The European Commission has requested consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) aiming to remove unfair and illegal trade practices by China in the sphere of intellectual property. China has empowered its courts to set binding worldwide royalty rates for EU standard essential patents, without the consent of the patent owner. This pressures innovative European high-tech companies […]
Commission stands firm in the fight against trade defence abuse
The EU takes any unfair use of trade defence instruments against any sector of our economy with the utmost seriousness. The abuse of trade defence for inappropriate reasons constitutes a clear violation of WTO rules. The Commission will therefore vigorously challenge at WTO level the announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures by China on imports […]
Commission opens WTO consultations on China’s anti-subsidy investigation on EU dairy products
The Commission has today launched a request for consultation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), challenging China’s initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation against imports of certain EU dairy products. This is the first time that the EU has decided to challenge an investigation at its initial stage. The EU’s action has been prompted by an […]
EU wins WTO compliance action against US in ripe olives dispute
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has today confirmed that the EU was right to challenge the US for not complying with a ruling relating to ripe olives from Spain. Today’s WTO panel report presents again a clear and full win for the EU. It confirms that the US failed to implement the recommendations of the original panel, […]
Agreement on fisheries subsidies to boost environmental sustainability
On 25 May 2023, the Council adopted a decision approving, on behalf of the EU, the conclusion of a World Trade Organization (WTO) protocol establishing a fisheries subsidies agreement. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is the first WTO agreement that focuses on environmental sustainability, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 (UN SDG). It […]
EU wins WTO case on India’s tariffs on ICT-related products
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled in favour of the EU in a landmark case challenging India’s tariffs on key information and communications technology (ICT) products. In a panel decision, the WTO upheld all of the EU’s claims against India and found that India’s tariffs of up to 20 percent on certain ICT products, such […]
1 million for the landmark WTO fisheries subsidies agreement
The EU has pledged €1 million for the Fisheries Funding Mechanism which forms part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies reached last year. Established in November 2022, this new Fisheries Funding Mechanism aims to support sustainability in fisheries and eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies. It will provide grants to developing and least […]
EU wins in WTO appeal about Colombian anti-dumping duties on frozen fries
Arbitrators have in substance ruled in favour of the EU in the first WTO appeal dealt with under the ‘Multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement’, known as the ‘MPIA’. The final and binding award confirms that the anti-dumping duties imposed by Colombia on frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands breach World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and […]
EU wins WTO case against Turkey’s discriminatory practices on pharmaceuticals
The EU welcomes today’s appeal arbitration award by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the case the EU brought against Turkey on pharmaceutical products. The appeal award confirms the Panel’s ruling and finds that the localisation measure discriminates against foreign pharmaceutical products, as it is not a form of government procurement of pharmaceutical products, and […]