RESTRICTED  
  
WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/15  
 
26 November  2021 
(21-8927) Page:  1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Fifteenth Dedicated Session on the Monitoring 
Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment    
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING  OF 10 NOVEMBER  2021 
Chairman: H.E. Dr Muhammad  Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
B. MONITORING  OF SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL PROVISIONS  ................................ . 1 
- Statement by the Chairman  ................................ ................................ ........................  1 
C. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The draft agenda as contained in Airgram  WTO/AIR/COMTD/MMSDT/1 3 of 13 October  2021 
was adopted . 
B. MONITORING  OF SPECIAL AND D IFFERENTIAL PROVISIONS  
- Statement by the Chairman  
2. The Chairman  said that, a t the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) held in Bali in  
December 2013, Ministers  decided to establish the Monitoring Mechanism ( MM) on Special and 
Differential Treatment ( S&D). Th e Decision  establishing the MM was  contained in 
document  WT/MIN(13)/45 – WT/L/920.  According to the Decision, the MM was to act as a focal point 
within the WT O to analyse and review the implementation of S&D provisions. The Mechanism was 
to review all aspects of implementation of S&D provisions with a view to facilitating the integration 
of developing and least developed Members into the multilateral trading sy stem (MTS). The 
Mechanism operated in Dedicated Sessions of the Committee on Trade and Development ( CTD). The 
present meeting was the 1 5th Dedicated Session on the MM, and it appeared that the situation 
remained unchanged from the last meeting, which was h eld in June 2021. For one thing, the 
monitoring of special and differential provisions in the Mechanism was to be undertaken on the basis 
of written inputs or submissions made by Members, as well as on the basis of reports from other 
WTO bodies to which su bmissions by Members could also be made. However, as Members were well 
aware, no written submissions had yet been made in the MM. Furthermore, paragraph 12 of the 
Decision establishing the MM stated that "The Mechanism shall be reviewed three years after its first 
formal meeting, and thereafter as necessary, taking into account its functioning and evolving 
circumstances". This review had still not taken place. As had been  previously  highlighted, delegations 
had expressed different perspectives on the  question of the review . He wished to take this 
opportunity to urge Members to come to a common understanding on how to move forward with the 
MM. He also indicated that he would  be continuing to work with Members in informal settings in 
order to explore wh at could be done to make the MM operational.  
3. The representative of the United States  said that the MM  was established as a focal point 
within the WTO to analyse and review the implementation of S&D provisions in order to drive more 
productive and specific conversations  on their operation and possible shortfalls.  Her delegation  
continue d to believe that the sort of analytical, fact -based approach envisioned and provided for in 
the Decision establishing the Mechanism held promise and could help drive more productive and 
specific conversations  on the implementation of existing S&D  provisions, including the successes 
and challenges in utilizing them . WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/15  
 
- 2 - 
 
  4. The Chairman  said that he wished to once again urge Members to come to a common 
understanding on how to move forward with the MM.  As he would be reporting at 
the 116th Regular  Session  of the CTD  which would be held later in the day, he would be continuing 
his informal consu ltations with Members on various CTD issues.  
5. The Committee took note  of all interventions.  
C. OTHER  BUSINESS  
6. No matter was raised under "Other Business".  
7. The meeting was adjourned . 
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