The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Committee on Market Access (CMA) concluded its productive meetings from October 13-16, reviewing 35 specific trade concerns, tackling global issues like trade fragmentation and supply chain resilience, and electing a new Chair.
The committee addressed 35 specific trade concerns raised by WTO members, with three concerns being introduced. The new concerns covered:
Tariff rate quotas for certain steel products in Canada.
Measures affecting the importation of pharmaceutical products in Indonesia.
Tariff rates applied to alcoholic products in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trade Fragmentation and Transparency
Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland jointly introduced a key agenda item concerning the fragmentation of global trade resulting from tariff increases, highlighting the associated global costs. These members expressed deep concern over ongoing developments contributing to instability and uncertainty for consumers, workers, and businesses.
They specifically called for greater transparency around trade arrangements and urged all members to notify any new or revised tariff measures to the WTO, including those applied on a preferential basis. They reaffirmed their commitment to the global trade rules system and meaningful WTO reform.
Supply Chain Resilience
Following four sessions dedicated to experience-sharing, members held discussions on the next steps for work on supply chain resilience. The Chair reported that members underscored the importance of this issue and acknowledged the useful work already completed by the Committee. Future work will depend on members’ guidance and will be discussed further at the next informal meeting.
EU Deforestation-Free Supply Chains Regulation (EUDR)
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and Peru reintroduced their concern regarding the European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Supply Chains (EUDR), contending that the measure operates as a quantitative restriction (QR) on imports that requires notification to the Committee. The EU maintained its position, reiterating that the EUDR is an internal regulation designed in line with WTO rules, not a market access measure.
At its meeting on October 13, the Committee elected Mr. Gaurav Gupta of India as the new Chair for the remainder of the 2025-2026 period.
Members were also informed of recent updates to WTO members’ websites that provide tariff information and import statistics, enhancing transparency and access to trade data.
The Committee on Market Access will continue its work on these and other topical matters at its next informal meeting, awaiting further guidance from members on key issues such as supply chain resilience.
