On February 26 and 28, 2025, the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body meeting was held at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, the results of the Second Review of Ukraine’s Trade Policy and Practices were presented on the basis of prepared reports by the WTO Secretariat and the Government of Ukraine.

 

The delegation of Ukraine, headed by Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine and Trade Representative of Ukraine, took part in the meeting.

 

Preparations for the Review lasted more than a year. Ukraine cooperated with government agencies, structural units of the Ministry of Economy and the WTO Secretariat. In December, the WTO Members received the reports of the Secretariat and the Government of Ukraine for analysis.

 

“We have received over 400 written questions from 20 WTO members, mainly on trade and investment regimes. This confirms a significant interest in deepening economic cooperation with Ukraine, despite the war. We are particularly appreciative of the feedback on the resilience of the economy, the critical role of agricultural exports in global food security, and the development of high value-added industries. WTO members also highly commended progress in protecting intellectual property and fulfilling transparency commitments”, – shared Taras Kachka.

 

Photo of Taras Kachka

 

He emphasized that a successful Trade Policy Review would help strengthen Ukraine’s trade relations with its partners. The WTO Members and the Secretariat stressed the resilience of Ukraine’s economy and its people.

 

One of the chapters of the WTO Secretariat’s report and the report of the Government of Ukraine was devoted to intellectual property law. In particular, the document stated that Ukraine also conducted a reform of its IP regime to align it with that of the European Union and international standards. As a result, Ukraine amended or replaced key IP laws and introduced institutional reforms, including the creation of a National IP Authority and development on the High IP Court.

 

In particular, the following IP issues attracted the most attention from WTO Members during the Second Trade Policy Review of Ukraine:

 

• progress towards developing a National IP Strategy;

 

• operationalization of the High Court on Intellectual Property;

 

• plans to accede to the European Patent Convention;

 

• parallel importation of medicinal products;

 

• planned mechanism for compulsory licensing of medicines;

 

• domestic market surveillance and investigatory powers;

 

• procedures for detention and destruction of IP-infringing imports;

 

• statistics on IP enforcement.

 

• methodology for the protection of geographical indications;

 

• uptake and effectiveness of IP training programmes and Technology and Innovation Support Centres;

 

• mechanism for sui generis rights protection of non-original works generated by artificial intelligence;

 

• accreditation of collective management organizations.

 

‘’Significant attention of the international community to the second WTO Trade Policy Review of Ukraine demonstrates the global interest in the economic development and resilience of our country. Despite the challenges, Ukraine continues to reform its trade policy, promoting its alignment with the EU and WTO standards, in particular in the field of intellectual property. The intensive dialogue with partners will not only strengthen our integration into the global economic processes, but will also contribute to the preparation for the post-war recovery based on the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and sustainable development,’ commented Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations.

 

Background:

 

Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. All WTO members are subject to review, with the frequency of review depending on the country’s size.

 

Photo: WTO page in the social network X

 

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