WTO hosts workshop to boost capacity on import licensing and notifications

In her opening remarks, Ms. Tyesha Turner, Chairperson of the Committee on Import Licensing, emphasized the importance of transparency within the multilateral trading system. She noted that import licensing has been on the global trade agenda since the 1970s and became part of the WTO’s multilateral agreements after the Uruguay Round. Ms. Turner said that the increasing attention being paid to import licensing is driven by it being cited in trade disputes, which has raised its profile for both the business community and policymakers. She also highlighted concerns regarding compliance with the obligations under the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, observing that some members have not submitted any notifications since joining the WTO. Others have not updated their import licensing notifications for years, or have only partially met their notification requirements, she added.

The Committee on Import Licensing, with the support of the WTO Secretariat, has worked to identify and address the reasons contributing to the low compliance rate. Ms. Turner acknowledged that capacity constraints, complex notification procedures and the absence of standard templates were some of the challenges raised by developing members regarding notifications. “This workshop is one such activity geared at building national capacity to comply with the transparency obligations under the Agreement. We can also consider organizing regional or bilateral technical assistance, as appropriate, in the future,” she noted.

Ms. Turner introduced the Import Licensing Notification Portal as a practical solution to streamline the notification process.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions on the objectives of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, including its relationship with other WTO agreements and notification requirements. They also participated in practical exercises designed to help them prepare notifications under various articles of the Agreement.

During an experience-sharing session, officials from Mauritius, Myanmar, Thailand and the Gambia provided an overview of the difficulties they encounter in meeting import licensing notification requirements. The discussion also served as a platform for the exchange of best practices, with some officials indicating how previous participation in the workshop had significantly enhanced their notification processes.

Participants emphasized that while the initial steps in making notifications can be challenging, the experience gained from training sessions is invaluable. They encouraged other members to leverage the support available from the WTO Secretariat and to pursue additional training opportunities. They underscored the importance of ongoing assistance and knowledge-sharing for overcoming the barriers to effective compliance with import licensing obligations.

More information on import licensing is available here.

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