On 12 October 2026, Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 9 October 2026 a safeguard investigation on imports of sugar confectionary as well as chocolate and cocoa confectionary.

12 October 2026

A first-ever report by the WTO Secretariat on the resolution of trade concerns related to market access highlights the effectiveness of the organization's committee work in helping members settle their differences without resorting to dispute settlement. The report was presented at a 12-13 October meeting of the WTO's Committee on Market Access (CMA). The committee also reviewed a record 36 trade concerns raised by members at its meeting, eight of which were raised for the first time.

12 October 2026

Global trade proved more resilient than expected in the first half of 2026 despite the disruption caused by the Middle East conflict, as supply chains adapted and strong investment in artificial intelligence provided a powerful boost to goods trade. However, the resilience was not uniform, with services trade and some regions more exposed to the effects of the conflict. WTO economists have therefore raised the forecast for merchandise trade growth in 2026 while lowering the outlook for services trade.

8 October 2026

The WTO Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) met on 7-8 October to review developments in preferential rules of origin for least-developed countries (LDCs), hear updates from preference-granting members, and exchange experiences on origin administration and trade facilitation. Members also examined notifications on non-preferential rules of origin, discussed digital tools that can improve transparency and compliance with origin requirements, and considered draft annual reports on the Committee's work.

7 October 2026

At meetings held from 7 to 9 October, the WTO Council for Trade in Services and the Committee on Trade in Financial Services commended the fruitful discussions on services trade at the 2026 Public Forum, continued discussions on transparency of measures regarding recognition of foreign service suppliers' qualifications, and exchanged views on how to reinvigorate the Council's work. Members also addressed how to facilitate digital payment systems and reduce the cost of remittances, help least-developed countries (LDCs) strengthen their participation in services trade, and various trade concerns.

7 October 2026

WTO members meeting at the General Council on 5-6 October addressed issues related to the ongoing discussions on WTO reform, follow-up to outcomes of past ministerial conferences, and the state of ongoing negotiations on various topics. Members also discussed issues related to the Agreement on Electronic Commerce, emerging agricultural trade issues, and optimizing the outcome of future ministerial conferences, among other issues.

5 October 2026

The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) met on 2 October, with a focus on the practical role of intellectual property (IP) in helping small businesses innovate, grow and reach international markets. The meeting included an information session on IP tools and thematic presentations from members, international organizations and stakeholders. Several members reported on MSME initiatives in formal WTO committees.

2 October 2026

At a meeting on 2 October, co-sponsors of the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) discussed a work plan for 2026-27 in preparation for the 15th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC15). They identified priorities, working methods and potential deliverables for each work area, and expressed broad support for a transition towards more flexible and outcome-oriented work.

2 October 2026

A meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) on 1 October provided WTO members with an opportunity to take stock of the WTO's negotiating agenda six months after the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé and voice their views on how to advance their work. Members heard readouts from the chairs of the negotiating bodies about the state of play in their respective talks.

1 October 2026

Speaking at a panel on leadership in global trade at the 17th Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) Forum on 1 October in Montreux, Deputy Director-General DJ Nordquist said that the WTO and its basic functions are increasingly important as geopolitics and economic security now play a much bigger role in trade decisions, with companies having to think more about geopolitical exposure, security of supply, regulatory risk and resilience.

1 October 2026