OECD
The OECD Trade Committee is coordinated by the Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET). It focuses on trade policy analysis, the development of guidelines, and dialogue and the exchange of experiences among members on issues related to global trade.
The Committee is supported by five subsidiary bodies: the Working Party of the Trade Committee; the Working Party on Export Credits and Credit Guarantees; the Joint Working Party on Trade and Agriculture; the Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment; and the broad-based Global Forum on Trade.
A central focus of the Committee’s work is trade policy analysis, in particular to support ongoing work within the WTO and other international fora such as the G7, G20 and APEC. Its analysis also provides an important basis for the European Commission’s work in the area of trade policy.
Key areas of work include:
- trade liberalisation;
- trade and domestic policies;
- trade and industrial subsidies, including the level playing field;
- trade in services;
- digital trade;
- access to raw materials;
- export credits;
- regional trade agreements and bilateral trade agreements (RTAs);
- non-tariff trade barriers;
- climate change, trade and gender.
Further areas of work include the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), the Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (DSTRI), and the MAGIC database on industrial subsidies.
In addition, BMWET is the lead ministry for the OECD Steel Committee, which brings together governments and industry representatives to discuss developments and challenges in the global steel sector and develop common approaches to addressing them. Its work focuses on monitoring steel markets, capacity and investment, as well as analysing subsidies and other market-distorting measures.
A key reference is the annual OECD Steel Outlook, which analyses developments and prospects in the global steel sector. The Committee promotes transparency and international co-operation and supports efforts to address global excess capacity and the transformation of the steel sector.
Additional Information
Contact
Trade and Investment Policy: handelspolitik@bmwet.gv.at