WTO News

1. WTO members adopt panel report regarding EU duties on fatty acid from Indonesia

   At a meeting on 28 August of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), WTO members adopted a panel report regarding the European Union’s anti-dumping duties on imports of fatty acid from Indonesia.

2. Deadline to register for 2026 Public Forum is 21 August

   The deadline for online registration for this year’s in-person Public Forum, which will take place on 15, 16 and 17 September, is 21 August 2026 (23.59 CET). Late and onsite registrations will not be accepted.

3. United Kingdom launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene terephthalate

   On 5 August 2026, the United Kingdom notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated, on the same day, a safeguard investigation on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

4. World Trade and Tech Day to explore policies to make AI work for inclusive trade

   The WTO will host the first World Trade and Tech Day on 14 September at its headquarters in Geneva, bringing together trade and information and communications technology (ICT) policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) strategies can better support economies' efforts to maximize the gains of international trade.

5. Global goods trade resilient in the first quarter of 2026 despite war in Middle East

   World merchandise trade growth exceeded expectations in the first quarter of 2026 as surging trade in electronic components related to artificial intelligence (AI) offset the negative impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which began in the final month of the quarter. Trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are expected to be more fully captured in trade data for the next quarter.