3.99. During the review period, several trade issues and concerns were raised by Members in formal meetings of various WTO bodies. This Section provides a factual overview of such concerns raised between mid-October 2021 and mid-October 2022.54 The trade concerns covered in this Section have neither the status nor the procedural framework of the STCs raised in the SPS and TBT Committees. Nevertheless, they provide an up-to-date insight into which trade issues are being discussed by Members across the WTO and, as such, add important transparency. This Section does not reproduce the full substantive description of the trade concerns outlined by WTO Members but provides a reference to the formal meeting(s) where a particular issue featured. A full account and context of the concerns can be found in the formal meeting records of the respective WTO bodies.
The list of concerns and issues mentioned in this Section is not exhaustive.
48 WTO documents G/TBT/M/86, 24 May 2022 and G/TBT/M/87, 30 September 2022.
49 Belarus is not a WTO Member. Information on Belarus' WTO accession process can be found here:
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/blr_e/a1_belarus_e.htm.
50 WTO documents G/TBT/N/LTU/44, 19 April 2022; G/TBT/N/LTU/45, 19 April 2022;
G/TBT/N/LTU/45/Add.1, 19 May 2022; G/TBT/N/LTU/46/Rev.1 (submitted on 12 May 2022 as a revision of the original notification circulated on 19 April as G/TBT/N/LTU/46); and G/TBT/N/LTU/46/Rev.1/Add.1,
19 May 2022.
51 WTO document G/TBT/N/CHE/269, 3 June 2022.
52 WTO documents G/TBT/N/UKR/162/Add.1, 28 March 2022; G/TBT/N/UKR/227, 13 September 2022, G/TBT/N/UKR/218, 9 August 2022; G/TBT/N/UKR/217, 4 August 2022; and G/TBT/N/UKR/199/Add.1, 19 September 2022.
53 This Section does not include the SPS and TBT Committees (covered separately). Issues raised in this Section may subsequently have become the subject of a dispute.
54 Members are encouraged to communicate to the Trade Monitoring Section of the WTO trade issues which they have raised in WTO bodies and which they believe are relevant to the Monitoring Exercise.
3.100. At the 15 December 2021 Special meeting of the General Council (GC)55, trade concerns were raised under "Other Business" by the European Union regarding the shipments of goods to China originating in Lithuania. At the 9-10 May 2022 GC meeting56, trade concerns were raised on trade-disruptive practices of certain Members and their implications for the WTO (raised by the Russian Federation).57
3.101. During the review period, the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) on 1-2 November 2021, on 21-22 April 2022 and on 7-8 July 2022. Thirty-seven trade concerns, including five new, were raised at the CTG 1-2 November 2021 meeting58 (Table 3.16).
Table 3.16 Trade concerns raised at the CTG meeting of 1-2 November 2021
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Angola – Import Restricting Practices Russian Federation
Australia – Discriminatory Market Access Prohibition on
5G Equipment China
China – Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas
Producers of Imported Foods United States
China – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration
Regulations (CSAR) Australia, European Union, Japan, and
United States
China – Export Control Law European Union and Japan China – Implementation of Trade Disruptive and Restrictive
Measures Australia
China – Subsidy Transparency and China's Publication and
Inquiry Point Obligations under China's Protocol of Accession Australia, European Union, United Kingdom, and United States Egypt – Manufacturer Registration System European Union
European Union – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
(European Green Deal of December 2019) China and Russian Federation European Union – Implementation of Non-Tariff Barriers on
Agricultural Products Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, United States, and Uruguay
European Union – Proposed Modification of
TRQ Commitments: Systemic Concerns Brazil, China, and Uruguay European Union – Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products
and Foodstuffs – the Registration of Certain Terms of Cheese as Geographical Indications
Uruguay
European Union – Regulation (EU) 2017/2321 and
Regulation (EU) 2018/825 China and Russian Federation
European Union – Regulation EC No. 1272/2008
(CLP Regulation) Russian Federation
European Union – Sweden's Discriminatory Market Access
Prohibition on 5G Equipment China
European Union – The European Green Deal Russian Federation
India – Import Policy on Tyres European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei
India – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners Japan India – Indian Standards and Import Restriction in the
Automotive Sector (Quality Control Orders): Wheel Rims, Safety Glass, Helmets
Indonesia
India – Mandatory Certification for Steel Products Japan India – Order Related to Requirement of Non-GM Cum GM
Free Certificate Accompanied with Imported Food Consignment
United States
India – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order 2020 Indonesia
India – Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses Australia, Canada, European Union, Russian Federation, and United States Indonesia – Import and Export Restricting Policies and
Practices European Union, Japan, New Zealand,
United States Indonesia – Import Substitution Programme European Union Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Saber Conformity Assessment
Online Platform/Saleem Product Safety Program United States
55 WTO document WT/GC/M/195, 15 December 2021.
56 WTO document WT/GC/M/198, 21 July 2022.
57 WTO document WT/GC/245, 16 March 2022.
58 WTO document G/C/M/141, 28 February 2022.
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Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, the
United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products
European Union, Switzerland, and United States
Mexico – Conformity Assessment Procedure for Cheese Under Mexican Official Standard NOM-223-SCFI/SAGARPA- 2018
United States
Mongolia – Measures Applied with Respect to Certain
Agricultural Products Russian Federation
Panama – Onions and Potatoes Harvest Life and Sprouting
Requirements United States
Russian Federation – Trade Restricting Practices European Union and United States Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Palm Oil Indonesia
Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Various Products Australia and European Union United Kingdom – Draft Goods Schedule and Proposed
UK TRQ Commitments: Systemic Concerns Brazil, China, Russian Federation, Uruguay
United States – Export Control Measures for ICT Products China
United States – Import Restrictions on Apples and Pears European Union United States – Measures Regarding Market Access
Prohibition for ICT Products China
Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.102. At the 21-22 April 202259 CTG meeting, 41 trade concerns were raised (Table 3.17).
Table 3.17 Trade concerns raised at CTG meeting of 21-22 April 2022
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Australia – Discriminatory Market Access Prohibition on
5G Equipment China
Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States – Unilateral Trade-Restrictive Measures Against Russia
Russian Federation
China – Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas
Producers of Imported Foods Indonesia and United States
China – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration
Regulations (CSAR) Australia, European Union, Japan,
United States
China – Export Control Law Japan
China – Implementation of Trade Disruptive and Restrictive
Measures Australia
Ecuador – Import Restrictions on Grapes and Onions Peru European Union – Belgium's Draft Law Introducing Additional
Security Measures for the Provision of Mobile 5G Services China
European Union – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism China and Russian Federation European Union – Countervailing Duties (CVD) on Stainless Steel
Cold-Rolled Flat (SSCR) Indonesia
European Union – European Green Deal (Carbon Border
Adjustment Mechanism and Deforestation Free Commodities) Indonesia European Union – Implementation of Non-Tariff Barriers on
Agricultural Products (G/C/W/767/Rev.1) Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay
European Union – Proposed Modification of TRQ Commitments:
Systemic Concerns China and Uruguay
European Union – Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs-the Registration of Certain Terms of Cheese as
Geographical Indications
New Zealand and Uruguay
European Union – Regulation EC No. 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation) Russian Federation European Union – Regulation (EU) 2017/2321 and Regulation
(EU) 2018/825 Russian Federation
European Union – Sweden's Discriminatory Market Access
Prohibition on 5G Equipment China
European Union –European Green Deal Russian Federation
India – Import Policy on Tyres European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand India – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners Japan and Thailand
59 WTO document G/C/M/142, 17 June 2022.
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern India – Order Related to Requirement of Non-GM Cum GM Free
Certificate Accompanied with Imported Food Consignment United States India – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order 2020 Indonesia
India – Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses Australia, Canada, European Union, United States
Indonesia – Import and Export Restricting Policies and Practices European Union, Japan, New Zealand, United States Indonesia – Import Substitution Programme European Union
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – SABER Conformity Assessment
Online Platform/Saleem Product Safety Program United States Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain,
United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products
Switzerland and United States
Mexico – Conformity Assessment Procedure for Cheese Under
Mexican Official Standard Nom-223-Scfi/Sagarpa-2018 United States Nepal – Import Ban on Energy Drinks Thailand Nigeria – Restrictive Policies on Agricultural Products Brazil Panama – Onions and Potatoes Harvest Life and Sprouting United States Panama – Undue Delays and Export Restrictions on Agricultural
and Hydrobiological Products Peru
Philippines – Special Safeguard on Instant Coffee Indonesia Plurinational State of Bolivia – Export Restrictions on
Agricultural and Hydrobiological Products Peru
Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Various Products Australia and Thailand United Kingdom – Draft Goods Schedule and Proposed UK TRQ
Commitments: Systemic Concerns China and Uruguay
United Kingdom – Environmental Act: Forestry Commodities Indonesia United States – Discriminatory Quantitative Restriction on Steel
and/or Aluminium Imports China
United States – Export Control Measures for ICT Products China
United States – Import Restrictions on Apples and Pears European Union United States – Measures Regarding Market Access Prohibition for
ICT Products China
Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.103. During the CTG 21-22 April meeting, Ukraine raised concerns about Russian Federation's military actions, stating that some of which were targeting Ukraine's agricultural production capacity thus jeopardizing food security and risking a world food crisis. The Russian Federation raised concerns about unilateral measures introduced by Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States aimed at attacking the Russian Federation's economy as a result of its special military operation in Ukraine.
3.104. Concerns were raised by a number of Members on the direct impact of the Russian Federation's military action in Ukraine, which had prevented Ukraine's exports and also on the Russian Federation's measures to restrict its exports of fertilizers and other commodities, such as sugar, sunflower oil, wheat, meslin, rye, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed seeds (raised by Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and Ukraine).
3.105. At the 7-8 July 2022 CTG meeting60, three new trade concerns were raised (Table 3.18).
Table 3.18 New trade concerns raised at CTG meeting of 7-8 July 2022
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Australia – investigation and review of anti-dumping duties on
A4 copy paper Indonesia
Egypt – Halal certification requirements for imported food and
beverage products Canada and United States
Pakistan – import restrictions on foodstuffs and consumer
goods European Union
Source: WTO Secretariat.
60 WTO document G/C/M/143, 6 October 2022.
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3.106. At the same meeting, 41 previously raised concerns were brought to the Council's attention (Table 3.19).
Table 3.19 CTG meeting of 7-8 July 2022: previously raised trade concerns
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Australia – Discriminatory Market Access Prohibition on 5G
Equipment China
Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States – Unilateral Trade-Restrictive Measures Against Russia
Russian Federation
China – Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas
Producers of Imported Foods Australia and United States
China – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations
(CSAR) Australia, European Union, Japan,
United States
China – Export Control Law Japan
China – Implementation of Trade Disruptive and Restrictive
Measures Australia
China – Subsidy Transparency and China's Publication and
Inquiry Point Obligations Under China's Protocol of Accession Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States
Ecuador – Import Restrictions on Grapes and Onions Peru European Union – Belgium's Law Introducing Additional
Security Measures for the Provision of Mobile 5G Services China European Union – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
(CBAM) China and the Russian Federation
European Union – Countervailing Duties (CVD) on Stainless
Steel Cold-Rolled Flat (SSCR) Indonesia
European Union – European Green Deal (Carbon Border
Adjustment Mechanism and Deforestation Free Commodities) Brazil and Indonesia European Union – Implementation of Non-Tariff Barriers on
Agricultural Products Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay
European Union – Proposed Modification of TRQ
Commitments: Systemic Concerns Brazil and Uruguay
European Union – Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs – the Registration of Certain Terms of Cheese as Geographical Indications
New Zealand and Uruguay
European Union – Regulation EC No. 1272/2008 (CLP
Regulation) Russian Federation
European Union – Regulation (EU) 2017/2321 and Regulation
(EU) 2018/825 Russian Federation
European Union – Sweden's Discriminatory Market Access
Prohibition on 5G Equipment China
European Union – the European Green Deal Russian Federation
India – Import Policy on Tyres European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand
India – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners Japan and Thailand India – Order Related to Requirement of Non-GG Cum GM Free
Certificate Accompanied with Imported Food Consignment United States India – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order 2020 Indonesia
India – Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses Australia, Canada, European Union United States
Indonesia – Import and Export Restricting Policies and
Practices European Union, Japan, New Zealand,
United States Indonesia – Import Substitution Programme European Union Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, United
Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products
Switzerland and the United States
Mexico – Conformity Assessment Procedure for Cheese Under
Mexican Official Standard Nom 223 SCFI/SAGARPA-2018 United States Nepal – Import Ban on Energy Drinks Thailand Nigeria – Restrictive Policies on Agricultural Products Brazil
Panama – Onions and Potatoes Harvest Life and Sprouting Canada and United States Panama – Undue Delays and Export Restrictions on
Agricultural and Hydrobiological Products Peru Philippines – Special Safeguard on Instant Coffee Indonesia
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Plurinational State of Bolivia – Export Restrictions on
Agricultural and Hydrobiological Products Peru Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Various Products Thailand United Kingdom – Draft Goods Schedule and Proposed UK
TRQ Commitments: Systemic Concerns Brazil and Uruguay
United Kingdom – Environmental Act: Forestry Commodities Brazil and Indonesia United States – Discriminatory Quantitative Restriction on
Steel and/or Aluminium Imports China
United States – Export Control Measures for Chinese
Enterprises China
United States – Import Restrictions on Apples and Pears European Union United States – Measures Regarding Market Access
Prohibition for ICT Products China
Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.107. At the 30-31 March 2022 meeting of the Committee on Market Access (CMA)61, 18 trade concerns were raised (Table 3.20).
Table 3.20 Trade concerns raised at the CMA meeting of 30-31 March 2022
Measure implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Angola – Import Restriction Practices European Union and United States Canada – Restrictions on the Commercial Importation of
Cannabis and Cannabis Products for Medical Use Colombia China – Trade Disruptive and Restrictive Measures Australia European Union – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
(CBAM) Indonesia, Russian Federation
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – Selective Tax on Certain Imported Products
European Union, Switzerland, United States
India – Import Policies on Tyres European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand India – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners Japan, Thailand
India – Plain Copier Paper Quality Order 2020 Indonesia
India – Quantitative Restrictions on Imports of Certain Pulses Australia, Canada, European Union, United States
Indonesia – Import Substitution Programme European Union Indonesia – Customs Duties on Certain Telecommunication
Products United States, European Union
Mexico – Import Quota on Glyphosate United States Nepal – Import Ban on Energy Drinks Thailand
Peru – Tax Treatment of Pisco United Kingdom
Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Various Products Australia, European Union, Thailand Sri Lanka – Import Ban on Palm Oil Indonesia
Philippines – Special Safeguard on Instant Coffee Indonesia United States – Discriminatory Quantitative Restriction on Steel
and/or Aluminium Imports China
Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.108. At the CMA March 2022 meeting, Ukraine made reference to its notification62 of export restrictions on certain agricultural products which were necessary to ensure national food security.
They noted that these measures were implemented as a result of the Russian Federation's actions.
Ukraine denounced the detrimental effects that the war had on international trade in food products.
Thirteen Members (United Kingdom, United States, Paraguay, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, Türkiye, European Union, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada) expressed support for Ukraine and noted the consequences of the Russian Federation's actions on global trade in goods. The Russian Federation stressed that the reasons for disruptions of global supply chains were the unilateral trade restricting measures introduced by Members, which were in direct violation of WTO rules. During that meeting, the Committee reviewed the quantitative
61 WTO document G/MA/M/76, forthcoming.
62 WTO document G/MA/QR/N/UKR/5/Add.2, 25 March 2022.
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restrictions (QR) notifications from 16 Members. One notification from the United States related to import and export prohibitions against the Russian Federation on the ground of national security.63 3.109. At the 8 April 2022 meeting of the Committee on Import Licensing (CIL)64, new and persistent trade concerns were raised (Table 3.21).
Table 3.21 Trade concerns raised at the CIL meeting of 8 April 2022
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Angola – Import Licensing Requirements European Union
China – Changes to Import Licensing for Certain Recoverable
Materials United States
Egypt – Import Licensing Requirements for Certain Agricultural
and Processed Products European Union
India – Quantitative Restrictions on Certain Pulses Canada
India – Importation of Pneumatic Tyres European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand Indonesia – Import Restrictions: Compulsory Registration by
Importers of Steel Products Japan
Indonesia – Import Licensing Regime for Certain Textile
Products European Union and Japan
Indonesia – Import Restrictions on Air Conditioners European Union and Japan Thailand – Importation of Feed Wheat European Union
Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.110. At the 7 October 2022 CIL meeting65, new and persistent trade concerns were raised (Table 3.22).
Table 3.22 Trade concerns raised at the CIL meeting of 7 October 2022
Measures implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Angola – Import Licensing Requirements European Union
Egypt – Import Licensing Requirements for Certain Agricultural
and Processed Products European Union
India – Importation of Pneumatic Tyres European Union, Indonesia Indonesia – Commodity Balancing Mechanism European Union
Indonesia – Compulsory Registration by Importers of Steel
Products Japan
Indonesia – Import Licensing Regime for Certain Textile
Products European Union and Japan
Indonesia – Import Restrictions on Air Conditioners Japan
Thailand – Importation of Feed Wheat European Union Source: WTO Secretariat.
3.111. At the 6 April and 11 October 2022 meetings of the Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products (ITA Committee)66 an implementation issue was reiterated concerning Indonesia, calling for aligning the tariff treatment of certain ICT products classified under subheading 8517.62 with Indonesia's WTO commitments (raised by United States, European Union, and Japan).
3.112. At the meetings of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA) on 15-16 March, 27-28 June and 14- 15 September 202267, several questions and concerns were raised with respect to Members' individual notifications, and on specific implementation matters (SIMs) under Article 18.6. During the review period, a total of 344 questions were discussed on individual notifications (198 questions),
63 WTO document G/MA/QR/N/USA/5/Add.3, 21 March 2022.
64 WTO document G/LIC/M/54, 20 June 2022.
65 WTO document G/LIC/M/55, forthcoming.
66 WTO documents G/IT/M/76, 2 August 2022 and G/IT/M/77 (forthcoming).
67 Questions raised under the review process in the CoA meetings on 15-16 March, 27-28 June and 14-15 September 2022 are available in WTO document G/AG/W/217 and G/AG/W/217/Corr.1, G/AG/W/221 and G/AG/W/222. The questions, responses and follow-up comments are available through the Q&A section of the Agriculture Information Management System. Viewed at: http://agims.wto.org/.
Article 18.6 matters (130 questions covering 83 SIMs), and overdue notifications (16 questions).
Additional details regarding these questions and concerns can be found in Section 3.6 of this Report.
3.113. At the meetings of the Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices68 on 27 October 2021 and 27 April 2022, 33 concerns were raised as (Table 3.23).
Table 3.23 Concerns raised on anti-dumping practices
Measure(s) implemented by Member(s) raising the concern Argentina – Initiation – polymer profiles of vinyl chloride of
the types used in the manufacture of openings or enclosures Türkiye Argentina – Initiation – tiles of glass whether or not on a
backing, for mosaics or similar decorative purposes Türkiye Brazil – Investigation – liquid caustic soda United States Canada – Investigation – preliminary and final determinations
- concrete reinforcing bars Egypt and Russian Federation
China – Anti-dumping measures – Poultry Brazil China – Final determination and continued imposition of AD
measures – unbleached sack paper Japan
China – Final determination and continued imposition of AD
measures – Grain oriented flat rolled electrical steel Japan Egypt – Anti-dumping measure – prestressed concrete steel
strands Tunisia
European Union – Initiation – corrosion resistant steel
products Türkiye
European Union – Initiation – ceramic tiles Türkiye European Union – Initiation – certain iron or steel fasteners China European Union – Initiation – aluminium road wheels Morocco European Union – Reopening of investigation – certain woven
and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics Egypt
India – Continued imposition of anti-dumping measures – hot-rolled flat products of alloy and non-alloy steel, and cold- rolled/cold reduced flat products of iron or non-alloy steel
Japan
India – Anti-dumping measures – electrogalvanized steel Japan Korea, Republic of – Final determination and continued
imposition of AD duties based on the 4th sunset review – stainless steel bar
Japan
Korea, Republic of – Expiry review – Butyl glycol ether United States Mexico – Initiation – type I and type H steel beams United Kingdom Morocco – Initiation – galvanized wire Türkiye
Philippines – Sunset review and extension of measures –
wheat flour Türkiye
South Africa – Preliminary determination and imposition of provisional measures – Frozen bone-in portions of fowls of the species Gallus Domesticus
European Union
South Africa – Preliminary determination and imposition of provisional measures – Frozen bone-in portions of fowls of the species Gallus Domesticus
Brazil
South Africa – Investigation – uncooked pasta Egypt
South Africa – Initiation – frozen potato chips European Union Thailand – Final determination and continued imposition of AD
duties – flat hot-rolled steel in coils and not in coils Japan Thailand – Anti-dumping investigation - hot-rolled steel coil Egypt Ukraine – Initiation – certain articles of asphalt or of similar
material Russian Federation
Ukraine – Initiation – aluminium ladders European Union United Kingdom – Transitional review – cold-rolled flat steel
products Russian Federation
United States – Investigation – raw honey Ukraine
68 WTO documents G/ADP/M/60, 17 December 2021 and G/ADP/M/61, 14 September 2022.