WTO import licensing committee reviews notifications and trade concerns
WTO Committee on Import Licensing met on 15 October 2026 to review notifications, trade concerns and transparency efforts, including survey findings.
The story in focus
At its 15 October 2026 meeting, the WTO Committee on Import Licensing examined challenges in preparing notifications, reviewed members' notification practices, and considered 14 trade concerns regarding import licensing regimes, along with follow-up on two previously raised issues.
- The Committee received 49 notifications since June; 33 were reviewed at the meeting.
- A survey of workshop participants found 68% faced difficulties obtaining information from responsible authorities.
- The Committee addressed 14 trade concerns, including two raised for the first time.
Notifications and survey findings
The WTO Secretariat presented findings from a survey of participants in a September 2026 workshop on import licensing and notifications. Among respondents, 68% reported difficulties obtaining information from responsible authorities, 72% cited challenges obtaining up-to-date information for the annual questionnaire, and 48% reported problems identifying all relevant licensing procedures. The survey allowed multiple responses and reflects participants' experiences, not the full WTO membership.
Since the previous Committee meeting in June, 49 notifications were received under the Agreement on Import Licensing; 16 arrived after the agenda closed and will be reviewed at the next meeting. Of the 33 reviewed, 23 were submitted under Article 7.3, which requires members to complete the annual questionnaire promptly and fully. The Chair noted that 21 members have never submitted a questionnaire reply since joining the WTO, and 11 have never submitted any notification under the Agreement.
Trade concerns
The Committee followed up on two previously raised concerns: Brazil's regarding EU due diligence statements under the Deforestation Regulation, and Japan's regarding Indonesian import restrictions on various products. It then addressed 14 trade concerns on import licensing regimes, two for the first time. These covered measures by Angola, Egypt, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Türkiye, raised by various members.
Transparency and next meeting
The Chair reported on two experience-sharing sessions, in April 2025 and June 2026, aimed at improving transparency and communication on import licensing. The Secretariat will compile suggestions, and the Chair will hold an informal meeting to discuss next steps. The next Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for 22 April 2027.
What did the survey of workshop participants reveal about notification challenges?
The survey found 68% of respondents had difficulty obtaining information from responsible authorities, 72% struggled to get up-to-date information for the annual questionnaire, and 48% faced challenges identifying relevant licensing procedures.
Sources & further reading
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