The new Import Licensing Notification Portal is an important element of the digitalization process in the WTO Secretariat. The platform will significantly facilitate the process of drafting and submitting all types of notifications under the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. It will also provide access to an improved database of all import licensing procedures of WTO members. The new database includes advanced search tools by member, product and legislation.

The portal offers members the possibility to assign different levels of access to national authorities to draft, edit or submit their notifications. In addition, members are able to communicate and exchange draft notifications and comments with the Secretariat via the portal.

Notifications

The Chair of the Committee, Mr Nat Tharnpanich of Thailand, informed members that since the last Committee meeting, a total of 42 notifications had been received under various provisions of the Agreement.  Myanmar submitted a notification of the annual questionnaire on import licensing procedures under Article 7.3 of the Agreement for the first time, reducing to 21 the number of members who have not yet submitted any reply to the questionnaire.

The Chair noted that transparency regarding members' trade measures is one of the key pillars of the rules–based multilateral trading system and encouraged members to submit their import licensing notifications if they have not done so.

Specific trade concerns

Members asked questions about other members’ import licensing regimes for specific products and raised 11 trade concerns. These included two new trade concerns relating to:

• India's import licensing measures on PCs, tablets and other electronic products; and
• India's import on viscose staple fibre (VSF)

Members also addressed nine previously raised trade concerns:

• Angola's import licensing requirements, raised by the European Union
• Dominican Republic's new import licensing system, raised by the European Union
• Egypt's import licensing requirements for certain agricultural and processed products, raised by the European Union
• India's importation of pneumatic tyres, raised by the European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand
• Indonesia's commodity balancing mechanism, raised by the European Union and Japan
• Indonesia's import licensing regime for certain textile products, raised by the European Union and Japan
• Indonesia's compulsory registration by importers of steel products, raised by Japan
• Indonesia's import restriction on air conditioners, raised by Japan
• Thailand's importation of feed wheat, raised by the European Union

Information session

The Secretariat held an information session on the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures and the work of the Committee on Import Licensing for new delegates. The session included presentations by the Secretariat on the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, notification requirements under the Agreement and functioning of the Committee.

Delegates were introduced to the Committee's digital tools, such as eAgenda, the Trade Concerns Database, the import licensing website and the new Import Licensing Notification Portal. The Secretariat made a presentation on how to draft and submit import licensing notifications using the new portal.

Next meeting

The next formal meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 21 May 2024.