On 08 May 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) committee on Import Licensing marked the 30th anniversary of the ‘Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures’. The committee also reviewed 12 specific trade concerns raised by members, a record number for a committee meeting.
To mark the anniversary, the WTO Secretariat made a presentation on the history of import licensing in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO, as well as the committee’s role in overseeing the implementation of the ‘Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures’. Several former chairpersons also shared their reflections and experiences from their time in office in video remarks presented to the meeting.
Import licensing refers to administrative procedures requiring the submission of an application or other documentation to relevant authorities as a prior condition for importing goods into a country. These procedures can be either automatic or non-automatic.
The agreement aims to ensure that import licensing systems are transparent and predictable and do not create unnecessary trade barriers. Members must publish all rules and information concerning import licensing procedures to enable traders to understand them and ensure that these remain neutral and no more administratively burdensome than necessary.
In its presentation, the Secretariat noted that, over the past 30 years, WTO members had submitted nearly 2 500 notifications related to import licensing measures. The committee held 60 formal meetings, during which more than 350 questions and replies were exchanged, and 176 new and recurring trade concerns were raised.
The committee has also worked to enhance transparency and compliance, including by clarifying notification requirements and developing improved notification templates for import licensing legislation. It has also overseen the creation of a public website and database on licensing procedures notified by members, as well as an online Notification Portal and Database for all notification requirements under the agreement.
Notifications
The chair of the committee informed members that since the last committee meeting in November 2024, a total of 38 notifications had been received under various provisions of the agreement. The chair emphasised that members had to provide notification of their import licensing regulations and changes to these regulations within 60 days of publication.
In addition, 19 notifications were submitted under Article 7.3 of the agreement (which mandates members to complete the annual questionnaire on import licensing procedures promptly and in full) since the last committee meeting, the chair said.
The chair noted that 21 WTO members had yet to submit a single reply to the annual questionnaire since joining the WTO, and 13 members had never submitted any notification under the agreement. While these figures have seen only marginal changes in recent years, she encouraged members to consider engaging with their notification obligations and to seek support from the Secretariat where needed.