Regular Work

WTO set to appoint Brazil's Azevêdo as new Director-General

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:37:33 GMT

At an informal meeting of the Heads of Delegation on 8 May 2013, the three facilitators in the process of selecting the next WTO Director-General recommended Ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo (Brazil) as the candidate who can gain consensus approval of WTO members.

Nine candidates for top job of WTO

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:25:42 GMT

Nine countries nominated candidates for the position of Director General of the WTO by the deadline 31 December 2012. These candidates will present themselves to the Members of the WTO in a meeting of the General Council 29, 30 and 31 January January. The meetings will be chaired by Norwegian Ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen in her capacity as Chair of the General Council.

Norway’s trade policy in the WTO

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:32:10 GMT

The World Trade Organization (WTO) carries out regular reviews of member countries’ trade policies. For its review in October Norway received close to 300 written comments and specific questions from other WTO member countries. “Transparency is essential for ensuring greater predictability for all those involved in trade and economic activity across national borders. Norway actively supports the review system. We wish to set an example by being as open and clear about our own trade policy as possible,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

6th Trade Policy Review of Norway held in the WTO

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Some 300 questions were asked of Norway’s trade- and trade related policies during the 6th trade policy review of Norway in the WTO, which took place 9 and 11 October 2012. In Members’ statements, Norway was widely praised for its active and constructive role in the multilateral trading system, including measures and initiatives in favour of developing countries.

Ambassador Johansen begins search for new WTO boss

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:21:05 GMT

Chair of the General Council, Norwegian ambassador Johansen (right), has announced the calendar for the selection of the new Director General of the WTO. The term of current Director General Pascal Lamy (left) ends 31 August 2013.

Norway requests WTO to appoint panellists in seal case against EU

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:26:15 GMT

Norway and Canada have today requested the WTO to appoint the members of the dispute settlement panel established to consider whether the EU legislation on trade in seal products is consistent with its obligations under WTO rules.

Norway donates to WTO training fund for developing countries

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:33:48 GMT

Norway donated NOK15 million (about CHF2.4 million) to the Global Trust Fund for 2012. Norway is one of the biggest contributors to this fund. This donation will finance technical assistance programmes and training activities for developing and least developed countries.

Government Procurement

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:59:04 GMT

The Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is the only legally binding agreement in the WTO focusing on the subject of government procurement. It is a plurilateral treaty, i.e. not all WTO members are parties to the Agreement. The Agreement covers the procurement of goods, services and capital infrastructure by public authorities and is administered by a Committee on Government Procurement.

Trade Policy Reviews

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:48:25 GMT

All WTO Members are subject to a peer review of their trade policies at regular intervals in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). When a trade policy review (TPR) of a country is carried out, all the other members have the opportunity to ask questions and make statements to indicate their view of the country’s trade performance. In the wake of the financial crisis, the Director General also reports regularly to the TPRB on recent trade developments, allowing Members to take stock of various trade and trade related measures implemented.

Rules

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:47:01 GMT

The Rules Committees is a common expression for the Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the Committee on Safeguards. All three committees oversee that the members respect the obligations they have undertaken under the respective rules agreements (on Antidumping, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and Safeguards).

Trade and development

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:59:13 GMT

More than two thirds of WTO Members are developing countries and the WTO Agreements recognize the link between trade and development.At the Doha Ministerial Conference, in November 2001, Trade Ministers launched the Doha Development Agenda. Through this agenda, WTO Members have placed development issues and the interests of developing countries at the very core of the WTO’s work.

Norwegian Statement at the 4th Trade Policy Review of China

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:26:22 GMT

The fourth review of China’s trade policies and practices took place on 12 and 14 June 2012 in WTO, Geneva. In its statement, Norway commended China’s resistance to undertake protectionist measures and its work towards strengthening the multilateral negotiations. Norway also mentioned some areas of special interest and concern where we would like to see improvements. The statement was read by t...

Norway joins WTO consultations on second tobacco case

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:42:59 GMT

On 4 April Honduras requested consultations with Australia regarding the 2011 Tobacco Plain Packaging Act and related regulations, requiring plain packaging on tobacco in an effort to address the severe public health problem related to its use (DS435). Honduras argues that Australia’s law violates the 1994 WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), as well a...

Norway joins WTO consultations on Australian tobacco case

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:50:27 GMT

On 13 March Ukraine requested consultations with Australia regarding the 2011 Tobacco Plain Packaging Act and related regulations, requiring plain packaging on tobacco in an effort to address the severe public health problem related to its use. Ukraine argues that Australia’s law violates the 1994 WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), as well as the...

WTO Dispute Settlement Body Developments in 2011

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:17:01 GMT

On 13 March 2012 Norway’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Chair of the General Council, ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen, gave a presentation on the WTO Dispute Settlement Body Developments in 2011. The presentation was held at the Fifth Annual Update on WTO Dispute settlement, hosted by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Norwegian Chair of the WTO General Council

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:04:17 GMT

On 14 February 2012 Norway’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen was elected Chair of the General Council for a period of one year. The General Council is the highest-level decision-making body of the WTO. Previously, Norwegian ambassadors Kåre Bryn and Eirik Glenne have held the same position (in 2000-2001 and 2006-2007 respectively)....

Ambassador Johansen on the DDA negotiations

Thu, 06 May 2010 11:30:44 GMT

Norway’s ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen commented on the state of play at the 4 May General Council.

Norway’s views on the European Communities’s trade policy

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:47:22 GMT

All WTO Members are subject to a peer review of their trade policies at regular intervals in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). The Norwegian delegation participated in the ninth trade policy review of the EC on 6 and 8 April 2009. Deputy Permanent Representative Henning Stirø made the following statement:

Norwegian views on the economic crisis and trade-related developments (2)

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:47:18 GMT

On 14 April 2009 the WTO Trade Policy Review Body met to a second informal discussion on the current financial and economic crisis and trade-related developments. Norway's Deputy Permanent Representative Henning Stirø made the following observations at the meeting.

Trade Policy Review of Norway

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:06:15 GMT

Norway's economy has performed strongly since its previous Trade Policy Review thanks to sound macroeconomic policies, a generally liberal export regime and rising export prices. These are some of the conclusions in the WTO Secretariat's report on the trade policies and practices of Norway.