On 27 June, the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) marked MSME Day, announcing two new Small Business Champions. At its meeting on 26 June, the Group continued discussions on implementing the 2020 MSME Package and strategies to prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference, due to take place in March 2026 in Cameroon. Participants explored key topics, with a particular focus on supporting MSMEs in their digital trade transformation and sharing key takeaways from a recent session with the private sector on current trade challenges.

27 June 2025

Global goods trade posted a strong uptick in early 2025 driven by importers frontloading purchases ahead of anticipated higher tariffs; however, weakening export orders suggest that this momentum may not be sustained. The latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer rose to 103.5 — up from 102.8 in March, while the forward-looking new export orders index fell to 97.9, pointing to weaker trade growth later in the year.

26 June 2025

New Zealand is contributing NZ$ 150,000 (approximately CHF 74,000) to the WTO’s Fish Fund to assist developing members and least-developed country (LDC) members implement the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

26 June 2025

At a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 25 June, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, the Chair of the agriculture negotiations, briefed members on his recent consultations, including prospects for progress ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March 2026. WTO members voiced their support for realistic and pragmatic, results-oriented work and stressed the need for credible, concrete outcomes.

25 June 2025

At a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture on 23-24 June, WTO members reviewed developments on various topics, including food security, technology transfer and efforts to enhance transparency. Members also engaged in their routine examination of each other’s agricultural policies, with a view to gaining a fuller understanding of their implementation of WTO agricultural obligations. Diego Alfieri of Brazil was appointed as the new Chair of the Committee.

24 June 2025

The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed at its meeting on 23 June to establish two new dispute panels. At the request of China, a panel will examine surtax measures imposed by Canada on certain products of Chinese origin, including electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products. At the request of Canada, a panel will review additional import duties imposed by China on certain Canadian agricultural and fisheries products.

23 June 2025

The sixth edition of Trade and Environment Week will take place from 30 June to 4 July at the WTO headquarters in Geneva and online. The event will feature 15 public sessions organized by WTO members, focusing on a wide range of issues at the intersection of trade and the environment. It will also include a meeting of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE).

20 June 2025

The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) has launched its 2024 Annual Report, with the theme of driving change. The report underlines the STDF’s commitment to helping developing countries meet international food safety, animal and plant health standards while facilitating safe trade based on the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).

19 June 2025

At the 14th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held on 19 June, WTO members noted the advanced stage of the accession process and reaffirmed their support for the conclusion of the negotiations. The meeting marked the first formal gathering of the Working Party in seven years, underlining renewed momentum in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession process. The country started its WTO accession negotiations in July 1999.

19 June 2025

At a meeting on 17-19 June of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, WTO members agreed on the way forward for establishing a new working group on improving the transparency of SPS measures. Members also launched a new SPS mentoring system to assist developing and least developed country (LDC) members with transparency and engagement on SPS matters. The Committee also reviewed 56 specific trade concerns raised by members, four of which were raised for the first time.

19 June 2025