According to a report from the World Trade Organization, the Committee on Market Access has agreed on new procedures to improve the recording of how trade concerns are resolved. The decision was made during a meeting held on March 16 and 17.

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The Committee endorsed a plan to include a standing agenda item for future meetings where members can report on previously raised concerns that have reached a resolution. The WTO Secretariat will maintain a record of all concerns where members indicate they have been fully or partially resolved. Members expressed strong support for this decision, noting similar practices are already established in other WTO bodies and that this approach would enhance coherence.

In a related development, a report from a late November 2025 meeting of the Goods Council showed that nearly half of the trade concerns raised since 1995 have been reported as partially or fully resolved.

Communication on Menstrual Products

The Committee also approved a communication to the World Customs Organization requesting the creation of new tariff categories for menstrual products. A thematic session highlighted persistent access challenges to these products in low- and middle-income countries, where an estimated 613 million women and girls rely on inappropriate materials. The session emphasized that trade policy can facilitate access and that better trade data is important. Ten members spoke on this issue, noting that current tariff classifications limit meaningful trade data and hamper effective policy design.

Trade Concerns and Systemic Discussions

During the meeting, members discussed 33 specific trade concerns, with seven being raised for the first time. These new concerns covered measures affecting trade between Colombia and Ecuador, an Egyptian import restriction on sugar, and various measures imposed by the European Union on steel and photovoltaic products, as well as an Indian tariff on toner cartridges.

In a separate discussion on supporting the rules-based trading system, ten members took the floor. Several delegations warned that rising unilateral tariff actions and new trade restrictions risk undermining multilateral principles and increasing supply chain costs. They cautioned that trade measures justified on environmental, security, or geopolitical grounds may cause spillovers and systemic fragmentation. Others stressed the system’s essential role and called for meaningful reform, stronger transparency, and constructive engagement ahead of the upcoming ministerial conference.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform