REPORT (2025) OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS[1]

In accordance with the "Procedures for an Annual Overview of WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO" (_WT/L/105), the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG, or the Council) is mandated to prepare an annual report each year to the General Council on the activities in the Council as well as those in its subsidiary bodies. The reports are to be "factual in nature, containing an indication of actions and decisions taken, with cross‑references to reports of subordinate bodies and could follow the model of the GATT 1947 Council reports to the CONTRACTING PARTIES".

Since the 2024 Annual Report (_G/L/1553) was issued, the CTG has met three times in formal session, on the following dates: 9-10 April 2025[2] (reconvened on 27 May 2025 for Agenda Item 3 on the Appointment of Officers to the Subsidiary Bodies of the CTG[3]); 7‑8 July 2025[4]; and 27‑28 November 2025.[5]. Furthermore, the CTG met four times in informal mode:(i) to explore whether common ground could be found on some of the ideas and proposals that had been brought forward by Members on the process of trade concerns (25 February 2025)[6]; (ii) to hold the Second Informal Session on Digital Tools Used in the CTG and its Subsidiary Bodies (7 April 2025)[7]; (iii) to consider the slate of names for the appointment of Chairpersons of the CTG's subsidiary bodies (27 May 2025)[8]; and (iv) to discuss the Chairperson's Report on his consultations with Members on improving the functioning of the Council (13 October 2025).[9]

The subject matters raised and/or acted upon in the Council were as follows:

1   ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS. 3

2   APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE COUNCIL. 3

3   MARKET ACCESS ISSUES. 4

3.1   Collective Waiver Requests on the Introduction of the Harmonized System 2002,
2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022. 4

4   WAIVERS UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT. 4

4.1   United States – Request for a Waiver – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
(As Amended) 4

5   NOTIFICATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS. 4

6   STATUS OF NOTIFICATIONS. 5

6.1   Report on the Status of Notifications under the Provisions of the Agreements in
Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement (G/L/223/Rev.32) 5

6.2   Status of Regular/Periodic and One-Time Only Notifications in the Goods Area
(1995‑2024) – Report by the Secretariat (G/C/W/859) 5

6.3   Structured Summary of Reports on How to Improve the Notification of
Regular/Periodic and One-Time Only Notifications (G/C/W/886/Rev.1) 5

7   IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS. 6

7.1   Future Work of the Council - Reports by the Chairperson (JOB/CTG/62, JOB/CTG/66, JOB/CTG/70, JOB/CTG/74) 6

7.2   Information Session on Digital Tools. 7

7.3   Decision on the Recording of the Resolution of Trade Concerns (JOB/CTG/64/Rev.1) 7

7.4   Report on the Resolution of Trade Concerns Raised in the Council for Trade in Goods (G/C/W/884) 8

8   WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION:
PROCEDURES UNDER ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF GATT 1994 – COMMUNICATION
FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION (G/L/1385/ADD.8). 8

9   ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
TO THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION (EAEU): PROCEDURES UNDER
ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF THE GATT 1994. 8

9.1   Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Eurasian Economic Union: Procedures
Under Article XXVIII:3 of the GATT 1994 – Communication from Armenia (G/L/1110/Add.11) 8

9.2   Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Eurasian Economic Union: Procedures
Under Article XXVIII:3 of the GATT 1994 – Communication from the Kyrgyz Republic (G/L/1137/Add.10) 8

10   MEMBERS' NON‑RESPONSIVENESS TO QUESTIONS POSED BY OTHER
MEMBERS AND MEMBERS' NON‑NOTIFICATIONS OF ITEMS PURSUANT TO
CERTAIN WTO AGREEMENTS – REQUEST FROM THE UNITED STATES. 8

11   COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE
IN GOODS REGARDING SYSTEMIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECRETARIAT PROPERLY INFORMING AND CONSULTING WITH MEMBERS PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES (G/C/W/860). 9

12   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES IN RESPONSE TO THE NOTIFICATIONS BY THE EUROPEAN UNION, INDIA, JAPAN, AND THE
UNITED KINGDOM PROPOSING TO SUSPEND CONCESSIONS UNDER ARTICLE 8.2
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS — REQUEST FROM THE UNITED STATES. 9

13   FRAGMENTATION OF GLOBAL TRADE THROUGH TARIFFS AND THE
GLOBAL COSTS. 10

14   TRADE CONCERNS. 11

15   CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS. 11

15.1   Crisis preparedness. 12

ANNEX 1. 13

ANNEX 2. 15

ANNEX 3. 17