What Changed
- The WTO Secretariat reported that 51 out of 145 trade concerns raised in the CMA between April 1995 and March 2026 have been reported as resolved or partially resolved.
- CMA members discussed a record 36 trade concerns, including eight newly raised concerns involving measures in Canada, the EU, Indonesia, Türkiye, and the UK.
- The WCO agreed to work on improving tariff classification for menstrual products following a CMA request, alongside progress on HS transposition and greening initiatives.
This update examines recent developments within the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Market Access (CMA), following the release of a Secretariat report on 12 October 2026.
**Who Is Affected and Why It Matters**
These developments affect international traders, exporters, manufacturers, and legal advisors operating across WTO member jurisdictions, including Canada, the European Union, Indonesia, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and others. The discussions address specific market access barriers, tariff modifications, and quantitative trade restrictions subject to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
**Key Developments**
1. **Resolution Tracking:** A Secretariat report reveals that 51 of the 145 trade concerns raised in the CMA between April 1995 and March 2026 have been resolved (34) or partially resolved (17), based on responses from 16 members. Under a decision adopted in March, the Secretariat will maintain a formal record of these resolutions in the WTO Trade Concerns Database.
2. **Record Agenda of Trade Concerns:** Members discussed 36 trade concerns—a record for a single CMA meeting—including eight raised for the first time. New concerns covered steel measures in Canada and the UK; alleged discriminatory clauses in the EU's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and proposed Cybersecurity Act; Indonesia’s peanut import rules and pre-shipment halal requirements; and Türkiye’s unit-value threshold import surveillance regime.
3. **Harmonized System (HS) Initiatives:** The committee reviewed transposition work across HS1996 through HS2022 nomenclatures. Following a request initiated by Barbados and Canada, the World Customs Organization (WCO) HS Committee agreed to work on improving tariff visibility for menstrual products. Members also adopted a reference document on greening the HS and agreed to hold consultations on UK-proposed actions concerning trade disruptions and supply chain resilience.
In addition, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland issued statements reaffirming support for the rules-based multilateral trading system. The next CMA meeting is scheduled for 10–11 March 2027.
Who May Be Affected
International businesses, exporters, legal professionals, and governments operating in WTO member states, including Canada, the EU, Indonesia, Switzerland, Türkiye, the UK, and others.
Cross-Border Context
Covers multilateral market access discussions, proposed regulatory acts in the EU and UK, Swiss joint statements on multilateral trade rules, and international tariff classification efforts.
What to check next
- Check the upcoming update to the WTO Trade Concerns Database reflecting resolved CMA concerns.
- Monitor the WCO Harmonized System Committee's specific proposal on menstrual product classification expected later in 2026.
- Track the next WTO Committee on Market Access meeting scheduled for 10-11 March 2027.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.