WTO News

1. EU launches safeguard investigation on certain PET resin chemicals

   On 6 November 2026, the European Union notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated, on the same day (6 November 2026), a safeguard investigation on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate resin chemicals.

2. Director-General: Leverage trade and partnerships to build a resilient ocean economy

   The multilateral trading system provides important tools for the development of a healthy and prosperous ocean economy, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in her keynote speech at an event on Trade, Biodiversity and the Ocean Economy: Pathways to Resilience at the WTO on 5 November. Highlighting the importance of strengthening support for coastal and island economies, she said: Trade is part of the answer. The oceans are an asset of the global commons that can best be managed through multilateral approaches. The event was co-organized by Belgium, Fiji and Portugal.

3. Trade Policy Review: Viet Nam

   The third review of the trade policies and practices of Viet Nam takes place on 4 and 6 November 2026. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Viet Nam.

4. EU launches safeguard investigation on certain new hybrid vehicles

   On 30 October 2026, the European Union notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated, on the same day (30 October 2026), a safeguard investigation on imports of certain new hybrid vehicles.

5. Transparency remains core priority in work of subsidies committee

   At a meeting of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) on 30 October 2026, the Chair of the Committee - Raimondas Alisauskas (Lithuania) - expressed serious concern over persistently low compliance with subsidy notification obligations. He stressed that timely and complete notifications are both an obligation under the SCM Agreement and a shared interest, particularly as transparency gains prominence in WTO reform discussions.