RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/448
12 October 2001
(01-5041)
GENERAL COUNCIL
Draft Annual Report (2001)1
The present report has been prepared in pursuance of the Procedures for an Annual Overview
of WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105), and sets out the actions taken bythe General Council in the period since its previous annual report.
2
In carrying out its tasks, the General Council has held [..] meetings and [..] Special Sessions
on Implementation since the period covered by the previous report.  The minutes of these meetings
and Special Sessions, which remain the record of the General Council's work, are contained indocuments WT/GC/M/62 - 64, 65 and Corr.1 and 2, 66 – [..].
The following subjects are included in the report:
Page
1. Negotiations on agriculture and services ................................................................................4
(a) Reports of the Special Sessions of the Committee on Agriculture and of the Council
for Trade in Services ......................................................................................................... .........4
2. Committee on Balance-o f-Payments Restrictions ..................................................................5
(a) Consulta tions .............................................................................................................. ...............5
3. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration .............................................................5
(a) Reports .................................................................................................................... ...................5
4. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement................................................................6
(a) Harmonize d System........................................................................................................... .........6
(i) Nicaragua, Sri Lanka ....................................................................................................... ..........6
(b) Renegotiation of Schedule ................................................................................................... .......6
(i) Zambia ..................................................................................................................... ..................6
(c) Decision on the introduction of the Harmonized System changes into WTO Schedules
of tariff concessions on 1 January 1996 .....................................................................................6
(d) Cameroon – Agreement on the Implementati on of Article VII of the GATT 1994 ..................7
(e) Madagascar – Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994 ................7
(f) Switzerland – Preferences for Alba nia and Bosnia-Herzegovina ..............................................7
(g) Thailand – Agreement on Trade-Re lated Investment  Measures ................................................7
                                                     
1 The final version of the report will also reflect the General Council meeting on 23 October 2001 and
the items will be renumbered as necessary.
2 The Annual Report of the General Council for 2000 was circulated as WT/GC/44 and Corr.1.WT/GC/W/448
Page 2
(h) Review of waivers pursuant to Ar ticle IX:4 of the WTO Agreement .......................................8
(i) Canada – CARIBCAN granted on 14 October 1996 until 31 December 2006 ..........................8
(ii) Cuba – Article XV:6 of the GATT 1994, granted on 14 October 1996 until 31
December 2001 ................................................................................................................. .........8
(iii) Hungary – Agricultural Export Subsidies, granted on 22 October 1997 until
31 December 2001 .............................................................................................................. .......8
(iv) United States – ANDEAN Trade Preference Act, granted on 14 October 1996 until
4 December 2001 ............................................................................................................... ........8
(v) United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, granted on 15 November
1995 until 31 December 2005 ................................................................................................... .8
(vi) United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, granted on 14 October
1996 until 31 December 2006 ................................................................................................... .8
5. Accession matters............................................................................................................ ..........8
(a) Bahamas .................................................................................................................... .................8
(b) Cape Verde ................................................................................................................. ...............9
(c) China ...................................................................................................................... ....................9
(d) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ............................................................................................. ....9
(e) Iran ....................................................................................................................... ....................10
(f) Mold ova .................................................................................................................... ...............10
(g) Separate Customs Territory of Ta iwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ......................................11
(h) Tajik istan ................................................................................................................. ................11
6. Procedure for introduction of harmonized system 2002 changes to schedules of
concessions ................................................................................................................... ...........11
7. Integrated framework for trade-related technical assistance to least-developed
countries...................................................................................................................... .............12
(a) Reports of the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries and of
the Director -General .......................................................................................................... ......12
8. Proposal to amend certain provisions of the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes Pursuant to Article X of the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization ...............................12
9. Proposals to review and to amend the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settleme nt of Disputes...................................................................................13
(a) Proposal to review the Understandin g on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes and Proposal to amend the Understanding on Rules andProcedures Governing the Se ttlement of Disputes ..................................................................13
10. Proposal for addition of an item to the General Council agenda:  "Reports of the
special sessions of the Committee on Agriculture and of the Council for Trade in
Services, and of the TRIPS Council on the mandated negotiations on agriculture,
services and geographi cal indicati ons" ................................................................................13
11. Participation of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law in the WTO Pension Plan ..............14
12. Work of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) ....................................14
13. Global electr onic co mmerce ................................................................................................. .15WT/GC/W/448
Page 3
14. Review of procedures for the circulation and derestriction of WTO documents .............16
15. Implemen tation .............................................................................................................. .........17
(a) Special Sessions on implemen tation ........................................................................................1 7
(b) Further work of the Gene ral Council on impl ementatio n ........................................................18
(c) Implementation- related issues ............................................................................................... ...19
(i) Work of the Committee on Agriculture on implementation-related issues ..............................19
(ii) Work of the Committee on Rules of Or igin on implementation- related is sues ........................19
(iii) Work of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on implementation-
related is sues ................................................................................................................ ............20
(iv) Report by the Director-General on activities of international financial organizations
on SPS/TBT-related programmes ............................................................................................21
(v) Work of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures on
implementation-re lated is sues ................................................................................................. 21
16. Overview of developments in the international tradin g environment ...............................21
17. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures by Canada affecting Brazilian beef exports .........22
18. India's new restrictions for port s of entry for certain goods ..............................................22
19. India – Statement on material on different WTO Agreements provided to other
international intergovernmental organi zations and the WTO website by the
Secretariat ................................................................................................................... ............22
20. Switzerland – Modifications of Switzerland's GSP Scheme in favour of least-
developed co untries ........................................................................................................... .....23
21. International Trade Centre UNCT AD/WTO.......................................................................23
(a) Report of the Jo int Advisory Group ......................................................................................... 23
22. Reorganization of WTO Technical Cooperation .................................................................23
23. Administrati ve ma tters...................................................................................................... .....23
(a) Procedures for the appointment  of the Director-General .........................................................23
(b) WTO Pension Plan............................................................................................................ ........24
(i) Rules of procedures of  the Management Board .......................................................................24
(ii) Managemen t Board .......................................................................................................... ........24
24. Observer status............................................................................................................. ...........24
(a) Gover nments................................................................................................................. ............24
(i) Sao Tome and Principe ...................................................................................................... ......24
25. Fourth Session of the Ministerial Co nference ......................................................................24
(a) Logistical preparations for the Ministerial Conference ...........................................................24
(b) Participation of observer governments in the informal preparatory meetings of the
General Council for the Fourth Sessio n of the Ministeria l Conference ...................................25
(c) Election of  officers ....................................................................................................... ............25
(d) Attendance of observers..................................................................................................... .......26
(i) Governments ................................................................................................................. ............26WT/GC/W/448
Page 4
(ii) International intergo vernmental organ izatio ns........................................................................26
(iii) Non-governmenta l organizations............................................................................................ ..27
26. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies ..............................................................................27
27. Election of Chairperson .................................................................................................... .....28
1. Negotiations on agriculture and services
(a) Reports of the Special Sessions of the Committee on Agriculture and of the Council for Trade
in Services (WT/GC/M/63, 65, 66, 69)
In February 2000, the General Council had agreed that the mandated negotiations as set out in
Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture and in  Article XIX of the GATS would be conducted in
Special Sessions of the Committee on Agriculture and the Council for Trade in Services respectively.Also in February 2000, the General Council had agreed that the Committee on Agriculture and the
Council for Trade in Services would report to the General Council on a regular basis on the
negotiations on agriculture and services respectively. The General Council had also agreed that the
mandated reviews should address the impact of the agreements concerned on trade and development
prospects of developing countries.  In May 2000, the General Council had agreed that for the durationof the mandated negotiations in question, the reports on them would be a standing item on the General
Council's agenda.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Agriculture and the Chairman of the Council for Trade in Services introduced the reports on the
Special Sessions of the respective bodies.
The General Council took note of the reports and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
regular meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairperson of the Committee on
Agriculture and the Chairman of the Council for Trade in Services introduced the reports on the
Special Sessions of the respective bodies.
The General Council took note of the reports and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
regular meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the representative of Thailand in the
absence of the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, and the Interim Chairman for the
Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services introduced the reports on the Special Sessions of
the respective bodies.
The representative of Brazil spoke.
The General Council took note of the reports and of the statement and agreed to revert to this
matter at its next regular meeting.
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that there
was no report from the Council for Trade in Services at the present meeting.  He then drew attention
to the report of the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture (G/AG/NG/8).
The General Council took note of the statement and of the report and agreed to revert to this
matter at its next regular meeting.WT/GC/W/448
Page 5
2. Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions
(a) Consultations (WT/GC/M/63, 69)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Balance-of-Payments Restrictions recalled that in December 2000 he had reported on the conclusions
of the consultations with Pakistan, the report of which was subsequently circulated in WT/BOP/R/56,and drew attention to a notification submitted by Pakistan.
3  He then introduced the Committee's
report on its consultations with Bangladesh (WT/BOP/R/57).
The General Council took note of the statement and adopted the reports in WT/BOP/R/56 and
WT/BOP/R/57.
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Balance-of-Payments Restrictions introduced the Committee's report on its consultations with
Bangladesh (WT/BOP/R/58).
The General Council took note of the statement and adopted the report in WT/BOP/R/58.
3. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration
(a) Reports (WT/GC/M/63, 66, 69)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, Mr. Stoler, Deputy Director-
General, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration
introduced the Committee's report in WT/BFA/52.
The General Council took note of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific
recommendations in paragraphs 4 and 7 of its report in WT/BFA/52 and adopted the report.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Budget, Finance and Administration introduced the Committee's report in WT/BFA/53.
The General Council took note of the statement, endorsed the Budget Committee's specific
recommendation in paragraph 10 of its report in WT/BFA/53, thereby urging interested donors to
indicate to the Secretariat as soon as possible the level of financial support they would be prepared to
provide to facilitate the participation of least-developed country representatives at the Doha
Ministerial Conference and adopted the report.
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001,  Mr. Stoler, Deputy Director-General, on
behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration introduced the
Committee's report in WT/BFA/54.
The General Council took note of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific
recommendations in paragraphs 14 and 15 of its report in WT/BFA/54 and adopted the report.
                                                     
3 WT/BOP/N/57.WT/GC/W/448
Page 6
4. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement
(a) Harmonized System
(i) Nicaragua, Sri Lanka (WT/GC/M/65)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council considered requests by Nicaragua
(G/L/442) and Sri Lanka (G/L/440) for extensions of waivers previously granted in connection with
their implementation of the Harmonized System, and draft decisions to this effect (Nicaragua -
G/C/W/251; Sri Lanka – GC/W/250).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of these
requests by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decisions (Nicaragua - WT/L/397; Sri Lanka – WT/L/398).
(b) Renegotiation of Schedule
(i) Zambia (WT/GC/M/65)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council considered a request by Zambia
(G/L/443) for an extension of a waiver previously granted in connection with the renegotiation of its
schedule, and a draft decision to this effect (G/C/W/252).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/399).
(c) Decision on the introduction of the Harmonized System changes into WTO Schedules of
tariff concessions on 1 January 1996 (WT/GC/M/65)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council considered a draft decision
extending the time-limit of the Decision on the introduction of the Harmonized System changes into
WTO Schedules of tariff concessions on 1 January 1996 (G/C/W/255/Rev.1 and Corr.14 ).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The representatives of India and Pakistan spoke.
The General Council took note of the report and of the statements and, in accordance with the
Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in
November 1995 (WT/L/93), adopted the draft decision (WT/L/400).
                                                     
4 In French only.WT/GC/W/448
Page 7
(d) Cameroon – Agreement on the Implementati on of Article VII of the GATT 1994
(WT/GC/M/655)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council considered a request by Cameroon
(G/C/W/245 and Add.1 and 2) for a waiver from its obligation under paragra ph 1 of Annex III to the
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994, and to the related draft decision(G/C/W/258).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/396).
(e) Madagascar – Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994
(WT/GC/M/66
6)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered a request by
Madagascar (G/C/W/259) for a waiver from its obligations under the Agreement on the
Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994, and to the related draft decision (G/C/W/268).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/408).
(f) Switzerland – Preferences for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina (WT/GC/M/66)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered a request by
Switzerland for a waiver from its obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I of the GATT 1994, and to
the related draft decision (G/C/W/257).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/406).
(g) Thailand – Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (WT/GC/M/68)
At its meeting on 31 July 2001, the General Council considered a request by Thailand for a
waiver of the requirements of Article 5.2 of the TRIMs Agreement (G/C/W/276/Rev.1).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
                                                     
5 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Customs Valuation Agreement – Request for a waiver by
Cameroon".
6 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Customs Valuation Agreement – Request for a waiver by
Madagascar".WT/GC/W/448
Page 8
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the draft decision as amended (WT/L/410).
(h) Review of waivers pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/69)
(i) Canada – CARIBCAN granted on 14 October 1996 until 31 December 2006 (WT/L/414)
(ii) Cuba – Article XV:6 of the GATT 1994, granted on 14 October 1996 until 31 December 2001
(WT/L/415)
(iii) Hungary – Agricultural Export Subsidies, granted on 22 October 1997 until
31 December 2001 (WT/L/419)
(iv) United States – ANDEAN Trade Preference Act, granted on 14 October 1996 until
4 December 2001 (WT/L/416)
(v) United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, granted on 15 November 1995
until 31 December 2005 (WT/L/417)
(vi) United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, granted on 14 October 1996
until 31 December 2006 (WT/L/418)
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the General Council considered reports on the six waivers
above.
The representatives of Cuba, Jamaica and United States, and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements and of the reports in documents WT/L/414
to 419.
5. Accession matters
(a) Bahamas (WT/GC/M/66)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered a communication
from the Bahamas (WT/ACC/BHS/1) concerning its interest in acceding to the WTO Agreement
pursuant to Article XII.
The representatives of the Bahamas (as an observer), Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica,
Barbados, Saint Lucia, United States, Canada, European Communities, Honduras (on behalf of the
GRULAC), Cuba, Mauritius, Romania (on behalf of the CEFTA countries and Croatia, Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania), Zimbabwe (on behalf of  the ACP and the African Group), Malta, India,
Pakistan and the Philippines (on behalf the ASEAN Members) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the expressions of support and agreed
to establish a working party to examine the applic ation of the Bahamas, and authorized its Chairman
to designate the Chairperson of the Working Party in consultation with representatives of Membersand with the representative of the Bahamas.
The Chairman invited the representative of the Bahamas, on behalf of the General Council, to
attend meetings of the General Council and, as appropriate, meetings of other WTO bodies as an
observer during the period in which the Working Party was carrying out its work.WT/GC/W/448
Page 9
(b) Cape Verde (WT/GC/M/66)
In July 2000, the General Council had established a working party to examine the request of
Cape Verde for accession to the WTO Agreement, and had authorized its Chairman to designate the
Chairperson of the Working Party in consultation with representatives of Members and with the
representative of Cape Verde.
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that
Mr. Shark (United States) had agreed to chair the Working Party.
The General Council took note of this information.
(c) China (WT/GC/M/69)
In March 1987, the GATT 1947 Council had established a working party to examine China's
request for resumption of its status as a GATT contracting party.  On 7 December 1995, China had
applied for accession to the WTO Agreement pursuant to Article XII.  Having regard to the Decision
adopted by the General Council on 31 January 19957, the GATT 1947 Accession Working Party had
been transformed into a WTO Accession Working Party, effective from the date of China'sapplication for accession.
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that he had
received a communication from the Chairman of the Working Party forwarding the final documents
on accession to the WTO Agreement of China, which he would transmit to Ministers for appropriateaction during the Ministerial Conference.
The General Council took note of this information.
(d) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (WT/GC/M/63, 66)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the General Council considered a communication
from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (WT/ACC/FR Y/1) concerning its interest in acceding to the
WTO Agreement pursuant to Article XII.
The representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (as an observer), India, Romania
(on behalf of the CEFTA Members and Croati a, Estonia and Latvia), Slovenia, European
Communities, Hungary, Bulgaria, Brazil, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Israel, Thailand (onbehalf of the ASEAN Members), Norway, Kyrgyz Republic, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Venezuela, Cyprus,
and the Russian Federation (as an observer) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the expressions of support and agreed
to establish a working party to examine the application of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, andauthorized its Chairman to designate the Chairperson of the Working Party in consultation with
representatives of Members and with the representative of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Chairman invited the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on behalf of the General Council,
to attend meetings of the General Council and, as appropriate, meetings of the other WTO bodies asan observer during the period in which the Working Party was carrying out its work.
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that
Mr. Hovorka (Czech Republic) had agreed to chair the Working Party.
                                                     
7 See WT/GC/M/1, item 4(g).WT/GC/W/448
Page 10
The General Council took note of this information.
(e) Iran (WT/GC/M/65, 66, 69)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman drew attention to the
communication from Iran (WT/ACC/IRN/1) concerning its interest in acceding to the WTO
Agreement pursuant to Article XII.  The item was on the agenda at the request of Egypt on behalf of
the Informal Group of Developing Countries.
The representatives of the United States, Malaysia (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) and European Communities spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council had this matter on the agenda.
The representatives of the United States and Malaysia (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the General Council had this matter on the agenda.
The representatives of the United States and Egypt (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
(f) Moldova (WT/GC/M/65)
In December 1993, the GATT 1947 Council had established a working party to examine
Moldova's request for accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.  Having regard to the
Decision adopted by the General Council on 31 January 19958, the GATT 1947 Accession Working
Party had been transformed into a WTO Accession Working Party.
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council approved the text of the Protocol of
Accession of Moldova (WT/ACC/MOL/40) and, in accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures
under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), adopted theDecision on the Accession of Moldova (WT/ACC/MO L/39).  The General Council then adopted the
Report of the Working Party (WT/ACC/MOL/37 and Corr.1-4 and WT/ACC/MOL/37/Add.1 and 2).
The representatives of Moldova (as an observer), Romania, United States, European
Communities, Czech Republic (also speaking on behalf of Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary,Latvia, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), Georgia, India, Turkey, Kyrgyz Republic, Thailand
(on behalf of the ASEAN Members), Paraguay (on behalf of the GRULAC) and Belarus (as an
observer), and the Chairman of the Working Party and the Chairman (on behalf of the General
Council) spoke.
The General Council took note of the st atements and expressions of support.
                                                     
8 See WT/GC/M/1, item 4(g).WT/GC/W/448
Page 11
(g) Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (WT/GC/M/69)
In October 1992, the GATT 1947 Council had established a working party to examine the
request for accession to the General Agreement for Tariffs and Trade of the Separate Customs
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.  Having regard to the Decision adopted by the
General Council on 31 January 19959, the GATT 1947 Accession Working Party had been
transformed into a WTO Accession Working Party.
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that he had
received a communication from the Chairman of the Working Party forwarding the final documents
on accession to the WTO Agreement of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu, which he would transmit to Ministers for appropriate action during the Ministerial
Conference.
The General Council took note of this information.
(h) Tajikistan (WT/GC/M/66)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered a communication
from Tajikistan (WT/ACC/TJK/1) concerning its interest in acceding to the WTO Agreement
pursuant to Article XII.
The representatives of Tajikistan (as an observer), Turkey, Switzerland, India, Romania (on
behalf of the CEFTA countries and Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), United States, KyrgyzRepublic, Thailand (on behalf of the ASEAN Members), European Communities, Mauritius, Pakistan,
Zimbabwe (on behalf of the African Group) and Honduras (on behalf of the GRULAC) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the expressions of support and agreed
to establish a working party to examine the applic ation of Tajikistan, and authorized its Chairman to
designate the Chairperson of the Working Party in consultation with representatives of Members and
with the representative of Tajikistan.
The Chairman invited the representative of Tajikistan, on behalf of the General Council, to
attend meetings of the General Council and, as appropriate, meetings of other WTO bodies as an
observer during the period in which the Working Party was carrying out its work.
6. Procedure for introduction of harmonized system 2002 changes to schedules of
concessions (WT/GC/M/66
10)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered a draft decision on a
procedure for introduction of HS 2002 changes to schedules of concessions (G/C/W/271) which had
been approved by the Council for Trade in Goods  on 5 July 2001 and forwarded to the General
Council for consideration and adoption.
The General Council adopted the draft decision (WT/L/407).
                                                     
9 See WT/GC/M/1, item 4(g).
10 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Concessions under the harmonized commodity
description and coding system – a procedure for introduction of harmonized system 2002 changes to schedulesof concessions".WT/GC/W/448
Page 12
7. Integrated framework for trade-related technical assistance to least-developed countries
(a) Reports of the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries and of the
Director-General (WT/GC/M/65)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee
on Least-Developed Countries recalled that in February 2001 the Sub-Committee had adopted the
Integrated Framework Pilot Scheme (WT/LDC/SWG/IF /13).  This Pilot Scheme would: (i) initiate
work on "mainstreaming" a trade integration strategy into least-developed countries development
plans and poverty reduction strategies including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), for
countries that chose to do so; (ii) establish an Integrated Framework Trust Fund; (iii) elaborate a
coordinated, sequenced and prioritised programme of technical assistance and capacity-building for
each country; and (iv) establish an Integrated Framework Steering Committee, for improved
governance in the relations amongst LDCs, donors, and the core agencies.  The Director-General,reporting on the implementation of the Integrated Framework Pilot Scheme, said that the Integrated
Framework had been successfully redesigned to become a potentially effective model for coordination
among various actors with distinct but complementary competencies and mandates for addressing the
complex problems facing the LDCs, within  the development vehicles of the PRSPs.
The representatives of Bangladesh, Tanzania (on behalf of the LDCs), United States,
European Communities, India, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Norway, Madagascar and Egypt, and the
Chairman of the Sub-Committee on LDCs, the Director-General and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
8. Proposal to amend certain provisions of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes Pu rsuant to Article X of the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WT/GC/M/63, 65 and Corr.1,
66, 69)
In October 2000, the General Council had considered a proposal
11 to amend certain provisions
of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes Pursuant to
Article X of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization  and had agreed
that the Chairman would conduct consultations on how  best to move forward on that proposal.  In
December 2000, the Chairman had informed Members that he had nothing to report on his
consultations on this matter with the co-sponsors at that stage.
At its meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the General Council considered this matter.
The representatives of Japan (on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal), Colombia (on
behalf of the ANDEAN Members and Chile), Costa Rica, Thailand, Cuba, Canada, Brazil,
Switzerland, New Zealand, Panama, Korea, Uruguay12, European Communities, United States,
Argentina, India, Bulgaria, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman
spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed that the incoming Chairperson
would consult with the co-sponsors of the proposal as to its further consideration.
                                                     
11 WT/GC/W/410 co-sponsored by Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, New
Zealand, Norway, Peru, Switzerland and Venezuela.  Subsequently Chile and Bolivia also became co-sponsors(WT/GC/W/410/Add.1 and 2 respectively).
12 Uruguay joined as co-sponsor of the proposal (WT/GC/W/410/Add.3).WT/GC/W/448
Page 13
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman said that this item was
on the agenda at the request of Japan on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal.
The representatives of Japan (on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal), Thailand, Korea,
Canada, Philippines, Indonesia, Bulgaria, United States, Ecuador and European Communities, and theChairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman said that this item was
on the agenda at the request of Japan on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal.
The representatives of Japan (on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal), Thailand, United
States, Canada, European Communities, Chile and Bulgaria, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at a future
meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman said that this item was on
the agenda at the request of Japan on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal.
The representatives of Japan (on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal), Chile, Brazil,
Thailand, Singapore, Canada, Bulgaria, United States, European Communities, Norway, Hungary,
Colombia and Ecuador spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at a future
meeting.
9. Proposals to review and to amend the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(a) Proposal to review the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of
Disputes and Proposal to amend the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes  (WT/GC/M/69)
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the representative of Thailand drew
attention to the proposal to review the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes submitted by Thailand (WT/MIN(01)/W/2 and Corr.1) and to the proposal to
amend the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes submitted
by the Philippines and Thailand (WT/MIN(01)/W/3 and Corr.1).
The General Council took note of the statement.
10. Proposal for addition of an item to the Ge neral Council agenda:  "Reports of the special
sessions of the Committee on Agriculture a nd of the Council for Trade in Services, and
of the TRIPS Council on the mandated negotiations on agriculture, services and
geographical indications" (WT/GC/M/63)
In December 2000, the General Council had examined the proposal13 above-mentioned
submitted by Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kenya, Liechtenstein,
Mauritius, Pakistan, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Turkey.  At that meeting, the Chairman had
                                                     
13 WT/GC/W/425.WT/GC/W/448
Page 14
concluded that Members seemed to disagree on questions of principle and that they would need to try
to resolve them before a practical way forward could be found.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the representative of Switzerland
on behalf of the co-sponsors of the proposal reiterated their position that the General Council, as an
overseeing body of the WTO, should be kept informed in like manner about all mandated
negotiations, including the negotiations on geographical indications, which had been formally
launched in 1996 by way of a decision by the TRIPS Council.14
The representatives of New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, European Communities,
Cuba, Canada, Uruguay, Bulgaria, Australia, Unit ed States, India, Czech Republic and Switzerland,
and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
11. Participation of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law in the WTO Pension Plan
(WT/GC/M/69)
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman drew attention to a
proposal for the participation in the WTO Pens ion Plan of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law
submitted by the Netherlands on behalf of the 32 Members and Signatories of the Agreement
establishing the Advisory Centre on WTO Law and the least-developed countries (WT/GC/W/446).
The representatives of the Netherlands (on behalf of the 32 Members and Signatories of the
Advisory Centre on WTO Law and the least-developed countries), United States, Philippines,
Colombia, Chile, Kenya, Norway, Uruguay, Bulg aria, Ecuador, India, Egypt, Honduras, Thailand,
Senegal, Venezuela, Panama, Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire , Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Pakistan
and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed that its Chairman conduct
informal consultations on this issue and that it revert to this matter at a future meeting.
12. Work of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) (WT/GC/M/6315, 66)
At the General Council December 2000 meeting, the CRTA Chairman had highlighted the
difficulties encountered by the Committee in fulfilling its mandate.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the representative of India said
that along with the co-sponsors16 of the communication in WT/GC/43 he believed important for the
General Council to keep itself apprised of the progress of the CRTA's  work.  He therefore proposed
that the General Council invite the CRTA Chairperson to report back to it at its next regular meetingin May 2001, on the current situation regarding the Committee's work.  At that stage, Members could
take stock and consider what steps would be helpful in furthering the Committee's work.
The representatives of Romania (on behalf of the CEFTA Members and Croatia, Estonia and
Latvia), Switzerland, Norway, European Communities, Chile, United States, Philippines (alsospeaking as the outgoing CRTA Chairman), Pakistan, Hungary, Australia, Mexico, India, Thailand
and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman spoke.
                                                     
14 IP/C/8, paragraph 26.
15 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Situation regarding the work of the Committee on
Regional Trade Agreements".
16 Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Pakistan and Hong Kong, China.WT/GC/W/448
Page 15
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to invite the incoming
Chairperson to conduct consultations on the basis of the proposal made by India on behalf the co-
sponsors.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairperson of the CRTA
reported on the current situation regarding the work in the CRTA.
The representatives of the Philippines, Pakistan, European Communities, Chile, Uruguay,
Korea, United States, Hungary (on behalf of the CEFTA countries and Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania), India, Turkey, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairperson of the
CRTA and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
13. Global electronic commerce17 (WT/GC/M/63, 65, 66, 69)
In September 1998, the General Council had adopted a Work Programme on Electronic
Commerce (WT/L/274).  In October 1999 and in December 2000, the General Council had consideredreports of the relevant WTO bodies charged with implementing the Work Programme.  In
December 2000, the Chairman informed the General Council that he would pursue consultations on
the question of establishing an ad hoc task force to deal with horizontal issues early in 2001.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman said that the
consultations he had held thus far had revealed that Members wished to consider the issue further.
The representatives of Canada, Brazil, Korea,  Costa Rica, Singapore (on behalf of the
ASEAN Members), Cuba, Pakistan, Czech Republic (also on behalf of the Slovak Republic), Japan,
European Communities, Australia, Panama, Nigeria, India, Hungary, Uruguay, United States,Venezuela, Norway, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Ghana, Switzerland
and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman said that on the basis of
his consultations he proposed that the General Council have a focussed and substantive discussion on
e-commerce.  He then drew attention to a communication by MERCOSUR member States on
"Horizontal and Sectoral Issues requiring Further Analysis (WT/GC/W/434) as well as to a non-paper
by Singapore on "Digitized Products" (Job(01)/55).
The representatives of Paraguay (on behalf of MERCOSUR member States) and Singapore
spoke.
The discussion that took place thereafter addressed two issues: first, the reports of the
Councils for Trade in Goods, Trade in Services and TRIPS and of the Committee on Trade and
Development:  (i) issues of a horizontal character, and (ii) sectoral issues requiring further work.Second, the next steps in the General Council's work on electronic commerce.
The representatives of Cuba, Japan, India, Hungary, European Communities, Australia,
Korea, Panama, United States, Venezuela (also on behalf of Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador,
and Peru), Norway, Indonesia, Thailand, Canada, Panama, Colombia and Hong Kong, China, and theChairman spoke.
                                                     
17 In the relevant minutes the item is called "Work programme on electronic commerce".WT/GC/W/448
Page 16
The Chairman proposed that the General Council ask the subsidiary bodies to continue their
work and report back to the General Council, and agree to hold a dedicated discussion on cross-
cutting issues based on a compilation which would be prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of the
present meeting's discussion, as well as any papers Members would wish to circulate. With respect to
the issue of e-commerce at the Fourth Ministerial Conference, he noted that it might be better forMembers to pursue the matter under the "checklist track" of the Ministerial preparations, subject to
further consideration.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman recalled that a
dedicated discussion on the cross-cutting issues identified by delegations had taken place on
15 June 2001 under the auspices of the General Council.  As agreed by Members at the dedicated
discussion, the Secretariat had subsequently prepared under its own responsibility a summary of the
issues raised at that dedicated discussion for information.18
The representatives of Japan, Brazil, European Communities, Hungary, Singapore, Thailand,
Korea, India, Panama, United States, Malaysia, Canada, Slovak Republic, Cuba, Venezuela and Hong
Kong, China, and the Deputy Director-General and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this item at its next
meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman said that work was
continuing in the subsidiary bodies pursuant to the 1998 Work Programme and recalled that he had
suggested that delegations continue to discuss among themselves and with him the most practical andefficient way to carry forward future work in this area.  He recalled that e-commerce was also
considered in the context of the draft Declaration prepared for the Fourth Ministerial Conference.
The General Council took note of the statement and agreed to revert to this item at its next
meeting.
14. Review of procedures for the circulation and derestriction of WTO documents
(WT/GC/M/65, 66)
Pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction of WTO
Documents adopted by the General Council in July 1996 (WT/L/160/Rev.1), the General Council had
initiated the review of the Procedures in February 1998.  The General Council had also considered
this matter in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In May 2000, the General Council had agreed that Mr. Rodriguez,Deputy Director-General, would hold consultations on this matter and report back to the General
Council.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, Mr. Rodriguez, Deputy Director-
General informed that he had begun consultations on this matter.
The General Council took note of the statement and agreed to revert to this item at a future
meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, Mr. Rodriguez, Deputy Director-
General reported on his consultations on this matter.
                                                     
18 WT/GC/W/436.WT/GC/W/448
Page 17
The representatives of Bulgaria, United States, Canada, European Communities, Japan, India,
Brazil, Colombia and Hungary, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
15. Implementation
(a) Special Sessions on implementation  (WT/GC/M/62, 64, 67 and […])19
At the General Council meeting in May 200020, Members had agreed that the General
Council, meeting in special sessions, would addres s outstanding implementation issues and concerns,
and that the process should be completed not later than the Fourth Session of the Ministerial
Conference.  At its Special Session in June 200021, the General Council had agreed on a work
programme to carry out this work.
At its Special Session on 15 December 2000, the General Council considered a report by the
Chairman and the Director-General on their consultations on implementation-related issues and
concerns, especially those reflected in paragraph 21 of the draft Ministerial text of 19 October 1999(Job(99)/5868/Rev.1).  It also heard a report by the Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods on
the question of the extension of TRIMs transition peri ods, and a report by the Director-General on the
question of facilitating the participation of developing countries in standard-setting organizations.
The General Council also considered a draft d ecision (JOB(00)/8205/ Rev.2) which was the
outcome of the consultative process the Director-G eneral and the Chairman had conducted since the
October Special Session, and which contained a number of items for decision, as well a paragraph on
further work.
The representatives of Colombia (also on behalf of Argentina, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico,
Pakistan, Philippines, Romania and Thailand), United States, India, Brazil, Poland (also on behalf of
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and the Slovak Republic), Egypt,
Uganda, Pakistan, Zambia, Thailand, Jamaica, Indonesi a, Saint Lucia, Honduras, El Salvador, Turkey,
Bolivia, South Africa, Philippines, Malaysia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ecuador, European
Communities, Barbados, Singapore, Paraguay, Panama, Guatemala, Chile, Japan, Korea, Canada,
Cuba and Hong Kong, China and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the reports by the Chairman of the
Council for Trade in Goods, by the Chairpersons of  the various WTO bodies to which issues had been
referred, and by the Director-General and the Chairman, and adopted the draft decision in
Job(00)/8205/Rev.2 with an amendment proposed by the Chairman.
22
At its Special Session on 27 April 2001, the General Council considered a report by the
Chairman and the Director-General on their consultations on the outstanding implementation-related
issues and concerns.  It also considered the organization of further work.
The representatives of Thailand (on behalf of the ASEAN Members), European Communities,
Pakistan, Singapore, Japan, Paraguay, Peru, Boli via, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Zimbabwe
(on behalf of the African Group), Mauritius, Ro mania (also on behalf of Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
                                                     
19 The Minutes of the 3 October 2001 Special Session will be circulated upon the conclusion of that
meeting.
20 WT/GC/M/55.
21 WT/GC/M/56.
22 The Decision, as amended, was circulated in document WT/L/384.WT/GC/W/448
Page 18
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovak  Republic and Slovenia), Hungary, New Zealand,
India, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Egypt,
Canada, Indonesia, Honduras, Cuba, Panama, Tanzan ia (on behalf of the LDCs), Chile, Korea,
Uganda, Czech Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Philippines Morocco, and Hong Kong, China and
the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman and the Director-General, and
of the statements.
At its Special Session on 20 July 2001, the General Council considered a report by the
Chairman and the Director-General on their consultations on the outstanding implementation-related
issues and concerns.  It also considered the organization of further work.
The representatives of the United States, Zimbabwe (on behalf of the African Group), Korea,
Japan, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Do minican Republic, European Communities, Turkey,
Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Jamaica, Cuba, Brazil, El Salvador, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia,
Bolivia, Indonesia, Singapore, Switzerland, Nicaragua, Gabon (on behalf of the ACP Group ofcountries), Costa Rica, Czech Republic (also on behalf of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), Mauritius, Chile, Australia,
Israel, Thailand, Canada, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, Philippines, Paraguay, Kenya and Hong Kong, China
and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman and the Director-General, and
of the statements.
At the General Council Special Session on 3 October 2001, the Chairman reported that
consultations held on the draft decision on implementation-related issues and concerns contained in
Job(01)/139 had indicated that Members were not yet in a position to take any formal action on this
matter.  He proposed that the consultations continue, and that the meeting adjourn and reconvene at
the earliest opportunity once the consultations had concluded.
The General Council took note of the statement and adjourned.
(b) Further work of the General Council on implementation (WT/GC/M/6323)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman said that on the
basis of his informal Heads-of-Delegations consultations and in light of the Decision adopted by the
General Council at its Special Session on 15 December 200024, he proposed that the organization of
further work on implementation-related issues and concerns be first that the Decision of 3 May 200025
and the June 2000 work programme26 remained the basic framework of the present process, which
would have to be completed not later than the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference and would
have to be composed of a mixture of formal and informal processes.  Second, all Members recognized
that the process of addressing implementation-related issues and concerns was of utmost priority, and
that there should be no linkages to any other current or future areas of the WTO work programme at
the present time. Third, the remaining issues bel onged to the following four main categories:
(i) issues referred to subsidiary bodies for their consideration;  (ii) outstanding issues contained in
paragraph 21 of the draft Ministerial text of 19 October 1999 Job (99)/5868/Rev.1;  (iii) issues raised
by Members in the course of his consultations;  and, (iv) issues contained in paragraph 22 of the draft
                                                     
23 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Statement by the Chairman on further work of the
General Council on Implementation".
24 WT/L/384.
25 WT/GC/M/55, Annex I.
26 Job No. 3859, dated 22 June 2000.WT/GC/W/448
Page 19
Ministerial text of 19 October 1999.  Fourth, it had been suggested that a deadline could be fixed for
the reports by the subsidiary bodies.  However, some delegations would prefer to allow sufficient time
for these bodies to be able to carry out their work adequately.  Finally, there was a need to develop
and implement the continuing work programme as soon as possible at the formal level, i.e., at Special
Sessions of the General Council.
The General Council took note of the statement.
(c) Implementation-related issues
(i) Work of the Committee on Agriculture on implementation-related issues27 (WT/GC/M/65, 66)
In October 2000, the General Council in Special Session had referred the question of
implementation of Article 10.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture to the Committee on Agriculture.  InDecember 2000, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture made a report to the General
Council in Special Session on that issue.  Also in December 2000, the General Council in Special
Session had instructed the Committee on Agriculture to examine possible means of improving the
effectiveness of the implementation of the Marrakesh Net Food-Importer Decision.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee
on Agriculture introduced his reports on the Committee's work on implementation-related issues
(G/AG/7 and 8).
The representatives of Sri Lanka, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil and India spoke.The General Council took note of the reports and of the statements.At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Vice-Chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture introduced his reports on the question of the implementation of
Article 10.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture (G/AG/9 and Corr.1) and on the issue relating to
implementation of the Ministerial Decision on Ne t Food-Importing Developing Countries and Least-
Developed Countries (G/AG/10).  He then said that the Committee on Agriculture had also discussed
a third implementation-related issue which was the addendum to the guidelines to be provided to the
tariff rate quota management.
The representatives of Brazil and Pakistan spoke.The General Council took note of the reports and of the statements.
(ii) Work of the Committee on Rules of Origin on implementation-related issues
(WT/GC/M/63
28,6529, 6630)
Pursuant to Article 9.2(a) of the Agreem ent on Rules of Origin, the harmonized work
programme for non-preferential rules of origin had been scheduled for completion by July 1998.  In
July 1998, Members had agreed to extend the deadline to November 1999.  As the work had not been
                                                     
27 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Implementation-related issues - Report by the Vice-
Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture".
28 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Statement by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules of
Origin".
29 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Report by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules of
Origin on implementation-related issues".
30 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Implementation related issues - Report by the Chairman
of the Committee on Rules of Origin".WT/GC/W/448
Page 20
completed at that date, the Committee had continued its work in 2000 on the basis of the agreed work
programme.  In December 2000, the General Council in Special Session had adopted the following
decision concerning the Agreement on Rules of Origin:
"Members undertake to expedite the remaining work on the harmonization of non
preferential rules of origin, so as to complete it by the time of the Fourth Ministerial
Conference, or by the end of 2001 at the latest.  The Chairman of the Committee on Rules of
Origin shall report regularly, on his own responsibility, to the General Council on the
progress being made.  The first such report would be submitted to the Council at its first
regular meeting in 2001, and subsequently at e ach regular meeting until the completion of the
work programme."31
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman of the Committee of
Rules of Origin made his first progress report.
The General Council took note of the report.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman of the Committee of
Rules of Origin made a progress report.
The representative of India and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the report.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman of the Committee of
Rules of Origin made a progress report.
On 18 July, the representatives of India and Philippines, and the Chairman spoke.
The discussion on this matter was suspended for that day.Upon resumption of the discussion on 19 July, the representatives of Brazil, Colombia,
Philippines, Chile, Canada, India, Australia, United States and Mexico, and the Chairman of the
Committee on Rules of Origin and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report and of the statements.
(iii) Work of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on implementation-related
issues (WT/GC/M/65
32, 6633)
In October 2000, the General Council in Special Session had referred the question of the
concerns of developing countries regarding the equivalence of sanitary and phytosanitary measures to
the SPS Committee.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures reported on the Committee's work on implementation-related
issues referred to it in the General Council's Decision of 15 December 2000.34
                                                     
31 WT/L/384.
32 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Statement by the Chairman of the SPS Committee on
implementation-related issues".
33 Carried in the General Council minutes "Report by the Chairman of the Committee on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures".
34 WT/L/384.WT/GC/W/448
Page 21
The General Council took note of the statement.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures reported on the developments relating to the issue of
equivalence sanitary and phytosanitary measures in the context of developing-country concerns(G/L/455).
The General Council took note of the report and of the statement.
(iv) Report by the Director-General on activities of international financial organizations on
SPS/TBT-related programmes (WT/GC/M/66)
In October 2000, the General Council in Special Session had invited the Director-General to
explore with the relevant international standard-s etting organizations and relevant intergovernmental
organizations, financial and technical mechanisms to assist the participation of developing countries
in standard-setting activities.  The Director-Gen eral had made two reports on this matter to the
General Council in Special Session in December 2000 and April 2001.
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Director-General reported on his
contacts with the relevant intergovernmental organizations which could provide financial assistance to
developing countries (WT/GC/46/Rev.1).
The General Council took note of the report.
(v) Work of the Committee on Subsidies and Counte rvailing Measures on implementation-related
issues (WT/GC/M/6535)
In December 2000, the General Council in Special Session had instructed the Committee on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures to examine as an important part of its work:  (i) all issuesrelating to Articles 27.5 and 27.6 of the SCM Agreement, including the possibility to establish export
competitiveness on the basis of a period longer than two years;  and (ii) the issues of aggregate and
generalized rates of remission of import duties and of the definition of "inputs consumed in the
production process", taking into account the particular needs of developing-country Members.
36
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman of the Committee on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures reported on his own responsibility on the status of the
Committee's work on the implementation-related issues referred to it in the General Council's
Decision of 15 December 2000 .
The representative of India and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report and of the statements.
16. Overview of developments in the intern ational trading environment (WT/GC/M/69)
Under Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement, "a n annual overview of developments in the
international trading environment which are having an impact on the multilateral trading system is tobe undertaken by the Trade Policy Review Body.  Th e overview is to be assisted by an annual report
by the Director-General setting out major activities at the WTO and highlighting significant policy
issues affecting the trading system".
                                                     
35 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Statement by the Chairman of the Committee on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures on implementation-related issues".
36 WT/L/384.WT/GC/W/448
Page 22
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that the
annual report of the Director-General on the Overview of Developments in the International Trading
Environment would be made available to Ministers at  the Fourth Ministerial Conference.  He said that
the annual discussion on this overview will be held on the basis of that report after the Fourth
Ministerial Conference, either at the General C ouncil meeting in December 2001 or at a meeting in
January 2002.
The General Council took note of this information.
17. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures by Canada affecting Brazilian beef exports
(WT/GC/M/63)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the representative of Brazil informed the General
Council that his government would be raising in  the appropriate body a matter related to the
responsibility of sanitary and phytosanitary authorities for declarations concerning risk assessment
with impact on private agents and said that this was motivated by the serious trade losses to Brazilian
beef exports caused by precipitated and arbitr ary declarations and decisions by Canada.
The representative of Canada spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
18. India's new restrictions for ports of entry for certain goods (WT/GC/M/6537)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the representative of the United States
expressed concern that India had recently restricted the importation of 300 consumer products to a
reduced number of ports of entry.
The representative of India spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.
19. India – Statement on material on different WTO Agreements provided to other
international intergovernmental organizati ons and the WTO website by the Secretariat
(WT/GC/M/66)
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the representative of India said that
background notes and information relating to the provisions of various WTO agreements
communicated by the WTO Secretariat to other international intergovernmental organizations or
posted on the WTO website accessible to these organizations only should also be made available to
the WTO membership.
The Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
                                                     
37 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Statement by the United States regarding new restrictions
by India for ports of entry for certain goods".WT/GC/W/448
Page 23
20. Switzerland – Modifications of Switzerland's GSP Scheme in favour of least-developed
countries (WT/GC/M/66)
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the representative of Switzerland
informed Members of recent developments in Switz erland's General Scheme of Tariff Preferences
(GSP).
The General Council took note of this information.
21. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO
(a) Report of the Joint Advisory Group (WT/GC/M/66)
At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council considered the report of the Joint
Advisory Group of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Thirty-Fourth Session
(ITC/AG(XXXIV)/188).
The Chairman said that the Committee on Trade and Development had examined the report at
its meeting in May 2001 and had forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.
The General Council took note of the statement and adopted the report.
22. Reorganization of WTO Technical Cooperation (WT/GC/M/66)
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Director-General reported on the
changes in the WTO Secretariat's technical assistance and training activities.
The representatives of Argentina, Israel, Philippines, Kenya, Gabon (on behalf of the ACP),
Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Paraguay, Nigeria and European Communities, and the Director-General and
the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report and of the statements.
23. Administrative matters
(a) Procedures for the appointment of the Director-General (WT/GC/M/63)
In July 1999, the General Council had adopted a decision on the appointment of the next
Director-General (WT/L/308) which provided that "in order to improve and strengthen the current
rules and procedures [for appointments of Directors-General], a complete set of rules and proceduresfor such appointments shall be elaborated and adopted by the end of September 2000".  In July 2000,
the Chairman had read out a list of eight questions on procedures for the appointment of the Director-
General and invited delegations to reflect on them.  In December 2000, the Chairman had expressed
the hope that it would be possible to take this issue further by developing a discussion paper, which
would gradually move towards the formulation of procedures.
At its meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that
since the December 2000 meeting he had not been able to take this issue further.
The representatives of the United States and Canada, and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at a future
meeting.WT/GC/W/448
Page 24
(b) WTO Pension Plan
(i) Rules of procedures of the Management Board (WT/GC/M/65)
Pursuant to Article 5 of the Regulations of the WTO Pension Plan, the duties and authority of
the Management Board, as well as the rules for the auditing of accounts shall be laid down in rules of
procedure which shall be approved by the General Council.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman of the Management
Board introduced the draft rules of procedure of the Management Board (WT/GC/W/430).
The General Council approved the rules of procedure (WT/L/402).
(ii) Management Board (WT(GC/M/65)
Article 4(a) of the Regulations of the WTO Pension Plan provides, inter alia,  for the election
by the General Council of four members and four alternates of the Management Board, each for a
three-year term.
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that one of
the members was no longer available to serve on the Board.  Following consultations, he had
circulated a proposal to elect a replacement for this individual to hold office during the remainder of
the three-year term (WT/GC/W/431).
The General Council agreed on the election of the individual proposed (WT/L/401).
24. Observer status
(a) Governments
(i) Sao Tome and Principe (WT/GC/M/63)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the General Council considered a request from Sao
Tome and Principe (WT/L/389) for observer status in the General Council and its subsidiary bodies,
and agreed to grant the request.
The representative of Brazil spoke.The General Council took note of the statement.
25. Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference
(a) Logistical preparations for the Ministerial Conference (WT/GC/M/66, 68)
At the General Council meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Director-General drew attention
to various aspects of the logistical preparations for the Fourth Ministerial Conference.
The General Council took note of the statement.
At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2001, the Director-General reported again on
some aspects of the logistical preparations for the Fourth Ministerial Conference.
The General Council took note of the statement.WT/GC/W/448
Page 25
(b) Participation of observer governments in the in formal preparatory meetings of the General
Council for the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference (WT/GC/M/65)
During the preparatory process for the Third Ministerial Conference, the General Council had
agreed that observer governments be exceptionally invited to attend, as observers, the General
Council's informal preparatory meetings for the Third Ministerial Conference.
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman proposed that the same
arrangement be made in preparation of the Fourth Ministerial Conference and that, accordingly,
observer governments be invited to attend the informal preparatory meetings for the Fourth
Ministerial Conference.
The representative of Belarus (as an observer) spoke.The General Council took note of the statement and agreed to the Chairman's proposal.
(c) Election of officers (WT/GC/M/65, 66, 68
38)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman proposed that the General Council elect
the representative of the host government, H.E. Mr. Youssef Hussain Kamal, Minister of Finance,
Economy and Commerce of Qatar, to Chair the Conference.  With regard to the election of the three
Vice-Chairpersons of the Conference, he would cond uct consultations with Members.  He therefore
proposed that the General Council agree to revert to this matter at a future meeting to allow for these
consultations to take place.
The General Council so agreed.At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that
consultations were taking place on the basis of a suggestion made by him of appointing one vice-
chairperson from the European region, one vice-chairperson from Africa and one vice-chairperson
from Latin America.  As he was not in a position to put names before Members for agreement at the
present meeting, he proposed that the General Council agree that he would call a special meeting of
the General Council on short notice to elect the vice-chairpersons before the next regular meeting of
the General Council in October.
The representative of Japan and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at a future
meeting after the consultations have been finalized.
At its meeting on 31 July 2001, the General Council elected the following Vice-Chairpersons
for the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference:  The Hon. Tebelelo Seretse, Minister for Trade,
Industry, Wildlife and Tourism of Botswana;  H.E.  Mr. Kimmo Sasi, Minister for European Affairs
and Foreign Trade of Finland; and Dr. Adalberto R odriguez Giavarini, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade of Argentina.
                                                     
38 Carried in the General Council minutes as "Election of Vice-Chairpersons of the Fourth Session of
the Ministerial Conference".WT/GC/W/448
Page 26
(d) Attendance of observers
(i) Governments (WT/GC/M/65)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the Chairman proposed that the General Council agree
to invite the Government of Liberia39 to attend as an observer the Fourth Session of the Ministerial
Conference.
The General Council so agreed.The Chairman then said that 39 countries had participated as observers in the Seattle
Ministerial Conference in accordance with Annex 2 to the Rules of Procedure for Ministerial
Conference and General Council meetings.  Out of these 39 countries, 34 currently had obtained
observer status in the General Council, either through a request to the General Council or through theestablishment of a working party for their accession to the WTO.  These countries were therefore
automatically invited to attend the Ministerial Confer ence in Doha as observers.  The following five
countries had attended the Ministerial Conference in Seattle but did not currently have observer status
in the General Council:  Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya and San Marino.  He proposed
that the General Council agree to also invite these countries to attend the Fourth MinisterialConference as observers.
The General Council so agreed.
(ii) International intergovernmental organizations (WT/GC/M/65 and Corr.2, 66,69 )
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council agreed to procedures for
attendance, as observers, of international intergov ernmental organizations to the Fourth Ministerial
Conference.  The General Council also agreed that, unless any objection was received by the
Secretariat from any Member by 25 May, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and
Development, the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting and the Organization of the PetroleumExporting Countries be granted observer status to the Fourth the Ministerial Conference.
40
The representatives of Egypt, Bahrain, (also on behalf of Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab
Emirates and Oman), Morocco, Jordan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Indonesia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Israel
spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.At its meeting on 18 and 19 July 2001, the General Council agreed that unless any objection
was received by the Secretariat from any Member by 25 July, the League of Arab States, the Arab
Monetary Fund and the Advisory Centre on WTO Law be granted observer status to the Fourth
Ministerial Conference.41
The representatives of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco, India, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Indonesia and Venezuela, and the Chairman spoke.
                                                     
39 WT/L/394.
40 Subsequent to the meeting, the Secretariat receive d one objection to the granting of observer status to
the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to the Fourth Ministerial Conference.  At the General
Council meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman announced that that objection had been withdrawn (see
below).
41 Subsequent to the meeting, the Secretariat recei ved two objections to the granting of observer status
to the League of Arab States  to the Fourth Ministerial Conference.WT/GC/W/448
Page 27
The General Council took note of the statements.
At its meeting on 10 October 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council that the
objection to the granting of observer status to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) to the Fourth Ministerial Conference had been withdrawn.  Therefore OPEC had beengranted observer status to the Fourth Ministerial Conference.
The representative of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab country Members) spoke.The General Council took note of the statement.The Chairman spoke.The General Council agreed that unless any objection was received by the Secretariat from
any Member by 15 October, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the Indian Ocean
Commission, the Indian Ocean Rim Associati on for Regional Co-operation, the Economic
Community of West African States and the Inter-Parliamentary Union be granted observer status tothe Fourth Ministerial Conference.
(iii) Non-governmental organizations (WT/GC/M/65)
At its meeting on 8 and 9 May 2001, the General Council agreed to procedures for attendance
of non-governmental organizations to the Fourth Ministerial Conference.42
The representatives of Egypt, European Communities, Pakistan and Canada, and the
Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
26. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies (WT/GC/M/63)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman said that in
accordance with the guidelines for appointment of officers to WTO bodies approved by the General
Council in January 1995 (WT/L/31), he had conducted informal consultations on this matter, on the
basis of which he considered that there was a consensus on the following slate of names.
General Council Mr. Stuart Harbinson (Hong Kong, China)
Dispute Settlement Body Mr. Roger Farrell (New Zealand)Trade Policy Review Body Mr. Pekka Huhtaniemi (Finland)Council for Trade in Goods M r. Istvan Major (Hungary)
Council for Trade in Services Mr. Celso Amorim (Brazil)
Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property RightsMr. Boniface Guwa Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe)
Committee on Trade and Environment Mr. Alejandro Jara Puga (Chile)
                                                     
42 Subsequently circulated in WT/MIN(01)/INF/3.WT/GC/W/448
Page 28
Committee on Trade and Development Mr. Nathan Irumba (Uganda)
Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrict ions Mr. Hernando José Gomez (Colombia)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Mrs.  Laurence Dubois-Destrizais (France)
Committee on Budget, Finance and
  AdministrationMr. M. Supperamaniam (Malaysia)
Working Group on the Relationship between
  Trade and InvestmentMr. Oguz Demiralp (Turkey)
Working Group on the Interaction between Trade
  and Competition PolicyMr. Frederic Jenny (France)
Working Group on Transparency in Government
  ProcurementMr. Ronald Saborío Soto (Costa Rica)
Committee on Agriculture
Chair
Vice-ChairMrs. Apiradi Tantraporn (Thailand)
Mr. Yoichi Suzuki (Japan)
The Chairman also said that certain understandings had been agreed upon in reaching a
consensus on the Chairpersons for 2001.  First, Mrs. Tantraporn (Thailand) would be appointed as
Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Mr. Suzuki (Japan) would continue for one more
year to act as Vice-Chairman of the Committee under the same conditions.  These arrangements forthe chair and the vice-chair had been made for a period no longer than one year, and future
appointments would continue to be based on personal experience and expertise, while taking into
account the diversity of constituencies.  Moreover, the organization of work at the Fourth Ministerial
Conference would be decided in due course, irrespective of these arrangements.
The General Council took note of the statement and of the consensus on the above slate of
names.
27. Election of Chairperson (WT/GC/M/63)
At the General Council meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the Chairman, as the outgoing
presiding officer of the General Council thanked th e Director-General, Deputy Directors-General, the
Secretariat and all delegations for their cooperation and support during his term of office.
The General Council then unanimously elected Mr. Stuart Harbinson (Hong Kong, China) to
the Chair.
__________