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EU Statements at the Regular Dispute Settlement Meeting, 23 June 2026

24.06.2026
Geneva
EU mission to the WTO in Geneva - Press and information team

Statements delivered by Mr Davide Grespan, Minister-Counsellor and Mr Victor García-Lopez-Berges, Attaché

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.246)

  • 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.209)

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

  • On 2 June 2026, the European Commission adopted a decision authorisating the placing on the market of GM soybean MON 94637.

  • On 2 June 2026, the European Commission presented four draft decisions for a vote to the Appeal Committee. The decisions included one authorisation decision for the placing on the market of a GM maize and its sub-combination (([1]) DP202216 x NK603 x DAS-40278-9 and its sub-combinations DP202216 x NK603, DP202216 x DAS-40278-9), two decisions renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of a GM soybean (([2]) MON 87705) and a GM maize (([3]) NK603 x T25). The vote taken during the meeting for the authorisation and renewal decisions resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission will proceed with the next steps for regulatory approval.

  • On 4 June 2026, the European Commission presented three 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 two GM soybeans (([4]) GM soybeans MON 94313 and GMB151 x DAS-44406- 6.) and renewing one authorisation for GM maize (([5]) GM maize MON 87460). The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion.’ The draft decisions will be referred to the Appeal Committee

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 this proposal.

  • 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 to support rule-based international trade and a key priority. The present agenda item as well the large number of Members co-sponsoring the present proposal remind us of that every month.   

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

  • 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. That work should resume when the conditions are ripe.

  • Against this backdrop, the MPIA is ever more important. 

  • 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. 

  • Today, we wish to reiterate that call and we encourage other WTO Members to join the MPIA, pending the establishment of a fully and well-functioning WTO dispute settlement system.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

  • In dispute DS593, countermeasures were requested by Indonesia and Article 22.6 sanctions arbitration had been initiated. In parallel, discussions were on-going with a view to reaching a sequencing agreement. We are now pleased to announce that in DS593, Indonesia and the European Union have notified to the DSB a sequencing agreement on 15 June. 

  • This agreement ensures the proper sequence of procedural steps under the DSU, while preserving Indonesia’s rights under Article 22 of the DSU. It also provides for the possibility of resorting to appeal arbitration in case of any compliance proceedings. 

  • In accordance with the sequencing agreement, the Article 22.6 sanctions arbitration will have to be suspended.
  • The EU will keep the DSB informed of further developments in due course and is happy to engage with Malaysia bilaterally.