WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
13 July 2022  
(22-5314) Page: 1/70 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
 
REPORT OF THE TPRB FROM THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL ON  
TRADE -RELATED DEVELOPMENTS  
(MID-OCTOBER  2021 TO MID -MAY 2022) 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
1  INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  5 
2  RECENT ECONOMIC AND TRADE DEVELOPMENTS  ................................ .........................  8 
2.1  Overview of trade developments and economic outlook  ................................ ....................  8 
2.2  Trade developments  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 12 
2.3  Trade -related indicators  ................................ ................................ .............................  14 
3  TRADE AND TRADE -RELATED POLICY DEVELOPMENTS  ................................ ...............  16 
3.1  Overview of trends identified during the review period  ................................ ....................  16 
3.2  Trade remedies  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  25 
3.3  Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures  ................................ ................................ .. 30 
3.4  Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)  ................................ ................................ .................  36 
3.5  Trade concerns raised in other WTO bodies  ................................ ................................ ... 40 
3.6  Policy developments in agriculture  ................................ ................................ ...............  49 
3.7  General economic support  ................................ ................................ ..........................  54 
3.8  Other selected trade policy developments  ................................ ................................ ..... 57 
4  POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN TRADE IN SERVICES  ................................ .........................  63 
5  POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY  ..............................  68 WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
1. This WTO Trade Monitoring Report on trade -related developments arrives at a time when the 
world economy faces severe challenges. As detailed in the previous four Reports, the world continues 
to fight against the COVID -19 pandemic. At the same time, the war in Ukraine has created a 
humanitarian crisis of immense proportions and has negatively impacted the world economy, with 
serious potential implications for many countries around the world, especially with respect to  food 
security.  
2. Although the early part o f the period covered in this Report (mid -October 2021 to 
mid-May 2022) provided for some encouraging news for a post -pandemic economic recovery, the 
Russia -Ukraine war has dealt a severe blow to the outlook for the global economy. Fundamental 
challenges, s uch as those related to  access to COVID -19 vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, 
remain at the forefront of the downside risks that the world faces from the COVID -19 pandemic. The 
war further compound s the pressure on the world economy with trade costs continuing to rise and 
inflation mounting.  
3. Despite the review period ending on 15 May 2022, this Report also makes brief reference to 
the fact that, o n 17 June 2022 , WTO Members successfully concluded the 12th Ministerial Conference 
(MC12) in Geneva . This secur ed a series of unprecedented multilaterally negotiated outcomes on 
fisheries subsidies, WTO response to emergencies, including a waiver of certain requirements 
concerning compulsory licensing for COVID -19 vaccines, food security, and WTO reform . The 
moratorium on e-commerce customs duties was also  extended. This outcome underlines the critical 
role of the WTO in addressing the world 's most pressing issues, especially at a time when global 
solutions are necessary to respond to the pandemic, tackl e environmental challenges, and foster 
greater socioeconomic inclusion.  
4. Building  on the success  of MC12, WTO Members now have an important collective opportunity 
to lay  the foundation for further progress in the months ahead.  
Specific findings  
5. The global e conomic outlook has deteriorated since February as a result of the war in Ukraine, 
prompting the WTO to downgrade its forecasts for world trade over the next two years. The WTO, 
in its latest forecast of 12 April 2022, expects merchandise trade volume grow th of 3.0% in 2022, 
down from 4.7% in the previous forecast from last October. Trade is expected to grow by 3.4% in 
2023 although such projections heavily depend on how the conflict unfolds.  
6. The conflict was not the only factor weighing on trade during th e review period. The Omicron 
wave of COVID -19 saw cases and deaths rise sharply in the first quarter of 2022, adding to the 
human toll of the pandemic. More recently, stringent lockdowns in China aimed at checking the 
spread of the disease have again disru pted production and trade at a time when supply pressures 
appeared to be easing. Lockdowns could lead to renewed shortages of intermediate and final goods, 
aggravating supply chain problems and adding to inflationary pressures.  
7. Since the outbreak of the CO VID-19 pandemic, 436 trade and trade -related 
measures in the area of goods have been implemented by WTO Members and Observers . 
Of these, 288 (66%) were of a trade -facilitating nature and 148 (34%) were trade -restrictive. Export 
restrictions account for 82% of all COVID -19 trade-restrictive measures . According to the 
information either identified by the Secretariat or received from delegations and subsequently 
verified, around 73% (89 out of 122 ) of export restrictions have been phased out , meaning that as 
at mid -May 2022, 33 export restrictions were still in place . The estimated trade coverage of the 
COVID -19 trade -facilitating measures still in place (USD 149.7 billion) is larger than that of trade 
restrictions (USD 99.8 billion) .  
8. During the review period,  37 COVID -19 measures on goods were communicated by WTO 
Members, primarily amendments of existing measures originally implemented in the early stages of 
the pandemic or termination of others. Similarly, the flow of new COVID -19-related support 
measures by WTO Members to mitigate the social and economic impacts of the pandemic has 
significantly decreased  since in the second half of 2021.   
9. In the services sectors, the Secretariat  has recorded 155 COVID -19-related measures 
introduced by Members and Observers, since the outbreak of the pandemic. Only two new such WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  measures were reported since mid -October 2021 and five were reported as terminated . This confirms 
that the number of new COVID -19 trade in services measures has declined drastically since last 
year.  
10. The war in Ukraine  impacted trade flows significantly during the review period. The 
Secretariat identified some 71 specific trade and trade -related sanctions imposed by 43 WTO 
Members and one Observer on the Russian Federation in the area of trade in goods. Seventy -five 
services trade and trade -related sanctions imposed on the Russian  Federation by 39 WTO Members 
were also identified. In the area of intellectual property, several  WTO Members imple mented 
measures and sanctions that might indirectly affect the maintenance and licensing of intellectual 
property rights (IPRs).  
11. With respect to regular trade measures, 230 new trade -facilitating and 109 
trade-restrictive measures were re corded for WTO Members and Observers. These include 32 export 
restrictions and 18 import facilitating measures put in place by WTO Members in response to the 
conflict. The trade coverage of the import -facilitating measures introduced during the review peri od 
was estimated at USD 603.2 billion and that of import -restrictive measures stood at USD 23.5 billion. 
According to the Secretariat's preliminary estimates, and based on the available information, the 
trade coverage of the export -restrictive measures tak en by WTO Members in response to the conflict 
was estimated at USD 69.6 billion. That of the import -facilitating measures was estimated at USD 
38.3 billion.  
12. The stockpile of import restrictions  in force has grown steadily since 2009 – both in value 
terms a nd as a percentage of world imports. By mid -May 2022, some 8. 9% of global imports 
continue to be affected by import restrictions implemented since 2009 and which are still in force.  
13. After reaching its highest peak in 2020, the average number of trade remed y 
initiations was the lowest since 2012. Trade remedy actions remain an important trade policy 
tool for WTO Members, accounting for 30% of all non -COVID -19-related trade measures on goods 
recorded in this Report.  
14. The majority of the 93 new regular measures affecting trade in services  implemented by 
WTO Members and Observers, were trade -facilitating. More than half of the measures concerned 
telecommunications, computer and Internet - and other network -enabled  services, including a 
significant number o f tax measures, or financial services  
15. WTO Members continued to use the SPS and TBT Committees' transparency 
mechanisms to notify their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) 
measures and to discuss and often resolve specific  trade concerns (STCs) non -litigiously. Food safety  
was the most frequent objective identified in the 613 regular SPS notifications submitted by WTO 
Members and the majority of the 162 emergency measures notified in the same period, related to 
animal healt h. WTO Members submitted 125 SPS notifications and communications  on 67 SPS 
measures taken in response to the pandemic.  Most of the 1,446 new regular TBT notifications 
submitted by WTO Members during the review  period, indicated the protection of human hea lth or 
safety as their main objective. WTO Members submitted 213 COVID -19-related TBT notifications to 
the WTO. These cover a wide range of products, including medicines, medical supplies, and personal 
protective equipment (PPE).  
16. Several of the trade conc erns raised in WTO bodies  during the review period, were new 
and several had already been raised in previous periods, indicating persistent and unresolved issues.  
Overall, the review period saw WTO Members continue to use WTO committees  to engage trading 
partners on real or potential areas of trade friction.  
17. In the Committee on Agriculture  (CoA), Members posed 141 questions regarding individual 
notifications, overdue notifications, and specific implementation matters (SIMs) under Article 18.6 
with most of them focusing on Members domestic support notifications or policies. Global food 
market developments in the context of the war in Ukraine and the associated  implications for food 
security worldwide dominated discussions of the CoA. During the review period , of the eight export 
restrictions notified, one was put in place in response to the COVID -19 pandemic and two were 
directly or indirectly related to the conflict.  
18. WTO Members continued, during the review period, to fine -tune their intellectual property (I P) 
domestic frameworks, and to implement specific IP measures to facilitate  the development and WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  dissemination of COVID -19-related health technologies, as well as at streamlining procedural 
requirements for administrative IP matters.  
19. The Report also covers  several other important trade -related developments and discussions 
that took place during the review period, including trade and environment ; trade facilitation ; 
regional  trade agreements (RTAs) ; government procurement ; electronic commerce ; micro, small 
and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs) ; and trade finance.  
 
 WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This WTO Trade  Monitoring Report1 reviews trade and trade -related developments during the 
period from 16 October 20 21 to 15  May 2022.2 It is a mid -year preparatory contribution to the 
annual report by the Director -General provided for in paragraph (g) of the Trade Polic y Review 
Mechanism (TPRM) mandate , which aims to assist the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB)  in 
undertaking an annual overview of developments in the international trading environment that are 
having an impact on the multilateral trading system.  
1.2.  The Report is issued under the  sole responsibility of the Director -General of the WTO. It is a 
factual transparency exercise and has no legal effect on the rights and obligations of WTO  Members. 
It is without prejudice to the negotiating positions of Members and has no legal implicatio n with 
respect to the conformity of any measure noted in the Report with any WTO agreement or any 
provision thereof. It does not seek to establish whether a trade measure is protectionist , and it does 
not question the right of Members to take certain trade  measures  (see Box 1. 1 below).   
1.3.  The Trade Monitoring Report s aim to provide transparency on the very latest trends and 
developments in the implementation of a broad range of trade policy measures and offer an update 
on the main indicators of the world economy and on the state of global trade.  The regular discussions 
of the Reports among Members in the Trade Policy Review Body provide important input and 
perspective to the trade monitoring exercise, including on the coverage and analysis of trade -related  
issues . 
1.4.  This Report arrives at a time when the world economy faces severe challenges. The world 
continues to fight against the COVID -19 pandemic with new variants emerging and access to 
vaccines still lagging in some parts of the world. At the same time, the war in Ukraine has created 
a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions and has dealt a serious blow to the world economy. 
Under its trade monitoring mandate, the WTO Secretariat continues to monitor and provide 
transparency around the wide range of tr ade-related measures taken in response to these crises.  
1.5.  A consistent feature of the trade and trade -related measures taken in response to the 
COVID -19 crisis has been the frequent changes, adjustments, and gradual roll -back of such 
measures to reflect the evolving situation. The updated lists of measures implemented in the context 
of the current pandemic are available on the COVID -19 page of the WTO website3 and cover the 
areas of goods, services, and intellectual property, as well as measures communicated  by Members 
on general economic support. The lists presented on the website are updated regularly and are not 
exhaustive. This information is provided for transparency purposes and does not question or pass 
judgement on the right of WTO Members  to implemen t any of the measures listed. The full list of 
notifications received by the WTO Secretariat in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic is also 
available on the WTO website.4 
1.6.  In preparing the Trade Monitoring Reports, the WTO Secretariat requests Members for  
verification of the trade and trade -related measures identified. In the case of COVID -19 related 
measures, these were listed on the dedicated COVID -19 page on the WTO website. This transparency 
initiative has been widely welcomed as providing an important  platform for Members to ascertain 
how others were responding to the pandemic as well as update existing measures, including when 
these measures were terminated. In its verification requests, the Secretariat also encouraged 
delegations to notify measures t hrough the relevant WTO committees  leading to an important 
increase in formal notifications.  
 
1 The previous WTO Trade Monitoring Report presented to the TPRB (WTO document WT/TPR/OV/2 4, 
22 November 20 21) covered measures taken over the period from mid -October 20 20 to mid -October 20 21. 
The WTO Trade Monitoring Reports have been prepared by the WTO Secretariat since 2009. On 7 July 2022, 
the WTO Secretariat, together with the Secretariats of the OECD and UNCTAD, issued the G20 Reports on  
trade and investment measures  implemented by G20 economies during the period mid -October 202 1 to 
mid-May 202 2 (available on the WTO website).  
2 Unless otherwise indicated in the relevant section . In addition to the trade policy measures 
implemented during the period under review and c aptured by this Report, other actions that impact trade flows 
may have been taken by WTO Members.  
3 WTO,  COVID -19 and World Trade . Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ covid19_e/covid19_e.htm . 
4 WTO,  WTO Members' Notifications on COVID -19. Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/notifications_e.htm . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  1.7.  The structure of this Monitoring Report is modified slightly compared to the November  2021 
version. Each Section, except Section 2, will first cover the regular mo nitoring of trade and trade -
related measures implemented during the review period. Subsequently, each Section will address 
developments in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic, including specific work and activities 
undertaken in various WTO committees in this context. Finally, and if applicable, each Section will 
address developments in the context of the war in Ukraine.  
1.8.  Section 2 of the Report provides an overview of recent economic and trade developments  as 
well as the most recent forecasts for world tr ade growth. Section 3 presents selected trade and 
trade-related policy trends for the review period. Policy developments in trade in services and 
trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights  (TRIPS) are included in Sections 4 and 5, 
respectively.  
1.9.  A separate Addendum to this Report contains Annexes with new regular measures recorded for 
WTO Members  during the review period. Measures implemented outside of this period are not 
included in these Annexes . This information is also publicly available thr ough the Trade Monitoring 
Database (TMDB).5 A dedicated page on the WTO website provides an overview of measures 
implemented and notifications submitted in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic.6 
1.10.  Information on the measures included in this Report was collected from inputs submitted by 
WTO Members and Observers, as well as from other official and public sources. Replies to the 
Director -General's initial request for information on measures taken during the period under review 
and replies to the requests for  verification were received from 77 Members7 (Box 1. 2), which 
represents 47.0% of the membership, and covers around 91.3% of world imports.8 Two Observers 
also replied to the request for information. Overall, 93 Members and Observers were covered in the 
Secretariat's requests for verification of measures with a total of 191 files sent to delegations. 
Participation in the verification process was u neven, and in many cases the Secretariat received only  
partial responses and often after the indicated deadline. Where it has not been possible to confirm 
the information, this is noted in the Annexes.  
1.11.  As in many areas of WTO work, p reparation of this Trad e Monitoring Report was complicated 
by developments in the context of the war in Ukraine. This Report seeks to provide a factual and 
non-attributive account of developments in the context of the conflict.  
1.12.  Finally, o n 17 June 2022, WTO Members successfully concluded the 12th Ministerial 
Conference (MC12) in Geneva  securing  unprecedented multilaterally negotiated outcomes on 
fisheries subsidies, WTO response to emergencies, including a waiver of certain requirements 
concerning compulsory licensing for COVID -19 vaccines, food security, and WTO reform. The 
moratorium on E -commerce customs duties has also been extended. This outcome underlines the 
critical role of the WTO in addressing the world's most pressing issues, especially at a time when 
global solutions a re necessary to respond to the pandemic, tackle environmental challenges, and 
foster greater socioeconomic inclusion. These important achievements will be covered in more detail 
in the end -of-year Trade Monitoring Report.  
 
 
5 WTO,  Trade Monitoring Database . Viewed at: http://tmdb.wto.org . 
6 WTO,  COVID -19 and World Trade . Viewed at:  
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid19_e.htm . 
7 The European Union and its member States counted separately.  
8 This figure includes intra -EU trade.   WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Box 1.1 About the WTO Trade Monitoring Report  
The Trade Monitoring Report is first and foremost a transparency exercise. It is intended to be purely factual and has 
no legal effect on the rights and obligations of WTO Membe rs. It is without prejudice to Members' negotiating positions 
and has no legal implication with respect to the conformity of any measure noted in the report with any WTO 
Agreement or any provision thereof.  
The Report aims to shed light on the latest trend s in the implementation of a broad range of policy measures that 
facilitate as well as restrict the flow of trade, and to provide an update on the state of global trade. The Report neither 
seeks to pronounce itself on whether a trade measure is protectioni st, nor does it question the right of Members to 
take certain trade measures. The Reports continue to evolve in terms of the coverage and analysis of trade -related 
issues.  
Regarding trade remedy actions, it has been highlighted in discussions among Members that some of these measures 
are taken to address what is perceived by some as a market distortion resulting from trade practices of entities in 
another trading partner. Th e WTO Anti -Dumping and SCM Agreements permit WTO Members to impose anti -dumping 
(AD) or countervailing (CVD) duties to offset what is perceived to be injurious dumping or subsidization of products 
exported from one Member to another. The Reports are not ab le to establish if, where or when such perceived 
distortive practices have taken place. The Reports have never categorized the use of trade remedies as protectionist 
or WTO -inconsistent or criticized governments for utilizing them. The main objective of mo nitoring these measures 
is to provide added transparency and to identify emerging trends in the application of trade policy toots. 
With respect to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) issues covered in the Reports, 
it is important to emphasize that they are neither classified nor counted as trade -restrictive or trade -facilitating, and 
the increasing trend with respect to the number of notifications of such measures is linked to the transparency 
provisions of the Agreements  only. The Reports have consistently underlined the basic premise that an increased 
number of SPS and TBT notifications do not automatically imply greater use of protectionist or unnecessarily trade -
restrictive measures, but rather enhanced transparency re garding these measures. Finally, the Reports clearly 
emphasize that the SPS and TBT  Agreements specifically allow Members to take measures in the pursuit of legitimate 
policy objectives.  
Nothing in this Report prejudices Members' right to take such measure s consistent with security exceptions under 
the relevant WTO Agreements. In the context of the war in Ukraine measures implemented with reference to national 
security concerns are neither included in the Annexes nor attributed.  
The WTO Secretariat strives  to ensure that the Trade Monitoring Reports are factual and objective. Since 2009, the 
Reports have aimed to provide a nuanced perspective on developments in international trade. For example, the 
Reports have consistently emphasized that, although the num ber of specific and often long -term restrictive trade 
measures remain a source of serious concern, other key factors may influence trade developments. Discussions 
among Members have also drawn attention to this point and to the fact that, with respect to b oth, vigilance is required.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Box 1.2 Participation in the Preparation of this Report  
Albania  
Argentina  
Australia  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  
Bangladesh  
Belize  
Brazil  
Cambodia  
Canada  
Chile 
China  
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Cuba 
Ecuador  
El Salvador  
European Union  
Guatemala  
Honduras  
Hong Kong, China  
India 
Indonesia  
Iraq (Observer)  
Israel  
Japan  
Republic of Korea  
Macao, China  Mali 
Mauritius  
Mexico  
Myanmar  
Nepal  
New Zealand  
North Macedonia  
Pakistan  
Philippines  
Russian Federation  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Senegal  
Serbia (Observer)  
Seychelles  
Singapore  
South Africa  
Sri Lanka  
Switzerland  
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
(Chinese  Taipei)  
Thailand  
Türkiye  
Ukraine  
United Kingdom  
United States  
Viet Nam  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
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  2  RECENT ECONOMIC AND TRADE DEVELOPMENTS  
2.1  Overview of trade developments and economic outlook  
The global economic outlook has deteriorated since the start of the conflict between the 
Russian  Federation and Ukraine  in late February 2022, prompting the WTO to downgrade its 
forecasts for world trade over the next two years.1 The WTO now expects merch andise trade volume 
growth of 3.0% in 2022, down from 4.7% in the previous forecast from last October. Trade is also 
expected to grow 3.4% in 2023, but distant projections should be heavily discounted at the moment 
since outcomes will mostly depend on how the conflict  unfolds (Chart 2.1, Table  2.1).  
The WTO also published an in -depth analysis of the implications of the conflict for global trade 
and development in a Secretariat Note issued on 11 April.2 The Note identified countries and regions 
most likely  to be adversely affected by the conflict  and explored possible short - and long -term 
economic impacts under different scenarios. While the Russian Federation and Ukraine have 
relatively small shares in world trade, they are important suppliers of several essential goods 
including food, energy, an d metals. The combined share of Russian Federation and Ukraine in world 
merchandise exports was 2.5%  in 2019, but they also made up 25% of wheat exports, 15% of 
barley exports, and 45% of sunflower products exports. The Russian Federation alone accounted f or 
9.4% of world fuel exports, including a 20% share in natural gas trade.  
Chart 2.1 World merchandise trade volume, 2015Q1 ‑2023Q4  
 
Note:  Each shaded region represents a ±0.5 standard error band around the c entral forecast.  
Sources:  WTO Secretariat and UNCTAD for trade volume data; WTO for forecasts.  
The war  was not the only factor weighing on trade during the review period. The Omicron wave 
of COVID -19 saw cases and deaths rise sharply in the first quarter o f 2022, adding to the human 
toll of the pandemic. More recently, stringent l ockdowns in China aimed at checking the spread of 
the disease  have again disrupt ed production and trade at a time when supply pressures appeared 
to be easing. Lockdowns could  lead to renewed shortages of intermediate and final goods, 
aggravating supply chain problems and adding to inflationary pressures .  
The trade forecast is premised on global GDP growth at market exchange rates of 2.8% in 
2022 and 3.2% in 2023. With little hard d ata on the economic impact of the conflict,  the WTO relied 
on simulations to generate reasonable GDP estimates for forecasting purposes. These simulations 
capture : (i) the direct impact of the conflict in Ukraine, including the widespread destruction of 
factors of production; ( ii) the effects of sanctions on the Russian  Federation, including increased 
 
1 WTO, "Russian Federation -Ukraine conflict puts fragile global trade recovery at risk ", 12 April 2022. 
Viewed at: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres22_e/pr902_e.htm . 
2 WTO, " WTO Secretariat note examines impact of the crisis in  Ukraine on global trade and 
development ", 11 April 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/devel_08apr22_e.htm . 
8090100110120130140
2015Q1
2015Q3
2016Q1
2016Q3
2017Q1
2017Q3
2018Q1
2018Q3
2019Q1
2019Q3
2020Q1
2020Q3
2021Q1
2021Q3
2022Q1
2022Q3
2023Q1
2023Q3
2023Q4G20_ECO.1   World merchandise trade volume, 2015Q1 -2023Q4
(Seasonally -adjusted volume index, 2015=100)
Note: Each shaded region represents a + -0.5 standard error band around the central forecast.
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UNCTAD for trade volume data; WTO for forecasts.WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  trade and transaction costs; and ( iii) slower aggregate demand growth in the rest of the world due 
to falling business and consumer confidenc e. The forecast does not consider the potential impact of 
food export restrictions, nor does it consider the long -run impact of economic decoupling based on 
geopolitical concerns.  
Merchandise trade volume growth in 2021 came at 9.8%, slightly below existing forecasts 
(compared to 10.8% last October). The shortfall is partly explained by the emergence of the Delta 
variant of COVID -19, which contributed to the 0.7% quarter -on-quarter decline in the volume of 
world merchandise trade by the third quarter last year. To date, around two -thirds of the world's 
population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, including 80% of eligible people in 
high-income countries, 82% in upper -middl e income countries, 61% in lower -middle -income 
countries, and just 16% in low -income countries.  
There is an unusually high degree of uncertainty associated with the current forecast due to 
the unpredictable nature of the conflict and the ongoing threat of the pandemic. Based on estimated 
confidence intervals, merchandise trade growth in 2022 could be as low as 0.5% or as high as 5.5%, 
but it could also settle outside this range if underlying macroeconomic conditions change 
significantly. Risks to the foreca st are firmly on the downside, particularly if inflationary expectations 
become entrenched and Central Banks accelerate the pace of monetary tightening. There is some 
limited upside potential if the conflict ends soon, but the downside risk of an extended conflict  is 
equally likely.  
Chart 2.2  illustrates recent increases in energy prices, which were already rising before the 
conflict  broke out at the end of February 2022. The benchmark Brent crude oil price stood at 
USD 105.8 per barrel in April, 63% highe r than the same time last year. The April figure was actually 
down compared to March, when it stood at USD 115.6 per barrel , up 77% year -on-year.  
Chart 2.2 Monthly average prices for crude oil and natural gas , January 2019 -April  2022  
(USD per barrel and USD per million Btu)  
 
Source:  World Bank.  
Unlike oil prices, natural gas prices often diverge strongly across regions due to a distribution 
infrastructure that is fixed in the short run. In April, the price o f natural gas in the United States 
rose to USD 6.5 per million Btu, up 150% year -on-year. The average natural gas price in Europe 
actually fell to USD 32.2 per million Btu in April from USD 42.4 per million Btu in March, still 
extremely high by historical standards. Rising energy prices reduce real incomes, which dampens 
GDP growth and import demand.  
Chart 2.3  shows the expected quarterly evolution of merchandise trade by region in volume 
terms from 2019 to 2023. Figures for 2022 and 2023 are projections. Exports from Asia should 
remain above pre -pandemic levels throughout the forecast period, although setbacks are possible 
as a result of recent COVID -19 outbreaks. In contrast, African exports should stay weak over the 
next two years, below their level in 2 019. Other regions' exports should finish slightly above their 
pre-pandemic levels. Export growth in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is expected 
to remain positive since the Russian Federation  was still able to sell fuel at the time of the for ecast.  
020406080100120140
2019M01
2019M04
2019M07
2019M10
2020M01
2020M04
2020M07
2020M10
2021M01
2021M04
2021M07
2021M10
2022M01
2022M04USD per barrel
Crude oil, Brent
051015202530354045
2019M01
2019M04
2019M07
2019M10
2020M01
2020M04
2020M07
2020M10
2021M01
2021M04
2021M07
2021M10
2022M01
2022M04USD per million Btu
Natural gas, US Natural gas, EuropeWT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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Import volumes should continue to grow through the end of 2023 in all regions except the 
CIS, where a steep decline is anticipated due to sanctions imposed in the wake of the conflict.  The 
magnitude of the slump is difficult to gauge with precision, as outcomes will ultimately depend on 
whether or how the crisis is resolved.  
Chart 2.3 Volume of merchandise exports and imports by region, 201 9Q1-2023Q4  
(Seasonally adjusted volume indices, 201 9 = 100)  
 
a South and Central America and the Caribbean.  
b Commonwealth of Independent States, incl uding  certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UNCTAD.  
Many countries are  highly dependent on the Russian Federation and Ukraine for food, fuels 
and other essential goods. This is especially true for the Middle East and Africa, where the Russian 
Federation and Ukraine are dominant suppliers of wheat and other grains. This depen dence is 
illustrated by Chart 2.4 , which shows shares of imports from the Russian Federation and Ukraine in 
total imports of selected commodities by importing countries.  
In 2019, wheat from the Russian Federation and Ukraine accounted for 87% of wheat impo rts 
in Lebanon, 73% in Egypt, 56% in Senegal and 49% in Uganda. Ukraine alone supplied 49% of 
Tunisia's wheat imports and 31% of Ethiopia's. Meanwhile, 100% of imported wheat in Mongolia, 
Benin, and Kazakhstan was sourced from the Russian Federation. Simil arly high levels of import 
dependence are observed for maize (mostly used for animal feed), sunflower oil, and fuels.  
The Russian Federation and Ukraine are also pivotal  suppliers of key production inputs, 
including palladium, neon, steel, and fertilizer.  Reduced supplies of these  could disrupt 
manufacturing and reduce crop yields around the world. Even if countries do not import goods 
directly from the Russian Federation or Ukraine, many will still end up paying more as overall reduced 
supplies drive up c ommodity prices.  
Despite such dominance of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in these markets, alternative 
suppliers exist that could fill gaps in certain markets. However, adaptation takes time, and 
short-term supply disruptions could force poor countri es to choose between paying high prices or 
doing without these products. The supply situation in these markets will need to be monitored closely 
in the coming weeks and months, particularly in light of the risk of a food emergency . 
708090100110120130
2019Q1
2019Q2
2019Q3
2019Q4
2020Q1
2020Q2
2020Q3
2020Q4
2021Q1
2021Q2
2021Q3
2021Q4
2022Q1
2022Q2
2022Q3
2022Q4
2023Q1
2023Q2
2023Q3
2023Q4Exports
North America South America a Europe
CIS b Africa Middle East
Asia708090100110120130
2019Q1
2019Q2
2019Q3
2019Q4
2020Q1
2020Q2
2020Q3
2020Q4
2021Q1
2021Q2
2021Q3
2021Q4
2022Q1
2022Q2
2022Q3
2022Q4
2023Q1
2023Q2
2023Q3
2023Q4Imports
North America South America a Europe
CIS b Africa Middle East
AsiaWT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 11 - 
 
  Chart 2.4 Share of imports from the Russian Federation and Ukraine in total imports of 
selected commodities, 2019  
(% share)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on UN Comtrade database.  
Forecasts for merchandise trade volume and real GDP at market exchange rates are 
summarized in Table 2.1. Annual data may differ slightly from quarterly figures for reasons of 
statistical methodology, but both show similar trajectories for trade. If the fo recast for 2022 is 
realized, merchandise exports will grow 3.4% in North America, 2.9% in Europe, 4.9% in the CIS, 
1.4% in Africa, and 11.0% in the Middle East. Weak export growth in Asia (2.0%) and stagnation in 
South America ( -0.3%) may be explained by r elatively strong performances in the previous year.  
Merchandise import volumes in 2022 should increase by 3.9% in North America, 4.8% in 
South America, 3.7% in Europe, 2.5% in Africa, 11.7% in the Middle East and 2.0% in Asia. The CIS 
region is expected t o see a steep 12% decline in imports, mostly due to the sanctions imposed on 
the Russian Federation.  
Table 2.1 Merchandise trade volume and real GDP, 2018 -2023a 
(Annual % change )  
2018  2019  2020  2021  2022a 2023a 
Volume of world merchandise tradeb 3.0 0.2 -5.0 9.8 3.0 3.4 
Exports        
North America  3.8 0.3 -8.8 6.3 3.4 5.3 
South Americac -0.9 -1.2 -4.6 6.8 -0.3 1.8 
Europe  1.8 0.6 -7.8 7.9 2.9 2.7 
CISd 4.0 -0.3 -1.2 1.4 4.9 2.8 
Africa  3.1 -0.3 -7.5 5.1 1.4 1.1 
Middle East  4.6 -1.9 -9.3 7.3 11.0 2.9 
Asia 3.7 0.9 0.5 13.8 2.0 3.5 
Imports        
North America  5.1 -0.6 -6.1 12.6 3.9 2.5 
2714474828514255554516059487465808283228791100100100
1531211492854261064108
YemenEthiopiaRwandaNamibiaUgandaUAETunisiaIsraelMadagascarBurkina FasoSenegalCongoDR CongoEgyptAlbaniaTürkiyeNicaraguaAzerbaijanGeorgiaLebanese Rep.BelarusArmeniaKazakhstanBeninMongoliaWheat
291213027111376305418659599
2830333333738393843455860556870482584385
Kyrgyz Rep.GermanyIrelandEgyptMauritaniaUKKazakhstanSpainPortugalDenmarkNorwayTürkiyeNetherlandsTunisiaBelarusIsraelIndiaAzerbaijanFinlandLatviaChinaGeorgiaLithuaniaMongoliaArmeniaMaize (corn)
707675447312785858898826259697987446100
5773347350825582838559470702222654
EgyptKyrgyz Rep.TogoTürkiyeSaudi ArabiaUAEEstoniaTanzaniaLebanese Rep.Côte d'IvoireGuyanaTajikistanSerbiaUzbekistanIndiaGeorgiaNepalChinaRep. of MoldovaAzerbaijanArmeniaMongoliaBelarusTunisiaKazakhstanSunflower oil
22232425263335363738384241495052596363637477838498
16
ItalyBurkina FasoGreeceGeorgiaLatviaUkraineTürkiyeCzech Rep.RomaniaEstoniaUzbekistanAzerbaijanHungaryTajikistanSerbiaPolandBulgariaFinlandLithuaniaSlovakiaArmeniaKyrgyz Rep.KazakhstanMongoliaBelarus
Russian Fed. UkraineFuels
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on UN Comtrade database.WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 12 - 
 
   
2018  2019  2020  2021  2022a 2023a 
South Americac 4.8 -1.7 -11.2 25.8 4.8 3.1 
Europe  1.9 0.3 -7.3 8.1 3.7 3.3 
CISd 4.0 8.3 -5.5 10.7 -12.0 -5.2 
Africa  5.4 3.0 -11.8 4.2 2.5 3.9 
Middle East  -4.1 5.2 -9.8 5.3 11.7 6.2 
Asia 5.0 -0.4 -1.0 11.1 2.0 4.5 
World GDP at market exchange rates  3.2 2.5 -3.4 5.7 2.8 3.2 
North America  2.8 2.1 -3.8 5.5 2.9 2.1 
South Americac 0.4 -0.5 -6.8 6.3 1.9 2.7 
Europe  2.0 1.7 -5.9 5.8 2.3 2.5 
CISd 3.1 2.4 -2.5 4.6 -7.9 -0.1 
Africa  3.2 3.0 -2.5 4.6 3.2 3.9 
Middle East  0.9 0.4 -4.5 2.8 3.4 3.8 
Asia 4.9 4.0 -0.9 6.1 3.8 4.7 
Memo: Least developed countries (LDCs)        
Volume of merchandise exports  5.1 -0.2 -2.1 4.9 3.5 3.8 
Volume of merchandise imports  5.0 2.7 -11.3 9.5 6.6 8.9 
Real GDP at market exchange rates  4.6 5.0 0.5 1.3 3.7 5.8 
a Figures for 2022 and 2023 are projections.  
b Average of exports and imports.  
c Refers to South and Central America and the Caribbean.  
d Refers to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including certain associate and former 
member States.  
Note:  These projections incorporate mixed -data sampling (MIDAS) techniques for selected countries to 
take advantage of higher -frequency data such as container throughput and financial risk indices.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat for trade, consensus estimates for GDP.  
2.2  Trade developments  
Merchandise trade values grew faster than trade volumes in the second half of 2021 due to 
rising export and import prices as inflation became a global phenomenon. In Q3 and Q4, 
merchandise trade, as measured by the average of exports and imports, was up nearly 24% 
year-on-year in USD terms while seasonally adjusted merchandise trade  volumes were up just 7.0%. 
Higher prices for primary commodities accounted for much of the difference, but not all. Over the 
same period, WTO monthly export and import price indices for manufactured goods jumped 8.6% 
on average. This may serve as a reason able proxy for global inflation, excluding food and energy.The 
dollar value of world trade in fuels and mining products rose 81% in the second half of last year 
while agricultural products increased by 17% and manufactured goods rose by 14%.  
Chart 2.5 belo w shows estimated year -on-year and 24 -month growth rates for selected 
categories of manufactured goods in 2021. Quarterly developments show steady year -on-year 
growth in certain products (iron and steel, chemicals, integrated circuits) and weaker growth in  
others (clothing, machinery). Trade values for pharmaceuticals, computers and integrated circuits 
were actually higher in 2021 than they were before the pandemic, probably due to strong demand 
for COVID -19 vaccines and devices to facilitate  remote working . In contrast, trade in automotive 
products was up 14% year -on-year in 2021, but down 4% compared to 2019.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Chart 2.5 Year -on-year growth in manufactured goods trade, 2021  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates ba sed on partner statistics.  
Although aggregate statistics on world commercial services trade in the fourth quarter of 2021 
have not been released yet, data for the largest traders are available . These are illustrated by 
Chart  2.6, which shows year -on-year g rowth in the USD value of commercial services exports and 
imports. All countries recorded positive year -on-year growth in the value of exports and imports in 
Q3 and Q4, including a 48% rise in exports of China in Q4. It is worth noting that the value of 
services exports in the fourth quarter of 2021 was down 6% in the United States and 21% in Japan 
compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, services imports of Brazil and the Russian 
Federation did not recover their pre -pandemic levels last year, with d eclines of 23% and 12% 
respectively between 2019Q4 and 2021Q4.  
153426
2325
1239
-4
-91415
62156
1729
17142714 1521
-217
-20-100102030405060708090100110
2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Q4 2021/2019 2021/2020G20_ECO.5  Year -on-year growth in manufactured goods trade, 2021
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates based on partner statistics.(% change in USD values)WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 14 - 
 
  Chart 2.6 Commercial services exports and imports of selected economies, 
2021Q1 -2021Q4  
(% change in current USD values)  
 
Source:  WTO and UNCTAD.  
2.3  Trade -related indicators  
Certain trade -related indicators may provide clues as to the state of world trade and global 
supply chains in the aftermath of the conflict.  One such indicator is the Global Purchasing Managers 
Index (PMI) from S&P Global ( Chart 2.7). Index values greater than 50 denote expansion while 
values less than 50 indicate contraction. An exception to this rule is the Suppliers' Delivery Times 
Index, where more negative values indicate longer delivery times. The headline PMI continue d to 
signal growth in April, with a value of 52.2. However, the highly predictive New Export Orders 
component suggested that trade might contract, with values of 48.2 in April and 48.1 in March, 
down from 51.0 in February. Renewed strains in supply chains are evident in the chart, as input and 
output prices rose and delivery times increased, thus erasing earlier gains.  
-10
1
-3
-8
33
6
-6
-1716
32
18
8
38
20
26
2617
26
11
14
44
23
35
3116
18
8
5
48
25
19
32-6
13
1
-21
56
21
2
7
-30-20-100102030405060
United States European
UnionUnited
KingdomJapan China India Brazil Russian
FederationExports
2021Q1 2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Q4 2021Q4/2019Q4-12
-14
-10
-9
-7
9
-24
-2730
27
23
10
15
33
21
4136
23
30
12
20
35
11
4626
17
23
8
22
36
10
273
-1
-3
-6
-3
25
-23
-12
-40-30-20-1001020304050
United States European
UnionUnited
KingdomJapan China India Brazil Russian
FederationImports
2021Q1 2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Q4 2021Q4/2019Q4WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Chart 2.7 Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, January 2018 -April 2022  
(Diffusion  index, base=50)  
 
Source:  S&P Global.  
New export orders is one of six component indices in the WTO's Goods Trade Barometer, a 
composite leading indicator for world trade with a baseline value of 100 (Chart 2.8). As with the 
PMI, values above the baseline indicate expansion while values below point to contraction. In the 
latest release on 23 May, the trade barometer index remained flat and slightly below trend at 99.0.  
This result scales back optimism from the previous  release in February, which suggested t hat trade 
could  have been approaching a n inflection  point with stronger growth  expected in the future. The 
anticipated upturn  may have been  interrupted  by the war as well as COVID -19 lockdowns in China. 
The barometer probably would have risen above trend if it had not been weighed down by  weak 
results in container shipping and air freight.  
Chart 2.8 WTO's Goods Trade Barometer  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
 
2530354045505560
Jan-18
Apr-18
Jul-18
Oct-18
Jan-19
Apr-19
Jul-19
Oct-19
Jan-20
Apr-20
Jul-20
Oct-20
Jan-21
Apr-21
Jul-21
Oct-21
Jan-22
Apr-22
Headline Global PMI New Export Orders Index3035404550556065707580
Jan-18
Apr-18
Jul-18
Oct-18
Jan-19
Apr-19
Jul-19
Oct-19
Jan-20
Apr-20
Jul-20
Oct-20
Jan-21
Apr-21
Jul-21
Oct-21
Jan-22
Apr-22
Input Prices Index Output Prices Index
Stocks of Finished Goods Index Suppliers' Delivery Times Index
Goods trade barometer 
Index value, March 2022 = 99.0 Index history, trend = 100
80859095100105110115
2011M01
2011M07
2012M01
2012M07
2013M01
2013M07
2014M01
2014M07
2015M01
2015M07
2016M01
2016M07
2017M01
2017M07
2018M01
2018M07
2019M01
2019M07
2020M01
2020M07
2021M01
2021M07
2022M01Goods trade barometer
World merchandise trade volume
WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 16 - 
 
  3  TRADE AND TRADE -RELATED POLICY DEVELOPMENTS  
3.1  Overview  of trends identified during the review period  
3.1.  This Section provides analysis of selected trade and trade -related policy developments in the 
area of goods during the period from mid -October 2021 to mid -May 2022. It is divided in to three 
parts. The first part looks at regular, i.e. non -COVID -related measures implemented during the 
review period, including calculations on trade coverage. The second part, in Section 3.1.2, covers 
measures taken in the context of the COVID -19 pandemi c. Measures in the second part are not 
included in the trade coverage calculations and are not counted towards the aggregate numbers in 
part 1. The third part, in Section 3.1.3, provides an overview of trade -related developments in the 
context of the war in Ukraine.  
3.2.  A separate Addendum1 to this Report contains Annexes 1, 2 and 3 on recorded trade and 
trade-related measures taken by WTO Members and Observers from 16 October 2021 to 
15 May 2022, in the area of trade in goods . This separate Addendum lists new regular 
(non-COVID -19-related) measures recorded during the review period.  
3.1.1   Regular trade measures  
3.3.  A total of 48 3 trade measures were recorded for WTO Members and Observers during the 
review period (Chart 3.1).2 This figure includes measures facilitating  trade, trade remedy measures 
and other trade and trade -related measures, i.e.  those that can be considered  trade restrictive 
measures. Chart 3.2 below illustrates the trade coverage3 of the measures recorded for WTO 
Members and Observers during the revie w period.  
Chart 3.1 Overview of measures, mid October 2021 to mid May 2022  
(Number)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Chart 3.2 Trade coverage of measures, mid -October 2021 to mid -May 2022  
(USD billion)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
1 WTO document WT/TPR/OV/W/16/Add.1, 13 Ju ly 2022.  
2 See Annexes 1 -3 in the separate Addendum. These Annexes do not include SPS and TBT measures, 
which are covered in Sections  3.3 and 3.4. Services measures are analysed in Section 4 and are listed in 
Annex  4 in the Addendum.  
3 The trade coverage does not include trade for measures that have been implemented and terminated 
within the review period. Trade coverage estimates for the review period were based on 2020 data. 
68 76 230 109 
Trade remedy initiations Trade remedy terminations
Measures facilitating trade Measures restricting trade483Overview of measures, mid -October 2021 to mid -May 2022
(Number)
Source: WTO Secretariat.Note: COVID -19 trade and trade -related measures are not included
4 3 
603 24 
Trade remedy initiations Trade remedy terminations
Import-facilitating measures Import-restrictive measures634Trade coverage of measures, mid -October 2021 to mid -May 2022
(USD billion)
Source: WTO Secretariat.Note: COVID -19 trade and trade -related measures are not includedWT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 17 - 
 
  Measures facilitating trade  
3.4.  Annex 1 contained in the Addendum to this Report lists measures that are clearly 
trade-facilitating. During the review period, 230 new trade-facilitating measures were recorded for 
WTO Members and Observers.4 This represents 48% of the total number of measures recorded.  
Table 3.1 Measures faci litating trade (Annex 1)  
Type of measure  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Mid-Oct 20 to  
mid-Oct 21  
(WT/TPR/OV/24)  
Mid-Oct 21 to  
mid-May22  
(7 months)  
Import  181 205 148 113 144 100 96 136 109 208 
- Tariff 150 154 112 93 119 85 84 112 98 185 
- Customs procedures  17 30 27 17 15 2 3 6 5 5 
- Tax 2 5 4 3 6 5 8 8 5 3 
- QRs 11 5 1 0 3 1 1 8 1 12 
- Other  1 11 4 0 1 7 0 2 0 3 
Export  9 40 32 24 18 14 7 15 13 22 
- Duties  3 18 5 1 6 10 5 10 11 7 
- QRs 3 3 1 2 0 1 1 4 2 12 
- Other  3 19 26 21 12 3 1 1 0 3 
Other  1 4 3 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 
Total  191 249 182 137 162 115 104 153 124 230 
Average per month  15.9 20.8 15.2 11.4 13.5 9.6 8.7 12.8 10.3 32.9 
Note:  Revisions of the data reflect changes undertaken in the TMDB to fine -tune and update the available 
information.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.5.  Table 3.1 shows that, as for previous periods, the reduction or elimination of import tariffs 
make up the bulk of trade -facilitating measures, followed by the elimination or simplification of 
import and export quantitative restrictions . The Table includes eighteen import -facilitating measures 
put in place in response to the war in Ukraine.  The monthly average of almost thirty -three 
trade-facilitating measures recorded for the period  is the highest recorded since 2012.  
3.6.  The trade coverage of the import -facilitating measures introduced during the review period was 
estimated at USD 603.2 billion, i.e. 3.4% of the value of world merchandise imports. This share is 
the fourth -highest reported for this type of measures since October 2012 (Table 3.2 and Chart  3.3).  
3.7.  Of the estimated USD 603.2 billion  trade coverage of the import -facilitating measures, 
USD 38.3 billion, i.e. 0.2 % of the value of world imports, covers import -facilitating measures put in 
place in response to the conflict between the Russian Federation a nd Ukraine. This represents 6% 
of the total trade coverage of the import -facilitating measures.  
3.8.  The HS Chapters within which most of the trade -facilitating measures were taken , in terms of 
trade coverage,  include mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) (18.4%), ele ctrical machinery and parts 
thereof (HS  85) (15.3%), machinery and mechanical appliances (HS 84) (12.3%), and organic 
chemicals (HS  29) (10.1%).  
 
4 This figure also includes measures taken in response to the conflict and termi nations of restrictive 
measures that were implemented during the review period.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Table 3.2 Share of trade covered by trade -facilitating measures  
(%) 
 
Mid-Oct 15  to 
mid-Oct 16 
Mid-Oct 16  to 
mid-Oct 17 
Mid-Oct 17  to 
mid-Oct 18 
Mid-Oct 18  to 
mid-Oct 19 
Mid-Oct 19 to  
mid-Oct 20  
Mid-Oct 20 to  
mid-Oct 21  
Mid-Oct 21 to  
mid-May 22  
Share in total world imports  1.51 1.07 1.68 2.80 3.88 2.74 3.42 
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UN Comtrade database.  
Chart 3.3 Trade coverage of new import -facilitating measures in each reporting period 
(not cumulative)   
(USD billion)  
 
Note:  These figures are estimates and r epresent the trade coverage of the measures (i.e. annual imports 
of the products concerned from economies affected by the measures) introduced during each 
reporting period, and not the cumulative impact of the trade measures.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Trade remedy actions  
3.9.  During the period under review, 14 4 trade remedy actions were recorded for WTO Members 
and Observers (Annex 2 of the Addendum), accounting for 30% of all trade -related measures 
recorded in this Report. After reaching its highest peak so fa r in 2020, the average number of trade 
remedy initiations during the review period was 9. 7 per month (Ta ble 3.3 and Chart 3.4), the lowest 
since 2012.  The monthly average of 10.9 trade remedy terminations recorded is also the lowest 
recorded since 2012. 
Table  3.3 Trade remedy actions (Annex 2)  
Type of Measure  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Mid-Oct 20 to  
mid-Oct 21  
(WT/TPR/OV/24)  
Mid-Oct 21 to  
mid-May22  
(7 months)  
Initiations  304 277 343 298 273 281 433 208 234 68 
 - AD 236 229 298 249 202 215 355 181 201 58 
 - CVD 45 31 34 41 55 36 56 18 23 7 
 - SG 23 17 11 8 16 30 22 9 10 3 
…1,183 
170 249 
169 296 545 731 
482 603
02004006008001,0001,2001,400
mid-Oct12-
mid-Oct13mid-Oct13-
mid-Oct14mid-Oct14-
mid-Oct15mid-Oct15-
mid-Oct16mid-Oct16-
mid-Oct17mid-Oct17-
mid-Oct18mid-Oct18-
mid-Oct19mid-Oct19-
mid-Oct20mid-Oct20-
mid-Oct21mid-Oct21-
mid-May22Trade coverage of new import -facilitating measures in each reporting period (not cumulative)
(USD billion)
Note:  [see original]WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 19 - 
 
  Type of Measure  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Mid-Oct 20 to  
mid-Oct 21  
(WT/TPR/OV/24)  
Mid-Oct 21 to  
mid-May22  
(7 months)  
Average per month  25.3 23.1 28.6 24.8 22.8 23.4 36.1 17.3 19.5 9.7 
Terminations  220 212 171 157 225 183 213 297 199 76 
 - AD 185 167 141 128 201 166 182 253 175 68 
 - CVD 23 25 15 12 24 7 12 23 12 6 
 - SGa 12 20 15 17 0 10 19 21 12 2 
Average per month  18.3 17.7 14.3 13.1 18.8 15.3 17.8 24.8 16.6 10.9 
Note:  The information on trade remedy actions for 2014 to 2021 is based on the semi -annual notifications. 
For the present review period, the information is also based on the responses and the verifications 
received directly from Members. Anti-dumping and counter vailing investigations are counted based 
on the number ( n) of exporting countries or customs territories affected by an investigation. Thus, 
one anti -dumping or countervailing investigation involving imports from (n) countries/customs 
territories is counted as (n) investigations.  
a The figure for a specific year  is the sum of the following: (i) all ongoing investigations terminated 
during the course of that specific year without any measure; and (ii) all imposed measures expired 
during the course of that specific year.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.10.  The trade coverage of all trade remedy investigations initiated during the review period was 
USD 4.3 billion, i.e., 0.02% of the value of world merchandise imports, the lowest registered since 
2013 (Table  3.4). For terminations, the trade coverage was valued at USD  2.5 billion (0.01% of the 
value of world merchandise imports).  
3.11.  Trade remedy actions taken during the review period , in terms of trade coverage, included 
initiations of investigations on miscellaneous chemical products (HS 38) (15. 4%), other made -up 
textile articles ; worn clothing (HS  63) (13. 4%), ceramic products (HS  69) (11. 2%), and plastics and 
articles thereof (HS  39) (8. 3%). 
Chart 3.4 Trade remedies initiations and terminations  
(Average per month)  
 
Note:  Values are  rounded.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
21 28 
25 
23 29 
25 
23 23 36 
17 20 
10 17 
16 18 18 
14 
13 19 
15 18 25 
17 
11 
0510152025303540
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Mid-Oct 20 -
mid-Oct 21Mid-Oct 21 -
mid-May 22Trade remedies intitiations and terminations 
Initiations avg per month Terminations avg per month
Source:   WTO Secretariat.Values are rounded.WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 20 - 
 
  Table 3.4 Share of trade covered by trade remedy initiations  
(%) 
 
Mid-Oct 13 to 
mid-Oct 14 
Mid-Oct 14  to 
mid-Oct 15 
Mid-Oct 15  to 
mid-Oct 16 
Mid-Oct 16  to 
mid-Oct 17 
Mid-Oct 17  to 
mid-Oct 18 
Mid-Oct 18  to 
mid-Oct 19 
Mid-Oct 19 to 
mid-Oct 20  
Mid-Oct 20 to 
mid-Oct 21  
Mid-Oct 2 1 to 
mid-May 22 
Share in total world 
imports  0.20 0.17 0.55 0.48 0.53 0.24 0.36 0.15 0.02 
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UN Comtrade database.  
Other trade and trade -related measures  
3.12.  Annex 3 of the Addendum to this Report lists measures that may be considered to have a 
trade-restrictive effect.  A total of 109 new trade -restrictive measures were recorded fo r WTO 
Members and Observers, mostly imposition of quantitative restrictions, especially on exports, 
followed by increases of import tariffs.  The 66 restrictive measures on exports account ed for 61% 
of all trade restrictions recorded durin g the review  period  and included m ainly the imposition of 
quantitative restrictions, followed by increases of export duties . This also include s 32 
export -restrictive measures put in place in response to the war in Ukraine  The monthly average of 
15.6 trade -restrictive measures is the highest since 2015 (Table  3.5). 
Table 3.5 Other trade and trade -related measures (Annex 3)  
Type of measure  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Mid-Oct20 to  
mid-Oct21  
(WT/TPR/OV/24)  
Mid-Oct21 to  
mid-May22  
(7 months)  
Import  132 166 98 84 114 77 72 75 57 43 
- Tariff 83 106 63 47 70 46 40 36 23 27 
- Customs procedures  19 32 16 19 6 6 10 21 17 3 
- Tax 8 10 6 9 13 6 6 5 6 0 
- QRs 7 12 12 7 16 14 10 11 8 12 
- Other  15 6 1 2 9 5 6 2 3 1 
Export  26 44 20 18 18 19 27 66 41 66 
- Duties  12 13 6 4 9 7 4 13 13 7 
- QRs 8 7 10 8 4 3 11 28 21 49 
- Other  6 24 4 6 5 9 12 25 7 10 
Other  12 13 11 14 0 2 0 5 5 0 
- Local content  11 13 7 12 0 1 0 4 4 0 
- Other  1 0 4 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 
Total  170 223 129 116 132 98 99 146 103 109 
Average per month  14.2 18.6 10.8 9.7 11.0 8.2 8.3 12.2 8.6 15.6 
Note:  Revisions of the data reflect changes undertaken in the TMDB to fine -tune and update the available 
information.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.13.  The trade coverage of the trade -restrictive measures affecting imports implemented during 
the review period was estimat ed at USD  23.5 billion, i.e., 0.1% of the value of world merchandise 
imports (Table 3.6).  This represents  the second -lowest  value  recorded  since October  2012 
(Chart  3.5).  
3.14.  The trade -restrictive measures recorded during the review period cover a wide range of 
products. The main sectors affected (HS  Chapters) , in terms of trade coverage,  were iron and steel 
(HS 72) (39.5%), aluminium and articles thereof (HS 76) (23.9%), articles of iron and steel (HS  73) 
(10.2%), and mineral fuel and oils (HS  27) (6.7%).  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 21 - 
 
  Table 3.6 Share of trade covered by import -restrictive measures (Annex 3)  
(%) 
 
Mid-Oct 13 to 
mid-Oct 14 
Mid-Oct 14  to 
mid-Oct 15 
Mid-Oct 15  to 
mid-Oct 16 
Mid-Oct 16  to 
mid-Oct 17 
Mid-Oct 17  to 
mid-Oct 18 
Mid-Oct 18  to 
mid-Oct 19 
Mid-Oct 19 to  
mid-Oct 20  
Mid-Oct 20 to  
mid-Oct 21  
Mid-Oct 2 1 to 
mid-May 22 
Share in total 
world imports  1.17 1.23 0.62 0.50 3.33 3.84 2.40 0.60 0.13 
Source:  WTO Secretariat and UN Comtrade database.  
Chart 3.5 Trade coverage of new import -restrictive measures in each reporting period 
(not cumulative)  
(USD billion)  
 
Note:  These figures are estimates and represent the trade coverage of the measures (i.e. annual imports 
of the products concerned from economies affected by the measures) introduced during each 
reporting period, and not the cumulative impact of the trade measure s.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Stockpile of import -restrictive measures  
3.15.  Accurately estimating the roll -back of import -restrictive measures, and eventually the overall 
stockpile, is made complex by the fact that many temporary measures remain in place beyond the 
envisaged termination date. Moreover, the Secretariat does not always receive accurate information 
on changes to reported measures. As a result, the figures below are estimates based on the 
information recorded in the TMDB since 2009. These estimates a re conditioned by the availability of 
termination dates of the import -restrictive measures and of the HS  codes of products covered.5 
3.16.  Table 3.7 and Chart 3.6 show that the stockpile of import restrictions in force has grown 
steadily (and in fact since 2009 ) – in value terms and as a percentage of world imports – and that 
a significant increase in both took place from 2017 to 2018. This specific jump is largely explained 
by measures introduced on steel and aluminium, and by various tariff increases introduce d as part 
of bilateral trade tensions. Global imports decreased substantially in 2020 compared to 2019 . The 
decline was also reflected in total imports and in the value of the import restrictions in force. Global 
trade grew again in 2021, due to rising exp ort and import prices as inflation became a global 
phenomenon.  At the end of 2021, it is estimated that some 8.9% of global imports continue to be 
affected by import restrictions implemented since 2009 and which are still in force. The trade 
coverage for t erminations of import restrictions remains negligible.  
 
5 Only import measures where HS codes were available are included in the calculation.  
201 214 228 
101 
79 588 747 
441 
106 24 
0100200300400500600700800
mid-Oct12-
mid-Oct13mid-Oct13-
mid-Oct14mid-Oct14-
mid-Oct15mid-Oct15-
mid-Oct16mid-Oct16-
mid-Oct17mid-Oct17-
mid-Oct18mid-Oct18-
mid-Oct19mid-Oct19-
mid-Oct20mid-Oct20-
mid-Oct21mid-Oct21-
mid-May22Trade coverage of new import -restrictive measures in each reporting period (not 
cumulative)
(USD billion)
Source:  WTO Secretariat.Note:  [see text].WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 22 - 
 
  Table 3.7 Cumulative trade coverage of import -restrictive measures since 2010 to 2021  
(USD billion, unless otherwise indicated)   
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018  2019  2020  2021a 
Total imports 
(world)  18,109  18,193  18,483  18,654  16,360  15,812  17,587  19,402  18,883  17,625  22,001  
Total import 
restrictions in 
force  234 306 407 467 598 570 814 1,457  1,646  1,519  1,946  
Share in world 
imports (%)  1.29 1.68 2.20 2.51 3.66 3.61 4.63 7.51 8.72 8.62 8.85 
Total import 
restrictions  
terminated  15.43  59.41  37.15  34.05  1.51 38.09  3.88 5.45 13.12  n.a. n.a 
Share in world 
imports (%)  0.09 0.33 0.20 0.18 0.01 0.24 0.02 0.03 0.07 n.a. n.a 
n.a. Not applicable.  
a Provisional data for 2021.  
Source:  WTO calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
Chart 3.6 Cumulative trade coverage of import -restrictive measures on goods since 
2009  to 202 1 
 
Note:  The cumulative trade coverage estimated by the Secretariat is based on information available in the 
TMDB on import measures recorded since 2009 and considered to have a trade -restrictive effect. 
The estimates include import measures for which HS codes were available. The figures do not 
include trade remedy measures. The import values were sourced by the UN Comtrade database.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.1.2   COVID -19 trade  and trade -related measures  
3.17.  During the review period 37 COVID -19 measures on goods were communicated and verified 
by 19 Members .6 Of these, 34 COVID -19 measures were implemented during the review period and 
3 refe rred to 2020. Most of the 37 COVID -19 measures target ed import s (28 or 76%) . The remaining  
measures targered  export s (9 or 24%). Of these, 11 (30%)  measures were temporary in nature and 
have been already terminated.  
 
6 Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, India,  Kazakhstan, 
Mali, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and 
United  Kingdom.  
73126234306407467598 5708141,4571,646
1,5191,946
0.60.81.31.72.22.53.7 3.64.67.58.78.68.9
012345678910
02004006008001,0001,2001,4001,6001,8002,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Import restrictions in force (left axis) % of world imports (right axis)Cumulative trade coverage of import -restrictive measures on goods since 2009
(USD billion)
Source:  WTO Secretariat.(%)
Note:  [See original].WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 23 - 
 
  3.18.  Overall, since the outbreak of the pandemic, 436 trade and trade -related measures in the 
area of goods have been implemented by WTO Members and Observers (Table 3.8)7, of which 288 
(66%) were of a trade -facilitating nature and 148 (34%) were trade -restrictive. Of these, 63 (22%) 
trade-facilitating and 100 (68%) trade -restrictive measures have been phased out, according to 
information received by the Secretariat (Chart 3.7). 
Table 3.8 COVID -19 trade and trade -related measures since the outbreak  
 Facilitating  Phased out  Restrictive  Phased out  Total  
Import  178 53 19 5 197 
Export  93 7 122 89 215 
Other  17 3 7 4 24 
Total  288 63 148 100 436 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Chart 3.7 COVID -19 trade and trade related measures on goods, by mid -May 2022  
(Number)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.19.  The reduction or elimination of import tariffs and import taxes make up almost 60 % of 
trade-facilitating measures taken since the beginning of the pandemic. Certain WTO Members and 
Observers reduced their tariffs on a variety of goods such as PPE, sanitizer s, disinfectants, medical 
equipment, and medicine/drugs. In many cases, tariff reductions were also accompanied by 
exemptions from VAT and other taxes. Extensions, often more than once, of some measures were 
implemented, while other measures have simply re mained in force.  At the same time, several 
trade-facilitating measures have been rolled back to pre -pandemic higher tariff levels.  
3.20.  About 82% of all COVID -19 trade -restrictive measures are export -related. The roll -back of 
trade-restrictive measures taken in  the early stages of the pandemic continued during the review 
period , especially on the export  side. With respect to  export restrictions , 89 out of 122 export 
restricti ve measures have been phased out  since the beginning of the pandemic (Table 3.8).  As at 
mid-May 2022, 33 export restrictions were still in place , of which 19 appear to be maintained by 
G20 economies.  
3.21.  According to preliminary estimates by the WTO Secretariat, the trade coverage of the 
COVID -19 trade -facilitating measures implemented since the outbreak of the pandemic amounted 
to USD  360.5 billion, and the trade coverage of trade -restrictive measures was estimated at 
USD 211.8 billion.8 Members and Observers have continued repealing trade-facilitating and 
trade-restrictive measures implemented in response to the pandemic. The trade coverage of the 
COVID -19 trade-restrictive measures repealed since the beginning of the pandemic was estimated 
at USD 112.0 billion and that of trade -facilitating measures at USD 210.8 billion (Chart 3.8).9 
 
7 Measures implemented in the context of the pandemic up until mid -October 2021 can be viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid19_e.htm .  
8 Including imports and exports and based on annual 2020 trade figures. For some countries, 2020 
import data were not yet available. Data for the  previous full calendar year were used for those countries.  
9 See footnote 19.  
225 63 48 100 
Trade-facilitating measures in force Trade-facilitating measures phased out
Trade-restrictive measures in force Trade-restrictive measures phased out436COVID -19 trade and trade -related measures on goods, by mid-May 2022
(by number)
Source:   WTO Secretariat.WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 24 - 
 
  Chart 3.8 Trade coverage of COVID -19 trade and trade related measures on goods, by 
mid-May 2021  
(USD billion)  
 
Note:  Values are rounded.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.   
3.1.3   Developments in the context of the war in Ukraine  
3.22.  The onset of the war in Ukraine , occurring roughly in the middle of the review period covered 
by this Trade Monitoring Report , was arguably a key  development that impacted the world economy 
and trade flows during this period.  
3.23.  In the weeks and month s following the start of the conflict , hundreds of sanctions10 were 
imposed on the Russian Federation. Sanctions were also imposed on Belarus. The overwhelming 
majority of these measures were not specifically trade -related, and applied to financial, milita ry, civil 
aviation, and energy sectors, as well as to specific entities and individuals. Significantly, sanctions 
were generally announced and implemented with reference to security  considerations . Any coverage 
of, or reference to, these sanctions in this Report do not question the right of WTO Members to take 
such measures . Several countermeasures were implemented by the Russian Federation in response 
to these sanctions.  
3.24.  In the immediate aftermath of the onset  of the conflict, many delegations enquired abo ut how 
the Secretariat would cover conflict -related developments, particularly to provide transparency 
around trade and trade -related measures taken in the context of, or in response to, the conflict. In 
a communication sent to delegations on 24 March, Mem bers were invited to provide such information 
on a voluntary basis. This was in line with the approach taken in response to the COVID -19 
pandemic.  
3.25.  During the verification process, specific trade -related measures taken in the context of the 
conflict were se nt to those Members for whom information on sanctions or other trade -related 
measures had been identified from various public sources. Verification of these measures were 
sought to ensure that the information was based on accurate and official sources.11 
3.26.  The following attempts to provide a factual overview of developments with respect to trade 
and trade -related measures implemented in the context of the conflict.  
Trade Sanctions  
3.27.  During the review period, and since 24 February 2022, the Secretariat identified some 71 
specific trade and trade -related sanctions imposed by 43 WTO Members12 and one Observer on the 
Russian Federation, in trade in goods. These measures do not include individual travel bans or asset 
freezes. Overviews of developments in the context of services and intellectual property are included 
in Section s 4 and 5 of this Report.  
 
10 Please see the reference to several trackers, including Peterson Institute for International Economics 
(viewed at: https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime -economic -issues -watch/russias -war-ukraine -sanctions -
timeline ) and Ashurst (viewed at: https://www.ashurst.com/en/news -and-insights/hubs/sanctions -tracker/ ). 
11 Several Members expressed concerns about the listing of sanctions in the Report. The WTO 
Secretariat  reiterated that trade -related sanctions  would not be listed and that no attribution of these would be 
made  in the Report.  
12 Counting the European Union and its members separately . 
150 211 100 112 
Trade-facilitating measures in force Trade-facilitating measures phased out
Trade-restrictive measures in force Trade-restrictive measures phased out572Trade coverage of COVID -19 trade and trade -related measures on goods, by mid-May 2022
(USD billion)
Source:   WTO Secretariat.Note:   Values are rounded.WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 25 - 
 
  3.28.  The trade and  trade-related sanctions on goods covered import and export measures, 
including broad measures such as the revocation by some of the MFN status of the Russian 
Federation. Others included tariff increases on imports from the Russian Federation and other 
product- or sector -specific restrictions. Import measures involved restrictions on energy, metals, 
chemicals, and fertilizers, while export restrictions included dual -use technologies, information 
technology and luxury products.  
Other trade and trade -related  measures in response to the war in Ukraine  
3.29.  The Secretariat has identified 32 export -restrictive measures in the area of trade in goods put 
in place by 13 WTO  Members13 and 4 Observers14 in response to the conflict between the Russian 
Federation and Ukrain e. Five of these were temporary measures which have subsequently been 
terminated.  
3.30.  Export -restrictive measures included quotas, temporary bans or technical and administrative 
requirements limiting exports (or re -exports) of a wide range of agricultural com modities such as 
wheat, cereals, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil, palm oil , as well as other vegetable oils, soybean 
products, pasta, lentils, sugar, flour, fruits, and vegetables. Agricultural export restrictions also 
affected farm animals and animal fe ed. Other products subject to export restrictions included various 
fuel products and fertilizers.  
3.31.   The Secretariat has identified 18 import -facilitating measures put in place by 38 WTO 
Members15 and 2 Observers16 during the review period in response to the conflict. Import measures 
included the reduction and/or elimination of import tariffs and other duties as well as removal of 
import quotas on various agricultural commodities (including wheat, rice, flour, edible oils, 
margarine, pasta, sugar, cereals, and  meats) and on fuel products. Some Members suspended tariffs 
on all imports from Ukraine.  
3.32.  According to the Secretariat's preliminary estimates , and based on the available information, 
the trade coverage of the export -restrictive measures taken by Members a nd Observers in response 
to the conflict was estimated at USD 69.6 billion . The trade coverage of import facilitating measures 
put in place in response to the conflict was estimated at USD 38.3 billion. It is difficult to precisely 
estimate the trade cover age of these measures given the lack of many HS codes and the absence 
of accurate information on the implementation dates and official sources.  
3.33.  General economic support measures related to the conflict are covered in Section 3.7 of this 
Report.  
3.2  Trade  remed ies 
3.34.  This Section provides an assessment of trends in trade -remedy actions over three periods: 
2019, 2020 and 2021.  
Anti-dumping measures17 
3.35.  Between 2019 and 2020, global anti -dumping initiations increased from 215 to 355, and then 
decreased to 181 in 2021. Table 3.9 provides  information on which Members initiated anti -dumping 
investigations and applied measures over the three periods.  
3.36.  While an ti-dumping investigations do not necessarily lead to the imposition of measures, an 
increase in the number of investigations initiated is an early indicator of a likely increase in the 
number of measures applied. Over the three periods, a total of 536 anti -dumping measures were 
applied. As it can take up to 18 months for an anti -dumping investigation to be concluded, the 
 
13 Argentina, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Ky rgyz Republic, Republic of 
Moldova, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine.  
14 Algeria, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and Serbia.  
15 Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, European Union, Republic of Korea, South Africa, 
Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom. C ounting the European Union and its members separately . 
16 Iraq and Serbia.  
17 Anti-dumping and countervailing investigatio ns are counted based on the number ( n) of exporting 
countries or customs territories affected by an investigation. Thus, one anti -dumping or countervailing 
investigation involving imports from (n) countries/customs territories is counted as (n) investigati ons. WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 26 - 
 
  measures applied in a given period may not necessarily be the result of investigations initiated in 
the same period.  
Table 3.9 Initiations of anti -dumping investigations and measures applied, by Member  
(Number)  
Reporting Member  2019  2020  2021  
Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  
Argentina  17 13 6 11 15 10 
Australia  7 12 18 0 6 8 
Bahrain, Kingdom of; 
Kuwait, State of; Oman; 
Qatar; Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of; United Arab 
Emiratesa 2 2 1 2 9 1 
Brazil  1 6 9 0 11 6 
Canada  6 8 24 5 6 20 
Chile 0 1 2 0 0 0 
China  14 12 4 9 0 20 
Colombia  0 0 4 0 0 3 
Dominican Republic  0 0 0 1 0 0 
Egypt  6 1 10 2 0 11 
European Unionb 11 4 12 8 10 11 
Ghana  1 0 0 1 0 0 
India 59 13 92 12 29 49 
Indonesia  6 1 2 0 0 0 
Israel  0 3 0 0 0 0 
Japan  1 0 1 1 2 1 
Republic of Korea  5 2 3 1 7 3 
Madagascar  1 0 0 0 0 0 
Malaysia  7 6 11 6 1 3 
Mexico  6 8 7 4 4 6 
Morocco  0 1 3 0 0 1 
New Zealand  0 0 4 0 2 1 
Pakistan  6 4 3 4 9 5 
Peru 1 0 3 0 0 2 
Philippines  0 0 0 0 1 0 
Russian Federationc 4 2 4 5 2 4 
South Africad 0 0 4 3 13 0 
Chinese Taipei  0 2 5 0 0 5 
Thailand  2 0 13 1 3 12 
Türkiye  2 0 3 2 9 1 
Ukraine  8 9 6 9 12 2 
United Kingdome n.a.f n.a.f 0 0 1 0 
United States  33 33 89 21 24 82 
Uruguay  0 0 1 0 0 0 
Viet Nam  9 3 11 6 5 9 
Total  215 146 355 114 181 276 
n.a. Not applicable . 
a Notified by all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member States collectively, as investigations are 
initiated by the GCC regional investigating authority on behalf of all GCC member States . 
b The European Union is counted as one (28 member States until 31 January 2020).  
c Notified by the Russian Federation, but investigations are initiated by the Eurasian Economic Union  
(EAEU)  on behalf of all of its members, i.e. Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Belarus 
(non-WTO Member) collectively.  
d Notified by South Africa, but investigations are initiated at the level of the Southern African Customs 
Union (SACU) on behalf of its member States (also for Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia) . 
e The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union as of 1 February 2020. The Europ ean Union 
and the United Kingdom communicated that during the transition period, which ended on 
31 December  2020, European Union law, with a few limited exceptions, continues to be applicable to 
and in the United Kingdom. WTO documents WT/LET/1462, 29 Janu ary 2020; and WT/GC/206, 
1 February 2020 . 
f Member State of the European Union during the period in question . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat . 
3.37.  Chart 3.9 shows  that the number of initiations of anti -dumping investigations increased 
significantly in 2020 compared with the previous years. The 355 initiations in 2020 represent the 
peak since 2002, but lower than the all -time high of 372 in 2001. The number of initi ations decreased 
significantly to 181 in 2021.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 27 - 
 
  3.38.  There was little change in terms of the products affected by anti -dumping investigations 
initiated during the three periods examined, with the majority of initiations focused on products in 
the metals, chemica ls, plastics and rubber sectors.  
3.39.  In terms of countries or customs territories affected by new anti -dumping investigations, 36 
exporting Members were affected during the first period, while 64 were affected during the second 
period and 47 in the last period . China remained, by far, the most targeted Member by anti -dumping 
initiations during the three reporting periods, accounting for 26% of all investigations. China was 
followed by Viet Nam and Malaysia, both of which accounted for 5% of the total initiation s. 
3.40.  As of 16 May 2022 , only two Members had notified anti -dumping actions referring to the 
COVID -19 pandemic. In this regard, both Brazil and Argentina suspended anti -dumping duties on 
syringes.  
3.41.  In addition, as of 16 May 2022 no Member has notified any anti -dumping action in the context 
of the war in Ukraine . 
Chart 3.9 Initiations of anti -dumping investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21 
(Number)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat . 
Countervailing  measures  
3.42.  The number of global initiations of countervailing duty investigations and the number of 
countervailing measures fluctuated  over the review period. Table 3.10 provides  information on which 
Members initiated countervaili ng investigations and applied final measures during the review period.  
Table 3.10 Initiations of countervailing investigations and measures applied, by Member  
(Number)  
Reporting Member  2019  2020  2021  
Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  
Australia  0 1 7 0 1 2 
Brazil  0 1 0 0 2 0 
Canada  3 0 4 1 1 4 
China  1 0 4 2 0 1 
Colombia  1 0 0 1 0 0 
European Uniona 5 3 3 3 3 1 
India 9 5 7 4 0 2 
Chinese Taipei  0 5 0 0 0 0 
218 217
173165208287
236229298
249
202215355
181
143 143
134
99121161 159182
171192203
146
114276
050100150200250300350400
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Inititations Measures
Source:  WTO Secretariat.Initiations of anti -dumping investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21
Note:  Data for 2021 cover January to June.(Number)WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 28 - 
 
  Reporting Member  2019  2020  2021  
Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  
United States  17 20 30 13 11 30 
Viet Nam  0 0 1 0 0 1 
Total  36 35 56 24 18 41 
a The European Union is counted as one (28 member States until 31 January 2020).  
Source:  WTO Secretariat . 
3.43.  As with anti -dumping, countervailing duty investigations do not necessarily lead to measures  
being applied. However, an increase or decrease in the number of investigations initiated may be an  
early indicator of a likely increase or decrease in the number of measures applied. As it can take up 
to 18 months for an inves tigation to be concluded, these measures may not necessarily be the result 
of initiations in the same period.  
3.44.  Chart 3.10,  reflecting annual figures on countervailing initiations of investigations and 
measures applied between 2008 and 2021. It shows an upw ard trend in countervailing initiations 
from 2015 to 2020, notwithstanding some fluctuation in 2019. Following its peak in 2020, the 
number of countervailing initiations decreased to the lowest that has been observed since 2009.  
3.45.  In 2021, seven exporting co untries or customs territories were affected  by new countervailing 
investigations.  China was the most frequent subject of investigations (36), accounting for 33% of 
all investigations during the three periods. India (10), the second most frequent subject, accounted 
for 9% of initiations, followed by Vietnam (9) which accounted for 8% of the total.  
3.46.  Concerning the products affected by countervailing investigations, metals accounted for the 
largest share of the initiations reported over the three reporting per iods followed by chemicals, glass 
and stone products.  
3.47.  As of 16 May 2022,  no Member had notified any countervailing  duty action referring to the 
COVID -19 pandemic.   
3.48.  In addition , as of 16 May 2022 no Member has notified any countervailing duty action in the 
context of the war in Ukraine.  
Chart 3.10 Initiations of countervailing investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21 
(Number)  
 
Source:  WTO Secretar iat. 
1628
925
233345
31344155
3656
18
11
919
91013
111524
182835
2441
0102030405060
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Initiations Measures
Source:  WTO Secretariat.Initiations of countervailing investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21
Note:  Data for 2021 cover January to June.(Number)WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 29 - 
 
  Safeguard  measures  
3.49.  Safeguard measures are temporary measures applied  in response to increased imports of 
goods that are causing  serious injury, and are applied  on products from all sources, i.e. all exporting 
countries /customs territories .18 Safeguard measures  are subject to different rules and timelines than 
anti-dumping and countervailing measures and are, therefore, not directly comparable to these other 
types of trade remedies.  Table 3.11 shows  the Members that initiated investigations and applied 
measures  in the review period.  
Table 3.11 Initiations of safeguard investigations and measures applied, by Member  
(Number ) 
Reporting 
Member  2019  2020  2021  
Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  Initiations  Measures  
Bahrain, Kingdom 
of; Kuwait, State 
of; Oman; Qatar; 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of; United 
Arab Emiratesa 1 1 0 0 0 0 
Canada  0 1 0 0 0 0 
Colombia  1 0 0 0 0 0 
Costa Rica  1 0 0 1 0 0 
Ecuador  1 0 0 0 0 0 
Egypt  1 1 1 0 0 1 
European Unionb 0 1 0 0 0 0 
Guatemala  1 0 0 0 0 0 
India 3 0 0 0 0 0 
Indonesia  5 1 4 5 0 4 
Jordan  1 0 0 0 0 0 
Madagascar  4 2 0 1 0 0 
Malaysia  0 0 1 0 0 0 
Morocco  2 1 0 2 1 0 
Panama  1 0 0 0 0 0 
Peru 0 0 1 0 1 0 
Philippines  2 1 5 0 0 0 
Russian Federationc 2 1 0 0 0 0 
South Africad 1 1 2 1 0 1 
Thailand  0 0 1 0 0 0 
Tunisia  0 0 0 0 1 0 
Türkiye  0 1 2 1 1 1 
Ukraine  3 0 4 1 5 2 
United States  0 0 1 0 0 0 
Total  30 12 22 12 9 9 
a Notified by all GCC member States collectively as investigations are initiated by the GCC regional 
investigating authority on behalf of all GCC member States . 
b The European Union is counted as one (28 member States until 31 January 2020).  
c Notified by the Russian Federation, but investigations are initiated by EAEU on behalf of all of its 
members, i.e. Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan (which became a WTO Member on 
30 November 2015), and Belarus (non -WTO Member) collectively.  
d Notified b y South Africa, but investigations are initiated at the level of  SACU , i.e. also in respect of 
Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho,  and Namibia.   
Source:  WTO Secretariat . 
3.50.  Chart 3.11  shows the trend of initiations of safeguard investigations side by side with the 
trend of application of measures on a calendar -year basis for 2008 -2021. Both t he number of 
safeguard investigations initiated and the measures applied is nine in 2021.19 This means that the 
figure of initiations fell by 60%, while the figure  of application s fell by  25%. That said, the level of 
actions related to safeguards – that is, number of notifications of actions other than new initiations 
and applications -- is still high. For example, there were 8 notifications of proposed suspension of 
concessions b y exporting Members aimed at the imposing Member in 2021. In addition, during the 
same period , there were 7 notifications of initiation of a review to decide whether or not to extend 
an existing measure.  
 
18 With the exception of exporting Members covered by the special and differential treatment provided 
for developing countries in Article 9.1 of the Safeguards Agreement.   
19 Since an investigation initiated in a specific year can result in application of a measure in the 
subsequent year, the number of initiations can be smaller than the number of applications in some years.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 30 - 
 
  Chart 3.11 Initiations of safeguard investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21 
(Number)  
 
Note:  Some notifications are ambiguous about the timing when measures took effect. For those, an 
additional notification clarifying, ex post, the effective date  of the measure  is sometimes filed. For 
this reason, the number of applications of measures  in a given  period indicated in past reports may 
differ from the figures indicated in the most recent Report . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat .  
3.51.  In terms of products affected by safeguard initiations, metals accounted for most of initiations 
throughout the review period.  
3.52.  In the course of the discussion that took place in the October 2021 and April 2022 Committee 
on Safeguards meetings,  while some Members referred to the economic impact of the COVID -19 
pandemic no Member had notified any safeguard  action explaining that the mea sure was taken in 
response to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
3.53.  In addition , as of 16 May 2022 no Member has notified any safeguard action in the context of 
the war in Ukraine.   
3.3  Sanitary and phytosanitary  (SPS)  measures20 
3.54.  This Section covers SPS transparency -related matters, including specific trade concerns 
discussed in SPS Committee meetings, for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. In 
addition, new SPS measures taken in response to the COVID -19 pandemic are r eported in a separate 
section covering the period from 1 February 2020 to 1 May 2022. The last Section refers to the 
impact of the war in Ukraine in the work of the SPS Committee.  
3.55.  Under the SPS  Agreement, WTO Members are obliged to provide an advance notic e of 
intention to introduce new or modified SPS measures21, or to notify immediately when emergency 
measures are imposed. The main objective of complying with SPS notification obligations is to inform 
other Members about new or changed regulations that may  significantly affect international trade. 
Therefore, an increased number of notifications does not automatically imply greater use of 
protectionist measures, but rather enhanced transparency regarding food safety and animal and 
plant health measures, most  of which are , presumably , legitimate health -protection measures.  
 
20 Information presented in this Section was retrieved  from the SPS Information Management System 
(SPS IMS: http://spsims.wto.org ). For more information, see also annual reports in WTO documents 
G/SPS/GEN/804/Rev.12 , 28 February 2022  and G/SPS/GEN/204/Rev.20 , 28 February 2022. 
21 Transparency obligations are contained in Article  7 and Annex B of the SPS  Agreement.  
1025
20
1224
1823
17
11
81630
22
9
610
411
6811 11
69
712 12
9
05101520253035
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Initiations MeasuresInitiations of safeguard investigations and measures applied, 2008 -21
Source:    WTO Secretariat.Note:    [see original](Number)WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 31 - 
 
  3.56.  In the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 , 797 SPS notifications (regular and 
emergency, including addenda) were submitted22 to the WTO, a 12% decrease compared with the 
previous si x-month period ( 904 notifications  from 1  April to 30  September  2021). The share of 
notifications from developing -country Members, accounting for 63%  (503 notifications) of the total 
number, was slightly lower than the 69% (625 notifications) corresponding to the previous 
six-month period  (Chart 3.1 2). 
3.57.  During the review period, WTO Members submitted 613 regular SPS notifications (including 
addenda), 62% (377 notifications) of which were submitted by developing -country Members. 
Compared with the previous six -month period, the total number of regular notifications decreased 
by 17%, while those submitted by developing -country Members decreased by 21%.  
3.58.  The total number of emergency notifications (including addenda) increased by 9% in the 
current review period (184  compared  with 169 during the previous six -month period) . however, 
while the proportion of all emergency notifications (including addenda) submitte d by developing -
country Members  remained high, constituting 6 8% of the total, emergency notifications decrease d 
15% compared with the previous six -month period). These high percentage s are consistent with the 
general trend of most emergency measures being notified by developing -country Members, perhaps 
because they have less extensive SPS  regulatory systems compared with those of developed -country 
Members. Consequently, when facing emergency challenges, developing -country Members are more 
likely than develo ped-country Members to introduce new regulations or change existing ones.  
3.59.  Many Members follow the recommendation to notify SPS measures even when they are based 
on a relevant international standard23, as this substantially increases transparency. In this c ontext, 
of the 431  regular notifications (excluding addenda) submitted from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 
2022, 55% indicated that at least one international standard, guideline or recommendation was 
applicable to the notified measure (Chart  3.13). Of these, about 83% indicated that the proposed 
measure was in conformity with the applicable international standard.  
Chart 3.12 Number of SPS notifications, including regular, emergency and addenda  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
22 For this Report, "submission" refers to the date of circulation.  
23 WTO document  G/SPS/7/Rev.4, 4 June 2018, para.  2.3. 
735
476613
377169
149184
126
02004006008001,000
All Members Developing-country
MembersAll Members Developing-country
MembersNumber of SPS notifications, including regular, emergency and addenda
Source: WTO Secretariat.Regular notifications Emergency notificationsApr. 2021 -Sep. 2021 Oct. 2021 -Mar. 2022WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 32 - 
 
  Chart 3.13 Regular and emergency SPS notifications (excluding addenda) and 
international standards  
 
Note:  Codex Alimentarius (Codex), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)  and International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC).  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.60.  Internati onal standards often provide useful guidance regarding measures to address disease 
outbreaks and other emergency situations. Indeed, 15 8 out of 16 2 (about 98%) emergency 
notifications (excluding addenda) submitted during the review  period indicated that an  international 
standard, guideline or recommendation was applicable to the notified measure (Chart  3.16). All , but 
one indicated that the measure was in conformity with the applicable international standard.  
3.61.  Of the 431 regular notifications (excluding adde nda) submitted during the review period, the 
majority (64%) were related to food safety.24 The remain der related to plant protection and animal 
health and, to a lesser extent, the protection of humans from animal diseases or plant pests, and 
the protection  of the Member's territory from other damage from pests. Regular notifications usually 
contain more than one objective.  
3.62.  Of the 162 emergency measures (excluding addenda) notified in the same period, the 
majority (93%) related to animal health, followed by  those related to food safety, the protection of 
humans from animal diseases or plant pests, plant protection, and the protection of the Member's 
territory from other damage from pests.  Emergency notifications may also contain more than one 
objective.  
3.63.  The WTO Secretariat prepares annual transparency reports containing detailed information 
on the implementation of the transparency provisions of the SPS  Agreement.25 
3.64.  While there is no formal provision for "counter notification", concerns regarding the failure to 
notify an SPS measure, or regarding a notified measure, can be raised as a specific trade concern 
(STC) at any of the regular meetings of the SPS Committee each year.  
3.65.  Although most capital -based delegates were not able to travel to Geneva due to COVID -19 
restrictions, the margins of the SPS Committee meetings26 still provide d important opportunities for 
 
24 The objective of an SPS measure falls u nder one or more of the following categories: (i)  food safety; 
(ii) animal health; (iii)  plant protection; (iv)  protection of humans from animal/plant pests or diseases; and 
(v) protection of territory from other damage from pests. Members are required to identify the purpose of the 
measure in their notifications. It is common for more than one objective to be identified for a measure.  
25 Information available in the latest revision of WTO document G/SPS/GEN/804/Rev.14, 
28 February  2022.  
26 The November 2021 and March 2022 meetings were held in person, and Members were also able to 
participate remotely via a virtual conferencing platform (W TO documents JOB/SPS/17, 15 October 2021, and 
JOB/SPS/19, 4 March 2022).  
45%
2%25%10%94%20%4%
0102030405060708090100
None International standards None International standards
None Codex OIE IPPCRegular and emergency SPS notifications (excluding addenda) and international standards
Source: WTO Secretariat.Regular notifications Emergency notifications
Note: Codex Alimentarius (Codex), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC).1%WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 33 - 
 
  delegations to discuss and resolve concerns bilaterally. For example, during the review period, China 
withdrew th ree STCs : (i) concerns regarding EU detection of bitter ginseng alkaloids in honey; (ii) 
Thailand's suspension of imports of live poultry, pigs, and their carcasses and (iii) Brazil's frequent 
adjustments of technical regulations affecting fishery trade, which had been included in the proposed 
agenda for the March 2022 meeting27, because bilateral progress was made.  
3.66.  In the SPS Committee meetings of 3 -5 November 2021 and 23 -25 March 2022, 17 STCs were 
raised for the first time  (Table 3.1 2), and 41 previousl y raised STCs were discussed again . 
Twenty -seven previously raised STCs were raised in both meetings.28 Of these, three addressed 
persistent problems that have been discussed 1 5 times or more (Table  3.13). Additionally, five of 
the seven STCs raised for the first time in November 2021 were raised again in  March 2022.29  
Table 3.12 New STCs raised in the SPS Committee meetings November 2021 or March 
2022 meeti ngs 
ID New STCs  
526 EU delays in authorizing imports of Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup ) - raised by  the 
Republic of Korea  
527 Delays in Thailand 's approval procedures for animal products  - raised by  the Russian Federation.  
528 Peru's undue delays in the authorization of dairy product enterprises  - raised by Panama.  
529 Qatar 's new import rules for dairy products  - raised  by the European Union.  
530 Bolivia 's import restrictions on agricultural and livestock products  - raised  by Peru.  
531 China 's import restrictions on fishery product s - raised  by Mexico.  
532 China 's import suspension of fresh fruits  - raised  by Chinese Taipei.  
533 EU restrictions on spice imports and other food products due to European Commission Implementing 
Regula tion (EU) 2021/2246 of 15 December 2021  - raised  by India.  
534 EU import tolerances for certain pesticides to achieve environmental outcomes in third countrie s - 
raised  by Australia.  
535 EU restrictions on the importation of collagen for human consumption  - raised  by China.  
536 EU residue limits of ethylene oxide and dichloroethanol  - raised  by China.  
537 Indo nesia 's draft regulation on heavy metals contaminants in processed food  - Concerns  by China.  
538 Chinese Taipei 's new procedure for the recognition of infectious animal disease -free status of a 
foreign country  - raised  by the European Union.  
539 Thailand 's sanitary requirements on "wet blue" leather imports  - raised  by Brazil.  
540 Russian Federation 's SPS notification G/SPS/N/RUS/241 regarding eleven new quarantine pests  - 
raised by India.  
541 Russian Federation 's phytosanitary certificate requirements for groundnut and sesame seeds  - 
raised  by India.  
542 US undue delays in opening its citrus market  - raised  by Brazil.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Table 3.13 Previously raised SPS STCs  discussed in the November 2021 or March 2022 
meetings, raised 15 times or morea 
STC Title of the STC  Member(s)  
responding  Member(s) raising the 
concern (total number of 
Members supporting)  First date 
raised (times 
subsequently 
raised)  Primary 
objective  
193 General import 
restrictions due to Bovine 
Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE)  Several Members, 
including China  European  Union, 
United  States (3 Members)  01/06/2004  
(43 ti mes) Animal 
health  
382  European  Union 
legislation on endocrine 
disruptors  European  Union  Argentina, China, Dominican 
Republic , Ecuador, 
Guatemala, India, Panama, 
Paraguay, United States 
(39 Members)  25/03/2014  
(21 times)  Food 
safety  
406  China's import 
restrictions due to highly 
pathogenic avian 
influenza  China  European  Union, 
United  States  16/03/2016  
(15 times)  Animal 
health  
a Further information on the STCs previously raised during the review period is available in the ePing 
SPS&TBT platform . Viewed at: https://tradeconcerns.wto.org/en/stcs?searchParameterDomainIds=2 . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
27 WTO document JOB /SPS/19, 4 March 2022.  
28 The 27 STCs that were raised in both meetings are 193, 382, 392, 406, 413, 431, 439, 441, 446, 
448, 466, 471, 484, 485, 486, 487, 489, 497, 498, 501, 503, 504, 512, 516, 519, 521 and 524. 
29 These were STCs 526, 527, 529, 530 and 532.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 34 - 
 
  3.67.  Of the 17  STCs raised for the first time in the 2 SPS Committee meetings, 5 concerned food 
safety, 5 concerned measures covering plant health, 5 related to other types of concerns30 and 2 
covered animal health. Regarding the 41 previously raised STCs during the review period,  15 
concerned measures coveri ng food safety, 10 (24%) concerned animal health, 4 related to plant 
health and  12 covered other types of concerns. Of the 59 STCs raised or discussed during the review 
period, 19 concerned measures covering food safety, 13 covered animal health, 9  concern ed plant 
health and 18 related to other types of concerns.  
3.68.  Discussions among Members in the SPS Committee continue to be multifaceted and dynamic. 
While pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) continue to be a topic of concern for Members, 
several STCs rel ated to approval procedures, were also raised in the current review period.  
3.69.  The WTO Secretariat prepares annual reports containing detailed information on STCs 
discussed in the SPS Committee. Since 1995,  50% of all STCs raised in the Committee have been 
reported as resolved or partially resolved.31 In November 2021, Mexico reported on the resolution 
of STC 515 regarding Panama' s authorization of Federal Inspection Types establishments.  
COVID -19-related SPS measures (1 February 202032-1 May 2022)  
3.70.  The SPS  Agreement requires Members to base SPS -related trade measures on international 
standards, guidelines, and recommendations, specifically those developed by the FAO/WHO Codex 
Alimentarius Commission (Codex) for food safety, the World Organisation for Animal He alth (OIE)33 
for animal health and zoonoses and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) for plant 
health. The three standard -setting bodies and the WHO are monitoring the COVID -19 situation and, 
so far, have not recommended any trade restrictions. In the absence of relevant international 
standards, SPS measures must be based on a risk assessment. However, it may take some time 
before sufficient scientific evidence becomes available. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, 
some Members believed they had to act quickly to ensure appropriate health protection. Under the 
SPS Agreement, Members have the right to adopt provisional measures based on available 
information. As more scientific evidence emerges and risk assessments can be carried out, these 
measures must be reviewed within a reasonable period of time.  
3.71.  Between 1 February 2020 and 1 May 2022, 31 Members (counting the European  Union as 
one) notified 67 SPS measures related to the COVID -19 pandemic. The most recent  SPS 
COVID -19-related document was receive d on 11 April 2022. Twenty -seven measures were notified 
as regular notifications. Additionally, 26 addenda to regular notifications were submitted, mostly 
extending both implementation periods of temporary measures and comment periods and dates of 
adoption  of previously notified regulations. Twenty measures were notified as emergency measures. 
Additionally, 10 emergency addenda were notified, seven lifting (or partially lifting) temporary 
restrictions previously imposed and 3 extending the validity of tempo rary trade -facilitating 
measures. Nine Members submitted their measures through an information communication (GEN 
document), and one additional GEN document34 was submitted by 40 Members. Overall, 27% of 
notifications on COVID -19 were SPS measures.35 Submitted documents are displayed by month and 
trade effect  in Chart 3.1 4.  
3.72.  Two COVID -19-related STCs were raised in the November 2021 and/or March 2022 SPS 
Commit tee meeting s.36 
 
30 These concerns include control, inspection and approval pr ocedures, and administrative measures.  
31 Information is available in the latest revision of the annual report on STCs (WTO document 
G/SPS/GEN/204/Rev.22, 28 February 2022).  
32 The first COVID -19-related notifications were received in February 2020.  
33 Since renamed the World Animal Health Organization (WAHO) . 
34 WTO document G/SPS/GEN/1778/Rev.5, 14  January 2021 (also circulated as WTO document 
G/TBT/GEN/296/Rev.5, 14 January 2021).  
35 WTO, COVID -19 and World Trade . Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid19_e.htm . 
36 STCs 487 and 506.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 35 - 
 
  Chart 3.14 Number of submitted SPS documents related to COVID -19, by date and trade 
effect, 1 February 2020  to 1 May 2022  
 
Note:  TF measures = trade facilitating measures.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.73.  Initially, these measures mainly related to restrictions on animal imports and/or transit from 
affected areas (some of these measures were subsequently lifted) and increased certification 
requirements. While some restrictions were still impose d at a later stage, most notifications and 
communications submitted since the beginning of April 2020 relate to measures taken to facilitate 
trade, by allowing temporary flexibility for control authorities to use electronic versions of veterinary 
and/or ph ytosanitary certificates, since the COVID -19 situation has made the transmission of original 
paper certificates problematic. Overall, about two -thirds of the 59 notifications (excluding addenda) 
and communications submitted were measures considered to be t rade-facilitating.  
Developments in the context of the war in  Ukraine  
3.74.  At the March 2022 SPS Committee meeting, Ukraine and several other Members (Australia, 
Canada, the European  Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, 
Switzerland , Chinese Taipei, the United Kingdom and the United  States) condemned "the Russian 
military aggression in Ukraine" , with several Members noting that it violated international law, the  
UN Charter, and the values on which the WTO is predicated.  The Russian F ederation noted that 
restrictive actions taken by several Members have led to damage to the global economy and the 
multilateral trading system and underlined that the WTO is not the platform to discuss this issue.37 
3.75.  In addition, the planned meeting of the Committee's Working Group on Approval Procedures 
was postponed due to the inability of some Members to participate in small group meetings involving 
the Russian Federation.  
 
37 WTO document G/SPS/R/105 " Summary of the meeting of 23-25 March 2022", 18 May 2022.  
0510152025
Feb.
20Mar.
20Apr.
20May
20Jun.
20Jul.
20Aug.
20Sep.
20Oct.
20Nov.
20Dec.
20Jan.
21Feb.
21Mar.
21Apr.
21May
21Jun.
21Jul.
21Aug.
21Sep.
21Oct.
21Nov.
21Dec.
21Jan.
22Feb.
22Mar.
22Apr.
22
Restrictions Lifting of restrictions TF measures Extension of TF measures Other SPS measuresNumber of submitted SPS documents related to COVID -19, by date and trade 
effect, 1 February 2020 -1 May 2022
Source:   WTO Secretariat.Note:   TF measures = trade facilitating measures .WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 36 - 
 
  Box 3.1 Enhancing monitoring and tran sparency in SPS and TBT  
Accessing relevant information on SPS or TBT product requirements in export markets can represent a significant 
challenge, in particular for SMEs. WTO Members are required to notify SPS and TBT measures, still in draft form, that 
may have a significant effect on trade and that are not in accordance with existing international standards. Each year, 
the WTO receives around 5,000  SPS and TBT notifications.  
The WTO facilitates the fulfilment of the transparency provisions contained in t he SPS and TBT Agreements and 
provides easy access to information. Timely access to notifications is crucial, given the 60 -day period that should 
normally be provided for submitting comments on the proposed regulations. The new ePing SPS&TBT platform  
available  in beta version since March 2022, is an integrated online tool that assists stakeholders in finding notifications 
of relevance to their trade and thus contributing to avoid and address potential trade barriers.  
The ePing SPS&TBT platform  helps users (governments, economic operators, and civil society) browse SPS or TBT 
notifications and trade concerns raised by Members in the WTO SPS and T BT Committees using parameters such as 
product, notifying Member and objective. Additionally, information on enquiry points and notification authorities can 
be located in the new Platform. Registered users can also sign up to receive daily or weekly email alerts and to follow 
notifications on products and/or markets of interest and reach out to national and international counterparts. This 
also facilitates dialogue among the public and private sectors to discuss and share information on notifications of 
concern, allowing stakeholders to address potential trade problems at an early stage of the regulatory lifecycle.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.4  Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)  
Notifications submitted to the TBT Committee  during the review period  
3.76.  Under the TBT Agreement, WTO Members are required to notify their intention to introduce 
new or modified TBT measures, or to notify adopted emergency measures immediately. The principal 
objective of complying with the TBT notifica tion obligations is to inform other Members about new 
or changed regulations that may  significantly affect trade.  
3.77.  From 1 October 2021 to 1 May 2022 (the review period) , WTO  Members submitted 1,446  new 
regular notifications of TBT measures.38 Members which notified the most measures during the 
review period  - 62% of all new regular notifications  – were from Uganda (136), Rwanda (126), 
Brazil  (108), Tanzania (106), Kenya (100), Burundi (79), United States (74), Republic of Korea (70), 
China (50) and European Union (47).   
3.78.  The majority of the 1,446 new regular TBT notifications received during the review  period, 
indicated the protection of human health or safety as their main objective. The remaining 
notifications related to quality requirements, consumer inform ation, labelling, prevention of 
deceptive practices and consumer protection, reducing trade barriers and facilitating trade and 
protection of the environment.   
3.79.  A total of 763 follow up -notifications (i.e. addenda, corrigenda, or supplements) were 
submitted  during the review  period. The continuing and frequent use by Members of follow -up 
notification s is a positive development, as it increases transparency and predictability across the 
measures' regulatory lifecycle.  
Measures discussed in the TBT Committee (STCs)  
3.80.  The TBT Committee is used as a forum for discussing trade issues related to specific TBT 
measures (technical regulations, standards, or conformity assessment procedures) maintained by 
other Members. These specific trade concerns (STCs) nor mally relate to proposed draft measures 
notified to the TBT  Committee or to the implementation of existing measures. Issues can range from 
requests for additional information and clarification to questions on the consistency of measures with 
TBT Agreement disciplines.  
3.81.  A total of 169 (45 new and 124 previously  raised) STCs were discussed during the two 
Committee meetings that fell within the review period: 89 (25 new and 64 previously raised)  at the 
10-12 November 2021 meeting, and 80  (20 new and 60 previou sly raised) at the 8-11 March 2022 
meeting.  
 
38 WTO TBT information Management System. Viewed at:  ePing SPS&TBT platform . These numbers 
concern only regular notifications (in which the original  draft measure is submitted) and do not include 
follow -up notifications.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 37 - 
 
  3.82.  As depicted in Table 3.14, the 45 new STCs concerned TBT measures by the European Union 
(9), the United States (6), India (5), Indonesia (3), Canada (2), the Republic of Korea (2), 
Sri Lanka  (2), Belgium, Brazil,  Chile, China, Egypt, France, Guatemala, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, 
Pakistan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, Viet Nam (1 each). The 
measures covered regulations on a range of products ( e.g. artificial intelligence systems, in formation 
and communication devices, solar modules, household goods, electrical appliances, spices, vehicles, 
alcoholic beverages, mineral oils, cannabis and cannabis -based products, palm oil, plastic, food 
products, etc.), and deal t with a variety of issu es (e.g. labelling and packaging, conformity 
assessment procedures, remote factory  audits, technical regulation or specifications, life cycle 
assessment, halal certification, and energy efficiency).  
Table 3.14 New STCs raised in the November 2021 and March 2022 TBT Committee 
meetings  
New STCs  
Chile : Efficiency analysis and/or test protocol for electrical products (ID 704) (raised by Republic of Korea)  
European Union : Draft Commission Delegated Regulation amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to 
technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (ID 705) (raised by 
Chinese  Taipei)  
China : National Standard of the P.R.C., Lithium Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Portable Electronic 
Equipments -Safety Technical Specification (ID 706) (raised by the Republic of Korea)  
Viet Nam : Draft National Technical Regulation on the fifth level of gaseous pollutants emissions for new 
assembled, manufactured and imported automobiles (ID 707) (raised by Thailand)  
European Union : Draft Commission Regulation laying down ecodesign requirements for light sources and 
separate control ge ars pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and 
repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No. 244/2009, (EC) No. 245/2009 and (EU) No. 1194/2012 (ID 708) 
(raised by the Republic of Korea)  
United States : Energy Conservati on Program: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Clothes 
Washers (ID 709) (raised by China)  
India : Important Instruction regarding Voluntary Star Labelling Programme for UHD (4K, 8K) Televisions 
(ID 710) (raised by the Republic of Korea)  
Sri La nka: National Environmental (Plastic Material Identification Standards) Regulations No. 01 of 2021 
(ID 711) (raised by United States)  
Brazi l: MAPA  Ordinance No. 208, 26 February 2021 – revision of the Decree No. 6.87 of 4 June 2009 on the 
standardisation, classification, registration, inspection, production and supervision of alcoholic beverages 
(ID 712) (raised by the European Union)  
Belgium : Draf t law introducing additional security measures for the provision of mobile 5G services (ID 713) 
(raised by China)  
United States : Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain through 
the Equipment Authorization Program an d the Competitive Bidding Program (ID 714) (raised by China)  
Pakistan : Safety of amusement rides and amusement devices (ID 715) (raised by the United States)  
United States : Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures (ID 71 6) 
(raised by China)  
India : Chemical Fibers and Yarns: PSY, IDY, FDY, POY, PSF, and SMF for use in Cement -Based Matrix 
(Quality Control) Orders, 2020 (ID 717) (raised by the Republic of Korea)  
Egypt : Halal Certification Measure, based on Egyptian Standar d ES 4249/2014 General Requirements for 
Halal Food According to Islamic Sharia (ID 718) (raised by Canada, European Union and United States)  
India : Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 (ID 719) (raised by the Republic of Korea)  
Sri Lanka : Imp orts (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2017 (ID 720) (raised by Indonesia)  
Guatemala : Technical Standard 84 -2021 for the Sanitary Registration of Repellent Products for External 
Use in Humans and Spatial Repellent Products (ID 721) (raised by Mexico)  
Canada : Regulatory requirements for the import and marketing of cannabis and cannabis based products 
for medicinal use (ID 722) (raised by Colombia)  
France : Loi n° 2020 -105: Anti -Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC Law) (ID 723) (raised by the 
Republic of Korea)  
Indonesia : Government Regulation 28 of 2021 – Implementing Regulation (for the Manufacturing/Industry 
Sector) to Law No. 11 of 2020 the "Job Creation  Act" (ID 724) (raised by European Union and United States)  
Republic of Korea : Proposal for revision of the implementation rules and operation notification of the 
electrical appliances and consumer goods safety control act (ID 725) (raised by China)  
United States : Energy efficiency requirements for general service lamps (GSL) (ID 726) (raised by China)  
Spain : Amendment of Royal Decree 1521/1984 by the Secretariat for Fisheries of Spain (ID 727) (raised by 
Chile)  
Indonesia : Import quota and SNI certifica tion requirements (ID 728) (raised by China)  
Malaysia : Guideline for Approval of Electrical Equipment (Electricity Regulation 1994) Information Booklet 
2018 Edition (GP/ST/N0.14/2017) (ID 729) (raised by the Republic of Korea)  
Mongolia : Draft Law on cont rolling the circulation of alcohol beverages, and fight against alcoholism (ID 
730) (raised by Mexico)  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 38 - 
 
  New STCs  
United States : Energy conservation program: test procedure for circulator pumps (ID 731) (raised by 
China)  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : Corporate average f uel economy standard (SAUDI CAFE) for all light duty 
vehicles (ID 732) (raised by China)  
South Africa : Regulations relating to the composition, production and labelling of wine and spirits intended 
for sale in the Republic of South Africa (ID 733) (raised  by Mexico)  
European Union : Specific test procedures and technical requirements for the type -approval of motor 
vehicles with regard to their event data recorder and for the type -approval of those systems as separate 
technical units (ID 734) (raised by China)  
Canada : Pest control products regulations (ultraviolet radiation -emitting devices and ozone -generating 
devices) (ID 735) (raised by China)  
European Union : Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council laying down 
harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial intelligence act) and amending certain union legislative 
acts (ID 736) (raised by China)  
United States : Secure equipment act of 2021 (ID 737) (raised by China)  
European Union : Regulations affecting spices (Reg ulation number EU 2021/2246, dated 15 December 
2021) (ID 738) (raised by India)  
European Union : Implementation of access regulation regarding collagen for human consumption (ID 739) 
(raised by China)  
United Kingdom : EC marking certificate for export of h ome textile items (ID 740) (raised by India)  
European Union : Commission implementing decision (EU) 2017/1357 on a restriction of Standard EN 
60335 -2-9-2003+A 13 -2010 (ID 741) (raised by China)  
India: Approved models and manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules order, 2019 (ID 742) (raised by 
China)  
European Union : Regulation (EU) 2022/30 on network protection, safeguards for the protection of personal 
data and privacy and protection from fraud (ID 743) (raised by China)  
Republic of Korea : Regulation for supporting low carbon solar module product (ID 744) (raised by China)  
European Union : Regulation (EU) 2019/320 on caller location in emergency communications from mobile 
devices (ID 745) (raised by China)  
Indonesia : Remote factory audit for air conditioners (ID 746) (raised by Thailand)  
Japan : Inspection system for sports goods and toy s and non -acceptance of test reports from Indian test 
houses (ID 747) (raised by India)  
India : Import Policy of Air Conditioners with Refrigerants (ID 748) (raised by Thailand)  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.83.  Overall, the number of new and previously raised STC s has been increasing every year. This 
trend suggests an increasing use of the TBT Committee as a forum for Members to raise and resolve 
trade concerns non -litigiously. In 202 1, for exampl e, Members reviewed 257 STCs , including 64 new 
concerns, which was t he highest  number on record  since 1995.39 With two TBT Committee meetings 
scheduled to take place later this year, this trend will likely continue in 2022.  
3.84.  During the November 2021 and March 2022  TBT Committee meetings , 13 persistent  STCs – 
i.e. those prev iously raised STCs more than 16 times in Committee meetings – were discussed 
(Table  3.15).  
Table 3.15 Persistent STCs raised between 1 October 2021 and 1 May 2022  
Persistent STCs  
India : Pneumatic tyres and tubes for automotive vehicles (ID 133) raised 39 times  since 2006  
China : Requirements for information security products, including, inter alia , the Office of State Commercial 
Cryptography Administration (OSCCA) 1999 Regulation on comm ercial encryption products and its on -going 
revision and the Multi -Level Protection Scheme (MLPS) (ID 294) raised 34 times  since 2011  
Russian Federation : Draft Technical Regulation on Alcohol Drinks Safety (published on 24 October 2011) 
(ID 332) raised 30 times  since 2012  
European Union : Draft Implementing Regulations amending Regulation (EC) No. 607/2009 laying down 
detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards protected designations 
of origin and geographical indications, traditional terms, labelli ng and presentation of certain wine sector 
products (ID 345) raised 29 times  since 2012  
European Union : Hazard -based approach to plant protection products and setting of import tolerances (ID 
393) raised 27 times  since 2013  
India : Electronics and Informa tion Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 
2012 (ID 367) raised 27 times  since 2013  
 
39 For more details on TBT notifications, STCs and trends from 2021, see Twenty -Sevent h Annual 
Review of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement , (WTO document G/TBT/47 , 2 March 
2022); and  WTO (2022), Technical Barriers to Trade: 10 Key Results from 2021 .  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 39 - 
 
  Persistent STCs  
China : Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of the State 
Council) (ID 428) raised 24 times  since 2014  
China : Registration Fees for Drugs and Medical Device Products (ID 466) raised 21 times  since 2015  
Indonesia : Halal Product Assurance Law No. 33 of 2014 and its implementing regulations (ID 502) raised 19 
times  since 2016  
Egypt : Manufacturer Registration System (Decree No. 43/2016 and Decree No. 992/2015) (ID 505) raised 
18 times  since 2016  
Russian Federation : Rules of cement certification (ID 497) raised 18 times  since 2016  
India : Draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards) Regulations, 2015 (ID 494) raised 
18 times  since 2016  
India : Mandatory Certification for Steel Products (ID 224) raise d 17 times  since 2009  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
COVID -19-related TBT notifications and discussions at TBT Committee  
3.85.  Since the beginning of the pandemic,  45% of all notifications submitted by WTO Members in 
response to COVID -19 were under the TBT Agreement .40 As at 21 April 2022 , 34 WTO Members 
submitted 213 COVID -19-related TBT notifications to the WTO. These notifications mostly dealt with  
extraordinary and temporary streamlining of certification and related procedures , and the 
introduction of new regulatory requirements for medical goods . In addition, Members made 
references to the COVID -19 pandemic in 54 STCs in the TBT Committee. The vast majority of these  
STCs were not linked to COVID -19-related notifications or medical goods; rather, they addressed 
the significant impacts of the pandemic on Members' economies.  
3.86.  More than 60%  of these notifications were submitted under the emergency/urgent notification 
provisions  of the TBT Agreement .41 Under these provisions, WTO Members can adopt measures 
immediately without first notifying the measure in draft form or providing the usual 60 -day comment 
period (or allowing the usual 6-month transition peri od prior to entry into force).  The majority (about 
66%) of these  notifications cover regulations on medical goods , such as personal protective 
equipment (PPE), pharmaceutical products, medical devices, other medical supplies and other 
products.42 
3.87.  In the context of the Ninth Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement, Members agreed to 
examine and compile best practices for future pandemic  preparedness, including streamlining 
conformity assessment procedures during pandemics, and enhancing international regulatory 
cooperation so as to facilitate trade in select essential medical goods like vaccines .43 
Developments in the context of the war in  Ukraine  
3.88.  At the TBT Committee meeting of 8 -11 March 2022, Ukraine and several other Members 
(Argentina, Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Paraguay, 
Switzerland, Türkiye , United Kingdom , and United States) expressed their strong opposition to the 
war in  Ukraine, with several Members noting that it violated international law and th e UN Charter. 
The Russian Federation called on Members to refrain from interventions on issues and events which 
are outside the scope of the TBT Committee and the WTO itself.44 
3.89.  In April and May 2022, Lithuania submitted various notifications to the TBT Com mittee on 
construction products that, according  to Lithuania, "were adopted in view of the fact that the Russian 
Federation was carrying out a military attack on Ukraine" and Belarus' "involvement in the attack."45 
These Lithuanian notifications concern modifications to previously notified regulatory  measures on 
specifications for construction products that had entered into force between 2018 and January 2022. 
 
40 TBT notifications are classified as COVID -19-related if they contain the terms "coronavirus",  "COVID", 
"SARS -COV-2" or "nCoV". These COVID -19-related notifications include not only regular notifications but also 
follow -up notifications (addenda to previou s regular notifications).  
41 TBT Agreement, Articles 2.10.1 and 5.7.1.  
42 The " pharmaceutical products" category includes, for example, vaccines, antibiotics and vitamins. The 
"medical devices" category includes, for example, lung ventilator equipment, ultra violet radiation -emitting 
devices and  vital signs monitors. The "PPE" category includes, for example, face masks and surgical gloves. 
The "other medical supplies" category includes, for example, gauzes, hand sanitizers and flocked swabs. The 
"other" catego ry includes, for example, food, footwear and offices machines.  
43 WTO document G/TBT/46 , 17 November 2021 , para. 8.4. 
44 WTO document G/TBT/M/86 (forthcoming).  
45 Belarus is not a WTO Member. Information on Belarus' WTO accession process can be found here: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/blr_e/a1_belarus_e.htm .  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  More specifically, these new measures intend to temporar ily allow construction products which are 
not covered by EU harmonized technical specifications ("non -harmonized construction products"), 
to nonetheless be placed on the Lithuanian market without being certified by a body established in 
Lithuania, provided  that they comply with certain special certification requirements.  At the same 
time, and in light of war in Ukraine, Lithuania " suspended validity of certificates of constancy of 
performance of construction products, certificates of conformity of (internal ) production control of 
construction products" so as " to ensure that [Russia and Belarus] are not directly or indirectly 
financed by the Republic of Lithuania and the European Union".46 
3.5  Trade concerns raised  in other WTO bodies47 
3.90.  During the review period, several trade issues and concerns were raised by Members in formal 
meetings of various WTO bodies. This Section provides a factual overview of such concerns raised 
between mid -October 2021 and mid -May 2022.48 The trade concerns covered in this Section have  
neither the status nor the procedural framework of the STCs raised in the SPS and TBT Committees. 
Nevertheless, they provide an up -to-date insight into which trade issues are being discussed by 
Members across the WTO and, as such, add important transparen cy. This Section does not reproduce 
the full substantive description of the trade concerns outlined by WTO Members but provides a 
reference to the formal meeting(s) where a particular issue featured. A full account and context of 
the concerns can be found in the formal meeting records of the respective WTO bodies. The list of 
concerns and issues mentioned in this Section is not exhaustiv e. 
3.91.  At the 15 December 2021 Special  meeting of the General Council  (GC)49, trade concern s were 
raised under "Other Business"  by the European Union  regarding  the shipments of goods to China 
originating in Lithuania . At the 9 -10 May 2022 GC meeting50, trade concern s were raised on 
trade-disruptive practices of certain Members and their implications for the W TO (raised by the 
Russian Federation).51 
3.92.  During the review period, the Council for Trade in Goods  (CTG) met twice, on 
1-2 November  2021 and on 21-22 April 2022 . Thirty -seven trade concerns, including five new , were 
raised at the CTG 1 -2 November 2021 meeting52 (Table 3.16).  
Table 3.16 Trade concerns raised at the CTG meeting of 1 -2 November 2021  
Trade concern  Member(s) raising the concern  
Angola  – Import Restricting Practices  Russian Federation  
Australia  – Discriminatory Market Access Prohibition on 
5G Equipment  China  
China  – Administrative Measures for Registration of 
Overseas Producers of Imported Foods  United States  
China  – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration 
Regulations (CSAR)  Australi a, European Union, Japan, and 
United  States  
China  – Export Control Law  European Union and Japan  
China  – Implementation of Trade Disruptive and 
Restrictive Measures  Australia  
China  – Subsidy Transparency and China's Publication and 
Inquiry Point Obligations under China's Protocol of 
Accession  Australia, European Union, United Kingdom, 
and United States  
Egypt  – Manufacturer Registration System  European Union  
European Union  – Carbon  Border Adjustment Mechanism 
(European Green Deal of December  2019)  China and Russian Federation  
European Union  – Implementation of Non -Tariff Barriers 
on Agricult ural Products  Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, 
Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, 
Panama, Paraguay, United States, and 
Uruguay  
 
46 WTO documents G/TBT/N/LTU/44, 19 April 2022; G/TBT/N/LTU/45, 19 April 2022; 
G/TBT/N/LTU/45/Add.1, 19 May 2022; G/TBT/N/LTU/46/Rev.1 (submitted on 12 May 2022 as a revision of the 
original notification circulated on 19 April as G/TBT/N/LTU/46) and G/TBT/N/LTU/46/Rev.1/Add.1, 
19 May 2022.  
47 This Section does not include the SPS and TBT Committees (covered separately) . Issues raised in this 
Section may subsequently have become the subject of a dispute.  
48 Members are encouraged to communicate to the Trade Monitoring Section of the WTO trade issues 
which they have raised in WTO bodies a nd which they believe are relevant to the monitoring exercise.  
49 WTO document WT/GC/M/195 , 15 December 2021.  
50 WTO document WT/GC/M/198 , forthcoming  
51 WTO document WT/GC/ 245, 16 March 2022.  
52 WTO document G/C/M/141, 28  February 2022. WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 41 - 
 
  Trade concern  Member(s) raising the concern  
European Union  – Proposed Modification of 
TRQ Commitments: Systemic Concerns  Brazil, China, and Uruguay  
European Union  – Quality Schemes for Agricultural 
Products and Foodstuffs – the Registration of Certain Terms 
of Cheese as Geographical Indications  Uruguay  
European Union  – Regulation (EU)  2017/2321 and 
Regulation (EU)  2018/825  China and Russian Federation  
European Union  – Regulation EC  No. 1272/2008 
(CLP Regulation)  Russian Federation  
European Union  – Sweden's Discriminatory Market Access 
Prohibition on 5G  Equipment  China  
European Union  – The European Green Deal  Russian Federation  
India  – Import Policy on Tyres  Europe an Union, Indonesia, and Chinese 
Taipei  
India  – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners  Japan  
India  – Indian Standards and Import Restriction in the 
Automotive Sector (Quality Control Orders): Wheel Rims, 
Safety Glass, Helmets  Indonesia  
India  – Mandatory Certification for Steel Products  Japan  
India  – Order Related to Requirement of Non -GM Cum GM 
Free Certificate Accompanied with Imported Food 
Consignment  United States  
India  – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order  2020 Indonesia  
India  – Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses  Australia, Canada, Europe an Union, 
Russian  Federation, and United States  
Indonesia  – Import and Export Restricting Policies and 
Practices  European Union, Japan, New Zealand, and 
United States  
Indonesia  – Import Substitution Programme  European Union  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  – Saber Conformity 
Assessment Online Platform/Saleem Product Safety 
Program  United States  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, the 
United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, 
and Qatar  – Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products  European Union, Switzerland, and 
United  States  
Mexico  – Conformity Assessment Procedure for Cheese 
Under Mexican Official Standard NOM -223-SCFI/SAGARPA -
2018 United States  
Mongolia  – Measures Applied with Resp ect to Certain 
Agricultural Products  Russian Federation  
Panama  – Onions and Potatoes Harvest Life and Sprouting 
Requirements  United States  
Russian Federation  – Trade Restricting Practices  European Union and United States  
Sri Lanka  – Import Ban on Palm Oil  Indonesia  
Sri Lanka  – Import Ban on Various Products  Australia and European Union  
United Kingdom  – Draft Goods Schedule and Proposed 
UK TRQ Commitments: Systemic Concerns  Brazil, China, Russian Federation, and 
Uruguay  
United States  – Export Control Measures for ICT  Products  China  
United States  – Import Restrictions on Apples and Pears  European Union  
United States  – Measures Regarding Market Access 
Prohibition for ICT  Products  China  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.93.  At the 21 -22 April 202253 CTG meeting , 41 trade concerns were raised as per Table  3.17. 
Table 3.17 Trade concerns raised at CTG meeting of 21 -22 April 2022  
Trade concern  Member(s) raising the concern  
Australia  – Discriminatory Market Access Prohibition on 
5G Equipment  China  
Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, 
Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States  – 
Unilateral Trade Restrictive Measures Against Russia  Russian Federation  
China  – Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas 
Producers of Imported Foods  Indonesia and United States  
China  – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration 
Regulations  (CSAR)  Australia, European Union, Japan, 
and United States  
China  – Export Control Law  Japan  
 
53 WTO document G/C/M/142, forthcoming . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Trade concern  Member(s) raising the concern  
China  – Implementation of Trade Disruptive and Restrictive 
Measures  Australia  
Ecuador  – Import Restrictions on Grapes and Onions  Peru 
European Union  – Belgium's Draft Law Introducing Additional 
Security Measures for the Pr ovision of Mobile 5G  Services  China  
European Union  – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism  China and Russian Federation  
European Union  – Countervailing Duties (CVD) on Stainless  Steel 
Cold -Rolled Flat (SSCR)  Indonesia  
European Union  – European Green Deal  (Carbon Border 
Adjustment Mechanism and Deforestation Free Commodities)  Indonesia  
European Union  – Implementation of Non -Tariff Barriers on 
Agricultural Products (G/C/W/767/Rev.1)  Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, 
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 
Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, 
Paraguay, Peru, United States, and 
Uruguay  
European Union  – Proposed Modification of TRQ Commitments: 
Systemic Concerns  China and Uruguay  
European Union  – Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and 
Foodstuffs -the Registration of Certain Terms of Cheese as 
Geographical Indications  New Zealand and Uruguay  
European Union  – Regulation EC  No. 1272/2008 (CLP  Regulation)  Russian Federation  
European Union  – Regulation  (EU) 2017/2321 and Regulation 
(EU) 2018/825  Russian Federation  
European Union  – Sweden's Discriminatory Market Access 
Prohibition on 5G  Equipmen t  China  
European Union  –European Green Deal  Russian Federation  
India  – Import Policy on Tyres  European Union,  Indonesia,  
Chinese  Taipei , and Thailand  
India  – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners  Japan and Thailand  
India  – Order Related to Requirement of Non -GM Cum GM Free 
Certificate Accompanied with Imported Food Consignment  United States  
India  – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order  2020  Indonesia  
India  – Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses  Australia, Canada, Eur opean  Union 
and the United States  
Indonesia  – Import and Export Restricting Policies and Practices  European Union, Japan, 
New Zealand, and United  States  
Indonesia  – Import Substitution Programme  European Union  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  – SABER  Conformity Assessment 
Online Platform/Saleem Product Safety Program  United States  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, 
United  Arab  Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar  
– Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products  Switzerland and Unite d States  
Mexico  – Conformity Assessment Procedure for Cheese Under 
Mexican Official Standard Nom -223-Scfi/Sagarpa -2018  United States  
Nepal  – Import Ban on Energy Drinks  Thailand  
Nigeria  – Restrictive Policies on Agricultural Products  Brazil  
Panama  – Onions and Potatoes Harvest Life and Sprouting  United States  
Panama  – Undue Delays and Export Restrictions on Agricultural 
and Hydrobiological Products  Peru 
Philippines  – Special Safeguard on Instant Coffee  Indonesia  
Plurinational  State of Bolivia  – Export Restrictions on 
Agricultural and Hydrobiological Products  Peru 
Sri Lanka  – Import Ban on Various Products  Australia and Thailand  
United Kingdom  – Draft Goods Schedule and Proposed UK TRQ 
Commitments: Systemic Concerns  China and Uruguay  
United Kingdom  – Environmental Act: Forestry Commodities  Indonesia  
United States  – Discriminatory Quantitative Restriction on Steel 
and/or Aluminium Imports  China  
United States  – Export Control Measures for ICT Products  China  
United States  – Import Restrictions on Apples and Pears  European Union  
United States  – Measures Regarding Market Access Prohibition for 
ICT Products  China  
Source: WTO Secretariat.  
3.94.  During the CTG 21 -22 April meeting, Ukraine  raised concerns about Russia n Federation's 
military actions,  stating that some of which were targeting Ukraine's agricultural production capacity 
thus jeopardizing food security and risking a world food crisis. T he Russian Federation raised 
concerns about unilateral measures introduced by Australia, Canada, European Union , Japan, New 
Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States  aimed at attacking the Russia n Federation 's 
economy as a result of its special m ilitary operation in Ukraine .  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 43 - 
 
  3.95.  Concerns were raised by a number of Members on the direct impact of the 
Russian  Federation's military action  in Ukraine, which had prevented Ukraine's exports and also on 
the Russian Federation's measures to restrict its expo rts of fertilizers and other commodities, such 
as sugar, sunflower oil, wheat, meslin, rye, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed seeds  
(raised by Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, 
Switzerland, United K ingdom, United States, and Ukraine).  
3.96.  At the 3 0-31 March 2022 meeting of the Committee on Market Access  (CMA)54, 18 trade 
concerns  were raised as per Table 3.18. 
Table 3.18 Trade concerns raised at the CMA meeting of 30 -31 March 2022  
Measure implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Angola  – Import Restriction Practices  European Union and United States  
Canada  – Restrictions on the Commercial Importation of 
Cannabis and Cannabis Products for Medical Use  Colombia  
China  – Trade Disruptive and Restrictive Measures  Australia  
European Union  - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism 
(CBAM)  Indonesia, Russian Federation   
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, 
United  Arab Emirates, State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar  
- Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products  European Union, Switzerland, 
United  States  
India  – Import Policies on Tyres  European Union, Indonesia, 
Chinese  Taipei, Thailand  
India  – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners   Japan, Thailand  
India  - Plain Copier Paper Quality Order 2020  Indonesia  
India  – Quantitative Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses  Australia, Canada, European Union,  
United  States  
Indonesia  - Import Substitution Programme  European Union  
Indonesia  – Customs Duties on Certain Telecommunication 
Products  United States, European Union  
Mexico  – Import Quota on Glyphosate  United States  
Nepal  - Import Ban on Energy Drinks  Thailand  
Peru – Tax Treatment of Pisco  United Kingdom  
Sri Lanka  – Import Ban on Various Products  Australia, European Union, Thailand  
Sri Lanka  – Import Ban on Palm Oil  Indonesia  
Philippines  – Special Safeguard on Instan t Coffee  Indonesia  
United States  – Discriminatory Quantitative Restriction on 
Steel and/or Aluminium Imports  China  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.97.  At the CMA March 2022 meeting, Ukraine made reference to its notification55 of export 
restrictions on certain agricultural products which were necessary to ensure national food security. 
They noted that t hese measures  were implemented as a result of the Russian Federation's actions . 
Ukraine denounced the detrimental effects that the war had on international trade in food products. 
Thirteen Members (United  Kingdom, United States, Paraguay, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Norway, 
Türkiye , the European Union, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada) expressed support 
for Ukrain e and noted the consequences of the Russian Federation's actions on global trade in goods. 
The Russian Federation stressed that the reasons for disruptions of global supply chains were the 
unilateral trade restricting measures introduced by Members, which were in direct violation of WTO 
rules. During that meeting, t he Committee reviewed the quantitative restrictions (QR) notifications 
from 16 Members. One notification from the United States related to import and export prohibitions 
against the Russian Feder ation on the ground of national security .56 
3.98.  At the 8 April 2022 meeting of the Committee on Import Licensing  (CIL)57, new and persistent 
trade concerns were raised as per Table  3.19. 
Table 3.19 Trade concerns raised at the CIL meeting of 8 April 2022  
Measures implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Angola  - Import Licensing Requirements  European Union  
China  - Changes to Import Licensing for Certain 
Recoverable Materials  United States  
 
54 WTO document G/MA/M/76, forthcoming . 
55 WTO document G/MA/QR/N/UKR/5/Add.2 , 25 March 2022 . 
56 G/MA/QR/N/USA/5/Add.3 , 21 March 2022.  
57 WTO document G/LIC/M/54 , forthcoming . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Measures implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Egypt  - Import Licensing Requirements for Certain 
Agricultural and Processed Products  European Union  
India  - Quantitative Restrictions on Certain Pulses  Canada  
India  - Impor tation of Pneumatic Tyres  European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, 
Thailand  
Indonesia  - Import Restrictions: Compulsory 
Registration by Importers of Steel Products  Japan  
Indonesia  - Import Licensing Regime for Certain Textile 
Products  European Union  and Japan  
Indonesia  - Import Restrictions on Air Conditioners  European Union and Japan  
Thailand  - Importation of Feed Wheat  European Union  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.99.  At the 6 April 2022 meeting of the Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in 
Information Technology Products (ITA Committee)58 an implementation issue was reiterated 
concerning Indonesia, calling for aligning the tariff treatment of certain ICT products classified under 
subheading 8517.62 with Indonesia's WTO commitments (raised by United States, European Union, 
and Japan).  
3.100.   At the 15-16 March 2022 meeting of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA)59, several questions 
and concerns were raised with respect to Members' individual notifications, and on specific 
implementation matters (SIMs) under Article  18.6. During the review period, a total of 141 questions 
were discussed on individual notifications ( 78 questions), Article 18.6 matters ( 58 questions covering  
47 SIMs), and overdue notifications ( 5 questions). Additional details regarding these questions and 
concerns can be found in Section 3.6 of this Report.  
3.101.   At the meetings of the Committee on Anti -Dumping Practices60 on 27 October 2021 and 
27 April 2022, 33 concerns were raised as per Table 3.20. 
Table 3.20 Concerns raised on anti -dumping practices  
Measure(s) implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Argentina  – Initiation - polymer profiles of vinyl chloride of the types 
used in the manufacture of openings or enclosures  Türkiye  
Argentina  – Initiation - tiles of glass whether or not on a backing, for 
mosaics or similar decorative purposes  Türkiye  
Brazil  – Investigation – liquid caustic soda  United States  
Canada  – Investigation – preliminary and final determinations - concrete 
reinforcing bars  Egypt and Russian  Federation  
China  – Antidumping measures - Poultry  Brazil  
China  – Final determination and continued imposition of AD measures – 
unbleached sack paper  Japan  
China  - Final determination and continued imposition of AD measures – 
Grain oriented flat rolled electrical steel  Japan  
Egypt  – Antidumping measure - prestressed concrete steel strands  Tunisia  
European Union  – Initiation – corrosion resistant steel products  Türkiye  
European Union  – Initiation – ceramic tiles   Türkiye  
European Union  – Initiation – certain iron or steel fasteners  China  
European Union  – Initiation – aluminum road wheels  Morocco  
European Union  – Reopening of investigation - certain woven and/or 
stitched glass fibre fabrics  Egypt  
India  - Continued imposition of antidump ing measures - hot-rolled flat 
products of alloy and non -alloy steel, and cold rolled/cold reduced flat 
products of iron or non -alloy steel.  Japan  
India  – Antidumping measures – electrogalvanized steel  Japan  
Korea, Republic of  – Final determination and continued imposition of AD 
duties based on the 4th sunset review - stainless steel bar  Japan  
 
58 WTO document G/IT/M/76, forthcoming.  
59 Quest ions raised under the review process in the CoA meetings on 15 -16 March 2022  are available in 
WTO document G/AG/W/217 and G/AG/W/217/Corr.1 . The questions, responses and follow -up comments are 
available through the Q&A section of the  Agriculture Informatio n Management System . Viewed at: 
http://agims.wto.org/ . 
60 Minutes G/ADP/M/60, 17 December 2021 and G/ADP/M/61, forthcoming.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Measure(s) implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Korea, Republic of  – Expiry review – Butyl glycol ether  United States  
Mexico  – Initiation – type I and type H steel beams  United Kingdom  
Morocco  – Initiation – galvanized wire  Türkiye  
Philippines  - Sunset review and extension of measures – wheat flour  Türkiye  
South Africa  – Preliminary determination and imposition of provisional 
measures – Frozen bone -in portions of fowls of the species Gallus 
Domesticus  European Union  
South Africa  – Preliminary determination and imposition of provisional 
measures - Frozen bone -in portions of fowls of the species Gallus 
Domesticus  Brazil  
South Africa  – Investigation – uncooked pasta  Egypt  
South Africa  – Initiation – frozen potato chips  European Union  
Thailand  – Final determination and continued imposition of AD duties - 
flat hot rolled steel in coils and not in coils  Japan  
Thailand  – Antidumping  investigation - hot-rolled steel coil  Egypt  
Ukraine  – Initiation - certain articles of asphalt or of similar materia l Russian Federation  
Ukraine  – Initiation – aluminium ladders  European Union  
United Kingdom  – Transitional review – cold-rolled flat steel products  Russian Federation  
United States  – Investigation – raw honey  Ukraine  
United States  – Administrative review - Glycine  Japan  
United States  – Review of Russian Federation's market economy status – 
urea ammonium nitrate solutions   Russian Federation  
United States  – Antidumping measures - hot-rolled steel flat products  Türkiye  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.102.   Other issues and concerns were raised on : (i) Ukraine's undermined ability to fulfil its rights 
and obligations with respect to AD investigations both initiated by itself or by other Members due to 
the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine  (raised by Ukraine);  (ii) the length of the 
United  States antidumping measures – prolonged measures (raised by China and Japan ); (iii) sunset 
reviews conducted by the European Union leading to continued imposition of prolonged antidumping 
measurers (raised by China); (iv) European Union's Regulation (EU) 2017/2321 and Regulation (EU) 
2018/825 ( Russian Federation and supported by China); (v) Overall importance of prompt 
notifications for transparency purposes (raised by  the United  States); and (vi) Transitional reviews 
and continued application by the United Kingdom of the European Union's antidumping measures 
conducted after Brexit (raised by China and the Russian Federation).  
3.103.   At the meetings of the Committee on Subsid ies and Countervailing Measures  on 26 October 
2021 and 26 April 202261 17 concerns were raised on subsidies as per  Table 3.21. 
Table 3.21 Trade concerns raised at the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures  
Measure (s) implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
China  - Countervailing duty investigation - n-Propanol (NPA)  United States  
European Union  - Anti-circumvention proceedings - Glass fibre fabrics  Egypt and Morocco  
European Union  - Final countervailing measures - Stainless steel cold 
rolled flat products  Indonesia  
India  - Countervailing duty investigation - Aluminium primary foundry alloy 
ingot  Malaysia  
India  - Countervailing duty investigation - Copper tubes and pipes  Malaysia  
India  - Countervailing duty investigation - Saturated fatty alcohols  Malaysia  
United Kingdom  - Countervailing duty investigation – Ironing boards  Türkiye  
United Kingdom  - Countervailing duty investigation – Optical fibre cables  China  
United States  - Countervailing duty investigation - Phosphate fertilizers  Russian Federation  
United States  - Countervailing duty investigation & final measures - 
Seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe  Russian Federation  
 
61 WTO documents G/SCM/M/ 117, 4 March 2022 and G/SCM/M/119, forthcoming.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Measure (s) implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
United States  - Countervailing duty investigation & imposition of 
provisional measures and preliminary determinat ions - Urea ammonium 
nitrate solutions  Russian Federation  
United States  - Preliminary findings and Provisional measures – Granular 
polytetrafluoroethylene resin  Russian Federation  
United States  - Initiation of countervailing duty investigation – Oil cou ntry 
tubular goods  Russian Federation  
United States  - Countervailing duty measures – Phosphate fertilizers  Morocco  
United States  - Preliminary or final determinations on "currency 
undervaluation" in countervailing duty investigations on Twist ties; Chassis; 
Pentafluoroethane; Mobile access equipment; and Walk -behind snow 
throwers  China  
United States  - Expiry reviews - Cold-rolled and hot -rolled steel sheets  Brazil  
United States  - Expiry review – Iron construction castings  Brazil  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.104.   Additional concerns were raised on: (i) the undermin ing of  Ukraine's  ability to fulfil its rights 
and obligations under the SCM Agreement due to the war (raised by Ukraine); (ii) disruptions in 
international trade caused by unilateral measures adopted against the Russian Federation and 
subsidies by the E uropean Union to ene rgy-intensive sectors (raised by the Russian Federation);  (iii) 
elimination of export subsidies by the Members that received extensions under Article 27.4 of the 
SCM Agreement; ( iv) low and declining level of compliance with the notification and transparen cy 
obligations in the SCM Agreement; ( v) requests for information pursuant to Article  25.8 and 25.9 
(proposal on procedures from the United States); (v i) subsidies and overcapacity ( raised by  
Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, an d United States); (v ii) request 
for information on certain alleged subsidy programmes in the steel sector in China ( raised by  
European Union and United States); (vi ii) request for information on certain alleged subsidy 
programmes in the United States ( raised by  China); ( ix) countervailing duty regulation of the United 
States regarding the assessment of currency undervaluation in CVD cases ( raised by  China);  (x) use 
of adverse facts available by the United States in various  CVD investigations ( raised by  China); (x i) 
transitional reviews and continued application by the United Kingdom of the European Union's CVD 
measures conducted after Brexit  (raised by  China); (x ii) countervailing duty investigations by the 
European Union regarding the so -called transnat ional subsidies ( raised by  China);  (xiii) increased 
trade protectionism through application of countervailing measures ( raised by  China);  (xiv) subsidy 
transparency and China's publication and inquiry point obligations under China's protocol of 
accession ( raised by  Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and 
United  States); (x v) proposed amendment to procedures for review of new and full subsidy 
notifications ( raised by  Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, 
United Kingdom, and United States).  
3.105.   At the meetings of the Committee on Safeguards  held on 25 October 202162 and on 
25 April 202263, 23 concerns were raised on specific safeguard actions as per Table 3.22. 
Table 3.22 Concerns raised at the Committee on Safeguards  
Measure implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Costa Rica - Investigation on Refined White Sugar  Brazil  
European Union - Investigation on certain steel products  China, Japan,  Russian Federation, 
Brazil, India, Switzerland, Türkiye , 
Republic of Korea  
India  - Investigation on solar cells  Japan  
Indonesia  - Investigation on carpets and other textile floor coverings  Japan  
Indonesia  - Investigation on articles of apparel and clothing accessories  Japan, European Union  
Indonesia  - Investigation on cigarette paper  European Union  
Madagascar  - Investigation  on pasta  Mauritius  
Morocco  - Investigation on wire rods and reinforcing bars  European Union  
Morocco  - Investigation on lighting columns  European Union, Türkiye  
 
62 WTO document G/SG/M/5 9, 21 February 2022 . 
63 WTO document G/SG/M/ 60 (forthcoming).  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Measure implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Morocco  - Investigation on coated wood board  European Union  
Peru - Investigation on clothing  Brazil, Indonesia  
Philippines  - Investigation on motor vehicles  Japan  
Philippines  - Investigation on high -density polyethylene and linear low -
density polyethylene pellets and granules  Brazil  
South Africa  - Investigation on  screws fully threaded with hexagon 
heads made of steel  European Union  
Türkiye  - Investigation on polyester staple fibre  European Union, Egypt  
Türkiye  - Investigation on grinding balls and similar articles for mills  European Union  
Türkiye  - Investigation on yarn of nylon or other polyamides  Indonesia, European Union  
Ukraine  - Investigation on fresh cut roses  Ecuador, Colombia  
Ukraine  - Investigatio n on sodium hypochlorite  European Union  
Ukraine  - Investigation on PVC profile  European Union  
United Kingdom  - Investigation on certain steel products  China, Japan, Türkiye , Russian 
Federation, Brazil, Switzerland, 
Republic of Korea, India  
United States  - Investigation on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells  Japan, Singapore, Malaysia  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.106.   Additional concerns were raised at the 25 April 2022 meeting on: (i) Ukraine's ability to 
conduct safeguard investigations, with certain deadlines in ongoing proceedings already lapsed 
without the respective actions having taken place, and many more deadlines were likely  to be missed 
in the future (raised by Ukraine ); (ii) disruptions in international trade caused by unilateral measures 
adopted against the Russian Federation (raised by the Russian Federation); (iii) WTO -inconsistency 
of the latest modification of the safeguard measure on certain steel products by the  European Union 
(see also the table above) adjusting the tariff rate quota to reflect the fact that it had banned the 
imports of steel products originating in the Russian Federation  and Belarus (raised by  the Russian 
Federation); (iv) WTO -inconsistency of the latest notification of the safeguard measure on certain 
steel products by the United Kingdom (see also the table above)  informing that it has initiated a 
process to review the safeguard measure in light of the trade measures it has imposed on imports 
from the Russia n Federation  and Belarus (raised by the Russian Federation).  
3.107.   At the meetings of the Trade -Related Investment Measures (TRIMs)  Committee  on 12 
October 2021 and 23 March 202264, new or returning issues were raised, as per Table 3.23.  
Table 3.23 Concerns raised at the TRIMs Committee  
Measure (s) implemented by  Member(s) raising the concern  
Indonesia  - Comprehensive review of localization measuresa European Union, Japan, United  States  
Indonesia  - Import restriction on carpets and other textilesb Japan, European Union  
Indonesia  - Import restriction on air conditionersc Japan  
India  - Import restricti on on air conditionersd Japan  
Russian Federation  - Measures implementing Russia's import 
substitution policye United States  
a WTO documents G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/5, 14 May 2019; G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/6 , 13 March 2020; 
G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/7  , 7 June 2020; and G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/8 , 17 July 2020.  
b WTO document  G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/9 , 28 September 2021.  
c WTO document  G/TRIMS/Q/IDN/10 , 28 September 2021.  
d WTO document  G/TRIMS/Q/IND/1 , 28 September 2021.  
e WTO document s G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/4, 26 May 2016; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/5, 27 Sept ember 2016; 
G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/6, 27 April 2017; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/8, 24 January 2018; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/7, 
8 November 2017 G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/9, 22 March 2018; G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/10 , 2 September 2020; and 
G/TRIMS/Q/RUS/11 , 22 March 2022.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 
64 WTO document s G/TRIMS/M/ 50, 2 December 2021 and TRIMS/M/ 51, 25 April 2022 . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  3.108.   At the meeting of the Working Party on State Trade Enterprises (STEs) of 13 May 202265, 
trade concerns were raised on: (i) information described as "not available" in the recent STE 
notification of China (raised by the United States ); (ii) the nature of the activities of  Malaysia's STE 
Padiberas Nasional Berhad relating to the importation of rice (raised by the European Union); (iii) 
Australia's decision to continue maintaining a monopoly for the export of rice from the state of New 
South Wales (raised by the European Uni on); (iv) whether India should also notify Vijaya Dairy, 
located in the State of Telangana, as an STE (raised by the European Union); (v) India's decision 
not to identify any STE for pulses in its notifications submitted in 2019 (raised by Australia); (vi)  the 
continued non -notification of STEs by the Russian Federation (raised by European Union, 
United  Kingdom and United States); (vii) and the low level of compliance with notification obligations 
(raised by European Union, Japan, United Kingdom and United States).  
3.109.   At the meeting s of the Council for Trade in Services (CTS) held on 22 October  202166 and 
11 March 202267, concerns were reiterated about: (i) cybersecurity measures of China and Viet Nam 
(raised by Japan and United States);  (ii) 5G -related measures of Australia (raised by China); (iii) 
measures of the United States regarding Chinese service suppliers  (raised by China); ( iv) measures 
of India regarding Chinese services and service suppliers  (raised by China) ; (v) measures by the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on localisation of customer services (raised by the United States) . At the 
October meeting, concerns were also repeated about  measures of the Russian Federation requiring 
software pre -installation (raised by the United States), and, at that occasion, the European Union 
also raised  a concern about a measure of the Russian Federation related to  Russian software.  
3.110.   At the meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development  (CTD) held on 
10 November  202168, the delegation of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group, noted that the COVID -19 
pandemic had caused LDCs' exports of goods and services in 2020 to decline by more than the 
exports of the rest of the world. This export decrease had left LDCs with very few opt ions in terms 
of the budgetary requirements needed for economic stimulus. At the CTD meeting o f 
25 March  202269, several delegations expressed concern with the economic, trade and humanitarian 
impact of the war in Ukraine.  Discussion took place on a commun ication from India and South Africa 
titled "Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development"70, which states, inter alia, that the 
digital divide between developed and developing countries is a matter of considerable concern, and 
that the existing e -commerce moratorium on electronic transmissions limits the ability of developing 
countries to impose tariffs on the growing imports of electronic transmissions.  
3.111.   At the meeting of the CTD's  Dedicated Session on Small Economies o f 19 October 202171, 
several members of the SVE Group pointed to the negative impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on 
small economies. The Committee agreed to a draft text, submitted by the SVE Group, for a Ministerial 
Decision at MC12 on the Work Programme on Small Economies which, inter alia , calls for work to be 
undertaken on "integrating small economies into the post COVID -19 economy: effects of the 
pandemic, challenges and opportunities ". At the meeting of the Dedicate d Session held on 20 May 
202272, the Committee agreed to a proposed outline, submitted by the SVE  Group, of a background 
document to be prepared by the Secretariat on this topic.73 
3.112.   The above Section provides evidence of the numerous trade concerns raised in the various 
WTO bodies between mid -October 2021 and mid -May 2022. For most of the review period , WTO 
Committees and Councils continued to hold meetings in hybrid format due to COVID -19 restrictions . 
At many of these meetings, reference was also made to the war in Ukraine in various statements 
under several agenda items.  Several new trade concerns we re raised during the review period, and 
several had already been raised in previous periods, indicating persistent and unresolved issues. 
Also, some trade concerns were raised in more than one WTO body, suggesting  that these concerns 
involve cross -cutting and technically complex issues. It may also suggest that WTO Members are 
continuing to use multiple platforms within the WTO committee structure to address various aspects 
of such concerns. The decision to raise a trade concern is systemically important be cause it brings 
added transparency. In addition, it demonstrates that Members are utilizing the WTO Committees 
 
65 WTO document G/STR/M/ 40 forthcoming . 
66 WTO d ocument S/C/M/ 147, 19 November 2021 . 
67 WTO d ocumen t S/C/M/ 148, 14 April 2022 . 
68 WTO document WT/COMTD/M/11 6, 15 December 2021 . 
69 WTO document WT/COMTD/M/11 7 (forthcoming).  
70 WTO document WT/COMTD/W/264, 9 November 2021.  
71 WTO document WT/COMTD/SE/M/4 2, 24 November 2021.  
72 WTO document WT/COMTD/SE/M/43 (forthcoming).  
73 WTO document WT/COMTD/SE/W/44, 22 April 2022.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  to engage trading partners on real or potential areas of trade friction  or, as has been witness during 
the latter part of the review period, more  general issues of concern.  
3.113.   As has been reiterated in previous Reports, a source of concern remains the repetition and 
non-resolution of the same trade concerns and issues in various WTO  bodies . The Secretariat will 
continue to closely monitor development s in this area.  
3.6  Policy developments in agriculture  
3.114.   The Committee on Agriculture ( CoA) provides a forum for Members to discuss matters 
related to agricultur al trade , and to consult on matters relat ed to Members' implementation of 
commitments under the Agreement on Agriculture ( AoA). The review work of the CoA is based on 
notifications that Members make in relation to  their commitments  and on matter s raised under 
Article 18.6 of the AoA  (i.e. Specific Implementation Matters (SIMs)) . The Committee has also been 
tasked with the monitoring of the implementation of specific outcomes reached under the agriculture 
negotiations.  Additionally, the CoA takes up other matters, including the follow -up to the Marra kesh 
Decision on Least -developed and Net Food -Importing Developing countries (NFIDCs). Since 2020, 
the Committee has also hosted discussions on "COVID -19 and Agriculture" to collectively review the 
impact of the pandemic on global agriculture and food syst ems and to monitor governments' policy 
responses to address its effects and aftershocks .  
3.115.    During the period under review, the CoA held one regular meeting, on 15 -16 March  2022 
(100th CoA meeting ). In that meeting , Members posed 141 questions  regarding  individual 
notifications , overdue notifications,  and SIMs under Article 18.6 . Most questions concerning 
individual notifications were related to domestic support notifications (71%). For matters under 
Article 18.6 (SIMs), around 43% of those rel ated to domestic  support policies and 30% on policies 
affecting market access. Around 15% of SIMs concerned matters related to export prohibitions and 
restrictions on foodstuffs and the remaining 12% of SIMs related to matters under the export 
competition pillar and other issues. Rising global food prices in the background of the ongoing 
COVID -19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the associated food security implications especially for 
the Least -developed and Net Food -Importing Developing countries (NFIDCs) formed part of the 
debate at the March 2022 meeting.   
3.116.   In total, 15 Members raised 58 questions on 47 SIMs in the March 2022 meeting.74 The 
average number of questions raised under Article 18.6 per meeting has been on the rise since 2011 , 
reaching an all -time high of an average of 74 questions per meeting in 2020 . These numbers include 
questions that were repeated over more than one meeting.  
3.117.   Out of the 47 SIMs raised in the CoA during the period under review, 23 were discussed for 
the first time. Of these, around 43% related to domestic support programmes, 22% to market access 
issues, 22% concerned policies prohibiting or restricting exports of foodstuffs, and the remaining 
13% concerned export competition and other issues.   
3.118.   In the domestic support pi llar, Members sought clarification on support policies targeting 
specific sectors or products, including dairy (India's dairy Sahakar scheme), livestock (Canada's herd 
management and drought assistance programme and Canada's support to the pork industry), 
vegetables (Canada's support to Prince Edward Island potato producers), and biofuels (United States 
subsidies for biofuels from agricultural products). There were also questions raised on domestic 
support policies with a wider sectoral scope applied by fiv e Members (Canada's support for the Next 
Gen Agriculture Mentorship programme, European Union's agricultural policies funded by national 
resources, India's increased budget for subsidy support for the use of fertilizers by farmers,  the 
United States' Marke t Facilitation Programme, and Russian Federation's compensation to farmers).   
3.119.   SIMs in the area of market access targeted measures that restricted, or had the potential to 
restrict, trade in agricultural products, including  coffee (Philippine's SSG applicat ion on instant 
coffee), rice (Malaysia's rice import system), and mung beans (India's mung beans import 
restrictions). Two  SIMs related to potential market access implications of specific policies  related to 
environmental objectives (Australia's ethanol ta x and the UK's forest risk commodities provisions) .  
3.120.   Five SIMs related to measures restricting or prohibiting exports of agricultural products, 
including  palm oil (Indonesia's palm oil export restrictions), cereals (Guyana's prohibition of rice 
exports and  Argentina's export restrictions of wheat), and multiple agricultural products 
 
74 Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, India,  Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, 
Paraguay, Russian Federation, Thailand, United Kingdom, United State s and Uruguay . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  (Kazakhstan's quantitative export restrictions on agricultural products and Türkiye 's export 
restrictions on agricultural products).  
3.121.   Three  SIMs sought  further information and clarification on policies that potentially subsidized 
exports of agricultural products ( Oman's Vision 2020 plan, Türkiye 's freight support and the United 
States partnership to ease port congestion and restore disrupted shipping services to US growing 
agricu ltural commodities).   
3.122.   A total of 24  SIMs that were discussed during the period under review were a follow -up to 
matters raised in previous Committee meetings . Some of these matters  have been raised multiple 
times in the CoA. For example, there are five SIMs that have been raised between 9 and 19 times 
in different CoA meetings  attracting as many as 65 questions (Canada's new milk ingredient class -
raised 19 times, Canada's dairy policies - raised 18 times, India's pulses policies - raised 16 times, 
Mongolia's quota regime for importation - raised 13 times, and India's skim milk powder export 
subsidies - raised 9 times ). Similarly, matters related to Canada's review of its TRQ system, Canada's 
compensation for farmers after trade concessions , EU's environmental policies, India's public 
stockpiling, and Nigeria's import prohibitions on certain agricultural products and use of reference 
prices for customs valuation purposes have figured in the Com mittee's agenda on seven different 
occasions. Other agricultural p olicies of Angola, Argentina, China, Cote d'Ivoire, E uropean Union , 
Russian Federation, South Africa,  and the U nited States  were also the subject of repeated concerns 
under Article 18.6.  
3.123.   All 47 SIMs (new and repeated), including  questions , answers and follow -up comments can 
be accessed through the Agriculture Information Management System (AG IMS).75  
3.124.   Regarding steps taken by Members to implement the December 2015 Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision  on Export Competition , out of the 16 Members with positive export subsidy commitment 
levels in their schedules at the time of adoption of the Decision, 1 3 have had their revised export 
subsidy schedules certified (Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Iceland,  Indonesia,  Israel, Mexico, Norway, 
South Africa, Switzerland, Türkiye , the United States and Uruguay); two (Canada and  the 
European  Union) circulated their draft revised schedules , which are pending for certification; and 
one Member still ha s to circulate its revised draft schedule ( the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).   
COVID -19 pandemic   
3.125.   At a special meeting of the Committee on Agriculture held on 18 June 2020 , Members agreed 
to include "COVID -19 and Agriculture" as a standing  item o n the agenda of future CoA meetings and 
to also invite Observer International Organizations to contribute to the debate . The March 2022 
meeting included discussions under this agenda  item and provide d Members with an opportunity  to 
engage in a holistic discussion o n the pandemic and the serious disruptions it has caused to the food 
and agriculture systems globally. Members monitored COVID -19 agricultural measures taken in 
response to the pandemic , including based on  ad hoc  reports. During the period under review no ad 
hoc reports were submitted by Members. A compilation of previous ad hoc  reports of COVID -
19 agricultural measures submitted to the CoA can be found under G/AG/W/209/Rev.1 . Members 
also used the standard review process of the CoA to raise matters related to the COVID -19 
governmental policy responses in the agricultural sector.  
3.126.   Observer International Organizations contributed to discussions under the agenda item on 
COVID -19 and agriculture. T he OECD76, the World Food Programme (WFP)77, and the Food and 
Agriculture organization of the United Nations ( FAO)78 submitted reports to the CoA meeting 
outlining their work, and analysis, in relation to the pandemic.  The OECD stated in  its report that 
the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic in early 2020 had led to containment measures that resulted 
in a profound economic shock. However, the OECD also reported that governments had moved 
swiftly to keep agricultural supply chains functioning, including by designating agriculture and food 
as an essential sector and implementing nearly 800 measures across 54 countries in response to 
the pandemic. These policies had been generally succe ssful in maintaining the overall functioning of 
food supply chains, albeit within an overall structure of agricultural support programmes that showed 
little change.  The FAO underscored that  global hunger had already worsened in 2020 under the 
COVID -19 pand emic, with estimates ranging from 70 to 161 million more people facing hunger.  The 
 
75 By selecting the function "Search Q&A Submitted Since 1995 " on the AG IMS ( http://agims.wto.org/ ) 
and inputting meeting number 100 in the search criteria.  
76 WTO document G/AG/GEN/194, 3 March 2022.  
77 WTO document G/AG/GEN/195, 3 March 2022.  
78 WTO document G/AG/GEN/199/Rev.1, 14 March 2022.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  FAO also noted, h owever, that the efforts of governments and other agricultural stakeholders 
worldwide to keep agricultural markets open and agri -food trade flowing smoothly  had contributed 
to remarkably resilient agricultural commodity markets. The WFP in its report stated that global and 
national economies were still grappling with the downfall resulting from the COVID -19 pandemic. 
The WFP highlighted that high food prices and low household purchasing power were major economic 
concerns for further increasing acute food insecurity.  In parallel, the costs to deliver assistance by 
the WFP had increase d due to higher procurement and shipping prices . In this regard, the WFP 
welco med any measure adopted by WTO Members to facilitate smooth movement of WFP's 
humanitarian food assistance  and referred to the commitment made by over 80 WTO Members in 
January 2021 not to impose export restrictions on foodstuff s purchased for non -commerci al 
humanitarian purposes by the  WFP. 
Developments in the context of the war in  Ukraine  
3.127.   Global food market  developments in the the context of the war in Ukraine and the associated 
implications for food security  worldwide dominated the discussions on the annual follow -up to the 
Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform 
Programme on Least developed and net food -importing developing countries (the NFIDC Decision) 
conducted at the March 2022 meeting of the Committee. Observer International Organizations also 
contributed to the debate.  FAO's report79 provided a detailed overview of the current global market 
situation and international price trends for major food commodities.  The report stated that the FAO 
Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 140.7 points in February 2022 representing a new all -time high 
(in nominal terms). FAO's report highlighted that the conflict had the potential to exacerbate a 
situation of already rising international food prices, by disrupti ng grain supplies from a key source 
of imports for many NFIDCs.  
3.128.   The International Grains Council (IGC) in its report80 on the global grains and oilseeds market 
stated that IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI) spiked by 13%, touching its highest in its 22 -year 
history, as the war in Ukraine sparked massive gains across grain and oilseed markets fuelling 
concerns about potential food security risks, especially in import -dependent countries in Near East 
Asia and Africa . Concerns on rising international food p rices, growing food import bills and the 
resulting food security challenges for least -developed and net -food importing developing countries 
were also expressed by the FAO. Strong calls were made to keep food supply chains open, be 
transparent, and to resis t from adopting measures which could further aggravate global food security 
challenges.  
Export restrictions  
3.129.   Some of the measures put in place by Members in response to the COVID -19 pandemic and 
the conflict included restriction or prohibition on exports o f agricultural products. The AoA establishes 
disciplines for cases where  Member s institut e export prohibition s or restriction s to prevent or relieve 
critical shortages of foodstuffs (Article 12). Transparency is at the heart of these disciplines. The 
AoA s tates that (i) Members are to give due consideration to the effects of such prohibition or 
restriction on importing Members ' food security;  and (ii) before any Member institutes an export 
prohibition or restriction, it shall give notice in writing, as far in advance as practicable, to the CoA, 
comprising such information as the nature and the duration of such measure, and shall consult, upon 
request, with any other Member having a substantial interest as an importer with respect to any 
matter related to the  measure in question.  Based on the agreed notification requirements and 
formats established by the Committee on Agriculture, these written notices are referred to as ER:1 
notifications. The AoA includes a special and differential treatment provision, where by the above 
requirements do not apply to developing country Members unless the measure is taken by a 
developing country Member which is a net -food exporter of the specific foodstuff concerned.  
3.130.    In the period under review, there were eight ER:1 notificatio ns submitted to the CoA, of 
these one notification from Kazakhstan was attributed to the COVID -19 pandemic  covering sunflower 
seeds and oil81; and two notified measures respectively from the European Union covering cereals82 
 
79 WTO document G/AG/GEN /198 and corrigendum, 11 and 14 March 2022 . 
80 WTO document  G/AG/GEN/1 97/Add.1, 23 March 2022.  
81 WTO document G/AG/N/KAZ/15, 27 April 2022.  
82 WTO document  G/AG/N/EU/77 , 13 April 2022.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  and Kazakhstan on wheat and mes lin, wheat or meslin flour83, were attributed to t he disruption of 
grain supplies from the Black Sea region . 
Transparency of trade policies  in agriculture  
3.131.   The CoA continued its review of the implementation of Members' commitments under the 
AoA primarily on  the basis of notifications submitted by Members. Twelve distinct notification 
requirements are applicable in the domain of agriculture, covering the following areas: market 
access, domestic support, export subsidies, export prohibitions or restrictions, a nd the follow -up to 
the Marrakesh Net Food -Importing Developing Countries (NFIDC) Decision. The applicability of a 
notification requirement to a Member is largely dependent on its specific commitments under the 
AoA. Out of the 12 notification requirements,  the following 5 are "regular" or "annual" notification 
requirements: (i) imports under tariff and other quotas (MA:2); (ii)  special SGs (MA:5); 
(iii) domestic support (DS:1); (iv)  export subsidies (ES:1); and (v)  total exports (ES:2).84  
3.132.   At each meeting, the Committee reviews Members' compliance with their notification 
requirements under the AoA based on a background document prepared by the Secretariat. The 
latest revision85 considered  by the CoA at its March 2022 meeting showed that for the period 1995 -
2020, there were a total of 2,157 outstanding regular notifications which represented around 26% 
of expected notifications.86 Out of the five annual notification requirements, Domestic Support 
(DS:1) and Export Subsidy (ES:1) notifications have the highest number of outstanding notifications 
with 35% (973 notifications) and 32% (1,002 notifications) of notifications pending, respectively 
(Chart  3.15). 
Chart 3.15 Outstanding notifications per typ e of notification requirement, 1995 -2022  
 
a This number represents the count of reported years and does not necessarily match the number of 
notifications submitted since some notifications covered more than one year.  
Source:  WTO document G/AG/GEN/86/Rev.44 , 2 March 2022.  
3.133.   More than 6,000 questions were raised in connection with individual notifications under the 
CoA review process in the period 1995-2022 (up until 15 May 2022) . Throughout the years, most of  
these questions focused on domestic support notifications (DS:1 and DS:2) , followed by questions 
concerning market access, in particular TRQs (MA:1 and MA:2). Specifically, since 2010, the 
prevalence of questions concerning domestic support notifications has been considerably high, 
 
83 WTO document  G/AG/N/KAZ/19 , 27 April 2022.  
84 Annual notifications are required to be submitted no later than a certain number of days following the 
end of the year in question, in accordance with the deadlines se t out in the Committee's Notification 
Requirements and Formats in G/AG/2.  
85 WTO document G/AG/GEN/86/Rev.44, 2 March 2022.  
86 "Ad hoc " notification obligations applicable only upon maintenance of a specific measure 
(e.g. Table  ER:1 required upon the application of export restrictions) as well as the annual notifications where 
it was not possible to determine a priori  whether the concerned notification requirement would be applicable 
(e.g. Table NF:1 applicable to donor Members o nly) are excluded.  
Submitted (6,194a)MA:2 (56)
MA:5 (82)
DS:1 (973)
ES:1 (1,002)
ES:2 (44)Outstanding (2,157)WTO_Agri.1   Outstanding notifications per type of notification requirement (1995 -2020)
a   This number represents the count of reported years and does not necessarily match the number of 
notifications submitted since some notifications covered more than one year.
Source:  WTO document G/AG/GEN/86/rev.44, 2 March 2022.WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
- 53 - 
 
  representing between 70% and 80% of all the questions raised in the CoA concerning individual 
notifications ( Chart 3.16).  
Chart 3.16 Questions raised on individual notifications, p er topic per year, 1995 -2022  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.134.   From 15 October 20 21 to 15 May 2 021, Members submitted 187 notifications (including  
addenda and corrigenda). A total of 78 questions were posed concerning individual notifications at 
the CoA meeting t hat took place during th is period. In line with the historical trend, most of the 
questions related to domestic support notifications ( 71%), with the  notifications from Israel, India, 
Indonesia and the United States being subject to an extensive review bas ed on multiple questions 
from other Members . A total of 5 questions addressed overdue  notifications from Canada, 
the European Union, Morocco and Türkiye . 
3.135.   The following box provides some perspectives on global food security issues . 
Box 3.2 Global food security  – some perspectives  
The Black Sea region is of tremendous importance to global food security. In the 1990s, following the break -
up of the Soviet Union, the region was a net importer of g rain. Today, the Russia n Federation  and Ukraine 
account for 12% of the total calories traded in international markets. They are amongst the top five global 
exporters of many cereals and oilseeds, including wheat, barley, sunflower, and maize. Likewise, man y 
importing countries strongly depend on the Black Sea region for their food security. North Africa and the 
Middle East import over 50% of their cereal needs from the two countries. Ukraine is also an important supplier 
of maize to the European Union and C hina. Fertilizer is an equally important area of international trade and is 
vital to global food security, with the Russia n Federation  accounting for 15% of global trade in nitrogenous 
fertilizer and 17% of trade in potash. Belarus accounts for an addition al 16% of trade in potash. The impact 
of the conflict in the Black Sea region therefore poses serious risks to global food security .a 
The consequences of the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as with every recent crisis, has 
been a wave of trade restrictive measures (at least initially), higher food prices, and higher freight costs. At 
the G7 Extraordinary Meeting of Agricultural Ministers of 11 March 2022 in Berlinb, the G7 called on all 
countries to keep their food and agricultural mark ets open and to guard against any unjustified restrictive 
measures on exports. Immediately following the onset  of the war, Ukraine too applied certain food export 
restrictions. The G7 declared that it recognized the extreme circumstances behind the export restrictions of 
Ukraine, and the vital importance of preserving the availability of food in the country.  
The ongoing conflict, has resulted in, several  food export bans, export licensing requirements, and compulsory 
domestic sales requirements that have come into force across a range of different countries and continents 
(from Moldova to Lebanon and Indonesia, by way of example). It has also seen movements in strategic food 
and fertilizer reserves, either to boost them or to order their release.  
The total  amount of exports affected by trade restrictions currently represent about 17% of total calories 
traded in the world, demonstrating the serious risk posed to global food security. Five agricultural products 
that account for almost 90% of imported calories  are currently affected by the export restrictions: wheat 
050100150200250300
Domestic Support Market Access Export restrictions
Export competition NFIDC DecisionWTO_Agri.2
Questions raised on individual notifications, per topic, per year, 1995 -2022
Source:  WTO Secretariat.WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
- 54 - 
 
  (31% of total imported calories affected), palm oil (29%), corn (12%), sunflower oil (11%) and soybean oil 
(6%).c In fact, the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) has stated that export res trictions are of 
increasing concern and that they are expected to "further exacerbate price volatility and jeopardize global 
supplies."d 
Worsening an already challenging post -COVID outlook, the conflict has led global wheat prices to rise to a 
10-year high . Wheat is now trading at US D 523/ton ne, and the world is witnessing a surge in wheat future 
contracts of over 50%. Egypt, the world 's largest wheat importing country could see a rise in its food import 
bill from US D 3 billion to US D 6 billion soon.e A situation which the Egyptian government is trying to mitigate  
with various precautionary measures. Just recently, the World Food Programme (WFP) informed the WTO of 
the dramatic impact of the current situation on its cost of doing business, indicating t hat its procurement costs 
have now risen by 30% relative to 2019.f 
While fertilizer prices were already high, the war in Ukraine has pushed prices up further, potentially affecting 
food output in different parts of the world beyond 2022. Export restriction s and licensing requirements for 
fertilizer were implemented in the Republic of Korea, China, the Kyrgyz Republic , the Russian Federation, and 
Ukraine, and have contributed to higher fertilizer and food prices globally. These export restrictions are having  
serious impacts on several vulnerable countries: Mongolia has seen 98% of its fertilizer supply restricted, 
Nicaragua 80%, Ecuador 74%, Cote d 'Ivoire 63%, Cameroon 60%, and Azerbaijan 43%, among others.g 
In a Joint Statement issued on 12 April of this  year, the heads of the WTO, World Bank Group, and the IMF 
called "on the international community to urgently support vulnerable countries through coordinated actions 
ranging from provision of emergency food supplies, financial support, increased agricultural production, and 
open trade."h The United Nations Secretary General also established the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG)i 
to help decision makers develop solutions, strategies and recommendations to help all countries, weather the 
crisis.  The WTO Secret ariat has been an active participant in the food and fertilizer workstreams of the GCRG. 
Preliminary analysis of the Group suggests that as many as 1.7 billion people in 107 economies are exposed 
to at least one of three risks – food, energy, and finance d ue to the conflict.  
On 13 April of this year, the GCRG issued Brief No. 1, Global Impact of War in Ukraine on Food, Energy and 
Finance Systemsj, urging countries to keep their food markets open and to cease trade restrictions and export 
bans to maintain i nternational trade in food and fertilizers and domestic and global demand. The Brief made 
two recommendations specific to the WTO. It urged WTO Members to consider strengthening the obligation 
to provide advance notice prior to imposing export restrictions  on food, so that importing countries have more 
time to adjust; and to consider exempting the purchases of food by WFP for humanitarian assistance from 
food export restrictions with immediate effect a s of MC12.  
a Viewed at: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/bad -worse -how-export -restrictions -exacerbate -global -food-
security .  
b Viewed at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022 -03/g7 -extraordinary -meeting -
statement.pdf . 
c Viewed at: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/bad -worse -how-export -restrictions -exacerbate -global -food-
security . 
d Viewed at: http://www.amis -outlook.org/amis -monitoring/monthly -report/en/#.YnvGFoxBxPY .  
e Viewed at: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/russia -ukraine -crisis-poses -serious -food-security -threat -
egypthttp://www.amis -outlook.org/amis -monitoring/monthly -report/en/ - 
.YnvGFoxB xPY.  
f WTO document G/AG/GEN/195,  3 March 2022  "COVID -19 and Agriculture ", Submission by the WFP.  
g Viewed at: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/hig h-fertilizer -prices -contribute -rising -global -food-security -
concerns . 
h Viewed at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2022/04/13/joint -statement -the-heads -of-
the-world -bank-group -imf-wfp-and-wto-call-for-urgent -coordinated -action -on-food-security . 
i Viewed at: https://news.un.org/pages/global -crisis-response -group/ . 
j Viewed at: https://news.un.org/pages/w p-content/uploads/2022/04/UN -GCRG -Brief-1.pdf. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.7  General economic support  
3.136.   At the 9 December 2021 TPRB meeting dedicated to discussing the Director -General's Annual 
Overview of Developments in the International Trading Environment87, WTO Members engaged in a 
comprehensive and constructive exchange of views. Introducing her Report to the meeting, the 
Director -General underlined the value of the Trade Monitoring exercise , a multilateral and cross -
cutting transparency exercise.  In the co ntext of trade responses to the COVID -19 pandemic, several 
delegations expressed their strong support for the WTO Trade Monitoring exercise as a platform for 
transparency and  predictability .  
3.137.   Since July 2017, the Secretariat has been unable to justify the inclusion of a separate Annex 
on general economic support measures in the Trade Monitoring Reports. This has been partly due 
to the low participation and response rate of WTO Members to the re quest for information,  and partly 
because such an Annex would be biased against those Members that traditionally share and publish 
 
87 WTO document WT/T PR/OV/ 24, 22 November 2021. WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  detailed information on such measures. Compounding the lack of information volunteered by 
Members, some delegations have ofte n insisted on excluding general economic support measures 
identified by the Secretariat from public sources  and for which verification was sought.  
3.138.   Recent  TPRB meetings have generated an exchange of views on how to address this issue, 
with several Members emphasizing the need to preserve and strengthen transparency through the 
trade monitoring exercise. Several Members welcomed the online COVID -19 support measures list88 
compiled by the WTO Secretariat, which was put in place in the early stages of the pand emic. The 
list provides an informal situation  report and is an attempt to enhance transparency around support 
measures taken in response to the COVID -19 crisis. It includes only information and measures 
communicated by delegations directly to the WTO Trade  Monitoring Section and only in the original 
language of the submission.  
Regular economic support measures (not related to COVID -19) 
3.139.   In response to Director -General's 7 March 2022 request for i nformation for this Trade 
Monitoring Report, 35 WTO Members (Bangladesh; Brazil; Colombia; Costa Rica; European Union89; 
Hong-Kong, China; India and Türkiye ) volunteered information on 22 regular general economic 
support measures unrelated to the pandemic . The Secretariat's own research suggests that during 
the review  period many more support measures with potentially important ramifications for trade 
were implemented by WTO Members.  
3.140.   During the review period, regular support measures communicated by WTO Members and 
those identified by the Secretariat, included several measures to support farmers and the agricultural 
sector, including incentives to strengthening sustainable development and natural -based elements 
or technologies that increase agricultural productivity. Other measures included draw-back regimes 
and assista nce to exporting businesses , including reductions or cancelation of fees in customs 
statements to empowering local industries ' exports  and credit guarantee schemes. Some measures 
included loans, financial and tax incentives to support activities of MSMEs and businesses, 
investments to promote the use or development of digital technologies, as well as general stimulus 
packages. Other measures included green incentives , such  as aid schemes  relating to renewable 
sources of energy  or transition funds to the automotive sector aiming zero emissions automotive 
supply chains and increased production of electric vehicles.  
3.141.   Several of these economic support measures were multi -year p rogrammes, with financial 
disbursements staggered over the lifetime  of a project and some were one -off grants or aid schemes.  
COVID -19-related economic support measures  
3.142.   In response to Director -General's 7 March 2022 request for information 4 3 Members90 
volunteered some additional 5 9 COVID -19-related support measures to the Secretariat.   
3.143.   Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1, 727 COVID -19-related economic support 
measures have been put in place by 1 12 Members and 7 Observers.91 Of thes e, as at 30 May 2022, 
1,083 (63%) were communicated directly to the WTO Secretariat. This number includes 66 COVID -
19-related support measures for MSMEs that were communicated directly to the Trade Monitoring 
Section by 49 Members following the recommendat ion adopted by the Informal Working Group on 
MSMEs to further increase transparency and provide, on a voluntary basis, information on policies 
related to MSMEs.  
3.144.   The unprecedented number of COVID -19-related support measures put in place since the 
beginning of the pandemic far exceeds the activity seen in the wake of the global financial crisis of 
2008-09. The  COVID -19-related support measures came in in the form of grants, loans or stimulus 
packages targeting sectors of the economy heavily affected by the pa ndemic, including agriculture, 
health, aviation, transport, tourism, education, culture, as well as fiscal and financial measures to 
support businesses and MSMEs and broader stimulus packages. Another set of support measures 
 
88 WTO, COVID -19: Support Measures . Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/trade_related_support_measures_e.htm .  
89 Counting the EU  (27) and its members separately.  
90 Albania; Australia;  Bangladesh; Belize; European Union (c ounting the EU  (27) and its members 
separately ); Honduras; Hong  Kong, China; Indonesia; Korea, Republic of; Myanmar; Nepal; Philippines; 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Thailand; Türkiye ; and United Kingdom.  
91 Azerbaijan, Bel arus, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon and Serbia.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  put in place by governments in response to the COVID -19 pandemic included measures implemented 
by Central Banks.  
3.145.   COVID -19-related support measures generally appear to be temporary in nature. Although 
the vast majority of measures were implemented in 2020 , more than 400 were announced o r 
implemented in 2021 and more than 80 in 2022.  Some of the measures implemented in the early 
stages of the pandemic were extended in 2021 and some in 2022, but overall, the flow of new 
COVID -19-related support measures has slowed significantly since in the second half of 2021. Some 
of these measures form ed part of rescue plans staggered over several years or stimulus packages 
worth several trillion US dollars. The large stimulus packages and economic support measures 
introduced by several governments have helped to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic  
and Central Banks in some countries have started lifting interest rates to address rising inflation or 
cut back  their bond purchasing programs, moving away from policies taken to address the economic 
impacts of the pandemic.  
3.146.   The responses of high -income economies have been significantly more generous in terms of 
the number and variety of measures implemented and funds allocated than those offered by lower -
income economies. The latter's responses have often relied on funding or other assistance obtained 
from international organizations and/or donors. The Secretariat identified 473 bilateral and 
multilateral assistance92 measures that were received during the review period by 122 Members and 
Observers to address the COVID -19 crisis. Half of those related to vaccination roll outs and bilateral 
vaccine donations while others included additional financing for governments to address the 
pandemic in th e forms of loans, grants, and donat ions of medical devices. Several assistance 
measures were also provided to support the education sector and MSMEs.  
Development in the context of the war in Ukraine  
3.147.   The Secretariat has identified , since 24 February 2022, a large and growing number of  
suppo rt measures announced or put in place by Members in response to the conflict between 
the Russian Federation and Ukraine  aimed at cushioning the economic blow from rising fuel and raw 
material prices , and food shortages.  
3.148.   Several support measures consisted of specific funds or support packages to ensure food 
reserves for food security purposes, to support food production in the agricultural sector, to 
encourage farmers to plant additional crops, to mitigate rising food prices and soaring input costs 
and to h elp farmers overcome an acute liquidity crisis caused by high inflation and rising energy 
prices. Some programs granted additional flexibility to farmers in terms of tax deadlines or provided 
sector specific state -guaranteed loans and subsidies . Support pa ckages were put in place to help 
farmers and businesses reduce the burden of high fuel and energy prices . Finally,  subsidies on 
fertilisers often featured as part of broader food security program s. 
3.149.   The conflict -related economic support measures identified so far , range from modest, but 
very targeted programs from around USD 1 million, to more than USD 500 million support programs  
of a broader nature . Compared to the COVID -19-related support measures, the conflict -related 
support measures are few and their o verall monetary value relatively modest. This is an area which 
will require further monitoring in the context of a longer conflict and its negative effects on world 
food markets. In addition, growing inflationary pressures will likely put this sort of supp ort further 
under scrutiny . 
3.150.   The above subsections  have captured activities in regular, COVID -19-related and 
conflict -related e conomic support measures for the period between mid -October 2021 and mid -May 
2022. Governments around the world have faced  multiple crises during the review period, with the 
COVID -19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, growing inflation and food shortages. Certa inly, the 
economic support provided to address the social and economic impacts of the pandemic was major 
and unprecedented, in terms of number and variety of support measures. Although some of the 
COVID -19 support measures implemented in the early stages o f the pandemic were extended in 
2021 and 2022, overall, the flow of new COVID -19-related support measures has slowed significantly 
since in the second half of 2021.  
 
92 Multilateral assistance refers to assistance from international organizations and regional development 
banks.   WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  3.8  Other selected trade policy developments  
3.151.   The following Section provides a brief overview of  the other selected trade policy issues 
where important developments took place during the review period . 
3.152.   On 17 June, WTO Members successfully concluded the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) 
in Geneva with negotiated outcomes on a series of key trade init iatives which contains 
unprecedented decisions on fisheries subsidies, WTO response to health emergencies, including a 
patent waiver for COVID -19 vaccines, food security , and WTO reform. These and other issues 
addressed at MC12 will be covered in more deta il in the end-year Trade Monitoring Reports. All 
documents related to the outcome of MC12 can be found on the WTO website .93 
Discussions at the General Council of developments in relation to COVID -19 and to the 
war in  Ukraine  
3.153.   The General Council has seen WTO Members engage on COVID -19-related matters on 
several occasions during the review period. Delegations have also referred to the conflict between 
the Russian Federation and Ukraine  as part of their statements under various other agenda items at 
regular meetings of the General Council – including on 24 February  and on 9 -10 May 2022, as well 
as at the special meeting of the General Council on 31 March 2022.94 
3.154.   At the 22-23 November 2021, 23 -24 February, and 9 -10 May 2022 General Council 
meetings95, the TRIPS Council Chair reported on the discussions on the proposed waiver on some 
TRIPS provisions by India, South Africa and other co-sponsors96 in relation to the prevention, 
containment or treatment of COVID -19. At the May meeting, the TRIPS Council Chair  noted that, 
on 3 May, a communication containing the outcome of informal discussions between a group of 
Ministers had been circulated for discussion in the TRIPS Council.97 
3.155.   At the 22 -23 November 2021 General Council meeting, the General Council Chair-appointed 
Facilitator delivered his final report on the multilateral process on the WTO response to the pandemic. 
Subsequently, the General Council Chair continued to facilitate the discussions among Members and 
reported on this work at the 23 -24 Feb ruary General Council meeting. The Facilitator provided a 
further update to the General Council meeting on 9 -10 May. After the May General Council meeting, 
WTO documents JOB/GC/304, JOB/GC/305 and JOB/GC/306 were circulated on 13 May 2022.  
3.156.   At the 9 -10 May 2022 General Council meeting98, Brazil introduced its communication on 
Intellectual Property, Transfer of Technology and Capacity Building for COVID -19 and Beyond .99 
3.157.   At the same meeting the United Kingdom, on behalf of the co -sponsors100, made a s tatement 
on Open and Predictable Trade in Agricultural and Food Products .101 Under this item several 
delegations made reference to the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine . At the same 
meeting , the Russian Federation presented its communication  and made a statement on the Trade -
Disruptive Practices of Certain Members and their Implications for the WTO .102 During the discussion, 
the following communications were also referred to by their respectiv e co-sponsors : Joint statement 
on aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine with the support of Belarus103; Joint 
 
93 WTO Ministerial Conference , MC12: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc12_e/documents_e.htm .  
94 WTO documents WT/GC/M/196, 4 May 2022; WT/GC/M/198, forthcoming; and WT/GC/M/197, 
5 May 2022.  
95 WTO documents WT/GC/M/194, 14 February 2022; WT/GC/M/196, 4 May 2022; and WT/GC/M/198, 
forthcoming.  
96 The co -sponsors of WTO document IP/C/W/669 /Rev.1  and its addenda are the African Group, 
Argentina, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Egypt, Eswatini, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, the LDC Group, 
Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Mongolia, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela and Zimbabwe . 
97 WTO document IP/C/W/688 , 3 May 2022.  
98 WTO document WT/GC/M/198, forthcoming.  
99 WTO document WT/GC/W/845 , 28 April 2022.  
100 Albania; Australia; Canada; Chile; Costa Rica; European Union; Georgia; Iceland; Israel; Japan; 
Republic of Kor ea; Liechtenstein; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; North Macedonia; 
Norway; Paraguay; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei ; Ukraine; United Kingdom and United States . 
101 WTO document WT/GC/248, 6 May 2022.  
102 WTO document WT/GC/245 , 16 March 2022.  
103 WTO document WT/GC/244, 15 March 2022 . WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  statement regarding the application from Belarus for accession to the WTO104; and a communication 
from the Russian Federation.105 
3.158.   The MC12 Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the COVID -19 pandemic and 
preparedness for future pandemics can be found in WTO document WT/MIN(22)/W/13 , 
10 June 2022. 
Trade Facilitation  
3.159.   The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on 22  February  2017, when two -
thirds of WTO Members presented their corresponding instruments of acceptance. At the conclusion 
of the review period, 15 5 Members had domestically ratified the TFA and deposited their instruments 
of acceptance to the WTO, i.e. 94.5% of the WTO  membership.  
3.160.   During the review period, 6 Members submitted notifications with their commitments under 
categories  A, B and C . In the reporting period, the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (the 
Facility, or TFAF) ended the moratorium ( imposed in October 2020) on the delivery of its technical 
assistance activities. This was enabled by the introduction of new transparency  measures to support 
Members' visibility of technical assistance requests in October 2021. The new approach was 
formali sed in March 2022 by the adoption in the WTO Committee on Trade Facilitation of a new 
governance framework, establishing , inter alia , the relationship between the committee and the 
Facility.106 Since technical assistance activities restarted, four activities were requested by 
developing and LDC Members . These activities were  delivered  during the review period . In the same 
period the TFAF has administered one project preparation grant and launched  applications for three 
more.  
Trade and environment  
3.161.   The Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) continued to focus its discussion on global 
multilateral issues around the intersection between trade and environmental policies, on circular 
economy and plast ics and; trade and climate change.107 Members also continued discussions on 
trade-related aspects of the EU Green Deal, including the plan to establish a Carbon Border 
Adjustment Mechanism and the proposal for new rules to curb EU -driven deforestation. Othe r 
briefings included topics such as the preparations for and results of COP26, the Agreement on 
Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability initiative, Fossil Fuels Subsidy Reform as well as 
sustainable supply chains. COVID -19 was a continuous theme raised by  Members this year as well. 
Members noted the link between environmental degradation and pandemics; the importance of 
ensuring a green recovery from COVID -19 and the role of trade policy.  
3.162.   The co -sponsors of the three environmental initiatives — the Trade and Environmental 
Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD108), the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and 
Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP109), and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) — launched their 
respective Ministerial Statements at a joint event  on 15 December 2021. Their shared objective is 
to put environmental concerns at the heart of future trade discussions, examining how trade and 
the WTO can play a constructive role in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. 
Based on its Mi nisterial Statement, the TESSD adopted a Work Plan for 2022, under which work is 
advanced in plenary meetings as well as informal working groups on (i) trade -related climate 
measures; (ii) environmental goods and services; (iii) circular economy and circul arity; and (iv) 
subsidies. The IDP also adopted its 2022 Plan in February, organizing discussions in three 
workstreams to advance work on addressing plastics pollution through enhanced trade cooperation; 
(i) crosscutting issues; (ii) promoting trade to tac kle plastic pollution; and (iii) circularity and 
reduction to tackle plastic pollution.  
 
104 WTO document WT/GC/246, 24  March 2022 . 
105 WTO document WT/GC/247, 6 April 2022. 
106 WTO document G/TFA/3 , 5 April 2022.  
107 Annual Report 2021, WTO document WT/CTE/28/Rev.1, 22 November 2021; WTO document 
WT/CTE/M/73 (on the October 2021 CTE Meeting), 21 January 2022; WTO document WT/CTE/M/74 (on the 
February 2022 CTE Meeting), forthcoming.  
108 A dedicated webpage for the TESSD,  viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tessd_e/xtessd_e/tessd_e.htm   
109 A dedicated webpage for the IDP, viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ppesp_e/xppesp_e/ppesp_e.htm   WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Regional trade agreements  (RTAs)  
3.163.   During the review period, WTO Members notified eight RTAs ( 12 notifications) as compared 
to 51 RTAs ( 75 notifications) during the previ ous period  mostly concluded by the United Kingdom 
following its withdrawal from the EU . Of the se RTAs, six RTAs provided for  trade liberalization  in both 
goods and services and were notified under GATT Article XXIV and GATS Article V  and two related 
to trade in goods only and were notified under GATT Article XXIV . In addition, t he CRTA and the CTD  
received notifications of changes concerning five RTAs already notified .110 
3.164.   As at 15 May 2022, the total number of RTAs notified to the WTO, and to the GATT before 
it, and currently in force, amounted to 355 (185 covering  goods and services, 168 goods  only, and 
2 services only). The WTO Secretariat has also identified and verified, through the respective parties, 
59 RTAs that are in force, but have not yet been notified to the WTO.111  
3.165.   Based on notifications, RTA activity remains  strongest in Europe ( 26% of RTAs in force), 
with successive EU enlargements , United Kingdom's new agreements following its withdrawal from 
the EU  and agreements with countries in Eastern Europe and around the Mediterranean basin, as 
well as RTAs notified by EFTA; this is followed by East Asi a (16%) and South  America ( 11%). 
3.166.   WTO Members with most RTAs in force are the European Union, United Kingdom, EFTA 
States, and Chile, with over 30 RTAs in force each, followed by Singapore, Türkiye , Mexico, and 
Peru, with more than  20 RTAs in force each . Other  developing countries also have several RTAs in 
force, such as India , Panama , and Republic of Korea.  
3.167.   Improved market access has been one of the key objectives of RTAs, initially in trade in 
goods and more recently in trade in services. Regarding trade  in goods, Chart 3.1 7 shows the 
additional liberalization commitments that Members have made in their RTAs notified to the WTO 
since 2015, once fully implemented. While implementation periods may be long, in some cases over 
25 years, RTAs notified during t his period commit to liberalize between 65% and 100% of tariffs 
between RTA partners at the end of implementation of these RTAs.  
Chart 3.17 Additional tariff liberalization commitments in RTAs  
(Average share o f duty -free lines by the end of implementation compared to MFN duty free lines)  
 
Note:  Agreements notified between 2015 and 2021 excluding Agreements under the Enabling clause and 
Customs union. Updated up to the 102nd CRTA session as of March 2022.  
Sourc e: WTO RTA database.  
 
110 The WTO RTA Database (viewed at: http://rtais.wto.org ) provides updated information on all RTA 
notifications submitte d by WTO Members . 
111 WTO document WT/REG/W/ 165, 18 March 2022 . 
0%20%40%60%80%100% Average share of duty -free lines
MFN duty-free upon entry into force Liberalization at end of implementation
Note:    Agreements notified between 2015 and 2021 excluding Agreements under the Enabling clause and Customs union.  
Updated up to the 102nd CRTA session as of March 2022.
Source: WTO RTA database.WTO_RTA.1  Additional tariff liberalization commitments in RTAs
(Average share of duty -free lines by the end of implementation compared to MFN duty free lines)WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  3.168.   Over the years, RTAs have become more complex, and many currently include provisions 
that go beyond market access in goods and services. Of 341 RTAs (out of 355) notified to the WTO 
and currently in force, the vast majority  include dis pute settlement mechanisms, followed by trade 
in goods related provisions such as technical regulations, standards, technical barriers to trade and 
SPS measures. Other provisions include intellectual property rights and government procurement. 
More recent RTAs also include provisions in areas with few or no WTO rules, such as competition, 
environment, labour, and SMEs (Chart 3.18).  
Chart 3.18 Key provisions in RTAs  
 
Note:  Figures are based on 341 (out of 355) RTAs notified to the WTO and currently in force.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Government procurement  
3.169.   The plurilateral WTO Agreement on Government Procurement 2012 (GPA 2012) is an 
important instrument for keeping GPA Parties ' government procurement markets open and 
safeguarding good governance in their government procurement markets. Currently, the Agreement 
has 21 Parties, covering 48 WTO Members.112 Thirty -five WTO Members/Observers and four 
International Organizations partic ipate as Observers in the Committee on Government Procurement 
(CGP). In late 2021, the Kingdom of Bahrain announced at the WTO that it would seriously consider 
the possibility of joining the GPA 2012, subject to conformity with national legislation and pra ctices. 
Significant progress was also made on the GPA 2012 accession of Brazil, the first Latin American 
economy to have initiated this process.  
Trade finance  
3.170.   Trade financing has been sensitive to the environmental, public health, global security 
challenges facing the world economy). Access to trade finance by many low -income countries has 
become more difficult since the beginning of the pandemic as international banks withdrew their 
credit and confirmation lines, and sovereign ratings deteriorated . Multilateral development banks 
(MDBs) have had to step in to facilitate the flow of essential food and medical supplies to the poorest 
countries. The cumulated amount of trade transactions supported in 2020 and 2021 is estimated to 
 
112 The European Union and its 27 member States are covered by the Agreement as one Party.  
26%83%87%65%51%94%65%72%72%60%35%35%54%
All tariffs eliminated by at least one PartySanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS)Technical regulations, standards, technical barriers
to trade (TBT)ServicesInvestment Liberalization ProvisionsDispute Settlement (DS)Government procurementIntellectual property rightsCompetitionEnvironmentLabourE-CommerceSmall and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)WTO_RTA.2 -Key provisions in RTAs
Source:    WTO Secretariat.Note:    Figures are based on 341 (out of 355) RTAs notified to the WTO and currently in force.WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  be in the order of USD  30-35 billion a year, higher than during the global financial crisis (USD 20 
billion a year).  
3.171.   Although the risk appetite of international lenders improved for middle -income countries 
with the recovery of trade in 2021, MDBs continued to face an excess de mand for trade finance 
facilitation (guaranteeing the payment risk) in low -income countries, particularly from countries 
which have not seen their sovereign rating improve, countries experiencing high and/or growing 
macroeconomic vulnerabilities, and net f ood importing poor countries in the face of an increasing 
food and energy bill. While financial sanctions arising from the war in Ukraine have to a large extent 
excluded trade in food products, practical difficulties in processing payments of suppliers, re sulting 
from cautious behaviour by financial operators, have been reported to affect commercial clients as 
well as the World Food Program.  
Fisheries subsidies  
3.172.   In line with the mandate in Target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals and from 
MC11, work  continued on an agreement to prohibit subsidies that contribute to illegal fishing and to 
overcapacity and overfishing, with special and differential treatment integral to the negotiations. 
With MC12 then scheduled to begin on 30  November 2021, the negoti ations in the fall of 2021 were 
focused on improving the draft text that had been discussed at a meeting of the Trade Negotiations 
Committee held in virtual format at Ministerial level on 15 July. Based on proposals and suggestions 
from Members and followi ng intensive discussions in the Negotiating Group on Rules, a revised 
version of the draft text was distributed to Members on 8 November.113 This text was also the subject 
of further negotiation, and a draft Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was sent to Mini sters on 
24 November114 with the expectation that at MC12 they would engage on the basis of this draft, 
resolve outstanding issues and reach agreement. However, restrictions on travel to address 
developments in the COVID -19 pandemic meant that the Conferenc e was again postponed. 
Nevertheless, work continued in the spring of 2022. The Chair engaged in an intensive and focused 
round of negotiations in different formats with the objective of resolving the remaining issues in 
advance of MC12 . The agreement on fi sheries subsidies was reached at MC12. The text can be found 
in WTO document WT/MIN(22)/33, WT/L/1144, 22 June 2022.  
Electronic commerce  
3.173.   Discussions on electronic commerce are continuing under two parallel tracks – multilaterally 
under the General Council and its relevant subsidiary bodies, and under the Joint Statement Initiative 
(JSI) on Electronic Commerce. In both settings, delegations are reiterating the important role of 
e-commerce in supporting economic recovery in the context of COVID -19 and the nee d to address 
development -related challenges, including the digital divide.  
3.174.   At the multilateral level, discussions on the Work Programme and on the moratorium on 
customs duties on electronic transmissions have been intensifying. The Work Programme was 
discussed extensively at the General Council meetings in November 2021 and February 2022. 
Members continued to discuss several submissions, including a submission in the General Council 
on the need for clarity on the scope and impact of the moratorium as well as a submission in the 
Committee on Trade and Development on global electronic commerce for inclusive development. In 
the Council for Trade in Services, Members continue to share national experiences and initiatives.  
3.175.   In preparation for MC12, prior to its p ostponement, the Chair of the General Council 
conducted consultations on a possible draft Ministerial Decision. A group of Members led by 
Switzerland presented a draft Ministerial Decision calling for the continuation of the Work Programme 
and the extensio n of the moratorium until MC13. A second draft submitted by India, South Africa 
and Indonesia contains some preambular text and language on the reinvigoration and extension of 
the Work Programme. The MC12 Decision on the e -commerce moratorium and Work Prog ramme 
can be found in WTO document WT/MIN(22)/32, WT/L/1143, 22 June 2022.  
3.176.   In the context of the JSI on e -commerce, participants had achieved convergence on seven 
articles at the end of 2021, namely online consumer protection; electronic signatures and 
authentication; unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam); open government data; 
electronic contracts; transparency; and paperless trading. Participants are continuing their 
negotiations in 2022 based on the September 2021 Consolidated text, which cat egorizes proposals 
 
113 WTO document TN/RL/W/276/Rev.2, 8 November 2021.  
114 WTO document WT/MIN(21)/W/5, 24 November 2021.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  under six broad themes: enabling e -commerce; openness and e -commerce; trust and e -commerce; 
cross-cutting issues; telecommunications; and market access. Small groups on customs duties; 
source code; open Internet access; electronic invoic ing; electronic transactions frameworks and 
cybersecurity are ongoing. At a press conference held on 14 December 2021, the co -convenors 
(Australia, Japan and Singapore) issued a joint statement acknowledging the progress made thus 
far in the negotiations a nd highlighting the need for continued engagement to secure convergence 
on the majority of remaining issues by the end of 2022. On 13 June 2022, during the MC12, the 
same co -convenors issued another joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the timel y 
conclusion of e -commerce negotiations, and, together with Switzerland, launched the E -commerce 
Capacity Building Framework to strengthen digital inclusion and to help developing and least 
developed countries harness the opportunities of digital trade . 
Micro, small and medium -sized  enterprises (MSMEs)  
3.177.   The MSME Informal Working Group (MSME Group) that now includ es 94 WTO M embers, has 
continued to focus on the preparation for MC12 and the implementation of the December 2020 
package.115 A MSME Group Declarat ion for MC12 was finalised and cleared in September 2021. The 
Draft Final Declaration, which takes stock of the progress achieved since the Group's establishment 
and paves the way for future work, has been officially endorsed by 100 WTO Members and 
Observe rs.116 
3.178.   The Group's Trade4MSMEs platform , launched in December 2021 , is an online resource 
aggregating trade information for MSMEs and policymakers, including trade guides and databases.  
Additionally, the Group recognized four winners from its Digital Champi ons for Small Businesses 
initiative joint with the ICC and ITC in December 2021. The MSME Group, ICC and ITC all intend to 
continue this initiative with new themes announced annually on MSME Day.  
3.179.   Other work by the MSME Group is proceeding on the basis of p roposals and presentations 
by Members on a variety of topics including trade -related finance, MSMEs and sustainability, and 
cyber readiness. External presenters delivered information to the MSME group on these topics and 
the MSME Group continued to receive  briefings on MSME -related work and discussions in other WTO 
committees, including on MSMEs and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), updates on the 
implementation of the 2019 IDB decision from the Market Access Committee, and MSMEs and 
technical barrier s to trade from the TBT Committee.  
 
 
 
115 WTO document  INF/MSME/4/Rev.2 , 6 October 2021.  
116 WTO document  INF/MSME/ W/36/Rev.1 , forthcoming . WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  4  POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN TRADE IN SERVICES  
Regular measures affecting trade in services  
4.1.  Members and Observers introduced several new measures affecting trade in services between 
mid-October 2021 and mid-May 2022. The majority of the 93 measures implemented by 49 Members 
and 2 Observers, were trade -facilitating but some were trade -restrictive. More than half of the 
measures concern tele communication , computer and Internet - and other network - enabled services  
(including a significant number of tax measures), or financial services. Annex  4 provides additional 
information on the trade in services measures  identified during the review period.  
Measures affecting supply through commercial presence a cross various sectors  
4.2.  On 2 March 2022, the Philippines  made changes to the Foreign Investments Act , allowing 
foreign investors to fully own small and medium -sized businesses, except in sectors where foreign 
ownership is prohibited or limited by the Philipp ine Constitution or existing laws . The minimum paid -
in equity capital threshold of USD  200,000 to medium -sized enterprise  is removed. The act also 
permits the reduction of the minimum capital requirement to USD 100,000 for foreign investors 
under the condi tion that at least 15 local workers are hired, that they transfer technology, or are 
endorsed as a start -up or start -up enabler . In addition, an amendment to the Public Services Act, 
allows full foreign ownership  in firms supplying telecommunication, logis tics, railways  or domestic 
shipping services  (previously limited to 40%). From 8 April 2022, Tunisia  abolished 25 authorization 
requirements related to economic activities in several sectors including entertainment, tourism 
transport, financial services, c onstruction  and renewable energy services. The amendments are 
aimed at streamlining procedures to facilitate investment.  
4.3.  On 19 November 2021,  Moldova  adopted a new measure regulating the screening of 
investment in a number of sectors. Approval from the Council for Promotion of Investment Projects 
of National Importance  is required  before any investment is made in relevant sectors, which include 
transport ation, exploitation of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, air traffic services, television 
broadcast s, audio -visual services, supply of networks and fixed or mobile electronic communication 
services and supply of services in national ports . The law also allows the government to determine 
the assets it deems important for the security of the state and whi ch will require approval.   
Measures related to c ommunication services , e-commerce  and digitally enabled services  
4.4.  Many Members adopted new measures in relation to the communications sector, Internet - and 
other network -enabled services, or computer services.  In China , the government issued the New 
Measures for Cybersecurity Review , effective since 15 February 2022. It amend s the measures 
released on 10 July 2021. A cybersecurity review will be conducted for C ritical Information 
Infrastructure (CII) operators that purchase network products and services which affect or may 
affect national security, as well as network platform operator s that conduct data processing activity 
which affects or may affect national security or that hold personal information of more than one 
million users and plan to list their shares overseas.   
4.5.  Some Members introduced new legislation enabling the establishme nt of taxes on e -commerce 
transactions. For example, in Cambodia , as of 1 April 2022, a 10% VAT will be applicable to all 
non-resident firms selling to Cambodia through business to consumer e -commerce . For 
business -to-business e -commerce, a Cambodia regist ered buyer is required to pay 10% VAT through 
a reverse charge mechanism, regardless of whether the non -resident supplier is VAT registered.  In 
Kazakhstan , from 1 January 2022, digital sales of goods and services by foreign entities to private 
individuals in Kazakhstan will be subject to 12% VAT.  Foreign suppliers will be obliged to register in 
Kazakhstan . Nigeria  will require, from 1 January 2022, digital -services suppliers to register and 
collect a 7.5% VAT from their Nigerian customers. In addition, a 6%  tax on the turnover of 
non-resident companies providing certain digital services to Nigerian consumers  will be levied.  
4.6.  A number of countries introduced measures regulating the use of personal data cross -border 
data flows. For example, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  issued a new law requesting that foreign 
companies that process personal data of Saudi residents appoint a local  representative, licensed for 
that purpose. Transfers of data outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may be made for limited 
purposes specified in the law, or for "other purposes" to be set out in forthcoming regulations. 
Approval by the authorities must always be obtained  to transfer personal data abroad. Rwanda  
adopted a new law  on data protection, effective 15 October 2021, which sets out requirements for 
controllers and processors in the jurisdiction  as well as , for those without local presence if they WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  process personal data of individuals located in the country . It establishes conditions on cross -border 
transfer and storage of data abroad. Those without a local presence have to designate a 
representative in Rwanda .  
4.7.  In India, a new measure allows full fo reign ownership under the automatic route in the 
telecommunication services sector , instead of  a maximum of 49% foreign ownership  in the past . 
However, a n entity from a country that shares a land border with India, or where the beneficial 
owner of an inves tment into India is from such country, can still only invest under the government 
route.  The Russian Federation  issued a new decree clarifying aspects of the Onshoring Law of July 
2021 (Federal Law on Activities of Foreign Persons in the Information and Te lecommunication 
Network Internet in the Territory of the Russian Federation), which required foreign Internet 
companies to establish a local presence.  The Decree stipulates that the Onshoring Law would apply 
to hosting providers and other persons that host  web services used by Russians if they: process data 
about users residing in Russian Federation ; receive payments from Russian persons; or put online 
information resources used by persons residing in the Russian Federation.  
4.8.  Several governments adopted new measures affecting the supply of audiovisual services. For 
example, in Azerbaijan , an Observer, a new law enacted on 8 February 2022 limits to citizens 
permanently residing in the count y the owners hip of media outlets that primarily cater to a  local 
audience . In Switzerland , a new measure adopted on 15 May 2022 requires that from 1 January 
2024 European - or Swiss -produced content represent at least 30% of offerings of streaming services  
in the country.  It also proposes that platforms invest up to 4% of their revenue from Switzerland in 
Swiss films and series over a 4 -year cycle  (also applicable to foreign television channels with 
broadcast advertising aimed at a Swiss public ). 
Financial services  
4.9.  In the insurance services sector, Ukraine  adopted on 18 November 2021 a new law  which 
redesigns and modernizes the insurance framework, in line with EU Directive 2009/138/EC and the 
Insurance Core Principles of the International Association of Insurance Superviso rs. The new law 
authorizes cross -border supply of certain insurance services (e.g. aircraft or vessel insurance, freight 
and all reinsurance). Also, a ll classes of insurance and reinsurance can now be supplied by either 
subsidiaries or branches of foreign insurers, but the conditions on branching have been revised, 
providing in particular for a reduction of minimal solvency capital requirements for a branch offering 
life insurance from EUR 10 million to approximately EUR 1.5 million . The new law will be eff ective 
on 1 January 2024.  
4.10.  In China , a notice was issued that removes access conditions for overseas insurance 
brokerage companies to set up insurance brokerage companies and allow s foreign insurance groups 
to set up insurance professional intermediaries.  India now allows foreign investment up to 20% in 
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India's state -owned, and largest, insurance company. Until 
this amendment, foreign institutional investors were allowed to hold up to 74 % of private insurance 
compa nies and up to 20 % of State -owned banks but were not permitted to own shares in LIC. The 
amendment allows foreign pension funds, insurance companies and mutual funds to participate in 
LIC's initial public offering.  
4.11.  Certain policy changes also occurred in b anking services. In Nepal , from 16 March 2022, only 
foreign banks or financial institutions with an "investment grade" rating can operate a branch office, 
subject to approval. Branch es are only allowed to engage in wholesale banking transactions related 
to deposit ‑taking, loans, credit, and certain other financial services . In addition, the new policy 
prohibits overseas institutions' representative offices from any kind of banking trans actions in Nepal. 
Representative offices can only engage in liaising with the Nepali customers, research activities, 
providing information on products and services, promoting services, and liaising between the foreign 
bank's clients and other offices.  China adopted new Measures for the Supervision  and Administration 
of the Directors, Supervisors, Senior Executives, and Practitioners of Securities Fund Operating 
Institutions  (effective since 1 April 2022), which remov es restrictions on the proportion of over seas 
personnel serving as senior executives in operating institutions , amongst other things . 
4.12.   In the Philippines , a new measure, effective since 20 January 2022, expands the coverage 
of entities which can engage in Foreign Currency Deposit Units to include  Islamic banks and digital 
banks , with the relaxing of certain conditions. Since October 2021 t he Reserve Bank of India allows 
multinational banks operating in India to store a limited set of data in offshore servers (e.g. name 
and address of client, some know -your-customer details along with selected transaction particulars 
like date and amount, name of beneficiary, and reference number).  In Thailand , as of 1 April 2022, WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  all digital asset operators will be prohibited to supply services that support or facilitate the use of 
digital assets for the payment for goods or services . Prohibited services include advertising or 
soliciting, create payment tools or providing related digital asset services.  
Other services sectors  
4.13.  Trade in other services sectors was affe cted by the introduction of some new measures during 
the review period. From 21 January 2021, Philippines  eased the entry rules for foreign retailers by 
lowering the paid-up capital requirement , as well as removing certain prequalification requirements 
(e.g. USD 200 million net worth requirement, minimum 5 branches, and 5 -year retail track record ). 
The prequalification  process with the Board of Investment was also removed, allowing foreign 
enter prises to proceed directly to the Securities and Exchange Commission or Securities and 
Exchange Commission (DTI) . However, the reciprocity requirement in the country of origin of the 
supplier is maintained.  
4.14.  In Brazil , since 10 January 2022, cabotage rules were relaxed in the maritime transport 
services sector. Brazilian Navigation Companies are now allowed to bareboat charter foreign vessels 
for cabotage transport without the need for proof of tonnage. Initially, chartering will be limited to 
one vessel. Af ter a 4 -year transition period, such chartering will be unlimited. Authorisation will not 
be required for chartering of foreign vessels when replacing other vessels undergoing restoration. 
For time charter of foreign vessels, the number of movements will b e unlimited.  For vessels flying 
the Brazilian flag, the Act maintains the requirement that at least two -thirds of crew members, 
including the vessel´s captain and chief engineer , must be Brazilian nationals . In the area of 
health -related services, t he Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) approved a new regulation 
establishing rules for the practice of telemedicine , which  is only allowed for service providers 
established or located in the national territory.  
Measures affecting supply through the movem ent of natural persons  
4.15.  During the period under review, several Members introduced new measures that facilitate the 
supply of services through the presence of natural persons. For example, Chile introduced a new 
consular short -term authorisation allowing bu siness travellers multiple entries for up to 90 days per 
year for a 10 -year period . In Israel , authorities amended the existing procedure concerning 
Short -Term Employment Authorization (SEA) B -1 Work Visa, increasing the duration of stay from 45 
days to up  to 90 days in a calendar year  (applicable to citizens of countries who have visa agreements 
with Israel ). New Zealand  introduced a new temporary work visa ( Accredited Employer Work Visa)  
that simplifies the visa application process and streamlines labour market tests for higher -paid jobs .  
4.16.  Some Members also introduced visas permitting natural persons to relocate and work 
remotely. These types of measures, initially implemented as a response to the COVID -19 pandemic, 
have been more widely implemented during the review period (Box 4.1).  
Box 4.1 Remote working visas  
First introduced in many Members in response to the COVID -19 pandemic, "remote working visas" 
are now being adopted more widely. Also known as "digital nomad visas" or "virtual working 
permits", they provide foreigners with a temporary stay permit that allows them to work remotely.  
Eligibility for remote working visas is usually limited to full -time, skilled and highly paid employees 
of foreign companies as well as independent professional s meeting similar requirements.  These 
individuals' family members are generally also granted resident permits.  The permit holders and 
their dependants are not permitted to be employed, or to provide services, in the destination 
country.  
Members having inst ituted such visas over the reporting period include Brazil, Greece, Hungary, 
Italy, Romania and Sri Lanka.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
Air services agreements  
4.17.  Table 4.1 presents information on air services agreements (ASAs) concluded or amended 
during the period under review. These include both new ASAs and revisions of existing ones. As far 
as can be assessed from available sources, these ASAs provides for improved acce ss conditions 
compared to previously. The air transport sector continues to be under strain as a result of the WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  COVID -19 pandemic, and this appears to have resulted in a fall in the number of ASAs concluded 
during the reporting period.  
Table 4.1 Air Transport Agreementsa concluded or amended between October 2021 and 
May 2022  
Parties  Date of 
signature  Source  
European Union  Ukraine  12.10.2021  Air Transport News (atn.aero)  
European Union  Qatar  18.10.2021  Air Transport News (atn.aero)  
Brazil  Bahrain, 
Kingdom of  10.20 21 Brazil enacts air services agreement with Bahrain | 
MENAFN.COM  
Tanzania  Belgium  05.11.2021  https://allafrica.com/stories/202111050092.html  
Armenia  European  
Union  15.11.2021  Armenia, EU to sign Common 
Aviation  Area Agreement – Public Radio of Armenia 
(armradio.am)  
Dominican Republic  United Arab 
Emirates  22.11.2021  Dominican Republic 's air services agreement with 
Dubai will boost tourism (dominicantoday.com)  
Oman  European 
Union  1.12.2021  Oman, EU ink Comprehensive Air Transport 
agreement - Times of Oman  
Iceland  Ukraine  3.12.2021  Air Services Agreement Signed With Ukraine 
(icelandreview.com)  
Colombia  Guyana  8.12.2021  Guyana signs Air Services Agreement with 
Colombia  – News Room Guyana  
Guyana  Netherlands  8.12.2021  Greater travel between Guyana, Netherlands 
possible as agreement inked  – News Room Guyana  
Belize  Kenya  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Oman  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Latvia  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Argentina  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Chile 9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Rwanda  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Switzerland  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
Belize  Colombia  9.12.2021  Belize signs 13th air service agreement at ICAN 
2021 in Colombia (breakingbelizenews.com)  
United States  Ecuador  10.12.2021  US And Ecuador Finalize Open Skies Agreement - 
Simple Flying  
Colombia  United Arab 
Emirates  10.12.2021  Emirates And Etihad Set To Fly To Colombia - 
Simple Flying  
Qatar  Jordan  15.03.2022  Qatar, Jordan sign air services agreement 
(tradearabia.com)  
Philippines  Morocco  18.03.2022  PH, Morocco revitalize ties; ink air services deal, 2 
others | Philippine News Agency (pna.gov.ph)  
Antigua and Barbuda  France  15.04.2022  Antigua and Barbuda Sign Air Service Agreement 
with France - The St Kitts Nevis Observer  
a The term "Air Transport Agreements" is used here to refer to Air Services Agreements, Memoranda 
of Understanding, Exchange of Notes, and other such relevant instruments.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
COVID -19-related measures affecting trade in services1 
4.18.  Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Secretariat collected information on 155 
COVID -19-related measures affecting trade in services introduced by Members and Observers. Only 
 
1 The information in this Section  was compiled by the WTO Secretariat and is an informal situation 
report and an attempt to provide transparency with respect to measures affecting trade in services taken in the 
context of the COVID -19 crisis. It does not pass judgment on or question the ri ght of WTO Members to take 
such actions. The Secretariat has not sought to determine or indicate whether such measures have trade -
restrictive or trade -facilitating effects . The information is not exhaustive and does not include information on 
general suppo rt measures relating to services. Further, the objective is not to list all COVID -19-related 
measures taken by governments around the world to limit movement, nor all the measures taken to ease the 
impact of border restrictions or other limits on movement.  WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  two new such measures were reported since mid -October 20212 and five were reported as 
terminated, of which one, partially.3 This confirms that the number of new services -trade COVID -19 
related measures has drastically fallen  in the past year.  
4.19.  Many measures that were introduced  in 2020 were still in force at the time of writing of this 
Report , with some being extended, such as France  (extension of temporary FDI screening threshold 
by one year, until the end of 2022), Italy (foreign investment  screening measures extended until 
31 December 2022, and banks and non -bank intermediaries expected to operate  above Pillar 2 
Guidance from 1 January 2023 ) and New Zealand  (maintaining the international air connectivity 
scheme until 31 March 2023). The United Kingdom  reintroduced the temporary relaxation of the 
enforcement of s ome aspects of the drivers ' hours rules from 9 April to  8 May 2022 . Australia  
expanded an existing measure. From 16 March 2022, persons working in critical sectors4, who have 
their substantive temporary visa expiring, can apply for a temporary activity vi sa and therefore 
extend their stay.5  
4.20.  The full list of measures compiled since the beginning  of the COVID -19 pandemic is available 
on the WTO website.6 
Development in the context of the war in Ukraine7 
4.21.  Some 75 service and trade in services -related sanctions taken by 39 WTO Members in the 
context of the war in Ukraine were identified during the review period. Approximately 20% of these 
sanctions concern transport services (air, road or maritime). For inst ance, these include various 
aviation prohibitions as well as restrictions on docking in ports. Almost 40% of the sanctions include 
restrictions on providing certain services, including professional services and financial services. For 
example, several sanc tions include the prohibition to provide credit rating services. Other sanctions 
include investment screening measures, as well as outward investment and visa restrictions. In 
response, the Russian Federation has adopted some countermeasures which mostly c oncern 
investment and visa restrictions. A few countermeasures also concern financial and air transport 
services.  The Secretariat will continue to  monitor developments on measures affecting trade in 
services taken in response to the crisis.  
 
 
 
2 Philippines  introduced measures affecting banking and other financial services and Slovenia  adopted a 
series of measures affecting the supply of health services.  
3 Estonia  terminated the financial services measure concerning the systemic risk buffer on 
5 December  2021. Bulgaria  ended the deferral and settlement of repayments to banks and other financial 
institutions  on 31 December 2021. In the context of the p ackage of measures aimed at preserving the stability 
of the banking system and strengthening its  flexibility , the Bulgarian National Bank discontinue d the measure 
on the limit of banks’ foreign exposures  as of 1 April 2022.  It also now requires that banks intending to 
distribute dividends, buy back shares or implement other distributions, including from the 2021 profit, to 
present distribution plans, which will be subject to review . In the Czech Republic , the countercyclical capital 
buffer rate is no longer set as part of the covid -19 measures . Switzerland  terminated on 26 January 2022 the 
measure requesting that the countercyclical capital buffer be reduced . Costa Rica  repeal ed temporary  
COVID -19 migration measures in the process of reopening borders . 
4 Agriculture and food processing ; health, aged and disability care; childcare , to which were added in 
the expanded provisions some tourism and related services and transport services.  
5 The length of stay will be granted for 12 months for Commonwealth Ag ed Care sector and key sectors 
(aged care, agriculture, childcare, disability care, food processing, health care and tourism and hospitality ) and 
6 months for any other sector. See Migration (LIN 22/046: COVID -19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 
(Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Instrument 2022; 
available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022L00316 .  
6 Viewed at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/trade_related_services_measure_e.htm . 
7 The information in this Section  was compiled by the WTO Secretariat and is an informal situation 
report and an attempt to provide a summary  with respect to measures affecting trade in services taken in the 
context of the conflict (whether on the supply of services in the Member or by the  Member) . It does not pass 
judgment on or question the right of WTO Members to take such actions. The Secretariat has not sought to 
determine or indicate whether the measures have trade -restrictive or trade -facilitating effects. The information 
is not exha ustive and does not include information on general support measures relating to services. The 
compilation exclud es measures only aimed at designated persons and entities.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  5  POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY  
5.1.  During the review period, WTO Members continued to fine -tune their intellectual property (IP) 
domestic frameworks, as shown by the communications to the trade monitoring exercise an d the 
notifications to the TRIPS Council. Members continued to implement specific IP measures to facilitat e 
the development and dissemination of COVID -19-related health technologies, as well as at 
streamlining procedural requirements for administrative IP matters.  Members adopted the Ministerial 
Decision on the Agreement on Trade -related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights can be found in 
WTO document WT/MIN(22)/W/15/Rev.2, 17 June 2022.   
Acceptance of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement   
5.2.  During t he review period, two Members deposited their respective instruments of acceptance 
of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement1: Ecuador , on 8 March 2022; and Maldives , on 
20 April 2022. To date, 13 6 Members are bound by the amended TRIPS Agreement, which 
incorporates an additional flexibility to address public health needs of countries with limited or no 
domestic capacity to produce pharmaceuticals.2 
IP-related international , regional and  bilateral agreements  
5.3.  During the review period,  the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for 
Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled  entered into force for China, 
on 5 May 2022.  
5.4.  The Treaty of Nairobi came into force for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 8 November 2021. 
The Declaration by which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia avails itself of the faculties provided for in 
Articles II and III of the Appendix  to the Berne Convention for the 10 -year per iod that will expire on 
10 October 2024 was deposited on 11 January 2022.3  
5.5.  At the regional level, the amendments to the Patent Law of the Cooperation Council for the 
Arab States of the Gulf  entered into force on 9 March  2022.4 
5.6.  On the bilateral front, th e IP office of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAPI) designated the China 
National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the United States Patent and Trademarks 
Office (USPTO) as International Searching Authority  (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining 
Authority ( IPEA), as per the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) .5  
National IP -related strategies  
5.7.  In November 2021,  Colombia approved its National IP Policy, which recognizes IP as a tool to 
foster creativity  and innovatio n, transfer of knowledge and increasing productivity; and will be 
implemented between 2022 and 2031 .6 
Developments in domestic legislation and administration  of IPRs  
5.8.  Domestically, WTO Members and Observers are working to streamline IP into their economies. 
The relationship between  IP and trade continued to develop and diversify, as Members continued to 
modernize and fine -tune their IP legislation and administration (Ta ble 5.1).  
 
1 WTO document WT/L/641, 8 December 2005.  
2 The complete list of Members that have ac cepted the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement is 
available on: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/amendment_e.htm   
3 Communication by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to t he Trade Monitoring Report; and 
https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=22  
4 Communication  by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Tr ade Monitoring Report; and 
https://www.ncar.gov.sa/Documents/Details?Id=pWcjGCAyTJf1LvdTYyb%2BgQ%3D%3D  
5 Communication  by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Trade Monitoring Report.  
6 Communication  by Colombia for the WTO Trade Monitoring Report; and 
https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Conpes/Econ%C3%B3micos/4062.pdf   WT/TPR/OV/W/16  
 
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  Table 5.1 Domestic legislation and administrative developments  
Member  Measure  
Australia  The Industrial Property Act 2019, whereby "industrial property right" includes a patent, a 
utility model, a layout -design, a breeder 's right, an industrial design, a mark, a trade 
name and a geographical indication, entered into force on 22 January 2022  
Latvia  Amendments to Cabinet Regulations No. 723 on the Price List of Paid Services of the 
Patent Of fice, exempted patent holders from fees for the extension of time limits, renewal 
of rights or continuation of proceedings, upon presenting evidence of having been 
affected by COVID -19 restrictions and consequently not being able to meet the required 
deadl ines. The amendment was in force from 11  October to 31 December 2021  
Myanmar  Launch of awareness campaign for MSMEs regarding trademark registrations took place 
on 25  February 2022  
Philippines  The process for copyright registration, transfer, assignment, exclusive license and 
mortgage, and resale rights registration has been streamlined, as of 20 October 2021.  
The issuance of Patent eCert for inventions, utility models and industrial designs was 
established on 1 March 2022. The electronic Servi ce of Orders and Notices for inter partes 
cases started delivering orders and notices on 14 May 2022  
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  The Regulation of Voluntary Copyright Registration was amended to include artistic works 
and applied arts; photographic works; sc hematic works and topographic sculptural works. 
It entered into force on 24 November 2021  
Singapore  The Copyright Act 2021 repealed and replaced the previous Copyright Act 1987, 
overhauling the domestic copyright regime to address how the creation, distri bution and 
use of content has changed. It entered into force on 21 November 2021  
Slovenia  Collective copyright management organizations were allowed to donate part of the 
royalties collected during 2020 to pay extraordinary aid to their members, as of 31 
December 2020  
Thailand  The specification of plant as a new plant variety protection under Plant variety Protection 
Act was enacted on 26 October 2021. The Research and Innovation Utilization Promotion 
Act entered into force on 7 May 2022  
Türkiye  The Copyright Law was amended to reflect the European Union Information Society 
Directive 2001/29/EC to cover all works, performances, phonograms, productions and 
broadcasts. It entered into force on 25 December 2021  
Ukraine  Law No. 2174 -IX was enacted to pro tect intellectual property interests of stakeholders 
during the martial law regime and includes provisions on maintenance, proper use and 
enforcement. It entered into force on 13 April 2022  
Note:  The table contains communications by Members and Observers to the WTO Trade Monitoring Report.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
COVID -19-related Measures  
5.9.  Since the beginning of the pandemic, Members implemented several IP measures , which  range 
from those aimed  at promoting innovation or facilitating access with respect to  COVID -19-related 
health technologies to measures that streamline procedural requirements or establish online 
procedures to facilitate IP rights management for applicants, right holders, and other stakeholders. 
The Secretariat maintains an indicative list of measures online.7 
TRIPS Council  
5.10.  During the review period, the TRIPS Council met formally on 13-14 October , 29 November, 
and 16 December 2021 ; as well as 22 February , 9-10 March, 3, 6, 16 and 19 May  2022; and held 
several informal open -ended meetings and consultations by the Chairperson.  
5.11.  During these meetings , the Council discussed the proposal by India and South Africa to waive 
parts of the TRIPS Agreement during the pandemic8; as well as t he European U nion's Communication 
on "Urgent Trade Policy Responses to the COVID -19 Crisis – Intellectual Property" and the proposed 
"Draft General Council Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health and the Circumstances 
of the Pandemic".9 In March 2022, a W orkshop on Technology Transfer took place back -to-back with 
the formal meeting of the TRIPS Council, where Members concluded the review of the  annual reports 
on incentives for technology transfer and technical cooperation activities  and took note of the 
Secretariat Report on Notifications and Other Information Flows .10 Members continued to share 
information and best practices to bring more female creators and inventors, as well as other 
 
7 Viewed at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/trade_related_ip_measure_e.htm .  
8 WTO document IP/C/W/669 , 2 October 2020 and addenda.  
9 WTO documents IP/C/W/680, 4 June 2021; and IP/C/W/681, 18 June 2021 respectively.  
10 WTO document IP/C/W/687, 1 March 2022.  WT/T PR/OV/W/16  
 
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  under -represented groups, into the IP ecosystem11; and, on domestic policies to boost innovation 
and microfinance.12 At MC12, Ministerial Decision was adopted the waiver of certain requirements 
concerning compulsory licensing for COVID -19 vaccines. The text can be found in WTO document 
WT/MIN(22)/30, W T/L/1141, 22 June 2022.  
5.12.  During the review period , 14 WTO Members submitted 47 notifications to the TRIPS Council, 
under Article 63.2 of the TRIPS Agreement.13 The United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Hungary notified 
and updated their contact points for IP enf orcement under Article 69.  Switzerland notified updated 
responses to the Checklist of Issues on Enforcement.  
TRIPS -related discussions in Trade Policy Reviews  
5.13.  The Trade Policy Reviews of China, the Russian Federation, Mauritius, Oman, Kingdom of 
Bahrein, T ajikistan, Georgia, Panama, Guyana, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, 
Switzerland -Liechtenstein and New Zealand took place. During these reviews, Members actively 
engaged and discussed a wide range of specific IP  issues with a bearing on trade policy.  
Develo pment in the context of the war in Ukraine  
5.14.  Since February 2022, several Members have implemented financial measures that might 
indirectly affect the maintenance and licensing of intellectual property rights (IPRs).14 When financial 
sanctions are applied to  designated  nationals (e.g. legal or natural persons), all economic assets, 
including IP rights, are frozen or affected.15 Some Members have adjusted their measures to exclude 
transactions related to IPRs.16 Additionally, various national and regional IP offices have taken 
measures, which are  mostly relevant for the maintenance of I P rights  held by Ukrainian nationals, 
or tho se affected by the crisis.17  
5.15.  The Russian Federation enacted Decree No. 29918, which grants the option to use an invention, 
utility model or industrial design without the IP right holder's consent at short notice and for 
proportional compensation of 0.5%. This measure is of horizontal nature and is applicable to Russian 
and non -Russian nationals from countries  committing "unfriendly" actions against Russian legal 
entities and individuals or patent owners having such countries as a place of registration, a p rincipal 
place of business activities or a principal place of receiving revenues .19 Decree No. 322 instructs 
Russian nationals  to make payments for the use of IP to foreign right holders by transferring funds 
in rubles to a special O -type bank account open ed in the name of the foreign IP right holder.20 
__________  
 
11 WTO document IP/C/W/685 , 1 October 2021.  
12 WTO document IP/C/W/686 , 25 February 2022.  
13 Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Guatemala, Jap an, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, 
the Kingdom  of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United 
Kingdom and the United States of America.  
14 See, for example: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021C00330 . 
15 Viewed at: https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/export -controls -trade -investment -
sanctions/308040/implications -of-us-sanctions -program -on-intellectual -property -owners  and 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/business_economy_euro/banking_and_finance/documents/faqs -
sanctions -russia -ipr_en.pdf . 
16 Viewed at:  https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/russia_gl31.pdf .  
17 As seen, for example, in: https://euipo .europa.eu/ohimportal/en/news/ -/action/view/9237969  and 
https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/live -updates-ip-offices -respond -and-implement -measures -in-
wake-of-invasion -of-ukraine . 
18 Viewed at: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202203070005 .  
19 See official list at: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202203070001 .  
20 Viewed at: https://www.managingip.com/article/b1y9vbn25rmp23/this -week-in-ip-russia -restricts -ip-
payments -to-unfriendly -states -ukipo -chief-to-leave .