The World Trade Organization's Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures agreed during its meeting June 17-19 to establish a new working group on improving the transparency of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body on June 23 agreed to establish dispute panels in China's case against Canada's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products and Canada's dispute against Chinese import duties on Canadian agricultural and fisheries products, the WTO announced.

Panama formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on June 12, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 102. The WTO needs nine more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.

Joseph Barloon, who was a general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during Donald Trump's first term, told Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that he believes in rules-based trade.

Nicaragua formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on June 2, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 101. The WTO needs 10 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.

Malawi formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on May 28, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 100. The WTO needs 11 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.

The World Trade Organization released the agenda for the June 5 meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body. The meeting is held to exclusively consider Canada's request for a dispute panel in its case against Chinese import duties on certain agricultural and fishery products from Canada.

World Trade Organization members on May 27 elected chairpersons for the 14 subsidiary bodies under the Council for Trade in Goods, the WTO announced. They are:

The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body on May 23 heard China's first request to establish a dispute panel on Canada's surtax on Chinese products, including electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products, the WTO said. Canada said it's not ready to accept the panel at this time, punting the issue to the next DSB meeting, which is scheduled for June 23.

Lesotho formally accepted the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on May 20, bringing the number of countries that have accepted the deal to 99. The WTO needs 12 more countries to accept to get to two-thirds of the membership, the threshold for the agreement to take effect.