Report underlines value of WTO committee in helping resolve market access trade concerns
A first-ever report by the WTO Secretariat on the resolution of trade concerns related to market access highlights the effectiveness of the organization's committee work in helping members settle their differences without resorting to…
This note has been prepared by the WTO Secretariat to assist public understanding about the work of the WTO's councils, committees and other bodies. It is not intended as a complete account of all issues raised at the meeting. These can be found in the formal meeting minutes.
The Secretariat report lists 51 trade concerns raised in the CMA that have been reported as resolved or partially resolved by at least one member raising the concern. This represents 35.2% of the 145 trade concerns raised in the committee between April 1995 and March 2026. Of the 51 trade concerns listed, 34 are recorded as resolved and 17 as partially resolved. These results are based on information provided by 16 members.
The committee also heard a presentation about a paper by the Secretariat which confirmed that the number of trade concerns in the CMA has been steadily increasing, highlighting the value members attach to discussing specific and systemic trade issues in a multilateral setting (see chart). The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was the WTO agreement cited most frequently in these discussions, particularly in relation to tariffs and quantitative restrictions.
A representative of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretariat gave an update on recent HS developments, briefing members on:
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