Market Access Committee adopts decision on recording the resolution of trade concerns in World Economy News 20/03/2026 The WTO’s Committee on Market Access (CMA) agreed at its 16-17 March meeting on procedures to improve how the resolution of trade concerns are recorded in the Committee. Thirty-three trade concerns were raised at the two-day meeting, of which seven were raised for the first time. The Committee also endorsed a communication to the World Customs Organization asking to improve the tariff classification of menstrual products. Recording the resolution of trade concerns The CMA adopted a decision on recording the resolution of trade concerns. The Decision notes that WTO members currently use the CMA as a forum to discuss and seek resolution of trade concerns and that they wish to promote more constructive, solution-oriented discussions by systematically reflecting when and how trade concerns raised by members are resolved or otherwise concluded. Under the Decision, a new standing item entitled “Reports on Resolution of Trade Concerns” will be included on the agenda of future CMA meetings where members will be invited to report on previously raised trade concerns for which a resolution has been reached. The WTO Secretariat will maintain a record of all trade concerns raised in the CMA where members have indicated that the concerns have been “resolved” or “partially resolved”. Members expressed strong support for the proposed decision, noting that similar practices are already well established in other WTO bodies, like the Council for Trade in Goods and the Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures committees. They highlighted that adopting this approach would enhance coherence and reflect the value of the Committee’s technical work. The Secretariat will reflect the status of all trade concerns, listed within these categories, in the Trade Concerns Database. At a 27-28 November 2025 meeting of the Goods Council, members welcomed the first-ever WTO Secretariat report on the resolution of trade concerns raised in the Council showing nearly half of the concerns raised since 1995 have been reported as partially or fully resolved. Supporting trade in menstrual products The CMA approved a communication to the Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on supporting trade in menstrual products, asking it to create new categories for these products. The communication follows a 27 January thematic session on the issue where members shared information on how they have introduced national tariff lines or statistical codes under HS heading 96.19 to identify “traditional menstrual products” and how they have dealt with the domestic classification of “reusable menstrual products”. Members also considered how amendments to the HS could contribute to better supporting trade in menstrual products. The CMA’s thematic session underscored persistent access challenges to menstrual products in low- and middle-income countries, where an estimated 613 million women and girls in these countries rely on inappropriate materials. The session emphasized that trade and trade policy can play a role in facilitating access to safe, quality and affordable menstrual products, and that better trade data is important to understand gaps in access and demand. Ten members took the floor on this item, welcoming the recent thematic session and noting the broad participation from customs authorities, experts and stakeho