WTO import licensing committee reviews notifications and trade concerns
WTO Import Licensing Committee reviewed notification practices, surveyed workshop participants on difficulties, and addressed 14 trade concerns at its 15 October meeting.
What you need to know
The WTO Committee on Import Licensing met on 15 October 2026 to review members' notification practices and survey findings from a September workshop, and it addressed 14 trade concerns covering import licensing regimes across several members, according to a WTO Secretariat note.
- The Committee reviewed 33 notifications at the 15 October meeting, 23 of them submitted under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing.
- A survey of workshop participants found 68% reported difficulties obtaining information from responsible authorities when preparing notifications.
- The Chair said 21 members have never replied to the annual questionnaire since joining the WTO and 11 have never submitted any notification under the Agreement.
Notifications and survey findings
At the 15 October meeting, the WTO Secretariat presented results of a survey of participants in the September 2026 Workshop on Import Licensing and Notifications. Among respondents, 68% reported difficulties obtaining information from responsible authorities, 72% cited difficulties obtaining up-to-date information for the annual questionnaire, and 48% reported challenges identifying all relevant licensing and similar administrative procedures. Respondents pointed to clearer responsibilities among authorities and a national focal point as possible improvements. The survey allowed multiple responses and reflects participants' experience rather than the WTO membership as a whole.
The Chair, Ms Mi Jin Ryu of the Republic of Korea, said 49 notifications had been received since the June meeting, 16 of them after the agenda closed; those 16 are to be reviewed at the next meeting. Of the 33 reviewed on 15 October, 23 were submitted under Article 7.3, which requires members to complete the annual questionnaire promptly and in full.
Trade concerns raised
The Committee followed up on two previously raised concerns: one from Brazil on due diligence statements under the EU Deforestation Regulation and one from Japan on Indonesian import restrictions covering products including electric goods, steel and fabrics.
It then addressed 14 trade concerns on import licensing regimes, two raised for the first time and the rest carried over from the June 2026 meeting or earlier. They covered measures by Angola, Egypt, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Türkiye, raised by various members.
Transparency efforts and next meeting
The Chair noted two experience-sharing sessions, in April 2025 and on 4 June 2026, the second including private-sector representatives. She said the Secretariat would compile suggestions made and that she would hold an informal meeting on how to proceed. The next Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for 22 April 2027.
How many trade concerns did the Committee address at the meeting?
It addressed 14 trade concerns on import licensing regimes, two raised for the first time and the others carried over from the June 2026 meeting or earlier sessions.
Sources & context
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