Trade Policy Review
Iceland
Minutes of the Meeting
Chairperson: H.E. Dr
Adamu Abdulhamid (Nigeria)
CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 3
2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
ICELAND (MR RAGNAR G. KRISTJÁNSSON). 5
3 STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT. 8
4 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS. 11
5 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ICELAND AND
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. 44
6 CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 49
Note: Advance written questions and
additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided by Iceland
are reproduced in document _WT/TPR/M/454/Add.1 and will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.
1.1. The sixth Trade Policy Review
of Iceland was held on 12 and 14 June 2024. The Chairperson, H.E. Dr Adamu Abdulhamid
(Nigeria), welcomed the delegation of Iceland, headed by Mr Ragnar G. Kristjánsson,
Director General for External Trade and Economic Affairs (Ministry for Foreign
Affairs); H.E. Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, Permanent Representative
of Iceland to the WTO; the rest of the delegation; and the discussant, H.E.
Ambassador Clare Kelly, (New Zealand).
1.2. The Chairperson was pleased that, in
addition to physical presence, the meeting also benefited from the Interprefy
online connection, allowing for a wider participation of the Membership.
1.3. The Chairperson recalled the purpose
of TPRs and the main elements of procedures for the meeting. The Report by Iceland
is contained in document _WT/TPR/G/454, and that of the WTO Secretariat
in document _WT/TPR/S/454.
1.4. Questions by the following
delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline: United Kingdom;
Japan; Hong Kong, China; Switzerland; China; Guatemala; Canada;
Costa Rica; Thailand; European Union; Argentina; New Zealand;
Colombia; Russian Federation; Ukraine; and United States. The
following delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: Singapore,
Bangladesh, Türkiye, Philippines, El Salvador, Malaysia, Ecuador, Morocco,
Indonesia, and India.
1.5. The Chairperson first recalled some
elements of Iceland's previous Review and developments since then. In doing so,
the Chairperson also sought to identify some key issues arising from Members'
advance written questions for the current TPR.
1.6. During Iceland's previous Review,
held in 2017, Members commended Iceland on its open trade regime and the reforms
it undertook to remove most non‑agricultural tariffs. Members also showed
significant interest in Iceland's policies relating to gender equality.
1.7. At the time of Iceland's previous
Review, Members also noted that Iceland kept in place a number of tariff peaks
and non‑ad‑valorem rates in agricultural tariff lines, that some
investment restrictions remained in a handful of sectors, and they encouraged
Iceland to improve its notification record.
1.8. The Chairperson was pleased to see
that Iceland has continued to take steps to improve the business environment
further, including by making regulatory information more easily available, or
continuing to adapt the framework for intellectual property. Iceland was among
the first Members to deposit its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on
Fisheries Subsidies in 2023.
1.9. At the advance written questions
received for the current Review, a number of issues seemed to be of particular
interest to Members. In particular, Members have showed great interest in
Iceland's ongoing efforts to improve customs procedures, as well as its
transparency‑related initiatives such as the "Island.is"‑portal. The
questions also reflected a continued keen interest Members have in learning
more about Iceland's efforts to promote gender equality, the results achieved
so far, and how Iceland has been incorporating the gender dimension into
policies and trade agreements.
1.10. Members also raised several
questions regarding Iceland's tariff schedule, other fees at the border,
or rules of origin. Some expressed interest in the impact the state-owned State
Alcohol and Tobacco Monopoly has on trade in alcoholic drinks. Members also
enquired about support to the agricultural and fisheries sectors. Interest was
also shown in Iceland's policies relating to sustainability, as well as the
linkages between such policies, sectoral policies, and subsidies.
1.11. A number of other issues raised in
the advance written questions also reflected issues that were already discussed
during the previous Review. These include Iceland's compliance with its WTO
notification record, in particular regarding quantitative restrictions or TBT
and SPS measures, agricultural tariffs, and policies affecting financial
services and capital flows.
1.12. For the current Review, Iceland
received 327 advance written questions from 24 delegations. Of these, 240 were
sent within the established deadline. Prior to the meeting, Iceland provided written
replies to most of the questions submitted.
1.13. The meeting was a good opportunity
for Members to hear about progress made on the issues discussed during the
previous Review and to discuss in greater detail issues of interest to them,
including some that are of more systemic importance to the multilateral trading
system. It was also an opportune moment for Iceland to update Members on more
recent developments regarding the issues outlined in the Government and
Secretariat Report. The Chairperson looked forward to a fruitful exchange.