./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/CTD/6
4 February 2003
(03-0708)
Committee on Trade and Development
Special Session
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
Report by the Chairman, Ambassador Ransford Smith (Jamaica),
to the Trade Negotiations Committee
I. STATUS OF WORK
1. Since the report to the Fifth Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) held on 4 to 6 December
2002, the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) met formally on 3 and
20 December 2002, as it sought to finalize the required report to the General Council.  Numerous
informal meetings were also held on the main outstanding elements of the report – (i.e.) theAgreement-specific proposals and the "Way Forward".  However, the Special Session was unable to
finalize its report and thus meet the extended deadline of 31 December, 2002 for making clear
recommendations for a decision to the General Council.
2. It will be recalled that in July 2002, the General Council had instructed the Special Session to
proceed expeditiously to fulfil its mandate, as contained in paragraph 44 of the Doha MinisterialDeclaration and paragraph 12 of the Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns, in
order that clear recommendations for a decision could be made to the General Council by
31 December 2002.  The General Council gave further instructions regarding inter alia,  the
consideration of  Agreement-specific proposals, the analysis and examination of cross-cutting issues,
the establishment of the Monitoring Mechanism, consideration of proposals on institutional
arrangements and on technical and financial assistance and training, and on consideration of how
special and differential (S&D) treatment may be incorporated into the architecture of WTO rules.
3. At the General Council's meeting on 20 December 2002, a statement was made by the
Chairman indicating the status of work.  Attention was drawn to a draft of the report to the General
Council (TN/CTD/W/25) which had been prepared on the Chairman’s own responsibility, and which
was under consideration by the Special Session.  The Special Session was given additional time - until
the next General Council meeting (10 and 11 February 2003) - to finalize its report.
4. During this period three new submissions were received – Egypt (TN/CTD/W/24), European
Communities (TN/CTD/W/26), and the United States (TN/CTD/W/27 – to be issued).
II. OUTSTANDING ISSUES
5. The main outstanding issue is the finalization of the Special Session’s report to the General
Council.  This entails reaching agreement on a package of Agreement-specific proposals, anddeciding on the "Way Forward" (i.e.) the structure and time lines for further work.TN/CTD/6
Page 2
A. AGREEMENT -SPECIFIC PROPOSALS
6. In the final weeks of 2002, the discussions on Agreement-specific proposals in the Special
Session were largely based on twenty-two proposals that were identified by the Chairman as
appearing to be, in his judgement, and on the basis of the discussions in the Special Session, most
amenable to agreement. It was emphasized that the identification of these proposals was withoutprejudice to the consideration of the many other proposals submitted by Members.  To facilitate
discussion and move the process forward, compromise language was provided by the Chairman on
these twenty-two proposals.  Consensus was reache d, at an informal meeting, on four of these
Agreement-specific proposals.
7. Discussions on the Agreement-specific proposals are continuing.  The discussions now take
into account, in regard to some proposals, new language submitted by the African Group and by the
LDCs in January 2003.  The objective is to be able to agree on an acceptable harvest of Agreement-specific proposals by next week’s meeting of the General Council.  Whether this can in fact be
achieved will depend on the extent to which Members are prepared to decamp from entrenched
positions and move towards common ground that takes account of both the expressed concerns and
the stated interests of other Members.  In the days immediately prior to the finalization of this report
to the TNC, there has been some evidence of incr easing flexibility which could augur well for the
process.
B. T
HE "WAY FORWARD "
8. There has been in fact little discussion on the "Way Forward" since the December 2002
General Council meeting, given that the discussions have focussed on the Agreement-specific
proposals.  In order to finalize the report to the General Council, it is intended to pursue intensivediscussions on this important issue, since it is vital that agreement be reached on the various questions
pertaining to the "Way Forward".
III. FUTURE WORK
9. At the fifteenth Special Session of the CTD 2003,  which is scheduled to be held immediately
prior to the General Council meeting of 10 and 11 February, the report to the General Council will beconsidered.  The Special Session will report on the work carried out, and progress made in
implementing the mandate contained in paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and
paragraph 12 of the Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns, and pursuant to the
General Council’s instructions of 31 July 2002.  It is expected that the General Council will take
decisions on  any recommendations made to it, and on the further work of the Special Session.
 
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