At a meeting on the Work Programme on E-Commerce on 28 January, WTO members shared perspectives on achieving an e-commerce outcome at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), which will take place on 26 to 29 March in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Members continued discussions on the moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions and on the Work Programme.
WTO members participating in the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) advanced work at a 28 January meeting on finalizing an environmental sustainability package for the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, at the end of March.
The volume of world merchandise trade plateaued at a high level in the third quarter of 2025 following a strong first-half expansion driven by import frontloading, favourable macroeconomic conditions and rising demand for AI-related products. At the same time, the US dollar value of merchandise trade rose to an all-time high, lifted by rising export and import prices and a weaker US dollar.
At a meeting on 27 January, WTO members participating in the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) focused their discussions on a revised draft ministerial statement for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled to take place next March in Cameroon. The statement was first introduced by the co-coordinators at a meeting in November and has since been updated following intensive consultations over the past two months with a view to finalizing the text in the lead-up to MC14.
At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 27 January, WTO members considered a request from China for the establishment of a dispute panel to review certain Indian measures in the automotive and renewable energy sectors, which include incentives for the production of advanced chemistry cell batteries, automobile and auto components, and electric vehicles in India.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the latest cohort in the WTO Young Professionals Programme at a ceremony on 26 January at the WTO that also marked the 10th anniversary of the Programme. The 10 young professionals are working in divisions across the WTO Secretariat, where they will contribute to the WTO's activities and gain hands-on experience on trade issues throughout 2026.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed constructive engagement on trade during her participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland from 19 to 23 January. In her public engagements and her meetings with leaders, high-level officials and business executives, DG Okonjo-Iweala highlighted opportunities for trade growth, including artificial intelligence and digital trade. She also stressed that many aspects of the WTO are valued by businesses and governments, and urged reforms for those that need improvement.
On 23 January 2026, Australia notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 23 January 2026 a safeguard investigation on imports of fabricated structural steel.
A major update of the Harmonized System (HS) for the customs classification of traded goods published on 21 January sets out new HS tariff headings for human vaccines and other essential health goods. These changes, carried out by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in close cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO, aim to strengthening global preparedness for future health emergencies and improve the visibility of vaccine flows in international trade.
Speaking at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference of the 18th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin on 17 January, WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam stressed that water security is the foundation of food security. He highlighted estimates warning that global water demand could exceed supply by 40 per cent by 2030 if current water-use practices continue.
On 6 January 2026, Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 24 December 2025 a safeguard investigation on imports of dry pastries and breakfast cereals.
On 6 January 2026, Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 24 December 2025 a safeguard investigation on imports of plastic pipes and tubes and accessories thereof.
On 6 January 2026, Türkiye notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 31 December 2025 a safeguard investigation on imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin.
On 6 January 2026, Türkiye notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 31 December 2025 a safeguard investigation on imports of terephthalic acid.
On 6 January 2026, Türkiye notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 31 December 2025 a safeguard investigation on imports of other paper and paperboard.
China has requested WTO dispute consultations with India regarding certain Indian measures on solar cells, solar modules, and information technology goods. China said the measures in question include India's tariff treatment and certain measures that China said are contingent upon the use of domestic inputs and otherwise discriminate against Chinese imports. The request was circulated to WTO members on 23 December.
At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 19 December, WTO members agreed to a request from the European Union for authorization to impose countermeasures on imported goods from the United States in line with a WTO arbitrator decision in the US-EU ripe olives dispute.
Chinese Taipei has requested WTO dispute consultations with Canada regarding Canadian measures imposing tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and surtax on imports of certain steel goods and a global duty on imports of certain steel derivative goods. The request was circulated to WTO members on 18 December.
WTO members considered possible deliverables for the organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) at a marathon three-day General Council meeting on 16-18 December. The membership discussed reports from the Director-General and the chairs and facilitators of various negotiations outlining their views on what issues they considered ripe for consideration at MC14. Those reporting stressed that all issues remained on the table for post-MC14 work regardless whether or not they are taken up at the ministerial conference.
WTO members considered possible deliverables for the organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) at a marathon three-day General Council meeting on 16-18 December. The membership discussed reports from the Director-General and the chairs and facilitators of various negotiations outlining their views on what issues they considered ripe for consideration at MC14. Those reporting stressed that all issues remained on the table for post-MC14 work regardless whether or not they are taken up at the ministerial conference.
