PRINT

EU Statements at the Dispute Settlement Body meeting, 24 October 2025

24.10.2025
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.239)

  • 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.202)

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

  • On 4 July 2025, the Commission adopted the Decision authorising the placing on the market of GM soybean ([1]) for food and feed uses.

  • On 15 July 2025, the Commission presented for a vote to the Appeal Committee one decision authorising the placing on the market of GM maize DP51291. The vote taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission decision was adopted on 22 September ([2]).

  • On 15 September 2025, the Commission presented five draft decisions for a vote to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (Section on Genetically Modified Food and Feed and Environmental Risk). These decisions included authorising the placing on the market of one GM maize, DAS1131, and renewing four authorisations for GM cotton MON 88913, GM oilseed rape MON 88302, GM soybean MON 87708, and GM maize MON 87427. The votes taken during the meeting resulted in ‘no opinion.’ The draft decisions were submitted to the Appeal Committee on 21 October for a vote and the vote resulted in ‘no opinion’. The Commission will now decide on these authorisations. 

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

1.7         EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 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.2)

  • The EU reiterates the statement made at the last DSB meeting. The EU submitted its first Status Report on the implementation of the DSB recommendations and rulings in this dispute six months following the date of establishment of the reasonable period of time, in line with Article 21.6 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
  • The EU has subsequently submitted its second and third Status Report, in due time.
  • As reported, the EU has been working and continues to work on securing the timely implementation within the agreed timeframe. In so doing, the EU is following the internal procedures in place. The EU looks forward to reporting additional progress to the DSB in due course.

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 5 years that the system is not functioning fully.

  • Against this backdrop, the MPIA is ever more important as a stop-gap solution to preserve a fully functioning dispute settlement system among the willing Members.

  • We welcome the recent decision of Viet Nam to join the MPIA. The MPIA now covers 58 WTO Members and close to 60% of world trade.

  • While we continue to hope to find a long-lasting solution, we invite other Members to join the MPIA in the interim, to strengthen the multilateral rules-based trading order.

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])          GM soybean MON 87705 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 

([2])          OJ L, 2025/1898, 23.9.2025.