WTO News

1. Canada commits CAD 500,000 to strengthen food safety and plant and animal health capacity

   Canada is providing CAD 500,000 (approximately CHF 286,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity of public and private sector stakeholders in developing and least-developed countries. The contribution will support STDF activities that help countries meet international food safety and plant and animal health standards and facilitate safe trade, based on the STDF Strategy for 2025-2030.

2. WTO project aims to step up ePing use to increase transparency and market access in Africa

   Implementation of a WTO initiative to strengthen use of the ePing SPS & TBT Platform is now under way, helping governments, exporters and other stakeholders better track and engage in evolving product requirements affecting international trade. Funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the three year project focuses on five African countries and aims to enhance transparency, predictability and market access.

3. India launches safeguard investigation on soda ash

   On 24 April 2026, India notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 16 March 2026 a safeguard investigation on imports of soda ash.

4. Forty-six women-led businesses in Jordan to benefit from WEIDE digital trade programme

   Forty-six women-led businesses in Jordan have been selected as beneficiaries of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, allowing them to begin a year-long programme to strengthen their participation in international trade. The announcement was made in Amman on 23 April at a launch event hosted by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO), WEIDE's partner business support organization in the country.

5. DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai of Macao, China to the WTO

   Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with the Chief Executive of Macao, China, Sam Hou Fai on 23 April at the WTO. They discussed the active role Macao, China plays at the WTO and its strong support for the multilateral trading system. As trade openness and transparency are key to Macao, China's strong economic performance, both leaders highlighted the importance of the WTO for supporting the ongoing contribution of Macao, China to the global economy.