WTO appraises EU’s trade policy and practices

The peer-review exercise is crucial to the WTO’s monitoring and transparency functions. 

Addressing the WTO Membership this morning, the head of the EU’s trade department, Sabine Weyand, highlighted the EU’s steadfast commitment to openness and multilateralism amidst serious external shocks, rising trade tensions and uncertainty. She elaborated on the EU’s non-discriminatory and transparent response to the unprecedented environmental crisis through its Green Deal and climate policy, stressing the EU’s willingness to engage in dialogue with its trading partners on measures like its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) or its deforestation legislation.

Meanwhile, WTO Members praised the EU’s efforts to help reform the WTO’s rulemaking, deliberative, dispute settlement and monitoring functions.

The WTO deliberations, which run until 7 June, complement a written review process based a report made by the WTO Secretariat, a separate report made by the EU itself, and the EU’s answers to over 1,600 questions from WTO Members on topics including agriculture, the green transition, gender equality, digital issues and of course trade policy.

Background

The Trade Policy Review (TPR) Mechanism is an open and in-depth examination of WTO Members’ trade policies and practices by their peers. Such transparency ensures Members’ accountability and promotes a smoother functioning of the multilateral trading system.

Since the 2016 reform of the TPR Mechanism, the four largest Members in terms of trade volume – namely the EU, US, Japan and China – are subject to a review every three years.

For more information

WTO report on the 15th EU Trade Policy Review: Full report | Executive summary

EU report on the 15th EU Trade Policy Review

Opening Statement by DG Trade Director-General Sabine Weyand at the EU’s TPR

EU and WTO

Permanent Mission of the EU to the WTO