On November 1, 2018, delegations from the United States, European Union (EU), Japan, Argentina, and Costa Rica submitted a joint proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council on “procedures to enhance transparency and strengthen notification requirements under WTO agreements”.
The proposal indicates that Member governments which fail to provide complete and timely notification to the WTO of any changes to the WTO’s agreements on agriculture, anti-dumping, subsidies, safeguards, etc., can first request assistance in such notification.
If no notification of changes is given, and no assistance is requested, a tiered set of consequences would apply depending on time past the original notification deadline. Potential consequences proposed include:
- A Member’s representatives would be unable to preside over WTO bodies;
- An additional assessment of 5% on the Member’s WTO budget contribution; and
- A Member’s WTO status becoming inactive
The proposal may be found here:
