The sixteenth review of the trade policies and practices of Japan takes place on 27 and 29 May 2026. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Japan.

27 May 2026

At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 22 May, members considered a request from China for the establishment of a dispute panel to review measures in India affecting imports of solar cells, solar modules and information technology goods. The new DSB Chair, Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota (Brazil), also made a statement on advancing the WTO's dispute settlement reform talks.

22 May 2026

Members emphasized the growing strain on the rules-based trading system amid escalating trade tensions and compliance challenges at a meeting of the WTO’s Goods Council on 20-21 May chaired by its recently elected Chairperson, Ambassador Erwin Bollinger (Switzerland). Delegations in attendance addressed 38 specific trade concerns raised by members, of which nine were raised for the first time.

20 May 2026

On 14 May 2026, the Russian Federation notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards regarding the initiation on 7 May 2026 of a safeguard investigation on certain motor car pneumatic tyres imported into the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union.

14 May 2026

At a meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) on 11-12 May, WTO members advanced work on transparency and notification practices, discussed the future direction of work on preferential rules of origin for least-developed countries (LDCs), and participated in an information session on the links between trade facilitation and rules of origin. The meeting was chaired by Ms Carol Tsang of Hong Kong, China.

11 May 2026

Sweden has given SEK 2 million (just under CHF 170,000) to the WTO's Global Trust Fund for 2026 to finance technical assistance and training programmes for government officials from developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The contribution was confirmed at a signing ceremony on 8 May at the WTO attended by Ambassador Nina Tornberg of Sweden and the WTO's Director of the Finance and Corporate Services Division, Andrew Rizk.

8 May 2026

At the first meeting of the General Council since the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), the newly elected Chairperson, Ambassador Clare Kelly (New Zealand), reported on her consultations with members on how to continue discussions in Geneva to build upon the high level of convergence on several areas of work at MC14 held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Members also took note of Türkiye's announcement that it was joining the growing convergence to extend the e-commerce moratorium, with many welcoming the additional progress in narrowing gaps in the discussions.

6 May 2026

At a meeting of the Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions held on 5 May, WTO members discussed the United States’ new notification regarding the imposition of import surcharges to address the country’s serious balance-of-payments deficits. The United States said the surcharges took effect on 24 February 2026 and will expire on 24 July 2026, unless extended by an act of Congress. Members welcomed the transparency of the United States and its readiness to engage in consultations in line with WTO rules.

5 May 2026

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of Belize takes place on 4 and 6 May 2026. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Belize.

4 May 2026

WTO members reviewed global cotton market trends and the path ahead for the cotton sector at meetings in Geneva on 4 May. The meetings follow the high-level cotton event at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon in March. Delegations noted commitments announced at MC14 to invest in African countries moving up the cotton value chain and stressed the vital contribution of cotton to international trade and its potential to foster sustainable development.

4 May 2026