Geneva, September 8, 2026: The World Trade Organization has completed an advanced training programme aimed at helping developing and least-developed member economies improve the way they report agricultural policies and meet their notification responsibilities under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.

The four-day Advanced Workshop on Agriculture Notifications was held at the WTO from September 1 to 4, bringing together 29 government officials from developing and least-developed WTO members.

Focus on Agricultural Transparency

The workshop was designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of the transparency requirements that underpin the WTO’s agricultural trading framework.

Officials received training covering areas including domestic agricultural support, market access and other subjects connected with members’ obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture.

The WTO said the programme combined technical instruction with practical exercises, allowing participants to gain direct experience in preparing and submitting agricultural notifications.

Training on Notification Procedures

Agricultural notifications provide WTO members with information about policies and measures that can affect international agricultural trade.

During the workshop, participants learned more about how to classify domestic support measures and identify the information required when preparing submissions.

They also received guidance on the WTO’s Agriculture Information Management System, known as AG-IMS. The system enables members to access notification information and become familiar with the review procedures carried out by the WTO Committee on Agriculture.

Thousands of Notifications Already Submitted

The WTO said members have submitted more than 7,000 agriculture-related notifications since the Agreement on Agriculture came into force in 1995.

However, more than 2,000 notifications remain outstanding, highlighting the continuing challenge of maintaining complete and timely reporting across the membership.

Edwini Kessie, director of the WTO’s Agriculture and Commodities Division, emphasized the importance of transparency to the functioning of the multilateral trading system.

The workshop was intended not only to explain formal requirements but also to help government officials exchange practical experiences and identify ways to improve national notification systems.

Countries Share Their Experiences

The programme included presentations from officials from Colombia, Morocco and the Philippines, who discussed their experiences preparing agriculture notifications.

Their contributions gave participants an opportunity to examine how different governments address administrative and technical difficulties involved in compiling the required information.

A separate roundtable brought together representatives from Brazil, Indonesia, Lesotho, New Zealand and Türkiye, who discussed the work of the WTO Committee on Agriculture and the role of notifications in its review process.

Practical “Notification Clinic”

One of the workshop’s features was a dedicated notification clinic.

Participants were able to raise specific questions directly with WTO Secretariat specialists and seek guidance on individual issues involving notification preparation.

According to feedback highlighted by the WTO, participants found the practical training particularly useful for improving their understanding of notification requirements and the classification of domestic support programmes.

Why Agriculture Notifications Matter

The WTO Agreement on Agriculture provides the framework for addressing areas such as agricultural market access, domestic support and export competition.

The WTO Agriculture Committee monitors implementation of the agreement and provides a forum where members can examine agricultural policies and raise questions about other members’ measures.

Accurate and timely notifications therefore help members understand agricultural policies across the trading system and provide information needed for discussions within the committee.

Supporting Developing and Least-Developed Economies

The workshop is part of the WTO’s broader technical assistance efforts for developing and least-developed members.

For governments with limited administrative resources, preparing complex trade notifications can require specialized knowledge and coordination between multiple agencies.

Strengthening that capacity can help countries meet their WTO obligations while also improving the quality of information available for international agricultural trade discussions.

Continuing Effort on Trade Transparency

The completion of the September workshop does not end the WTO’s work on agricultural notifications.

With thousands of notifications already submitted but more than 2,000 still outstanding, improving reporting capacity remains an ongoing task for the organization and its members.

The latest training programme demonstrates the WTO’s continued emphasis on transparency, technical cooperation and stronger participation by developing and least-developed economies in the global agricultural trading system.