Brazil has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States concerning US tariff measures which it says impose a 10% duty on all Brazilian products and an additional 40% duty on certain products of Brazilian origin. The request was circulated to WTO members on 11 August.

11 August 2025

World merchandise trade is now projected to grow 0.9% in 2025, up from the −0.2% contraction forecasted in April but down from the 2.7% estimate pre-dating the tariff increases. The upgrade is mostly due to frontloading of imports in the United States, WTO economists said in a forecast update released on 8 August. However, higher tariffs over time will weigh on trade, bringing next year’s expected trade volume growth down to 1.8% from 2.5% previously.

8 August 2025

The WTO published today (7 August) its 2025 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive account of the organization’s activities in 2024 and the early part of 2025. The Report looks back at recent key events, such as the 13th Ministerial Conference in February 2024, and describes the WTO’s work in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing world trade.

7 August 2025

The provisional programme for this year’s Public Forum is now available on the WTO website. The programme provides information on planned sessions and timings for the event, which takes place at the WTO on 17-18 September. The information is subject to change.

6 August 2025

On 6 August, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received Sri Lanka’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Sri Lanka’s WTO Ambassador R.G.S. Wijesekara. Just four more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force.

6 August 2025

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard welcomed a visiting bipartisan delegation of 28 members from the US House of Representatives on 6 August, one of the largest Congressional delegations to visit the WTO. During the visit, they exchanged views on the important role of the United States in the WTO, current trade challenges, and key issues on the organization’s negotiating agenda, including WTO reform.

6 August 2025

Global services trade growth slowed in the first quarter of 2025 to 5% year-on-year, roughly half the pace recorded in both 2024 and 2023. The appreciation of the US dollar against the euro and other currencies, coupled with increased economic uncertainty, contributed to the slowdown in services trade in the early months of the year.

31 July 2025

On 30 July 2025, South Africa notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 25 July 2025 an investigation on certain flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel.

30 July 2025

Trade imbalances have long been a concern for policymakers, prompting calls for corrective trade measures. Recent tariff actions — framed in part as efforts to reduce bilateral deficits — fit this established pattern.

29 July 2025

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced the appointment of Jennifer DJ Nordquist of the United States as a new Deputy Director-General. DDG Nordquist will replace Angela Ellard, who will step down from her post at the end of August.

28 July 2025