Canada has formally requested consultations with the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the imposition of new import duties on certain steel and aluminum products from Canada.
This request, circulated to WTO members on 13 March, highlights Canada’s concerns about the United States’ actions, which it claims violate U.S. obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
The contested measures, which took effect on 12 March, end Canada’s exemption from additional U.S. duties on specific steel and aluminum products and raise duties on aluminum articles. Canada argues that these changes are inconsistent with U.S. commitments under international trade rules, particularly the GATT.
In parallel, the WTO is marking 2025 as a pivotal year for the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), with a significant peak in the number of measures requiring implementation assistance for developing and least-developed country (LDC) members. The Committee on Trade Facilitation discussed these developments at its meeting on 12-13 March.
The TFA, which seeks to streamline the movement, release, and clearance of goods, including those in transit, is the first WTO agreement that allows developing and LDC members to set their implementation schedules based on national priorities and capacities. These countries can also seek technical assistance and support to build the necessary implementation capacity.
The WTO Secretariat presented a status report on the ratification and implementation of the TFA, noting that 196 measures due for implementation in 2025 by developing and LDC members will require significant technical assistance and capacity-building. This figure represents a peak in such commitments throughout the timeline extending to 2050.
Among the most common TFA measures that members are set to implement in 2025-26, as identified by the WTO Secretariat, are:
- Establishing a “single window” system for traders to submit documents (Article 10.4),
- Enhancing cooperation among border agencies (Article 8),
- Creating a risk management system for targeted controls (Article 7.4),
- Implementing test procedures, such as offering a second test when initial results are adverse (Article 5.3), and
- Providing additional benefits to “authorized operators” or trusted traders (Article 7.7).
Currently, developing and LDC members have committed to implementing 77.5% of their TFA obligations. In contrast, developed members were required to implement all provisions of the TFA from its entry into force.
This year marks a critical juncture for the TFA, as the demands for technical support and capacity-building in developing countries intensify. The outcome of these efforts will have lasting implications for global trade facilitation in the coming decades.
