The World Trade Organization (WTO) has advised that 29 government officials from developing and least-developed countries participated in a WTO workshop on import licensing and notifications from 25 to 27 September 2024. The in-person event, organised by the Market Access Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, addressed capacity constraints and provided guidance on meeting complex notification requirements on import licensing.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee on Import Licensing, emphasised the importance of transparency within the multilateral trading system. She noted that import licensing had been on the global trade agenda since the 1970s and had become part of the WTO's multilateral agreements after the Uruguay Round. She said that the increasing attention paid to import licensing was driven by its being cited in trade disputes, which has raised its profile for 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. She added that others had not updated their import licensing notifications for years or had only partially met their notification requirements.
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. She acknowledged that capacity constraints, complex notification procedures, and the absence of standard templates were some 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 organising regional or bilateral technical assistance as appropriate in the future,” she noted.
She 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 emphasised that while the initial steps in making notifications could be challenging, the experience gained from training sessions was 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 to overcome the barriers to effective compliance with import licensing obligations.