JOB/CTG/21, JOB/TBT/498  
JOB/SPS/25, JOB/MA/158  
JOB/AG/238, JOB/TF/232  
24 February  2023 
(23-1307) Page: 1/5 
Council for Trade in Goods  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
Committee on Market Access  
Committee on Agriculture  
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
FUNCTIONING OF THE CTG AND ITS SUBSIDIARY BODIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA, ECUADOR  AND PARAGUAY  
The following communication, dated 22 February  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Argentina, Ecuador  and Paraguay . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  At the formal meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) of 24 -25 November  2022, 
Members requested the Secretariat to prepar e a document to assist them in comparing the 
information that had been provided by the Chairpersons of the CTG's subsidiary bodies in the reports 
concerning the current functioning of their Committees.  
1.2.  At the informal meeting of the CTG on 3 1 January  2023, the Secretariat presented document 
G/C/W/824 containing a comparison matrix based on the reports submitted by the 14 subsidiary 
bodies and the CTG  on their functioning . 
1.3.  This document, circulated under multiple symbols to the CTG and some of its subsidiary bodies, 
proposes a joint work plan suggesting some elements that could be applied horizontally  without 
affecting the functioning and particularities of each subsidiary b ody, and, at the same time, identifies 
other possible actions that could be analysed within the framework of each subsidiary body before 
reporting to the CTG on the feasibility of adopting common good practices.  
1.4.  The practices identified could then be adopt ed, where appropriate,  by the CTG and all its 
subsidiary bodies.  
2  CHALLENGES FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CTG AND ITS SUBSIDIARY BODIES  
2.1.  The increasing number of formal and informal meetings within the CTG, together with the 
amount of information they generate on a wide variety of topics, represents a challenge for all 
delegations, but in particular for small delegations with limited  human resources.  
2.2.  These challenges hinder the work of delegations , thus hampering progress on issues in what is 
a consensus -based organization . The main challenges identified include the following:  
• Difficulty in preparing and actively participating in meetings, a s well as in ensuring  
adequate follow -up; 
• Lack of detailed knowledge of the regular work of each Committee;  
• Disparity regarding  document  format and content, deadlines and operational processes;  JOB/CTG/21 • JOB/TBT/498 • JOB/SPS/25 • JOB/MA/158 • JOB/AG/238 • JOB/TF/232  
- 2 - 
  • Disparity in the use of digital tools and dispersed databases;  
• Difficulty in identifying counterparts, accessing statements  and following up on trade 
concerns and other relevant WTO documents.  
In order to address the se challenges, the following areas of action are proposed for consideration:  
3  PLANNING MEETINGS  
3.1.  The increasing number of meetings within the framework of the CTG and its subsidiary bodies 
makes it difficult for small delegations to properly follow and actively participate in them.  
a. Annual planning facilitates the scheduling , preparation and appropriat e sequencing of 
meetings.  
b. Possibility of setting up an automatic alert mechanism linked to the calendar of meetings 
and other deadlines (notifications, agenda closure, etc.).  
4  ASSISTANCE TO DELEGATES  
4.1.  Assistance to Geneva - and capital -based delegates attendi ng meetings, in particular with 
regard to operational matters concerning the regular work of the Committees, is of great importance . 
It is therefore proposed that consideration be given to the good practices of some Committees and 
to adapting them so that they are accessible to both Geneva - and capital -based delegates.  
a. The CTG and its subsidiary bodies could request the Secretariat to develop a written 
manual on how they function, similar to that currently used by the SPS Committee*, 
covering their regular activities, commitments and notification processes, and the digital 
tools at their disposal.  
b. In addition, each Committee could organize, prior to the first formal meeting of each 
year, an introductory session in hybrid format for interested Geneva - and capital -based 
delegates.  
5  FORMAL MEETINGS  
5.1.  Documents – The comparative matrix prepared by the Secretariat shows a wide disparity in 
the use of documents, their content and the deadlines for their submission . This is understandable 
given the fact that th e work of each Committee evolves independently . It is, however, desirable to 
align these disparate practices.  
a. With the Secretariat's assistance, the CTG could develop a general style manual based 
on the documents currently prepared by its subsidiary bodies . 
b. This manual should include good practices already implemented by some Committees, 
such as the use of annotated agendas with indications of the topics to be discussed or 
the circulation of communications shortly after meetings setting out established time 
frames, the topics  agreed , etc. 
c. Once finalized, the manual should be reviewed by the CTG and its subsidiary bodies in 
order to identify possible adjustments to current practices.  
5.2.  Minutes/reports - As with other documents, there are certain stylistic disparities that could be 
aligned to make the drafting process more efficient, thus reducing the time it takes to prepare such 
texts.  
 
* G/C/W/824 – (footnote 3)  JOB/CTG/21 • JOB/TBT/498 • JOB/SPS/25 • JOB/MA/158 • JOB/AG/238 • JOB/TF/232  
- 3 - 
  a. The subsidiary bodies could conduct an analysis of possible improvem ents with a view 
to streamlin ing the process.  
6  INFORMAL MEETINGS  
6.1.  Informal meetings should, wherever possible, except for minutes/reports, use the same 
documents and timelines as formal meetings.  
6.2.  With regard to the reports of these informal meetings, Chair persons  - with the Secretariat's 
assistance - should ensure that the written report is submitted sufficiently in advance of the formal 
meeting to allow for appropriate feedback from Members.  
7  THEMATIC SESSIONS  
7.1.  Depending on the particularities of each body, th ematic sessions can be very useful for 
examining in greater detail certain topics relevant to the work of the Committees and the disciplines 
covered by the Agreements.  
a. Encourage the subsidiary bodies to hold such sessions within the framework of their 
formal meetings, where deemed appropriate  by Members . 
8  DIGITAL TOOLS  
8.1.  E-Registration - The E -Registration tool is extremely useful for identifying Geneva -based 
delegates and the issues they are responsible for, and should be progressively used by the CTG and  
its subsidiary bodies to identify email recipients . The system nevertheless requires some minor 
modifications to adapt its use to capital -based delegates.  
a. Consider extending the option of select ing Committees to capital -based delegates.  
b. Consider including  an option for receiving emails from the CTG and its subsidiary bodies . 
This would allow Committee secretariats to have an automatic list of authorized and 
updated email addresses, both for capitals and Geneva, under the responsibility of the 
coordinators of each Member country delegation.  
c. If these actions are feasible in the system, a gradual transition from independent mailing 
lists could be suggested.  
8.2.  The eAgenda tool and other similar platforms - Tools such as eAgenda and Ag -IMS are very 
useful for dele gations as they make it possible to prepare more effectively for meetings and to obtain 
a more or less accurate transcript of Members' statements, especially, but not exclusively, with 
regard to specific trade concerns . It has also been shown that Committe es using such tools require 
on average relatively less time for the preparation of minutes.  
a. Suggest to all subsidiary bodies not currently us ing these tools that they analyse the 
feasibility of implementing them, in accordance with the nature of their work.  
b. The use of eAgenda does not replace the minutes/reports of the Committees, but would 
facilitate , inter alia , the preparation of meetings and delegates' informal consultations, 
as well as the work of the Secretariat.  
8.3.  Online submission of notifications - This option facilitates the submission of notifications and 
improves their consistency.  
a. Suggest to all subsidiary bodies without  online notificat ion systems that they analyse 
the feasibility of using this type of tool.  JOB/CTG/21 • JOB/TBT/498 • JOB/SPS/25 • JOB/MA/158 • JOB/AG/238 • JOB/TF/232  
- 4 - 
  8.4.  WTO Trade Concerns Database - The trade concerns of three Committees are currently included 
in the Database.  
a. Suggest to the CTG  and its subsidiary bodies that analyse trade concerns to study the 
feasibility of including them in the database.  
b. Consider, together with the Secretariat, mechanisms to link related trade concerns 
raised in the CTG and its subsidiary bodies with a view to  facilitating their follow -up. 
_______________  JOB/CTG/21 • JOB/TBT/498 • JOB/SPS/25 • JOB/MA/158 • JOB/AG/238 • JOB/TF/232  
- 5 - 
  CHALLENGES  AREAS OF ACTION  SUGGESTIONS  
Preparation, participation and 
proper follow -up in respect of 
meetings  Planning meetings  Annual planning (3.1. a) 
Automatic alert mechanism  (3.1.b) 
Lack of detailed knowledge of the 
regular work of the CTG and its 
subsidiary bodies  Assistance to delegates  Written manual on functioning  (4.1.a) 
Introductory sessions (4.1. b) 
Disparity in the formats and 
content of documents, deadlines 
and operational processes.  Formal meetings  Style manual (5.1)  
Minutes/reports - possible 
improvements (5.2)  
Informal meetings  Alignment with formal meetings  (6.1) 
Circulation of written report 
sufficiently in advance (6.2)  
Thematic sessions  Encourage their use within the 
framework of formal meetings (7.1)  
Identifying counterparts, 
accessing statements  and 
following up on trade concerns 
and other relevant WTO 
documents.  Digital tools  E-Registration : review, adjustments 
and widespread use (8.1 ) 
eAgenda and similar : analysis of 
possible implementation (8.2)  
Online notifications : analysis of 
possible implementation (8.3)  
STCs: analysis of possible inclusion 
and linkage in the database (8.4)  
__________