WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/233
20 October 2003
(03-5535)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
THE THIRD TRIENNIAL REVIEW OF THE TBT AGREEMENT
PROPOSED OUTCOME ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Joint Proposal by Canada and New Zealand
I. INTRODUCTION
At this stage of the Committee’s preparations for the Third Triennial Review there are a
number of proposals that have been submitted on technical assistance.  The objective of this paper is
to draw many of these complementary ideas contained therein together into a single proposal.  In so
doing, it is our hope that the Committee can agree to some concrete outcomes as part of theThird Triennial Review.  This would both fulfil the mandate for the technical assistance work
programme arising from the Second Triennial Review and demonstrate the Committee’s continued
commitment to, and engagement with, trade related technical assistance in the TBT field.  At the same
time, any recommendations or outcomes arising from the review process should not preclude further
necessary discussions on technical assistance in the Committee or opportunities to build upon andimprove these outcomes.
II. THE PROPOSAL
2. The focus of this proposal is the creation of an effective, user-friendly electronic meeting
place, to provide a central source of information on TBT technical assistance that could:
• provide a focal point for donors and recipients to more easily ‘find’ each other
through the establishment of an electronic notification system;
• lead to better coordination through creation of a consolidated overview of
TBT technical assistance;
• contribute to greater transparency in the delivery of TBT technical assistance;
• assist Members in their efforts to operationalize Article 11 of the Agreement;
•  provide information to Members and other donors on how to develop effective and
sustainable programmes that are delivered in a timely manner.
3. For the sake of ease, we would suggest naming the mechanism the TBT Committee
Technical Assistance Internet Facility.  Many of the proposals contained in the technical assistance
section of the Secretariat’s compilation document (JOB(03)/188) could be included as part of thefunction of such a facility, housed as a dedicated TBT web page within the existing WTO website.
The key element of this facility would be the creation of a notification system that allows both
TBT-TRTA donors and recipients to post information on offers or needs and facilitate direct contact
between them.  The key benefit of a notification system is the provision of a transparent, tangible,
low-cost medium to facilitate the meeting of recipients and donors of TRTA.  While theG/TBT/W/233
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WTO Secretariat would be responsible for administering the facility, a range of participants, for
example technical assistance recipients, donors, other relevant organisations and the TBT Committee
itself, would provide the information contained in the facility.  Therefore the use of the system and
suggested improvements to it would be largely Member driven.  Given the specific nature of
TBT related TRTA, this proposal is only for the consideration of the TBT Committee.
4. Different elements to be included on the TBT Technical Assistance Internet Facility could be
as follows:
a) A proposed system of notifications for TBT related technical assistance
As expressed in the New Zealand proposal for a TRTA information coordination
mechanism (G/TBT/W/216), a demand-driven electronic TBT related TRTA notification
system would provide a means for developing countries to notify the Committee of a
specified need in the TBT technical assistance area.
Information provided by donors (including from relevant organisations) on future
available activities, and by recipients on needs and priorities, would be made available toall Members and assist donors and recipients to find each other and identify future
relationships and activities (refer to paras 146 and 147 of Job(03)/188).  A donor
notification and a recipient notification template in a common format would be
developed.  Participants would be responsible for identifying available opportunities to
give and receive technical assistance amongst themselves using the notifications.  Theywould also be responsible for keeping the info rmation up to date (for example to indicate
when an activity has been concluded).
The notification system could become a transparent information tool/mechanism to
enhance facilitation of and transparency in, the provision of TBT related TRTA.
b) The results of the technical assistance su rvey identifying needs and priorities of
developing countries
It would be useful to make available both the survey responses and the Secretariat's
summary analysis of these responses(G/TBT/W/193).  Members could provide update
responses to the questionnaire every three years  (see para 137 of Job(03)/188).
c) Direct links to the various existing databases on TBT related technical assistance
(see paras 142 to 145 of Job(03)/188)
Similarly it could be suggested to the operators of these databases that they consider
linking their own database with the WTO TBT facility.  Members may wish to consider
whether there are any databases additional to those contained in the Secretariat overview
of the existing databases on TBT related technical assistance (G/TBT/W/207)  that
should also be included.
d) In addition to a system of notifications in technical assistance, providers (including other
relevant organisations) could provide, if available, any more detailed donor information
about their approaches and experiences to the delivery of technical assistance, for
example teaching materials and detailed programme descriptions (refer paras 171, 138
and 139 of Job(03)/188).G/TBT/W/233
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e) Similarly the WTO Secretariat activities in the TBT field , for example a calendar of
upcoming events, reports of its work with other organisations, and teaching materials.
The Director General’s reports on his activities in the technical assistance area could also
be included (refer paras 172 to 176 of Job(03)/188).
4. An annual review  of the operation of the website could be an important element of future
Committee work on technical assistance.   Members could review the overall situation with respect to
TBT related technical assistance using the information in the facility and their experiences in its use.
This process would contribute to Member’s efforts to implement their technical assistance obligations
in Article 11 of the Agreement.  Members could also make suggestions for improving the operation of
the system.  Depending on Member’s experiences arising from the review, the Committee may wish
to consider any future work  that could be undertaken in the Committee and included as part of the
website, for example the development of guidelines on good practices for TBT technical assistance
(refer para 165-166 of Job(03)/188) and possible development of a more common categorisation and
definition of technical assistance needs and activities (refer para 140 of Job(03)/188).
III. CONCLUSION
5. It is proposed that as part of the Third Triennial Review the Committee agree to the
establishment of a consolidated TBT Technical Assistance Internet Facility residing within the
WTO web site containing the following elements: identified needs and priorities, links to existing
TBT related technical assistance databases, notifications of future needs and activities from donors
and recipients, additional information with respect to the supply, coordination and operation oftechnical assistance by relevant donors and the WTO Secretariat and, policy guidance developed by
the Committee on good practice in the area of TBT technical assistance.
6. The facility should be reviewed on an annual basis to assist Members in implementation of
Article 11 of the Agreement, to help identify any further work the Committee should undertake ontechnical assistance and to identify improvements to the operation of the facility.
7. Accordingly the Committee should request that the Chair, in consultation with Members and
the Secretariat, develop a detailed and feasible proposal for the consideration of Members by the end
of (March 2004/by the first Committee meeting next year).
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