OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT
Annual Report by the DIRECTOR-GENERAL[1]
(Mid-October
2018 to mid-October 2019)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEY FINDINGS. 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 8
1 INTRODUCTION.. 11
2 Recent Economic and Trade developments. 13
2.1
Overview. 13
2.2
Economic Developments. 14
2.3
Merchandise Trade. 15
2.4
Trade in Commercial Services. 19
2.5
Trade Forecast and Economic Outlook. 21
3 Trade and trade-related policy issues. 25
3.1
Overview of Trends Identified during the Review Period. 25
3.2
Trade Remedies. 35
3.3
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. 44
3.4
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) 51
3.5
Trade Concerns Raised in Other WTO Bodies. 60
3.6 Policy
Developments in Agriculture. 69
3.7
General Economic Support 76
3.8
Overview of Trade Policy Reviews. 76
3.9
Other Selected Trade Policy Issues. 89
4 POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE IN SERVICES. 99
5 POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. 108
6 TRANSPARENCY OF TRADE POLICIES. 112
ANNEX 1 MEASURES FACILITATING TRADE. 132
ANNEX 2 TRADE REMEDIES. 145
ANNEX 3 OTHER TRADE‑RELATED
MEASURES. 167
ANNEX 4 MEASURES AFFECTING TRADE IN
SERVICES. 181
APPENDIX 1 PARTICIPATION.. 228
[1] This Report covers the period mid-October 2018 to mid-October 2019.
It is presented pursuant to Paragraph G of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism
mandate and aims to assist the Trade Policy Review Body to undertake its annual
overview of developments in the international trading environment that are
having an impact on the multilateral trading system. The Report is issued under
the sole responsibility of the Director‑General. It has no legal effect on the
rights and obligations of Members, nor does it have any legal implications with
respect to the conformity of any measure noted in the Report with any WTO
Agreements or any provisions thereof.