At a meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) on 5-6 November 2025, members discussed transparency initiatives, notification procedures and preferential and non-preferential rules of origin. The Committee also heard updates from preference-granting members on recent developments in their programmes for least-developed countries (LDCs). The formal meeting was chaired by Ms Carol Tsang of Hong Kong, China for the first time.

At the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) meeting held on 4 November, WTO members discussed proposals to foster more transparency and cooperation amid various carbon emission policies that may impact the flow of trade. Members also heard a report on the CTE sustainable agriculture thematic session held earlier this week.

WTO members participating in the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) met on 29-30 October to advance work on finalizing outcomes for four sustainability topics for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). Technical discussions focused on enhancing the circularity of the electronics sector, and trade in environmental goods and services related to sustainable agriculture. Members also welcomed Thailand as the initiative's 79th co-sponsor.

At a meeting on 27 October, the WTO Committee on Safeguards reviewed members' safeguard actions covering 30 products, 10 of which were steel/metal products. These actions were notified since the Committee's last meeting in April 2025. The United States responded to various members' requests for consultations and to their proposed suspensions of concessions in respect of certain US tariffs. The United Kingdom and Canada exchanged views on the UK's proposal to suspend concessions regarding certain Canadian measures.

The WTO's Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices met on 29 October 2025 to review members' latest notifications of new, amended or previously reviewed anti-dumping laws and regulations as well as reports on anti-dumping actions.

At a meeting of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) on 28 October, Chair Jungsoo Hur (Republic of Korea) reiterated that members' submission of subsidy notifications is the most fundamental transparency obligation under the SCM Agreement. He expressed continued concern over chronically low submission rates.

On 29 October, a WTO arbitrator issued its decision on the level of countermeasures the European Union may request with respect to the United States in United States - Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Ripe Olives from Spain (DS577). The arbitrator also decided on the methodology the EU may use to fix the level of suspension of concessions or other obligations vis-à-vis the United States if, in the future, the US applies on EU agricultural products the countervailing duty measure that had been found to be inconsistent with WTO rules.

The First review of the trade policies and practices of the United Kingdom takes place on 28 and 30 October 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of the United Kingdom.

Research in developing a new Trade Policy Activity (TPA) index by a group of WTO and IMF economists reveals a marked pick-up in trade policy activity from around 2019-2020, reflecting increased interventions in trade for a range of policy objectives. The change also corresponds to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened trade policy tensions among large economies, and rising geopolitical risks. Future development of the indicator can fill an important information gap by providing policymakers with an early alert of possible policy shifts.

On 23 October, the WTO circulated the compliance panel report in the case brought by the European Union in Colombia - Anti-Dumping Duties on Frozen Fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (DS591).

China has requested WTO dispute consultations with India regarding certain Indian measures in the automotive and renewable energy sectors. China said the measures in question include incentives to promote the production of advanced chemistry cell batteries, automobile and auto components, and electric vehicles in India. The request was circulated to WTO members on 20 October 2025.

The WTO Secretariat has launched a new resource hub for parliamentarians on the WTO website, with the aim of providing legislators with timely updates on trade issues, direct access to key resources and information on training opportunities related to the multilateral trading system. The hub is intended to strengthen the link between parliaments and global trade rules, providing guidance to parliamentarians on the ratification of WTO agreements, the implementation of commitments and engagement on trade issues.

WTO members gathered in Geneva on 16 October for the first interactive sessions of the Committee on Trade and Environment, focusing on how best to facilitate trade while navigating diverse carbon emissions-measurement methodologies. The interactive sessions provided members with a platform for open dialogue and the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the linkages between specific environmental measures and trade.

The WTO and Interpeace held an event on 16 October bringing together representatives from Liberia, Mozambique and Oman to discuss how trade, when shaped by inclusive policies and dialogue, can strengthen peacebuilding, foster resilience and promote cooperation in fragile and conflict-affected states. The session, titled <em></em>Anchoring Peace in Trade: Member-Driven Pathways for Economic Cooperation and Stability<em></em>, took place at the WTO during the 2025 Geneva Peace Week.

The Fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Sri Lanka takes place on 15 and 17 October 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The new WTO Monthly Merchandise Trade Statistics interactive tool provides access to bilateral trade data for over 120 economies and more than 200 of their trading partners across 72 product categories. The tool, contained in the WTO's Tariff and Trade Data portal, is updated weekly and draws on statistics from Trade Data Monitor (TDM), which sources trade data from government offices and agencies across the world.

At a meeting of the Committee on Import Licensing on 10 October, the Chair reported on his efforts to work with members on improving transparency in licensing notification procedures. The Committee also reviewed 11 specific trade concerns raised by members, a very high number for a Committee meeting.

Members participating in the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) on 10 October reviewed progress on key issues. They also spotlighted a

Women-led businesses in Jordan can now apply for grants and technical support through the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund. The initiative, jointly funded and managed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to help women entrepreneurs strengthen their digital capabilities and expand into global markets.

Following exchanges on the 2025-2026 Work Plan for advancing gender equality in trade, members of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) met on 8 October to review a proposed implementation roadmap. The document will guide the group's work in the coming months, including initiatives linked to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference. IWG members also welcomed Ambassador James Baxter of Australia as the Group's new co-chair.

At a meeting of the WTO's General Council on 6-7 October, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala once again underlined the need for fundamental reform of the organization but also highlighted that the WTO

Global merchandise trade outpaced expectations in the first half of 2025, driven by increased spending on AI-related products, a surge in North American imports ahead of tariff hikes, and strong trade among the rest of the world. In response, WTO economists raised the 2025 merchandise trade growth forecast to 2.4% (up from 0.9% in August). However, the 2026 projection has been lowered to 0.5% (from 1.8%). Global services exports growth is expected to slow from 6.8% in 2024 to 4.6% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026.

The WTO Council for Trade in Services met on 2 and 3 October to discuss how to facilitate the recognition of professional qualifications to promote services trade and development. Members also considered the way forward for a proposal in support of least-developed countries and discussed various services trade concerns.

The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 3 October reviewed recent initiatives in international fora aimed at empowering small businesses through trade and highlighted preparations for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). Several small businesses were showcased and participants shared experiences on helping companies transition from the informal economy.