World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an independent international organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that sets and maintains the rules of global trade. Representatives from 159 member countries use the WTO framework to negotiate trade agreements, adjudicate trade disputes, and review national trade policies. By having a standard set of consistent and enforceable ground rules, international trade can prosper without facing barriers such as excessive tariffs, unfair regulations, and other obstacles. Countries participating in this freer global trade environment help expand the world economy and increase their own citizens’ level of prosperity.

FAS actively represents the interests of U.S. agriculture  in the WTO committees on Agriculture, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Issues, and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

Data and Analysis

On December 22, 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Order 77 (MO 77) for the department to take action to stabilize sugar prices and evaluate the importation of 65,050 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar through the Minimum...
On December 14, 2021, the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its findings from the dispute panel initiated in August 2019 against India’s trade distorting sugar subsidies. The WTO report found that India’s subsidies violated its obligations under the multilateral agreement.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

China: Draft Standard for Infant Formula Manufacturing

On November 17, China notified the National Food Safety Standard: Good Manufacturing Practice for Powdered Infant Formula to the WTO SPS Committee.

News and Features

November 16, 2021
Stakeholder Notice

Vietnam Lowers Tariffs on Corn, Wheat, Pork

The government of Vietnam has published a decree revising its most-favored nation tariff rates for corn, wheat and frozen pork.
Beginning July 23, all eyes will be on Japan as it hosts the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. For me, this summer’s Olympics is the perfect blend of things that I’m passionate about – there’s cycling, there’s an international governing body...
Contact: press@oc.usda.gov Washington, D.C., November 14, 2019 – U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue welcome Brazil’s implementation of an annual duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 750,000...

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