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EU STATEMENTS AS DELIVERED AT THE REGULAR DSB MEETING OF 21 APRIL 2026

21.04.2026
GENEVA
EU mission to the WTO in Geneva - Press and information team

Statements delivered by Mr. Davide Grespan, Minister-Counsellor

AGENDA POINT 1: SURVEILLANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DSB

1.2.   UNITED STATES – SECTION 110(5) OF THE US COPYRIGHT ACT: STATUS REPORT BY THE UNITED STATES (WT/DS160/24/ADD.244)

  • We thank the United States for its status report and its statement today. 
  • We refer to our previous statements. We would like to resolve this case as soon as possible.

AGENDA POINT 1: SURVEILLANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DSB

1.3.   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – MEASURES AFFECTING THE APPROVAL AND MARKETING OF BIOTECH PRODUCTS: STATUS REPORT BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (WT/DS291/37/ADD.207)

  • We recall that the EU approval system is not covered by the DSB’s recommendations and rulings.

  • On 14 October 2025, the European Commission presented two draft decisions for a vote to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. These decisions included authorising the placing on the market of one GM sugar beet (1) and renewing one authorisation for GM maize (2). The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion.’ The draft decisions were submitted to the Appeal Committee on 28 November 2025. The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission adopted both decisions on 27 February 2026 (3).

  • On 12 December 2025, the European Commission presented four draft decisions for a vote to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. These decisions included authorising the placing on the market of one GM soybean (4), and renewing three authorisations, one for GM maize (5) and two for GM cottons (6). The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion.’ The draft decisions were submitted to the Appeal Committee on 27 January 2026. The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission adopted these decisions on 10 March 2026 (7).

  • On 27 February 2026, the European Commission presented three draft decisions for a vote to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. The decisions included one authorisation decision for the placing on the market of a GM soybean (8) and two decisions revoking the authorisation for the placing on the market of two GM maize (9) due to commercial reasons notified by authorisation holder (19 January 2026). The vote taken during the meeting for the authorisation decision for the GM soybean resulted in ‘no opinion’. This draft decision was submitted to the Appeal Committee on 31 March 2026. The vote taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission will proceed with the next steps for regulatory approval. The two revoking decisions have been adopted on 27 March 2026 (10) following the favourable opinion of the Standing Committee.

AGENDA POINT 1: SURVEILLANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DSB

1.7 EUROPEAN UNION AND CERTAIN MEMBER STATES – CERTAIN MEASURES CONCERNING PALM OIL AND OIL PALM CROP-BASED BIOFUELS: STATUS REPORT BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (WT/DS600/12/Add.7)

  • Madam Chair, the European Union refers to the status report that it provided for this meeting.
  • In addition, the European Union is pleased to announce that, following the filing of the status report for this meeting, on 10 April 2026, amendments to the Delegated Regulation 2019/807 were adopted to ensure compliance in this dispute. 

AGENDA POINT 1: SURVEILLANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DSB

1.8 EUROPEAN UNION AND CERTAIN MEMBER STATES - CERTAIN MEASURES CONCERNING PALM OIL AND OIL PALM CROP-BASED BIOFUELS: STATUS REPORT BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (WT/DS593/19/Add.2)

  • Madam Chair, the European Union refers to the status report that it provided for this meeting.
  • In addition, the European Union is pleased to announce that, following the filing of the status report for this meeting, on 10 April 2026, amendments to the Delegated Regulation 2019/807 were adopted to ensure compliance in this dispute. 
  • With respect to recourse to Article 22.2 of the DSU by Indonesia in this dispute, the European Union reiterates its formal objection and refers to its statement at the special DSB meeting on 19 March 2026.

AGENDA POINT 3: APPELLATE BODY APPOINTMENTS

  • The European Union refers to its previous statements on this issue and thanks all Members that have co-sponsored the proposal to launch the appointment processes.

  • Since 11 December 2019, the WTO no longer guarantees access to a binding, two-tier, independent and impartial resolution of trade disputes. 

  • A fully functioning WTO dispute settlement system is crucial and a key priority. That is evidenced by the large number of Members co-sponsoring the present proposal relating to the appointment of members of the Appellate Body.

  • The EU remains committed to reforming the dispute settlement system so that it meets the interests of all Members and supports rules-based trade.

  • That said, despite the substantial work done by Members in dispute settlement reform discussions since MC12, it has now been more than six years that the system is not functioning fully.

  • Against this backdrop, the MPIA is ever more important, as it supports rules-based trade. 

  • In that respect, we refer to the ministerial statement issued by the MPIA participants in Yaoundé (WT/MIN(26)/30), highlighting the role of the MPIA in supporting the rules-based multilateral trading system, welcoming new Members and encouraging other WTO Members to join the MPIA. 

  • The MPIA preserves a fully functioning dispute settlement system among the willing Members. It now covers 61 WTO Members and 60% of world trade. 

  • Pending the establishment of a fully and well-functioning WTO dispute settlement system, we encourage other WTO Members to join the MPIA.

  • AGENDA POINT 4: ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON

  • EU would like to thank the outgoing Chair, Ambassador Kelly, for her work and wish her all the best in her new role.
  • We warmly welcome the new Chair, Ambassador Patriota, and wish him well in this important and challenging role. Given the current challenges facing the dispute settlement system, it is all the more important that the DSB continues to properly exercise its functions as envisaged by the DSU. 
  • We trust in the new Chair's commitment to ensuring that. And he can count on the full support of the European Union.

Re Ukraine/Russia

  • The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. 

  • It also reconfirms the European Union’s unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.

  • We underscore the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

  1. ([1]) KWS20-1.
  2. ([2]) NK 603.
  3. ([3]) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/457 of 27 February 2026 authorising the placing on the market of food, food ingredients and feed produced from genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/457, 3.3.2026) and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/485 of 27 February 2026 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize NK603 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/485, 3.3.2026).
  4. ([4]) DBN-09004-6.
  5. ([5]) T25.
  6. ([6]) GHB614 x LLCotton25 and T304-40.

  7. ([7]) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/517 of 10 March 2026 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean DBN-09004-6 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/517, 12.3.2026).

    Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/518 of 10 March 2026 renewing the authorisation for placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize T25 (ACS-ZMØØ3-2) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/518, 12.3.2026) 

    Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/521 of 10 March 2026 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB614 × LLCotton25 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/521, 12.3.2026).

    Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/522 of 10 March 2026 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton T304-40 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L, 2026/522, 12.3.2026).

  8. ([8]) MON 94637
  9. ([9]) MON 87403 and MON 87419

  10. ([10]) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/738 of 27 March 2026 revoking the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87403 and repealing Implementing Decision, OJ L, 2026/738, 31.3.2026.

    Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/739 of 27 March 2026 revoking the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87419 and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2134, OJ L, 2026/739, 31.3.2026.