participation options through Interprefy. The meeting will address implementation status reports for six ongoing disputes, consider new panel establishment requests in trade disputes between Canada and China, and discuss a proposal for Appellate Body appointments supported by over 100 WTO members. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am on 23 June 2025.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has published a report examining the influence of artificial intelligence on international trade. The study, titled 'Trading with Intelligence: How AI Shapes and is Shaped by International Trade', explores AI's potential to reduce trade costs, transform service trade, and redefine comparative advantages. The WTO highlights the risk of regulatory fragmentation and a growing AI divide, emphasising the need for coordinated governance. The report also underscores the WTO's role in fostering policy coherence and addressing trade-related aspects of AI governance within a multilateral framework.

The latest World Trade Organization (WTO) report reveals that trade covered by tariffs in G20 economies surged to unprecedented levels between mid-October 2024 and mid-October 2025, with imports worth USD 2,599bn affected over four times the previous period’s figure. Including exports, 185 measures impacted trade worth about USD 2,900bn. Despite this rise in protectionist actions, G20 members also introduced 184 trade-facilitating measures covering goods worth USD 2,055bn, nearly double the previous year’s value. The report highlights that most economies avoided retaliatory measures, opting instead for dialogue and efforts to reduce trade barriers.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been notified by Australia that it has initiated a safeguard investigation into imports of fabricated structural steel to determine whether increased imports are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to the domestic industry. Australia indicated that the Productivity Commission will conduct the investigation and will issue an initial circular or issues paper outlining participation procedures and submission deadlines, which will be published on its website. Importers, exporters and other interested parties will be invited to submit evidence, present their views and respond to the submissions of other parties during the inquiry. The notification, circulated as document G/SG/N/6/AUS/5, states that any safeguard measure may only be applied if the investigation finds that increased imports are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that Canada notified the Committee on Safeguards on 18 March 2026 of its initiation of a safeguard investigation on 16 March 2026, into imports of certain vegetable goods. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) commenced the investigation following a recommendation from the Minister of Finance. Key deadlines include notice of participation filings with the CITT by 2 April 2026, questionnaire responses by 10 April 2026 and a hybrid hearing, commencing on 15 June 2026. The Registrar of the CITT is the designated contact for the investigation. The investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of certain vegetable goods are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to Canada’s domestic industry.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its 31st report on G20 trade measures, covering the period mid-October 2023 to mid-October 2024. The report highlights a significant increase in both trade-restrictive and trade-facilitating measures implemented by G20 economies. Notably, the trade coverage of restrictive measures rose to US$828.9bn, while facilitating measures reached US$1,069.6bn. The WTO also reported a continued growth in G20 import restrictions, now estimated at US$2,328bn, representing 12.7% of G20 imports. The WTO expressed concern over the trade-restrictive trend and its potential impact on global markets and economic stability.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that Madagascar initiated a safeguard investigation on 13 August 2026 into imports of self-adhesive labels, packaging and other printed items on paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles or other similar materials. Interested parties must register with Madagascar's National Authority in charge of Trade Corrective Measures (ANMCC) by 12 September 2026 and may submit information, comments and questionnaire responses by the same deadline. The investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of the products concerned are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to Madagascar's domestic industry.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that Madagascar initiated a safeguard investigation on 31 August 2026 into imports of hulled rice, semi-whitened or whitened rice, polished or glazed and broken rice. Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards of the investigation on 2 September 2026. Interested parties have 30 days from publication of the notice of initiation to make themselves known to the ANMCC and submit comments, while questionnaires must be returned within 30 business days of receipt. The ANMCC may hold public hearings at the request of interested parties or on its own initiative. The investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of the products concerned are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to Madagascar’s domestic industry.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that Madagascar notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 17 April 2026 of the initiation of two safeguard investigations, the first concerning imports of certain unfermented fruit juices, fruit nectars and non-alcoholic fruit-flavoured beverages, and the second concerning certain plastic tableware, kitchenware, and household and packaging articles. The investigations seek to determine whether increased imports of the products concerned are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to Madagascar’s domestic industry. The notifications state that interested parties must identify themselves and submit any comments or requests for questionnaires to the investigating authority, the Autorité Nationale chargée des Mesures Correctives Commerciales (ANMCC), by 15 May 2026. Public hearings may also be organised, either at the request of interested parties or on the ANMCC’s own initiative, to allow parties to present evidence and respond to submissions.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that Morocco notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 13 April 2026 of the initiation of a safeguard investigation into imports of certain types of rice. The investigation seeks to determine whether increased rice imports are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to Morocco's domestic industry. Interested parties have 30 days from the date of initiation to submit comments. The notification designates Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce as the contact point for enquiries relating to the investigation. Parties may also request a hearing by submitting a written, reasoned request outlining the issues they wish to address.