WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/W/108
12 November 2002
(02-6218)
Committee on Trade and Development
REPORT (2002) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT,
COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT IN DEDICATED SESSION,
AND THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES1
Chairman:  Ambassador Toufiq Ali (Bangladesh)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. This report covers the activities of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in
regular session, its Dedicated Sessions to the issue of small economies and its Sub-Committee on
Least-Developed Countries (SCLDC ) for the period 9 October 2001, fo llowing the Doha Ministerial
Conference, to [18] November 2002.2
2. The CTD held eight formal sessions during the reporting period: 26 November 2001,
22 January 2002, 14 February 2002, 6 March 2002, 25 April 2002, 1 July 2002, 8 and 9 October 2002
and 11 and 18 November 2002.  The Minutes of these meetings are contained in documents
WT/COMTD/M/36, WT/COMTD/M/37, WT/COMTD/M/38, WT/COMTD/M/39 andWT/COMTD/M/40, WT/COMTD/M/41, WT/COMTD/M/42, WT/COMTD/M/43.
3  Four informal
meetings were held on 29 November 2001, 11 December 2001, 21 June 2002, and
10 September 2002.
3. The 36th, 37th and 38th Sessions were chaired by Ambassador Nathan Irumba (Uganda).  At
the 39th  Session, Ambassador Toufiq Ali (Bangladesh) was elected Chairperson of the CTD, and
chaired the subsequent sessions of the Committee.
4. One seminar was held under the auspices of the CTD on the subject of "Revenue Implications
of E-commerce" on 22 April 2002.  The Chairman of the seminar, Ambassador Whalen (Ireland)
reported both orally and in writing on the seminar to the succeeding meeting of the CTD.  Her reports
are annexed to the minutes of that meeting (WT/COMTD/40).
5. Following paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration4 the General Council, at its
meeting on 1 March, took note of the framework and procedures for the conduct of the workprogramme on small economies contained in document WT/L/447.  Paragraph 2(d) of that document
states that "The General Council shall instruct the CTD to have a programme of work on small
economies which will be conducted in dedicated sessions of the CTD."  The CTD was also instructed
to report regularly to the General Council on the progress of that work.
5  The Dedicated Session of the
CTD to Small Economies has held three formal meetings in the reporting period: 25 April 2002,
                                                     
1 The Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development dealing with the issue of special
and differential treatment has its own reporting requirements.
2The last annual report of the Committee is contained in document WT/COMTD/33 and Corr.1 of
10 October 2001.
3 WT/COMTD/M/43 to be issued.
4 WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1
5 WT/L/447WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 2
1 July 2002 and 4 November 2002.  The Minutes of these meetings are contained in
documents WT/COMTD/SE/M/1, WT/COMTD/SE/M/2 and WT/COMTD/SE/M/36 respectively.
One informal session was held on 10 September 2002.  Ambassador Toufiq Ali of Bangladesh chaired
all sessions.  The 1st and 3rd Dedicated Sessions of the CTD were scheduled to coincide with Geneva
Week to enable the participation of non-resident Members in the meetings.
6. During the period, the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries held five formal
meetings, on 15 October 2001, 25 January - 12 February 2002, 24 May 2002, 16 July 2002 and
7 November 2002.  The Minutes of these meetings are contained in WT/COMTD/LDC/M/26,
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/27, WT/COMTD/LDC /M/28, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/29 and
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/30.7  Five informal sessions of the Sub-Committee were held on
21 January 2002, 11 February 2002, 12 February 2002, 19 September 2002 and 7 November 2002.
The Sub-Committee adopted the WTO Work Progra mme for the LDCs (WT/ COMTD/LDC/11), at its
resumed 27th session on 12 February 2002.  As mandated in paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministerial
Declaration, the Work Programme adopted was reported to the General Council, at its first meeting
in 2002, on 13 February 2002.8  Ambassador Simon Fuller (United Kingdom) chaired the 26th and
27th sessions of the Sub-Committee.  At the 40th Session of the CTD on 25 April 2002,
Ambassador Johan Molander (Sweden) was elected Chairman of the SCLDC, and he chaired theSub-Committee as of that date.
7. A Seminar on Accessions was held back-to-back with the 29
th Session of the Sub-Committee.
Participants of the "Geneva Week" for Non-Resident Members and Observers participated at the 30th
Session of the Sub-Committee.
8. The CTD received a request for observer status from the Common Fund for Commodities.
This request was on the agenda for the first time at the 36th Session.  Requests for observer status had
earlier been received from the League of Arab  States, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, and the "'Organisation
internationale de la francophonie".  Decisions on these requests are still pending.  Members continued
to agree to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an ad hoc meeting-by-meetingbasis.  These were the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), the Inter-Arab Investment
Guarantee Corporation, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Organisation of African Unity
(OAU), the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the South Centre, the South Pacific Forum,
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the West African Economic and Monetary
Union (WAEMU), and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).  A full list of
intergovernmental organizations with observer status in the Committee is contained in documentWT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.5.
II. WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
9. The principal themes addressed by the Committee during the period covered in this report
were the following:
A. Technical cooperation and training;
B. Special and differential treatment in favour of developing countries;
C. Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO;
                                                     
6 WT/COMTD/SE/M/3 to be issued.
7 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/30 to be issued.
8 Minutes of the General Council Meeting of 13 February are contained in WT/GC/M/73.WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 3
D. Development dimension of electronic commerce;
E. Notifications regarding market access for developing and least-developed countries;
F. Notifications regarding regional trade agreements among developing countries;
G. International Conference on Financing for Development;
H. Participation of developing countries in world trade;I. Consideration of Article XVIII as mandated by paragraph 12 of the Doha Ministerial
Declaration (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1), the Decision on Implementation-Related Issues
and Concerns (WT/MIN(01)/17), and in conjunction with tiret 3 of
Job(01)/152/Rev.1 of 27 October 2001;
J. Paragraph 51 of the Doha Declaration on identifying and debating developmental and
environmental aspects of the negotiations, in order to help achieve the objective of
having sustainable development appropriately reflected;
K. Work Programme of the CTD.
A. T
ECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING
10. The Committee discussed the issue of technical assistance and training at almost every
meeting.  At its 37th Session, a draft Coordinated WTO Secretariat Annual Technical Assistance
Plan 2002 was presented to Members, contained in document WT/COMTD/W/95.  Following
extensive discussions and comments by Members a revision was presented at the 38th Session
(WT/COMTD/W/95/Rev.1).  A second revision was before the 39th Session
(WT/COMTD/W/95/Rev.2).  At the 39th Session the Committee agreed that the Secretariat proceed
with the implementation of the Plan as it was presented in the second revision, while the Committeekept it under review.  Members regularly received updates from the Secretariat with respect to the
implementation of the 2002 Technical Assistance Plan, including the results of the Pledging
Conference held on 11 March 2002.  At the 40
th and 41st Sessions the Secretariat invited Members and
Observers to submit their technical assistance requests for 2003 to the Technical Cooperation Division
before the end of July 2002.  The requests received would be processed on the basis of consultationswith the requesting countries.  The draft 2003 Technical Assistance Plan was submitted to the CTD at
the 42
nd Session (WT/COMTD/W/104 and WT/COMTD /W/104/Add.1) and a revised version was
before the 43rd Session.  [The Committee … the WTO 2003 Technical Assistance Plan contained in
document … at its 43rd Session.]
11. The Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration made statements at
the 40th and 41st Sessions in relation to pledges announced and payments received to finance the
implementation of the Coordinated WTO Secretariat Annual Technical Assistance Plan.
12. At the 37th Session the Committee also had before it document WT/COMTD/W/89/Rev.1
containing future activities of the Training Ins titute.  Members had already been informed at the
meeting of the Committee in October 2001 of the ac tivities the Training Institute envisaged for the
year 2002.  The work programme of the Training Institute had been revised in order to take into
account the decisions adopted at the Doha Ministerial Conference and the decisions taken inconnection with the adoption of the 2002 budget.  Document WT/COMTD/W/89/Rev.1
complemented and specified the information provided to delegations in 2001.  The activities of the
Training Institute complemented those contained in the 2002 Technical Assistance Plan.  That was
also the reason why the documents were examined in parallel. Members had, in the course of the
discussion of the WTO budget, approved a doubling of  the three-month Trade Policy Courses.  At the
40
th Session, the Committee received the report on the 2001 activities of the Training Institute,
contained in document WT/COMTD/W/96.  That report indicated that the Training Institute had
undergone significant changes and carried out numerous activities in 2001.  At the 41st Session the
Committee was updated about an advanced training course for government officials on the WTO
trade negotiations (CRP/1).  A summary table on the status of training activities and number ofbeneficiaries by region was also before the 41
st Session (CRP/2).WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 4
13. During the period under review the Committee received its first report from the Technical
Cooperation Audit.  The report for the activities carried out in 2001 was contained in
document WT/COMTD/W/97 which was before the Committee's 40th Session.
B. SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN FAVOUR OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
14. The issue of special and differential treatment (S&D) was given an emphasis in the Doha
Ministerial Declaration, to which the CTD had to respond.  As reflected in paragraph 44 of the
Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(01)DEC/1), Minist ers had agreed that all S&D provisions should
be reviewed with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and
operational.  In that connection, they had endorsed the work programme contained in Paragraph 12 of
the Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns (WT/MIN(01)/17), also adopted at
Doha Ministerial Conference.  The issue of S&D was dealt with in the regular sessions of the CTD
during the first part of the period under review.  Following informal consultations, the Committeeagreed on 14 December 2001, on a no-objection basis, to a process for the work on S&D
(WT/COMTD/36).  The process was intended to allow the CTD to arrive at recommendations for a
decision by the General Council by July 2002.  The Secretariat was asked to produce a number of
documents relating to mandatory and non-mandatory special and differential treatment
provisions (WT/COMTD/W/77/Rev.1/Add.1), a review of mandatory special and differentialtreatment provisions (WT/COMTD/W/77/Rev.1/Add.2), non-mandatory S&D provisions
(WT/COMTD/W/77/Rev.1/Add.3), information on the utilisation of S&D provisions
(WT/COMTD/W/77/Rev.1/Add.4).  The Special Session of the CTD was created in March 2002 to
carry forward the work on special and differential treatment.
C. R
EPORT OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
UNCTAD/WTO
15. The Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (JAG) held its
35th Session on 15 - 19 April 2002.  The report on that meeting was contained in
document ITC/AG/(XXXV)/191 of 6 May 2002.  The Chairman of the JAG, Ambassador Girard of
Switzerland,  presented the report to the 41st Session of the Committee.  The issue of translation of the
JAG report into Arabic and Chinese was raised and the Committee asked the ITC Secretariat to
provide additional information in writing.  The ITC Secretariat subsequently provided Members with
information regarding the issue of languages in document WT/COMTD/40.  The Committee took
note of the report and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption while agreeing that the
Committee would report on the discussion that had been held in the Committee once the issue was
before the General Council.
D. DEVELOPMENT DIMENSION OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
16. The CTD is one of the four subsidiary bodies to the General Council mandated to work on the
issue of electronic commerce (e-commerce).  At the 36th Session, the CTD approved the Work
Programme on Electronic Commerce contained in document WT/COMTD/35.  At that meeting it also
listened to two presentations.  One was a presentation of a country experience made by the delegation
of Panama and the other was a presentation of the UNCTAD E-commerce and DevelopmentReport 2001.  The presentation of country experiences continued at the 38
th Session with a
presentation by the delegation of Costa Rica.
17. A seminar on "Revenue Implications of E-commerce" was held under the auspices of the
CTD on 22 April 2002.  The Chairman of the seminar, Ambassador Whalen (Ireland) reported both
orally and in writing on the seminar to the subsequent meeting of the CTD.  Her reports as well as theprogramme are annexed to the minutes of the 40
th Session (WT/COMTD/M/40).WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 5
E. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING MARKET ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES
18. The Committee continued to examine a note by the Secretariat entitled "The Generalised
System of Preferences:  A preliminary analysis of the GSP schemes in the Quad" contained in
document WT/COMTD/W/93 at its 36th Session.  That study had been prepared in response to
requests from delegations for further information on the benefits of the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP).
19. The delegations of Japan and Switzerland notified changes to their GSP schemes to the
41st Session.  The main point of the notification by the Government of Japan, contained in
document WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.11, was that Senegal had been added to the list of LDC beneficiaries
as it had been designated an LDC in April 2001 by the United Nations General Assembly.  It also
related to the allocation of ceiling quotas for industrial products.  The notification by the Governmentof Switzerland, contained in document WT/COMTD /N/7/Add.1 related to a gradual improvement of
access to the Swiss market for LDCs as from 1 January 2002.  As some requests for additional
information were made with respect to these two notifications, they remained on the Agenda of the
42
nd Session of the Committee.  The Committee took note of the notifications and forwarded their
LDC segments to the Sub-Committee on LDCs for substantive consideration and reporting back.
F. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AMONG DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
20. At the 41st Session, the delegations of India and Sri Lanka notified their Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) which had been signed between the two Governments on 28 December 1998 and
had entered into force on 15 December 2001.  The notification is contained in documentWT/COMTD/N/16.  As Members required more time to study it, the notification was also before the
42
nd Session of the Committee.  The Committee took note of the notification.
G. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
21. The CTD is the WTO focal point for the International Conference on Financing for
Development (FfD) held in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico on 18-22 March 2002.  At its 36th Session, the
Committee received a visit from Ambassador Ruth Jacoby, Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of
Sweden to the UN, and one of the Co-Chairs of the Bureau to the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom)
for the Conference.  She attended the meeting of the CTD to discuss preparations for the Conference.
The CTD had earlier in 2001 sent a contribution to the Preparatory Committee, contained in document
WT/COMTD/30.  At the informal meeting held on 11 December 2001 there was consensus that the
WTO Director-General would be invited to send the package of decisions agreed to at the Doha
Ministerial Conference to the Secretary-General of  the United Nations for the information of the
Preparatory Committee.  In preparation for the Conference, the Preparatory Committee for the
Conference had been held from 14-25 January 2002 in New York and the WTO Secretariat, as one of
the major institutional stakeholders of the process, had been represented.  At the 38th Session of the
Committee, the Secretariat informed Members about that preparatory meeting.  At the 39th Session,
the Committee agreed to derestrict document WT/COMTD/W/94, which contained the SecretariatNote on the International Conference on Financing for Development.  The reason why the issue was
raised was that the Financing for Development Secretariat had requested that the document be placed
on the their website.  The Secretariat reported on the International Conference on Financing for
Development at the 40
th Session of the Committee.WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 6
H. PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN WORLD TRADE
22. The CTD has the mandate to keep under continuous review the participation of developing
country Members in the multilateral trading system.  In order for the Committee to fulfill that part of
its Mandate, the Secretariat produced a paper entitled "Participation of the Developing Countries in
the Global Trading System" contained in document WT/COMTD/W/100.  That document was beforethe 41
st Session of the Committee.  At that meeting Me mbers requested more detailed country-specific
information.  In response to that request the Secretariat issued document WT/COMTD/W/100/Add.1
containing disaggregated data on trade developments by country to supplement the information on
regional trade flows already provided.
I. CONSIDERATION OF ARTICLE XVIII A S MANDATED BY PARAGRAPH 12 O F THE DOHA
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1), T HE DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION -
RELATED ISSUES AND  CONCERNS (WT/MIN(01)/17), A ND IN CONJUNCTION WITH TIRET 3
OF JOB(01)/152/REV.1 O F 27 O CTOBER 2001
23. The Committee began its consideration of Article XVIII as an outstanding implementation
issue at its 40th Session. As the Committee on Balance-of-Payments was considering section B of
Article XVIII the Chairman suggested that it was for the CTD to consider the remaining elements of
Article XVIII of the GATT in relation to Paragraph 12 of The Doha Ministerial Declaration(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1), the Decision on Implementati on-Related Issues and Concerns adopted at the
Doha Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(01)/17), and in conjunction with tiret 3 of Job(01)/152/Rev.1
of 27 October 2001.  There was some discussion regarding the appropriate fora to deal with
Article XVIII.  The Committee asked the Secretariat for information regarding the application of
Section C of Article XVIII in the WTO.  That information was subsequently circulated in documentWT/COMTD/39.  The delegation of India drew Members' attention to its earlier proposal on
Article XVIII, Sections A and C of GATT 1994, as contained in document WT/GC/W/363 dated
12 October 1999.  At the 41
st Session, the Chairman said that he had concluded from informal
consultations that there was no objection to dealing with Article XVIII, apart from section B relating
to balance-of-payments, as an outstanding implementation issue in the regular sessions of the CTD aslong as it was without prejudice to work related to Article XVIII carried out elsewhere.  At that
meeting, the Secretariat was asked for information regarding the application of Section C of
Article XVIII in the GATT.  That information was subsequently provided in
document WT/COMTD/39/Add.1.
J. P
ARAGRAPH 51 O F THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING
DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO
HELP ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATELY
24. At its 40th Session, the Committee began its consideration of paragraph 51 of the Doha
Ministerial Declaration on identifying and debating developmental and environmental aspects of the
negotiations, in order to help achieve the objective of having sustainable development appropriately
reflected at its 40th Session.  The delegation of the European Communities suggested a process by
which the Secretariat should be requested to prepare a paper identifying and tracking progress on thedevelopmental aspects of the Doha Development Agenda in various WTO bodies.  At the 41
st Session
the Committee discussed a submission by the European Commun ities entitled "Sustainability Impact
Assessment" contained in multi-symbol document WT/COMTD/W/99 – WT/CTE/W/208 -
TN/TE/W/3.
K. WORK PROGRAMME OF THE CTD
25. At the 36th Session, the Committee adopted its 2002 Work Programme with the understanding
that it was without prejudice to any additional work that may result from the work programme to beWT/COMTD/W/108
Page 7
established following the Fourth Ministerial Confer ence and that additional seminars on development
topics could be considered during the course of 2002.
III. WORK OF THE DEDICATED SESSION TO SMALL ECONOMIES
26. Ministers at the Doha Ministerial Conference agreed to the establishment of a work
programme to "frame responses to the trade-related issues identified for the fuller integration of small,
vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system, and not to create a sub-category of WTO
Members."9  At its meeting on 1 March 2002 the General Council took note of the framework and
procedures for the conduct of the work programme on small economies (contained in
document WT/L/447).  Paragraph 2(d) of that document states that "The General Council shall
instruct the CTD to have a programme of work on small economies which will be conducted in
dedicated sessions of the CTD."  The CTD, under the auspices of the General Council, agreed toexamine the issues related to the trade of small economies and to frame responses to those issues in
order to facilitate the fuller integration of small vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading
system without creating a sub-category of WTO Members.
27. At its 1
st Dedicated Session the delegations of Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala,  Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mauritius, Nicaragua,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Trinidad And Tobago submitted a
document (WT/COMTD/SE/W/1) which identified the trade-related issues of particular concern to
small economies.  The authors were requested to  take the comments made on their document into
account and develop a "road-map" to be presented at the second dedicated session.
28. At its 2nd Dedicated Session two submissions were made.  The first submission was made by
the delegation of Macao, China (WT/COMTD/SE/W/2) and addressed the structural impediments of
small economies and the nature of their economic vulnerabilities.  The second submission was made
by the delegations of Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras,
Mauritius, and Sri Lanka (WT/COMTD/SE/W/3).  At the meeting, the delegations of Cuba,
El Salvador, Fiji, Nicaragua and Paraguay added their delegations to the list of Membersco-sponsoring the paper.  The paper contained proposals for changes to some existing agreements.  A
few delegations expressed concern with respect to a proposal relating to the graduation of LDCs in
WT/COMTD/SE/W/3.
29. At informal consultations held on 10 September 2002, Members referred to a paper prepared
by the Secretariat entitled "Small Economies:  A Literature Review" (WT/COMTD/SE/W/4).  It
contained an overview of how the issue of smallne ss has been dealt with in the economic literature.
Members suggested that further analysis be made with respect to points they had raised during thediscussion on the Secretariat document.  Members welcomed a suggestion by the Chairman that the
Secretariat identify WTO provisions that related particularly to small economies.
30. At its 3
rd Dedicated Session a group of small economies presented a
document (WT/COMTD/SE/W/7) containing responses to a number of questions posed by the
delegation of the United States regarding previous proposals made by a group of small economies(WT/COMTD/SE/W/3).  The Secretariat had prepared three documents requested for that meeting.
The first contained the literature review (WT/COMTD/SE/W/4) previously discussed in informal
consultations.  The second was a more analytical document entitled "Trade and Economic
Performance – The role of economic size?" (WT/COMTD/SE/W/5), which aimed to provide
Members with an in-depth analysis of the variables of relevance to small economies in the multilateral
                                                     
9 Paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1)WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 8
trading system.  The third document (WT/COMTD/SE/W/6) contained a list of provisions which
could be of particular relevance to small economies.
31. The document containing the framework and procedures for the conduct of the work
programme on small economies, which the General Council took note of on 1 March 2002, also
instructed the CTD to report regularly to the General Council on the progress of that work. 10  Reports
on the progress made in the Dedicated Sessions of the CTD were given to the meetings of the
General Council held on 13-14 May 2002 , 31 July 2002, and 15 October 2002.  Those reports are
contained in the minutes of those meetings.11
IV. WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
32. Since its previous report, the principal work of the Sub-Committee has focused on the WTO
Work Programme for Least-Developed Countries, agreed by Members on 12 February 2002, pursuantto paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.  The main elements of the agreed WTO Work
Programme for the LDCs are:
A. WTO W
ORK PROGRAMME FOR LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
1. Market Access for LDCs;
2. Trade-Related Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Initiatives for LDCs;
- Integrated Framework for trade-related technical assistance to LDCs;
3. Providing, as appropriate, support to agencies assisting with the diversification
of LDCs’ production and export base;
4. Mainstreaming, as appropriate, into th e WTO’s work the trade related elements
of the LDC-III Programme of Action, as relevant to the WTO’s mandate ;
5. Participation of LDCs in the Mu ltilateral Trading System; and
6. Accession of LDCs to the WTO
Other key points of this annual report, since the last report, include:
B. LDC S' PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH WTO M INISTERIAL CONFERENCE ;
C. THE THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDC-III);
D. FOLLOW -UP TO THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON INTEGRATED INITIATIVES FOR
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ' (LDC S) TRADE DEVELOPMENT ;  AND
E. WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2002.
                                                     
10 WT/L/447
11 WT/GC/M/74, WT/GC/M/75, and WT/GC/M/76 respectively.WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 9
A. WTO  WORK PROGRAMME FOR LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
33. The 27th session of the Sub-Committee on 25 January 2002 was suspended and informal
sessions of the Sub-Committee were held on 21 January 2002, 11 and 12 February 2002 to consider
and revise the draft WTO Work Programme for LDCs contained in WT/COMTD/LDC/25 and Rev.1
& 2.  At the resumed 27th session on 12 February 2002, the Sub-Committee adopted
WT/COMTD/LDC/W/25/Rev.2 with the drafting amendments12 agreed to at the meeting.
34. The Sub-Committee mandated its Chairman (H.E Ambassador S. Fuller) to report on the
adopted WTO Work Programme for the LDCs (W T/COMTD/LDC/11) to the General Council on
13 February 2002.13 At the 28th Session of the Sub-Committee, Members affirmed the importance
attached to the effective implementation of the Work Programme.  Also at the 28th Session, Members
recognised the need to prioritise and focus on a few elements of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs
at each session of the Sub-Committee.
1. Market Access for LDCs 14
35. To address the issues mandated in the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, the Secretariat's
report on Market Access Issues for LDCs (W T/COMTD/LDC/W/28 and TN/MA/S/7) was considered
at the 30th Session of the Sub-Committee.  The Sub-Committee took note of the report and the
statements made and agreed to resume its examination of these issues at the last meeting of theSub-Committee in 2003.
15  The report was also considered at the Formal Meeting of the Negotiating
Group on Market Access on 5-6 November 2002.  Preparations for the document commenced at the
26th Session of the Sub-Committee, where Members' views were sought on the scope and
methodology of the Secretariat report.  The Secretariat report surveyed initiatives and improvements
in market access for LDCs.  Tariff and non-tariff barriers facing LDC exports were also discussed.
36. Following the changes to the market access reporting procedures,16 during the period covered,
the Sub-Committee discussed three notifications forwarded to it by the CTD for discussion and
reporting back.  At its 26th Session, the Sub-Committee discussed the European Communities
notification of the "Everything But Arms" (EBA ) initiative contained in WT/COMTD/N/4/Add.2.
The Sub-Committee took note of the notification and the statements made and agreed to report backto the CTD on the discussions held.  At its 30
th Session, the Sub–Committee discussed the
notifications by Japan and Switzerland that had also been forwarded by the CTD and were contained
in WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.11 and WT/COMTD/N/7/Add.1 respectively.  The Sub-Committee took
note of the notifications and the statements made and agreed to report back to the CTD.  Also at the
30th Session, Australia announced its initiative to offer duty and quota-free access for all LDC exports
from 1 July 2003. The Sub-Committee welcomed the initiatives taken by Members to improve market
access for LDCs.
37. At the 26th Session, clarifications were sought on the notification of Japan
(WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.10) and New Zealand (WT/ COMTD/27 and WT/GC/36).  Senegal drew
attention of the Sub-Committee to its re-classification as a LDC and for the purposes of drawing up
list of beneficiaries of LDC preferences, requested that Members take note of this addition to the list
                                                     
12 Paragraph 6 and 7 of WT/COMTD/LDC/M/27. The WTO Work Programme as adopted was
circulated as document WT/COMTD/LDC/11 following the meeting.
13  Minutes of the General Council Meeting of 13 February are contained in WT/GC/M/73.
14 As agreed to in paragraph 8 of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, to facilitate monitoring and
review, the consideration of this item in the Sub-Comm ittee is recorded in the end of year Annual Report
adopted by the CTD.
15 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/30 (to be issued).
16 These reporting procedures were agreed to by Members at the 32nd session of the CTD
(WT/COMTD/M/32) and at the CTG meeting on 14 March 2001 (G/C/M/47).WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 10
of LDCs.  The Sub-Committee noted the importance of notifications for periodic monitoring of
existing measures or improvements in market access for LDCs.
2. Trade-Related Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Initiatives for LDCs 17
- Integrated Framework for trade-related technical assistance to LDCs 18
38. The 30th Session of the Sub-Committee focussed on the trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building initiatives for LDCs.  Elements th at were listed in the WTO Work Programme for
LDCs were considered.  The Secretariat briefed Members on the priority attached to LDCs in the
WTO Annual Technical Assistance Plan for 2002, and the proposed plan for 2003
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/104 and Add.1) that would be revised and considered in the Committee on
Trade and Development.  The Sub-Committee took note of the statements made. 19 At its 29th Session,
the Sub-Committee took note of the Secretariat document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/27 that contained
information on technical assistance and training provided by the WTO Secretariat and TrainingInstitute to acceding LDCs.
39. At its 26
th, 28th and 30th Session, Status Reports on the Inte grated Framework (IF) were made
by the Chairmen of the IF Steering Committee and IF Working Group (formerly Inter-agency
Working Group) respectively.  The Sub-Committee took note of the Status Reports and statements
made on the implementation of the IF.20  At its 30th Session, the Sub-Committee was briefed on the
results of the Second IF Joint Agency Seminar on "Mainstreaming Trade into Development
Strategies". At its 28th Session, the Sub-Committee was presented the new IF web-site
(http:/if.wto.org).  At the 26th Session, the Progress Report on the IF Pilot Scheme, by the
Director-General (on behalf of the core agencies) to the Fifth Ministerial Conference, contained in
document WT/IFSC/W/6, was circulated to Members of the Sub-Committee.
40. The Sub-Committee at its 26th Session, discussed with focus on LDCs, the "Reorganization of
WTO Technical Cooperation" and the New Strategy for WTO Technical Cooperation in the document
WT/COMTD/W/90 and Add.1.21  Also at its 26th Session, Members took note of the Secretariat report
on the WTO-WIPO Joint Initiative on Technical Cooperation for LDCs contained in document
WT/COMTD/LDC/W/21.
3. Providing, as appropriate, support to agencies assisting with the diversification of
LDCs’ production and export base
41. The Sub-Committee, at its 28th Session, invited the Deputy-Executive Director of the
International Trade Centre (ITC) to brief Members on th e assistance it provided in this area.  The ITC
reported that it was enhancing its technical assistance dealing with LDCs’ supply-side constraints in
line with paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, and within the framework of the
Integrated Framework initiative.  This was with  a view to reducing LDCs' dependence on a narrow
production and export base.  As a subsidiary body of the WTO, the budgetary contribution made by
the WTO to the ITC was noted and the contributions made by other bilateral donors to the ITC budget
                                                     
17 As agreed to in paragraph 11 of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, to facilitate the monitoring
and review process, the consideration of this item in the Sub-Committee is recorded in the end of year Annual
Report adopted by the CTD.
18 During the reporting period, overall policy oversight and guidance to the IF Pilot Scheme and its
extension was provided by the IF Steering Committee.
19 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/30 (to be issued).
20 See WT/COMTD/LDC/M/26, 28 and 30 for a record of the statements made.
21 The CTD had taken note of the document at its 35th Session and agreed to proceed with its
implementation.WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 11
were highlighted.  It was agreed that representatives of other agencies with competence on this aspect
of the Work Programme would be invited at future  meetings to provide reports to the Sub-Committee.
4. Mainstreaming, as appropriate, into the WTO’ s work the trade related elements of the
LDC-III Programme of Action, as relevant to the WTO’s mandate 22
42. As mandated in paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the adoption of the WTO
Work Programme for LDCs, consistent with the WTO's mandate, took into account trade-related
elements of the Brussels Declaration an d Programme of Action adopted at LDC-III.23  At its
28th Session, the Sub-Committee stated the importance of regular monitoring and reporting of
commitments under the different elements of the WTO Work Programme on LDCs and agreed that
this work be monitored by the Sub-Committee under an agenda item:  "Follow-up to Ministerial
Decisions/Declarations."  It was agreed that under the agenda item on the "Follow-up to the
Ministerial Decisions/Declarations", Members could report and in particular discuss implementationmeasures taken in fulfilment of Decisions and Declarations such as the High Level Meeting; Brussels
Conference; and WTO Ministerial Declaration and Decisions.
43. The representative of Zambia indicated his countr y's interest in reverting to this item of the
Work Programme at a future meeting.  At the 29
th Session, the representative of Zambia proposed that
this item be considered further in the Sub-Committee as an item on the agenda.  A position paperwould be submitted to facilitate the discussion.
24
5. Participation of LDCs in the Multilateral Trading System 25
44. The 28th Session of the Sub-Committee considered this element of the WTO Work
Programme on the basis of the Secretariat document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/26.  The document
outlined the trends in LDCs trade and the specific initiatives undertaken to enhance the participationof LDCs in the multilateral trading system.  There was substantive discussion on the issue and the
Sub-Committee took note of the statements made.
26
6. Accession of LDCs to the WTO
45. The Sub-Committee considered this item twice formally and twice informally in 2002.
Accession of LDCs was considered at the 29th Session held back-to-back with the WTO Seminar on
Accessions to facilitate the participation of acceding LDCs that were not resident in Geneva.  The
concluding remarks of the Seminar were annexed to the minutes of the 29th Session.27  Chairpersons
of Working Parties and acceding LDCs were invited to brief Members on progress made in the
accession Working Parties.  The Secretariat document (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/27 and WT/ACC/12)
on the state of play of LDCs' accession working parties and technical assistance provided by the WTO
to acceding LDCs was considered at the 29th Session.  The Sub-Committee took note of the document
and statements made.  At the 28th Session, the Accessions Division and Technical Cooperation
Division briefed the Sub-Committee on the objectives and preparations for the WTO Seminar on
Accession.
                                                     
22 As agreed to in paragraph 13 of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, to facilitate the monitoring
and review process, the consideration of this item in the Sub-Committee is recorded in the end of year Annual
Report adopted by the CTD.
23  Paragraph 2 of WT/COMTD/LDC/11.
24  WT/COMTD/LDC/M/29
25 As agreed to in paragraph 16 of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, to facilitate the reporting
process, the consideration of this item in the Sub-Co mmittee is recorded in the end of year Annual Report
adopted by the CTD.
26 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/28
27 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/29WT/COMTD/W/108
Page 12
46. As mandated in paragraph 18 of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs, the Sub-Committee
undertook open-ended informal consultations on 19 September and 7 November 2002, to commence
work on a set of draft "guidelines/recommendations" (Job 8888) to facilitate and accelerate the
accession negotiations with LDCs.  Upon request from Members, the Secretariat prepared a
Compilation of Proposals on LDCs' Accession to the WTO (Job (02)/106) for the Sub-Committee’sconsideration at its informal session on 19 Sept ember 2002.  The informal session on 7 November
2002, coincided with Geneva Week to facilitate participation of non-resident Members and Observers.
B. LDC
S' PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH WTO M INISTERIAL CONFERENCE
47. Bangladesh (on behalf of LDCs) reported to the Sub-Committee at its 26th Session, on the
LDCs' Ministerial Meeting held in Zanzibar, Tanzania.  Copies of the Zanzibar Declaration
(WT/L/409) were also circulated. At the meeting, the Director, Administration and General Services
Division, of the WTO Secretariat briefed the Sub-Committee on the logistic support available toLDCs for their participation at the Fourth Mini sterial Conference.  The Sub-Committee took note of
the statements made.
28
C. THE THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDC-III)
48. At its 26th Session, the European Communities, as hosts to LDC-III, held in Brussels,
circulated the texts of the Brussels Declaration and Programme of Action as contained indocuments WT/COMTD/LDC/9 and WT/COMTD/LDC/10.  Efforts to be made to integrate relevant
elements of the LDC-III Programme of Action into a work programme for the Sub-Comm ittee were
considered.  The representative of UNIDO made a statement on the follow-up actions it had taken
following the Brussels Conference.
D. F
OLLOW -UP TO THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON INTEGRATED INITIATIVES FOR
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ' (LDC S) TRADE DEVELOPMENT
49. At its 26th Session, the Sub-Committee took note of the report by the Director General on the
Follow-up to the High Level Meeting contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/22. 29  A progress
report on the Integrated Framework (IF) Pilot Scheme contained in WT/IFSC/W/6 was also circulated
to the Sub-Committee.
E. WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2002
50. The Sub-Committee at its 26th Session considered its Work Programme for 2002.30  It was
agreed that the work programme was indicative and to  be revised in light of changes in the timing of
planned meetings and activities.  At the meeting, the representative of Zambia also presented and
circulated a non-paper on a proposed work programme for the Sub-Committee.31  W o r k  i n  t h e
Sub-Committee focussed on elements of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs
(WT/COMTD/LDC/11) following its adoption at the 27th Session of the Sub-Committee.
__________
                                                     
28 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/26
29 WT/COMTD/LDC/M/26
30 Circulated as document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/23 following the Sub-Committee meeting.
31 Circulated as document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/24 following the Sub-Committee meeting.