RESTRICTED  
  
WT/GC/M/186  
 
28 September 2020  
(20-6589) Page: 1/99 
General Council  
22-23 and 31 July 2020  Original: English  
 
 
MINUTES OF MEETING  
HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD  AND IN VIRTUAL FORMAT ON  22-23 AND 31  JULY 2020 
Chairperson: H.E. Dr. David Walker (New Zealand)  
On behalf of the General Council , the Chairman express ed deep condolences for the demise of 
Ambassador Christopher Oyanga Aparr, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the U nited Nations  
and the other International Organizations . 
 
The Chair man and the Direct or-General bade farewell to Ambassador  Frances  Lisson (Australia) ; 
Ambassador Pedro Pedroso Cuesta (Cuba) ; Ambassador  Geert  Muylle (Belgium) ; Ambassador  
Anatole Fabien Marie  Nkou (Cameroon) ; Ambassador  Terhi Hakala (Finland) ; and Ambassador  Hajah 
Masurai  Haji Masri (Brunei Darussalam) and expressed appreciation for their  valuable cont ribution 
during their time as Permanent Representative s. 
 
Subjects discussed1: 
 
1   REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND REPORT 
BY THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL  ................................ ................................ ............................  2 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BALI, NAIROBI AND BUENOS AIRES OUTCOMES – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ .......................  4 
3   WORK PROGRAMME ON SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
DEDICATED SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  ......................  9 
4   TWELFTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE – DATE AND VENUE  ............  13 
5   PROCESS OF APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT DIRECTOR -GENERAL – STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  16 
6   DESIGNATION OF ACTING DIRECTOR -GENERAL  ................................ ........................  22 
7   TURKMENISTAN – REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS (WT/L/1090)  .........................  25 
8   COVID -19 INITIATIVE: PROTECTING GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY THROUGH OPEN 
TRADE - STATEMENT BY CO -SPONSORS OF WT/GC/218/REV.1  ................................ ..... 29 
9   PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR WTO COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES ADDRESSING 
TRADE CONCERNS – STATEMENT BY CO -SPONSORS OF WT/GC/W/777/REV.5  .............  41 
10   PROCEDURES TO STRENGTHEN THE NEGOTIATING FUNCTION OF THE WTO – 
STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES (WT/GC/W/757/REV.1 AND 
WT/GC/W/764/REV.1)  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 46 
11   STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MARKET -ORIENTED CONDITIONS TO THE 
WORLD TRADING SYSTEM – UNITED STATES  ................................ ................................ . 52 
12   WAIVERS UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  ................................ .........  60 
12.1   Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  ................................ .60 
 
1 The proposed agenda was circulated in document WT/GC/W/802.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  12.1.1    Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 and Article  70.9 of the 
TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products, granted on 30 November 2015 until 
1 January 2033 (WT/L/971)  ................................ ................................ ................................ 60 
12.1.2    Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 26  July 2018 
through 31  December 2024 (WT/L/1039)  ................................ ................................ .............. 60 
12.1.3    Canada – CARIBCAN, granted on 28 July 2015 until 31 December 2023 (WT/L/958, 
WT/L/1091)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 60 
13   COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - REPORT ON THE 
MEETING OF MARCH 2020 (WT/BFA/185/REV.1)  ................................ ..........................  62 
14   WTO PENSION PLAN MANAGEMENT BOARD – ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS 
AND ALTERNATES (WT/GC/W/801)  ................................ ................................ ..............  63 
15   OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 64 
15.1   Statement by the Chairman on Administrative Measures for Members in Arrears  .............. 64 
ANNEX 1  FAREWELL STATEMENT BY ROBERTO AZEVÊDO, DIRECTOR -GENERAL  ............  65 
ANNEX 2  STATEMENTS BY DELEGATIONS FAREWELL TO THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL  ....... 70 
 
1  REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND REPORT 
BY THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL2 
1.1.  The Chairman  recalled that, as had been  announced at the beginning of the General Council 
meeting the previous day,  22 July , this was the last meeting of the General Council at which the 
current Director -General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, was present with Members  in that capacity. The 
Director -General  would address the Council th at morning, after which the Chairman  would open the 
floor to delegations. And before he offered the Director -General the floor, he wished to  say a few 
words, on behalf of the Membership, to Director -General Roberto Azevêdo.  
1.2.  On the first address made by Mr. Azevêdo to the General Council as Director -General, he had  
said that the strength of the organization was found in Members – the ones who h eld the wheel of 
the ship. The Director -General could  suggest the direction, but both the D irector -General  and the 
Membership should  chart the path together.  
1.3.  That had been  the first of many nautical themed speeches over the past seven years. Anchored 
in the principles of transparency and inclusiveness, his leadership ha d provided impetus for the WTO 
"to deliver on that vital mission of supporting growth and development around the world".  
1.4.  And he had  spared no efforts in achieving th at goal. Already, in his first 100 days in office, he 
had launched the Room W process in the lead -up to MC9 in Bali an d had convened back -to-back 
open-ended meetings, sometimes lasting throughout the night until early in the morning. He had  
stayed the entire time without taking a break – listening to Members and facilitating convergence 
seamlessly; and the result was test ament to that. Th at had set the tone for his tenure as WTO 
Director -General – based on patience, diplomacy and pragmatism.  
1.5.  His wise leadership and political acumen ha d helped Members reach hallmark decisions such 
as the Agreement on Trade Facilitation in Bali and the Decision on Export Competition in Nairobi. His 
commitment towards making implementation of agreements and processes at the WTO more 
inclusive ha d resulted in initiatives such as the TFA Facility and the WTO fisheries trust fund. He had 
also further reinforced the WTO's technical assistance and capacity building activities.  
1.6.  He had  also made the WTO more accessible to its stakeholders – for example by introduc ing 
the "Trade Dialogues " forum to discuss trade issues that confront ed businesses, introducing the 
Trade Barometers, organising the first ever World Cotton Day, advocating to keep finance flowing 
for trade, launching the Young Professionals Programme and implementing policies consistent with 
his role as an International Gend er Champion, among many others.  
 
2 As had been indicated to delegations in the Chairman's communication on 17 July, and at the Formal 
TNC meeting on 20 July, the General Council took up Item 1 of the agenda on 23 July.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  1.7.  It had not all been smooth sailing, however. Over the past seven years, the international trade 
landscape ha d rapidly evolved. Trade tensions had become even more pronounced. Institutional 
challenges had confronted the WTO – affecting all its pillars. And now, a global pandemic.  
1.8.  Through all of this, he had skilfully sought to navigate the organization even through rough 
seas. Most recently he had made it possible for WTO work to continue during a pandemic, including 
through v irtual means. And even more importantly, he had been an advocate of ways for the WTO 
to contribute to the fight against COVID -19 and its economic repercussions.  
1.9.  For all of this, they were  all grateful. In moving forward, he hoped that the Membership  could 
continue to count on him to champion the multilateral trading system and the objectives for which 
the WTO had been  established. On behalf of the General Council, he extended  his heartfelt  thanks  
to the Director -General and wished  him every success and happ iness for the future.  
1.10.   The Director -General , Mr Roberto Azevêdo, made a farewell statement to the General Council.  
His statement was circulated as JOB/GC/241 and is reproduced in Annex 1 to the present records.  
1.11.   The representatives of  Brazil; Guatemala (GRU LAC); Thailand; Switzerland; Tanzania; 
Singapore; Barbados; Australia; China; Honduras; Egypt; Costa Rica; Ukraine; the European Union; 
Ecuador; Canada; the United Kingdom; Sir Lanka; Jamaica (ACP); the United States; North 
Macedonia; India; Tajikistan; Vi et Nam (ASEAN); the Dominican Republic; Japan; Pakistan; Chad 
(LDCs); Botswana (African Group); the Russian Federation; Burkina Faso (C -4); Cote d'Ivoire; 
Zimbabwe; the Republic of Korea; Turkey; Afghanistan; Nigeria; the Philippines; Senegal; Kenya; 
Nepal; Norway; Cambodia; Mozambique; Haiti; Israel; Chinese Taipei; Angola; Bangladesh; Vanuatu 
(Pacific Group); Uruguay; South Africa; Indonesia; Ghana; Iceland; Fiji; Albania; Namibia; Malaysia; 
Togo; Cameroon; New Zealand; M yanmar; Gabon; Paraguay; Qatar; Peru; Mexico; Colombia; Hong 
Kong, China; Liechtenstein; Georgia; Saint Lucia; Liberia; Zambia; The Gambia; Brunei Darussalam; 
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group) and Kazakhstan  took the floor to express their gratitude  
to the Director -General and to bid him farewell. Their statements are reproduced in Annex 2 to the 
present records.  
1.12.   The Chairman  thank ed Members for their statements t hat day as a tribute to Mr. Roberto 
Azevêdo to his time as WTO Director -General. On a pe rsonal note, he had  mentioned when he had  
taken up that role that they had been  colleagues when they had been  previously together in Geneva, 
Mr. Azevêdo t hen being  Brazil' s Permanent Representative. He well remember ed paying his courtesy 
call on him at the  Brazilian Mission. They both had been associated with the multilateral trading 
system for some time and his considerable reputation preceded him. 
1.13.   Throughout the time since, the Chairman  said he  had greatly appreciated the opportunity to 
work with him in many different capacities, including over th ose past several years, as the various 
twists of fate ha d brought them to be sitting there together t hat day. Again , on behalf of the General 
Council, he  extended  heartfelt thanks to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo  as WTO Director -General and wish ed 
him every success and happiness for the future.  
1.14.   The Director -General  appreciated  the words that he had  heard t hat day that would  make 
leaving Geneva much more difficult. Th at day w ould follow him and his wife, Ambassador Maria 
Nazareth Farani Azevêdo , for the rest of  their lives. It w ould give them comfort when they faced 
hardships. And they were coming  – he did not know when,  but they were coming.  
1.15.   He valued  the fact that Members  had also extended very nice and kind words for his wife and 
his family. His wife ha d been more than a partner throughout. She ha d always been there giving 
him her advice and counsel.  His doors at the WTO ha d always been open to every delegation  and 
he had to tell them that  his doors w ould continue to be open wherever they were, not only his office 
doors but  his home doors as well.  
1.16.   He thank ed the team that had been  by his side during that journey the whole time. Tim Yeend 
had been more than a Chef de Cabinet. H e had been a partner and a friend. If he had  made less 
mistakes, it had been  because of his advice and his support. He thanked Mr. Yeend  for everything 
he had done during th ose years and  was s ure that their partnership was going to go much longer.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  1.17.   He also thank ed his advisers, Wayne McCook, Aegyoung  Jung, Thais  Mesquita , Trin eesh 
Biswas , as well as  those who had left already – Graça Andresen Guimarães , David Tinline and Tatiana 
Lacerda Prazeres . He thank ed the support team headed Cathy Boyle and before that by Jenifer 
Mutano as well as  Tilde Baptista , Ella Dixon , Laurie Caré , Catherine  Bollard , Denise  Machado  and 
those who ha d left already.  
1.18.   The Director -General extended his gratitude once again to the  DDGs.  He would be leaving  but 
they would be  staying a little longer,  so they still ha d some work to do in th e transition period. 
Finally, he thanked  the whole Secretariat. He reiterated that that day was  going to be  one to 
remember that would comfort him in his future journey. He would be cheering and supporting 
unconditionally all the  efforts  of the Members in the organization . 
1.19.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
2  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BALI, NAIROBI AND BUENOS AIRES OUTCOMES – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN  
2.1.  The Chairman  recalled3 that the item remained on the agenda so that the General Council could 
continue to follow up on the decisions adopted in Bali, Nairobi and Buenos Aire  in a horizontal and 
transparent manner.  
2.2.  His statement t hat day was going  to focus on the areas where there had been new 
developments since the previous meeting, on the basis of the updates that he had received from the 
Chairs of the regular bodies – whom he thanked for their cooperation. Under that item, he would 
provide a rep ort on recent activities under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.  
2.3.  Starting with TRIPS non -violation and situation complaints, the Chair -designate had held a 
number of small group consultations in April and May, as well as an informal open -ended mee ting 
of the TRIPS Council on 30 June, at which a number of delegations had indicated their intention to 
engage actively to advance the issue before MC12.  
2.4.  On the LDC Services Waiver, at the meeting of the Council for Trade in Services on 1 July, the 
LDC Gro up had called on the Secretariat to build upon the work undertaken for the workshop on the 
LDC Services Waiver of 2019. The Group had also urged notifying Members to share information on 
how they were orienting LDC service suppliers to the benefits availab le under the Waiver, and had 
called for the Waiver review process to take into account the impact of COVID -19. 
2.5.  On Aid for Trade, at the CTD meeting held earlier that month, in view of the impact of the 
COVID -19 pandemic on many aspects of the work, Members  had agreed to extend the Work 
Programme on Aid for Trade, in its then current form, until the end of 2022. Members had also 
agreed that the Aid for Trade Global Review , which was normally scheduled for 2021, should be 
rescheduled for 2022 instead. Members  were also looking at additional activities in the Aid for Trade 
area to reflect the impact of COVID -19, to be reflected in an addendum in the current work 
programme.  
2.6.  Regarding the Trade Facilitation Agreement, since his previous report, an additional rati fication 
had been received, which brought the total number of Members having ratified the Agreement to 
152.  
2.7.  And finally, on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce , he recalled that  at the March 
General Council meeting, his predecessor had reported on her consultations following the General 
Council's adoption of a decision at its December 2019 meeting in which Members had agreed to 
reinvigorate the work under the Work Programme, includ ing having structured discussions. Members 
had also agreed to maintain the moratorium until MC12 and for the General Council to report to 
MC12.  
2.8.  In line with the Decision, he was pleased to note that substantive discussions on the 
moratorium had been held r ecently. First, a webinar on the moratorium had been organised by the 
Secretariat on 13 July, and the more than 300 participants were testimony to the importance 
 
3 The Chair man's statement was circulated in document JOB/GC/242.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  delegations attached to th e matter. The webinar had focused on two main issues – quantifying t he 
moratorium and the moratorium's impact on economic development. Members had had the 
opportunity to hear the perspectives of the authors of the different studies on the impact of the 
moratorium. It was his hope that the webinar had shed more  light and in sight on issues surrounding 
the moratorium of use to delegations as they continued their deliberations.  
2.9.  On Tuesday, 14 July, he had convened an informal open -ended meeting on the Work 
Programme, in line with the Members' decision to have structured discuss ions. The meeting had 
provided the opportunity to discuss two submissions on the moratorium, as well as the Work 
Programme in general. Over 30 delegations had intervened – and he thanked again all Members for 
their constructive engagement. It had been clea r from the discussion, however, that Members 
continued to have divergent views on the scope and impact of the moratorium.  
2.10.   Looking towards MC12, delegations had reiterated their views, with some calling for a 
permanent moratorium , some calling for it to be  lifted to allow Members to have policy space and 
others calling for the continuation of the current practice of renewal. Many delegations had referred 
to the importance of e -commerce particularly in light of the COVID -19 pandemic. Some delegations 
had not ed the need to look at other aspects of the Work Programme including addressing the digital 
divide given the importance of ensuring digital inclusion. Reference had also been made to internal 
taxes and the need for Members to share best practices and exper ience. Other issues raised had 
included the impact of 3D printing and the importance of discussing data. In his view, and given the 
continued divergent views, it was important for delegations to deepen engagement on that issue 
ahead of MC12.  
2.11.   As he had ment ioned at the Informal Open -ended  meeting , in addition to discussions on the 
moratorium, work had continued in the relevant bodies, particularly in the Council for Trade in 
Services and the Council for Trade in Goods. Discussions in both bodies had noted ho w COVID -19 
had highlighted the importance of e -commerce and the need to address the challenges faced. In 
particular, at the CTG meeting, the LDC Group had stressed the importance of e -commerce for the 
developmental, economic and social aspects of LDCs. The  CTS had had a substantive discussion on 
how to support digital capability of businesses and consumers, following a submission by a group of 
Members.  
2.12.   However, the level of engagement was differing among the four relevant bodies. He therefore 
wished to enc ourage delegations to discuss the Work Programme in all the relevant bodies, including 
the CTD and TRIPS Council. As General Council Chair, he remained ready to consult with Members 
on the way forward and to facilitate any further meetings as necessary.  
2.13.   The representative of India thank ed the Chairman and the Chairs of the bodies mandated 
under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce for their respective reports. He also thank ed 
the Chairman, the Secretariat and the Members for their engagement during the Webinar on the 
Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions held on 13 July and for the open -ended 
informal meeting of the General Council  on the Work Programme on Electronic Com merce held on 
14 July. Such engagements by the Membership were critical building blocks towards the 
reinvigoration of the work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and for achieving 
clarity on scope, definition and impact of the moratorium, as m andated by the General Council in 
December 2019.  
2.14.   As it had been emphasi sed by many others, it was important for Members  to come to a 
common understanding on the scope of the moratorium. Without clarity on the scope of the 
moratorium, there could be no pred ictability for business, trade and industry. More importantly, 
governments would have not know n what their obligations and rights were. Only a clear 
understanding on the scope and an appreciation of its impact would have helped the Ministers take 
a well -considered and wise decision on the moratorium at MC12.  
2.15.   As far as India's  understanding on the scope and impact of the moratorium was concerned, 
the same was reflected in India's joint proposal with South Africa, namely, "The E -Commerce 
Moratorium: Scope and  its Impact " contained in document WT/GC/W/798. While look ing forward to 
more intensive discussions on the various aspects of the moratorium in various settings, India 
emphasi sed that in the light of the Buenos Aires and the December 2019 G eneral Council  Decisions 
on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, it would have been useful and productive for the WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  membership to continue with the periodic reviews of the Work Programme by the General Council 
in its sessions of July and December until the following  Ministerial  Conference . 
2.16.   Moving towards the issue of Public Stockholding , India took that opportunity to request the 
Members to constructively engage in the negotiations in the issue of public stockholding for food 
security purposes as had been committed in the Ministerial Conferences in Bali and Nairobi. A 
permanent solution in th at issue, which was simple and could be used by developing countries , would 
have gone a long way in addressing their genuine concerns relating to food security of the most 
vulnerable section of the society.  
2.17.   The then current pandemic ha d shown how adversely the poor in the developing countries 
were impacted. Developing governments ha d been struggling with the issues faced by the most 
vulnerable sections of the society, including agricultural farmers and labourers. In th ose 
circumstances, it be came  all the more important for the developing countries to have adequate 
flexibility in th at area. India would have appreciate d a constructive approach by Members to comply 
with the mandates of the Ministers in th at area.  
2.18.   As a responsible Member of the WTO, India ha d been consistently complying with its 
notification obligations at the WTO, including wi th the notification obligations prescribed in document 
G/AG/2. Its track-record with meeting  its obligations  had shown that its transparency obligations 
had been much better than that of several Members who were pressing for enhanced transparency 
at the WT O. 
2.19.   Pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes 
and the General Council Decision of 2014 as contained in document WT/L/939, India had notified 
the Committee on Agriculture that it ha d, for the first time, exce eded the de minimis level of market 
price support for rice for the marketing year 2018 -2019, by a very minor margin of 1.4%.   
2.20.   Market price support for rice, a traditional staple food crop had been  notified under Article 
7.2(b) of the Agreement on Agricultu re in pursuance of public stockholding programmes for food 
security purposes. India's public stockholding programmes for food security purposes, covering rice 
and a number of other commodities, ha d been consistently reported in its Table DS:1 notifications  
since 1995.  
2.21.   The programme was consistent with the criteria mentioned in paragraph 3, footnote 5, and 
footnote s 5&6 of Annex 2 to the Agreement on Agriculture. Further, the stocks under the programme 
were acquired and released in order to meet the domesti c food security needs of India's poor and 
vulnerable population, and not to impede commercial trade or food security of others. For th ose 
reasons, the notified level of market price support for rice was covered by the peace clause set out 
in the Bali Minis terial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes in document 
WT/MIN (13)/38 and the General Council Decision in document WT/L/939.  
2.22.   India st ood ready to engage on th at issue with other Members and  would answer specific 
questions that Membe rs could  have had on th at subject in the meeting of the Committee of 
Agriculture meeting on 28 July.  
2.23.   The representative of South Africa  thanked the Chairman for convening the seminar on e -
commerce and the Informal Open -ended meeting on the 1998 Work Programme. Ministers in 1998 
had agreed on the establishment of "a comprehensive work programme to examine all trade -related 
issues of global  e-commerce". The Work Programme was a critical aspect that should have informed 
decision -making on the moratorium.  
2.24.   When the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions had been agreed in 
1998, there was no clarity on the scope of the moratori um and how th at could  have unfolded with 
the digital revolution. Members  therefore had agreed to discipline s on electronic transmissions  
without a clear indication of the fiscal, industrial and economic implications. South Africa and India' s 
paper in docum ent WT/GC/W/ 798 dated  11 March 2020 had provided their understanding of the 
scope of the moratorium and its implications. They had drawn from a number of studies which they 
had outlined in the paper to define the scope of the moratorium on electronic trans missions  as 
applicable to physical goods which had become digiti zed or which were digiti zable including from the 
WTO Secretariat.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  2.25.   The key concern was the impact of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic 
transmissions on their efforts to industriali se digitally including its impact in undermine existing 
industries. Meaningful progress on the work programme was important due to the value they 
attached to effective and inclusive participation in e -commerce and the digital economy, and the 
role it could  have played in the development of their economies. Governments should have been 
able to promote digital industrialization and ensure that e -commerce was conducted in a fair manner 
and contributed to the resources of government just as every other economic  activity was typically 
required to do.  
2.26.   The benefit that developing countries derived from e -commerce could not be limited to 
consumer welfare. While that was important, the role of trade policy was more relevant as an 
instrument of industrial development.  The meaningful economic impact for developing countries 
arising from e -commerce would be from an industrial and job creation point of view which would 
promote resilient economies and sustainable development . The moratorium therefore had long -term 
implicat ions for the developmental prospects of developing countries.  
2.27.   South Africa reiterated that tariffs as a policy tool would be targeted and applied strategically 
on only those areas where Members  had an interest to advance their digital industrialization str ategy. 
Tariffs and government support had been used by many countri es to nurture the digital economy 
and associated technologies. Tariffs played an important role in protecting infant domestic industries 
from more established overseas competitors until the y had attained competitiveness and economies 
of scale.  
2.28.   Digital inclusion would depend on the ability of many developing countries and LDCs to 
develop their digital capacities. In view of the first mover advantages, technology, data and digital 
divide, deve loping countries needed appropriate legal framework and policy discretion to 
strategically deploy tariffs as an industrial policy tool in line with their development objectives.  
2.29.   For the last 22 years there had been a remarkably inefficient situation in whi ch similar goods  
such as  e-books and physical books were receiving different policy and tax treatment. One could not 
ignore the revenue losses estimated by UNCTAD as amounting to USD 10.1 billion per annum for 
developing countries if bound rates were appli ed and USD 5 billion  when based on applied rates.  
2.30.   A true reinvigoration of the 1998 Work Programme was needed through the relevant bodies 
taking up the discussion based on their mandate. The priority had to be the scope of the moratorium 
which would inform  decision -making on the moratorium at MC12 as well as the developmental 
aspects that would promote inclusive participation in the digital economy under the CTD. South 
Africa also called for the G eneral Council  to review progress on the Work Programme as had been 
proposed by India.  
2.31.   The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDCs , said that t he decisions taken to increase 
integration into global trade were still the LDC's priority. They sought and call ed for the full 
implementation of decisions on DFQF market access, Services Waiver for LDC Service Providers and 
Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs. The LDCs thank ed all Members offering preferences and call ed 
upon those that ha d not yet done so to make t heir contribution. Their aim was the full utilization of 
the preferences granted. That mean t that certain barriers need ed to be lifted. They needed to provide 
information to and raise awareness among those offering preferences as well as the demandeurs 
concerning the opportunities that were then available for trade. Th at called for sufficient support 
from their trading partners and the WTO Secretariat to implement the means necessary to make 
those preferences a reality and then use them.  
2.32.   The representative of Botswana , on behalf of the African Group , said that the 1998 Work 
Programme on Electronic Commerce remained an important element in the African Group's ongoing 
discussions, also with respect to the moratorium on the application of customs duties on elec tronic 
transmissions, as well as the broader crosscutting issues envisaged under Paragraphs 2 to 5 of the 
Work Programme. In that context, the African Group lent its support to reinvigorating discussions 
on the basis of the Work Programme.  
2.33.   While the COVID -19 pandemic continued to evolve, particularly in Africa where it had arrived 
late compared to other continents, it had had a devastating impact on the services sector which had 
reduced demand on certain sectors such as tourism and transport heavily affect ing much needed WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  income from those sectors since many of their Members remained under lockdown. The pandemic 
had therefore become a serious economic crisis.  
2.34.   Under those conditions, the uptick of e -commerce had been accelerated. Considering that the 
COVID -19 crisis was likely to have longer lasting effects, any post COVID -19 recovery strategy had 
to aim to bridge the digital divide to allow more countries to take advantage of digitalization. In that 
connection, the African Group would contribute const ructively to the discussion of the Work 
Programme and in due course submit a proposal that sought to capture the developmental aspects 
of the Work Programme.  
2.35.   The representative of Indonesia  reminded Members that there were a lot of work that needed 
to be d one for the implementation of the Ministerial Outcomes to ensure meaningful process es on 
the mandated issues. Agriculture issues and fisheries subsidies were among the top priorities that 
needed their utmost attention. Ensuring  meaningful progress es on tho se two mandate d issues would 
help the organization's  credibility and in fulfilling Members'  promise as an organization. On 
Agriculture, Indonesia reiterated the need to achieve the relevant mandate based on the Bali 
Ministerial Conference in particular on a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security 
purposes and the importance of the comprehensive and balanced outcome on a special safeguard 
mechanism.  
2.36.   Concerning the  negotiation process and the COVID -19 pandemic , Indonesia was of the view 
that Members'  future work would depend on the course of th e pandemic. Members needed to be 
cognizant of the fact that global trade could not be  brought  back to normal without global cooperation  
in combating that pandemic. Members  needed to check their role – and they could definitely take 
an important role in that global effort including through cooperation in ensuring that the intellectual 
property regime did not become a hindrance to global public health objectives. Watching on the 
sidelines would further deteriorate the relevance  of the organization . 
2.37.   The representative of Switzerland  expressed appreciation both for the workshop held on 13 
July and for the Open -ended meeting of 14 July. In the Open-ended meeting, Members had an 
exchange on two working documents, one submitted by Switzerland and 12 Members, and the other 
submitted by India and South Africa. Switzerland  considered that those exchanges had been 
informative as they had allowed to better understand the economic implic ations of the moratorium.  
2.38.   Some legitimate concerns in the field of competition policy and taxation had been expressed. 
Tariffs – and in general trade policy tools – were not however suited to address th ose issues. 
Furthermore, digital production and indus trial manufacturing had different types of inputs, 
production patterns and speed of technological evolution. Considering applying  tariffs to the digital 
ecosystem would most likely miss its target of protecting a nascent digital production. Switzerland 
was looking forward to continuing  the exchanges on the moratorium.  
2.39.   The representative of the European Union  noted that a M ember had invoked the Bali 
Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for the first time. The European Union  was currently  
examining the  relevant domestic support notification and accompanying data of that notification. 
The E uropean Union  looked forward to a review of the notification in the upcoming meeting of the 
Committee on Agriculture.  
2.40.   On the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition, the European Union noted that that decision 
required sixteen Members to submit schedule modifications . Three Members were yet to  do so. The 
European Union urged the Members concerned to submit the necessary schedule modifications as 
soon as possible.  
2.41.   The rep resentative of Sri Lanka  thanked the Secretariat for having organised the Seminar on 
the E-Commerce Moratorium and also the  Chairman  for his  report urging Members to exchange their 
views with the aim of  narrowing their differences on the subject matter. Di gitalization affected 
different countries in different ways. Individual governments required policy  space to regulate the 
digital economy in order to foster various legitimate public policy objectives. The UNCTAD Trade and 
Development Report of 2018 had fo und the asymmetric composition of markets. The price in favour 
of firms from developed countries made it very difficult for individual developing countries, 
particularly the small economies such as Sri Lanka, to regulate the digital economy and to have a 
significant economic role in global value chains.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  2.42.   The vast majority of developing countries were net importers of digital products. If they were 
to develop and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, those countries required the 
implementation o f active industrial policies to get some benefits of e -commerce, including the use 
of tariff policies for the digital sector. The moratorium would however exactly prohibit Members  from 
putting in place that needed tariff. Further, with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and 
the advance of 3D Printing technologies in the future, carefully negotiated GATT bound rates would 
be brought to zero for their digitized counterpar ts. 
2.43.   With zero tariffs, the moratorium was likely to make developing Members  even more 
dependent on imports of digital products from developed Members . That would have a huge negative 
impact on industrialization, particularly digital industrialization and t rade competitiveness of those 
Members . It would inhibit the ability of developing Members  to protect their domestic digital 
industries resulting in loss of jobs and increasing poverty. All in all, that would have catastrophic 
effects on industrial developm ent and the attainment of the S DGs. The removal of the moratorium 
by no way meant that the Members would necessarily impose customs duties across the board. The 
key was policy space and to use such policy space appropriately for domestic digital industrial ization 
and the generation of local jobs in the area of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  
2.44.   In view of the above, Members needed to first have precise clarity on the scope of the 
moratorium to be well informed of the obligations that they would be taking un der that moratorium. 
Sri Lanka therefore called on Members  to carry out their work in relation to the  Work Programme in 
different Committees with the view of having clarification on the scope  of the moratorium . That 
would eventually take Members  forward to  decide on the future of the moratorium in the run up to 
MC12.  
2.45.   The representative of Namibia  associated with the statement by the African Group. The WTO, 
as a rules -based institution, provided an opportunity for economic growth and development for all 
Memb ers by reducing obstacles to international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all. Having 
said that, Namibia  pointed out that agriculture remained an important issue for negotiations with a 
view to addressing trade -distortive effects and to furth er provide African countries the opportunity 
to have  new policy space to address food security concerns through concerted efforts to ensure that 
public stockholding was considered for food security purposes.  
2.46.   On rules, Namibia thanked the Chair man of the Ne gotiating Group on Rules for the draft 
consolidated text which was currently  receiving the necessary attention by Namibia's  capital -based 
fisheries experts. Namibia looked forward to meeting the SDG Target 14.6 deadline of 2020. 
Members should however be m indful that the process of negotiations should be  transparent and 
inclusive for all Members by ensur ing the  physical participation of capital -based officials from  
fisheries ministries. On e -commerce, Namibia re -emphasise d the need to find a permanent solut ion 
on the moratorium in the midst of COVID -19. 
2.47.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
3  WORK PROGRAMME ON SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
DEDICATED SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
3.1.  The Chairman  recalled that in line with the agreement in the General Council in 2002, the Work 
Programme on Small  Economies was a standing item on the agenda and the Committee on Trade 
and Development reported regularly to the Council on the progress of work in its De dicated Sessions. 
In Buenos Aires, Ministers had adopted a Decision reaffirming their commitment to the Work 
Programme and instructing the CTD to continue its work in Dedicated Sessions under the overall 
responsibility of the General Council.  
3.2.  Ambassador Mohammad Qurban Haqjo (Afghanistan ), Chairman of the Dedicated Session of 
the CTD , recalled that , as he had reported to the General Council in May, a meeting of the CTD 's 
Dedicated Session on Small Economies had been scheduled for 26 March to be followed on the same 
day by a seminar on the opportunities and challenges for small economies in attracting investments.  
However, in light of the COVID -19 outbreak and the resulting suspension of all meetings at the WTO, 
neither the formal meeting of the Dedicated Ses sion, nor the seminar on attracting investments, 
could be held. WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  3.3.   He had recently met with the Coordinator of the SVE s Group to explore on how to take the 
work of the Dedicated Session forward  in the coming months. Based on that, and other interactions 
that he had had, he was thinking of convening a meeting of the Dedicated Session after the summer 
break. During his conversation with the SVE s Coordinator, it had been suggested that one of the 
issues that could be discussed in that meeting of the Dedicated Se ssion would be  the impact of the 
COVID -19 outbreak on the trade of small economies. Another suggestion had been for the Dedicated 
Session to look at the issue of attracting investments in small economies, and what could be done 
to facilitate that.  
3.4.  Those we re useful ideas for him to explore, and he would be in touch with the SVE Group 
Coordinator and other Members as he worked towards the formulation of the agenda for the following 
meeting of the Dedicated Session.  
3.5.  The representative of Guatemala , on behalf of the SVEs , noted that t he SVEs  Group had held 
consultations with the Chair man and had decided on the organization of a dedicated session for 
November  to discuss the pending issue on investment attraction.  
3.6.  As specified in the SVE s Group proposal contained in WT/COMTD/SE/W/40, that had been 
approved by the Committee, Members  would be discussing issues such as the relevance of 
investment attraction for the participation of SVEs in global value chains, key sectors for investment 
attraction , impact of investment in reducing trade costs , regulatory and policy frameworks and 
mobili sing investments to finance climate change mitigation and adaptation. Discussions would also 
focus on challenges faced by SVEs in the attraction of investments and on sharing  success stories.  
3.7.  In addition to that topic, the Group had also decided to include an agenda item on the topic of 
"Effects of COVID -19 Pandemic on Small Economies ". It was important to discuss the challenges 
that small economies were facing at that t ime and that they would subsequently face as a 
consequence of the pandemic . The SVEs  hoped that the discussion could shed some light on possible 
support for the m in order to overcome the negative effects of th e crisis, rebuild their economies and 
enhance t heir participation in world trade.  
3.8.  The representative of Fiji associated  with the statements made by  the SVEs, the Pacific Group 
and the ACP. The Chair man of the Work Programme on Small Economies had underlined the various 
challenges and complexities that small economies faced given the vulnerable and volatile nature of 
small economies and their susceptibility to threats posed by climate change, natural disasters, 
coupled by their economic fragility due to reliance to a predictable service sector. A key poi nt of 
discussion had been the effect on small economies and the global economy of the COVID -19 
pandemic.  
3.9.  The impact of the COVID -19 pandemic was already taking a heavy toll on Fiji's tourism sector. 
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organizatio n, the pandemic would result in a 
contraction of the tourism sector by 20% to 30% in 2020. That was a substantial figure. Because of 
the heavy reliance by small economies on their tourism industry, the consequences were already 
and would continue to be dev astating.  
3.10.   Small economies heavily relied on foreign tourists and with the existing estimate of an 80% 
drop in air traffic globally, the impact of COVID -19 related harm was cause for much concern. While 
many economic sectors were expected to recover once re strictive measures were lifted, the 
pandemic would have probably had a longer lasting impact on international tourism. That was largely 
due to reduced consumer confidence and the likelihood of protracted restrictions on the international 
movement of people . According to the World Tourism Council, the recovery time for visitors to a 
destination was about 19 months.  
3.11.   The SVEs  were most vulnerable not only because of their high dependence on tourism but 
also because any shock of such a magnitude w as difficult to manage for them. Overall, travel and 
tourism in those economies generated approximately 30 billion dollars a year. A decline in tourism 
receipts by 25% would result in a USD 7.4 billion or 7.3% fall in GDP. The COVID -19 pandemic had 
directly resulted in unprecedented levels of revenue loss without the alternative sources of foreign 
exchange revenue necessary to service e xternal debt and pay for imports.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  3.12.   In light of that, it was evident that without international assistance and investment, the 
economic consequences of the pandemic would be devastating for most, if not all, of the small 
economies. Members would need to holi stically review their stand on small economies and to use 
the multilateral trading system as a conduit to ease such a burden. Fiji urged Members to support 
the Work Programme on Small Economies as mandated under the Doha Ministerial Declaration and 
to prov ide flexibilities, where relevant, through th e multilateral trading system targeting those 
groups of economies.  
3.13.   The representative of Saint Lucia , on behalf of CARICOM , said that it was evident from the 
report that the plans to advance the discussions in the CTD Dedicated Session on the Work 
Programme on Small Economies had suffered an unfortunate setback due to the onset of the 
pandemic , particularly as it related to th e planned seminars on investment. That notwithstanding, 
the CARICOM Group was committed and stood ready to reengage as it viewed the advancement of 
that Work Programme as critical to facilitating the realization of solutions which could have led to a 
more meaningful participation in global trade.  
3.14.   The CARICOM Group  was encouraged by the willingness of Members to continue to engage in 
discussions aimed at finding practical solutions to those trade related challenges that hindered their 
beneficial participatio n in global trade. It was in th at spirit that the CARICOM Group was seeking to 
identify existing and new priorities that it believed were deserving of Members' consideration for 
future work under the Work Programme on Small Economies. While CARICOM  recogni sed the unique 
and unprecedented impact of the pandemic on economic and social structures across the globe, it 
was evident that those impacts on small and structurally vulnerable economies had been severe and 
acute and had threatened to rollback many of th e developmental gains achieved over the past 
decades.  
3.15.   Uniquely, th e very time that Members were considering economic and other responses to the 
pandemic, CARICOM Member States were also preparing to address the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane 
Season. Severe and fr equent hydrometeorological events were the undesirable phenomena that 
most adversely affected the trading capacity of the Caribbean countries, be it through disruption of 
the agricultural sector, damage to physical infrastructure, disruptions to existing s upply chains or 
through damage and other disruptions to social systems. It was for th at reason that CARICOM 
Member States  believed strongly that time was ripe for Members  to build on the findings of the 
Secretariat's good work on the link between natural d isasters and trade by directing more focus and 
attention to that important topic.  
3.16.   One way in which Members  could complement the ongoing efforts to reduce trade cost for 
SVEs and better integrate them into global value chains was to expand their conversatio n and 
analysis to include those new ways of conducting trade which the pandemic had already brought 
into sharp focus. In that regard, t he CARICOM Group  envisaged a work programme that also took 
into account technology and ITC infrastructure deficits that h indered  the capacity  of small economies  
to participate in digital trade.  
3.17.   The representative of Vanuatu , on behalf of the Pacific Group , welcomed the dedicated session 
on 2 November focused on investment attraction for SVEs. It had been often highlighted th at the 
Pacific Group consisted of small, open economies, dependent on a narrow range of exports and were 
highly susceptible to external economic and other shocks like the COVID -19 pandemic. The 
experience from COVID -19 had reinforced the perception on thei r vulnerability to depending heavily 
on imports and on a few key sectors such as tourism and attracting new foreign direct investment, 
but in particular with tourism having suffered significantly in the last four months as outlined earlier 
by Fiji.  
3.18.   The Pacific Group  therefore saw investment as a very important catalyst for diversifying its 
member's  economies as a means to strengthen trade capacity and increase their trade including 
through regional and global value chains. In addition, investment – especial ly FDI – was an important 
conduit for new technology and new skills needed to improving trade competitiveness. The Pacific 
Group further welcomed the inclusion of a new topic on the impact of COVID -19 on SVEs. That would 
be very useful to better assess the  economic and trade impact of COVID -19 on SVEs and also what 
lessons could  have been drawn to prepare for future pandemics.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  3.19.   Vanuatu was scheduled to graduate from LDC status in December 2020 and the Solomon 
Islands in 2023. Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands would soon find themselves  in another vulnerable 
group – the SVEs. They would continue to be part of the Small Island Developing States. Graduation 
from being an LDC would not eliminate the negative effects arising from vulnerabilities from climate 
change,  from vulnerabilities attributed to the smallness of their economies and the rise of natural 
and emerging disasters, many of which were due to the changing environment and climate.  
3.20.   The Pacific Group  underlined the importance of the Work Programme on Small Economies and 
reminded Members of the objective that work had been mandated by Paragraph 35 of the Doha 
Declaration, "to frame responses to the trade -related issues identified for the fuller integration of 
small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system" . Vanuatu urged Members to 
engage in the CTD in November and to help frame meaningful responses to the challenges faced by 
SVEs and to better integrate SVEs into the multilateral trading system.  
3.21.   The representative of Sri Lanka  said that her country  was not an exception to many of the 
SVEs that were facing difficulties in rebuilding their economies and trying to integrate into the world 
trading system. Just before the pandemic, Sri Lanka had also gone through a difficult time the year 
before i n 2019 due to a manmade disaster. The Sri Lankan economy was about USD 84 billion and 
out of that, 5% was actually found in tourism . That 5% was extremely significant as a lot of 
communities depended on it as com pared to other  economic activities. Out of its 22 million 
population, it was estimated that over 2 million people were directly and indirectly living on tourism, 
making it inevitable in Sri Lanka's  economy.  
3.22.   Due to the manmade disaster that it had experienced in 2019, Sri Lanka was now ranked as 
a lower-middle income country from upper -middle country. It demonstrated just how one incident 
of that magnitude could really turn around a country's economic development backwards. That 
pandemic had also created another havoc – called the double jeopardy. The tourism sector was also 
hit by that pandemic and as for the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority Data, a decline of 
20% of total To urist Arrivals was evident compared to the first quarter of 2019. Moreover, the decline 
in tourism revenue for Sri Lanka could be around  USD 107 to 319 million according to Asian 
Development Bank projections.  
3.23.   All of those  demonstrated the fragility of the economies of Sri Lanka and other SVEs . It was 
not unique to Sri Lanka but to many of the small developing country economies that were Members 
of the organization . Sri Lanka therefore supported the SVEs' proposal for Members to include an  
agenda item on the  topic of the effects of  the COVID -19 pandemic on small economies. S ri Lanka 
sought the indulgence of many of its partner countries that were there that day to support that 
proposal with a view to carrying out some analysis and discussion on that agenda it em. Sri Lanka 
thanked its development partners particularly the E uropean Union , the U nited States  and other 
developed countries in supporting Sri Lanka in overcoming the crisis particularly in its tourism sector. 
Their assistance would help Sri Lanka in ov ercoming those setbacks which it had experienced in 
2019 and  in 2020.  
3.24.   The representative of Burkina Faso , on behalf of the C -4, said that t he Ministerial Decisions 
in Bali and in Nairobi on Cotton , especially on DFQF Market Access, the Elimination of Expor t 
Subsidies and aid for the Cotton Sector were very important outcomes even though the domestic 
support pillar still await ed a final decision. In terms of the development aspects of the outcomes of 
Bali and Nairobi and the mechanism in favour of Cotton, at  their meeting on 29 June between the 
C-4 and DDG Wolff, it had been agreed amongst other things to organi se an information session on 
the impact of COVID -19 in cotton producing countries on 30 July and workshops on textiles and to 
draw up support mechanis ms for cotton producers in LDCs to be submitted to the General Council 
and to continue consultations with Members of the WTO and the UN  on that matter in order to garner 
support for its adoption on 7 October during the World Cotton Day. They thank ed all de velopment 
partners for their ongoing support and invite d them to continue to support LDC Cotton Producing 
Countries' efforts in their process to integrate into international and into global value chains , 
especially in th e difficult COVID -19 context.  
3.25.   The re presentative of Barbados  associate d with the statements made by the SVEs and the 
CARICOM Group. Barbados was delighted to be in a position where Members could resume work 
under the Work Programme on Small Economies and look ed forward to their discussions i n November 
on the opportunities faced by small economies as it relate d to investment attraction. Barbados noted 
that the discussions on the draft Ministerial Decision on Small Economies would form an essential WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  part of Members'  work as they drew closer to the Ministerial Conference. Barbados however 
highlight ed the critical importance of deliberations in the WTO on the issue of natural disasters and 
trade that ha d not yet gained consensus for  discussion at the  dedicated session on small economie s. 
3.26.   The General Council took note  of the report of the Chairman of the CTD and of the statements.  
4  TWELFTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE – DATE AND VENUE  
4.1.  The Chairman  said that under the fourth item, his intention was to provide Members with an 
update on his ongoing consultations on the date and venue of MC12. As Members recalled, at the 
May meeting of the General Council, he had noted that the consultations he had undertaken further 
to the renewed offer by Kazakhstan to host the Conference in June 2 021 had shown that all 
delegations had welcomed the offer, and that no specific objection had been made to holding the 
Conference in June 2021. Some delegations had also expressed an interest in already setting a 
specific date. In that respect, a number of  options had been subsequently explored, and possible 
suitable dates had been identified in the third week of June 2021, from 21 to 24 June, specifically, 
which would have avoided scheduling conflicts with other planned international events.  
4.2.  Members also r ecalled that concerns had been however expressed that the evolution of the 
COVID -19 pandemic had remained uncertain, and that any date set at that stage would have 
necessarily needed to be considered as a "working hypothesis" subject to an ongoing evaluati on and 
review as conditions became clearer closer to the time – possibly later that year, or in early 2021. 
His recent consultations since the May General Council meeting showed that those concerns still 
remained, given the persistent uncertainty about the  evolution of the pandemic and the different 
impact s that it was presently having across different regions of the world.  
4.3.  Therefore, he would continue to consult on the matter in the context of the information he had 
provided that day in respect of possibl e suitable dates in June 2021 – that was from 21 to 24 June 
– as a "working hypothesis", and for the General Council to take a decision at the appropriate time.  
4.4.  The representative of Brazil  took note of  the Chairman's report as a working hypothesis. Brazil  
hoped that MC12 would be held as was originally planned in Kazakhstan by mid -2021. However, 
Members could not be side -tracked by logistical considerations however important they might be. If 
the original solution was not possible, Members  should set the v enue to Geneva and work on the 
dates provided by the Chairman for mid -2021. That was an opportunity that they could not afford 
to waste. They should immediately begin to prepare a meaningful package for MC12.  
4.5.  The representative of Thailand  associate d with the statement to be made by ASEAN. In light 
of the economic condition and outlook resulting at that time from the devastating effect of the 
COVID -19 pandemic, the WTO ha d a unique and vital role to play in mitigating the negative impacts 
of the pande mic and expediting economic recovery post COVID -19 through trade. Delivering 
meaningful outcome s at MC12 would be essential. In th at regard, as Members could not agree on 
the date and venue of MC12, Thailand urged all Members to exercise utmost flexibility  so that they 
could achieve consensus expeditiously.  
4.6.  The representative of Afghanistan  fully support ed and thank ed the Government of Kazakhstan 
for its renewed offer to host MC12 tentatively in June 2021 . Given the importance of the event and 
also the fact  that for the first time a Ministerial Conference was going to be convened in a country 
which was an Article XII Member of the WTO and was located in the Central Asian Region, 
Afghanistan encourage d all Members to extend their support to th at proposal.  
4.7.  The representative of Paraguay  thank ed Kazakhstan for offering to host MC12 and offer ed its 
support to reali sing MC12 at the tentative dates of 21 to 24 June 2021. The format and the limitation 
of MC12 should be assessed continuously by Members taking into ac count that the priorities and the 
resources of their governments over the next year were going to be focusing on containing the 
spread of COVID -19 and on economic recovery. Members should not  therefore  stop assessing the 
restrictions imposed nationally on movement of persons and on travel. It was important to think 
about possible contingency plans given the existing uncertainty due to the  evolution of the pandemic.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  4.8.  The representative of Namibia  joined other Members in welcoming the offer of the Government 
of Kazakhstan to host MC12 in June 2021 as a tentative date while observing how the situation of 
COVID -19 would unfold.  
4.9.  The representative of Viet Nam , on behalf of ASEAN , said that, a s expressed in its statement 
at the General Council meet ing on 29 May, ASEAN welcome d Kazakhstan's offer and support ed the 
setting  of the date and venue of MC12. A timely decision would enable Members to chart a definite 
course towards MC12 and leverage on the momentum in the negotiations. It would also provide  
Kazakhstan sufficient time to make its  preparatory arrangement s. ASEAN therefore  called for a 
decision on the matter at the General Council meeting  that day . 
4.10.   The representative of the Republic of Korea  said that MC12 was expected to be an important 
checkp oint for the WTO and its Members. Although the COVID -19 pandemic had prevented it from 
taking place as previously scheduled, the next Ministerial Conference would be crucial in displaying 
the political will of the Members to bolster the resilience and rele vance of the WTO. It would also be 
an opportunity to lay the groundwork for longer -term WTO reform. In th at regard, Korea state d its 
firm position that the next Ministerial Conference should be held in 2021 . If the situation would  not 
allow for physical me etings, Members could  consider alternative formats. On th at backdrop, Korea 
appreciate d the offer by Kazakhstan to host MC12 in Nur -Sultan in June 2021 and support ed the 
statement by the Chair man to accept th at offer as a working hypothesis. Korea look ed forward to 
working closely with other Members for a fruitful result at MC12.  
4.11.   The representative of India said that d eciding the date of the much delayed Twelfth  Ministerial 
Conference remain ed a matter of urgent priority for the WTO Membership. India thanked Kazakhstan 
for its decision to host MC12 in June 2021 at Nur -Sultan despite the continued global uncertainty 
associated with the C OVID -19 pandemic. India had suggested in the G eneral Counci l meeting on 29 
May that the Membership consider ed accepting th at proposal subjec t to the global public health 
conditions being suitable for all delegations to participate in the meeting. The certainty of dates for 
MC12 ha d the advantage of allowing Member s to work collectively towards implementing a work 
plan with appropriate markers and ambition for outcomes by then. An early decision on th at issue 
would also help mute criticism that the WTO ha d not held a Ministerial Conference at a critical time. 
India hoped that there would be clarity on the dates of MC12 soon.  
4.12.   The representative of the United Kingdom  looked forward to working with the Chairman on 
the matter  and thank ed Kazakhstan for its offer to host MC12 in June 2021. Members' priority shoul d 
be to agree on the new dates  for MC12 as quickly as possible so that they could focus their attention 
on the important business of negotiations. The United Kingdom support ed the Chairman's working 
hypothesis for the June 2021 dates. The United Kingdom  thought that all Members  agree d that they 
could not afford for MC12 to slip any further. As had been said at the Informal Heads of Delegation 
meeting on 17 April and the Special General Council Meeting on 15 May, the United Kingdom strongly 
believe d that the COVID -19 crisis should not set back the important work that the WTO ha d been 
tasked with. To that end,  it had been worth considering how Members could build on milestones in 
the lead up to MC12 where decisions could be taken. One such moment could be a Special General 
Council Meeting in December . The United Kingdom  looked forward to discussing that idea fu rther 
with Members.  
4.13.   The representative of Botswana , on behalf of the African Group , welcome d the offer by the 
Government of Kazakhstan to host MC12 in June 2021. The African Group was open to June 2021, 
preferably in the latter part of that month as had be en indicated by the Chairman , as a working 
proposal subject to the evolution of the COVID -19 crisis and the uncertainty everyone agree d it 
present ed. The African Group looked forward to engaging in further discussions on th at matter.  
4.14.   The representative of Peru said that MC12 would undoubtedly be an invaluable opportunity 
for Members to approve an ambitious raft of measures that would strengthen the multilateral trading 
system. Peru reaffirm ed how important the multilateral trading system was to global prosp erity 
particularly in the post COVID -19 period. Members should  continue monitoring the development of 
the pandemic and the possibilities for all  of them  to be able to attend an in -person meeting in Nur -
Sultan in June 2021. In light of that, Peru agree d with the Chairman's plan to continue monitoring 
how th e situation  develop ed. Members needed to see how the pandemic was going to unfold over 
the next few months. Peru felt that was the most realistic and transparent option and that would 
guarantee the participation of as many Members as possible at MC12 . WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  4.15.   The representative of South Africa  associated  with the statement made by the African Group. 
South Africa appreciated the offer by Kazakhstan. As reflected in the Chairman's repo rt, COVID -19 
was still evolving and was affecting different countries at different speeds. It was also likely to affect 
international travel for some time. South Africa welcomed the Chairman's on -going consultations on 
the date which would continue to be c onsidered as a working hypothesis. S outh Africa agreed that 
it should be continuously reviewed by the General Council based on the evolution of COVID -19. 
South Africa saw MC12 as an opportunity for the WTO to contribute to inclusive growth and 
development especially in the context of COVID -19. 
4.16.   The representative of the Russian Federation  welcome d the offer by Kazakhstan to host MC12 
in Nur -Sultan in June 2021. It was important for the whole Membership to have in mind specific 
dates for MC12 as it would be h elpful in guiding  Members' work in the WTO's substantive agenda. 
However, it was obvious that the evolution of the COVID -19 pandemic remain ed uncertain. Members 
had witnessed outbreaks of the virus in different countries and regions of the world , as well a s new 
local outbreaks in countries that ha d seemingly coped with the first wave. That was why the most 
reasonable and practical solution would be to keep the third week of June 2021 for MC12 as a 
working hypothesis as suggested by the Chairman and to rever t to th at matter in autumn during the 
next regular meeting of the General Council.  
4.17.   The representative of Burkina Faso , on behalf of the C -4, thank ed Kazakhstan for its 
willingness to host MC12 in 2021 following its postponement due to COVID -19. The C -4 hoped that 
the health situation would change significantly by then. MC12  was a very important meeting. The C -
4 would therefore join  with any consensus that Members reach ed with regard to th e organization of 
that meeting.  
4.18.   The representative of Cambodia  associate d with the statement made by ASEAN. Cambodia 
fully support ed the offer made by Kazakhstan to host MC12 in 2021 . Cambodia  thank ed Kazakhstan 
for its offer and look ed forward to working closely with all Members for the  success of MC12.  
4.19.   The representative of the European Union  said that i t was important to take a decision as to 
when MC12 would take place in order to allow the Membership to plan its work accordingly and 
define the forthcoming milestones between then and M C12. The E uropean Union  understood that 
the current situation was fluid and could change but Members' work c ould not progress without clear 
timelines. Members  could always reassess the opportunity to hold MC12 in June 2021 if that turn ed 
out to be necessar y. 
4.20.   The representative of Nigeria  associat ed with the statements made by the African Group and 
the ACP  and thanked Kazakhstan for its offer to host MC12. Nigeria emphasi sed that MC12 , at that 
critical time for the WTO , was key to Members  given the expectati on of achieving  fruitful outcomes 
at MC12 which would restore confidence and trust in the WTO by Members and the rest of the global 
community. As Members had a lot of hope and targets for MC12 , its success would reshape and 
bring back the efficiency and effectiveness of the functions of the  organization . Member should 
therefore move quickly to  ensur e that MC12 took place in 2021 if the situation or global crisis caused 
by the  COVID -19 pandemic would not pose any challenge . 
4.21.   The representativ e of Jamaica  acknowledge d the importance of convening MC12 in order to 
get Ministers to agree on important decisions as well as to provide mandates and guidance for future 
work in various areas. Jamaica thank ed Kazakhstan for maintaining its offer to host the Ministerial 
Conference. Jamaica  still fe lt that any date to be agreed must accommodate the concerns of the 
Membership including the psychological comfort of delegates as a large effect that the virus could 
have in their capitals. Additionally, it was important that the proposed date afford ed Geneva -based 
delegations adequate time to make sufficient progress in areas in respect of which they were seeking 
decisions of Ministers. Jamaica therefore took note of the dates that ha d been proposed by the 
Chair man as a working hypothesis and look ed forward to further consultations with a view at arriving 
at a date that was acceptable to all.   
4.22.   The representative of Japan  consider ed that it was highly important to make a decision on 
the date and venue of MC12 so that the WTO had a clear working hypothesis towards the future. In 
that regard, Japan welcomed the offer f rom Kazakhstan to host MC12 in 2021 . Deciding on the dates 
at an early stage was difficult but at the same time Members needed to take into account that  
normally in June every year, other major international organizations ha d some general assemblies WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  or big meetings. In order for the WTO to work very effectively and in a predictable manner , it was 
highly recommendable to make a decision at an early stage.  
4.23.   The representative of Ecuador  said that over the last few months, Members had been dealing 
with the beginnings of th e COVID -19 pandemic and consider ed the possibility of holding the 
Ministerial Conference in Geneva. Ecuador was extremely grateful to Kazakhstan for its availability 
and its generosity in offering Nur -Sultan as what would be an incredible location for a Ministerial 
Conference but , as the p andemic unfold ed and in light of the economic consequences that countries 
would have to face over the course of the next few months and even years, Ecuador thought it was 
important to keep the option of Geneva on the table for 2021. Another option was that that was 
mentioned by Paraguay – a hybrid meeting. Maybe that was something that could be explored. 
Holding the event in Geneva would  enable many Members to participate as much as possible if it 
turned out to be impossible to send delegates to Kazakhstan.  That could  be the case if circumstances 
remain ed as difficult as they were at that time . 
4.24.   The representative of Cameroon  support ed and welcome d the offer made by Kazakhstan to 
host MC12  in 2021 . Cameroon  hoped that th at Ministerial Conference would mark a new milestone 
in the future of th e organization  and remain ed open to work constructively with all delegations to 
make th at Conference a success. At the same time , Cameroon drew attention to the need for 
Members to agree  on an exact date at the best time po ssible in order to facilitate , if needed , the 
preparation s in the capitals and also to be able to see how they could have a fallback position taking 
into account the evolution of the current situation . In any event, Cameroon remained  very confident 
that the Ministerial Conference would be a success and that Members were working towards that.  
4.25.   The representative of Kazakhstan  said that, d espite the current difficult circumstances, 
Kazakhstan  remained  confident that Members would continue  their efforts and build on the progress 
made to date  to further strengthen the multilateral trading system. Kazakhstan was strongly 
committed to working constructively with all Members to ensure that the next Ministerial Conference  
would yield successful outcomes . Kazakhstan greatly appreciate d the support of all Members to its 
proposal to hold the next WTO Ministerial Conference in Kazakhstan in June 2021 , as well as to the 
proposal of the Chairman to hold th at Conference on 21 to 24 June 2021 as a workin g hypothesis.  
4.26.   The General Council took note  of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
5  PROCESS OF APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT DIRECTOR -GENERAL – STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  
5.1.  The Chairman  recalled that f ollowing the announcement made by the Director -General t hat he 
would step down on 31 August 2020, and in line with the Procedures for the Appointment of 
Directors -General contained in WT/L/509, he had  notified Members of the start of the process for 
the appointment of a new Director -General on 8 June in a communication in JOB/GC/230. In line 
with the Procedures, the deadline for the submission of nominations was 8 July. Eight nominations 
had been  received, and the relevant documentation for each candidate had been  circulated as 
received in documents WT/GC/INF/22, WT/GC/INF/23, WT/GC/INF/24, WT/GC/INF/25, 
WT/GC/INF/26, WT/GC/INF/27, WT/GC/INF/28 and WT/GC/INF/29. A consolidated list of names of 
candidate s had then been circulated in WT/GC/INF/30. Th at had concluded Phase 1 of the 
Appointment Process.  
5.2.  Members  were currently  in the second phase of the process – the period for the candidates to 
make themselves known to Members. In accordance with the Procedu res, on 15-17 July, the General 
Council had held a meeting with the eight candidates. During th at meeting, the candidates had been  
invited to make a brief presentation, including on their vision for the WTO, which had been  followed 
by a question -and-answer  period. Their presentations were being circulated in the JOB/GC/ series 
of documents4, and the formal records5 of that meeting w ould be circulated in due course. Th e 
special General Council meeting had been  one element of the Phase 2 for the candidates "to make 
themselves known to Members".  
 
4 The presentations of the candidates were subsequently circulated in documents JOB/GC/233, 
JOB/GC/234, JOB/GC/235, JOB/GC/236, JOB/GC/237, JOB/GC/238, JOB/GC/239 and JOB/GC/240.  
5 The minutes of the special General Council meeting of 15 -17 July was subsequentl y circulated in 
document WT/GC/M/185.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  5.3.  In respec t of the Appointment Process overall,  at the May General Council meeting, given the 
exceptional circumstances, he had  noted that he would be looking at consulting with Members with 
a view to establishing expe dited deadlines for the process, as necessary. Th at was in line with 
Paragraph 23 of the Procedures, which provide d that in the event of a vacancy in the post, the 
General Council Chair "may establish expedited deadlines as necessary, in consultation with 
Members". He had  informed all delegations in a communication dated 5 June that he would initiate 
those consultations and, subsequently, he had conducted consultations in various configurations 
over a period of three weeks. Following th ose consultations, he had sent a communication to all 
Members on 9 July.   
5.4.  As he had  indicated in that communication, in his consultations he had  recalled the timelines 
for the process foreseen in the Procedures, and  had sought delegations' views in particular on the 
start of Phase 3 of the process, which was the period to "narrow down the field of candidates" and 
arrive at a consensus on the appointment of the next Director -General. He had  asked delegations 
whether the duration of Phase 2 – the phase in which candidates ma de themselves known to 
Members – could be expedited, and if so, by how long.  
5.5.  All delegations that had co me forward to consult with him had  noted the importance they had 
attached to transparency and inclusiveness in th e process. Given the urgency of the sit uation, 
delegations had supported the need to establish expedited deadlines. Therefore, in his 
communication he had  indicated that on the basis of his consultations and having reflected on the 
views expressed the duration of Phase 2 would be of two months.  On th at basis, Phase 3 of the 
process w ould start on 7 September 2020. According to the Procedures, th at Phase should last no 
longer than two months. Although, it c ould be concluded within that time should the General Council 
arrive at a consensus earlier . 
5.6.  In that Phase, the General Council was directed to proceed, through a process of consultations, 
to narrow the field of candidates and ultimately to arrive at its choice for appointment. In line with 
the Procedures, the ultimate aim of the consultation pr ocess was to identify the candidate around 
whom consensus c ould be built. In order to do th at, the Procedures specif ied that it could  be 
necessary to conduct successive consultations to identify at each stage the candidate or candidates 
least likely to att ract such a consensus . 
5.7.  He also recall ed that the Procedures establish ed that in th at Phase the Chair of the General 
Council sh ould be assisted by the Chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review 
Body acting as Facilitators – Ambassador  Castillo of Honduras and Ambassador Aspelund of Iceland. 
In line with the Procedures, their task was to encourage and facilitate the building of consensus 
among Members and  assist them in moving from the initial field of candidates to a final decision on 
appointment.  
5.8.  As Members  started looking ahead at Phase 3, he thought it would be useful at th at point to 
recall how th at Phase had been  organi sed and conducted in the past, and in particular in the 
appointment process of 2013 in which there had been  nine candidates – not dissimilar from the 
present situation.  
5.9.  In the 2013  process, based on the preference that had been  expressed by Members, three 
rounds of consultations had been  conducted. And it had been  agreed that there would only remain 
two candidates in the final round, in order to facilitate the building of consensus. Given the number 
of candidates , Members had also mentioned the need to reduc e the slate of candidates efficiently, 
and to know in advance how many candidates would be expected to withdraw after each round. Th at 
had led to a shared understanding that four candidates would be expected to withdraw after the first 
round, and three after the second.  So, the profile of candidates across the rounds had been  nine-
five-two – with then the name of the candidate most likely to  attract consensus being recommended 
to the General Council for appointment.  
5.10.   Because the aim of the process was building consensus, the question to which Members had 
been expected to respond in the consultations had been : "What are your preferences ?" That had 
meant more than one, that was multiple preferences without ranking and the then General Council 
Chair had clarified that no negative preferences could be expressed. In light of the number of 
candidates, delegations had been  urged to come forward with f our preferences in the first round of 
consultations and two preferences in the second round.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  5.11.   All Heads of Delegation had been  consulted in their capacity as representatives of individual 
Members, and consultations had taken  place on a "confessional" basis.  The Chair and both 
Facilitators – and only them – had been  present during all consultations, and the positions and views 
expressed by Members had been  treated in the strictest confidence, with no information or other 
forms of indications of individual Mem bers' specific preferences being made available by the Chair 
and the Facilitators to other Members, to the candidates or to the public at large.  
5.12.   The Chair and the Facilitators, in assessing the information received and reporting to 
Members, had been  guided  by the elements set out in Paragraph 17 of the Procedures, which state d: 
"The Chair, with the assistance of the facilitators, shall consult all Members, including non -resident 
Members, in order to assess their preferences and the breadth of support for ea ch candidate. " On 
the specific aspect of the "breadth of support", the then G eneral Council  Chair had explained as 
earlier in 2005 that, " As reflected in past decisions and in experience, and based on common sense, 
'breadth of support ' means the larger mem bership ." 
5.13.   And finally, in previous processes, and in line with Paragraph 18 of the Procedures which 
stated that "The outcome of the consultations shall be reported to the membership at each stage", 
the outcome of each round of consultations had been  report ed to all Members at open -ended 
meetings of Heads of Delegation which had been  held immediately following the conclusion of each 
round of consultations – so as to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and full participation in every 
step of the process.  
5.14.   He apologised for th e rather long overview , but he said he would recall th ose elements at th at 
point so that all delegations were clear on what had been  done in 2013 . And again, given that 
Members  were presently in a not dissimilar situation in respect of the number of candidates, he 
consider ed that it would be useful to be aware of th at past practice that Members  could all reflect 
upon and that c ould usefully guide them as they move d forward towards Phase 3 of th e Appointment 
Process. I n that respect, he in consultation  with the Facilitators w ould be looking at engaging with 
Members in the next few days, including through an Open -Ended Informal Meeting to be convened 
shortly with the intention that be fore the end of th e month, the details for the organization and 
conduct of Phase 3 w ould be known to all Members and all candidates.6 
5.15.   He stressed again that , in line with Paragraph 1 of the Procedures, th e process ha d to be 
guided by the best interests of  the organization, respect for the dignity of the candidates and the 
Members nominating them, and by full transparency and inclusiveness at all stages.  He did not 
expect a lengthy discussion on th e matter t hat day and as he had  said, he intend ed to convene  an 
Informal Open -Ended on th e issue shortly.  
5.16.   The representative of the Philippines  associate d with the statement to be made by ASEAN. 
The Philippines commend ed the Chair man for his steady leadership and management of the initial 
phases of the Selection Pr ocess for the next Director -General. The Philippines  joined others in 
expressing its deep appreciation for the hard work of the Chairman and the Secretariat and the 
Troika Committee that w ould be making the necessary preparations for the coming process.  
5.17.   The Philippines  also express ed its gratefulness for the three -day special G eneral Cou ncil 
meeting which had been  particularly important and efficient in the face of the practical difficulties 
and risks posed by the COVID -19 pandemic. As a result of th ose efforts, the entire Membership had 
been given the unique opportunity of interacting  live and in person  with the eight candidates for 
Director -General.  
5.18.   The challenges that the next Director -General w ould face were profoundly difficult and 
overwhelming. He or she w ould certainly be tested in the crucible of multilateral trade negotiations, 
whether in th at grand room or in the small meeting rooms and narrow corridors of the Centre William 
Rappard. The new D irector -General  should  possess the qualities, temperament and the fortitude 
necessary to lead the WTO under conditions of global and existe ntial crisis.  The Philippines was 
confident that the WTO w ould surely be in competent hands with whomsoever the Members select ed 
by consensus.  
 
6 The Chair convened Informal Open -Ended HODs meetings on 28 and 31 July. Following the discussion 
on 28 July, the Chairman announced on 31 July the modalities for the Phase 3 of the DG Appointment Process. 
The Chair's  statement was circulated in JOB/GC/243.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  5.19.   The representative of Cambodia , intervening under Items 5 and 6,  associate d with the 
statement to be made by ASEA N. Cambodia thanked the Chairman for his report  and tireless effort s 
in leading the DG Selection Process in a transparent and inclusive manner. Cambodia welcome d the 
eight candidates and congratulate d them on their good presentation and responses to Member s' 
questions at the Special Session of the General Council the previous week . With regard to the 
process, Cambodia  support ed the Chairman's  proposal as  had been  mentioned in the communication  
dated 9 July to expedite the process in Phase 2 and to narrow the field of candidates in Phase 3.  On 
the designation of an Acting Director -General, Cambodia thanked the Chairman for his leadership 
and for consulting its group coordinator. Cambodia  welcome d the proposal to designate an Acting 
Director -General who was involved, responsible and competent.  
5.20.   The representative of Paraguay , intervening under Items 5 and 6,  commended the Chairman 
for his  efforts in accelerating the process for the selection and ap pointment of the new Director -
General  and congratulate d him for organising the special General Council meeting the previous  week. 
That exercise allow ed Members  to get to know the candidates better. Paraguay  agree d with the need 
to have th ose deadlines and would like to show its  support for the Phases proposed as well as the 
need to appoint an Acting  Director -General during the interim period.  
5.21.   The representative of Viet Nam , on behalf of ASEAN , intervening under Items 5 and 6,  noted 
that t he successful serie s of General Council meetings the previous week had given  Members the 
opportunity to meet and interact with the eight distinguished Director -General candidates. ASEAN  
thank ed the Chairman  for his communication  conveyed on 9 July and for his  statement t hat day 
informing Members  of the process of DG appointment with expedited deadlines.  Given the urgency 
of having the next Director -General in office, ASEAN  support ed the Chair man's proposal for Phase 2 
of the Appointment Process to be expedited to a duration o f two months. Over the past two weeks, 
ASEAN delegations ha d had the privilege of meeting a few of the Director -General candidates. ASEAN  
encourage d all DG candidates to continue in their outreach efforts to enable Members to get to know 
them better.  
5.22.   In connection with the appointment process, ASEAN note d that an Acting Director -General 
should be designated at th e current General Council  meeting to ensure the smooth operation of the 
WTO from 1 September until the new D irector -General  could take  office. As  such, ASEAN support ed 
a decision based on document WT/L/509 paragraphs 1, 2 and 23.  
5.23.   On behalf of Viet Nam , intervening under Items 5 and 6,  said that, r egarding Phase 3 of the 
Appointment Process to establish consensus on the best candidates for the posit ion of Director -
General of the WTO without prejudice to the modalities of appointment to be agreed by Members, 
Viet Nam ha d high expectation s on the professional and on the personal attributes of the next 
Director -General. Th at include d competence; politic al experience; a good network with Members' 
capitals, international business and organizations; profound understanding of the WTO negotiating 
process and devotion to the multilateral trading system. Viet Nam  stood ready to work with other 
Members to achiev e consensus based on th ose qualifications. The process should be conducted in a 
transparent and inclusive manner.  
5.24.   On the designation of an Acting Director -General, Viet Nam suppor ted a decision based on 
competence, availability and willingness of the Direc tor-General to oversee the Secretariat during 
the transition period.  
5.25.   The representative of the United Kingdom  placed on record the United Kingdom's strong 
support to the Chairman's  efforts and those of  his co-facilitators to run consultations in line with 
expedited deadlines as necessary to the Selection Process. The United Kingdom thanked the 
Chairman  for setting out the process in 2013 so clearly t hat day and look ed forward to engaging 
with him in the coming days to finalise the necessary arrangements. The United Kingdom also 
thanked the Chairman and the  Secretariat for the excellent organization for the process  the previous 
week which  had provided the candidates with the opportunity to present their credentials to the 
Membership in an inclusive and transp arent manner.  
5.26.   The United Kingdom had been  delighted to nominate Dr. Liam Fox for the position of the next 
Director -General of the WTO. Dr. Fox ha d proven himself a passionate advocate of the WTO's rules -
based trading system with the case of experience in t he United Kingdom  and global politics having 
been both Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State to International Trade . He was equip ped to both WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  lead and moderni se the organization. Dr. Fox was a strong proponent of trade as a key to global 
prosperity and security and was well placed to ensure that the benefit of free trade truly work ed for 
all Members  and all systems.  
5.27.   The representative of Nigeria  associate d with the statements to be made by t he African Group 
and the ACP. Nigeria thank ed the Chairman  for the update report on the DG Selection Process 
currently on -going and commend ed him and the Secretariat for the manner that P hase 1 and the 
special General Council meeting held on 15-17 July  had been conducted during which all the 
candidates had presented themselves to Members. Nigeria thanked the Chairman  for sharing past 
practice on the selection of candidates by Members which would assist and guide Members in taking 
a decision on the way the current DG Selection Process  would be conducted.  
5.28.   The representative of India appreciate d the efforts  of the Chairman  in conducting the DG 
Selection Process in an open, transparent and efficient manner so far. The Chairman had  wasted no 
time in announcing th e commencement of the process and had succeeded in establishing an 
expedited timeline for Phase 2 of the process in consultation with Members. India hoped that during 
Phase 3 which had been  the most crucial phase in the whole process, the Chairman  and the co -
facilitators alike w ould ensure that it remain ed a fully transparent and inclusive process, in full 
conformity with the procedures outlined in document WT/L/509. India w ould support the Chairman's  
efforts towards that end. In that regard, India looked forward to understanding the process that he 
and the co -facilitators w ould follow during Phase 3 so that Members  were fully aware and were 
prepared for handling the various rounds o f that ph ase.  
5.29.   India reiterate d the need for completing the selection process as early as possible so that the 
WTO was not devoid of leadership during th at critical period. Therefore, India fully support ed the 
Chairman's  efforts in that direction and hope d that the  Membership w ould also work towards that 
objective. India hoped that the smooth DG Selection Process  would herald better days ahead for the 
WTO an d looked forward to actively participating in that process.  
5.30.   The representative of Kenya  commend ed the Chairman  for initiating the process of 
Appointment of the Next Director -General in earnest following the announcement by the 
Director -General of his intention to step down on 31 August 2020. Kenya  was cognizant of the 
extraordinary situation in which the Chairman  had to con duct the process and assure d him of its full 
support throughout the process. Kenya was content with the manner in which the Chairman  was 
carrying out th e exercise and believe d it would not only be concluded within the set timelines but 
would also result in the selection of the most ideal candidate for the appointment as the next 
Director -General to steer th e esteemed organization to greater heights.  
5.31.   The multilateral trading system was at its twilight and urgently require d Members to 
collectively make concerted efforts to revive it. The office of the Director -General was cardinal in the 
revival process of th e organization. Therefore, it w ould be pruden t for Members to give top priority 
to the best interest of th e organization in the selection of the new Director -General. Kenya  also 
associate d with the statement to be made  by the Africa n Group.  
5.32.   The representative of Botswana , on behalf of the African Gro up, commend ed the Chairman  
for the excellent arrangement he had  put in place for the special General Council  meeting  at which 
the candidates for the position of Director -General of the organization had been  able to make their 
presentations. The African Gro up congratulate d the candidates on their nominations and thank ed 
them for their presentations. The African Group appreciate d the Chairman's  informative report which 
had shed light on the next phase of the DG Selection Process. The African Group  also thank ed him  
for the continuous efforts he had made to consult Members on the issue.  
5.33.   The African Group emphasise d the importance of ensuring that Phase 3 of the DG Selection 
Process was underpinned by a transparent, inclusive and participatory process. In th at context, the 
African Group  recall ed its previous statement on th e matter at the General Council meeting on 
29 May in which the African Group had  brough t to light the importance of th ose principles as they 
had given Members the assurance that due process was being followed in line with the procedures. 
And that at all times, Members kn ew what to expect throughout the Selection Process. An inclusive 
and transparent process was critical to ensure that the DG Selection Process as well as the incoming 
Director -General enjoy ed the trust and confidence of all Members and parties involved.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  5.34.   The African Group  would like to remind Ambassador Castillo and Ambassador Aspelund of the 
great responsibility that the Membership ha d entrusted in them in their respective roles as  
Chairpersons of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body during Phase 3 of 
the DG Selection Process. The African Group look ed forward to engaging in further consultations on 
the matter.  
5.35.   The representative of Malaysia , intervening under  Items 5 and 6,  commend ed Ambassador 
Walker for his leadership in conducting an excellent engagement session with all the DG candidates 
the previous  week. Indeed, the session ha d provided Members with the opportunity to exchange 
views with candidates as we ll as to understand their visions and perspectives on key WTO issues. 
Malaysia  hoped that Phase 3 of the DG Selection Process w ould be conducted in a transparent and 
inclusive manner in accordance with the relevant procedures in  document WT/L/509. Malaysia  
welcome d the ongoing process of appointing  an Acting D irector -General, which should be done as 
smooth ly as possibl e, during the transition period from 1 September 2020 until the new Director -
General  would assume  office.  
5.36.   The representative of Indonesia  associate d with the statement made by ASEAN. Indonesia 
appreciate d the effort s of the Chairman  for organising the special General Council meeting to meet 
and interact with all DG candidates in person. The e xpedited deadlines  for the DG Selection P rocess  
emphasise d the urgency of having the next Director -General at the soonest possible time. For the 
sake of transparency, Indonesia support ed the Chairman's  comments and look ed forward to hav ing 
some guid ance as to how the Troika  of the three Selection Committee members led by the Chairman  
would gradually narrow down the candidates in each round.  
5.37.   The representative of Haiti congratulate d the Chairman  on his engagement and on his  
communication with regard to the DG Selection Proces s. In th at connection, Haiti support ed the 
Chairman's  proposal with regard to the second and third phases. Haiti hoped that  the process would 
be conducted  in an inclusive, transparent and participative manner.  
5.38.   The representative of South Africa  associated with the s tatement made by the African Group.  
The next D irector -General  was expected to lead an institution that was facing an existential crisis. 
The situation was further exacerbated by COVID -19 which was taking place at a time when the 
global  economy had been  in a period of low growth even before COVID -19. The World Bank state d 
in its June 2020 Global Economic Prospects Report that the global economy w ould shrink by 5.2% 
in 2020 . That would represent the deepest recession since the Second Worl d War.  
5.39.   The WTO as a Member -driven institution ha d a role to play to promote economic recovery, 
build resilience both nationally and internationally and  promote inclusive growth and development. 
The D irector -General  played a facilitative role and as the Ch air of the TNC play ed a role in assisting 
the Membership to focus discussions on mandated issues  so as to have a fair, development -oriented 
rules-based multilateral trading system  especially in the context of COVID -19. The process should  
be inclusive  and transparent and should facilitate fair and effective participation of all.  
5.40.   The representative of Peru, intervening under Items 5 and 6,  was grateful to the Chair man 
and the Secretariat for having organised th e excellent process for selecting the next 
Direct or-General. The process had gone  very well the previous  week. Peru support ed the proposal 
that the Chair man had presented as a means of moving forward expeditiously and smoothly with 
the Selection Process. That would enable the organization to agree on a n ew Director -General as 
quickly as possible based on transparency and inclusiveness. Peru was willing to work with the new 
Director -General from the first day of her or his  tenure to assist her or him in enabling the 
Membership and the organization  to rise to the challenges that they were all currently facing . Peru 
felt it was appropriate to resolve the issue of the Acting Director -General  during the current meeting 
and as quickly as possible . 
5.41.   The representative of Cameroon , intervening under Items 5 an d 6, took note of  the report 
that the Chairman  had presented under  that item and applaud ed him for his  efforts  in conducting 
the DG Selection Process . Cameroon  welcome d the clarification that the Chairman  had given 
Members  on the process going forward  and had taken note of the  relevant  details. As Cameroon had 
previously st ated, transparency, inclusiveness and clarity were pivotal if Members  were to ensure 
that the new Director -General was fully legitimate in her or his new function. Cameroon  drew 
everyone' s attention to how important it was for th e organization to ensure diversity and WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 22 - 
 
  representati on in line with Paragraph 13 of the Rules of Procedure. Cameroon  therefore hope d that 
the nominations  from Africa w ould be given particular attention. Cameroon  trusted that th e process 
would be conducted  in a transparent and inclusive manner and could move  the organization  forward . 
5.42.   Concerning the appointment of an Acting Director -General, Cameroon  felt that continuity of 
service call ed upon all  Members  to think about th at carefully and to move forward in the right 
direction. Undoubtedly, all Members knew of the importance of the issue  and in dealing with the 
matter,  Cameroon trusted that  the Chairman and the entire Membership would  keep the best 
interes ts of the organization in mind. To that end, Cameroon assured the Chairman of its full support.  
5.43.   The representative of Brazil  said that Members  needed to keep the expedited DG S election 
Process on track and to conclude it before November. Members  should be able to select the new 
Director -General  as soon as possible  and with her or his indispensable assistance to focus on the  
lead up  to the next Ministerial Conference. Th at was a critical time for the organization and the 
multilateral trading system. Members  needed to have enough time, energy and guidance to prepare 
the negotiating package for MC12.  
5.44.   The representative of Egypt  associate d with the statement made by the African Group  and 
express ed deep appreciation to the Chairman for his  efforts in organi sing the special  General Council 
meeting the previous  week and for  his continuous efforts with the Selection Process of the Director -
General on expedited deadlines in a transparent and inclusive manner.  
5.45.   The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group , congratulate d the Chairman  for his 
commitment and his efforts concerning the DG Selection Process. The LDC Group thank ed the 
Chairman  particularly for the efficiency with which he was managing th e process. The LDC Group 
considered the process  very importan t and a key part of the functioning of the WTO as a whole. For 
the LDC Group, transparency, inclusiveness and participation were key tools as they  would  enable 
Members  to see th e process t hrough its successful conclusion . 
5.46.   The representative of Jamaica  comm ended the Chairman  on the manner in which the process 
had been unfolding so far. Jamaica  had taken note of the details of the different phases and the 
expectations for the third phase. Jamaica  also t ook careful note of the Chairman's  emphasis on 
consultati ons with all Members. Like others, transparency and inclusiveness were important in th at 
very serious process of choosing the next Director -General. Jamaica  therefore look ed forward to 
being a part of the consultation process moving ahead . 
5.47.   The Chairman  said that, a s he had  indicated, he intend ed to convene an Informal Open -Ended 
meeting on the matter regarding the  details for the organization and conduct of Phase 3. He would 
be convening that meeting shortly .7 
5.48.   The General Council took note  of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
6  DESIGNATION OF ACTING DIRECTOR -GENERAL  
6.1.  The Chairman  noted that the  item was directly related to the previous one. Paragraph 23 of 
the Procedures in WT/L/509 establishe d that "in the event of a vacancy in the  post of Director -
General, the General Council shall designate one of the existing Deputy Directors -General to serve 
as Acting Director -General until the appointment of a new Director -General". As he had  noted under 
the previous item, Members  would start P hase 3 o f the process on 7 September. With the outgoing 
Director -General leaving at the end of August, the position of Director -General w ould be vacant as 
of 1 September. According to the Procedures, it was therefore necessary for the General Council to 
designate an Acting Director -General until the new one was appointed.  
6.2.  In that respect, as he had  indicated at the conclusion of the special General Council meeting 
on 17 July, he had  been engaging with delegations and group coordinators prior to th e General 
Council meeting. In th ose consultations, he had  indicated that, consistent with the language of 
WT/L/509, he saw the designation of an Acting Director -General very much as a housekeeping 
 
7 See footnote 6.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 23 - 
 
  matter to facilitate the continued running of the organization while they as Members focus ed on 
finalising the process of Appointment of a new Director -General.  
6.3.  The period Members were  looking at from 1 September until the Appointment of a new Director -
General was a limited one. Any Deputy Director -General designated as the Acting Director -General 
would be undertaking such responsibility in addition to their existing roles for which Members should 
all be grateful.  All four Deputy Directors -General ha d confirmed to him that they w ould be continuing 
to fully discharge their existing responsibilities and that they w ould support whomever Members 
designate d as the Acting Director -General. He express ed his gratitude for this on the General 
Council's behalf.  
6.4.  As the time ahead of t hat day's meeting ha d been limited, it ha d been suggested to him in his 
consultations that a little more time would be useful in reaching a decision on the designation and 
he could fully appreciate that. He therefore propose d to suspend consideration of th e agenda item 
in order to consult further with a view to making the req uired designation within the coming days. 
He would then reconvene the General Council at the appropriate moment to conclude consideration 
of the item and would be grateful for Members'  understanding as th at could  be at short notice.  
6.5.  The General Council took note  of the Chairman's report and suspended  the consideration of 
the item.  
6.6.  At the resumption of the meeting on 31 July , the Chairman  recalled that Paragraph 23 of the 
Procedures in WT/L/509 establishe d that "in the event of a vacancy in the post of Direc tor-General, 
the General Council shall designate one of the existing Deputy Directors -General to serve as Acting 
Director -General, until the appointment of a new Director -General".  
6.7.  With the outgoing Director -General leaving at the end of August, the positi on of Director -
General w ould be vacant as of 1 September. According to the Procedures , therefore , the General 
Council would need to designate an Acting Director -General until the new Director -General was 
appointed.  
6.8.  Members  would recall that, at the General Council meeting the previous  week, he had  indicated 
that he had been engaging with delegations and group coordinators in th at respect. He had  also 
indicated that – consistent with the language of WT/L/509 – he had  seen the desi gnation of an Acting 
Director -General very much as a housekeeping matter to facilitate the continued running of the 
organi zation while they as Members focus ed on the process of Appointment of a new Director -
General  – which was what they as Members were pri marily required to focus on.  In suspending the 
item, he had  noted that a little more time had been needed for additional consultations on th e 
matter.  
6.9.  He had  since continued to engage with Members and through and with group coordinators.  
Given that Members  were already well advanced in th e particular process of  Appointment of a new 
Director -General  that they were dealing with in 2020,  the period Members  were looking at from 1 
September until the Appointment a new Director -General was a limited one. Th at was a specific 
situation that Members  were witnessing at th at point in time, and in the current circumstances. As 
such, the actions  that Members  would take  that day should not be considered as creating a precedent 
for future situations where the designation of  an Acting D irector -General  could  be taking place in 
entirely different circumstances . 
6.10.   He once again recall ed that, in line with Paragraph 1 of the Procedures, th e process was 
directed towards the best interests of the organization, and guided by the fundamental principles of 
respect and dignity, transparency and inclusiveness. And he trusted that every body would agree 
that it was important that th ose guiding principles also applied to the respect and dignity of the 
Deputy Directors -General.  
6.11.   He said that, i n his consultations, he had  heard a range of different criteria. He had  heard 
different reasons for the appointment of one or other amongst the Deputy Directors -General. Some  
of the criteria advanced by delegations had been  based on geography which was irrelevant in a 
process concerned with persons of exclusively international character – and he was quoting there 
from Article IV.6 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WT O. Geography could  be relevant 
to Members, when  Members were thinking from a Member's point of view , but they were not in th e WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 24 - 
 
  process of designating  an Acting Director -General  where they were dealing with persons who were 
exclusively of an international ch aracter.  
6.12.   Other criteria he had  heard had been  based on seniority or on the attributions or tasks 
performed by each Deputy Director -General. None of the criteria and reasons that he had heard to 
appoint one or any of the Deputy Director s-General were based on rules or established procedures. 
What they were guided to do as Members, including when considering th e designation process, was 
to be taking into account and be guided by the best interests of the organization and to follow the 
principles of dignity, respect, transparency and inclusiveness. He said that he  was being as 
transparent, as inclusive with Members  as he thought  it was appropriate to be in the context of a 
formal meeting.  
6.13.   That was the basis for the solution th at was being proposed t hat day in the current 2020 
circumstances of a very limited period of time. So , what he was  proposing was that Members  
proceed ed according to an understanding. Th at understanding ha d a number of common elements 
which appl ied and woul d apply however they resolve d the matter. Those were: 
a. "This understanding applies for the period between 1st September 2020 and the date of 
formal appointment of the new D irector -General . 
b. No structural changes will be made to the Secretariat during this pe riod. 
c. All four Deputy Directors -General will continue to fully discharge their existing 
responsibilities in respect of administration within the Secretariat; engaging with external 
constituencies/stakeholders as currently; and overseeing their respective p arts of the 
Secretariat in respect of serving Members ' regular work and areas of negotiation as 
appropriate. They will also continue to maintain close contact with each other in the 
exercise of their respective responsibilities on behalf of the organizatio n. 
d. And, reflecting the existing and appropriate boundaries of governance, t he Deputy 
Directors -General will undertake these responsibilities in close consultation with Members, 
where relevant, as represented by the General Council Chair. " 
6.14.   Those were the co mmon elements of an understanding that he was proposing that Members  
took to th at matter. He asked Members if he could take that th at was acceptable as the 
understanding of the common elements that w ould apply throughout th e period of time between 1 
Septem ber and the formal appointment of the new Director -General.  To clarify, th e understanding 
would apply from th at point hence and it w ould apply throughout the period he had  specified. Should 
the Membership wish to come back to the matter of specific designation of one or any of the Deputy 
Directors -General on top of that understanding then he remain ed listening to delegations and he 
would come back to Members  with that speci fic element again. But th at common understanding 
would apply throughout the period that he had specified.  
6.15.   The General Council so agreed . 
6.16.   The Director -General  said he had taken note of the Chairman's statement. It was 
disappointing that Members ha d not been  able to agree on an Acting Director -General as had been 
provided for in the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors -General . From his perspective, that 
would have been the best outcome.  He underst ood, from what the Chairman had said , that th e 
conversa tion was still open so Members could  still come back to that. But he nevertheless t ook note 
of Members' regarding the interim administrative arrangements that w ould operate at the WTO 
between his departure at the end of August and the entry into office of his successor. For his part, 
he would do everything he could over the month ahead to ensure that the administration was handed 
over in the best possible shape with as many issues dealt with as possible.  
6.17.   During th e interim period, the four DDGs , as Members  had decided , would continue to carry 
out their current responsibilities with oversight over the same issues and Secretariat divisions that 
they ha d that day. He noted  that each of the DDGs br ought  the wealth of ex perience and skill to 
their respective roles. For seven years , three in the case of DDG Wolff, he had worked closely with 
them and had seen them engaged with both Members and the wider public. And he had  every 
confidence in their judgment and their profess ionalism. Still, having said all that, as Members kn ew, WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 25 - 
 
  some administrative actions c ould only be taken by the Director -General himself and the provisions 
did not always allow for delegation of authority for those DG -specific acts.  
6.18.   He would nonetheless be talking to the DDGs  and the Directors in charge of administration to 
try to map out special DG -specific circumstances that were likely to occur, if any, during th e 
transition period and he would try to figure out solutions that were as straight -forward as possible. 
It could  well be the case that some unforeseen situation develop ed or where the rules d id absolutely 
require action by the D irector -General and no one else – and in th ose instances, the DDGs, as 
Members  had just decided w ould be consulting with M embers through the Chairman . The DDGs and 
he would do their very best so that th e arrangement w ould work smoothly during the short period 
after his departure on 31 August and until the new Director -General took office.  
6.19.   He notice d though that the Chairman had  mentioned t he period as between 1 September and 
the date of formal appointment of the new Director -General. He wanted to clarify that he had 
understood "formal appointment " to mean  the date when  the new D irector -General would  take office 
and not the moment when she or he would be  selected. How short that period would turn out to be 
was of course in the hands of Members. He would do his very best t o ensure that it ran smoothly.  
6.20.   The Chairman  said that, c oncerning the point that the Director -General had mentioned about 
the date of formal appointment, that was something that need ed to be worked out with the new 
Director -General as a practical matter. T he mandate of the appointment was something which was 
discussed with Members.  
6.21.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
7  TURKMENISTAN – REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS (WT/L/1090)  
7.1.  The Chairman  drew attention to the communication from Turkmenistan reques ting observer 
status in the General Council and its subsidiary bodies circulated in  document  WT/L/1090, in which 
Turkmenistan had indicated its intention to apply for accession to the WTO Agreement and had 
provided a brief description of its economy and foreign trade regime, in accordance with the 
guidelines for observer status for governments in the WTO (WT/L/161, Annex 2).  
7.2.  In that regard, at the May General Council meeting, he had  announced that he would begin 
consultations on th e matter. Further to subsequent engagement with a number of delegations, he 
had sent a communication on 25 June to suggest that, if no objections or reservations had been  
received by 3 July, the General Council would conside r the request for observer status at its next 
regular meeting.  
7.3.  As he had  not receive d any objections, he underst ood that the General Council  could  be in a 
position to take action on th e matter. Unless any delegation wishe d to intervene  at that point , he 
therefore propose d that the General Council agree d to the request to grant Turkmenistan Observer 
Status.  
7.4.  The General Council so agreed . 
7.5.  H.E. Atageldi Haljanov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan in 
Geneva , speaking as an Observer , noted that t he growing trends of economic globalization in the 
modern world ha d set for Turkmenistan the task to actively integrate into the world economy and 
the system of international economic relations. Achievement of th ose tasks was possible through 
the use  of a platform for regulating and coordinating the international movement of goods and 
services such as the World Trade Organization. For th at very reason, at the beginning of 2013, 
Turkmenistan had expressed its interest in considering the possibility of joining the WTO.  
7.6.  The process of studying Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO had therefore started on 24 
January 2013 with the creation of the Special Governmental Commission on Studying Issues on 
Turkmenistan's Accession to the WTO. Over a span of time, that Governmental Commission ha d 
considered in detail all aspects of interaction with the WTO to see if it would meet the national 
interests of Turkmenistan. It had also studied the experience of other countries that ha d acceded to 
the WTO including the mul tilateral trade agreements, the GATT, the TRIMs Agreement, the WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, the Agreement on Safeguards, the GATS, the TRIPS 
Agreement, Rules and Procedures on DSU, Trade Policy Review and many other aspects.  
7.7.  In order to intensify the work and to give it a new impetus in th at direction, on 15 July 2019, 
the composition of the delegation of the Governmental Commission had been  modified which had 
brought together representatives from the key governmental agencies that were in charge of the 
country's foreign and economic activities. The Commission had conducted several meetings with its 
new Members. Also , on 11 August 2019, within the framework of the First Caspian Economic Forum, 
representatives of the WTO headed by the Direc tor of the Accessions Division had organi sed a side -
event called "National Seminar on Accession to the WTO".  
7.8.  Moreover, in order to conduct bilateral consultations with the administration of the WTO on 
concrete steps of Turkmenistan's accession, in 2019 , the Commission had sent the Executive 
Secretary of the Commission to Geneva. The outcomes of the two recent meetings of the 
Governmental Commission held on 14 April and 4 May had been  that the Commission had come into 
conclusion that Turkmenistan's particip ation as an Observer would contribute to the dynamic 
development of the national economy. Further, on 15 May, the President of Turkmenistan had 
approved the decision of the Governmental Commission and had signed the resolution entitled 
"Accession of Turkme nistan to the WTO as an Observer". According to th at document, Turkmenistan 
had sent the application letter to join as an Observer addressed to the Director -General along with  
the document entitled  "Overview of Economic Policy and Trade -Related Regime of T urkmenistan".  
7.9.  He brought  to Members'  attention that the process of accession of Turkmenistan ha d started 
with the implementation of the policy of reviewing its foreign economic activity. An additional 
impetus towards the realization of the sound work in t hat direction was given by the programme for 
the development of Turkmenistan Foreign Economic Activities for 2020 and 2025. The document 
include d the set of measures for the effective use of market mechanisms to attract foreign 
investments in various indus tries of Turkmenistan , diversify export -oriented production and 
Turkmenistan 's rapid industrialization.  
7.10.   Three main factors on which accession was beneficial for Turkmenistan included : first, the 
integration and accession of Turkmenistan to international e conomic structures w ould enable the 
country to fully strengthen its position in foreign trade as well as to carry out the comprehensive 
beneficial cooperation. Second, Turkmenistan pa id great attention to attracting investments from 
abroad and developing t rade relations with other countries of the world. Accession provide d 
guarantees and transparency for investors and the country's trading partners. Third, accession w ould 
allow Turkmenistan to move forward its position on commercial issues and find their ra pid solutions.  
Turkmenistan's  work w ould be aimed at  an all-around study of present trade rules. It would work 
on development of new principles and mechanisms that w ould meet modern realities and challenges.   
7.11.   Considering the possibility of Turkmenistan's participation in the activities of the World Trade 
Organization, studying international experience in matters related to adaptation and negotiation on 
accession to the WTO, its legal framework and adoption of t he obligations and liberalization of the 
foreign trade regime taking into account national interest was of particular relevance and of great 
practical importance for Turkmenistan. In th at regard, Turkmenistan was looking forward to 
receiving support from the Members hip on that  matter. Turkmenistan  hoped that the work of th e 
current  meeting of the General Council w ould be crowned with success.  
7.12.   The representative of Afghanistan  welcome d and praise d the submission of the application for 
Observer Status in the  General Council of the WTO and its Subsidiary Bodies by Turkmenistan.  
Afghanistan  was encouraged t hat day upon witnessing the consent expressed by Members to grant 
Turkmenistan Observer Status. Afghanistan congratulate d Ambassador Atageldi Haljanov on th at 
occasion.  
7.13.   As Turkmenistan's immediate neighbour and so far the latest Member of the WTO, Afghanistan 
was happy to note that the Government of Turkmenistan intend ed to initiate negotiations for 
accession to the WTO within five years and look ed at the Obs erver Status as a tool for their 
government to familiari se with the WTO rules and procedures and to prepare for initiation of the 
accession negotiations. Afghanistan had the same strategy which had turned out to be very helpful . 
Afghanistan therefore stron gly support ed the request made by Turkmenistan and  was happy to note WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 27 - 
 
  that an interim Ministerial Commission had been  established to examine issues related 
Turkmenistan's possible accession to the WTO which demonstrate d its seriousness to th e issue.  
7.14.   Turkme nistan border ed Afghanistan to the southeast and was a support ive and friendly 
neighbour. Afghanistan was expected to play an important role in providing a transit corridor 
connecting Turkmenistan, rich in natural resources mainly oil and gas, to South Asi a. Given the 
importance of trade in Turkmenistan's economy with a value equal to 40% of its GDP, accession to 
the WTO w ould therefore contribute in the expansion of trade and transit and ultimately regional 
cooperation in Central and South Asia.  
7.15.   Turkmenis tan was one of the top ten trading partners of Afghanistan. The Turkmenistan -
Afghanistan -Pakistan -India Gas Pipeline (TAPI) which w ould transport natural gas from the 
Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and then to India was a 
remarkable example of the cooperation potential that their countries ha d in the region. Afghanistan  
was sure that as soon as Turkmen istan join ed the WTO, its cooperation w ould go further. In wishing 
Turkmenistan all the best , Afghanistan  assure d Turkmenistan  that it could count on Afghanistan's  
full support.  
7.16.   The representative of Panama , on behalf of Article XII Members , welcome d Turkm enistan's 
application for Membership to the WTO and wish ed the delegation of Turkmenistan  an expedited and 
successful accession negotiating process. MC12 in Kazakhstan w ould be the first Ministerial 
Conference hosted by one of the Article XII Members and the Article XII Members  hoped that that 
milestone c ould result in the accession of more than one new Member to the organization.  
7.17.   The representative of Mongolia , on behalf of the LLDCs , said that p articipation of LLDCs in 
global trade was below 1%. One -third of the population of the LLDCs were still living in extreme 
poverty. On average, LLDCs continue d to pay more than double in transport costs compared to their 
transit neighbours. To meaningfully integrate them into the multilateral trading system was 
essen tial. In th at regard, the LLDCs  welcome d the request of the Government of Turkmenistan for 
Observer Status in the General Council and its subsidiary bodies which was the very first step by the 
Government of Turkmenistan towards its accession to the WTO. Tu rkmenistan's future accession to 
the WTO would lend an important voice on the issue of common concern to the developing countries 
particularly the LLDCs. Therefore , the LLDCs that were Members of the WTO express ed their full 
support to the Government of Tu rkmenistan.  
7.18.   The representative of Tajikistan  welcome d Turkmenistan's application for the individual 
Membership to the WTO and extend ed warm congratulations for other Observers and wish ed them 
pleasant and smooth accession process to the WTO. Tajikistan  associate d with the statements made 
by the  LLDCs and the Article XII Members. Accession to the WTO was an important step towards the 
expansion of trade cooperation and was an important achievement for the multilateral trading 
system. Tajikistan and Turkme nistan share d close economic ties. Tajikistan was interested in 
developing mutually beneficial relations with Turkmenistan within the framework of the WTO. 
Tajikistan  commen ded the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to become an Observer and 
looked forward to receiving the documentations it would put forward  for further consideration. 
Tajikistan highly appreciated the strong commitment of Turkmenistan to become a full -fledged 
Member of the WTO and wishe d Turkmenistan a successful accession process to  the WTO.  
7.19.   The representative of Ukraine  extended  warm words and appreciation  to the delegation of 
Turkmenistan. Ukraine and Turkmenistan ha d a long -standing, friendly relation and economic 
cooperation. Ukraine  wished the delegation of Turkmenistan a succes sful negotiation process for its 
accession to the WTO and believe d that it w ould help further the country's economic development.  
7.20.   The representative of Turkey  welcome d Turkmenistan's observer status to the General 
Council. Turkey  consider ed that as an impo rtant step for Turkmenistan in helping it craft its trade 
policies as had been implied in its communication by being fully aware of the work and discussions 
of the WTO. Turkey  also s aw the request as a reflection of Turkmenistan's valuing of the rules -based 
multilateral trading  system. Any effort to augment the inclusive nature of th e organization would 
contribute to the achievement of its goals and enhance the multilateral trading system.  
7.21.   The representative of India welcome d Turkmenistan as an Observer at the WTO and extend ed 
warm welcome to the delegation of Turkmenistan. India enjoy ed friendly and cordial relations with WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 28 - 
 
  Turkmenistan which was an important trade and investment partner of India in the Central Asian 
region. India hoped that the WTO Observer Status w ould help Turkmenistan accelerate its accessions 
process to become a full Member of the organization to reap the full benefits of the multilateral 
trading system as well as the shared objective of both their countries to enha nce prosperity of their 
people.  
7.22.   The representative of the Kyrgyz Republic  noted that t he Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of 
Turkmenistan ha d built a n especially  warm relationship and their mutual cooperation was developing 
in a spirit of sincere friendshi p and mutual respect as well as on the basis of common history, culture 
and mutual values. In August 2018, the State visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. 
Sooronbay Jeenbekov, to Turkmenistan had taken  place for the first time during which a solid 
package of bilateral documents in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres 
had been  signed. The Heads of the two States had signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, 
Strengthening Friendship and Trust between the Kyrgy z Republic and Turkmenistan which had 
brought cooperation between the countries for a higher level. Th at had opened a new page in their 
bilateral relations.  
7.23.   The Republic of Turkmenistan was among the important trading partners of  the Kyrgyz 
Republic with high potential of further growth. Based on that, there were ominous recommendations 
for th at: direct proximity and lower transportation cost in points of deliveries, among others. In 
2019, the foreign trade turnover of the Kyrgyz Republic to Turkmenistan d emonstrate d positive 
dynamics and had increased by 66% compared to 2018. In th at regard, the Kyrgyz Republic  highly 
support ed the positive initiatives of the Republic of Turkmenistan towards approaching the 
multilateral trading system and welcome d the Repu blic of Turkmenistan as an Observer of the World 
Trade Organization and wish ed every success in further stages of familiari sing itself with the WTO 
Rules and Procedures in preparation for the initiation of the accession negotiations.  
7.24.   The representative of Kazakhstan  support ed the application of Turkmenistan for Observer 
Status at the General Council of the WTO and its subsidiary bodies  and also welcome d Turkmenistan 
becoming a part of the WTO Acceding Governments as th at process w ould contribute to 
Turkmeni stan's economic development agenda to create an environment conducive to trade and 
investment and to integrate into the rules -based multilateral  trading system. Turkmenistan was an 
important partner of Kazakhstan and both countries enjoy ed free trade since  the early 90s and 
strong cooperation in the energy sector and in the area of development of transport and transit 
corridors. Kazakhstan  was looking forward to welcoming in the nearest future the launch of the 
accession process of Turkmenistan to the WTO and s tood ready to share its expertise based on its 
own experience of accession to the WTO.  
7.25.   The representative of the Russian Federation  strongly support ed the granting of Observer 
Status to  Turkmenistan in the General Council of the WTO and its subsid iary bodies. In fact, until 
that day, Turkmenistan ha d been the only Republic of the Former Soviet Union that had neither  been 
a Member of th e organization nor an Observer in it. Turkmenistan's decision to become an Observer 
to the WTO demonstrate d the cou ntry's objective to adhere to the rules of the multilateral trading 
system. Their observer status would assist Ashgabat to get familiar with the WTO rules and 
procedures and prepare for the launch of their accession negotiations. In th at regard, observer s tatus 
provide d for initiating negotiations for accessions to the WTO Agreement within a period of five 
years. The Russian Federation wishe d Turkmenistan success in that endeavour and pledge d to 
provide all necessary support.  
7.26.   The representative of Paraguay  associate d with the statement made by the LLDCs  and wished 
Turkmenistan every success in its work with th e organization.  
7.27.   The representative of Pakistan  congratulate d and welcome d Turkmenistan on having been 
granted  Observer Status  in the General Council of  the WTO and its subsidiary bodies . Turkmenistan 
was an important country in Central Asia for Pakistan to which it  enjoy ed excellent bilateral economic 
relations as well as regional cooperation through the ECO Framework. Pakistan  wished Turkmenistan 
all the best in its next steps for accession and look ed forward to working with its delegation.  
7.28.   The representative of Turkmenistan , speaking as an Observer , express ed its  sincere 
appreciation to all of Members for their words of support . Turkmenistan  assure d the Members hip 
that the development of the trade policy of Turkmenistan and its WTO negotiations w ould be guided  WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 29 - 
 
  by the principles of  openness and non -discrimination to all WTO Members for trade and investment 
partnerships so as to grow the econom y and transform Turkmenistan into the country with a 
competitive economy  that was fully integrated into  the rules-based multilateral trading system.  
7.29.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
8  COVID -19 INITIATIVE: PROTECTING GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY THROU GH OPEN TRADE 
- STATEMENT BY CO -SPONSORS OF WT/GC/218/REV.1  
8.1.  The Chairman  said that I tem 8 had been  requested by Australia and concern ed the COVID -19 
Initiative: Protecting Global Food Security through Open Trade including the relevant communication 
circula ted in document WT/GC/W/218/Rev.1.  
8.2.  The representative of Australia  said that, on a personal note, it had  been a privilege 
representing her country at the WTO . It had been  a pleasure working with all  of her colleagues  to 
strengthen the multilateral trading system. She wished everyone the best in th at endeavour and 
hoped that their  paths  would  cross again soon.  
8.3.  As the Chairman  had noted, Australia was  making the statement on behalf of the Cairns Group 
co-sponsors of the COVID -19 Initiative: Protecting Global Food Security through Open Trade. The 
COVID -19 pandemic was a tragedy that continue d to unfold posing unprecedented challenges to 
governments and communities. Australia's  hearts and minds were with those most impacted by the 
pandemic. It was still un certain how COVID -19 would change global agriculture and trade. All 
Members  wanted and need ed to support their agricultural sectors through th e crisis. But at th at 
critical time, it was vital that the agricultural support measures they put in place in resp onse to 
COVID -19 did not undermine global food security.  
8.4.  In June , the Cairns Group members had launched the COVID -19 Initiative: Protecting Global 
Food Security through Open Trade. It was a modest but important initiative. It s ought  to limit the 
impacts of  COVID -19 by reinforcing the importance of open markets, maintaining global supply 
chains and transparency. It was about preserving the existing global trading environment for 
agriculture and avoiding a slide into protectionism.  
8.5.  The initiative had grown  out of the need to act on the growing number of agricultural support 
measures being introduced in response to COVID -19 around the world including export restrictions 
and agricultural subsidies. It reiterate d calls for such measures to be targeted, proportion ate, 
transparent, temporary and consistent with WTO rules and ma de further restraint, timely rollback 
and the avoidance of market distortions. It call ed for an agreement for WTO Members to not impose 
export restrictions on food purchased for humanitarian p urposes. And it propose d greater scrutiny 
of COVID -19 agricultural support measures by the WTO Membership and tracking by the WTO 
Secretariat.  
8.6.  The initiative was squarely addressing the current challenges resulting from the pandemic. It 
was about ensuring Members'  agricultural markets were able to continue to function – setting them 
to build back better once they enter ed the recovery phase. Improving the transparency of measures 
Members  were all taking in response to th e pandemic mean t they were improving a ccountability. 
Improving accountability mean t improving the strength and efficacy of the multilateral trading 
system on which all  Members  so heavily depend ed.  
8.7.  If Members  relied on existing WTO notification procedures, it w ould be years, if ever, before 
they would be  able to paint an accurate picture of how COVID -19 and Members' responses to the 
crisis were impacting trade and agriculture. Australia plan ned to submit soon a list of agricultural 
support measures it had introduced in response to COVID -19 and encourage d others to do the same. 
The European Union was the first to take th at step followed by Israel – and Australia  thank ed them.  
8.8.  The initiative note d the importance of the continued agricultural reform process at the WTO. 
The WTO rules need ed updating to provide a more stable trading environment with fewer distortions 
so that it would be able to respond more effectively to temporary shocks. Australia  and the Cairns 
Group co -sponsors would welcome the support of Members and w ould also welcome their views and 
opinions  on the matter.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  8.9.  The representative of Costa Rica  noted that Costa Rica was  a net exporter of agricultural 
products and a basic net importer of grains,  so its marke ts depend ed upon predictability and 
transparency. It was extremely important to ensure that the agricultur al value chains were not 
disrupted because of the pandemic all the more so at a time of extreme fragility in which  its society 
was currently faced wit h as it d ealt with the terrible loss of human lives  and the abysmal  economic 
and social costs and impacts of th e pandemic . 
8.10.   In the WTO, there was a broad scope  for action. All Members  were in favour of transparency 
and predictability of global agricultural markets. Along th ose lines, the initiative that Costa Rica  was 
co-sponsoring t hat day contain ed specific elements on which the WTO c ould act and could provide 
immediate solutions. Costa Rica  hoped that Members w ould positively view the steps t hat the co -
sponsors  were taking and urge d them to support th e initiative.  
8.11.   The representative of Canada  said that t he COVID -19 pandemic was a global health issue that 
require d all Members to focus on health and safety of their citizens. Members should take action to 
ensure agriculture trade remain ed open and predictable as they respond ed to the crisis. Measures 
such as export restrictions and other unjustified trade measures on agriculture and agri -food 
products result ed in an unpredictable trading environme nt that could adversely affect food security.  
8.12.   On 17 June, members of the Cairns Group had launched the COVID -19 Initiative: Protecting 
Global Food Security through Open Trade to support the global agriculture and food system during 
the COVID -19 pandemic a nd limit the impact of emergency measures on global food security. Th e 
initiative identifie d specific actions to undertake in support of continuing an open trade in agriculture 
products. Through th e initiative,  the co -sponsors  commit ted themselves and call ed on Members to 
ensure that any emergency measure in agriculture in response to COVID -19 and its effects were 
targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary and consistent with WTO rules and that they 
negotiate d an agreement for WTO Members to not impose  export restrictions on food aid purchased 
for humanitarian purposes and engage d in greater transparency about agricultural COVID -19 trade 
related measures.  
8.13.   Canada fully support ed the Cairns Group statement and was actively working to inform the 
WTO of its  agricultural COVID -19 trade -related measures as soon as practicable. Canada  invite d 
other Members to join the co -sponsors  in that transparency effort.  
8.14.   The representative of Argentina  associate d with the statement made by Australia in 
connection with document WT/GC/218/Rev.1. In that document, twelve  Members had entered into 
specific commitments within the framework of the COVID -19 pandemic with a goal of protecting 
global food security through o pen trade. Argentina  appeal ed to the entire Membership to support  
the initiative which cover ed reductions and the dismantling of all measures causing trade  disruptions  
or distortions to production. A t the same time,  in line with the G20 Agreement, Argentin a had made 
a commitment  and appealed to other Members not to impose restrictions on agricultural product 
exports and foodstuffs acquired by LDCs or humanitarian agencies with a non -commercial goal of 
humanitarian food assistance.  
8.15.   Moreover, t he document  WT/GC/218/Rev.1  likewise contain ed commitments concerning 
transparency . It also appealed  to the  Secretariat to continue to carry out its monitoring activities 
concerning trade measures applied in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic. Argentina, together 
with the co -sponsors,  had reaffirmed their commitment to continue to note progress in the reform 
of the WTO with the objective of a fair, market -oriented agricultural trad ing system. Argentina 
therefore  called on  all Members to endorse the commitments reflecte d in th at document.  
8.16.   The representative of Uruguay  said that his country  co-sponsor ed the initiative submitted t hat 
day by the  delegation of Australia. Uruguay  was firmly convinced that the response to the global 
crisis of COVID -19 should be coordinated and unequivocal. It should be based upon cooperation and 
international trade with agricultural markets that were open and predictable and supply chains which 
were co nnected and functioning. International trade which was open and predictable play ed a 
fundamental role in ensuring and strengthening food security at the global level. In the current 
situation, such trade should be facilitated and not distorted nor hindered  in an unjustified way.  
8.17.   Members  should not change their positions based on restrictive narratives of food sovereignty 
and self -sufficiency. To ensure that food c ould go from the production to the consumption side WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  without a problem, importers and exporters  should take measures to contribute to the smooth 
operation of supply chains. Whereas the former should commit themselves to avoiding the imposition 
of restrictions on exports of agricultural products, the latter should avoid the imposition of unjustified 
obstacles to imports – and to consider the implementation of trade facilitating measures whenever 
possible.  
8.18.   Uruguay ha d followed with concern the announcements and implementation by some 
Members of millions of programmes and subsidies to production and st ockholding  of agricultural 
foodstuff amongst other measures in response to COVID -19. In th at sense, Uruguay  urged Members 
to be as moderate as possible in introducing measures which c ould have distorting effects on 
international markets changing the trade opportunities of third parties or principally their food 
security base. Th ose measures should be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary . They 
should not create unnecessary obstacles to trade or disturb the supply chains. They should also be 
fully in line with the obligations entered into in the World Trade Organization. Withdrawing them 
should be in as timely and effective a manner as possible. Th ose should not be maintained beyond 
the short period  for which such measures were strictly necessar y. 
8.19.   For the purposes of ensuring appropriate transparency and follow up of measures 
implemented in response to COVID -19 in agriculture, Uruguay  urged all Members to provide detailed 
information in a timely manner  on such measures to the WTO and thank ed those Members which 
had already done so. At the same time, Uruguay  encourage d the Secretariat to continue with its 
good work on the subject including in its analysis  of border measures and also of competition policy 
in connection with exports as well as domest ic support.  
8.20.   Although Uruguay  recognise d existing problems, Members  should continue with their work 
under the three negotiating pillars on agriculture  in order to make pro gress with the objective of 
carrying out a reform in agriculture th at should  be fair and market -oriented including  through  having 
positive, significant results at the next Ministerial Conference. Th at objective ha d become even more 
essential and urgent than it had been  a few months ago.  
8.21.   The representative of Brazil  noted that, during the previous week, the FAO Report on the 
State of the Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 had shown that prior to the COVID -19 
pandemic, hunger had affected 690 million people worldwide in 2019. Th at represent ed 9% of the 
globa l population – which had increas ed by nearly 60 million people from 2014. The COVID -19 
pandemic w ould likely make things worse in 2020. Their joint statement was underscored by the 
fact that open trade of food and agriculture products ha d an important role  not only in ensuring but  
also in  supporting global food security.  
8.22.   Through th e initiative, the co -sponsors had  made sixteen commitments in different areas from 
food aid to agriculture reform. They called on all Members to join their efforts to ensure that 
emergency measures in agriculture adopted in response to the COVID -19 pandemic were targeted, 
proportionate, transparent, temporary and consistent with the WTO rules. They urged also for those 
measures to  be rollbacked in a timely and effective manner.  
8.23.   The representative of Peru commended  Australia for its leadership in the Cairns Group and 
for presenting th e important initiative with the  objective of protecting global food security through 
open agricultural trade. Peru noted that it was  a co-sponsor of th at initiative . The health crisis  
triggered by COVID -19 ha d presented an unprecedented challenge to the international community  
with its actual impact on various areas yet to be known. With th e initiative, the co-sponsors  were 
reiterating the importance of openness and predictability in agricultural markets, the preservation 
of agricultural supply chains and transparency in emergency measur es adopted.  
8.24.   For those  reason s, the co -sponsors  called on Members that ha d adopted or were adopting 
emergency measures in response to the pandemic which could  have distorting effects on  agriculture 
trade to ensure that they were specific , proportionate, tr ansparent, and temporary ; that they were 
notified in a timely manner to the Secretariat and that they were withdrawn in a timely fashion in 
order to minimise the negative impact that th ose could have on international trade.  
8.25.   Those actions  were crucial not o nly to confront th e pandemic but also to support the recovery 
of their economies and for the joint efforts of all to build back better following the pandemic. Peru WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  reiterate d its commitment to continue pursuing the process of agricultural reform within the  WTO – 
one of the significant pending issues on the negotiating agenda of the organization.  
8.26.   The representative of Paraguay  said that t he economic and social crisis triggered by the 
COVID -19 pandemic ha d placed great pressure on international trade in order  to ensure the supply 
of essential goods during th e crisis which include d food. Various Members ha d implemented trade 
facilitation measures and even temporary reduction of barriers in order to respond to the demand 
of food among their population. However, and despite the fact that the global system for food 
production ha d been able to respond to the crisis and rapid changes in demand, it was necessary 
that Members  preserve d an open and predictable trading system to ensure the flow of food and to 
guarantee food security.  
8.27.   The measures adopted in order to guarantee the safety of food should  be based on 
international standards and scientific evidence. In order to avoid any unnec essary barriers to trade, 
vulnerable sectors should  receive the necessary assistance to guarantee continuity in production and 
in trade in th at difficult time. At th at extraordinary time, extraordinary measures were required but 
that should not become the new normal. It was for th at reason that Members should  ensure that 
extraordinary measures to respond to the crisis generate d by COVID -19 were lifted as the crisis and 
its effect was overcome.  
8.28.   Those measures while  in place should be targeted, specific, tran sparent and based on 
scientific evidence proportional to the problems that they sought  to respond to and most importantly 
to not affect the agriculture and the agricultural opportunities of third parties and their commitments 
undertaken within th e organiza tion. The co -sponsors of th e initiative in terms of transparency, 
reform  and domestic support in other areas were seeking to alleviate the impact of the pandemic 
and to promote economic recovery which enjoy ed the benefits of fair and open agricultural trad e.  
8.29.   Paraguay highlight ed a fundamental element of th at initiative with regard to transparency 
which s ought  to cover the different kinds of measures adopted by Members including those of 
domestic support. Although Paraguay  congratulate d the Secretariat for the monitoring work that 
they ha d carried in terms of the review mechanisms of trade policies, Paraguay  noted that some 
subsidies were not covered in that work. Agriculture subsidies should  be monitored in order to 
prevent any abuses.  
8.30.   Paraguay  had listed all measures adopted in response to the COVID -19 pandemic and th ose 
would be examined in the next meeting of the C ommittee on Agriculture . Paraguay  encourage d all 
Members to share similar documents listing th ose measures without prejudice to the notificati on 
obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture. Paraguay thank ed the European Union and Israel 
for the presentation of their measures which had already  been circulated among Members in favour 
of transparency.  
8.31.   The crisis ha d shown Members  the importance of having a predictable and open agricultural 
trade system having fluid trade in order to confront th e extraordinary situation. Paraguay  
underscored  the importance of developing disciplines which w ould allow Members  to ensure that 
future cr isis would  not impact food security and stability in agricultural markets. Paraguay  called on 
the re -initiation of negotiations in th at area as soon as possible within the reform process to pursue 
what had been stipulated in Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture. Paraguay  assure d Members  
that with the new CoA SS Chair – Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta  (Costa Rica) – Members  would 
be able to achieve significant and positive results in all pillars of reform for the next Ministerial 
Conference. The CoA SS Chair ha d Paraguay's  full support in pursuing that goal.  
8.32.   The representative of New Zealand  had joined in a number of initiatives that ha d sought to 
facilitate trade and provide stability and access to essential products in the face of th e devastating 
pandemic. New Zealand was pleased to support the Cairns Group COVID -19 Initiative: Protecting 
Global Food Security through Open Trade. COVID -19 ha d highlighted the important role that 
agricultural trade play ed in ensuring the food security and supporting the  economic well -being of 
billions of people around the world.  
8.33.   New Zealand  saw the initiative as fundamentally important to both addressing Members'  
shared and heightened global food security challenge and enabling the agriculture sector – so 
important to a wide range of Members to help contribute to their collective economic recovery. The WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  statement was open to all Members and New Zealand  strongly encourage d all of them to consider 
joining in th at important initiative.  
8.34.   The representative of Japan  consider ed that it was a vital theme to protect global food security 
under the current circumstances. Japan join ed other delegations  in stressing the importance of the 
monitoring process to promote transparency on COVID -19 related agricultural trade measures. 
Japan  recognise d that the process in the WTO ha d been functioning well as ha d been seen for 
example during the special meeting o f the C ommittee on Agriculture  held in June . From th at 
perspective, the proposed establishment of a new Working Group could cause some duplication of 
Members'  work.  
8.35.   On agriculture negotiations, Japan w ould contribute to the discussions in the CoA SS from its 
perspective as a food importing Member. In particular , Japan wished  to stress the importance of 
disciplines on export restrictions with significant importance to world trade and global food security 
which had been underlined by the COVID -19 crisis.  
8.36.   The representative of Chile extended it s gratitude to Australia for its efforts  and for present ing 
the statement of the Cairns Group on the COVID -19 Initiative: Protecting Global Food Security 
through Open Trade. The title of th e initiative was very simple. I t not only posed a challenge but 
also a solution. Chile believe d in open trade  and that it provided  a solution  to the current challenges 
Members were faced with  including in relation to food security – a principle that should always be 
upheld . As Members  faced much uncertainty , they should  not forget to likewise recognise the 
commitments that they had undertaken. Rather than looking at their own interests, Members  should  
think of the collective good that open markets and global food chains c ould provide.  
8.37.   Undoubtedly, p rotectionism, trade barriers, closing borders and interrupting markets and 
supply chains were illness es which undermine d the very basis and principles that Members  believe d 
in. Th ose had the potential to bring about highly negative damage and consequences in international 
markets particularly in agriculture markets. In that regard and as had been mentioned in various 
fora, Chile express ed its concern over the ris ing number of protectionis t measures  implemented by 
Members . Negative  impacts could also be derived  from measures enacted by certain Members with 
regard to food security which c ould cause damage to trade flows. Such impacts could also be in the 
form of market volatility and the gro wing existence of logistical issues especially during the pandemic 
– which Chile had experienced first -hand.  
8.38.   Chile also called on Members to  respect their transparency  commitments. As Members  all 
knew and as they had all repeatedly heard, transparency was the first step to greater trust between 
Members. For the same reason, it was important to highlight the commitments that they had 
undertaken during the COVID -19 period in order to reduce and minimise the economic impacts of 
the pandemic. In that regard, Ch ile reiterate d its firm commitment to the WTO negotiation process.  
8.39.   The representative of the United States  appreciate d the contribution of the Cairns Group to 
the vital issue of protecting food security during the pandemic. The United States agree d that 
avoiding unjustified disruption to agricultural trade was essential to ensure that people all over the 
world ha d access to food, fibr e and other products. Further, agriculture was a key sector of the 
global economy, employing over a quarter of the gl obal workforce, including over fifty percent of 
people in low -income countries.  
8.40.   Trade was essential in ensuring the availability of diversified, safe and nutritious food for all. 
While the United States d id not support all aspects of the proposal, it recog nised a number of areas 
of agreement and look ed forward to continuing th at discussion.  The United States maintain ed that 
all emergency measures in response to COVID -19 should  be targeted, temporary, proportionate, 
science -based, and transparent.  
8.41.   The Unite d States reiterate d its commitment to protecting public health and to complying with 
its WTO obligations. The global nature of th at public health crisis sh one a spotlight on the critical 
importance of compliance with WTO obligations to ensure that workers and consumers ha d the goods 
they need ed in those difficult times.  
8.42.   As countries worldwide turn ed their collective attention toward addressing the epic public 
health and economic crises created by COVID -19, the United States  highlight ed its deep concern WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 34 - 
 
  about China' s recent actions that were disrupting agricultural trade.  The details of China' s actions 
were contained in the US  submission to the SPS Committee  in document  G/SPS/GEN/1798  
concerning  COVID -19 testing on imported food and agricultural products and "letter of commitment" 
attestations.  
8.43.   Through its notification  in document  G/SPS/GEN/1812, China assert ed that its actions were 
to protect consumer health from transmission of COVID -19. However, the FAO/WHO Guidance cited 
by China in its notification state d clearly that there "is no evidence to date of viruses that cause  
respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging" . Rather than protecting 
consumers, China' s actions unnecessarily disrupt ed food supply chains at a time of extreme fragili ty. 
8.44.   Consistent with the Cairns Group proposal, the United States  asked that all Members base d 
their actions to protect public health and safety amid the COVID -19 pandemic on scientific principles 
and evidence of risk, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to food trade that was vital to global food 
security in th e current  crisis.  
8.45.   The representative of Singapore  appreciated the  Cairns Group members for th e timely, 
proactive and concrete initiative on protecting global food security to open trade. In particular, 
Singapore  commend ed their commitment not to impose export restrictions o r extraordinary taxes 
on food and agricultural products purchased for non -commercial, humanitarian purposes by the 
World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies as well as the call for Members to reach a 
permanent multilateral agreement on th e issue. 
8.46.   On 17 July , the World Food Programme and the FAO identified almost thirty countries that 
were on the verge of impending COVID -19 driven food crisis. Th ose countries which were mainly 
LDCs in Africa were close to the cliff's edge as the pandemic's knock o n effects ha d aggravated pre -
existing drivers of hunger. They had highlighted that no region in the world was immune and there 
were rising numbers of people being pushed over the edge into acute hunger.  
8.47.   The Report on the State of Food Security and Nutritio n in the World 2020 issued by various 
UN Agencies in July  had also indicated that between 83 and 132 million people  could be added  to 
the total number of undernourished in the world in 2020 . That was in addition to the nearly 690 
million who were already f acing hunger.  
8.48.   Hence, Singapore ha d consistently highlighted that Members should not impose export 
restrictions on foodstuffs purchased for non -commercial, humanitarian purposes by the World Food 
Programme. Singapore  welcome d the G20's reaffirmation of th e same commitment in 2020 . 
Singapore  looked forward to making th at a reality in the WTO as soon as possible because th at was 
something Members c ould and should do.  
8.49.   The representative of Ukraine  commended  Australia for its insightful presentation and other 
co-sponsors for their valuable contribution to the preparation of th e initiative which provide d for a 
response to challenges brought about by the spread of COVID -19. The COVID -19 pandemic ha d 
placed unprecedented pressure  on global health and food security adversely affecting agriculture 
and food supply chains and forcing Members to take additional measures to reduce the negative 
impact of the pandemic on their economic and social life. At the same time, the crisis  caused by 
COVID -19 ha d underlined the importance of the WTO's role in helping ensure coordination and 
coherence between action s taken by  Members  as well as advancing the agricultural reform process.  
8.50.   Ukraine was convinced that the current crisis should not jeopard ise Members'  work on the 
ongoing agricultural negotiations results of which c ould help them build resilience and find solution 
for th ose challenges. Th at would require initiative and engagement from all Members in order to be 
successful. Ukraine would like  to reconfirm its interest in looking for ways to minimise and overcome 
the negative effect of the COVID -19 pandemic including its possible second wave on agricultural 
trade and food security.  
8.51.   The representative of China  appreciate d the efforts made by the  Cairns Group on the  COVID -
19 initiative. As it was still conducting detailed analysis , China  would provide its preliminary 
reactions. China d id not prefer to set up a Working Group on the impact of the pandemic on 
agriculture. China instead  support ed the enhance ment of  the functions and the responsibilities of 
the Committee on Agriculture  in reviewing the policy matters adopted by Members in combatting WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  the pandemic to ensure they remained open, transparent and WTO rules-consistent . Before and 
after the pan demic, all the SPS measures adopted by China were based on science and prudence.  
8.52.   China strongly believe d that the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic ha d clearly further 
indicated the importance of food security issues in the WTO negotiations. China  hoped Members 
would make  a joint effort in public stockholding negotiations for a permanent solution that benefi ted 
all developing Members for food security.  
8.53.   Regarding the approach to reduce the trade distorting support in agriculture, China always 
stress ed the rule deficit and imbalance. Such elimination of the most trade distorting Aggregate 
Measurement of Support  should be the top priority in reforming relevant support policy for the 
agriculture sector.  
8.54.   The representative of the United Kingdom  welcome d the fa ct that Members were coordinating 
their collective responses to COVID -19 at the WTO as well as through other groups like the G20. 
Recognising that th at challenge should be faced together, the United Kingdom along with numerous 
other Members ha d co-sponsore d the Canada -led statement that highlight ed the  importance of 
responding to the COVID -19 pandemic with open and predictable trade in agriculture and food 
products.  
8.55.   In line with the statement made by G20 Agriculture Ministers, the United Kingdom  would 
continue to work to ensure that any emergency trade measures deemed necessary that  Members 
took were targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary; that they reflect ed their interests in 
protecting the most vulnerable; that they d id not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption 
to global supply chains including on food and that they were consistent with WTO rules.  
8.56.   The U nited Kingdom  was pivoting its Aid for Trade Programmes to help its developing country 
partners mitigate the effects of COVID -19. Through its support to the World Bank Trade Facilitation 
Support Programme, the United Kingdom  had been able to build capacity by delivering training and 
guidance on managing risks and facilitating trade during the crisis to its developing country partners.  
Through th at immediate support, the United Kingdom  had been able to help its partners in managing 
their borders and prioritising critical shipments to most effectively respond to the pandemic. The 
United Kingdom look ed forward to continu ing to work togeth er with Members to deliver a coordinated 
response to COVID -19. 
8.57.   The representative of Nigeria  said that  the disproportionate impact of COVID -19 on most 
African States had further shed light on food security difficulties as well as the related livelihood and 
extreme poverty issues experienced in the region. There was therefore need for a holistic and 
sustainable approach to address food and livelihood security difficulties. Such approach should 
include initiatives to address the structural and systemic issues undermining the competitiveness of 
local producers even in their domestic market and s tifling the livelihoods  of resource -poor farmers  
thereby triggering massive unemplo yment and avoidable migration.  
8.58.   An open and effectively connected global agriculture  supply chain ha d some beneficial effects 
on food availability. However, food availability d id not mean food accessibility. For food to be 
accessible, the need to tackle th e broader issues of livelihood security and poverty c ould not be  
overemphasi sed. Th at would  require the WTO to address the imbalance in the current WTO 
agriculture discipline that underpin ned the lopsided and disproportionate sharing of the benefits of 
global agriculture trade. A t present , Nigeria's local producers and resource poor farmers were 
struggling to cope with the economic losses and social dislocations occasioned by abysmally low 
world market price due to massive subsidy scheme s of some Members. The proposal which 
effectively require d Members to dismantle tariff on agric ultural  products w ould not address Nigeria's  
food and livelihood security difficulties. It w ould only decimate its agriculture s ector and would 
further worsen its food and livelihoo d security problems.  
8.59.   In the words of the most respected UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human 
rights, Professor Olivier De Schutter of Belgium,  "In the long term, poor net -food-importing countries 
will not be helped by being fed. They will be helped by being able to feed themselves ." Rather than 
calling on developing countries to dismantle agric ulture  tariff and allow the influx of heavily 
subsidized products, the WTO c ould actually address the issue of food and livelihood security 
difficulties of developing countries by addressing the inequities and imbalances of the current rule WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  where some Members ha d AMS entitlement as well as recourse to Special Safe guards and others d id 
not. The WTO c ould also address food and livelihood security difficulties by advancing the discussions 
on PSH beyond the Bali 'Peace Clause ' and agree ing on a decision to create a separate Annex for 
PSH programmes related subsidies. It was also pertinent that the WTO refrain ed from calling for the 
suspension of legal policy tools under Article 12 of the A greement on Agriculture  that were of critical 
importance in addressing food security issues in time s of price volatility.  
8.60.   The representative of the Europe an Union  noted that the submission presented that day  had 
been discussed in the June meeting of the Committee on Agriculture. The paper contain ed many 
elements from the statement on open and predictable trade in document WT/GC/208 – G/AG/30 
from May which the European Union had  joined as co -sponsor.  
8.61.   Looking at the proposed commitments in the paper, those under the heading of "restraint " 
did not seem to capture accurately the balance of the measures introduced so far in the wake of the 
COVID -19 pandemic nota bly considering the multibillion dollar agricultural packages which ha d been 
adopted by some major Members. Th ose would require a more detailed scrutiny by all Members 
including by the Cairns Group.  The list of proposed rollback commitments also seem ed to be missing 
any reference to the illegal export subsidies which ha d been introduced during the C OVID -19 crisis 
by at least one of the co -sponsors of the paper. They should be reflected alongside other types of 
measures.  
8.62.   As to the commitments on food aid, the European Union  agree d that th at was indeed an 
important element. International food aid should not be a way to circumvent commitments in export 
competition. To the list under point 10 , the European Union  would add that monetisation of food aid 
should be  avoided. The European Union  had long supported exempting WFP purchases from export 
restrictions. Th at was a well overdue issue which should ha d been a development friendly outcome 
of MC11 in Buenos Aires.  
8.63.   The commitments on transparency were equally very important and the E uropean Union  had 
been an advocate of transparency on C OVID -19 measures in agriculture but also more widely. It 
was a pity th erefore that none of the co -sponsors of the paper ha d submitted any report on their 
own agricultural C OVID -19 measures. The E uropean Union  had walked the walk by submitting its 
own ad hoc report on the agricultural C OVID -19 measures in June and intend ed to update it before 
the next Committee on Agriculture meeting at the end of th e month. The European Union  encourage d 
other Members, notably the co -sponsors of th e paper, to step up efforts and provide the necessary 
transparency . 
8.64.   The European Union  could support the request for an agenda item focused on C OVID -19 as 
part of future Committee on Agriculture meetings. Indeed, th at was likely to be an issue of interest 
for some months or even years to come. However, the European Union  did not see any need to 
create  a new structure such as a C OVID -19 Agricultural Working Group. With the regular agenda 
point in the Committee on Agriculture, Members  already ha d a forum to discuss such matters.  
8.65.   The representative of the Russian Federation  appreciate d Members'  attention to the issue of 
global food security and generally share d their concerns expressed in th at regard. All of the elements 
mentioned in the initiative including transparency and restraint on trade restrictive measures and 
reforming the rules were important for  mitigating the impact of COVID -19. Russia would support the 
reaffirmation of the commitments concerning food aid that was to be provided in fully grant form 
driven by needs, avoiding commercial displacement and adverse impacts on local and regional 
produc tion of markets.  The Russian Federation also suppor ted the appeal of the co -sponsors of the 
initiative held to the development of WTO rules aimed at establishment of fair and market -oriented 
agricultural trading system. At the same time, the first step should be to endeavour the level playing 
field for Member s as had been mentioned by several previous speakers on th e item. 
8.66.   The representative of Pakistan  said that t he COVID -19 situation continue d to evolve with 
considerable uncertainty across the globe. Th at was true particularly in the case of Pakistan where 
it reportedly  had yet to see the peak of the pandemic in terms of infections. While Pakistan  continue d 
to emphasise the importance of continuing open trade in agriculture products, it was important to 
understand that for many countries, domestic food produc tion and security figure d as one of the 
most important challenges. The same was true for Pakistan. Pakistan  acknowledge d the importance WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  of international trade in maintaining global supply chains and at the same time emph asised that the 
delicate balance bet ween maintaining open trade and domestic considerations should  be maintained.  
8.67.   History st ood witness that imprudent policies c ould expose poor populations of food surplus 
and food producing countries to famine. Amartya Sen, a Nobel Laureate, ha d demonstrate d in his 
seminal work on famines that even when exports were allowed unrestricted aid to the domestic 
situation, food was procured by those with higher purchasing power leaving the poor to suffer the 
consequences of famine and starvation. Th at was a perfec t instance of market failure for which 
Members  should  pay attention to the correction mechanisms already provided for in the covered 
agreements. Without th ose corrective measures such as transparently used export restrictions, 
domestic markets of poor coun tries w ould remain vulnerable to food shortages in times of global 
crisis where higher purchasing power remain ed the sole determinant on who got to buy food in an 
open market.  
8.68.   The Government of Pakistan was facing multiple challenges on several fronts alon gside 
COVID -19 including a severe locust attack on food crops. The FAO ha d warned of a serious infestation 
in Pakistan that c ould lead to a major threat to food security. According to FAO estimates, 37% of 
Pakistan's cultivable area was in immediate danger  of serious invasion. A loss of around USD 3 billion 
at 25% damage level was projected to major crops such as weed, grains and potato alone. Some 
experts believe d that locusts pose d a greater threat to Pakistan's economy than the COVID -19 
pandemic and w ould further exacerbate its already precarious food security situation. It was also 
predicted that several countries in the region could be affected by th ose attacks. Therefore, while 
Pakistan  maintain ed and recognise d that any measures taken should be tem porary and transparent, 
it also believe d in the right of each Member to use options that were consistent with WTO rules to 
ensure food security and livelihood of their populations.  
8.69.   The representative of Qatar  welcome d the communication of the Cairns Group. For many 
years, a balanced agreement on food security ha d been a priority for the State of Qatar as it was 
located in an arid area and was a net food importer. The COVID -19 crisis ha d confirmed the 
importance and urg ency of reaching an understanding on food security to ensure that all ha d access 
to sufficient food supplies whenever a crisis occurred.  
8.70.   In recent months, a number of Members including Qatar ha d called for trade of agricultural 
goods to remain open and inv ited Members to refrain from adopting trade distortive measures. While 
some Members ha d adopted trade liberalising measures to facilitate exports and/or imports of basic 
agricultural commodities, others ha d had to impose emergency measures to guarantee acc ess to 
food at times when the lives of citizens and the economy had been  severely disrupted.  
8.71.   As the COVID -19 crisis was still ongoing despite the overall resilience of agricultural markets, 
Qatar st ood by the basic principles and commitments set forth in t he joint statement to the General 
Council and to the C ommittee on Agriculture  entitled "A Call to Responding to the COVID -19 
Pandemic with Open and Predictable Trade in Agricultural and Food Products" . While Members should 
continue to ensure that restricti ons on trade of agricultural products where warranted were 
temporary, proportionate and transparent, Qatar consider ed that the Membership should also seek 
to capitalise on th at recent experience and build on the discussions on food security that ha d taken 
place over the last decade to actively reengage on th e issue with a view to reaching an agreement 
on trade and food security.  
8.72.   Qatar support ed negotiations to try to reach a balanced agreement by MC12. Such an 
agreement would allow Members  to be better prep ared for the crisis and w ould enhance 
predictability. Members should start by considering rules to increase transparency yet more 
transparency alone w ould not be sufficient to ensure that open trade and food security objectives 
could be attained. Members s hould build on past negotiations to ensure that food security related to 
agricultural and agri -food products were temporary, targeted and proportionate. For that purpose, 
Members should consider a broad review on WTO rules on Public Stockholding for Food S ecurity 
Purposes and export prohibitions and restrictions including a re -assessment of the conditions set 
forth in Article VI.a.2 of the GATT 1994.  
8.73.   Balance should  be found between the ability for developing countries to have food security 
policies that eff ectively allow ed them to ensure access of their populations to sufficient food supplies 
while limiting their restrictive and distortive effects that such policies could  have on trade of WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 38 - 
 
  agricultural products. Qatar was looking forward to further discussion s among Members on th at 
important issue with a view to rapidly advancing towards a long -term solution by MC12.  
8.74.   The representative of Botswana , on behalf of the African Group , noted that, as had been 
underscored in t he submission presented that day , the essentiality of agriculture to the global 
economy and particularly the economies of developing and LDC Members c ould not be 
overemphasised. In th at context, the African Group  stress ed that while the current crisis ha d 
highlighted the importance of keeping supply chains open, it ha d demonstrated even more the need 
for policies and measures to improve access to food for the poor and vulnerable.  
8.75.   The African Group acknowledge d the long -term objective of the Agreement on Agriculture to 
establish a fair and marke t-oriented agricultural trading system. A fair system implie d one that t ook 
into account non -trade concerns of the more vulnerable Members and that support ed a Member  to 
build more resilient agricultural sectors to be prepared for crisis and shocks. In th at context, the 
African Group  reiterate d the priorities it had  outlined in its submission on the implications of COVID -
19 in document WT/GC/219.  
8.76.   With regard to the document at hand, the African Group  sought  clarification from the co -
sponsors regarding the s ources of information to be used particularly noting that they propose d that 
the Secretariat be requested to identify, register and publish  them. That was in view of the fact that 
the document d id not state that the source of such information should be exc lusive to Members' 
notifications as per the relevant provision of Article 18 of the A greement on Agriculture . In addition, 
the African Group  would appreciate the proponents' elaboration on the need to specialise COVID -19 
Agricultural Working Group and the suggestion to have a new agenda item at the upcoming 
Committee on Agriculture  meeting on COVID -19. 
8.77.   The African Group fully subscribe d to the importance of transparency at the cornerstone of 
Members'  work. The African Group  echoed the call by the proponents  on the need for further 
transparency on agricultural COVID -19 related measures and in th at vein, the African Group  
commend ed the exchange Members  had on th e issue in the framework of the CoA SS meeting on 
18 June. The African Group  applaud ed the Secretariat for its efforts in facilitating access to 
information on such measures which were of particular benefit for MSMEs.  
8.78.   Nonetheless, it was important to take into consideration the capacity constraints facing 
developing and LDC Members in meeting their existing transparency obligation. In th at context, the 
African Group d id not share the co-sponsors' view that additional notification requirements to more 
than o ne WTO Body would be feasible for all Members.  On the issues currently being discussed in 
the CoA SS framework, the African Group w ould come back with its comments on th ose issues at 
the negotiating group's special meeting.  
8.79.   The representative of Jamaica , on behalf of the ACP Group , acknowledge d the unprecedented 
challenges posed by COVID -19 including on the agriculture sector of the ACP  economies. The ACP 
Group  also continue d to highlight the importance of the WTO in global efforts to manage the impact 
of the pandemic especially as it relate d to minimising trade imbalance and enhancing food security. 
The effectiveness of the WTO's role w ould be enhanced if national measures deemed appropriate to 
address the impact of the pandemic was targeted, temporary, pro portionate and in line with 
Members' commitments in WTO rules.  
8.80.   Importantly, the ACP Group saw  an outcome on PSH as a crucial element of the WTO's efforts 
to address the food security risks posed by COVID -19 and any similar future shock to global 
agricultur e production and trade. PSH disciplines should also allow for both existing and new 
programmes that could  become necessary t hat day but had not been foreseen in 2013. Transparency 
measures should be in line with the capacity of developing and LDC Members s o that they w ould be 
able to use the disciplines when it was necessary to do so.  
8.81.   The ACP Group  agree d that an outcome on domestic support would be effective in the WTO's 
work to manage market imbalance occasioned by crisis such as COVID -19. Imbalance in th e 
Agreement on Agriculture  should be addressed , and any outcome should be embedded with 
appropriate S&DT for developing and LDC Members.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  8.82.   The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDCs , said that i t was true that the COVID -19 
crisis seriously affected the LDC  economies and their exports as well as  their imports by paralysing 
the very functioning of their domestic enterprises because of restrictions on the movements of 
populations and the closing of borders. The LDC Group had submitted a communication in May 
tackling the same global subject and the importance of taking measures to enable a smooth flow of 
trade in agricultural products in particular during th e COVID -19 crisis which was destabilising the 
operations both of Members'  econom ies and of world trade.  
8.83.   As far as the LDCs we re concerned, it was essential to avoid food shortage which w ould 
worsen the already extremely difficult conditions in which they were combatting the pandemic. Th at 
was why the LDC  Group had explicitly requested in its communication for Members to refrain from 
imposing restrictions on the exports of agricultural products that their populations so much need ed. 
There were regulatory provisions which ma de it possible for Members to temporarily set up 
restrictions.  With the current situation on domestic stocks and production capacity, the LDC Group 
made an appeal to the solidarity and m aintenance of open trade in agricultural products.  
8.84.   It was important to closely follow the consequences of th e health crisis so that Members  could 
minimise its impact on their trade a fortiori when they were talking about medical or pharmaceutical 
products which were useful for combatting the pandemic and trade in basic agricultural products 
that were necessary to feed their populations. The LDC Group call ed on Members to remain flexible 
and to take account of th at unusual situation resulting from exceptional circumstances linked to the 
pandemic which was affecting all Members  so that the LDCs c ould continue to meet th at difficult 
challenge.  
8.85.   The representative of South Africa  associated with the statements made by the African Group 
and the ACP.  The world was facing a pandemic of a significant scale. Agriculture was one of Africa' s 
most important economic sectors making up 23 % of the continent 's GDP. In sub -Saharan Africa, it 
provide d work for nearly 60 % of the economically active popul ation. Of concern was that Africa was 
a net food importer even though it ha d 60% of arable land globally.  
8.86.   In recognition of the importance of agriculture and as a response to the pandemic, South 
Africa ha d ensured that agriculture as a sector continue d to operate during the lockdown. The 
government ha d also allowed the transit and export of food through their ports as they were 
interlinked with the region and continent. In th at regard, special certification arrangements ha d been 
implemented at border posts to ease administrative procedures in the wake of the pandemic. Th ose 
measures ha d been notified to the SPS Committee.  
8.87.   The imbalances in the Agreement on agriculture affect ed national and global agriculture 
production and trade and displace d farmers both in  the domestic and international markets. The 
more sustainable way of protecting global food security was to urgently address th ose imbalances. 
Key steps to respond to the crisis should include boosting domestic production to safeguard food 
security  and the  WTO rules should  support th at agenda.  
8.88.   That necessitate d that the WTO prioriti sed: (i) a meaningful outcome on trade distorting 
domestic support. In th at regard, South Africa  was concerned about the impact of the disposal of 
subsidised stocks at a time when producers were under immense pressure as a result of COVID -19. 
South Africa  was already experiencing the impact of th at on some of the agriculture products such 
as frozen potat o chips. South Africa  called on all Members to ensure that agricultural support 
measures remain ed within the rules provided by the multilateral trading system; (ii) preserving the 
flexibility under Article 6.2 of the A greement on Agriculture  to support low -income or resource -poor 
producers remain ed relevant; (iii) delivering on PSH for food security purposes and to make provision 
for the inclusion of new programmes; (iv) an outcome on SSM to address the destabili sing and 
crippling effects of import surges a nd downward price swings in the increasingly volatile global 
agricultural markets remain ed relevant; and, (v) dealing with trade restrictive SPS requirements as 
they add ed to the series of costs faced by exporters. While the South Africa  recogni sed the rig ht of 
Members to determine the appropriate level of SPS protection and to establish measures to that 
end, th ose should be scientifically based and not disguised restrictions.  
8.89.   South Africa s aw trade as an important aspect of a future recovery and for trade  to be part 
of a comprehensive solution that promote d production -led response to COVID -19 and food security. 
Trade facilitate d access to food during local production shocks and across different production WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 40 - 
 
  seasons and act ed to prevent domestic shortages. Op en trade alone was not sufficient and  Members  
needed a more balanced approach to food security.  
8.90.   Members  needed tailored responses that respond ed to specific challenges of Members in 
accordance with WTO agreements. One size fits all approaches could  not be sufficient in enhancing 
Members'  preparedness for future crises and to pursue economic recovery. Transparency was one 
of the important pillars of the multilateral trading system and Members  also need ed to recogni se the 
challenges that developing countries faced in meeting their transparency obligations due to limited 
capacities and resources, especially in the context of a crisis.  
8.91.   The representative of India acknowledge d the importance of coordinating the global response 
in a way that avoid ed unnecessary di sruption in the flow of critical medical and agricultural supplies. 
India ha d been playing a proactive role in ensuring the availability of vital drugs such as 
hydroxychloroquine  and paracetamol across the globe. India had donated and exported critical 
medical supplies to more than 150 countries following the outbreak of the pandemic. India had also 
put in place trade facilitation measures such as electronic filing of several trade -related documents 
to facilitate the uninter rupted movement of goods during the pandemic.  
8.92.   India agree d that emergency measures taken in the wake of the pandemic should be 
"targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary ". In India's  understanding, doing away with 
the useful and limited policy instrument of export restrictions was not a silver bullet that w ould 
guarantee the access of food for all. In fact, from what India had seen, th at wa s likely to lead to a 
flight of th ose critica l products to the highest bidder, making them inaccessible to the resource -poor 
population.  
8.93.   Export restriction was a WTO -consistent policy tool that was important to prevent critical 
domestic shortages of essential supplies. Undoubtedly, it was important that th ose export 
restrictions were imposed with restraint and were temporary. In th at context, I ndia inform ed the 
Membership that it had not imposed export restrictions on any agricultural products during the 
COVID -19 pandemic.  
8.94.   A more effective and lasti ng way to ensure the food security of the most vulnerable would be 
by agreeing to eliminate the historic asymmetries in the Agreement on Agriculture, and delivering 
on the long -standing Ministerial mandate to establish permanent, adequate and accessible 
disciplines on Public Stockholding for food security purposes by MC12.  
8.95.   On the proposal of a separate Working Group, Members were aware that the Committee on 
Agriculture ha d agreed to include a dedicated and recurring agenda item on Covid -19 in its meetings 
until such time as measures taken in the wake of C OVID -19 continue d to remain in force. India 
agree d that th at was a useful initiative to exchange information, learn from experiences of the 
Membership in tackling the pandemic and review the agricultural mea sures put in place by Members 
in the wake of C OVID -19. With a recurring agenda item on C OVID -19 and agricultural trade added 
to the agenda of all forthcoming C ommittee on Agriculture  meetings in the short term, India did not 
see the utility of having a sep arate working group on C OVID -19 and agriculture trade.  
8.96.   As a responsible Member of the rules -based multilateral trading system, India s tood ready to 
work constructively with other Members to formulate a balanced, inclusive and calibrated response 
to COVID -19 in order to protect human life, food security and restore global economic stability.  
8.97.   The representative of Indonesia  support ed the initiative which  did not only emphasise the 
importance of open trade for global food security but was also fundamental in stressing the 
significance of trade in complementing domestic production and in sustain ing the agricultural supply 
chain. While trade shoul d remain open, it was also important to not only rely on trade for food 
security. Members  should  enhance local production and maximise the capacity to increase domestic 
production for global food security in general and for domestic needs  in particular . 
8.98.   By encouraging domestic food production capacity, Members  would also reduce the 
vulnerability of small -scale farmers , in particular  given the current  pandemic situation. In the context 
of food security, Indonesia  emphasise d the importance of maintaining effo rts to achieve a permanent 
solution on public stockholding for food security an d a balanced outcome in SSM. They ha d become 
even more relevant to help face both the challenges posed by the pandemic and  the future.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  8.99.   The representative of Malaysia  said that t he COVID -19 pandemic pose d huge challenges for 
the global community. While the focus at the beginning had been on health issues, it ha d become 
clear that th e crisis w ould also have a big impact on many other areas including trade and economy.  
During  the emergence of COVID -19, nearly 900 million people worldwide had lacked access to 
adequate and sufficient food  necessitating Members to give more attention to the food security issue. 
As a co-sponsor of the initiative, Malaysia called on all Members to ensure that any emergency 
measures in agriculture in response to COVID -19 were targeted, proportionate, transparent, 
temporary and consistent with WTO rules  and fully encouraged Members to support th e initiative.  
8.100.   The representative of Australia  thank ed all those that ha d participated so actively in the 
debate on th e initiative t hat day. Australia  picked up on two points that ha d been made by a few 
Members. The first one was on the issue of transparency that had been  raised by the European 
Union. Australia again commend ed the European Union and Israel for leading the charge in preparing 
ad hoc notifications of agricultural measures. Australia was preparing a list of its own COVID -19 
agriculture support measures and w ould submit th at shortly. Australia  called on others to do likewise.  
8.101.   On the proposed Agricultural Working Group and its relationship with the Committee on 
Agriculture which had been  raised by a number of delegations including India, Botswana, Japan, 
China and the E uropean Union , Australia noted tha t the co -sponsors were  committed to working 
within the Committee on Agriculture and with the Secretariat to assess the impacts of COVID -19. 
That was why their initiative propose d the regular COVID -19 agenda  item for the meetings  of the 
Committee on Agricul ture which ha d been agreed by Members.  
8.102.   The co -sponsors  would therefore be using th at forum to further discuss transparency of 
COVID -19 related measures. The co -sponsors  believe d however that Members  should not dismiss 
other efforts including Informal Working Groups which could  also help them consider how best to 
track agriculture measures, provide a forum for sharing experiences and information and discuss 
how to respond to the current and future cri sis. Australia  looked forward to working with all to 
formulate the best way forward including the right forum to address th ose important issues.  
8.103.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
9  PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR WTO COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES ADDRESSI NG TRADE 
CONCERNS – STATEMENT BY CO -SPONSORS OF WT/GC/W/777/REV.5  
9.1.  The Chairman  recalled that t he delegation of the European Union had requested the Secretariat 
to add th at item in the agenda of t hat day's meeting.  
9.2.  The representative of the European Union , on behalf of all co -sponsors of the proposal for 
"Procedural Guidelines for WTO Councils and Committees Addressing Trade Concerns", g ave a brief 
update of their ongoing efforts to advance the proposal. The co -sponsors had  last heard Members ' 
reactions to a  revised version of the proposal at the General Council meeting of March shortly before 
physical meetings had been  suspended. They had been  encouraged by the positive feedback of many 
and the readiness to engage of all who had taken the floor.  Despite the lockdown, the co -sponsors 
had had the opportunity to continue their exchange with some Members bilaterally and they thank ed 
them for the constructive conversations.   
9.3.  Overall, it ha d been widely acknowledged that the co-sponsors ha d genuinely endeavoured to 
address the substantive concerns expressed by Members. In that regard, the European Union  would 
briefly address some recurring comments and touch upon the way forward.  The main comments of 
Members who still ha d doubts appear ed to be that (i) the proposal would somehow "impose " 
horizontal procedures upon WTO bodies thus disregarding their specificities; and  (ii) some of th ose 
procedures would jeopardise the neutrality and impartiality of the Chairs and/or the Secretariat and 
would constrain Members ' leeway as to how they could  address trade concerns.  
9.4.  First, only the part on meeting arrangements – i.e. the practicalities of convening meetings 
and circulating minutes, for example, was drafted to be binding. It was hard to imagine what harm 
could be done by having a horizontal approach to such issues whereas it would clearly increase 
predictability and facilitate Members ' participation in the discussion of trade concerns. By contrast, 
the actual guidelines proposed for considering trade concerns in WTO bodies were written in a non -WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 42 - 
 
  binding way precisely to allow for flexibility. They were intended as best practices that Members 
were encouraged to make use of to help them make progress.  
9.5.  Second, the parts involving the Chairs and the Secreta riat in the section "Informal resolution 
of trade concerns " had also deliberately been crafted to be voluntary and flexible. Actually, the co -
sponsors  were rather highlighting existing possibilities rather than creating new ones. They would 
certainly not l ike to put either the Chairs or the Secretariat in a difficult situation where they would 
risk overstepping the boundaries of neutrality and impartiality. As had already  been mentioned, th at 
Section would be non -binding on Members and was meant to provide them with tools to advance 
their discussions. The informal processes were meant as a possible complement – and not as a 
substitute – for debates in WTO bodies. Th at said, the co -sponsors  stood ready to look at suggestions 
on how th ose concerns could be acc ommodated through textual adjustments if necessary.  
9.6.  The European Union  added a comment on the issue of political will. As had been said before, 
the guidelines would certainly, and unfortunately, not end all concerns. But they could help resolve 
the "resolv able" trade concerns. Put differently, a framework to encourage dialogue could facilitate 
engagement in situations where political will could  not be obvious immediately. In light of the ever -
growing number of persistent trade concerns on various agendas, it was worth trying to do 
something about them.  
9.7.  During the past months that had been  marked by logistical and organi zational challenges due 
to the lockdown, a number of provisions of the proposal had been  de facto implemented in some 
WTO bodies – for instance focusing statements on the latest developments. The implementation of 
the whole proposal could  have made life easier had  they been in force  particular ly about improved 
timelines for convening meetings and for circulating documents to be considered at meetings, and 
a database where all documents pertaining to a trade concern were easily accessible.  
9.8.  In the coming weeks, the c o-sponsors  would continue engaging with Members. They were 
ready to consider any suggestion that could contribute to improve the proposal further. They hoped 
that the Membership w ould be able to reach consensus on th at proposal before the next Ministerial 
Conference.  
9.9.  The representative of Norway  was happy to be among the co -sponsors of th e proposal . Norway 
thank ed the European Union  for its leadership and associate d with the statement  it made  on behalf 
of the co -sponsors . Improving the efficiency of how Members conduct ed their daily business in th e 
organization was a high priority for Norway and an important part of the broader reform effort. 
Streamlining meeting arrangements w ould improve predictability for all Members , particularly for 
smaller delegations,  easing the challenges related to preparation for and participation in relevant 
Committees and Bodies of th e organization.  
9.10.   The proposal also highlight ed tools and possibilities that could  be useful additions to the 
toolbox that was available to Members on addressing trade concerns. Having more tools available 
should not be considered as an extra burden but rather as an opportunity. After, when trying to fix 
something, having a selection of relevant tools available c ould only be helpful. As the sa ying went,  
at least in Norway , "good tools are half the work ". 
9.11.   The representative of Uruguay  positively  viewed  that in Paragraph 6 the term " substantive " 
had been taken out as an adjective qualifying the description that a Member should  provide in order 
to seek responses from the other party. It was not  clear who decide d what was substantive and not. 
That could be considered somewhat restrictively being used a s a justification to not present the 
responses requested. It was also an improvement that Members were not being encouraged to refer 
to their previous interventions on the record as was currently reflected in  Paragraph 11. Members 
should have the freedom t o make use of existing mechanisms in Councils and Committees in order 
to raise their concerns and express their positions in the way that they deem ed relevant.  
9.12.   Uruguay  continue d to have doubts surrounding whether a horizontal approach as had been 
proposed was the most suitable in order to improve the streamlining of the different Councils and 
Committees each of which ha d its own specificities, rules and practices for its operations. Similarly, 
Uruguay  reiterate d its preference to avoid  the accidental effect  of having additional requirements 
upon Members where it came to adding items to the agenda of the different Councils and 
Committees. Uruguay  remain ed ready to maintain open and constructive dialogue with all interested WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 43 - 
 
  Members to improve the functioning o f the WTO regular bodies and their results particularly with 
regard to the effective settlement of the numerous trade concerns submitted to them.  
9.13.   The representative of the United States  recalled that, i n the March General Council meeting 
earlier in the year , the United States had  shared its perspectives on necessary elements for effective 
utilization of Committees, and at that time, had posed several questions to the co -sponsors in an 
effort to better understand how  they had arrived at the recommendations they were suggesting.  
9.14.   In particular, the United States had  sought to better understand why the proponents believed 
individual Committees lacked the capacity to decide for themselves how best to manage their own 
meeting arrangements and why the proponents believed that administrative changes would lead to 
increased political will among Members to use the Committees as had been intended to address 
ongoing trade concerns. The United States had  also requested clarity on why an approach that 
focused exclusively on trade concerns was appropriate for Committees that ha d an equal or greater 
focus on transparency and notification work.   
9.15.   As one of the most active Members across all WTO Committees, the United States  fully 
suppo rted efforts to rethink and revitali se Members'  collective work , both to resolve trade concerns 
and also to improve and enhance essential transparency and notifications. The United States  would 
welcome greater engagement from the proponents on its question s and concerns and hope d that 
they would be equally open to understanding the United States'  views and perspectives.    
9.16.   The representative of India support ed the need for a mechanism to address specific trade 
concerns effectively and , in that regard, the p roposal to improve the meeting procedures of the WTO 
bodies. Proposals such as indicative yearly schedules of meetings for each of the WTO bodies , timely 
circulation of the agenda and the minutes of the meetings and strengthening of the existing 
processes were welcome.  
9.17.   The proposal was still being examined in its capital. In the March General Council meeting 
earlier in the year , India had expressed its preliminary concerns over certain issues . Given the fact 
that the WTO was a Member -driven organi zation and neutrality was the core principle embedded in 
it, Members  should be cautious about any enhanced direct role of the Chair of any of the WTO bodies 
as well as that of the Secretariat in resolving trade concerns between the Members.  
9.18.   The opportunity  to bring up a trade concern in every Committee could  prompt Members to 
raise their concerns frequently across all relevant WTO bodies thereby crowding the agenda of each 
Committee and put ting strain on the precious time of such bodies and the resources of  smaller 
delegations. Further, t he requirement of submitting written responses within the strict timeline of 
20 days could be burdensome on resource -constrained Members and those with multiple layers of 
federal structures.  
9.19.   It was likewise not clear as to w hether the oral report of the Chair w ould involve any 
interpretation particularly on highly technical issues which could  be beyond the capacity of the 
respective Chair. India had been  hoping to discuss the proposal with its co -sponsors but the same 
could n ot happen due to the outbreak of the pandemic. India hoped that they could already do that.  
9.20.   The representative of Brazil  reiterate d its position that timely and complete notifications were 
an obligation for all Members – not an option. In th at sense, Brazil share d with the proponents of 
the document the objective of enhancing transparency and strengthening notifications. The proposed 
horizontal rules should not hinder the specific rules and deadlines already in force in each WTO 
Council and Committee especi ally when the specific rules and deadlines c ould guarantee more 
transparency and effectiveness. Brazil thank ed the efforts of the European Union and co -sponsors 
in reviewing the proposal once again . Brazil was  still analysing th ose modifications in Brasili a and 
looked forward to continuing the discussions with the European Union and co -sponsors.  
9.21.   The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDCs , welcome d the co -sponsors' spirit of 
openness, flexibility and being constructive. The LDC  Group agree d on the principle of potential 
benefits of better structuring and better functioning of the Councils and Committees of the WTO 
seeking to respond to the trade concerns of Members. On th at aspect of the WTO reform process, 
the LDC Group  had submitted a comm unication in December 2019 in particular expressing the fact 
that changes to procedures concerning Councils and Committees at the WTO should not bring about WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 44 - 
 
  any additional burden for LDCs given the constraints  they faced in terms of resources both in Genev a 
and in their respective capital s. 
9.22.   Among other aspects, the holding of meetings should avoid any potential overlap  and t he 
LDCs could not support any tightening of deadlines. For further details on the LDCs'  position on the 
issue of reform, they referred Members to their communication referenced in document JOB/GC/223. 
The LDC Group welcome d the constructive discussions that they had  had with the co -sponsors and 
remain ed open for further discussion. The LDCs  hoped that the concerns that they had mentioned 
would be  duly taken into account.  
9.23.   The representative of Turkey  noted that t he pandemic ha d shown many ways in which 
Members c ould render the WTO Bodies' work more efficient. Examples include d limiting remarks to 
new developments and sharing longer versions  to be placed in the minutes or through exchanges of 
written statements via certain platforms. Turkey echoed what the  European Union  had mentioned 
relating to the fact that the proposal was binding in nature only as it concerned meeting 
arrangements. Having the same procedures in all regular bodies before and after meetings  was 
ideal.  A horizontal approach in meeting arrangements would only make everything easier and would 
avoid possible problems that occurred  due to differing procedures.  
9.24.   Further, t he proposal w ould streamline the functioning of the Committees and Council s and 
would bring efficiency. For trade concerns, the relevant parts were rather flexible yet any effort that 
Members  could put forward to reach an  amicable resolution of a trade conce rn would be  invaluable 
especially in the current situation of having a  paraly sed Appellate Body. Moreover, the gathering of 
Members around th e proposal on procedural issues w ould be the first step in revitalising the 
negotiating function of the WTO and would demonstrate that the WTO could  still deliver. Turkey  
hoped Members w ould appreciate the sincere effort in addressing the concerns they ha d raised so 
far on th e proposal including on moving forward . 
9.25.   The representative of Chinese Taipei  said that, a s one of the co -sponsors of th e proposal, 
Chinese Taipei remained eager to work with other Members to improve the process of addressing 
specific trade concerns including improving the efficiency of the procedure s, facilitating the 
understanding of longstanding i ssues and providing capacity assistance, among others. If there was 
a clearer set of principles and guidelines that c ould be applied horizontally to different Councils and 
Committees and Members voluntarily t ook a small step to improve their daily work, it  would show 
Members' determination to strengthen the functioning of the WTO's third pillar in a concrete way 
which also respond ed to their urgent appeal of WTO Reform.  
9.26.   As the European Union had earlier mentioned, during the pandemic, some WTO Committees 
had taken a flexible approach to convene meetings and ha d made arrange ments concerning  the 
discussion of issues and statements raised by Members in a more efficient manner. They ha d proof 
that it w ould operate well. Chinese Taipei  was pleased to see that th at was the same direction  as 
the proposal. Chinese Taipei  called on more Members to provide comments and support th e proposal.  
9.27.   The representative of Hong Kong, China  commended  the European Union for leading  the 
efforts concerning  the proposal on procedural guidelines and for providing the updates that it ha d 
just given  Undoubt edly, the pandemic ha d caused substantial disruptions to the operations  of the 
organization . As Members  navigate d the uncertainties of the pandemic, it was perha ps worthwhile 
to ask themselves  whether,  when the day -to-day operations of the WTO bodies eventually went 
back to normal at some point in the future , Members  would really want to go about their discussions 
and deliberations in precisely the way they used t o be or would they  wish to see improvements in 
how they handle d such matters in terms of efficiency so that they w ould be better prepared for 
future storms and challenges . 
9.28.   The proposal on the table contribute d to the broader reform efforts and set out in c oncrete 
terms how Members c ould work to make the WTO 's day -to-day operation more efficient.  As a co -
sponsor, Hong Kong, China  reiterate d its support for th e proposal and encourage d other Members 
to engage actively in its development.  
9.29.   The representative of Nigeria  noted that there were no substantial difference s in the third, 
fourth and fifth revisions of the proposal . As had been stated in previous General Council meetings , 
though t he proposal contain ed some good elements,  it needed  further improvement for it to WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  effectively enhance the process of addressing trade concerns without necessarily increasing the 
burden for developing Members . To achieve the desired improvement, the challen ges undermining 
the effectiveness of the vertical procedures currently available in the regular Committees and 
Councils which necessitated a horizontal procedure should be clarified . Clarifications on the scope of 
the concerns that c ould be raised under th e proposed procedural guidelines should also be made to 
guard  against Members raising issues that  were outside the scope of existing agreements.   
9.30.   The resource and capacity constraint s of developing Members  like Nigeria ha d been further 
exacerbated by COVID -19. Members should therefore  ensure that proposals like th at would  not 
directly or inadvertently place huge burden on developing  Members that were still grappling with the 
implementation of existing obligations. The provisions of Paragraph 15 of Rev .5 offered no comfort 
to developing Members like Nigeria. In view of the foregoing, Nigeria stood  ready to further engage 
proponents of th e proposal to explore further flexibilities for developing Members  especially LDCs 
who w ould most likely encounter difficult ies in complying with the guidelines contained in th e 
proposal.  
9.31.   The representative of South Africa  took note of the communication in document 
WT/GC/W/777/Rev.5. The proposal remain ed largely the same. Members should be cognizant that 
the functioning of the WTO system, including the multilateral character of the system, had been  
carefully negotiated. They should not purport to give new mandates that could upset the delicate 
balance that had been  struck. All fundamentals of the Marrakesh Agreement should  be respected 
with regard to functions of the WTO, decision -making by consensus and amendments to WTO rules.   
9.32.   If Members  wanted those rules to change, they should follow the prescribed rules to amend 
such. S pecific trade concerns  were provided for only under certain agreements . The mainstreaming 
of STC s across all Committees and Councils would  likely increase pa ralysis in the operation of the 
organi zation and w ould negatively impact developing Members  who already d id not have capacity 
to cope with the current challenges. South Africa  did not therefore believe that horizontal 
implementation was warranted.  
9.33.   The man ner in which consideration of trade concerns was handled should not impose 
additional obligation s which could result in onerous burdens to Members especially the developing  
ones and in particular  the LDCs with capacity constraints. Encouraging submission o f written 
questions and replies on STCs within a specified period prior to the meeting w ould overstretch the 
limited human resource and institutional capacity of such Members.  
9.34.   South Africa  likewise remain ed concerned about the enhanced role that the propos ed draft 
decision afford ed to the Chairpersons of the Councils and Committees including the WTO Secretariat. 
As had been previously pointed out, South Africa  remain ed concerned that the proposed report of 
the relevant C hairperson could  divert Members ' attention away from resolving an STC to a discussion 
of the Chair's report.  
9.35.   The representative of Bangladesh  associate d with the statement made by the LD C Group . To 
avoid repetition, Bangladesh referred to its previous statement made at the General Council meeting 
on 3 March which remain ed valid for t hat day's meeting. Bangladesh w ould remain constructively 
engag ed with the proponents and other Members on th e issue.  
9.36.   The representative of Mexico  thank ed the Euro pean Union and co -sponsors for seeking 
improvements in the procedures of the Committees dealing with trade concerns. Th at work was 
however a work in progress  which needed more improvements  in its fundamental pillars . Mexico  
would continue to be closely inv olved with a constructive attitude on th at important topic.  
9.37.   The representative of the European Union  thank ed all the Members who ha d provided their 
views t hat day. They were useful contributions which the co -sponsors  would duly consider mov ing 
forward. The European Union  felt overall encouraged by the readiness by many to continue the 
discussions as they share d the overall objective to improve the day to day work of the WTO Bodies. 
The co -sponsors w ould continue to engage w ith the view to reaching a consensus on th e proposal 
as soon as possible.  
9.38.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  10  PROCEDURES TO STRENGTHEN THE NEGOTIATING FUNCTION OF THE WTO – 
STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES (WT/GC/W/757/REV.1 AND WT/GC/W/764/REV. 1) 
10.1.   The Chairman  recalled that the  item was included in the agenda by the delegation  of the 
United States  together with  the document WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 and the revised communication in 
document WT/GC/W/764/Rev.1.  
10.2.   The representative of the United States  continued to give voice to a proposition that, not long 
ago, had only been whispered in Geneva:  that the Membership's  collective inability to differentiate 
among self -declared developing Members ha d severely undermined the negotiating function of the 
WTO.  To resolve th e problem, the United States had tabled a proposal to reform eligibility for blanket 
special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations.  
10.3.   During previous meetings, the United States  had provided its perspectives on two of the four 
criteria in the US reform proposal: OECD membership and G20 membership. T hat day, the United 
States  briefly provide d its views on the other two criteria: High Income, as classified by the World 
Bank, and Share of Global Mer chandise Trade of greater than 0.5 percent.  
10.4.   The United States had  included the High-Income  classification as a criteria because th ose 
economies simply ha d many more resources at their disposal than the poorest among them, on a 
per capita basis. More should  be expected of th ose Members because they ha d more.  Yet, still t hat 
day, five of the top 11 wealthiest economies in the world ha d not renounced seeking S&D T in current 
and future WTO negotiations.  
10.5.   The fourth criteria, share of global merchandise trade, was intuitively obvious. Th ose Members 
were trade powerhouses. As a result of their enormous trade volumes, they ha d tremendous skin in 
the game. Each of them  – with no exceptions  – had the capacity and experience to defend its 
interests at the negotiating t able. It was unfair that th ose Members could ask  for the same blanket 
S&DT that was intended to assist smaller, poorer and less integrated Members.  
10.6.   The United States  was carefully considering some constructive feedback that it had  received 
just before the pandemic reached its shores. The United States  would come back to Members on its 
proposal very soon. The US S&D T proposal remain ed fundamental to its vision for WTO reform and 
it was not going away.  For that day's discussion, and given the length of time s ince Members had  
last discussed th e issue, the United States  briefly outline d why S&D T reform remain ed necessary.  
10.7.   Since the creation of the WTO in 1995, a large number of self -declared developing Members 
had significantly differentiated themselves from other Members particularly LDCs and Sub -Saharan 
African Members across a wide range of development -related indicators.  However, th at greater 
differentiation was not reflected in how they negotiate d. Other inter national institutions ha d 
attempted to adjust to the new reality , but the WTO remain ed anchored to a world that no longer 
existed. 
10.8.   Some relatively advanced, wealthy or influential Members insist ed on having access to S&D T 
in current and future WTO negotiat ions even though they ha d the capacity and experience to defend 
their interests at the negotiating table. Th ose Members believe d that only some obligations should 
apply to them while all obligations should apply to a small handful of Members.   
10.9.   That was not consistent with the desire that Members had expressed in the preamble to the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, to enter into "reciprocal and 
mutually advantageous arrangements directed to the substantial reduction of tariffs and other 
barriers to trade and to the elimination of discriminatory treatment in international trade relations ". 
10.10.   Unfortunately, trade agreements that could open new opportunities for relatively poor 
Members and deepen their integration into the global tra ding system d id not materiali se because a 
good portion of the relatively advanced, wealthy or influential economies refuse d to be bound by 
future WTO rules and commitments.  By demanding the same flexibilities as much smaller, poorer 
Members, relatively adv anced, wealthy, or influential Members create d asymmetries that ensure d 
that ambition levels in WTO negotiations remain ed far too weak to sustain viable outcomes.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  10.11.   Members c ould not find mutually agreeable trade -offs or build coalitions when significant 
players exploit ed S&DT eligibility to avoid making meaningful offers or to refuse new disciplines.  
Even if new agreements had been possible, the benefits of blanket S&D T for LDCs and other 
relatively poor Members would tend to be diluted by relatively advance d, wealthy or influential 
Members receiving the same treatment.  
10.12.   For th ose reasons, the United States  continue d to believe that the WTO face d a stark choice: 
reform or irrelevance.  The United States  looked forward to continuing its on-going conversations 
with Members on their ideas for how they could advance th at proposal and strengthen the 
negotiating function of the WTO.  
10.13.   The representative of Brazil  said that S&DT ha d been a point of intense debate at the General 
Council  and the s talemate continue d. To find a way forward, Members  should focus on the technical 
aspects of S&DT. Members  should  recognise that S&DT was, by its very nature, flexible, varied and 
evolving. Not only ha d it already evolved in the GATT/WTO system , but it also  took different shapes 
depending on the agreements and to the level of development of Members.  
10.14.   For instance, the Agreement on Safeguards provide d exemptions for developing countries 
depending on the level of their exports. In the TRIPS and other Agreements , there were provisions 
for longer timeframes in the implementation of commitments. The TFA allow ed developing countries 
to secure the provision of technical assistance to facilitate their compliance. It was also clear that 
development was not to be identi fied with S&DT. Although they were closely interlinked concepts, it 
was essential to distinguish the S&DT discussions from the larger development debate. S&DT was 
only a tool to foster development. It was not development itself.  
10.15.   It was clear that there were significant differences in capacity among developing countries. 
Some need ed S&DT more than others. For those that were not in a position to forego the instrument, 
the use of S&DT should be precise to address the specific sensitivities and needs of develo ping 
countries focusing on those with the greatest needs. Brazil had decided to begin to forego the use 
of S&DT in current and future WTO negotiations. As a matter of fairness, Brazil  urged Members to 
look at their true needs,  to recall that policy space r equire d fiscal space and to provide room for 
those developing countries especially the LDCs who need ed S&DT the most.  
10.16.   The representative of China  recalled the saying, "There is nothing more unequal than the 
equal treatment of unequal people ." It actually d id not matter whether the saying  was attributed to 
Mr. Thomas Jefferson or to someone else. What really matter ed was that it was the truth. When th at 
truth applie d in the context of the WTO it mean t that in an international organization with dev eloped 
and developing Members, non -reciprocity was a means and a principle to reali se equity.  
10.17.   Developing Members, big or small, ha d similar history. They ha d been oppressed and bullied 
for a long time in history with the tendency of lagging behind again for a long time after gaining 
independence. Currently, they were still in a state of catching up for another long and difficult time. 
Believe it or not, th ose long times were the most common characteristics of all developing countries. 
Asking a large number of developing Members to accept the same rules with developed Members 
would only lead the WTO to lose its equity.  
10.18.   From China's perspective, the reality was that almost half of China's population barely 
earned USD 5 per day which of course ma de China  a deve loping country. There was an indivisible 
relationship between developing country status and S&DT. As long as a country was a developing 
one, small or large, naturally the country face d various constraints and limitations. As such, it was 
inevitable that th e country w ould claim S&DT in some areas. For instance, China and India ha d a 
large number of subsistence farmers and they were very disadvantaged and vulnerable to compete 
with the developed countries' large scale commercial farmers – not to mention the f act that China 
had not at all enjoyed full S&DT under the Agreement on Agriculture.  
10.19.   The excessive agriculture subsidies enjoyed by the developed countries ma de things even 
worse. So , it was a natural conclusion that further erod ing their S&DT right while developed countries 
reject ed reducing their subsidies was not fair. S&DT was an institutional right of developing Members  
which they would  not give up. But it d id not mean they wanted to take the benefit everywhere. 
China was ready to ass ume more responsibility and make a greater contribution in the WTO. China  
had never p laced itself in the same position as Benin and Liberia. China  would do what it could , and WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 48 - 
 
  it would be honest and would  tell the truth if it could not. Nonetheless, China  could not agree that 
others deprive d it of its S&DT right up -front.  
10.20.   China  had taken such a pragmatic and constructive approach ever since its accession to the 
WTO. To illustrate, in the TFA, 94.5% of its commitment f ell under Category A – immediately 
implemented upon entry into force of the TFA. Only four items belong ed to Category B – 
implemented after transitional period following the TFA's e ntry into force. China ha d honoured its 
promise and had fully implemented all Category B measures within three years after entry into force 
of the agreement. In the WTO domestic regulation negotiations, China had also done its part by 
submitting an indicat ive draft schedule of specific commitments which cover ed all the commitment 
sectors opting out special treatment including the transitional period.  
10.21.   Reclassification was not a way out. The pragmatic way on S&DT was to respect the current 
practice of self -designation and respect the institutional right of the developing Members, and at the 
same time, to encourage those in a position t o do so to  make a greater contribution to the best of 
their capabilities. China was willing to do so.  
10.22.   The representative of Australia  welcome d the ongoing discussion on S&DT which it agree d 
was an important element of Members'  collective efforts to strengthen and mo dernise th e WTO. 
Australia  remain ed committed to fostering all Members' participation in global trade especially if they 
sought  to recover from the COVID -19 pandemic. Indeed, in the current climate of economic 
instability, Members'  commitment to open, rule s-based trade should  be stronger than ever.  Australia  
recognise d the value of S&DT in supporting developing countr y Members  especially LDCs to integrate 
into the multilateral trading system.  
10.23.   As Australia had  said before, S&DT should not however be an end in itself. Rather, it was 
part of a broader set of tools available to assist Members to move towards full implementation of 
WTO Agreements.  Members' needs clearly differ ed including on particular issues. So , S&DT should 
be tailored on a needs basis enablin g Members to make commitments commensurate with their 
capacity to do so. Australia  would continue to work with Members to find appropriate solutions to 
S&DT in current and future negotiations and look ed forward to participating further in th at important 
discussion.  
10.24.   The representative of the European Union  said that development was a central pillar of th e 
organi zation. The current distinction between developed and developing countries no longer 
reflect ed the reality of the rapid economic growth in some devel oping countries. Members  should 
therefore continue to work on special and differential treatment with a view to ensuring that 
flexibilities were made available to those Members who actually need ed them to enable them to fully 
benefit from their membership in the organization.  
10.25.   If the organi zation was to prosper, S&DT  should  become much more granular , in function of 
an individual Member's demonstrated needs and capacities. Future differentiation sho uld be 
designed in terms of specific individual country needs at the sectoral or activity level rather than 
calling for a block exemption of a large category of Members. Furthermore, the E uropean Union  
consider ed that each developing country  Member's  need for S&DT should be assessed on a case -by-
case basis and be evidence -based. The notable exception should be the LDCs who deserve d 
particular treatment and who in any case ha d a graduation mechanism.  
10.26.   The European Union  was open to looking into S&DT  provisio ns in future agreements such as 
the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies. The European Union expect ed to have a discussion 
with Members as to what development concern was raised by the provisions under discussion and 
what flexibility was necessary i n order to eventually allow the affected Members to fully implement 
the agreement. It was only where S&DT  respond ed to a specific need that it c ould be truly effective. 
In that context, the European Union  called on advanced WTO Members claiming developing country 
status to undertake full commitments in ongoing and future WTO negotiations. As had been 
mentioned previously, th at should particularly be the case for members of the G20 which 
represent ed the world 's most important economies.  
10.27.   The representative of  Chad, on behalf of the LDCs , welcome d the flexibility and the 
constructive spirit of the United States in the discussion s and exchange s they had on the matter . 
The LDCs  also welcome d the fact that the U nited States  remain ed sensitive to the concerns of the WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  most vulnerable Members of th e organization including the LDCs. In that regard, t he LDC Group had 
had the opportunity  to express itself on the important issue o f S&DT during the previous meeting of 
the General Council and more generally in other WTO bodies . 
10.28.   The LDC Group  reiterate d how essential S&DT was for developing Members including LDCs 
in order to give them the means to economically catch up to promote the lifting of the majority of 
their population from poverty and t o allow them to embark on a path toward s a fairer, more equitable 
and more inclusive multilateral trading system. The principle of S&DT was an integral part of the 
WTO and of its agreements. The WTO had been  founded in part on th at basis and th at should  remain 
a development instrument for those Members  that really need ed it. 
10.29.   The representative of India referred to the submission  in document  WT/GC/W/765 by India 
and some other Members where they had dealt with most of the issues raised by the United States 
in their paper. They had underlined that S&DT was a treaty embedded right at the WTO and that it 
could not be taken away based on certain arbitrary assumptions. In fact, S&DT should continue to 
underpin existing rules as well as current and future negotiations if Members were to strengthen the 
negotiating function of the WTO.  
10.30.   The COVID -19 crisis was a powe rful reminder of  the world's  inter-connectedness and no 
Member  was reliabl y insulated from a highly contagious virus as long as it persist ed anywhere in the 
world. It was however  critical to bear in mind that the negative effects of th e pandemic were being  
felt unevenly. The strain on economic, food and livelihood security was disproportionately impacting 
developing and LDC  Members  with large populations, large share of global poor and limited 
resources. They could be facing the same storm , but certainly, they were not in the same boat.  
10.31.   India once again highlight ed that the draft decision use d parameters, many of them 
unrelated to development, to target certain Members. While some developing Members could  have 
made progress, old development gaps persist ed, and in some areas ha d even widened. Moreover, 
new divides, especially in the digital and technological spheres, ha d emerged and were becoming 
more pronounced. The C OVID -19 pandemic ha d further amplified th at divide. Almost half of the 
world 's population d id not have access to high speed broadband and was hence deprived of the 
access to use of digital platforms for sourcing goods and services, telemedicine, e -education and 
electronic payments. The S&DT in favo ur of developing and LDC  Members  had never been mo re 
relevant at any time in the past than in present circumstances. In fact, the existing S&DT provisions 
needed to be strengthened and made more precise, effective and operational in line with the 
mandate under Paragraph  44 of the Doha Declaration. India s upport ed the comprehensive 
submission made by the G-90 in th at regard and hope d that Members w ould engage constructively 
on the G -90 proposal.  
10.32.   The basis of S&DT was to give Members time and flexibility to integrate into the rules -based 
system. Members with huge differences in economic and social development c ould not be put in the 
same category. For instance, to put India, which ha d an annual per capita income of less than USD 
2,500, in the same development category as the United States, with a much higher , about 25 times , 
per capita GDP, would be unfair.  
10.33.   There ha d been repeated assertions by the Member that the draft decision for the General 
Council relate d only to S&DT  in the current and future negotiations and not under the existing WTO 
Agreem ents. However, there ha d been unilateral denying of S&D T to developing  Members  even 
under the existing WTO Agreements like Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and 
the Agreement on Safeguards.  
10.34.   Certain recent actions fuel led India's  apprehensi ons that the ultimate objective of th e 
submission was to ultimately terminate S&DT at the WTO altogether. To th at end, a so -called case -
by-case approach was being proposed, dependent on providing evidence of the need for S&DT, 
sector wise to start with, wh ich w ould soon expand to requesting for and seeking S&DT, product -
by-product and line -by-line. Such an approach w ould be so burdensome and impractical that it w ould 
make S&DT for developing and LDC  Members  extinct and a part of history of the WTO. Members  
should not allow th at to happen and India urged the Member to reconsider its proposal . 
10.35.   The representative of Colombia  recalled the statement  delivered by his delegation  under th at 
agenda item during the General Council meeting of 3 March. Colombia, as a developing country, WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  underst ood the concerns  of the United States  about  the impact that the inadequate use of S&DT 
could  have in the negotiating function of the WTO and believe d that that technical discussion should 
not be tied up with the broader and more political on e concerning  the status of economi c 
development of WTO Members. The future and adequate use of S&DT provisions was a very 
important issue and Colombia acknowledge d the responsibility that l ay upon all of Members  to have 
that discussion.  
10.36.   Colombia  therefore  welcome d the opportunity of discussing th at issue in an open and 
transparent manner in the pursuit of a greater systemic goal. Having said that, unilateral actions in 
that regard create d great difficulty for many Members to engage fully and with a technical 
perspective in th at topic and w ould not contribute to a long -term solution. Instead, it could  have a 
counter -effect politicising further the discussion resulting ultim ately in the weakening and not 
strengthening of the negotiating function of the WTO. With all th ose in mind, Colombia st ood ready 
to engage in an open and transparent dialogue with all Members on th at important topic.  
10.37.   The representative of  the Russian Fede ration  noted that the d ifferences in Members' views 
on S&DT reform and on its adaptation to reality were not just a problem per se. It was a significant 
obstacle for advancing negotiations on several important tracks. So , the continuous efforts of the 
United States to bring Members'  attention to th at issue was quite understandable. The Russian 
Federation  called upon all Members to aim at finding a solution on th e issue as soon as possible. The 
Russian Federation however echoed what Colombia had said that th at solution should be a result of 
negotiations among Members rather than a decision or set of decisions imposed unilaterally. The 
capabilit y of Members to implement provisions of new agreements both plurilateral and multilateral 
should be duly taken  into account and reflected. The needs of the poorest Members should be 
continued to be respected and preferences for LDCs were evidently beyond question.  
10.38.   The representative of South Africa  associated with the statement to be made by the  ACP. 
South Africa  recall ed the submission that it had  co-sponsored with China, India, and the Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela in document  WT/GC/W/765 and it continue d to be its response on th e issue. 
The mandate Members  had on S&D T was in accordance with Paragraph 44 of th e Doha Ministerial 
Declaration and it was to strengthen S&D T provisions to make them precise, effective and 
operational. Th at was where Members  should be focusing their energies. The G -90 had tabled its 
revised proposal in document JOB/DEV/60  – JOB/TNC/79 and ha d provided comprehensive inputs 
through document JOB/DEV/61 to questions by Members.  
10.39.   S&DT in the WTO was an essential feature of various WTO agreement provisions. The 
preamble to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO encourage d "positive effor ts" to ensure 
that developing countries "secure a share in the growth of international trade commensurate with 
the needs of their economic development" . Those positive efforts t ook the legal form of provisions 
on S&DT which were recogni sed under the Doha Declaration to be "an integral part of the WTO 
Agreements". Th at principle ha d been observed in all the negotiations in the WTO. Taking the same 
commitments as developed countries w ould not promote trade justice and w ould not strengthen the 
negotiatin g function and could  actually constrain it. The G -90 ha d been constructively participating 
in the S &DT negotiations as per the mandate of the Doha Ministerial Decision.  
10.40.   Developing countries were going to be disproportionately affected by the COVID -19 
pande mic especially in Africa. The pandemic ha d exposed fundamental weaknesses in the global 
system. It ha d shown how poverty, weak health systems, lack of education and a lack of global 
cooperation exacerbate d the crisis. The pandemic was exacerbated by lack o f progress in achieving 
SDG targets such as clean water and sanitation targets (SDG 6), weak economic growth and the 
absence of decent work (SDG 8), pervasive inequalities (SDG 10), and above all, entrenched poverty 
(SDG 1) and food insecurity (SDG 2) whic h were more prevalent in developing countries.  
10.41.   One hundred million more people could be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. The world  
could see famines of historic proportions. Economic activity across the world ha d plummeted, 
unemployment ha d soared,  and inequality and poverty were expected to rise to record levels. In the 
case of South Africa, the unemployment rate ha d risen to 30.1% . International support currently on 
offer was not sufficient to meet the needs of developing countries. COVID -19 highlight ed the urgent 
need for strengthening S&D T provisions which were critical to promote public health, accelerate 
industrialization, promote technology transfer and close the digital divide which was critical to 
promote an inclusive digital economy. The G-90 proposals articulate d those aspects.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  10.42.   S&DT was one of the key principles of the WTO provided to developing countries to adjust 
to trade rules at their pace and in accordance with their level of development. Th at principle and 
right should  be preserved and was central to the integration of developing countries in global trade 
and in promoting a fair and equitable multilateral trading system . S&DT and access to it c ould not 
be based on some arbitrary criteria that d id not recogni se the real development challenges and the 
growing development divide between developing and developed countries.  
10.43.   The representative of Jamaica , on behalf of the ACP Group , reiterate d the concerns  of the 
ACP Group  that th e proposal ha d predefined criteria which rel ied on the conceptualization of 
development that  were not in accordance with the realities of Members. Th at was quite evident in 
the context of COVID -19 which continue d to disproportionally affect Members. The use of criteria to 
deprive developing Members  S&DT especially at th at time w ould be severely damaging. Paragraph 
44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration had envisaged the strengthening of S&DT provisions making 
them more precise, effective and operational. It d id not call for an elimination of S&DT.  
10.44.   The ACP Group  was particularly concerned about any movement of the WTO in a direction 
that sought  to classify Members based on pre -defined criteria conceptualised outside of the WTO 
without a thorough assessment and accommodatio n of the realities that l ay behind the coated 
number. It could create unintended consequences for some developing Members  that we re arbitrarily 
excluded up -front from S&DT in WTO Agreements when internal conditions require d those 
flexibilities. Even before  COVID -19, many of the ACP  members had been  facing economic downturn 
and an increase in levels of poverty making the achievement of SDGs more difficult.  
10.45.   The UNHRC Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights  had emphasised that 
the world was at a n existential crossroad involving a pandemic, a deep economic recession, 
devastating climate change and extreme inequality. He point ed out that COVID -19 was projected to 
push more than 70 million additional persons into extreme poverty and hundreds of mill ions more 
into unemployment and poverty. Th at was but one example of how a staggeringly low standard of 
living was imposed on developing countries and by extension affect ed the achievement of the SDGs.  
10.46.   The draft decision in document  WT/GC/W/764/Rev.1 would  disenfranchise developing 
Members  by excluding treaty embedded rights and flexibilities even before negotiations beg an. The 
draft decision went against the principle of S&DT which was enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement 
and which was an integral part of all WTO Agreements. Members who  chose to opt out of S&DT or 
to voluntarily self -declare that they d id not require flexibilities were free to do so. Since negotiations 
on S&DT were going on in the CTD SS, the ACP Group hope d that the U nited States  would engage 
further on its ideas in that forum.  
10.47.   The G -90 ha d recently updated its S&DT proposal contained in document JOB/DEV/60 – 
JOB/TNC/79 dated 9 March. The G -90 had also submitted its written responses to the questions of 
Members on 24 June in document JOB /DEV/61 entitled "Consolidated Responses on Comments and 
Questions from Members and on the G -90 Submission". The ACP Group look ed forward to Members'  
active engagement in the CTD SS which was the mandated body to consider issues of development 
and S&DT.  
10.48.   The representative of Japan  said that i t was more pressing than ever for all Members to 
engage in its reform and modernising S&DT was a significant component of the reform. In th at 
regard, Japan  appreciate d the United States for putting forward th at importan t issue. The continued 
use of S&DT by self-declared developing Members that had achieved significant economic 
development hinder ed those Members that really need ed it from utilising appropriate level of benefits 
from S&DT by diluting effects of the adjustm ent of the comparative advantage that S&DT originally 
aimed to provide. Japan  welcome d recent decisions by those Members to forego S&DT. The 
increasing number of Members that ha d decided to forego S&DT was a positive trend. It contribute d 
to the WTO Reform  as Members  prepare d for MC12 reflecting the reality of the 21st century and to 
further enhancing free and fair trade.  
10.49.   The representative of Turkey  noted that, a s a strong supporter of the multilateral trading 
system, Turkey  was ready to contribute to any discussion aimed at strengthening the negotiating 
function of th e organization. Members  should  keep in mind that development was a sensitive and 
critical issue f or many of them . Full implementation of WTO Agreements as well as increased 
participation by Members into world trade were crucial for an effective multilateral trading system. WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  Any outcome of discussions should be inclusive so that trade among Members c ould result in 
economic growth and development. As Turkey  had repeatedly emphasised, categorization of 
Members solely by relying on either their Membership to certain organization s or any selective and 
arbitrary data w ould not help them take their discussion forward. Members  should also order their  
priorities  well and refocus their efforts to negotiating topics.  
10.50.   The representative of Mexico  We are aware of the rebalancing of parameters that has been 
mentioned. We are open to a technical constructive conversati on on topics that affect the 
effectiveness of our negotiations hoping that this is entered into pragmatically and bearing in mind 
very clearly that this organization provides flexibilities for those who need them. Furthermore, both 
the United States and th e European Union made mention of Members of the G20 as one of the 
categories. We would like to recall that South Africa, Indonesia and Mexico are in that grouping – 
economies that could, from a neutral perspective, very  difficulty perceived as developed. T he 
economic impact of COVID -19 will surely reduce the income per capita of our economies furthermore 
between 10 and 15 per cent.  
10.51.   The representative of Cameroon  associate d with the statement made by the African Group  
and the ACP . Cameroon  thank ed the propon ents for proposing th ose tests particularly the United 
States a nd took note of the legitimacy of the US paper and the concerns that  the United States  had 
raised  to all Members as indicated in its submissions . Cameroon however  drew attention to the fact 
that S&DT was a right. It was an undeniable right and ha d been for a long time. Although any party 
was entitled to question at a ny given time the exercise of a right, that d id not change the fact that 
S&DT  was a legitimate right tha t should be expressed as such. Furthermore, th e issue should be 
examined holistically together with a package of other points that could facilitate elements of reform 
necessary for th e organization to truly respond to the needs and expectations of all Memb ers.  
10.52.   The G -90 had submitted a number of concerns that ha d not, to date , been addressed. 
Members currently had an opportunity to give a satisfactory response to all of those questions to 
bring about a calmer environment for discussion. That environment was necessary to move forward 
on the basis of consensus pragmatically, realistically and effectively to respond to the different 
essential  points. Cameroon  remain ed at the side of all delegations in finding a response that was 
based on consensus and that would be satisfactory. Cameroon  stood ready to facilitate all discussions 
in that vein and remain ed open to hear legitimate concerns of all particularly of developing Members . 
10.53.   The representative of the United States  thank ed delegations  for their comments and t heir 
engagement. Th at was no doubt a difficult issue,  but it was a very important one. The United States  
saw it as an essential element of WTO reform. The U nited States  support ed S&DT for LDC s and 
developing Members  who were most in need. The United States  did not ask any developing country 
to call itself a developed country  nor did it object to any  country from negotiating flexibilities for 
itself in any negotiation. What the United States  did object to was the claim of certain advanced 
economies, so me of the world's largest trading nations, to blanket S&DT as of right and th at situation 
had unfortunately had a very negative impact on the negotiating function at the WTO. The United 
States  looked forward to continuing th at conversation with Members  in the days and months ahead.  
10.54.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
11  STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MARKET -ORIENTED CONDITIONS TO THE 
WORLD TRADING SYSTEM – UNITED STATES  
11.1.   The Chairman  noted  that the item was included  in the agenda by the United Stat es and invited 
the United States to introduce it . 
11.2.   The representative of the United States  said that t he United States and Brazil ha d requested 
the agenda item to continue addressing the importance of market -oriented conditions to the global 
trading system.  As a result of their work together, Brazil and the United States ha d released a joint 
statement that reflect ed the importance they attach ed to ma rket-oriented conditions for the world 
trading system. Th e statement further elaborate d the draft General Council decision previously 
circulated.  
11.3.   The joint Brazil -US Statement reflect ed their shared values as WTO Members and their 
recognition of fundamenta l issues that support ed the trading system.  Brazil and the United States  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  jointly affirm ed that market -oriented conditions were fundamental to a free, fair and mutually 
advantageous world trading system. They likewise affirm ed a number of criteria that refl ected the 
market -oriented conditions and disciplines to which their own enterprises were subject ed to and that 
all Members ' enterprises should operate under th ose conditions to ensure a level  playing field for 
their citizens, workers and businesses.  
11.4.   The Un ited States and Brazil  continue d to welcome the support and engagement of Members 
who wish ed to become co -sponsors of th e statement. To that end, they were willing to discuss the 
statement with any delegation who could  have questions about it.  In the time since the United States  
had first introduced the draft General Council Decision on market -oriented conditions, in March, 
much h ad changed. But Members  were still faced with the same basic questions the United States 
had posed at that meeting:  (i) "What is the purpose of this organization? " and (ii) " What values do 
we uphold ?" 
11.5.   For the United States, the WTO was and should be a place where countries  came together to 
work towards developing and enforcing rules that promote d the common goal of free and fair trade 
on the basis of openness and market principles.  That reflect ed the long -held understanding that the 
WTO had been  established to promote Member economies ' participation in a world trading system 
"based on open, market -oriented policies and the commitm ents set out in the Uruguay Round 
Agreements and Decisions ". 
11.6.   When Members had opened their economies to competition through the WTO, they had done  
so with a shared understanding that market -oriented conditions would take hold in each of their 
economies and  that would ensure a level playing field for that competition to take place.  The market -
based reform efforts of many GATT parties and WTO acceding Members reflect ed that shared 
understanding that market -oriented conditions were essential for Members to fu lly benefit from the 
reciprocal and mutually advantageous commitments that they had undertaken. Yet more recently, 
non-market -oriented policies and practices ha d been working against that collective goal, creating 
unfair competitive conditions that hurt ot her Members ' workers and businesses.  
11.7.   As the United States  saw it, some of the key elements that indicate d that market -oriented 
conditions exist ed for market participants were: (i) Decisions of enterprises on prices, costs, inputs, 
purchases, and sales were freely determined and made in response to market signals; (ii) Enterprise 
decisions on investments were freely determined and made in response to market signals; (iii) The 
prices of capital, labour, technology, and other factors were market -determined; (i v) Capital 
allocation decisions of or affecting enterprises were freely determined and made in response to 
market signals; (v) Enterprises were subject to internationally -recogni sed accounting standards, 
including independent accounting; (vi) Enterprises were subject to market -oriented and effective 
corporation law, bankruptcy law, competition law and private property law and could  enforce their 
rights through impartial legal processes such as an independent judicial system; and (vii) Enterprises 
were able to access freely relevant information on which to base their business decisions.  
11.8.   Moreover, in all of th ose areas, there should be no significant government interference in 
enterprise business decisions.  When workers and businesses in each Member 's economy were 
subject to th ose market constraints and disciplines, they compete d on a level playing field. But when 
a Member 's non -market policies and practices shield ed its producers from th ose market constraints 
and disciplines, it conferred an advantage that was fundamentally unfair.  Simply put, if workers and 
businesses were subject ed to market constraints and disciplines, it was fundamentally unfair to force 
them to compete with another Me mber's enterprises that were not subject to th ose same constraints 
and disciplines.  
11.9.   In the March General Council meeting discussion, some Members had misunderstood the draft 
Decision and had drawn a false equivalence between market -oriented conditions and a rejection of 
governance altogether. But of course that  was not the case.  The proposed elements themselves 
recogni sed the importance of effective corporation law, bankruptcy law, competition law and private 
property law.  However, when the state put its th umb – or even its fist – on the scale to distort 
competition and drive preferred outcomes to benefit certain domestic actors, that was unfair.  
11.10.   Conversely, Members  had witnessed recent interventions as a result of the COVID -19 
pandemic. While those interven tions should be temporary, the underly ing importance of market -WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  oriented conditions ha d not changed.  What the United States was  concerned with was ensuring fair 
competition and a level playing field  – not interfering with the ability to govern.  
11.11.   There were others who appear ed to recogni se the value of market orientation but then 
assert ed that efforts to affirm that value were intended to interfere with government regulation or 
prevent interventions to address market failures. That understanding however was incorrect. The 
importance of market -oriented conditions was not about interfering with government policies but 
rather was concerned with ensuring equality between market participants.  
11.12.   Indeed, following the discussion of the draft General Council Decision the United States had 
introduced earlier in the  year, Brazil and the United States ha d taken into account the reflections 
shared with them by other Members so that they could be clear a bout their values. In th e joint 
statement, they had made clear that , "We recognize the importance of a Member 's right and ability 
to regulate in the public 's interest, promoting the public 's welfare and helping to establish a level 
playing field for all market participants ." 
11.13.   Still others appear ed to take the position that market -oriented conditions were not important 
as if they d id not want to provide a level playing field for other Members. If that was the case, th e 
discussion was even more important to have. Th ose Members should explain how they could have a 
level playing field if some Members offer ed market -oriented conditions,  but others d id not. 
11.14.   Indeed, the United States  viewed the discussion as necessary to make progress towards the 
WTO reform Member s had all been discussing. To build confidence in th e organization as promoting 
free and fair trade, WTO Members should  discuss and reinforce their commitment to market -oriented 
values. At a time when much was beyond their ability to change, taking th at step together to reaffirm 
the importance of market -oriented conditions for the world trading system was something Members  
could do – and should  do – if they wanted to maintain the continued vitality and the very relevance 
of the WTO.  
11.15.   The representative of Brazil noted that Brazil had  decided to table with the United States a 
statement on the importance of market -oriented conditions to the world trading system  because it 
firmly believe d that th at was the time for reform and that renewal for horizontal disciplines that level 
the playing field were more important now more than ever. Members  would not be able to move 
forward with the necessary and urgent WTO reform unless they re-commit ted to the principles and 
goals upon which they had established th e organization and the multilateral trading system.  
11.16.   The WTO should  be prepared to live up to its foundational principles  which we re there to 
foster international trade as a driving force of economic growth, prosperity and development. The  
Marrakesh Declaration remind ed Members  that open and market -oriented policies were at the heart 
of the WTO. In 1994, there had been  a common desire to upgrade to an open and fair multilateral 
trading system. There had been a common understanding that th at had been  for the benefit and 
welfare of all. Members  should  ensure that its basic agreements remain ed strong and effective.  
11.17.   The joint statement stresse d the importance of enterprises operating under market -oriented 
conditions and note d elements indicat ing that market -oriented conditions exist ed. In considering 
such elements, one should take into account national business circumstances. Brazil's strategic 
objective in tabling th e declaration was clearly and solely connected to the reform of the WTO. 
Agreein g on basic principles was the surest path to a renewed and strong organization and the 
verifiability and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system in the long run.  
11.18.   True support to the WTO equal led support to market -oriented policies and fairness in  
international trade. Brazil was  willing to work with WTO Members to strengthen its collective 
commitment to such policies in order to ensure a level  playing field for all – big and small, developed 
and developing. Brazil  sincerely hope d the statement w ould reenergi se Members'  collective 
commitment to economic freedom which was a fundamental pillar of the WTO.  
11.19.   The representative of China  said that t he standards of market economy was a topic of 
interest to him but not within the framework of the WTO. Some years ago, he had gone  to Boston 
on a special trip as a visiting scholar to meet Professor Dwight Perkins who was a renowned 
economist from Harvard University. His book  entitled  "Agricultural Development in Chi na: 1368 -
1968" was a must read for college students. He had  had an insightful conversation with him on the WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  issue of market economy. He had told him that it would take at least one school semester to explain 
what a market economy really was, and the conclus ion would still lead to no definite definition or 
standard.  
11.20.   The WTO ha d its clear mandate and scope of responsibility. Members  did not have the luxury 
to pursue such an academic endeavour because the WTO  was not and should not be an academic 
organization. The world trading system was based on open, market policies and the commitments 
set out in the Uruguay Round Agreements and Decisions. That was why Members should focus on 
addressing policy measures that were clearly contrary to the market principles. For example, 
Members  should  discuss how to effectively deal with governments' forced repatriation of global 
supply chains and protectionist measures in the disguise of national security. While the definition of 
market economy could  sound intriguing to the acad emia, it was not easier for the WTO. Instead, 
Members  should focus on what the WTO was mandated to do , should be doing , and was capable of 
doing.  
11.21.   The representative of Australia  welcome d the joint statement by the United States and Brazil 
on one of the fou nding principles of th e organization. Australia share d the view that the WTO 
represent ed a fundamental commitment by Members to an open trading environment underpinned 
by market -oriented principles. Australia  stood ready to contribute to constructive discussion with all 
Members on th at and other basic principles of the WTO to ensure that th e organization remain ed fit 
for purpose and further contribute d to liberalising global trade.  
11.22.   The representative of Nigeria  noted that unlike the March General Council meeting when th e 
issue had been  tabled as a draft General Council decision as contained in  document WT/GC/W/796, 
the joint statement t hat day was perhaps presented in a manner that w ould foster discussions and 
enable Members to  gain greater insight into the meaning of market-oriented conditions and their 
importance to the world trading system. As it had stated in March, Nigeria  had concerns on the likely 
scope of th e issue and its potential implication on the right of the State to regulate economic 
activities within its own sovereign territory especially during market failures.  
11.23.   Nigeria's  assessm ent of existing market -oriented models in some liberal and market -driven 
economies depict ed a system of massive subsidy scheme s that provide d financial support to prop 
up domestic producers and enterprise s. Those policies continue d to undermine the competitiveness 
of producers in most developing countries with limited fiscal space to provide support.  
11.24.   Under the current COVID -19 pandemic, while most African States ha d extremely tight fiscal 
space to provide support for their industrie s, their developed partners were able to roll out robust 
stimulus package s as high as US D 2 trillion in some cases for their industries. In fact , that week, in 
order to speed up economic recovery, EU leaders had been  able to strike a deal that br ought  the EU 
total stimulus package to  EUR 1.8 trillion. Th at was also the case with virtually all liberal and market -
driven economies.  
11.25.   The question therefore focused on  how Members should situate th ose developments in WTO 
discussions on market-oriented conditions a nd their importance to the world trading system. Nigeria  
thank ed the United States  for its statement and st ood ready to further discuss th e issue with the 
United States  and other Members to gain greater insight.  
11.26.   The representative of  the European Union  thought it was important that businesses operate d 
under market -oriented conditions and h ad repeatedly expressed its concerns with non -market -
oriented policies and practices that ha d resulted in damage to the world trading system and a lack 
of level  playing field.  The aim of the European Union's  work, in particular in the context of the 
trilater al cooperation, ha d been to identify the negative spill -overs into the trading system that c ould 
result from non -market based economic practices.  
11.27.   That kind of reflection w ould allow for the identif ication of  the kinds of future rules that c ould 
help addre ss and minimi se the impact of th ose negative spill -overs. Th at was the process the 
European Union  was going through in the field of industrial subsidies for example where having 
reflected on the kinds of rules needed , the European Union  was beginning to di scuss its ideas with 
other Members.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  11.28.   The representative of Norway  agree d that it was useful from time to time and in particular  
in challenging times like what the world was living through right now to remind themselves , the 
Members,  why they had the WTO and to recall the principles that represent ed the foundation of th e 
organization. The Preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement talk ed about the objective being raising 
standards of living, ensuring full employment and allowing for the optimal use of the world's 
resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development. The preamble also indicate d 
how th at wa s going to be achieved namely by "substantial reduction of tariffs and other barriers to 
trade and the elimination of discriminatory treat ment in international trade relations" . 
11.29.   While th ose examples by no means constitute d an exhaustive list of objectives and principles 
found in the agreements, they d id however convey the core vision of th e organization that trade was 
an enabler for social a nd economic development and that trade liberalization based on principles of 
non-discrimination was the principal instrument by which their objectives were met. Th at said, the 
agreements Members  had entered into allow ed for a good deal of flexibility on th e basis of pre -
existing conditions and capabilities as well as policy objectives.  
11.30.   Since the founding of GATT, the multilateral trading system ha d accommodated a great deal 
of variations in terms of commitments and in terms of legal, economic, social and po litical systems. 
While the WTO  multilateral agreements c ould accommodate variations of economic systems, 
Members  should always be able to discuss whether th ose variations were in line with the fundamental 
principles of th e organization.   
11.31.   Members  knew that the magnitude and direction of government interventions and other 
behind the border measures c ould have great impact on international trade. Transparency about 
such measures was key to ensure that the principles were followed. Norway therefore posed the 
question on whether there was full transparency on how governments and businesses operate d so 
that it c ould be established with certainty that practices were non -discriminatory . If not, Norway 
asked  whether there could  be something done to improve transparen cy. If there was a need to 
amend agreements in order to ensure that basic principles were followed, then Members should  talk 
about it. Because there was only one way to amend the rules of the game and that was through 
negotiations – multilateral negotiations.  
11.32.   The representative of Switzerland  noted that  the text set out a number of principles that 
should govern the functioning of a market economy . Lookin g at the WTO, Switzerland  consider ed 
that many principles upon which the organization was built were supportive of a market -oriented 
economy. Th ose principles were anchored in the preamble and the letter and spirit of the WTO 
Agreements.  Indeed, the WTO ai med at securing a progressively more open trading environment. 
Its agreements act ed as a lubricant for market forces despite the differences between Members in 
their economic models and their level of development.  
11.33.   Well-functioning markets also need ed intergovernmental cooperation to define the rules 
under which economic agents were operating. Th at was precisely what the WTO provide d to its 
Members: a forum to work together on global trade issues.  Furthermore, by incorporating non -
discrimination into their f abric, WTO agreements ensure d that economic operators face d fairer 
competition conditions on the global market.  
11.34.   Other key principles of the WTO blueprint were ingredients of well -functioning markets. In 
that regard, Switzerland  underline d transparency in t he way Members manage d their commitments 
and the measures affecting trade , predictability achieved through the respect of rules and 
commitments taken by Members  and legal security provided by the binding adjudication of disputes.   
11.35.   Those principles constitute d the 'global commons ' that frame d the multilateral trading 
system. Reinforcing and making th ose principles more operational was certainly a key factor of the 
reform. Among others, improving the transparency and monitoring of trade pol icy measures was a 
case in point. The COVID -19 crisis ha d shown the usefulness of the monitoring work by the 
Secretariat and of timely and comprehensive notifications to help governments respond to disrupted 
trade.   
11.36.   The principles that Switzerland  had characterized as 'global commons ' should also inspire 
Members  when addressing the challenges that the WTO was facing  in curbing overfishing and making 
trade and environment mutually supportive , keeping pace with technological development in the WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  digital environment , differentiating the commitments made by Members in accordance with their 
capacities to contribute to the system and updating the rules governing international trade to ensure 
equal competitive conditions , among others.  
11.37.   The representative of the United Kingdom  said that t he WTO Agreements as had been agreed  
by the Membership recognise d the importance of market -oriented conditions to the world trading 
system. Members  sought  to ensure fair competition by guaranteeing all Members uph eld their 
obligations under the agreements such as MFN and national treatment o f like products. The world 
trading system c ould only succeed if Members  continue d their endeavour to tackle unfair practices 
when th ose occur red. The United Kingdom  therefore thank ed the United States for enabling th at 
discussion.  
11.38.   It was important that Members made progress on issues such as industrial subsidies, State -
owned enterprises and forced technology transfer. They also need ed to ensure that they reduce d 
WTO non -compliant protectionist measures. Unfair practices not only violate d the agreements but 
had real-life impacts on the life of their citizens. Innovation was stifled, communities were damaged 
and uncompetitive companies were bolstered so  they all benefit ed from advancing market principles.  
11.39.   The representative of the Russian Federation  recalled that, as had been indicated at the 
General Council in March, Russia ha d concerns on the likely scope of application of the US proposal 
and its potential implication on the right of a State to regulate economic activities within its sovereign 
territory. While  the Russian Federation had taken  note of the relevant explanations and clarifications 
contained in the joint statement of Brazil and the United States, further elaborations on the meaning 
of the term market -oriented conditions were evidently ne eded particularly taking into account the 
existing subsidy schemes that provide d financial support for domestic producers including those 
introduced as a response to the COVID -19 pandemic in major developed countries as had been 
mentioned by Nigeria. The R ussian Federation  stood ready for constructive engagement with the 
United States  and other interested Members to better clarify th ose issues.  
11.40.   The representative of Chinese Taipei  took note of the statement by Brazil and the United 
States and recognise d its relevance to the discussion. The multilateral trading system should  be 
based on free, open and market -oriented principles to ensure a level playing field for all.  Chinese 
Taipei recognise d the need to reflect Members' developmental or broader economic obj ectives to 
underpin industrial growth and protect the vulnerable sectors through proper  government 
interventions . 
11.41.   The critical issue was that Members' policies and practices need ed to be in line with existing 
WTO rules and to uphold the spirit of market -oriented principles in the multilateral trading system. 
Members' measures should not lead to the consequence of unfair competition and market distortion 
which would cause harm to enterprises and SMEs in particular that were striving to make themselves 
compet itive under market -based conditions. Chinese Taipei  remain ed open and ready to engage 
with all Members on the subject in a constructive manner.  
11.42.   The representative of Paraguay  said that t he matter warrant ed a discussion not only on a 
political level but als o on a technical one within th e organization. Advancing new disciplines in th at 
area would however be difficult without in parallel having ambitious disciplines to generate market -
oriented conditions in agriculture. Th at was a fundamental issue for the multilateral trading system.  
11.43.   The representative of South Africa  noted that t he substance of the  current  statement ha d 
not changed from the statement presented by the U nited States  in December. South Africa  therefore 
recall ed its statement made in the Decem ber meeting of the General Council in 2019 . The question 
that South Africa  had was whether there was a common understanding among the membership on 
what they mean t by market -oriented conditions.  
11.44.   South Africa  believe d in the role of the market  but was also aware of its limitations. Members  
had a number of policies that were implemented in the public interest,  address ed market failure or 
achieve d developmental objectives including in South Africa's  case addressing historical exclusion of 
especially black peo ple in the mainstream economy. South Africa  had asked the proponents in the 
last discussion on th e issue whether th ose policies would be seen as creating non -market -oriented 
conditions even though they achieve d a constitutional mandate. Th at would assist t o understand the 
scope.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  11.45.   The economic consequences of the COVID -19 pandemic call ed for urgent policy responses 
to keep the economy afloat and enable people to retain their jobs and incomes. Some developed 
country governments ha d implemented price management initiatives as part of their Coronavirus 
Food Assistance Program mes. In some cas es, governments had to intervene as the private sector 
had inflated the prices of sanitizers and PPE s. South Africa asked whether those measures would be 
seen as a contravention on some elements of the proposal that  "The prices of capital, labour, 
technolo gy and other factors were market -determined ;" and that " Decisions of enterprises on prices, 
costs, inputs, purchases and sales were freely determined and made in response to market signal s." 
11.46.   In some cases, governments had had to step in and direct companie s to produce much 
needed equipment such as ventilators. Some governments also ha d laws that g ave them authority 
to control the allocation of supplies as well as to order manufacturers to boost production. South 
Africa asked whether that would  be seen as co ntradicting the clause entailed in the proposal that  
"decisions of enterprises on investment are freely determined and made in response to market 
signal s". In a market economy, adjustments typically increase d unemployment . Industries that 
became less profi table due to higher costs could  lay off workers  – growing unemployment, lowering 
wages  – and it could take a while before the lower labour costs ma de it worthwhile to raise production 
in other industries.  
11.47.   COVID -19 ha d clearly demonstrated that without gov ernment assistance to retrain laid off 
workers and encourage new investments, the adjustment w ould be more painful, lengthy and costly. 
In some cases, betting only on market forces to do the necessary was not only slow but also 
dangerous. The capacity to c ope with the inevitable forthcoming slowdown w ould depend crucially 
on how governments manage d resources to guide structural transitions.  
11.48.   The speech by the UN S ecretary -General  in the 18th Nelson Mandela lecture of 18 July 2020 
remain ed relevant as he had said that "COVID -19 has exposed the fragility of the world, the injustice 
of rising inequality and the fallacies and falsehoods, including that free markets can deliver 
healthcare for all ." South Africa  also recall ed the recent consensus resolution passed at the United 
Nations Human Right Council entitled "The central role of the State in responding to pandemics and 
other health emergencies, and the socioeconomic consequences thereof in advancing sustainable 
development and the realization of all human righ ts" which could be found in document 
A/HRC/44/L.23/Rev.1 dated  15 July 2020.  The WTO d id not require its Members to adhere to any 
particular economic or political system. The WTO Agreements d id not define the role of the State in 
relation to the market or civil society.  
11.49.   Furthermore, the dispute settlement system of the WTO was a mechanism available to 
Members to enforce rights and obligations. Any Member that fel t that another Member was failing 
to adhere to its obligations should refer matters to  the dispute settlement system  for adjudication. 
That of course require d a functional two stage dispute settlement system . Otherwise the mechanism 
to enforce rights and obligations  would become  non-operational and would render the development 
of new rules futile.  
11.50.   Given the current pandemic and crises, South Africa  wonder ed if that discussion was realistic 
when some were talking about strategic vulnerabilities and the need to diversify supply chains to 
promote domestic manufacturing. In a context where Membe rs were faced with rising 
unemployment, poverty  and inequality – which was at crises levels in many parts of the world , South 
Africa wondered whether Members should instead  be discussing the rebalancing between global rules 
and national economic developmen t imperatives so as to enable  them to respond to th e crisis, 
promote economic recovery  and safeguard and create jobs.  
11.51.   The representative of Canada  agree d with the principle that the multilateral trading system 
should be based on open, market -oriented polic ies. Canada  also support ed the need for progressive 
liberalization while recognising the need to support economic development and sustainability. 
Canada  share d the concerns of the United States and Brazil on the impact of non -market -oriented 
policies in ge nerating overcapacity in certain sectors and creating trade distortions.  
11.52.   For example, situations where government policies, intergovernmental agreements and 
practices play ed a significant role in directing or influencing business decisions were of concern to 
Canada  including the subsidization practices of some Members that ha d caused persistent 
overcapacity. Canada  also share d the desire for a multilateral trading system that  ensure d a level WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  playing field for Members, workers and business. Canada  remain ed open to engaging all Members 
in that regard including on discussions that could eventually lead to new disciplines. Canada  would 
be interested in hearing from the United Stat es and Brazil what role they envision ed the WTO playing 
in practice to address non -market policies.  
11.53.   The representative of India said that t he US-Brazil j oint statement was being examined by 
the capital and w ould therefore  offer detailed comments on the pro posal in due course. India ha d 
strived to pursue pro -market, pro -competition and transparent policies. State interventions ha d 
sometimes however  been warranted to address market failures given the significant need to pursue 
pro-poor, pro -welfare and pro -equity policies to bring millions of people out of poverty. While doing 
so, India ha d been mindful of the need to achieve a fair balance between the market and state 
interventions.  
11.54.   As stated by India's  Prime Minister  the previous day , India celebrate d openne ss in people 
and in governance. Open minds ma de open markets. Open markets led to greater prosperity. India 
share d those principles with many of its partners including the proponents of th e statement. During 
the last six years, the government ha d made many  efforts to make Indian economy more open and 
reform oriented. Th ose reforms ha d ensured increased competitiveness, enhanced transparency, 
expanded digitization and more policy stability.  
11.55.   India had raised concerns on the proposal in March and thank ed the US delegation for 
providing Members  more clarity on the proposal in their statement. However, some aspects 
contained in the statement need ed further clarity and India looked forward to discussing with the 
delegations of the United States and Brazil in the coming days.  
11.56.   As a founding Member of the WTO, India believe d that the WTO's core objective was 
promoting sustainable development "in a manner consistent with the needs and r espective levels of 
economic development " of its Members. The focus of the WTO, in that regard, was to facilitate trade 
for welfare and development for the benefit of all Members and India remain ed committed to 
supporting measures that were aimed towards t hat end.  
11.57.   The representative of Japan  welcome d the joint statement by the United States and Brazil 
which confirm ed the principles that Members ha d reaffirmed and also clearly delineate d the elements 
of market -oriented conditions. Efficient and effective fun ctioning of markets was an indispensable 
foundation of the WTO system. It ha d a theoretical background , involve d a policy -oriented argument 
but was never too academic for policy practitioners.  
11.58.   To overcome the new COVID -19 crisis, it was all the more import ant to secure free and fair 
trade and level playing field. The time was ripe for Members to share common recognition with the 
market -oriented conditions that form ed the basis for efforts to regain the trust of the WTO. Japan 
therefore support ed the initiat ive of the United States and Brazil in bringing the issue to the table. 
Japan hope d that the concept of a market -oriented condition was to be broadly share d and supported 
amongst Members as a principle for operating the multilateral trading system.  
11.59.   The representative of Burkina Faso  asked whether  the market -oriented conditions for the 
multilateral trading system require d a total suppression of any form of domestic support and 
distorting effect on the global trading system for cotton. If there had bee n a self-regulati ng market  
in the cotton and textile sector without the intervention of public authorities through domestic 
support, Burkina Faso wondered what would happen with trade in that industry . 
11.60.   The representative of the United States  thank ed the colleagues  from Brazil for collaborating 
on the joint statement  and the delegations  for their statements t hat day and for their engagement. 
The United States and Brazil look ed forward to further engagement on the statement on the weeks 
and months ahead  as it was  a very important issue.  
11.61.   The representative of Brazil  thank ed all the reactions and comments  and looked forward to 
continuing the fruitful discussions with Members on market -oriented conditions.  
11.62.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  12  WAIVER S UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  
12.1  Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article I X:4 of the W TO Agreement  
12.1.1   Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 and 
Article  70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products, grante d on 
30 November 2015 until 1  January 2033 (WT/L/971)  
12.1.2   Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 
26 July 2018 through 31  December 2024 (WT/L/1039)  
12.1.3   Canada – CARIBCAN, granted on 28 July 2015 until 31 December 2023 
(WT/L/958, WT/L/1091)  
12.1.   The Chairman  recalled that i n accordance with Paragraph 4 of Article IX of the WTO 
Agreement, "any waiver granted for a period of more than one year shall be reviewed by the 
Ministerial Conference not later than one year after it is g ranted, and thereafter annually until the 
waiver terminates" . 
12.2.   There were three waivers before the General Council for review and they were listed in the 
proposed Agenda. One of the waivers under review provide d that an annual report should be 
submitted by the Member concerned regarding the operation or implementation of the waiver with 
a view to facilitating its annual review by the General Council. The report from Canada ha d been 
circulated in document WT/L/1091.  
12.3.   The representative of Chad, on behalf of th e LDCs , recalled that Members had had a few days 
of intense work  which  showed the essential nature of the WTO for global trade and the importance 
of the topics discussed there. In particular, when a Director -General in office was participating in 
that capa city at his last General Council  meeting , that gave the event a real standing. It was true 
that any departure was difficult and painful particularly when th at came about with someone with 
whom the LDCs  had had highly cordial and highly beneficial relations  with. The LDC Group hope d 
that the successor of D irector -General  Azevêdo w ould be able to continue with th at excellent 
dynamic.  
12.4.   With regard to the Waiver for the LDCs from obligations under Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the 
TRIPS Agreement, the LDC Group than ked the General Council for having proceeded with the review 
of the waiver. According to the exceptional circumstances which had given  rise to the decision of 
November 2015 and the objectives of LDCs in terms of access to health care at an affordable cost,  
the adoption of the waiver in 2015 on obligations under Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS 
Agreement had sought to establish an international legal framework which had been  necessary in 
order to allow LDCs to gain access to medicines at affordable prices  in order to facilitate access to 
healthcare for their populations.  
12.5.   The LDC Group  welcome d the highly valuable commitment and engagement of D irector -
General  Azevêdo and his determination to see the effective implementation of th at waiver to allow 
the LDCs to access medicines at reasonable prices to help them uplift  their quality of life. Th e waiver  
was therefore an important legal instrument for producers, su ppliers, buyers and donors of 
pharmaceutical products in th ose countries  as it allowed for the production and market of 
pharmaceutical products and medicines at affordable prices.  
12.6.   The exceptional circumstances which had given rise to the adoption of th e waiver in November 
2015 were still a very current reality in numerous LDCs. Their populations were still facing serious 
difficulties in the area of health. Communicable and non -communicable diseases such as HIV, Malaria 
and Tuberculosis, among others, were yet to be eradicated in many LDCs and that was without 
mentioning the Ebola and Cholera pandemics which continue d to bring about significant loss of 
human life. To that sombre list, t hat day, they could add the COVID -19 pandemic.  
12.7.   According to  statistics fro m Médecins Sans Frontières, 80% of deaths caused by non -
communicable diseases occurred in low- and middle -income  countries with LDCs constituting the 
majority of low income countries. The circumstances which had justified the adoption of th e waiver 
on obli gations concerning pharmaceutical products were thus still a very current reality. Therefore, WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  those important flexibilities  remained necessary  in order  for the LDCs  to achieve SDG 3 of the 2030 
Agenda for Sustainable Development.  
12.8.   The representative of Canada noted that, concerning  the Canada -CARIBCAN waiver  and in 
particular  recognising the special relationship between Canada and the Commonwealth Caribbean, 
in 1986, CARIBCAN had been  established to help improve the trade and economic development 
prospects o f the region. In light of the continuing relevance of the considerations underlying 
CARIBCAN, the initiatives' objectives, scope and coverage remain ed unchanged. Canada thank ed 
those Members that ha d expressed support for the programme and the associated WTO waiver.  
12.9.   The representative of Jamaica  noted that, o n the Canada -CARIBCAN waiver, Jamaica  
associate d with the statement to be made by CARICOM  and thank ed Canada for its statement. 
Jamaica was one o f the 18 beneficiary countries and wishe d to place on record its appreciation for 
the Government of Canada for CARIBCAN. CARIBCAN ha d not only contributed to the vibrant and 
mutually beneficial relationship which ha d existed between the two countries for m any years but 
had also served to enhance the trade and economic integration of their economies.  
12.10.   Canada was the third leading market for Jamaica in terms of exports. Jamaica ha d 
consistently maintained a trade surplus with Canada since the early 1980s and t he surplus currently 
stood at USD 34 million. Outside of the extracted industry, the Canadian market serve d a key 
destination for alumina, alcoholic beverages and non -traditional exports including fresh produce, 
baked goods, yams and sauces and condiments targeting the growing Jamaican diaspora. Jamaica's 
main imports were manufactured goods – important among them being medicinal and food products, 
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment.  
12.11.   For 2019, Canada had accounted for about 9% of total goods expor ts. In that same year, 
imports from Canada had constituted 1.6% of Jamaica's total imports. CARIBCAN continue d to make 
a significant contribution to Jamaica on multiple fronts including through stimulating the expansion 
of trade and investment between their countries. The diversification of exports, increased export 
earnings, the promotion of growth of economic enterprise and productive capacity and increased 
employment and value addition for exports which were all priorities for the government of Jamaica. 
A significant portion of the businesses benefitting from their bilateral trade on the CARIBCAN were 
MSMEs many of which were owned by women and adult youth.  
12.12.   The data suggest ed that the bilateral trading relationship was expected to further expand in 
the co ming years. Jamaica ha d also benefitted from Canadian investment in various sectors including 
the financial sector. Jamaica look ed forward to the continued operation of CARIBCAN particularly in 
terms of assisting the country to attain the target set out in  key development frameworks such as 
the Economic Growth Strategy, the National Export Strategy and the National Development Plan 
Vision 2030 which were aligned to the UN SDGs.  
12.13.   Jamaica  reaffirm ed its sincere gratitude to Canada for maintaining the CARIBCAN  
mechanism which it viewed as a clear demonstration of Canada's  firm commitment to a partnership 
for trade and development with its Caribbean neighbours. Jamaica  also thank ed Members for the 
support that ha d been given to the waiver enabling th ose arrangem ents over the years and look ed 
forward to the continuation of the support for any renewal request.  
12.14.   The representative of Saint Lucia , on behalf of CARICOM , thank ed Canada for its report on 
the Canadian Tariff Treatment for Commonwealth Caribbean Countries. CARIBCAN which ha d been 
in place since 1986 ha d been vital to the export performance and by extension the economic 
dynamism of the beneficiary CARICOM Member Stat es. The tariff preferences under CARIBCAN 
support ed employment, contribute d to government revenues, generate d foreign exchange earnings 
and buttresse d broader economic development throughout the CARICOM region.  
12.15.   For example, rum which was the region's single largest export to Canada under CARIBCAN 
continue d to be its vital industry for CARICOM countries. The industry had earned over USD 550 
million annually in foreign exchange. The sector yield ed fiscal revenues t o their government in excess 
of USD 350 million annually and it contribute d to direct employment to the tune of over 100,000 
workers both directly and indirectly. Importantly, the sector ha d a high level of employment of 
females in the sector over the past  fifteen years.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  12.16.   Improved trade performance  predicated and  supported by preferences provided under 
CARIBCAN ha d created a pathway for the expansion of not only the rum industry but for many other 
industries of interest to the CARICOM  Member States. Th ose pr eferences also serve d as a good 
indication of how non -reciprocal preferences to small States c ould energise trade performance and 
yield development -enhancing value.  
12.17.   The CARICOM Group once again thank ed Canada for its report  and looked forward to 
continuing  to work with the Government of Canada to expand the product coverage under the 
agreement and where required to improve the rules of origin to ensure that more industries c ould 
benefit under th at arrangement.  
12.18.   The representative of the European Union  suppor ted a permanent waiver for the LDCs from 
obligations under Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement and an indefinite extension of their 
exemption of the TRIPS requirements to provide protection for pharmaceutical products for as long 
as they remain ed a least -developed country.  
12.19.   The General Council took note  of the report contained in document WT/L/1091 and of the 
statements.  
13  COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - REPORT ON THE MEETING 
OF MARCH 2020 (WT/BFA/185/REV.1)  
13.1.   The Chairman  drew attention to the report of the Budget Committee in document 
WT/BFA/185/Rev.1 and invite d Ambassador Teehankee (Philippines), Chairman of the Budget 
Committee, to introduce the report.  
13.2.   Ambassador Manuel Teehankee (Philippines), Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance 
and Administration , said that his remarks  focused on the report of the meeting that had taken place 
on 9 March in WT/BFA/185/Rev.1. He would also give some highlights of the carry -over of 
discussions of other formal meetings that ha d taken place since then. The topics that had been  
discussed by the Committee so far had been  first and foremost the 2020 Work Plan.  
13.3.   On the 2020 Work Plan , the Committee had discussed the draft work plan for the coming year 
noting that th at was a helpful tool for setting out when the various topics c ould be discussed by the 
Committee and the timing thereof.  
13.4.   On the 2020 Salary Scale , the Committee had taken  note of a presentation by the Secretariat 
regarding the WTO Salary Scale for 2020. The Director -General ha d a mandate to approve the salary 
scales for each year in accordance with the staff regulations and staff rules. No adjustment had been  
made to the salary scale for 2020. Thus, it remain ed the same as that for 2019.  
13.5.   On the Proposed Financial Regulation for the  Continuation of Operations Pending the Approval 
of the Budget , a proposal to modify Financial Regulation 10 had been  tabled to provide a transition 
rule for situations where approval of the budget was still pending at the end of the year. The approval 
of the Financial Regulation would give predictability and certainty to the operations of the WTO and 
its Secretariat and  was patterned after other similar regulations in other international organizations. 
Members had expressed general support of the proposed regulations subject to certain refinements 
that he was currently conducting consultations on.  
13.6.   On the Status Update on  the Implementation of External Audit Recommendations , an update 
had been  given that the Secretariat had accepted all the recommendations issued through the most 
recent audit report, in June 2019. As of February 2020, 61 recommendations had been implemente d, 
going back to 2015, and the implementation of the remaining 14 recommendations were in progress. 
An update w ould be provided in the Audit Report for the 2019 Annual Financial Statements.  
13.7.   On the Coherence in the Establishment and Administration of WTO Tr ust Funds , the 
Committee  had discussed a paper that contextuali sed the various Trust Funds that were currently 
being managed by the Secretariat. A follow paper had been  discussed on 19 May 2020 and had been 
submitted for discussion by the Committee on 3 Ju ne. Further discussions were continuing in the 
Committee and he would provide further updates.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  13.8.   On the Updates regarding the After-Service  Health Insurance , updates had also been made 
and the overarching point had been  that there was a mismatch between the total premium paid and 
reimbursements . Further updates w ould be given on th e matter.  
13.9.   On the 2021 Budget presentations, he was pleased to inform the Members that the 2021 
Budget Proposals for the ITC and the WTO budgets had been  presented to the Committee o n 23 June 
and 7 July. While still subject to certain pending questions and further discussions, Members, as a 
whole , had expressed their general support to the 2021 Budget Proposals of the ITC and the WTO. 
Further deliberations were taking  place and w ould take place during the next formal meeting 
scheduled for 17 September 2020.  
13.10.   On Contributions from Members and Observers , the Secretariat had notified the Committee 
that contributions received from Members for 2019 had been  slightly lower than those that had  been 
received in 2018. That was 92% versus 90%.  There had been 12 Members under administrative 
measures as at 31 December 2019.  
13.11.   He further said that t he following 6 Members were in Category I: Plurinational State of 
Bolivia, Cuba, Ghana, Guinea, Tonga and Zambia , that  the following 2 Observers were in Category 
I: Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic. The following 3 Members were in Category II: Democratic 
Republic of Congo, Senegal and Yemen. Comoros was the only Observer in Category II. The followin g 
8 Members were in Category III: Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, 
Guinea -Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The following 3 Observers 
were in Category III: Libya, Sao Tomé and Principe and Somal ia. 
13.12.   For Observers, the level of contributions for 2019 had been  48%, compared to 61% for 
2018. Five Observers had been  under administrative measures as at 31 December 2019. The 
measures in place to follow up on arrears in contribution include d sending remi nder letters several 
times during the year; and regular follow -up with Member focal points. On th at issue, some 
delegations had called for rules pertaining to Members under Category III of Administrative Measures 
to be consistently applied during meetings of the General Council. The Committee on Budget, Finance 
and Administration ma de the following recommendation to the General Council: "The Committee 
invites the General Council to urge Members and Observers under Administrative Measures to 
liquidate their arrears ." 
13.13.   The General Council took note  of the CBFA Chairman's statement, approve d the Budget 
Committee's specific recommendation in paragraph 7.19 of WT/BFA/185/Rev.1, and adopt ed the 
report.  
14  WTO PENSION PLAN MANAGEMENT BOARD – ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, MEMBE RS AND 
ALTERNATES (WT/GC/W/801)  
14.1.   The Chairman  recalled that, i n relation to th e item, Article 4(a) of the Regulations of the WTO 
Pension Plan provide d for the election by the General Council of a Chair, four members and four 
alternates to the WTO Pension Plan Management Board.  
14.2.   The term of office of the current membership of the Management Board had been  due for 
renewal th at month. In th at regard, the ou tgoing Chair of the Management Board had sent a 
communication to all Members on 25 May inviting any interested candidate in serving on the 
Management Board to indicate so by no later than 8 June. The communication had also already 
identified the current Ma nagement Board members and alternates who had been  willing to continue 
serving on the Board for another term. The outgoing Chair of the Board had then consulted with 
those individuals who had expressed interest in serving on the Board during the week of 8 June and 
with Members on 26 June.  
14.3.   As a result of th e process, a consensus slate of candidates for members and alternates in the 
Board, and a new Chair, had been  identified. They were listed in document WT/GC/W/801 which had 
been circulated on 3 July, and i n which he had  indicated his intention to propose th ose candidates 
for election to the Board at t hat day's meeting, unless comments had been  received by close -of-
business on 8 July. As he had  received no comments or questions, he suggest ed that the slate o f 
candidates in document WT/GC/W/801 be elected to the Management Board.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  14.4.   The General Council so agreed8. 
15  OTHER BUSINESS  
15.1  Statement by the Chairman on Administrative Measures for Members in Arrears  
15.1.   The Chairman , speaking under "Other Business ", noted that the revised Administrative 
Measures for Members in arrears in WT/BFA/132 required that, at the end of each meeting of the 
General Council, the Chair of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration should provide 
information with regard to which  Members and Observers were under Administrative Measures.  
15.2.   Deputy Director -General Karl Brauner , on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration , reported that the Administrative Measures applicable to Members and 
Observers with arrears in contribution had been in place since 1 March 2013. In accordance with the 
Decision of the General Council, he should state all Members and Observers under all cat egories of 
administrative measures. As at 15 July 2020, there had been 17 Members and 6 Observers under 
Administrative Measures. The following 6 Members were currently in Category I: Plurinational State 
of Bolivia, Cuba, Ghana, Guinea, Tonga and Zambia. Th e following 3 Members were in Category II: 
Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Yemen. The following 8 Members were in Category III: 
Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Guinea -Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone 
and Bolivarian Repub lic of Venezuela. The following 2 Observers were in Category I: Iran and Syrian 
Arab Republic. Comoros was the only Observer in Category II. The following 3 Observers were in 
Category III: Libya, Sao Tomé and Principe and Somalia.  
15.3.   The Chairman  said that he  was also required at each Council meeting to request Members 
and Observers in Categories II and III of the Measures to inform the Secretariat as to when their 
payment of arrears could be expected.  
15.4.   The representative of the United States  asked for a clarif ication.  Members had received the 
documentation for the March meeting that ha d a completely different list. It did  occur to him that 
the list that was read out was never seen by Members and so if there was a way to make sure that 
there was a document so th at Members  knew at any particular time who was in arrears before the 
meeting that would be more helpful because Members ha d one set of documentation that ha d a 
different set of Members in arrears but then it was read out and it was a little confusing. So, it was 
possible that Members or Observers paid  in-between  and if  they had a documentation from the June 
meeting that indicate d a certain list it was confusing when there was a different list read t hat day.  
He had  just wanted to flag that  so that they  could perhaps  think about more transparency and clarity 
for everybody involved  in going  forward . 
15.5.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
 
_______________  
 
 
8 The decision was subsequently circulated in WT/L/1092.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
 
FAREWELL STATEMENT BY ROBERTO AZEVÊDO , DIRECTOR -GENERAL1 
In preparing for today, I found myself looking back seven years to when I first addressed you as 
Director -General. And I can now tell you from experience, the last speech is much harder than the 
first.  
The first is about goals, and a game plan to tackle the future.  
The last one is about what has been achieved; how much is left to do; and saying farewell to people 
we really cherish. This final part is the toughest of all.  
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED  
Back in September 2013, I said that the WTO was at a crossroads. It's still at a crossroads – and 
will continue to be for some time yet. This is not surprising, because this Organization is too 
important to have it easy.  
Each word, each comma that we negotiat e here has a direct and measurable impact on public policies 
and business realities – and consequently, on people's lives.  
Our agreements are subject to dispute settlement procedures that are automatic and consequential 
– and I'll come back to this point.   
This means that negotiated outcomes here are always the product of truly complex, long and painful 
diplomacy.  
It was clear then, when I made that first speech to you, that we needed to deliver agreements to 
bring this Organization closer to the changing realities of the 21st century.  
And together, we did. The Trade Facilitation Agreement, in Bali, put the Organization back on the 
map as a venue for global trade rule -making. It gave us confidence that the multilateral track was 
viable, and that with enoug h political will and pragmatism, we could strike deals of great value for 
trade, growth and development.  
After that, we tried to advance the remaining Doha Round issues. It was, quite frankly, a tall order. 
We confronted the gateway issues head -on, and tes ted a large number of potential approaches. But 
despite intense efforts, including daily meetings and consultations with permanent representatives, 
it became apparent that positions in many areas were further apart than ever, with gaps widening 
instead of closing.  
Still, in Nairobi in 2015 we managed to harvest some important multilateral outcomes. Eliminating 
agricultural export subsidies and the trade distortions they create had been a longstanding goal for 
many Members. We expanded the Information Techno logy Agreement, reducing and eliminating 
tariffs on $1.3 trillion of new -generation tech products.  
Not long after Nairobi, and like all multilateral institutions, the WTO was engulfed by strong political 
headwinds. These headwinds, and the associated tensions around trade, owe much to dramatic 
advances in technology, and the changes they have provoked in labour markets and in societies as 
a whole. It is also true, I have to say, that domestic social and economic policies have not done all 
they could have to contain inequalities of income and opportunity, and to ensure that the benefits 
from trade are more widespread.  
Despite these very challenging circumstances, standing still, for this organization, was not an option. 
We needed to find ways to move forward.  
 
1 Also circulated in JOB/GC/241.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  It was clear that Doha issues could not simply be abandoned. We needed to find new, creative ways 
of pressing on in areas of fundamental importance to a sizeable portion of the membership. And 
indeed, we have been able to make progress in  the ongoing negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies, as 
well as in discussions on agriculture and other important issues.  
At the same time, it was an inescapable reality that there were other, very real issues that needed 
to be addressed within the WTO. To t ake one example, it was simply not acceptable for the WTO to 
be in the 21st century, decades into a profound digital revolution, with no truly consequential 
discussions on digital trade.  
We therefore began to test other approaches available in the WTO too lbox. Groups of Members 
started to explore innovative ways of advancing issues of interest. You know them all: E -commerce; 
the Facilitation of Investments for Development; Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises; the 
Domestic Regulation of Services; and Trade and the Economic Empowerment of Women.  
This second track of work received an important boost at MC11 in Buenos Aires in 2017. Those 
initiatives have since become an important part of work here in Geneva, with a growing number of 
participants from bo th the developed and developing worlds, and a welcome spirit of transparency 
and inclusivity from the proponents.  
Delivering on both the multilateral front and the joint initiatives will be vital for the future of the 
system. For the road ahead, MC12 will be a key landmark. It must deliver credible agreements and 
map the way for further reforms.  
I had hoped to work with you to deliver precisely such outcomes this past June. But the 
postponement of the ministerial to next year, because of the pandemic, broug ht me to the conclusion 
that I needed to step down this summer.  
Had I stayed on for the remaining year in my term, the DG succession process and the MC12 
preparatory process would have overlapped. My decades of experience working with this 
Organization le ft me firmly convinced that this would have irremediably compromised prospects for 
success at the ministerial.  
In light of the COVID -19 crisis, MC12 has become even more important: it will be a key decision 
point for you to shape the direction of the post -COVID global economy.  
The date of the ministerial, which now seems likely to be held next June, was beyond my control. 
The timing of my succession, however, was within my power to change. My early departure allows 
you to decouple the two processes. This w as best for the system, making my choice a  
no-brainer.  
MY LIFE AND THE WTO  
It's a no -brainer because the WTO is much more than just a job to me. My first posting in Geneva 
was in 1997. We lived almost five years in this building. Even after going back to Brasília in 2001, 
my kids used to tease me that I hadn't actually left Geneva. I was still spending a big portion of my 
time here, first as a litigator, then as a negotiator.  
In 2008, I came back as Brazil's Ambassador to the WTO. Five years later you appo inted me Director 
General.  
Twenty -three years of my professional life have been intrinsically linked to this Organization. I have 
had many happy moments, but also – like most of us – my share of disappointments.  
But even at the lowest points, not once in  these 23 years did I ever doubt the role that this system 
plays in improving people's lives around the world. We will be worse off if the system's relevance 
and effectiveness are allowed to erode.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  THE FUTURE OF THE SYSTEM  
When I announced my decision to s tep down back in May, I said that MC12 would be a stepping -
stone to the future of the WTO.  
But what should the future of the WTO look like? That's the question. Of course, it will be shaped by 
you, the Members. But I want to take this moment to share with  you my own views on the subject.  
And let me start with a warning: don't assume that the WTO has a future irrespective of what you 
do here.  
To assure the future of the WTO, it is fundamental that Members truly believe in the need to update 
the system. So me may still believe that the pressures afflicting the WTO are localised, and therefore 
temporary. I want to assure you that they are not.  
The pressures on trade, and on the WTO, derive from fundamental structural changes in the global 
economy. Changes in  technology, groundbreaking business models, and shifts in the balance of 
economic power – they all have fundamentally altered the way countries and companies interact, 
not to mention the ways we go about our daily lives.  
The rules we negotiated back in th e 1980's and signed into force in 1994 are still very relevant and 
much -needed. They are, in fact, the last bastion preserving some degree of order and predictability 
in global trade and economic relations. Lose this, and we lose fundamental pillars of pea ce and 
prosperity.  
Yet lose them we may - if the WTO does not evolve.  
In substantive terms, there is a wide range of issues that are before you right now. Each of them 
would offer a meaningful contribution to WTO reform.  
But at least as important as the 'what' of reform, is the 'how'.  
The WTO is now driven by 164 members. I don't have to tell you how different they are, and how 
differently they think. A one -size-fits-all recipe will not work.  
We should remember that agreements at the WTO have always sough t to accommodate the diversity 
of our members with flexibilities of different kinds.  
Special and differential treatment (S&D) was one way.  
Member -specific flexibilities was another: subsidy caps, quotas, higher tariffs on certain 
products, and individual services commitments that open some areas - but not others.  
In short, our agreements always had a way of accepting different contributions from members.  
Our Trade Facilitation Agreement offers a new framework altogether for accommodating diversity 
among Members. It allowed each country to specify the flexibilities and the time they needed to 
implement the Agreement. And it did so without com promising the high level of ambition that was 
the final destination.  
An open -minded approach to flexibilities would open up a new era of fruitful work for the 
organization. And when exploring potential areas for such work, unanimous agreement cannot be a 
prerequisite for starting conversations at the WTO. It’s as simple as that.  
Not all members will necessarily be ready for a particular conversation or a particular step. That is 
okay, and absolutely natural. But if full consensus is required to even begin t o discuss any issue, 
this Organization will not survive. I'm glad that this is not where we are today.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  The joint statement initiatives potentially represent one path to a more nimble, flexible WTO. No 
member is compelled to participate, yet the doors are o pen to any member willing to join – or willing 
to leave.  
Plurilateral agreements have been with us since day one. But the fact is that any new flexible non -
multilateral arrangement – whether it is the JSIs or something similar – will inevitably raise 
impor tant practical and systemic questions.  
Multilateralising their results may not always be possible. But limiting their application to signatories 
leads us to many grey areas. There will be many systemic questions, and the answers will differ, I 
suppose, fro m case to case. I'm sure you will be able to find them.  
But even before you get to that point, you will need to get past the most common question  
I hear in discussions about such arrangements. And that question is: "Won't this approach 
compromise multilat eralism?"  
That's a big question. But my answer would be: "This approach is the only way we can save trade 
multilateralis m." 
And in this brave new world of ours, predictable and updated rules are of enormous value. They will 
be pursued, believe me. If not i n the WTO, then in other less representative forums. And if 
governments are unwilling or unable to define the rules of the game, then these rules will be set by 
private parties – even less representative, and even less likely to deliver gains for everyone.  We 
would all be better served if these rules, if these parameters, are negotiated at the WTO's large 
table.  
Then again, we know that agreements reached at the WTO have historically been valued for their 
enforceability through the dispute settlement mecha nism. And here, too, we have a problem.  
We all know where we are with the appeals stage of that mechanism. Finding a solution is not 
particularly hard, if you all truly want a solution. And in this regard, I'm not sure this is where things 
stand.  
There are  stop-gap solutions out there. Some of you are moving in that direction already. 
Nevertheless, the fact that we are not in a position to agree on the means of enforcing our 
agreements speaks volumes.  
Whatever decision you take on this, I would argue that a  dysfunctional dispute settlement 
mechanism introduces an unacceptable asymmetry in the system. This asymmetry is to the 
particular detriment of the smaller and more vulnerable parties to any dispute. I don't think we can 
simply sweep this under the rug, a nd it must remain a priority for WTO members to address.  
CONCLUSIONS  
I'm sure that much of what I've said today is not news to you. I have made many of these points 
on previous occasions. Nonetheless, I thought I should clearly spell out what I think the m ost critical 
challenges and the more promising avenues are. And to the extent I have been able to facilitate and 
encourage some of this new thinking during my tenure as Director -General, I have been happy to 
do so.  
All these innovative approaches are just a start, I would say, but a very promising start. Members 
now have a foundation on which to build new rules and standards, without ever forgetting the 
multilateral track and the fundamental issues that must still be addressed more fully.  
We've achieved a l ot and we must be proud of that. But much remains to be done.  
I wish the next Director -General every success in addressing these and other challenges.  I will 
certainly be supportive of your efforts and will be a passionate advocate for the system wherever 
the future takes me.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  As I said earlier, the WTO has been an integral part of my life. Over the past 23 years, I have made 
life-long friends among delegates, peers – including you yourself, Mr Chairman – and the secretariat.  
Speaking of the secretariat, I want you to know that we have within these premises nearly 700 souls 
who dedicate their careers to serving you, members, with commitment, professionalism, and a 
degree of excellence that you will not find anywhere else. I knew that before, and my time as D G 
confirmed everything I said. I am privileged to have worked with them and you are fortunate to be 
supported by people of such calibre.  
I would like to extend special thanks to my deputies – Alan, Fred, Karl, and Xiaozhun – for their wise 
counsel and act ive engagement with Members and the wider trade community. And I want to thank 
each and every member of the Secretariat, both those who worked closely with me, including past 
and present members of my office, and those that I unfortunately didn't get to se e as much. Without 
you we would not be the organization we are.  
On the subject of support, I must find a very special place for my family – which is growing by the 
minute. In both the good moments and the difficult ones, they have all been great enthusiast s for 
the WTO project.  
Regardless of what has or has not been achieved over the years, this human connection with all of 
you is what I prize the most. These deep and fundamental connections never disappear. So I'm sure 
that this is not a farewell. This is , as we say in Brazil, just a " tchau ". 
Thank you all for your strength, your companionship, your solidarity, your support, and your 
friendship. Come visit!  
Thank you all once again, and like I said before: Tchau ! 
_______________  
 WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  ANNEX 2  
 
STATEMENTS BY DELEGATIONS  
FAREWELL TO THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL  
1. Brazil  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
As you will be stepping down by the end of next month, this is your last General Council  meeting . 
Let me just reiterate that it has been an honour for Brazil, and I believe for all of us, to have you as 
the Director -General for the past seven years. I myself and many of the colleagues at the Brazilian 
Mission to the WTO had the privilege to work with you over the last two decades from Dispute 
Settlement Coordinator to  Director for Economic Affairs, Vice -Minister for Economic Affairs, Brazil's 
Permanent Representative to the WTO. You led the Brazilian team throughout the Doha Round. Your 
trade knowledge and negotiating skills are unparalleled. It has been a remarkable d iplomatic career 
at the Brazilian Foreign Service and we are all very proud to call you our colleague.  
 
As the first Brazilian to serve at the highest office in the premier multilateral trade institution, your 
leadership has been inspiring to all of us. Th e WTO DG has a tough job. It is required to play the 
long game of economic diplomacy in multiple chess boards, exploring the limits between what is 
desirable and what is possible – with players that are cautious of sovereignty and yet bound by the 
design t o negotiate amongst them. It is, if I might say, the art of the deal. And you have mastered 
that art. You walked with Members, respected their positions, facilitated agreements, fostered 
cooperation, challenged the organization and moved us all to the next  level. All of these allowed us 
Members to overcome the deadlocks we have faced since 2008.  
 
Under you leadership, a great deal was accomplished. You helped deliver critical results which include 
the Bali Package in 2013 and the Nairobi Package in 2015. It  is no doubt that your departure is a 
loss for us and the WTO even more so if we consider the challenging time we are facing. The next 
Director -General  will have among its own challenges the need to match the highest standards you 
set for the post of Direc tor-General.  
 
On behalf of the President of Brazil, of the Foreign Minister and of all your colleagues and friends at 
the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, we wish you success in your next endeavours and all the best to you, 
to Lelé and to your family.  
 
Muito o brigado , Roberto.  
 
2. Guatemala (GRULAC)  
 
I would like to express our thanks to Roberto for your excellent leadership as Head of the WTO in 
the past seven years. We appreciate your continued efforts and contributions in favour of 
strengthening the multilater al trading system. You leave an important legacy to this organization. 
Thank you for honouring the name of our region over the years. I am sure that all members of 
GRULAC agree that your departure from the WTO will be heartfelt and undoubtedly you will be 
missed. Our best wishes for success in your future projects, both professional and personal.  
 
Muchas gracias , Roberto.  
 
3. Guatemala  
 
I obviously associate with the words of GRULAC under this item, but Guatemala also wishes to pay 
tribute to the seven years of stewardship in which the Director -General has shown his full 
commitment. When he started as Director -General in 2013, I was privileged to collaborate with him 
in order to Chair the Trade Facilitation negotiations. In Bali, I was als o close to him and I had the 
fortunate experience of learning so much during those negotiations.  
 
I would also like to point out his enormous contribution to the multilateral trading system, as well 
as the support that he gave to the various initiatives brought forward b y Members of this organization WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  that are now part of our future work, such as e -commerce, investment facilitation, MSMEs and 
gender issues.  
 
In saying goodbye to one of our colleagues, all I have left to say is to wish him the best of luck, all 
my blessing  go with you.  
 
Muchas gracias , Roberto.  
 
4. Thailand  
 
At the outset, I would like to associate ourselves with the ASEAN statement.  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
Thailand would like to express our sincere appreciation to you for your tireless efforts during your 
seven -year tenure as the WTO Director -General and your dedication to the organization which 
resulted in significant milestones for the multilateral trading system. Personally, I had the privilege 
to working very closely with you during my tenure as the Gen eral Council Chair last year. I am 
thankful for your active collaboration, wisdom and valuable advices offered to me. My Chairmanship 
would have been more difficult without your support. I will continue to cherish these valuable and 
memorable experiences.  
 
I would also like to take this opportunity to ensure you that Thailand will remain committed and will 
give our strong support to the WTO and utmost efforts to delivering meaningful outcomes at MC12 
in order to make the most from your well intentioned deci sion to step down as D irector -General  for 
the benefit of the system. I wish you luck and the very best for your future endeavour s. 
 
5. Switzerland  
 
Dear Roberto,  
You have battled on all fronts of trade negotiations, both as a representative of Brazil and as 
Director -General of the WTO. You have risen through the ranks with a steadiness that is only possible 
through talent.  
In a moment of distraction that took me away from WTO affairs, I was reminded of you by a book 
by Erik Orsenna entitled "Journey to the La nds of Cotton: A Brief Manual of Globalisation". The 
author dedicates a short chapter to you entitled "The Coordinator", alluding to your central role in 
the dispute in which you defended Brazil's cotton interests against the United States. In this chapter , 
Erik Orsenna recounts one of your greatest successes in a manner that is sometimes critical, often 
tinged with humour, but always elegant . These are terms that also describe you well. Here is an 
extract from the chapter:  
"Diplomats often receive impressi ve titles to compensate for their absence of genuine power and the 
lack of progress in the negotiations that they conduct. Yet this coordinator [and he is talking about 
you, Roberto]  is in a different league. He, for two years, led a team of eventually vic torious lawyers… 
Mr Coordinator -General coordinated the uncoordinatable ." 
Dear Roberto,  
We have had the opportunity to make our way together over many years. I have witnessed your 
talents, your skill and your determination at crucial moments. Thank you for your commitment. You 
saw the Trade Facilitation Agreement negotiations through to a suc cessful conclusion. Other tangible 
progress, such as the conclusion of a new agreement on trade facilitation, has also been achieved 
under your able leadership. You are leaving us prematurely, but we understand and accept your 
decision.  
I wish you all the best for the future, both in any subsequent role and in your private and family life, 
as well as every success in all of your endeavours.  
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  6. Tanzania  
 
I wish to congratulate Mr . Roberto Azevêdo for his excellent leadership during the past seven years 
as Dire ctor-General of the World Trade Organization. It was during his tenure that we witnessed the 
WTO negotiations being revitalised from long -standing deadlocks. Under his stewardship, we were 
able to achieve numerous key outcomes, including the Trade Facilita tion Agreement during the Bali 
Ministerial Conference in 2013, and the Decision on Export Subsidies and the LDC Package during 
the Nairobi Ministerial Conference in 2015.  
 
The United Republic of Tanzania is grateful for his invaluable contribution to the m ultilateral, rules -
based trading system which will forever remain one of his legacies.  
 
Finally, I would like to wish him the best of luck and success in his future endeavours.  
 
7. Singapore  
 
The Singapore delegation would like to express our appreciation t o you, DG Azevêdo, for your many 
years of tireless service to the WTO. As you had highlighted in your heartfelt message earlier, you 
have had the unenviable task of steering the WTO during some of its most challenging junctures. In 
recent years, the WTO ha s faced heightened trade tensions, brinksmanship, growing protectionism 
and unilateralism and increasing scepticism about the role and relevance of the WTO. Since the end 
of 2019, the WTO indeed and the world had to deal with the COVID -19 pandemic. Yet thr ough all 
these challenges, you have provided a calm and steady leadership.  
 
We would like to commend you on your invaluable contributions to the system, in particular the 
multilateral outcomes achieved in Bali and in Nairobi, as well as the entry into forc e of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement and the TRIPS Amendment which occurred during your watch. You have been 
a true champion of the Joint Statement Initiatives. As one of the three co -convenors of the JSI on 
E-Commerce, I have seen first -hand your dedicat ion to ensuring that the JSIs make progress and 
your focus on making the WTO more relevant by responding appropriately to the digital revolution. 
We also appreciate your transparent and inclusive approach as exemplified in establishing the 
Informal TNC and  HODs process so that no Member is left behind.  
 
Singapore has always enjoyed a longstanding and excellent working relationship with you. I 
understand that you first visited Singapore as a Brazilian diplomat for the WTO's First Ministerial 
Conference in De cember 1996. We look forward to welcoming you to Singapore again and wish you 
all the very best in your future endeavours.  
 
8. Barbados  
 
It would be remiss of me if I did not, on behalf of Barbados, take the opportunity to add my voice 
to those who have already paid tribute to the Chair of the TNC and our Director -General, Roberto. 
Barbados wishes to place on record its heartfelt thanks to you for your stewardship at the helm of 
this organization over the past seven years. We do recognise that for any Dir ector-General leading 
an institution of 164 Members covering their development interests is by no means an easy task. 
You however have done so by staying in tune with the views and interests of Members. We are 
particularly appreciative of your frankness an d accessibility. Barbados experienced this first -hand 
when we served as the coordinator of the ACP Group in 2015, as well as each time that the Group 
had to meet with you or participate in high -level panels in our Ministerial and brainstorming 
processes.  
 
We commend you on keeping us, the Members, honest. We hope that this legacy reverberates 
throughout the history of the organization. As you continue on your next step, I encourage you to 
take a bit of pause and respite in beautiful Barbados, on our lovely beaches, sipping on some fine 
Mount Gay Rum. I wish you all the very best in the future.  
 
9. Australia  
 
Australia wishes to pay thanks to you, Roberto, for your tireless work over the past seven years to 
bring together the 164 Members of the WTO to promote gl obal trade for the benefit of all. You have 
long been an advocate for agricultural trade liberalization and your support led to the Nairobi 
Decision to abolish agricultural export subsidies – a decision that has benefited all farmers. You also WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  played the p ivotal role in concluding the Trade Facilitation Agreement – an agreement which broke 
new ground in promoting the smooth flow of goods globally. You have done much to encourage 
negotiating momentum and innovative approaches, including and especially for th e Joint Statement 
Initiatives – helping Members move towards global trade rules that reflect the modern trading 
landscape. We have also appreciated your support for the Women and Trade agenda and the Buenos 
Aires Declaration on Trade and Women's Economic E mpowerment.  
 
Over the years, you have navigated difficult waters expertly – most recently in the face of the 
COVID -19 pandemic. You responded swiftly to put us on the right track towards forming a 
coordinated global response underlining the WTO's critical role in promoting global economic 
recovery, not least through ensuring transparency and monitoring. As you said when announcing 
your decision to step down, it is now in the hands of all WTO Members and your successor to start 
shaping the WTO's agenda for t he new post -COVID -19 realities. We intend to honour your 
contribution and your advocacy by working to update the system to ensure its relevancy and to start 
by delivering results at, if not before, MC12.  
 
Thank you for your service and commitment to the ru les-based trading system. On behalf of the 
Australian Government, I convey our warmest wishes to you and Lelé and greatest success in the 
future.  
 
10. China  
 
Let me join others in expressing our appreciation to Roberto for his statements, as well as his 
contri bution to the WTO and the multilateral trading system. Looking back at the past seven years, 
Members could vividly recognise  his vision, creativity and pragmatism with the successful delivery 
of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, the Information Technology Agreement Expansion and the 
elimination of agricultural export subsidies, among many others, just to name a few flagship 
achievements.  
 
His contribution as WTO Director -General is distinctively permanent through multilateral outcomes 
showing us that produc ing results such as the Bali and Nairobi packages is possible in this multilateral 
organization. Like you said, we need to maintain this habit of delivery. In the last three to four years 
of office, the WTO has encountered unprecedented, formidable challen ges with dynamic changes of 
the global economy. Roberto did his best in outreaching in Geneva and in the capitals to the public 
and private sectors, to business and to the people, to call for the reform of the WTO.  
 
Roberto, it is obviously never easy to bid farewell to a friend like you. Our friendship began more 
than a decade ago when we were both delegates in Geneva at that time. All good things come to an 
end. This is a sad matter, but a reality that we have to accept. I wish you all the best and I hop e 
that our paths will cross again at some point in time in the future.  
 
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the four DDGs, Yonov, Karl, Alan and 
Xiaozhun , and the Chef de Cabinet, Tim. We appreciate your hard work and great contrib ution to 
this organization.  
 
11. Honduras  
 
I would like to associate myself with the words read out on behalf of GRULAC this morning. I will be 
brief because it is very difficult to summarise 22 years of acquaintance with you, Roberto, as a 
diplomat, as a colleague, as a Director -General. But I spe ak now on behalf of Honduras to pay tribute 
to your outstanding stewardship.  
 
As the first Latin American to lead this organization, your legacy is a matter of pride for us. You have 
promoted and defended the system unfailingly. Your commitment has been t rue from the first day. 
Your successor will undoubtedly have a tremendous challenge in following in your footsteps.  
 
I want to thank you for having had the opportunity to work alongside you as Ambassador and as 
Director -General. I hope that your future en deavours will be crowned with every success on a 
professional and on a personal level.  
 WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  12. Egypt  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
We would like to thank you for your masterpiece thinking. I would like to express our deep 
appreciation for your leadership, commitment an d achievements during your tenure. You led this 
organization at a very turbulent time when the international trade and global economy  are facing 
many challenges.  
 
We believe you have deployed all your efforts to mitigate the multiple effects of these challenges on 
the multilateral trading system and we do recognise your tireless efforts and significant work. You 
would always be remembered by the rich legacy you left in this organization.  
 
We would also like to pay to tribute to all the DDGs and the mem bers of the Secretariat who have 
done a remarkable work during the last seven years. In the end, we certainly wish you, Mr. Director -
General, and your lovely family, all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
13. Costa Rica  
 
Mr. Director -General, I would like to  express our thanks and gratitude for all the contributions you 
made to the work of the WTO and to the multilateral trading system. In February 2017, at the 
General Council and at the beginning of your second mandate, you said a few words that are still 
ringing in this House because they were totally topical then and now. In particular, you mentioned 
the need to promote efforts and cooperation at the international level.  
 
You also highlighted that in difficult times, the usefulness of multilateral rules tha t are mutually 
agreed is more than evident, just as the possibility to resolve, according to these rules, the economic 
problems that can arise between nations. You even added that the multilateral institutions were 
created as a direct response to the terri ble events of history and represent the enormous efforts of 
the world to avoid repetition of past mistakes. These institutions offer the necessary tools to face 
the many problems that are at the forefront of discussions today.  
 
We would like to recognise y our efforts to maintain the WTO as a relevant protagonist in global 
governance. Let me highlight three examples. First, under your leadership, the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement was concluded and came into force just as the ITA Extension and the agreement on  
Export Subsidies which were reached in Nairobi.  
 
Second, during this period, you launched the reform process of the WTO and the updating of its 
rules to take on board the realities of the current global economy. The efforts are starting to bear 
fruit in t he framework of the joint initiatives. In other areas, the discussions continue so as to 
improve the work of the organization, such as on transparency and notifications.  
 
Third, the WTO continues to be a fundamental tool in the fight against protectionism. You have 
maintained this element and allowed the WTO to continue to serve this purpose. This exercise has 
played an ever -growing role in the context of the current crisis. We would like in particular to thank 
you for your efforts to monitor and ensure a follow -up to the measures adopted in the context of 
the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
For all these reasons, please allow me to repeat once again the thanks of the Government of Costa 
Rica. We will always remember your commitment and loyalty to this org anization. Finally, I would 
like to wish you all the very best in your future endeavours, in your family life, in your personal life 
and in your professional life in this new chapter that you are about to embark upon.  
 
14. Ukraine  
 
We would like to express ou r sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Director -General, H.E. Roberto 
Azevêdo, for his years of service to the WTO and personal contribution to addressing the top 
challenges of the WTO and the entire multilateral trading system. This is a really big e ra in the WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  international trading system – what we have been discussing in the previous years. This is really a 
mood -setting landscape for the future generation.  
 
Your leadership and personal devotion have guided WTO Members to move along the hardening 
interests where you have helped the Membership reach achievements despite the obstacles. 
Everyone is grateful for your leadership and the coordination of the activities of all of us in the World 
Trade Organization and in general in the trade universe.  
 
We woul d like to thank you and your team for the tremendous work you carried out at the helm of 
the organization. We might not be able to direct those wind of changes, but we must adjust ourselves 
to harness the energy and the potential of the moment where we arr ive in some key milestones and 
some certainty in the harbour of meaningful outcomes.  
 
So, Director -General, thank you very much for this journey. The WTO Membership will certainly miss 
you and my delegation wishes you all success in your future endeavours  and your activities. You are 
always welcome in Ukraine and thank you for your work and help to us and to the World Trade 
Organization in general.   
 
15. European Union  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
It would be impossible to sum up in a few words the immense contribution th at you have offered to 
this organization throughout your career as capital -based official, as Ambassador in Geneva and 
eventually as Director -General. I still remember the first time we met to discuss WTO matters. It 
was many years ago – enough to say it w as last century – when we were both posted to our 
respective missions here in Geneva.  
 
You took the helm of the WTO at a challenging time. Three months later, you managed to deliver 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The hugs and some tears of joy in the fi nal session in Bali mark a 
landmark achievement and a model for the future which would not have been possible without you. 
It would not have been possible because of the mix of talents that you put at the disposal of WTO 
Members. The talents that you have are unique:  
 
• First, trade expertise. As my Swiss colleague recalls, those who had the misadventure 
of litigating against Brazil know something about it.  
• Second, outmost transparency. The twenty hour -long session with more than one 
hundred delegations in the room, painstakingly going through every line of the 
negotiating text are still vivid in many colleagues' memories – at least those who did 
not fall asl eep at that time.  
• Third, human touch. As you said so many times, you have been in our shoes. We have 
always considered you one of us – primus inter pares  – who could understand our 
constraints and motivations.  
• Fourth, respect and dedication to this organ ization – which is probably what eventually 
led you to take a decision which the European Union regrets but understands – a feeling 
that usually accompanies difficult choices.  
Roberto has more hidden talents which, looking at your knee today, few may suspe ct. This talent 
involve your football skills. As any great player, you were respected by adversaries and loved by 
teammates. Your touch and vision allowed this organization to score memorable goals and victories. 
And I wish you the same on your future life  and all the best wishes to your wife, Lelé, and to your 
entire family.  
 
Thank you very much.  
 WT/GC/M/186  
 
- 76 - 
 
  16. Ecuador  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
I would like to add Ecuador's voice to the expressions of thanks by Members for all your contributions 
in the work of the WTO, es pecially its achievements during your tenure. You have worked tirelessly. 
We would like to thank you for your personal talent as a negotiator and a leader. It has been an 
honour to have a Director -General who really embodies the energy and dynamism of the Latin 
Americans.  
 
We would also like to extend to you the thanks of the former Permanent Representative of Ecuador 
who chaired the CTD. We will miss you, but we will of course have your brilliant legacy at the same 
time. This is a new stage in your life an d we express our warmest wishes for plenty of success in 
your future endeavours and all the best to you and to your entire family.  
 
17. Canada  
 
Canada wishes to thank you, Roberto, for your hard work and dedication as the Director -General of 
the WTO for the pa st seven years. We would like to commend you on your vision to strengthen the 
rules-based multilateral trading system and your commitment to work with all Members in an 
inclusive and transparent manner.  
 
Canada recognises that your two terms have been mar ked by uncertainty, unpredictability and 
volatility on the multilateral front and that your task was not an easy one. Nevertheless, your 
commitment to this institution and its Members and your tireless efforts have guided our work in 
navigating these troub led times. We are grateful for it.  
 
We especially want to salute your leading role in working with the Members on the successful 
conclusion of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and subsequent overwhelming ratification of this 
Agreement by Members, as well a s your support in aiming to unlock the negotiating function of the 
organization.  
 
Canada also recognises your strong leadership in advancing trade and gender issues at the WTO 
through the Buenos Aires Declaration and appointment of the Gender Focal Point. As you know, 
gender issues are very important for Canada and we appreciated immensely having you as an ally 
to promote this objective in an organization that must adapt to 21st century realities.  
 
Finally, I would like to convey my deep appreciation  for your support of the Ottawa Group on WTO 
Reform. The perspectives you brought in the Group enriched our deliberations and contributed to 
the work of the Group in a very productive manner. I am sure I speak for all Ottawa Group Members 
in thanking you f or your contribution.  
 
On a personal note, I would like to stress that this is not a goodbye. It is just a "see you again soon". 
Of course, I look forward to having the privilege of crossing your path in the future.  
 
18. United Kingdom  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
I woul d like to convey the United Kingdom's warmest wishes to you. Thank you for everything you 
have done in this House to champion the multilateral rules -based system. You have served the 
Members and this organization through its most challenging days so far an d the United Kingdom is 
extremely grateful to you and your team in view of your professionalism and service.  
 
You have many notable successes which we have heard this morning, including, but not limited to, 
the Trade Facilitation in Bali and Export Competi tion in Nairobi. In addition, you have worked to 
bring in business and civil society more into our discussions here.  
 
Most pertinently of all though, we have been reminded again this morning of your profound 
understanding of, and commitment to, the multil ateral trading system. Perhaps, the best tribute we 
could give you, Roberto, would be to heed your wise words this morning and renew our efforts to WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  update the system as the best and indeed the only way to strengthen and preserve it for next 
twenty -five yea rs. 
 
I also want to thank you personally, Roberto, for the outstanding support you have given the United 
Kingdom as we have gone through our own transition here at the WTO as we have left the European 
Union. Roberto, I wish you and your family the very bes t of luck for the future and I am confident 
that we will be hearing great things from you as you embark on the next chapter of your 
extraordinary career. We will be proudly cheering you on from here in Geneva.  
 
19. Sri Lanka  
 
Sri Lanka joins other Members in placing on record its sincere appreciation and gratitude to you, 
Roberto, for your leadership, relentless efforts and unwavering commitment over the past seven 
years. It was exactly seven years ago, on 14 May 2013, that the General Council forma lly agreed to 
your appointment as the new Director -General. During this chapter, you, along with the Secretariat 
staff and the WTO Membership, worked hard with the renewed vision to ensure meaningful outcomes 
to take the multilateral trading agenda towards  a new layer which are no doubt commendable.  
 
My interaction with you and your loving wife, Maria, goes back to 1998 to 2002. At that time, I knew 
you only as Maria's husband. Sometimes you came to the CoA meetings to see your wife and at that 
time I was n ot aware Maria was even married. So one day I asked Maria , "Who is this handsome 
guy coming  here and hugging  you every time?" She said, " He is my husband ." So, I was pleased to 
see Maria had got such a handsome husband.  
 
Nevertheless, we worked towards many areas, but others very close to Maria than to Roberto. We 
are very saddened by your decision. But we know that this is not a decision that you and Maria have 
taken lightly, and you had the full understanding and support  of all delegations enabling you to 
proceed with your role during this interim period.  
 
Even in these most difficult times, you have always demonstrated great commitment and confidence, 
and this deserves our full admiration. With your retirement announcem ent, the Members did not 
have much time, but yet, as the leader of this very prestigious and unique rulemaking institution, 
you lent your leadership to the Secretariat for carrying out the substantive work during the past few 
months which we value immensel y. 
 
Finally, I wish you and your loving wife, Ambassador Maria, with much joy and happiness as you 
two begin a new chapter in your life. I hope we will get another opportunity to meet somewhere in 
the world. Until then, I say goodbye to you and to my very old friend, Ambassador Maria.  
 
20. Jamaica (ACP Group)  
 
On behalf of the ACP Group, I wish to extend our gratitude to Director -General Azevêdo for his 
sterling contribution to the multilateral trading system and the management of the WTO during his 
tenure.  
 
Mr. Director -General, the ACP Group has had a long, fruitful and encouraging relationship with you 
dating back well before you assumed this post. The manifestation of your knowledge of trade and 
skills in trade negotiations during the Doha Round is legendar y. You have been able to build a legacy 
even in challenging times. In fact, me speaking to you on Interprefy at this point is a mark of the 
man that you are.  
 
Your pursuit of inclusivity and transparency in the organization has been admirable and your 
commitment to preserving development as a central pillar of the WTO has been essential to the 
interests of developing countries and LDCs. We commend you for your commitment for being 
accessible to Members, as demonstrated by your dedication in not only consul ting during meetings 
and retreats of ACP Group Ambassadors over the years, but also in engaging large and small 
Members alike, giving your full respect and attention.  
 
The ACP Group is proud to have had such a fruitful and cooperative relationship with you  during 
your tenure. Our collaboration with you was instrumental in concluding the negotiations for the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement, the Nairobi Package and your initiative on Cotton. Through those we came 
to learn of your keen attention to detail. We wer e anticipating collaborating further with you for WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  outcomes on other files for MC12. What we hope – and know – is that you will be able to contribute 
as much as you can from wherever you are.  
 
The ACP Group wishes to convey its thanks to you, DG Azevêdo, fo r your leadership and contribution 
to the development and growth of the WTO, even on these very trying circumstances. You have 
done well in continuing the tradition of excellence which we have come to expect from you and your 
office. For this, you will be missed. We wish you, Director -General, and your family all the very best 
in your future endeavours.  
 
21. United States  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
On behalf of the United States, I am pleased to express our gratitude to you for your able leadership 
of this organization ov er the past seven years. You have been a great listener, a problem -solver, a 
wonderful public spokesperson for the WTO, perhaps too good a litigator in a previous life, and true 
friend of the international trading system.  
 
Under your leadership, the Member ship has come together to achieve several important milestones 
and through these efforts you have provided your successor, whoever that may be, with some 
examples of how progress might be achieved here. The Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Conferences 
demonstr ated that consensus on longstanding issues can be reached and multilateral outcomes are 
possible. Your steady hand and leadership here in Geneva and on the ground at the Conferences 
was essential to finding those balanced outcomes. Your reference in Buenos  Aires also helped usher 
in the current focus on much needed reforms for the institution which is a deliverable in its own 
right.  
 
While the Ministerial Conference gets the most attention, we also want to thank you for your personal 
engagement here in Geneva across a broad range of issues to build trust and facilitate resolutions, 
bring divergent perspectives together and provide mome ntum to new initiatives. Even before you 
took the helm as Director -General, my staff informs me that you were a rockstar of multilateral 
trade negotiations. That is their description, not mine. But I think it is fair to say that your departure 
from Geneva truly marks an end of an era. Looking forward, we want to wish you the very best in 
your next chapter.  
 
I know it will be hard to leave the shores of beautiful lake Geneva but let's look on the bright side. 
Come September, you will never have to utter the phrase "inclusive, transparent and Member -
driven" ever again. You won't have to lie awake at night wondering if the e -commerce and NVI 
moratoria linkage will survive just one more Ministerial. And a great relief to you, I am sure, you will 
never ever have to answer the "why" question. Thank you and best wishes to you, to Lelé and to 
your expanding family. Tchau ! 
 
22. North Macedonia  
 
I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Director -General for his leadership of the WTO 
over the past seven years. He is strongly committed to ensuring that trade liberalization across the 
globe benefits the major pillar of global economic governance. DG Azevêdo's work has been fully 
supported by North Macedonia, a small landlocked country. Promoting the objectives of mai ntaining 
a predictable and transparent trading system, he has contributed in conducting successful Ministerial 
Conferences in Bali and in Nairobi where important outcomes and roadmaps were delivered.  
 
We recognise that the principles of open trade and trad e facilitation should be better integrated into 
domestic policies in international initiatives such as advancing e -commerce, enlarging Membership 
of the GPA, small business initiatives, among others. DG Azevêdo has been always supportive of 
these initiativ es and we are thankful for his personal engagement.  
 
Once again, we would like to thank you, Director -General, for the open cooperation and for your 
commitments to the multilateral trading system, as we value your devotion to serving the goals for 
advancem ent of the WTO work. I would like to join others in wishing you all the best in your future 
endeavours, both professionally and personally.  
 WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  23. India  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
I recall your visit to New Delhi in March 2018 for the Informal Ministerial Meeting. Then I had the 
opportunity to meet you and interact with you in a different capacity when you met our Prime 
Minister during that visit. I was there during that meeting. I take this opportunity to place on record 
India's deep appreciation for your leadershi p of the WTO during the last seven years. India shall 
always cherish your contribution.  
 
You led the WTO during one of its most challenging times. It was a challenging time not only for the 
organization, but also for global trade in general. It further got  aggravated since the outbreak of the 
pandemic this year. We would have liked to see you and your stewardship supporting us through 
MC12 next year. Yet we respect your decision and also appreciate that you decided to step down a 
year ahead in the best inte rest of the organization. I deeply appreciate that.  
 
We will miss your profound qualities of head and heart, your great expertise and sensitivity to the 
concerns of all Members together with openness with which you carried out your responsibilities of 
the office of the Director -General. On behalf of my country, India, I wish you all the best for your 
future endeavours and extend an invitation that, whenever you feel to visit India, you are most 
welcome.  
 
24. Tajikistan  
 
I would like to join others to bid farew ell to the Director -General. It is with great sadness that I say 
goodbye to you, Director -General. We express our feelings and were unpleasantly surprised to hear 
your unexpected departure during the HoDs meeting on 14 May. However, we do understand and 
respect your decision to step down as of 1 September 2020.  
 
The Republic of Tajikistan commends and highly appreciates your great leadership and contributions 
to the global trading system. It has been an honour working with a leader like you and thank you 
for the support you have extended to Members during these seven years. We will miss your 
contributions to the multilateral trading system. My delegation wishes you the best of luck and 
continued success wherever you may find yourself.  
 
25. Viet Nam (ASEAN)  
 
ASEAN Member States are grateful to the Director -General, Roberto Azevêdo, for his hard work, 
tireless efforts and contributions to promote the rules -based multilateral trading system for the 
benefit of all. DG Azevêdo has led the WTO effectively during the extraordinary, difficult time of 
COVID -19. His initiative to monitor and promote the transparency of COVID -19 trade measures 
adopted by Members is highly appreciated by all Members and the business community around the 
world.  
 
The legacy of DG Azevêdo during his tenure over the last seven years and his contributions to the 
WTO system are of significant importance. This includes his advocacy of the WTO principles and 
values, effective management of the WTO Secretariat and ability to bridge different posi tions at a 
critical juncture of the WTO, together with his numerous initiatives to achieve concrete outcomes of 
the WTO. For example, he chaired the successful conclusion of the TFA in 2013. The high standard 
and expertise and dedication of the WTO Secreta riat is also a testament of DG Azevêdo's leadership.  
 
ASEAN is sad to bid farewell to DG Azevêdo. We are very grateful and wish him all the best in his 
future endeavours. Viet Nam had the opportunity to welcome the visit by DG Azevêdo in 2016 and 
would be  honoured to welcoming you back at any time.  
 
26. Dominican Republic  
 
We would like to thank the Director -General for his outstanding leadership in the WTO and 
unshakable commitment for the WTO. He assumed office in 2013. He has expended his energy and 
wisdom in leading the organization in order to meet the challenges of the WTO and to uphold the 
multilateral trading system based on rules. He has achieved historical results for the organization. WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  Testimony of this is the historical Agreement on Trade Facilitatio n. This is a multilateral agreement 
of significance for the world.  
 
In the face of the pandemic, the Director -General has become an advocate of a trading system based 
on predictability and transparency. We have been able to ensure trade amongst nations of essential 
goods and medical equipment, among others. This is an unprecedented world health crisis and DG 
Azevêdo promoted transparency in the notification of COVID -19 related trade measures adopted by 
Members. His steady hand was of great assistance for ma ny of the decisions our capital had to make.  
 
The Dominican Republic wishes to bid farewell to DG Azevêdo while wishing him the best in his 
private and professional life. We are certain to be able to count on his commitment always in order 
to achieve a mor e just, inclusive and transparent multilateral trading system.  
 
27. Japan  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
I would like to convey Japan's deep appreciation for your tremendous contribution to the multilateral 
trading system and the WTO. Under your leadership, the WTO has seen important progress. As you 
mentioned at the outset and as mentioned by colleagues, the WTO has expanded its scope into new 
dimensions including through the TFA, promoted sectoral trade liberalization exemplified by the ITA 
Expansion and realised signi ficant agricultural reform by agreeing on the elimination of the 
agricultural export subsidies during your term.  
 
Most recently, we have observed your remarkable leadership to deal with the COVID -19 pandemic. 
In this unprecedented crisis, you acted swiftly  and led the WTO Secretariat in conducting monitoring 
work and cooperating with other international organizations to maintain free and open trade and 
mitigate the damages to international trade. We very much appreciate the efforts by you and your 
team to e stablish the digital meeting platform and enable meetings to take place smoothly even 
during the crisis.  
 
We applaud the transparency, openness and integrity you have shown during your tenure. We also 
appreciate the fact that you have served as a strong bridge between Japan and the WTO. You visited 
Japan a number of times, exchanged views with Prime Minister Abe and other Japanese leaders and 
closely discussed how to maintain and, if possible, enhance the multilateral trading system. For our 
leader s, their appointments with you have always been the highest priority because we know you 
are not only the WTO Director -General but our comrade in supporting a high cause and we are bound 
in warm friendship. We particularly value your personal contribution to the success of the G20 
process chaired by Japan last year.  
 
In closing, we would like to express once again Japan's very deep gratitude to you and sincerely 
wish you and your family all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
28. Pakistan  
 
Thank you, Director -General for your remarks in the morning. Pakistan takes the floor to bid you 
farewell, to acknowledge the hard work you have put in to steering this organization over the last 
several years and to thank you for your contribution to the multilateral trading  system. Our 
appreciation goes out to you, Director -General, for championing the cause of trade and development 
globally in these challenging times. We are confident that you will contribute with the same zest 
wherever you go, and we wish you and your fami ly all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
29. Chad (LDCs)  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
Over these past seven years which you have spent at the helm of the organization, you have chalked 
up a number of important achievements on behalf of multilateralism and development. I  followed 
very closely and with great interest your swan song speech. You have mentioned at least ten times 
in that speech the word "flexibility". This word has a particular significance for the LDC Group, and 
you know very well why. Under your leadership the WTO, with the perseverance and the efforts of WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  all the Membership, reached a multilateral trade agreement on trade facilitation. This is an 
undeniable achievement for world trade.  
 
Under your leadership, the decision on preferential rules of origin in f avour of LDCs was achieved. 
Members also discussed with great interest the reduction of domestic support for cotton production 
in Nairobi in 2015. Here, I would like to draw special attention to our deep gratitude on behalf of the 
C-4. We want to pay a vib rant tribute to you for having managed to organise with us the first World 
Cotton Day, which was a tremendous success here in Geneva.  
 
Since everything, or almost everything, has already been said and those who will follow will also 
mention the weighty leg acy that Roberto would leave us, I would simply like to mention an example. 
When there were rumours in the press regarding the possible departure of the Director -General, 
those rumours became more frequent until when, one morning, as far I am concerned, I received a 
phone call from Roberto himself telling me what I already knew. I might sound selfish when I say 
that once he had given me this piece of news, I no longer thought of him, nor of his family, nor of 
the WTO, but I thought of our Group, the LDC Gro up.  
 
For the LDC Group, and particularly for the mission coordinating the LDC Group, Roberto has been 
our true friend. We are well aware of the limits of a Director -General. In the WTO, he has to act as 
a referee and be impartial. But being at the helm of  this organization, he also guided us in terms of 
strategy. And as any fair guide, you choose your destination and he leads you there. And he was 
able to warn us when there was a threat. In other words, he was able to gain the trust of the LDC 
Group and we  felt safe with him.  
 
Roberto was an unwavering champion of the multilateral trading system. We will always remember 
his work in favour of inclusiveness, including in the working procedures of the WTO, the formats of 
different meetings – things that seem like details, but that were vital for the participation of all 
Members in the work and life of the organization. Only time will tell the significance of everything 
that you personally brought to the life of the organization. The technical assistance and ca pacity 
building activities for LDCs as enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement are being fulfilled to the 
satisfaction of Members. I want to thank you for this.  
 
On behalf of the LDC Group, you will remain our true friend. As such, I am very proud of this 
friendship. I would personally want to wish you and your wife, who has undoubtedly contributed a 
great deal to your achievements here at the WTO, all the best. Thank you.  
 
30. Botswana (African Group)  
 
Saying farewell is never easy but it is an opportunity to look back and appreciate some of the 
important milestones and achievements that we have worked together and reached with you, 
Roberto, during your tenure at the WTO. Allow me to mention a few, by no means exhaustive, that 
stand out for us as  African Group.  
 
Having listened attentively to the warm words of appreciation and accolade, it goes without saying 
that you have left an indelible mark on the multilateral trading system. Through your able leadership, 
we achieved, as others have said befo re me, the Agreement on Trade Facilitation and delivered 
decisions that sought to provide better market access to goods and services from the LDCs, as well 
as reform in agriculture through the Decision on Export Competition. As others have also mentioned, 
we welcomed the operationalization of the TFA Facility which is meant to help Members implement 
their TFA commitments.  
 
In addition, through your rallying call, we managed to get momentum that led to the entry into force 
of the TRIPS Agreement – 11 years since it was agreed in 2005. Furthermore, you have continuously 
advocated for the need to ensure through the WTO that the benefits of trade reach more people, 
especially in the most vulnerable countries. This has been demonstrable in your support for initi atives 
such as Aid for Trade, EIF, STDF and the TFA Facility that I mentioned early.  
 
We must thank you, as the African Group, for having had a personal face to your leadership and 
being an approachable leader whenever we have convened a meeting on issues  that were important 
to our development. As we bid you farewell, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the 
African Group, my own country Botswana and certainly on my own behalf, to thank you for your WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  exemplary leadership of the WTO and dedica tion to the multilateral trading system. We wish you all 
the best in your endeavours, both professional and personal.  
 
On the personal side, I must say that I was touched to hear you mention your five grand -daughters 
because in many African cultures, as we ll, I believe, in others, they are considered a special gift and 
blessing and I do hope that you find some time to spend more joyful moments with them. As you 
said yourself, Tchau ! À bientôt !  
 
31. Russian Federation  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
I would like to express my delegation's sincere appreciation for your seven years of continuous 
dedicated service and your important contribution to this organization. Russia highly values your 
tireless efforts and unwavering commitment as Director -General to the WTO and to the mult ilateral 
trading system throughout your tenure, more so as this period represents one of the critical 
moments in the history of our organization.  
 
We have witnessed how hard it was sometimes for you to get us out of deadlocks, and on behalf of 
my delegati on that we were not always able to give you the necessary help. Your achievements, 
Roberto, are quite wide -ranging. The number of Members has increased. Each of the volumes of the 
World Trade Report focuses on different fundamental trade issues. Numerous s tudies have been 
published from specific issues. Efforts have been made to enhance the transparency of information 
on trade in goods and services. You have increased technical assistance through the use of new 
technologies. Under your leadership, the WTO h as been tirelessly fighting against protectionism. On 
the negotiating front, we managed to successfully conclude and witness the entry into force of the 
TFA and the TRIPS Amendment, as well as several other important arrangements and decisions.  
 
Roberto, you took off shortly after Russia has joined the WTO and you were of tremendous help to 
us even before and at the final stage of our accession process – being the Permanent Representative 
of Brazil. Please, believe that we keep this memory. When we have es tablished our Separate 
Permanent Mission to the WTO, we were extremely pleased to have you with us at the opening 
ceremony of its premises in 2016.  
 
Finally, Roberto, I wish you and your entire family a wonderful new life after 1 September. All the 
very be st and continued success in your future endeavours. I hope these endeavours will not lead 
you far away from the WTO and that we will be able to rely on your support, advice and wisdom. I 
would also like to let you know that Russia is among those countries where you are always welcome 
whenever you decide to come.  
 
32. Burkina Faso (C -4) 
 
We associate with the statements made by the LDC Group, the G -33 and the African Group. We 
need to dwell on our happy memories and our achievements. Through your leadership, you  have 
helped Members reach consensus on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation in Bali and the Decision 
on Export Competition in Nairobi. You have been a champion of the multilateral trading system. In 
furtherance of the Cotton Initiative, you were able to tr avel to Mali and Burkina Faso in 2016. Your 
contributions to the WTO and the multilateral trading system have cultivated a form of dynamism 
that is remarkable. On a personal level, you have built good relations with delegations including 
those of the C -4. The C -4 therefore wishes you and your entire family all the best on your future 
endeavours.  
 
33. Côte d'Ivoire  
 
We associate with the statements made by the African Group, the LDC Group and the C -4 paying 
tribute to the Director -General. Côte d'Ivoire would like to pay tribute to the outstanding work that 
you have achieved as the head of this organization. We congra tulate you for your leadership which 
has enabled this organization to react appropriately in given circumstances. You have not fulfilled WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  your entire mandate, it is true, but you have fulfilled your mission perfectly. We have achieved 
results. And this is w hat we will remember.  
 
Côte d'Ivoire is happy to see your family and your wife here today. When you campaigned for your 
election, you did not travel. Your wife travelled to our country. When we heard that you were leaving 
the WTO, we thought you were very fortunate. We would like to reiterate our thanks for having 
visited our country in February 2016. Thank you very much . God bless you.  
 
34. Zimbabwe  
 
We associate with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP. I would like to express 
my delegation's  sincere and profound appreciation to you, Roberto, for your able stewardship of the 
WTO over the last seven years and your overall twenty -three years of service to the rules -based 
multilateral trading system. It sounds cliché to say that you have left a m ark in this organization, 
but indeed you have.  
 
I came to Geneva in November 2014, just a year after you assumed post in the WTO as Director -
General. My tenure in Geneva and specifically as Ambassador to the WTO afforded me the privilege 
and honour to inte ract with you, both bilaterally and multilaterally, on a number of occasions, 
including during the Aid for Trade Global Review in 2017, when I served as the Chair of the 
Committee on Trade and Development. I must say that every such occasion was worthwhile  because 
I always found you to be knowledgeable, courteous, calm and composed even in difficult 
circumstances, but also forthright. I benefitted a lot from your rich experience of dealing with trade 
issues which enabled you to put forward creative ideas wh en addressing challenges that confronted 
the Membership in the organization.  
 
This Monday, during the TNC Meeting, you reminded us of the important transparency reforms that 
you instituted in the working methods of this organization. I am referring here to  the migration from 
the Director -General's Green Room consultations to the more inclusive and transparent Heads of 
Delegation format which is one of your legacies at the WTO. Afterall, what we learn from those who 
have cared to study the subject of interna tional trade is that equal participation of all countries in 
the setting of a just, equitable, democratic and inclusive trading system will in fact contribute to a 
better world for all.  
 
In my own assessment, the conclusion and coming into effect of the hi storic Trade Facilitation 
Agreement will remain the jewel in the crown of your sterling stewardship of this organization. It is 
perhaps one of the most far reaching achievements of the WTO thus far. By promising to break down 
bureaucracy and expedite the m ovement of goods, the TFA has special significance for Zimbabwe, 
in countries like ours which are landlocked.  
 
Finally, I wish to conclude by saying that it is a real honour to have worked with you, Roberto, as 
our Director -General, as we navigated throug h the many challenges that confronted us over the 
years. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Muito obrigado , Roberto. Tchau ! 
 
35. Republic of Korea  
 
I would like to thank Director -General Azevêdo for his last report to the General Council which I 
believe will be cherished as a precious guidance to the Members of the WTO, as well as for the 
sincere advices to Ambassadors present here in this room. Your time here as Director -General has 
not only been delightful, but also productive. I will not enumerate all the achievements that the WTO 
has garnered during your tenure. However, I would like to send our deep appreciation to you for the 
relentless efforts i n promoting the rules -based multilateral trading system.  
 
In particular, in response to recent unprecedented challenges, you collaborated closely with many 
international organizations to highlight the importance of trade and the global supply chain. You a lso 
reached out to various stakeholders outside of the WTO, including the International Chamber of 
Commerce, giving voices to those that rely on the WTO.  
 
You have served this organization and the Members well. But as you mentioned earlier this week at 
your last TNC Meeting, decisions made at the WTO will matter. And this brings me to ask you of one 
more service – to continue to champion the critical importance of the rules -based multilateral trading 
system. I wish you the best of luck and happiness in you r path going forward.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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36. Turkey  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
Let me express that we are sad to see you leave. Turkey commends you for your commitment and 
dedication. It goes without saying that you contributed immensely to the work of the WTO during 
your seven years as Director -General. Turkey supported you in this venture. In tough times, 
especially in recent years, we saw you try to calm things down and push certain issues when and 
where necessary. More importantly, we saw you act out of conviction that remain true to the values 
and principles of the WTO.  
 
It is a rare opportunity for any international organization to have someone like you at the helm. For 
that, I would like to extend appreciation to you on behalf of my country and my delegation. We wish 
you the best in  your future endeavour, success, health and happiness.  
 
37. Afghanistan  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
Yesterday, thanks to the workers at the backyard of the house of the Ambassador of Cameroon, we 
had a very lovely moment of laughter during the meeting. But today, it is a very emotional one. I 
would like to share Afghanistan's sadness that you will depart from this organization one year before 
your term's expiration. We thank you for your farewell statement to Members today. I want to 
convey the Afghan Government's apprecia tion and gratefulness to you for your wise leadership of 
the WTO over the last seven years. We also acknowledge and applaud your genuine intention to 
avoid a situation where the next DG Selection Process in 2021 might distract the work on MC12.  
 
You are le aving this organization at a critical moment marked by the COVID -19 pandemic, including 
its profound impact on Members' economies and trade and rising international trade tensions. 
Despite many challenges and hard times during your tenure, you have success fully managed to 
steer this organization in the right direction and avoiding the circumstances of getting exacerbated 
and out of control.  
 
Without any doubt, you had remarkable achievements during your office – one of them is of course 
the negotiation and the conclusion of the historic 21st century multilateral trade agreement, the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement. We are confident that your successor will build upon those 
achievements. Another key achievement of your tenure is the further expansion of WTO 
Memb ership, especially to the countries which were suffering from armed conflict and fragility like 
mine. Afghanistan became a Member of the WTO in 2016 during your office. The Afghan people and 
government are extremely grateful for your support extended to ou r accession process. Hence, you 
will be always remembered in Afghanistan because of that.  
 
On behalf of my Government and colleagues here in Geneva, I want to end my statement by wishing 
you all the very best in your professional and personal life. Tchau ! Stay healthy and safe.  
 
38. Nigeria  
 
We wish to associate with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP Group. We thank 
the Director -General for his report to the General Council this morning.  
 
On behalf of the Government of Nigeria, our delegation  would like to express gratitude and deep 
appreciation to you, Director -General, for the support and friendship you extended to Nigeria 
throughout the period of your tenure as the Director -General of the WTO. We remain grateful to 
you. It is equally our wi sh to commend you as the Director -General for the achievements you 
recorded in this organization as enumerated by various Members.  
 
The legacy that you will leave behind will be remarkable and indeed historic. I could recall, while in 
Bali during the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference, as soon as the Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
was adopted by the entire Membership, the Director -Gener al did not hide his excitement. In fact, 
the positive reaction by the Director -General in that hall made most of us in the hall to move into 
joining him in tears and clapping hands with everyone's exhibition of happiness.  WT/GC/M/186  
 
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As you are going to leave us, we  wish you all the best in your future endeavour. However, the WTO 
and its Members must continue to consult you where necessary due to your rich experience. Thank 
you. Best of luck. Warm regards to your entire family.  
 
39. Philippines  
 
At the outset, the Philip pines associates itself with the statement made by ASEAN .  
 
The Philippines thanks the D irector -General  for his final report as Chair of the Trade Negotiations 
Committee and join other colleagues in paying tribute to him as the Sixth Director -General of th e 
WTO, and shepherding the WTO through MC9, 10 and 11, in Bali, Nairobi and Buenos Aires.  
 
I first encountered you in 2008 as the incoming H ead of Delegation  of Brazil and a fellow Ambassador 
during my first mandate as Ambassador. In 2013, seven years ago,  one among us HODs was able 
to endeavo ur to ascend the position of Director -General. Indeed, you have been a trailblazer, as 
being the first D irector -General  from Brazil, the first D irector -General  from Latin America, and the 
first WTO H ead of Delegation  Ambassador to have made it to the top of the organization. You will 
always have a special place among us Ambassadors in becoming the leader for seven years of WTO 
and your commitment and dedication to the multilateral trading system. DG Azevêdo, you will al ways 
be remembered as a first among equals.  
 
It would only be fitting to once again extend our deepest appreciation to you DG Roberto Azevêdo 
for all your accomplishments as our Director -General, and we hope to be able to continue to count 
on your guidanc e as we do our best to continue building on your indelible contributions and fulfil  
your deep commitment to  and aspirations for the multilateral trading system. We also hope to 
welcome you and your family in the Philippines and continue our friendship and collaboration.  
 
I wish you , Director -General , your wife Lel é and your family, all the best in the next phases of your 
professional and personal life.  
 
40. Senegal  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
The Government of Senegal would like to associate with those Members who have paid tribute to 
you. Throughout your mandate as Director -General, you have listened to Members. You have shown 
interest in everyone's concerns and you have always been committed in your ideas and convictions. 
We do not intend to say what you have done  over the past years. The results in Bali and Nairobi 
speak for themselves regarding your contribution to the multilateral trading system. We wish you 
and your family all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
41. Kenya  
 
Kenya would like to associate with the st atements made by the African Group and the ACP Group. 
We join others in paying tribute to DG Roberto Azevêdo for your unwavering leadership as Director -
General and Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee for the past seven years. Kenya 
acknowledges an d appreciates the tireless efforts and steadfast commitment of the Director -General 
throughout your tenure – a period that represents one of the difficult times in the history of the 
WTO.  
 
Since assumption of office in 2013, the Director -General remained steadfast in your aspiration and 
stewardship of the organization. It is during your tenure that the WTO reached important milestones 
in the Ministerial Conferences in Bali in 2013 with the c onclusion of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 
as well as in Nairobi in 2015 with the commitments on the Information Technology Agreement and 
the elimination of export subsidies. Kenya is therefore happy that you ably discharged your role as 
Director -Gener al of the WTO.  
 
During your tenure, we witnessed the enhancement of programmes relating to technical assistance 
and capacity building, accession of new Members and Aid for Trade. It is noteworthy that in August 
2017, Kenya and the WTO hosted the first reg ional dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn 
of Africa. This forum brought together four WTO Observers in the region and provided a platform to WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  share their accession experiences and reflect on the ways in which the WTO Membership can foster 
region al integration. During this forum, the WTO organised a special live training on accessions for 
the Observers. Kenya is therefore grateful for you, Director -General, for your commitment in 
fostering technical assistance and capacity building.  
 
It is also d uring your tenure that the WTO faced some of the most difficult challenges – the failure 
to build consensus on the appointment of Appellate Body members leading to the collapse of the 
appellate mechanism; the clamour for systemic reforms of the WTO; and th e continued lack of 
progress in the Doha Development Agenda. While Kenya is profoundly concerned with the lack of 
progress in resolving the prevailing challenges, we are aware this is attributable to the inability by 
Members to reach consensus despite the Director -General's invaluable diplomatic wit, strong sense 
of creativity, and gift of persuasion.  
 
Kenya therefore wishes to sincerely thank you, Director -General, for your dedicated service to the 
WTO and its Members, and wish you the best in your future  personal and professional endeavours. 
Thank you, Director -General.  
 
42. Nepal  
 
At the outset, I wish to extend my deep gratitude to the Director -General for efficiently leading this 
organization over the past seven years with some visible outcomes. Notably, the Director -General 
took an important initiative to bring the discussions of trade negotiations from a small group to a 
wider and more inclusive discussions where all Members and Observers could openly exchange their 
views.  
 
I also recall the successful Ministerial Conference held in Bali, where DG Azevêdo played a key role 
in concluding the Agreement on Trade Facilitation among other outcomes. The TFA in fact became 
the first multilateral agreement of the WTO after its establishment in 1995.  
 
The Directo r-General also played an important role in bringing the Nairobi Ministerial Conference to 
a successful conclusion where it was agreed to abolish export subsidies and grant preferential rules 
of origin for the LDCs, among others.  
 
Most importantly, LDCs wi ll remember you for your contribution in facilitating to incorporate the 
LDCs' agenda in the decision of the Ministerial Conferences both in Bali and in Nairobi – and also for 
your consistent support to the Enhanced Integrated Framework for LDCs, as well a s to technical 
assistance and capacity building for the LDC delegates, including from the officials of Nepal.  
 
I firmly recall your visit to Nepal in 2014. During your visit, you have shared in an interactive 
discussion your perspectives with high -level go vernment officials, business leaders and stakeholders 
focusing on how LDCs and weak economies are being supported through the multilateral trading 
system and what will be their future prospect.  
 
Even though the WTO is a Member -driven organization, you pla yed an important role, not only in 
facilitating the process of Members' work, but also in providing exemplary leadership as the 
Chairperson of the Trade Negotiations Committee – a key component in the august work of the 
organization.  
 
The Director -General 's proactive role has been witnessed by the ongoing situation of the COVID -19 
pandemic, where DG Azevêdo rigorously undertook possible initiatives under the circumstances, not 
only within the WTO framework, but also through collaboration with various inter governmental 
organizations, including the WHO and the World Bank and through outreach to G20 Leaders and 
other key players in global trade as well.  
 
To conclude, my delegation wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to the Director -General once 
again for  his leadership and contribution in the WTO. I wish him and his family a successful and 
happy days ahead.  
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  43. Norway  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
Thank you for your remarks this morning – food for thought but no big surprises – a fact that reflects 
the consistency in how you have fulfilled your role and in the message you have been sending out 
to us the Members and to the world at large. In recallin g your visit to Oslo in August 2013, shortly 
before you took office, you addressed the Annual Meeting of Norwegian Ambassadors with the 
message not fundamentally different from that of today. We have never doubted about your true 
commitment to the multilat eral, rules -based trading system.  
 
I am therefore honoured to convey on behalf of Norway our gratitude for your services to a global 
common good – a public good that is so fundamental for social and economic development and 
stability across the world. You  have invested your energy, your physical and intellectual capacity 
and your precious time. You have spent seven of your best years being a global civil servant – a 
servant of global civilization. For this, we thank you.  
 
In your statement, you reminded us  also about the human dimension. Permit me therefore to end 
by quoting a favourite poet, the Nobel laureate Bob Dylan: "May your hands always be busy. May 
your feet always be swift. May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift. May 
your heart always be joyful. May your song always be sung. And may you stay forever young." 
Tchau !  
 
44. Cambodia  
 
On behalf of my Government and on behalf of His Excellency Pan Sorasak , Minister of Commerce, I 
would like to commend and congratulate the Director -General for his able leadership and tireless 
efforts contributing to the success of the WTO and its achievements in the last seven years. We fully 
recognise what you just said about the Director -General's efforts in Bali. We believe that the Bali 
Package wo uld not have been achieved without his contribution. We note his initiative and creativity 
which led to the adoption of many issues in the WTO, including the LDC issues such as in Bali for 
the DFQF market access for LDCs, in Nairobi for Rules of Origin and  Services Waiver, as well as in 
Buenos Aires for the LDC Ministerial Declaration.  
 
We testify to his support for the LDCs, especially during the period when Cambodia was the LDC 
Coordinator in 2017. We also note that the Director -General has greatly contr ibuted to other 
successful negotiations and has strongly supported the multilateral trading system by upholding 
WTO rules and principles, increasing the ability and efficiency of the WTO Secretariat, and bridging 
different positions for many important issu es including trade facilitation. Once again, I would like to 
take the opportunity to thank the Director -General for leading the WTO Secretariat to provide warm 
hospitality to our Prime Minister for his official visit in 2018 and during his attendance of th e Global 
Review of Aid for Trade in 2019. The two visits saw the important role of the WTO to our government.  
 
Mr. Director -General, it is hard to say farewell and goodbye to you. I really appreciate what you just 
mentioned that you would continue to suppo rt this organization in the future. We will remember you 
especially for your leadership which is always open and friendly. We wish the next Director -General 
to use this leadership style. We wish you and your family all the very best in your future endeavou rs. 
Thank you very much.  
 
45. Mozambique  
 
We associate with the statements made by the African Group, the LDC Group and the ACP Group.  
 
Mozambique is honoured to be a part of the WTO family and is grateful to have this opportunity to 
add our voice in expressin g our gratitude to Director -General Roberto Azevêdo right in the moment 
he departs from the leadership of this organization. I do not think that a goodbye may translate his 
departure, as certainly your wisdom has shown for long years your deep commitment t o the 
multilateral trading system. Being so, I believe that by this and other reasons, the WTO and the 
multilateral trading system will continue to benefit from your contribution thanks to your 
recognisable expertise towards a better future for all.  
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  In going through, one by one, in what refers to be the achievements this organization was able to 
reach under your able leadership, from you we learned that trad e is a tool for development and also 
that trade should be beneficial to all, mainly to those wh o need it the most. For your leadership, 
commitment, guidance, wisdom and above all your friendship, on behalf of the Government of 
Mozambique and my own behalf, please accept our gratitude that is extended to your wife, 
Ambassador Lelé, and your entire fa mily. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Tchau ! 
Muito Obrigado . 
 
46. Haiti  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
I would like to commend you for your leadership and for the numerous initiatives and your relentless 
efforts over the seven years you have spent  at the helm of the WTO. Your commitment to a 
multilateral trading system which is rules -based is now known to all. For all your contributions, we 
would like to thank you from the deepest of our hearts. Your departure is going to leave a vacuum 
which will be difficult to fill, but such is life. Please allow me to wish you all the best for the future 
and to welcome the presence of your dear wife, Ambassador Maria.  
 
47. Israel  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
It is a great honour for me, on behalf of my government, to pay tribute and to bid you farewell as 
you will be departing from the WTO and Geneva soon. You have been a very prominent figure in the 
life of the WTO and the multilateral trading system througho ut the last 25 years, first as a delegate 
and negotiator and then Ambassador of Brazil, and in the last seven years as the Director -General 
of this organization.  
 
Throughout the years, you have demonstrated wisdom, knowledge, leadership and high level of 
loyalty and commitment to the multilateral trading system. In order to save time, I will not repeat 
words that have already been expressed by other colleagues. But I wish to associate my delegation 
with all the kind words of appreciation and gratitude that  have been expressed by others.  
 
On a more personal note, we first met about twenty years ago when you were a delegate of Brazil 
and I was a young delegate of my country here in Geneva. Already then you stood out as an active, 
sharp and highly skilled dip lomat and negotiator. As you are now moving to a new stage in your life, 
I would like to wish you a lot of success and satisfaction in your professional and personal 
endeavours. Please keep in mind that Israel will always be happy to be a destination in on e of your 
next journeys. I wish you all the best. Thank you for all your years of service.  
 
48. Chinese Taipei  
 
We acknowledge the long -time contribution DG Azevêdo has made to the WTO. We deeply regret 
your early departure, but we thank you for your considera tion to promote a successful MC12. We 
wish you all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
49. Angola  
 
Angola associates itself with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP Group.  
 
Mr. Director -General, on behalf of the Government of Angola, I would like to congratulate you on 
the long and difficult years you have been leading the work of our organization. We propose that 
you leave with your head held high and with a spirit of duty  fulfilled, because if there has been any 
failure, it belongs to all of us WTO Members. Thank you very much.  
 
50. Bangladesh  
 
Mr. Director -General, my delegation also joins others commending you as the outgoing Director -
General for your great leadership for the last seven years. Your tenure will fondly be remembered WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  among many other achievements such as the Bali and Nairobi Packages and for the successful 
conclusion of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
 
The recent outbreak of COVID -19 has aggravated the situat ion particularly for developing countries 
including LDCs whose economies and livelihood are at serious stake. On the other hand, as an 
organization, the WTO is currently at a crossroads and at a serious impasse amid an environment 
with a strong sense of un ilateralism and protectionism. Even during times of extreme uncertainties, 
you have never given up.  
 
You have been active inside and outside of the WTO by connecting State and non -State actors and 
other international organizations to find out solutions to  our exceptional challenges. Although not all 
efforts have been successful, yet we deeply appreciate your good spirit, your positive outlook, brevity 
of speech, belief in multilateralism, readiness to engage and faith in humanity. These make you a 
unique p erson that we all, including all colleagues and the Secretariat, admire and respect.  
 
In conclusion, my delegation wishes you good health, peace and prosperity for you and your family. 
All the best for your dreams and future endeavours.  
 
51. Vanuatu (Pacific G roup)  
 
Dear Roberto, I wish to make this statement on behalf of the Pacific Group – a group that consists 
of islands within the huge and peaceful Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Group thanks you for your final 
progress report and for sharing your perspective on  the work of the WTO. Our group joins Members 
in expressing our appreciation for the tremendous contributions you have made to the WTO during 
your tenure.  
 
Although the more recent years have been the most challenging for the organization, you will be 
remembered for the achievements that have made the WTO become more relevant. The Agreement 
on Trade Facilitation adopted in Bali in 2013 and the Export Competition outcomes adopted in Nairobi 
are examples of these achievements and which some of my colleagues h ave already mentioned.  
 
For our region in particular, your open, accessible and inclusive style of leadership provide small 
Members like us with the confidence to take our place in the table and to make our voices heard in 
this House. Your keen interest to  better understand the Pacific Islands led to your visit to Fiji in 2018 
in which you signed a memorandum of understanding to extend the cooperation between the WTO 
and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to support our group on WTO issues, including 
implementation of the various WTO Agreements.  
 
As you leave the WTO on 31 August, we wish you and your family well in your future endeavours.  
 
52. Uruguay  
 
Uruguay associates with the statement made by GRULAC.  
 
Mr. Director -General, allow me to thank you on behalf of the Government of Uruguay and on my 
own behalf for the efforts, dedication and assiduous commitment to the multilateral trading system 
which yo u have deployed tirelessly over the past seven years.  
 
On the serene shores of Lake Geneva, storms have arisen these past years. You have kept a steady 
hand on the till for the  benefit of the multilateral trading system and for the  benefit of each one of 
the Members. I wish to thank you also for the decisive push that you have given to the joint initiatives 
and personally for the backing you gave me as the Chair for the Council for Trade in Goods.  
 
For a Uruguayan, it is always sad to say goodbye to a brot her, especially when he was able to 
represent so well his country and mine. He honoured my capital with his presence when we 
celebrated the 25 years of the GATT Trade Negotiations. I would like to say that Uruguay and 
Montevideo feel that you belong to us.  We hope that the winds will always blow in favour of you and 
your family.  
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  53. South Africa  
 
We align ourselves to the Africa Group and ACP Group s tatements.  
 
We thank you , Director -General, for your work over the last 7 years. As we said when you announced 
your early departure, while this has been unexpected, we respect your decision.  
 
Your contribution in facilitating an outcome on the TFA and entry into force of the TRIPS Amendment 
is noteworthy. In relation to agriculture, under your leadership,  MC10 managed to deliver on export 
subsidies, which  was an important contribution on agriculture reform. We would like to also 
congratulate you for having reconvened the TNC in formal mode. The  TNC was created under 
paragraph 46 of the Doha Ministerial Dec laration and has the mandate of supervising the overall 
conduct of the negotiations on mandated issues.  The reconvening of the TNC in formal mode sets a 
positive precedent that the new D irector -General  will do well in following.  
 
We also appreciate that u nder your watch, meetings of Heads of Delegation have been regularized. 
Your commitment to inclusion and transparency in decision -making processes in the WTO is worth 
mentioning. In our transparency paper "An Inclusive Approach to Transparency and Notifica tion 
Requirements in the WTO " we stress that transparency should permeate all WTO activities.  
 
It is a pity that the environment was not conducive to deliver on the DDA because , as you said , the 
WTO is at a crossroads. The Doha Round issues remain critica l, especially in the context of COVID -
19 in promoting an inclusive and development -oriented multilateral trading system  that benefits all.  
 
Article VI.4 of the Marrakesh Agreement states that the "The responsibilities of the Director -General 
and of the sta ff of the Secretariat shall be exclusively international in character ." We thank you for 
your leadership in this regard as this is critical in ensuring the Secretariat serves all Members.  
 
Your energy and commitment to advance multilateralism has been admirable, including your passion 
about the system and the need to safegua rd it. We thank you for challenging us consistently, 
including today, to reflect on critical questions and issues. We thank you for the time you served as 
our Director -General and for your immense contribution. We salute you . The touching messages 
from col leagues are representative of the role you have played and the person you are.  
 
There is a saying that "There is time for everything under the sun, a time to plant and a time to 
harvest! " You have planted the seeds. It is now for us as the Membership to en sure that these come 
to fruition for the benefit of all. This is now your time to harvest the fruits of your toil and hard 
labour and to spend valuable time with your wife, kids and grandchildren. The outpour of messages 
witnessed today is an apt tribute t o a life of service that is so apparent in your case. All the best to 
you and your family. Hamba Gashle ! It means goodbye in Isixhosa. Tchau, muito obrigado ! 
 
54. Indonesia  
 
On behalf of the Government of Indonesia, I would like to convey our deepest appreciation and 
gratitude for DG Azevêdo's tireless efforts and remarkable work and endeavours for the last seven 
years. Our memory goes back to 2013 where we worked together tow ards a successful MC9 in Bali. 
Despite of the fact that you had just entered your office as a Director -General three months earlier, 
you have proven that Members have never been wrong for appointing you as Director -General.  
 
Moreover, having you and the M C9 Chair, Minister Gita Wirjawan , to tirelessly bridge divergent views 
among Members at MC9 in order to put forward a proposal and present your compromise and to 
acclaim that the deal was done, have clearly indicated your commitment and belief in the multi lateral 
trading system. I am more than proud and pleased to be the living witness of your hard work and 
dedication.  
 
We are quite sure that these seven years should not have been easy for a WTO Director -General.  
The economic crisis brought about by a larg escale pandemic laid in front of your work and at the 
same time required the multilateral trading system to keep its relevance and importance. 
Nevertheless, we are more than pleased to witness your endless encouragement to the Members 
that we can work on t he matter together. We also hope that the foundation that you have placed in 
this organization will be a catalyst for us to solve the issues in front of us.  
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  We thank you for your leadership, guidance, as well as friendship. We wish you nothing but the bes t 
and every success for your future endeavours. Indonesia will never close its doors for you and will 
always be pleased to have you in the future.  
 
55. Ghana  
 
Ghana associates itself with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP.  
 
Mr. Director -General, your imminent departure provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the 
WTO as an institution and the contribution that it continues to make towards multilateralism. Over 
the last few years, as you are aware, some have questioned the WTO's relevance . But allow me to 
underline that without the WTO, the world would have witnessed a free for all fight in an international 
trade arena with the most vulnerable Members amongst us suffering the most.  
 
You have made a policy contribution to the sustenance of the multilateral trading system. And we 
wish to join other Members in congratulating in this regard. Through your able leadership, the WTO 
concluded its first and major multilaterally agreed agreement – the TFA. This agreement still holds 
a lot of promise for all Members of the WTO. In 2015, we added to this achievement by adopting 
decisions on export competition and other areas of importance to LDCs. Another significant 
achievement is the coming into force of the TRIPS Amendment agreed as far back as 2005.   
 
In the midst of all the difficulties that Members encountered, you remained focused and sought to 
bridge gaps among Members until this very day. As we bid farewell to you, we remain confident in 
the fact that you would remain a worthy Ambassador of the multilateral trading system generally 
and the WTO as an institution in particular. We wish you the very best in your future endeavours. 
Thank you very much.  
 
56. Iceland  
 
Dear Roberto,  
 
I thank you for the good cooperation and for your friendship. It has been a pleasure working with 
you in these challenging times for world trade. Thank you for your valuable contribution to the 
organization. Your leadership on women's empowerment has been important for the organization 
and is appreciated. I thank you for yo ur commitment and I thank you for your valuable advice. You 
will be remembered for your good legacy and you will be missed. I wish you and your family all the 
best for your future endeavours.  
 
57. Fiji 
 
We would like to bid farewell to our Director -General, H.E. Mr. Roberto Azevêdo. We associate the 
sentiments expressed by the ACP Group and the Pacific Group.  
 
Fiji has been grateful to have a Director -General at this important institution with DG Azevêdo 's 
calibre. DG Azevêdo, your outstanding leadership, understanding, patience and competency will 
surely be missed by smaller delegations like ours in Geneva. Given our vulnerability as a small island 
developing State, you have been at the helm in helping u s find opportunities and supporting our 
economies' inclusivity. This despite the challenges we face in view of our geographical isolation and 
limitations.  
 
It is our hope that you will continue to use your existing connection and network to advocate for 
multilateralism as a tool for global economic liberation, equality and sustainability, particularly for 
small island economies to enhance their ability to contribute effectively in the global value chain 
process. It does not matter if you are with us or not  because your work and your legacy will always 
highlight each and every person in this institution, as they have been highlighted already.  
 
On behalf of the Government of Fiji, we wish to say that you have tons of memories with us and you 
will surely be mi ssed by each and every one of us. We wish you and your lovely family well in your 
next endeavour with continued good health and many more successes.  
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  58. Albania  
 
Like many, we were surprised and saddened by the Director -General's decision to depart the WTO 
one year before his term expires. The weeks since the announcement have not lessened sadness. 
But the need to reflect on the workings of this organization including its leadership has been 
forcefully brought home.  
 
Let me express my sincere thanks and my co untry's gratitude for your leadership of the WTO over 
the last seven years. Leading the organization during such trying times is a difficult balancing act – 
one which you have accomplished with skill and empathy. Your dedication to a rules -based 
multilater al trading system that is transparent, open and inclusive has earned you our respect.  
 
Thank you again for your exemplary service. I wish you and your family only the best in your future 
endeavours.  
 
59. Namibia  
 
We associate with the statements made by the Af rican Group and the ACP Group. Allow me to join 
others in bidding farewell to the distinguished Director -General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, who I believe 
will be dearly missed by all of us, particularly during our march towards MC12.  
 
Mr. Director -General, sin ce your assumption of duty in September 2013 as Director -General for the 
WTO, your excellent contribution to this organization has been a remarkable one. Although leaving 
the WTO during these difficult times, your tenure of office has been marked with sign ificant outcomes 
such as the conclusion of the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference on the landmark Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation which entered into force on 22 February 2017, and to address obstacles that affect cross -
border trade and eliminate export subsi dies in Nairobi in 2015 to mention but just two.  
 
Namibia places significant role in facilitating transit cargo through Port of Walvis Bay, a gateway into 
SADC, linking the corridors of Angola, the DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and South 
Africa. In addition, Namibia is in a process of rolling ou t the first phase of the Namibia National 
Single Window Environment to further complement the objectives of the TFA as agreed in Bali.  
 
These are all successes achieved during your able leadership to our prestigious organization. While 
thanking you for th e contributions you have made to the WTO and the successes achieved under 
your able leadership, we thank you for having availed yourself for future consultations to the 
organization. This is a demonstration of his unwavering  support  to the multilateral tra ding system 
to which he has dedicated 23 years of his life. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
60. Malaysia  
 
We associate ourselves with the statement of ASEAN . 
 
On behalf of the Government of Malaysia, we wish to join in the chorus of statem ents expressing 
our gratitude to you, Director -General Roberto Azevêdo. Indeed, you have left a hallmark of 
achievements despite the challenging times for the multilateral trading system.  
 
We recognise in particular the efforts that you have made in bridg ing the convergence and guid ing 
us through the last three Ministerial Conferences, namely MC9 in Bali, MC10 in Nairobi and MC11 in 
Buenos Aires. It is worth mentioning that:  
 
– In 2013 you have successfully facilitated the 'Bali Package ' which included steps  on 
agriculture  and food security for the Least-Developed Countries , as well as the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement  
 
– In 2015 in Nairobi you helped to deliver another package of major negotiated outcomes, 
including the elimination of agricultural export subsid ies and the expansion of the WTO's 
Information Technology Agreement.  
 
– In 2017 you aided the entry into force of the amendment to the TRIPS Agreement.  
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  Director -General, we are grateful for all that you have done for this organization and for the 
Membership . 
 
My delegation acknowledges that under your able guidance, vision, dedication and, more 
importantly, enthusiasm, you have led  Members  to achieve these inclusive and meaningful 
outcomes.  
 
Your departure l eaves the organi zation with 'big shoes to fill '. Numerous challenges await the new 
leadership. We hope that you can still contribute to this organi zation from afar.  
 
On a personal note, I feel sad for not having been able to work with you for a longer period.  
 
Lastly, we would like to express our appreciation and we wish you the best of success in your future 
endeavours. Jumpa lagi , Roberto!  
 
61. Togo  
 
Togo associates itself with the statements made by the African Group, the ACP Group and the LDC 
Group.  
 
I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to express the great pleasure I have had to work with you 
since I have been stationed here in Geneva. In addition to all your outstanding characteristics, I 
would like to pay trib ute to your commitment to the multilateral trading system. You have been able 
to establish the WTO as one of the key pillars of international institutions.  
 
Despite tremendous challenges, you have been able to make a number of great achievements that 
previous delegations have highlighted. The adoption and implementation of the Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation, the ITA Expansion, the Decision on Export Competition and the increase in trade in many 
areas, among others, are to be commended.  
 
You have committe d yourself to continue to advocate and defend the multilateral trading system 
wherever you might be. You told us this when you announced your departure. This is a tremendous 
asset for the organization which we will always rely upon. The uncertainties that await the future of 
this system due to the effects of the pandemic, further confirm that we need to undertake a thorough 
reform of the organization. We need to break the deadlock and attend to the Members' needs.  
 
To conclude, I would like to wish you all the success in your future projects and every happiness to 
you and your family.  
 
62. Cameroon  
 
Mr. Director -General, my delegation would like to express its gratitude on behalf of the Government 
of Cameroon for all the efforts you deployed in defending the int erest of the multilateral trading 
system. You highlighted very deftly in your introduction all the work accomplished, the success both 
great and small. You have shown extreme qualities as a diplomat, deep commitment, a sense of 
pragmatism, realism – all of these have enabled you to show great wisdom to stir a difficult course 
towards results that are accessible to all. You have done more than this. You have consolidated the 
foundations of this organization. For all of these, Cameroon is deeply grateful.  
 
We would have liked to continue this adventure with you. However, that is not to be. We are 
comforted by the idea that you will continue to travel by our side. Cameroon relies on your support. 
We wish to pay tribute to you and your whole family – your wife i n particular, and to all of those 
who have surrounded you including your staff and those who have enabled you to reach the 
achievements that you have accomplished. We wish you all the best for the future.  
 
63. New Zealand  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
It is with great regret today that we mark your departure from this organization. We know that this 
is not an easy decision for you. You have served as Director -General with resolve and distinction 
since your commencement in 2013. Much h as been achieved in your tenure. Under your stewardship, WT/GC/M/186  
 
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  the WTO has delivered the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, an expanded Information Technology 
Agreement and the elimination of agricultural export subsidies. You have also fostered an 
environment tha t has facilitated important joint initiatives and ha ve helped put us in a right path 
towards concluding fisheries subsidies by the end of the year.  
 
Transparency has also been a hallmark of your tenure. You have ensured inclusiveness in our critical 
decisi ons. You leave here having left an indelible mark on the multilateral trading system. We wish 
you every success in your next steps.  
 
I have also been asked to extend New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker's 
personal gratitude to you for your service and accomplishments as Director -General.  
 
64. Myanmar  
 
Myanmar associates itself with the statements made by ASEAN and  the LDC Group.  
 
I would like to join other Members in bidding farewell to Director -General Azevêdo. We would like to 
thank a nd commend him for his able leadership and dedication to the WTO over the last seven years. 
We witnessed that, though the WTO faced many challenges during the past seven years, DG Azevêdo 
has been able to bring a number of significant milestones to the mul tilateral trading system, including 
the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
 
The COVID -19 pandemic has showed the need to maintain and strengthen the rules -based 
multilateral trading system for a balanced and renewed economic stability. There is no doubt that  
taking on additional challenges for this organization to co -exist with the new normal while performing 
WTO work need to be done. Even in his time of departure, DG Azevêdo has vouched for a successful 
MC12 and smooth transition and shown his passion for th is organization.  
 
We are very thankful for his effort, creativity and contributions for flexible negotiations. We will 
always remember DG Azevêdo and his dynamic personality. We wish DG Azevêdo and Ambassador 
Lelé, happiness and every success in their futu re endeavours.  
 
65. Gabon  
 
Gabon associates itself with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP. We would like 
to make a tribute to Director -General Roberto Azevêdo for his leadership – expressing our deep 
recognition for the considerable work tha t he has achieved within the WTO. I do not even need to 
go through the multifaceted successes that you have achieved during your term. I would simply, on 
behalf of my country Gabon, wish you the fullest of success in your future endeavours and our best 
wishes to you and your family.  
 
66. Paraguay  
 
Mr. Director -General, Paraguay associates with the statement made by GRULAC. We join others in 
wishing you all the best – thanking you for the seven years of work in leading our organization. 
Paraguay thanks you for your leadership, openness and dedication as Director -General in addressing 
the interests of the Members of our region that in our case even led to a successful official visit to 
Paraguay in 2015. For this reason, and for so many more, we congratulate y ou for your contribution 
to the multilateral trading system. I am sure that the legacy that you are leaving us here in Geneva 
will always be marked in the history of our organization.  
 
Finally, a particular greeting to Ambassador Lelé. We hope to continue working with you on UN 
issues. So, it is not a goodbye. it is a see you soon.  
 
67. Qatar  
 
We express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Director -General for his commitment to 
the multilateral trading system and his tireless work in moving this organ ization forward. We 
recognise your efforts during the negotiations of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation and for 
multilateralism. We likewise recognise that you have played an integral role in aligning divergent 
views between Members and bringing consensu s to the table.  
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  We in the State of Qatar understand the difficulty of attaining such an achievement when we hosted 
the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001. We are therefore very grateful for all your efforts and 
leadership in this regard. We would also li ke to highlight other successes that were achieved during 
your leadership of this organization. The list is very long. In particular, we would like to highlight 
your focus on the accession of new Members to the WTO. That is due to your commitment to 
inclus ivity especially among developing and LDC Members.  
 
Throughout the past seven years, not only did you manage to achieve to conclude the multilateral 
trade agreements, but more recently you managed to lead and stir the organization during turbulent 
and diff icult times. In addition, you managed to do it with utmost professionalism, inclusivity and 
transparency despite the hardships.  
 
When you announced your decision to leave this post, it was indeed a sad moment for all of us. 
However, we respect your decisio n and wish you all the success in your future endeavours, as we 
are confident that you will continue to advocate for the multilateral trading system. You are no 
stranger to Doha. We hope that you will visit Doha again in the future, perhaps not for a Minis terial 
Conference, but for other more entertaining occasions such as the World Cup in 2022 where you can 
support your national team of Brazil.  
 
In conclusion, we wish you and your family all the happiness and prosperity while you commence 
on a new chapter in your life.  
 
68. Peru  
 
Peru associates itself with the statement made by GRULAC.  
 
Dear Roberto, we thank you for your efforts and time dedicated to our institution. Your commitment, 
talent and intelligence have been placed at the service of all Members, al lowing us to bring this 
organization to far more areas and environments for work and in line with the 21st century. This has 
been repeated many times today in this room.  
 
I simply want to mention one of these moments for being particularly sensitive in th is rare and 
difficult time – the seed of which you have sown to allow us to continue cultivating and leaving it to 
future generations. This is the economic empowerment of women. This is an important and urgent 
issue not only for Latin America but for the w hole world.  
 
For Peru, it has been a source of great pride to have you, a distinguished representative of Latin 
America, leading this House over the past seven years. We would like to thank you as we can always 
count on your advice to guide us in the very  difficult tasks that weigh in the future at this 
unprecedented time.  
 
We would like to wish you, Ambassador Lelé and your entire family a life full of happiness. Thank 
you very much.  
 
69. Mexico  
 
Mr. Director -General,  
 
We would like to reiterate the statement made by GRULAC. Additionally, we recognise the valuable 
leadership that you have assumed in this organization. We thank you for the kind and respectful 
manner in which you have always interacted with us. We recognise the great value of the decisi on 
that you took to leave your position early. This reflects the great deal of professionalism and your 
deep commitment to the multilateral trading system. You have our best wishes for your future 
professional undertakings, and we hope that you will have t he time to enjoy your dear and growing 
family.  
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  70. Colombia  
 
Mr. Director -General, to list all your achievements  would taking up all the time you have assigned 
us today. And I do not want to do that today. I simply want to say that the Membership of the WTO 
deeply recognises your efforts and your achievements. On behalf of my country and of all the officials 
of my mission to this organization, I would like to thank you and your team for all your contributions 
to this organization which have been fundamental fo r the international economy.  
 
I had the opportunity to share a short seminar in Bogota with you in May 2016. For your words at 
that event and for some of the ideas that we managed to exchange there for a few moments, I took 
away an impression of you that I  still maintain and that I have been able to confirm day by day 
since. This is an image, an idea of your personal and professional devotion and interest in the 
multilateral trading system and to this organization. This has been once again confirmed with yo ur 
decision to leave your post one year early which is, as you explained, a decision in favour of the 
system.  
 
I must say that at that time I found it difficult to imagine that a few years later, on the day of my 
birthday, I was going to be sat in your off ice presenting my credentials to you to work together with 
you on different areas, particularly on the fisheries subsidies negotiations. I thank you for your 
continued support and your always kind advice for this. We will deeply miss you as we will 
success fully close these negotiations, because there will be a successful end to these negotiations.  
 
In your time at the WTO, we have seen your leadership wearing different hats and we have been 
able to address you as Director -General, Coordinator, Chair, Counse llor, and we have been able to 
add certain personal designations  that we thank you for. You are a visionary – respectful and 
generous. Today I would like to add another designation to this list, perhaps a role which is also a 
personal characteristic which I hope would last in time and that is "friend".  
 
I would like to reiterate my country's deep thanks to you and I should also add to your family for 
sharing you with us to the benefit of this House that we all share. We wish you the fullest of success 
and h appiness in what is to come in your professional and in your personal life.  
 
71. Hong Kong, China  
 
I would like to express Hong Kong, China's  sincere appreciation to the outgoing Director -General for 
his calm leadership even at challenging times, his contribut ions to the work of the WTO and especially 
his commitment to the multilateral trading system.   
 
Director -General, among your many talents and strengths, your exceptional ability to build trust and 
forge consensus across the diverse Membership has been most impressive to us, and I would join 
others in wishing you all the best in whatever you are going to do next.  
 
72. Liechtenstein  
 
Dear Roberto, Liechtenstein wishes to add its voice to all colleagues bidding farewell to you and 
paying tribute to your strong personal commitment to the rules -based global trading system and the 
WTO which are very dear t o our heart. We deeply appreciate your strong leadership and tireless 
efforts to bring the agenda of the WTO forward and to keep the WTO relevant. As many have done, 
I would just like to mention the crucial role you played to make the Agreement on Trade Fa cilitation 
happen in Bali. We would also like to express our gratitude to you for strengthening transparency 
and inclusiveness in the WTO just to mention the set of formal TNC meetings. Being one of the 
smallest Members of the WTO, this is of particular im portance to my country.  
 
Thank you again for all your contributions to the multilateral trading system throughout your career 
– a career dedicated to the WTO both as Brazilian diplomat but in particular in your role as  Director -
General of the organization.  For your future endeavours, we wish you every success. Our 
appreciation and best wishes go also to your dear wife and my dear colleague at the UN, Lelé, 
present here in the room. As I am also Ambassador to the UN, I also had and still have the privilege 
to work with you. All the best to you both and to your family. Tchau ! 
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  73. Georgia  
 
Let me take this opportunity to join the previous speakers in extending our deep appreciation and 
heartful thanks to Director -General Roberto Azevêdo.  
 
Mr. Director -General, on  behalf of the Government of Georgia, let me express our deepest gratitude 
to you for your tireless efforts, dedication, commitment and outstanding leadership which you have 
been brilliantly demonstrating during these challenging times for the multilateral  trading system. 
We would also wish to thank you for your personal engagement and immense contribution aimed at 
further strengthening and fostering the rules -based multilateral trading system. In conclusion, we 
would like to wish you all the best and succe ss in your future endeavours, be it professional or 
personal.  
 
74. Saint Lucia (CARICOM)  
 
It is often difficult, if not impossible, to judge the quality of any human endeavour 
contemporaneously, for progress is sometimes measured by a series of small, sometime s indefinable 
steps that ultimately constitutes a journey or even an odyssey. It is therefore usual for the value of 
those small steps to be judged only from the distance of time. But in some unique instances, we can 
assess the impact of those small increm ental steps.  
 
During your tenure, Director -General, over the past seven years, we have seen the value of those 
small and very meaningful steps. We see those impacts and the impacts in the global norms and 
standards related to the facilitation of trade. We see those impacts in the restraints agreed on export 
competition in Nairobi. We see those impacts in our collective contemplation of new trade rules for 
the 21st century on digital trade and e -commerce.  
 
Indeed, we see those impacts in the swift response of the Secretariat in providing us with real -time 
data on trade performance and trade restrictive measures at the onset of the pandemic. We see 
those impacts in the meaningful technical assistance programmes which have been instituted, such 
as the Young Pr ofessional s Programme that will ultimately groom a new cohort of trade experts that 
will someday succeed us.  
 
Each one of those small and maybe even indiscernible steps doubtlessly but collectively form a 
strong legacy. Your contribution to the organizatio n and of course more broadly to multilateralism 
is beyond question. The CARICOM Group therefore takes this opportunity to sincerely thank you for 
your contribution as well as your close friendship. We wish you and your family all the very best, 
secure in t he knowledge of your indelible contribution to the cause of development.  
 
75. Liberia  
 
Liberia associates itself with the statements made by the African Group and the ACP Group.  
 
I would like to convey Liberia's appreciation especially for the level of support you, Director -General, 
offered Liberia during our struggling days to become a Mem ber of this noble organization. We thank 
you ever so much and we are grateful to you. We hope this is not a goodbye. Rather, we hope to 
see you again somehow somewhere. Let me conclude by wishing you and your family a wonderful 
and promising future. Tchau ! 
 
76. Zambia  
 
Zambia associates itself with the statements made by the African Group, the LDC Group and the 
ACP Group.  
 
My delegation wishes to join others in thanking Director -General Roberto Azevêdo for his report to 
this meeting which sadly also marks his l ast General Council meeting in his capacity as Director -
General and Chair of the TNC. My delegation wishes to thank you for your tireless contributions to 
the important work of the WTO, particularly your efforts and support towards LDCs.  
 
For Zambia, we gr eatly appreciate the development -centred work programmes that you 
spearheaded and championed which include the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, the EIF 
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  dedic ated to LDCs for which Zambia has been a big beneficiary during your tenure as Director -
General.  
 
Mr. Azevêdo, your contributions and achievements are not limited to those just aforementioned but 
in the interest of time and also not wanting to sound repeti tive since both of the things have already 
been said by those who have spoken before me, I would therefore end here. I just wish you the very 
best in your future endeavours.  
 
77. The Gambia  
 
The Gambia associates itself with the statements made by the African Group, the ACP Group and 
the LDC Group.  
 
At the outset, my delegation wishes to thank Director -General Azevêdo for his report and farewell 
statement. My country wishes to further thank you and register our appreciation of your exemplary 
leadership and achi evements during your tenure as Director -General of the WTO over the last seven 
years. You are a true professional and a diplomat par excellence. The statements and compliments 
made by my colleagues are testimony to this. In conclusion and on behalf of my c ountry, we wish 
you and your family good health, happiness and all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
78. Brunei Darussalam  
 
Brunei Darussalam associates itself with the statement made by the ASEAN Group.  
 
We join the many others who have acknowledged the a chievement of the Director -General during 
his tenure from the many deliverables of the Ministerial Conferences in Bali in 2013 and in Nairobi 
in 2015. In particular, outcomes such as the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement, 
the elimination of  export subsidies in agriculture, as well as the conclusion of the Agreement on 
Trade Facilitation have shown concrete proof to the world of the continued relevance of this 
organization.  
 
For small missions like Brunei Darussalam, the ability to attend and participate in the informal TNC 
and HODs meetings had been especially invaluable and we very much appreciate the contribution 
to making the WTO more inclusive and transparent. This has be en particularly important as the 
Director -General has guided us so ably during these challenging and difficult times of the current 
pandemic.  
 
Thank you for your leadership and guidance. Your many contributions to the multilateral trading 
system will not be forgotten. We wish you and your family every success in your next and new 
adventures.  
 
79. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group)  
 
I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to you, Director -General, for your able 
leadership and outstanding effo rts over the past seven years. You have been a patient, committed 
and determined leader. I would like to also commend you on all the achievements that you have 
made during your tenure for the WTO and the multilateral trading system.  
 
We appreciate your ef forts in the G20 and your commitment to fight the COVID -19 pandemic. Your 
message was very clear to the G20 Trade Ministers at the Virtual Gathering that took place on 30 
March when you urged them to lead the way in using trade to lower the cost in fightin g the pandemic 
and to lay the foundation of a strong economic recovery.  
 
I wish you and your wonderful wife and family all the best in your future endeavours. Roberto, 
remember that I know you and the thought of our friendship makes me happier. Thank you very 
much.  
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  80. Kazakhstan  
 
Dear Roberto, on behalf of the Government of Kaza khstan I would like to express our sincere 
gratitude to you, Director -General, for your tremendous efforts and hard work for the benefit of the 
multilateral trading system and the organization over the last seven years. I also would like to join 
previous s peakers and highlight your leadership in the conclusion of key multilateral agreements, 
including the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the ITA Expansion and the Decision on the Elimination 
of Agriculture Export Subsidies, among others.  
 
Let me also use thi s opportunity to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for your strong 
support for Kazakhstan's accession process to the WTO. With your personal dedication, commitment 
and professional engagement, you played a key role in addressing highly sensitive issues of 
geopolitical nature through your discussions with Heads of State and Ministers of Trade of partner 
countries who were involved in our accession process. It was a great honour for us to share with 
you the important moment of becoming a full -fledge d Member of the WTO exactly five years ago, 
on 27 July 2015 in this very room where the accession package of Kazakhstan was adopted by the 
General Council, and yourself and our first President Nazarbayev ha ve signed the accession package 
of Kazakhstan.  
 
I would also like to mention that you paid two visits to my capital. In your accession statement at 
the General Council meeting, you mentioned that the accession of Kazakhstan may mark the end of 
one journey, but it also marks the start of another journey. A s a full -fledged Member of the WTO, 
Kazakhstan expresses its full support to the organization by offering to host the Ministerial 
Conference next year in Nur -Sultan. I would also like to highlight that this happened with your 
personal involvement, as well as with your blessing. We also regret that you will not be able to 
participate in the next Ministerial Conference in your capacity as Director -General. We look forward 
to welcoming you in my capital in your new capacity.  
 
In conclusion, I also would like t o wish you and your wife, Lelé, who is my friend, and your family 
all the best in your future endeavours.  
 
__________