Hannah Monicken

2 weeks ago | insidetrade.com | Hannah Monicken

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is pushing members to tackle major reforms head-on rather than continue to let them “fester” despite concerns from some members that a revised roadmap for the 14th ministerial conference, prepared by the director-general, should not venture into “contentious” issues.

2 weeks ago | insidetrade.com | Hannah Monicken

The Trump administration’s slew of new tariffs was the focus at the World Trade Organization this week as both the European Union and China lamented the “turmoil” stemming from the duties while the U.S. turned the criticism back on the WTO for failing to address “imbalances” and a lack of reciprocity. During a General Council meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, “much of the discussion reflected the current concerns of the trading environment,” WTO spokesperson Ismaila Dieng told reporters on the...

2 weeks ago | insidetrade.com | Hannah Monicken

The U.S. on Tuesday raised several concerns with the budget practices of the World Trade Organization, citing how some information is presented to members and lamenting a lack of transparency in costs related to Secretariat activities – while suggesting the organization should “review” its contribution methodology.

2 weeks ago | insidetrade.com | Hannah Monicken

The president is not considering exemptions to his “reciprocal” tariffs despite suggestions from other administration officials that he is, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has told the Senate Finance Committee. In answers to questions for the record posed by Finance members following his April 8 hearing, Greer said the only products exempted are those that are or could be subject to remedies under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

3 weeks ago | insidetrade.com | Hannah Monicken

In addition to raising costs and creating economic uncertainty, the Trump administration’s tariffs – particularly the so-called “reciprocal” duties announced and paused last month – are undermining U.S. national security interests by weakening relationships with allies and potentially violating treaty terms in pursuit of unclear goals, three senior Democrats argued this week.