RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/GC/W/38
28October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4490)
GENERAL COUNCIL
GENERAL COUNCIL
Draft Annual Report (1996)1
Thepresent report hasbeen prepared inpursuance oftheProcedures foranAnnual Overview
ofWTO Activities andforReporting under theWTO (WT/L/105), andsetsouttheactions taken by
theGeneral Council since theprevious overview ofWTO activities held inDecember 1995.2
Incarrying outitstasks, theGeneral Council hasheld [..]meetings since December 1995.
Theminutes ofthese meetings, which remain therecord oftheGeneral Council 'swork, arecontained
indocuments WT/GC/M/10-WT/GC/M/[..].
Thefollowing subjects areincluded inthereport:
Page
() 1996 Ministerial Conference 3
() Preparations fortheMinisterial Conference 3
() Reports bytheDirector-General 3
() Schedule ofmeetings ofWTO bodies 4
() Progress ofpreparatory work insubsidiary bodies oftheGeneral
Council 5
() Election ofofficers oftheMinisterial Conference 6
() Organizational matters 6
() Attendance ofobservers attheMinisterial Conference 7
() Governments 7
() International intergovernmental organizations 7
() Non-governmental organizations 8
() Finalization ofnegotiations onschedules ongoods andservices 8
- Decision ontheaccession of,andapproval ofprotocol ofaccession for,the
United Arab Emirates 8
() Composition oftheTextiles Monitoring Body 9
() Approval ofrules ofprocedure forsubsidiary bodies 9
- Committee onRegional Trade Agreements 9
1Thefinalversion ofthereport willalsoreflect theGeneral Council meeting on7November 1996, andthe
points willberenumbered asnecessary.
2Theannual report oftheGeneral Council for1995 iscontained inWT/GC/5 andCorr.1.WT/GC/W/38
Page2
() Committee onBalance-of-Payments Restrictions 9
() Consultations 9
() Disinvocation ofthebalance-of-payments provisions oftheGATT 1994 by
Turkey andPoland 9
() Notifications bythePhilippines andIndia 10
() Notes onmeetings 10
() Committee onBudget, Finance andAdministration 10
- Reports 10
() Committee onRegional Trade Agreements 10
() Establishment oftheCommittee andadoption ofitsterms ofreference 10
() Presiding officers totheCommittee 11
() Waivers under Article IXoftheWTO Agreement 11
() Harmonized System 11
- Bangladesh, Bolivia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Morocco, Nicaragua andSri
Lanka 11
() Renegotiations ofSchedules 11
() Malawi -Renegotiation ofSchedule LVIII 11
() Senegal -Renegotiation ofSchedule XLIX 11
() Zambia -Renegotiation ofSchedule 12
() Decision ontheintroduction ofHarmonized System changes into WTO
schedules oftariff concessions on1January 1996 12
- Extension oftime-limit 12
() Extension ofwaivers pursuant toparagraph 2oftheUnderstanding inrespect
ofwaivers ofobligations under GATT 1994 12
- Canada -CARIBCAN 12
- Cuba -Article XV:6 ofGATT 1994 12
- European Communities -Fourth ACP-EC Convention ofLomé 12
- France -Trading Arrangements with Morocco 12
- South Africa -Base dates under Article I:4 12
- United States -ANDEAN Trade Preference Act 12
- United States -Former Trust Territory ofthePacific Islands 12
- Zimbabwe -Base dates under Article I:4 12
() Status ofwaivers ineffect onthedate ofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement 13
() Accessions 13
() Bulgaria 13
() Georgia 13
() Kazakstan 14
() Kyrgyz Republic 14
() Mongolia 14
() Oman 15
() Panama 15
() Papua New Guinea 15
() Saudi Arabia 16
() Seychelles 16
() Tonga 16
() Vanuatu 16WT/GC/W/38
Page3
() Statement byCuba ontheUnited States 'Helms-Burton Actof1996 17
() Hungary -Invocation ofArticle 48oftheVienna Convention ontheLaw ofthe
Treaties 17
() Brazil -Provisional safeguard measures concerning imports oftoys 17
() Notification requirements 17
() Procedures forthecirculation andderestriction ofWTO documents 17
() Arrangements foreffective cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations 18
- Relations between theWTO andtheInternational Monetary Fund andtheWorld
Bank 18
() Guidelines forarrangements onrelations withnon-governmental organizations pursuant
toArticle V:2oftheWTO Agreement 18
() Compliance with the obligations ofArticles 70.8 and 70.9 ofthe TRIPS
Agreement 18
() WTO Press Release onTrade andForeign Direct Investment 19
() Administrative matters 19
() Offices oftheDeputy Directors-General 19
() Staff-related matters 19
() Pensions andsalaries ofWTO staff 19
() Observer status 19
() Governments 19
- Georgia 19
() International intergovernmental organizations 20
() Guidelines on observer status for international intergovernmental
organizations 20
() Election ofChairperson 21
() 1996 Ministerial Conference
() Preparations fortheMinisterial Conference
() Reports bytheDirector-General (WT/GC/M/11, 12,13,14,15)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on16April 1996, theChairman recalled thatataninformal
meeting oftheGeneral Council on5March, ithadbeen agreed thatpreparations fortheSingapore
Ministerial Conference would beundertaken inthefollowing manner:
1. TheGeneral Council, meeting informally onthatday,would invite theDirector-General,
Mr.Renato Ruggiero, inhispersonal capacity, tochair informal meetings open to
participation ofallMembers, inprinciple attheHead ofDelegation level. ThepurposeWT/GC/W/38
Page4
ofthese meetings would betoenable Members toexchange views onthepreparation
oftheSingapore Ministerial Conference, with regard toboth substantive and
organizational matters.
2. Insodoing, theDirector-General would actinclose cooperation andcoordination with
theChairman oftheGeneral Council.
3. Inallmatters relating totheorganization oftheMinisterial Conference, theDirector-
General would work closely with theHead oftheDelegation ofthehost country of
theMinisterial Conference.
4. TheDirector-General would submit progress reports onthiswork atthemeetings of
theGeneral Council.
5. TheGeneral Council would actupon these reports oftheDirector-General asnecessary.
Inparticular, itwould consider anyproposals addressed toitandtake anydecisions
itdeemedappropriateforthefurtherpreparationoftheSingaporeMinisterialConference.
Itwasunderstood thatthedifferent WTO bodies would carry outthetasks assigned tothem
under thetexts agreed intheUruguay Round forthepurposes ofthefirstMinisterial Conference.
Inaccordance with paragraph 4oftheabove procedures, theDirector-General then reported
ontheprocess thathadbeen undertaken thus far.
TheChairman proposed thattheGeneral Council takenoteoftheDirector-General 'sstatement
andagree thattheSingapore Ministerial Conference take place from 9-13 December 1996, thatthe
agenda fortheConference bedivided between general discussion andspecific business items, andthat
adecision onthespecific agenda items andtheexact time tobeallocated tothegeneral discussion
andthespecific items betaken atalater date.
TheGeneral Council soagreed.
AttheGeneral Council meetings on26June, 18July, 2October, and14October 1996, the
Director-General reported ontheprocess thathadbeen undertaken until then.
() Schedule ofmeetings ofWTO bodies (WT/GC/M/11)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on16April 1996, theChairman drew attention totheschedule
ofend-of-year meeting forvarious WTO bodies forthepurpose ofadoption oftheir respective reports
totheMinisterial Conference (WT/GC/W/32/Rev.1), andtotherevised Programme ofMeetings ofWTO
bodies for1996 (WT/GC/4/Rev.1).
With regard toreporting procedures fortheMinisterial Conference, hesaidthathisinformal
consultations hadresulted inagreement onthefollowing textofastatement toberead byhim:
"1. Subsidiary bodies oftheGeneral Council areinvited toprepare their reports onthe
basis oftheProcedures foranannual overview oftheWTO activities andforreporting
under theWTO laiddown bytheGeneral Council on15November 1995 (WT/L/105).
Thesereportsshouldbesubmittedinaccordancewiththescheduleofmeetingscirculated
indocument WT/GC/W/32/Rev.1 inorder toenable theGeneral Council toadopt its
own report totheMinisterial Conference on7November 1996.WT/GC/W/38
Page5
2. Given thedifferent mandates ofStanding Bodies oftheWTO itisdifficult toestablish
acommon format forreports ofthese bodies. Insome instances, forexample, efforts
toinclude inreports anassessment oranidentification ofproblems andissues could
leadtoundue difficulties. Each Body must therefore ultimately decide ontheformat
ofreport which itdeems most appropriate forconsideration ofrelevant issues bythe
superior Body.
3. While taking theabove intoaccount, Isuggest thatthese reports include atleast the
following elements:
(a) asection onimplementation oftherelevant Agreements;
(b) progress concerning work under theBuilt-in Agenda;
(c) anindication asappropriate ofissues andproblems which have been identified
andrecommendations ifany."
TheGeneral Council took note oftheChairman 'sstatement onreporting procedures forthe
Ministerial Conference (WT/L/145), alsotook note thattheChairman would consult with Pakistan on
itsconcerns regarding thesecond sentence ofparagraph 2ofthestatement, andfurther took note that
Pakistan would have thepossibility torevert tothismatter atthenext meeting.
TheChairman then invited thechairpersons ofsubsidiary bodies toundertake thenecessary
arrangements forthepreparation oftheir respective reports along thelines ofhisstatement.
() Progress ofpreparatory work insubsidiary bodies oftheGeneral Council
(WT/GC/M/13, 14,15)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council heard reports ontheprogress ofpreparatory
work intheir respective bodies, made under their ownresponsibility, bytheChairpersons oftheDispute
Settlement Body, theTrade Policy Review Body, theCouncil forTrade inServices, theCouncil for
Trade inGoods, theCommittee onTrade andDevelopment, theCommittee onTrade andEnvironment
andtheCommittee onRegional Trade Agreements, andbytheChairman onbehalf oftheChairman
oftheCouncil forTRIPS. TheGeneral Council alsoheard thattheChairmen oftheBudget andBalance-
of-Payments Committees hadnothing toreport atthisstage with regard topreparatory work forthe
Ministerial Conference intheir respective Committees.
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theGeneral Council heard brief reports onthepreparatory
work intheir respective bodies, made under their ownresponsibility, bytheChairpersons oftheCouncil
forTrade inGoods, theCouncil forTrade inServices andtheCouncil forTRIPS. TheGeneral Council
alsoheard thattheChairman oftheCommittee onTrade andDevelopment hadnothing toreport at
thisstage.
Atitsmeeting on14October 1996, theGeneral Council heard reports onthepreparatory work
intheir respective bodies, made under their ownresponsibility, bytheChairpersons oftheTrade Policy
Review Body, theCouncil forTrade inGoods, theCouncil forTrade inServices, theCouncil forTRIPS,
theDispute Settlement Body, theCommittee onTrade andDevelopment, theCommittee onRegional
Trade Agreements andtheCommittee onTrade andEnvironment. TheGeneral Council alsoheard
thattheChairmen oftheBudget andBalance-of-Payments Committees hadnothing toreport atthis
stage with regard topreparatory work fortheMinisterial Conference intheir respective Committees.WT/GC/W/38
Page6
() Election ofofficers oftheMinisterial Conference (WT/GC/M/14)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on2October 1996, theChairman recalled thattheRules of
Procedure forSessions oftheMinisterial Conference (WT/L/161) provided fortheelection ofa
Chairperson andthree Vice-Chairpersons who would hold office from theendofonesession until the
endofthenext regular session. Since theSingapore Ministerial Conference wasthefirstMinisterial
Conference, andthere wasnoelected Chairperson, heproposed thattheGeneral Council actonbehalf
oftheMinisterial Conference andelect aChairperson andthree Vice-Chairpersons atitsmeeting on
7November 1996. Ifthisproposal were acceptable, hewould consult with Members sothattheelection
oftheChairperson andthethree Vice-Chairpersons could take place attheGeneral Council meeting
on7November.
TheGeneral Council soagreed.
() Organizational matters (WT/GC/M/14)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on2October 1996, theChairman addressed thefollowing
organizational matters pertaining totheMinisterial Conference:
1. Opening Session oftheConference
(a) Inaccordance with theusual practice atMinisterial meetings, abrief inaugural
ceremony would beheldattheopening session towelcome thePrime Minister
ofSingapore.
(b) Theelected Chairperson oftheMinisterial Conference would invite thePrime
Minister ofSingapore toaddress theConference.
(c) Attheendofhisaddress totheConference, thePrime Minister ofSingapore
would declare thefirstMinisterial Conference oftheWTO formally opened.
(d) After thedeparture ofthePrime Minister ofSingapore, theChairperson would
take upthefollowing business onthemorning ofMonday, 9December as
follows:
(i) Adoption oftheAgenda.
(ii) Agreement ontheOrder ofBusiness.
(iii) Introduction oftheReport oftheGeneral Council bytheChairman
oftheGeneral Council.
(iv) Introduction oftheReport onanoverview ofdevelopments in
international trade andthetrading system bytheDirector-General.
(v) Statements byMinisters.
2. ListofSpeakers
Members wishing tospeak attheMinisterial Conference should contact theSecretariat
andmake reservations notlater than 1November 1996. Statements should belimited
toamaximum offiveminutes. Ifadelegation sowished, alonger textwould be
circulated indocument form totheConference.
Requestsforreservationsmadeafter1Novemberwouldbeaccommodatedinaccordance
withtheavailability oftime. Thepurpose ofthisprocedure wastoenable theSecretariat
toorganize inadvance thesequence ofplenary sessions oftheMinisterial Conference.
TheGeneral Council took note ofthese suggestions.WT/GC/W/38
Page7
() Attendance ofobservers attheMinisterial Conference
() Governments (WT/GC/M/14)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on2October 1996, theChairman recalled theprocedures for
theattendance ofgovernments asobservers atmeetings oftheMinisterial Conference assetoutin
Annex 2oftheRules ofProcedure forSessions oftheMinisterial Conference (WT/L/161). Under
these procedures, governments thatwere presently accorded observer status intheGeneral Council and
itssubsidiary bodies would beinvited toattend sessions oftheMinisterial Conference asobservers.
Other governments thatwished tohave observer status attheMinisterial Conference, anddidnotat
present have such status intheGeneral Council anditssubsidiary bodies, would have tomake aformal
request inaccordance with theprovisions ofparagraph 1oftheabove procedures. Any such requests
would beexamined inaccordance with theprocedures setout. Furthermore, observer governments
thatwished tospeak attheMinisterial Conference would beinvited todosoafter Members hadspoken,
asprovided forintheprocedures.
() International intergovernmental organizations (WT/GC/M/13, 14,15)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman saidthat, ashehadindicated
todelegations ataninformal meeting on12July, heintended tostartconsultations ontheinternational
intergovernmental organizations tobeinvited asobservers totheMinisterial Conference onthebasis
ofthefollowing guidelines:
(a) organizations thatwere observers totheGeneral Council would beautomatically invited;
(b) organizations thatwere observers tosubsidiary bodies oftheWTO would beinvited
ifthey requested toattend theConference;
(c) consultations would becarried out todetermine which other international
intergovernmental organizations thatwere notobservers totheWTO andthatrequested
attendance attheConference should alsobeinvited.
Hehoped thatatitsmeeting scheduled forOctober, theGeneral Council would beinaposition
totake adecision ontheinternational intergovernmental organizations tobeinvited asobservers to
theMinisterial Conference.
TheGeneral Council agreed with theChairman 'sproposed approach.
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatthefollowing
organizations which were notalready observers totheWTO had requested attendance atthe
1996 Ministerial Conference: theCommon Market forEastern andSouthern Africa (COMESA), the
Central American Bank forEconomic Integration, theCommon Fund forCommodities andtheIslamic
Development Bank. Heproposed thattheGeneral Council accept these requests andinvite these
organizations asobservers totheMinisterial Conference.
TheGeneral Council soagreed.
Atitsmeeting on14October 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thattheUnited
Nations Economic andSocial Commission forWestern Asia (ESCWA), which wasnotanobserver
totheWTO hadrequested attendance atthe1996 Ministerial Conference. Heproposed thattheGeneral
Council accept thisrequest andinvite thisorganization asanobserver totheMinisterial Conference.WT/GC/W/38
Page8
TheGeneral Council soagreed.
() Non-governmental organizations (WT/GC/M/13, 14,15)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman saidhebelieved itwasnecessary
todetermine urgently how toproceed with requests from non-governmental organizations toattend
theMinisterial Conference inanobserver capacity and, onthebasis ofconsultations hehadheld,
proposed thefollowing method forproceeding:
(i) NGOs would beallowed toattend thePlenary Sessions oftheConference;
(ii) applications from NGOs toberegistered would beaccepted onthebasis ofArticle V
oftheWTO Agreement, i.e.those NGOs "concerned with matters related tothose of
theWTO"; and
(iii) adeadline would beestablished fortheregistration ofNGOs thatwished toattend the
Conference. AlistoftheNGOs thathadapplied forattendance would becirculated
subsequently fortheinformation oftheGeneral Council. Attendance atplenary sessions
byNGOs would alsodepend upon theavailability ofspace.
TheGeneral Council agreed totheChairman 'sproposed procedure.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on2October 1996, theChairman drew attention toaninformal
document recently circulated bytheSecretariat which listed those NGOs which hadcomplied with the
requirements forattendance attheSingapore Ministerial Conference thathadbeen agreed inJuly.
TheGeneral Council agreed thattheSecretariat would prepare apaper outlining theagreed
modalities fortheattendance ofNGOs attheMinisterial Conference andthatthedeadline forregistration
ofNGOs beextended to15October.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on14October 1996, theChairman saidthatsince theGeneral
Council would notmeet again before 7November, andinorder nottodelay unnecessarily theprocess
ofregistration forNGOs, agreement hadbeen reached ininformal consultations onawaytomove the
process forward, asfollows: (a)theSecretariat would establish for16October, asanaddendum to
thelistdistributed on2October, alistofthose additional NGOs which hadpresented requests for
registration andwhich hadreceived registration forms since 2October, andwould circulate on22October
afinal listofthose NGOs towhom confirmation would besent; and(b)thefacilities provided for
NGOs attheSingapore Ministerial Conference might bereviewed bytheGeneral Council inthelight
oftheexperience gained from thisfirstMinisterial Conference.
TheGeneral Council agreed totheChairman 'sproposed procedure.
() Finalization ofnegotiations onschedules ongoods andservices
- Decision ontheaccession of,andapproval ofprotocol ofaccession for,theUnited
Arab Emirates (WT/GC/M/10)
InDecember 1995, theGeneral Council hadapproved thegoods andservices schedules ofthe
United Arab Emirates.WT/GC/W/38
Page9
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council approved thetextoftheProtocol of
Accession fortheUnited Arab Emirates (WT/L/129) and, inaccordance with theDecision-Making
Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted theDecision ontheAccession oftheUAE (WT/L/128).
() Composition oftheTextiles Monitoring Body (WT/GC/M/10)
InJanuary 1995, theGeneral Council hadadopted aDecision onthecomposition oftheTextiles
Monitoring Body until theendof1997 (WT/L/26). With regard totheChina/Pakistan constituency,
afootnote totheDecision stipulated thatintheevent thatChina didnotbecome aWTO Member by
31December 1995, "aWTO Member, tobeproposed bytheWTO Members thataremembers ofthe
International Textiles andClothing Bureau, shall beincluded inthisconstituency until such date as
China becomes aWTO Member".
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from
theITCB (WT/GC/W/28) proposing thatMacau beincluded intheChina/Pakistan constituency until
such time asChina became aMember oftheWTO, oruntil 31December 1997, whichever came first.
TheGeneral Council took note oftheproposed nomination totheTMB (WT/L/26/Add.1).
() Approval ofrules ofprocedure forsubsidiary bodies
- Committee onRegional Trade Agreements (WT/GC/M/14)
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theGeneral Council approved therules ofprocedure for
meetings oftheCommittee onRegional Trade Agreements inWT/REG/1, which hadbeen adopted
bythatCommittee on2July.
() Committee onBalance-of-Payments Restrictions
() Consultations (WT/GC/M/10, 13)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered andadopted theCommittee 's
report onitsconsultation with India (WT/BOP/R/11 -BOP/R/234).
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered andadopted theCommittee 's
reports onitsconsultations with Nigeria (WT/BOP/R/13), Tunisia (WT/BOP/R/14) andSlovakia
(WT/BOP/R/15).
() Disinvocation ofthebalance-of-payments provisions oftheGATT 1994 byTurkey
andPoland (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theChairman oftheCommittee informed theGeneral Council
thatTurkey andPoland hadrecently communicated totheCommittee their intention todisinvoke the
balance-of-payments provisions ofGATT 1994 asof1January 1997 (WT/BOP/N/7 andWT/BOP/N/8).WT/GC/W/38
Page10
() Notifications bythePhilippines andIndia (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council took notethattheCommittee hadreceived
anotification from thePhilippines concerning thelifting ofrestrictions onagricultural products
(WT/BOP/N/9), andarecent submission from India containing alistofallquantitative restrictions
including those maintained forBOP purposes (WT/BOP/N/11).
() Notes onmeetings (WT/GC/M/10, 13)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council tooknoteoftheCommittee 'sdiscussion
ofitsongoing business reported inWT/BOP/R/12 -BOP/R/235.
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council took note oftheCommittee 'sdiscussion
ofitsongoing business reported inWT/BOP/R/16.
() Committee onBudget, Finance andAdministration
- Reports (WT/GC/M/10, 11,12,13)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered theCommittee 'sreports
inWT/BFA/16 -L/7660 andWT/BFA/18 -L/7662, andadopted thetworeports.
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, theGeneral Council considered theCommittee 'sreports in
WT/BFA/20, WT/BFA/21 andWT/BFA/22. TheGeneral Council approved theCommittee 'sspecific
recommendations inparagraphs 12and14ofitsreport inWT/BFA/20, andadopted thereport. The
General Council thenapproved theCommittee 'sspecific recommendations inparagraph 8ofitsreport
inWT/BFA/21, andadopted thereport. TheGeneral Council then approved theCommittee 'sspecific
recommendations inparagraphs 5to11ofitsreport inWT/BFA/22, andadopted thereport.
Atitsmeeting on26June 1996, theGeneral Council considered theCommittee 'sreport in
WT/BFA/24. TheGeneral Council approved theCommittee 'sspecific recommendation inparagraph 11
ofitsreport inWT/BFA/24, andadopted thereport.
Atitsmeeting on18July 1996, theGeneral Council considered theCommittee 'sreport in
WT/BFA/26. TheGeneral Council approved theCommittee 'sspecific recommendations inparagraphs 6
and8ofitsreport inWT/BFA/26, andadopted thereport.
() Committee onRegional Trade Agreements
() Establishment oftheCommittee andadoption ofitsterms ofreference (WT/GC/M/10)
InDecember 1995, theGeneral Council hadagreed inprinciple toestablish acommittee on
regional trade agreements andthattheChairman would hold consultations ontheterms ofreference
andother related matters concerning thecommittee.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on6February 1996, Mr.Weekes (Canada) reported onthe
consultations hehadheldonbehalf andattherequest oftheChairman, andproposed thatadraft decision
thathadbeen circulated todelegations onthismatter beadopted with anamendment.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision establishing theCommittee onRegional Trade
Agreements with theterms ofreference setouttherein (WT/L/127).WT/GC/W/38
Page11
() Presiding officers totheCommittee (WT/GC/M/11)
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Weekes
(Canada) hadagreed toserve asChairman oftheCommittee, andMr.Berthet (Uruguay) Mr.Harbinson
(Hong Kong), Mr.Ravaloson (Madagascar) andMr.Willems (Belgium) hadagreed toserve asVice-
Chairmen.
() Waivers under Article IXoftheWTO Agreement
() Harmonized System
- Bangladesh, Bolivia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Morocco, Nicaragua andSriLanka
(WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered requests byBangladesh (G/L/77),
Bolivia (G/L/78), Guatemala (G/L/86), Jamaica (G/L/79), Morocco (G/L/80), Nicaragua (G/L/81) and
SriLanka (G/L/83) forextensions ofwaivers previously granted inconnection withtheir implementation
oftheHarmonized System, andtherelated draft decisions.
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
these requests.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecisions ontheextensions ofthewaivers (WT/L/164 -
Bangladesh; WT/L/165 -Bolivia; WT/L/172 -Guatemala; WT/L/166 -Jamaica; WT/L/167 -Morocco;
WT/L/168 -Nicaragua; andWT/L/170 -SriLanka) inaccordance withtheDecision-Making Procedures
Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Renegotiations ofSchedules
() Malawi -Renegotiation ofSchedule LVIII (WT/GC/M/10)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered arequest byMalawi (G/L/51)
foranextension ofawaiver previously granted inconnection with itsrenegotiation ofitsschedule,
andadraft decision tothiseffect (G/C/W/31).
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
thisrequest.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision ontheextension ofthewaiver (WT/L/131) in
accordance with theDecision-Making Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement
agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Senegal -Renegotiation ofSchedule XLIX (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered arequest bySenegal (G/L/82)
foranextension ofawaiver previously granted inconnection with itsrenegotiation ofitsschedule,
andtherelated draft decision (G/C/W/45).
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
thisrequest.WT/GC/W/38
Page12
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision ontheextension ofthewaiver (WT/L/169) in
accordance with theDecision-Making Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement
agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Zambia -Renegotiation ofSchedule LXXVIII (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered arequest byZambia (G/L/84)
foranextension ofawaiver previously granted inconnection with itsrenegotiation ofitsschedule,
andtherelated draft decision (G/C/W/47).
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
thisrequest.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision ontheextension ofthewaiver (WT/L/171) in
accordance with theDecision-Making Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement
agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Decision ontheintroduction ofHarmonized System changes intoWTO schedules of
tariff concessions on1January 1996
- Extension oftime-limit (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered adraft decision extending the
time-limit oftheDecision ontheintroduction ofHarmonized System changes intoWTO schedules
oftariff concessions on1January 1996 (G/MA/W/6).
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
thisextension ofthetime-limit.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision extending thetime-limit (WT/L/173) inaccordance
with theDecision-Making Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed in
November 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Extension ofwaivers pursuant toparagraph 2oftheUnderstanding inrespect ofwaivers
ofobligations under GATT 1994 (WT/GC/M/14, 15)
- Canada -CARIBCAN
- Cuba -Article XV:6 ofGATT 1994
- European Communities -Fourth ACP-EC Convention ofLomé
- France -Trading Arrangements with Morocco
- South Africa -Base dates under Article I:4
- United States -ANDEAN Trade Preference Act
- United States -Former Trust Territory ofthePacific Islands
- Zimbabwe -Base dates under Article I:4
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theGeneral Council considered requests byCanada (G/L/100),
Cuba (G/L/89), theEuropean Communities (G/L/108, G/L/109), South Africa (G/L/104), theUnited
States (G/L/101, G/L/102) andZimbabwe (G/L/106) forextensions ofwaivers pursuant toparagraph 2
oftheUnderstanding inrespect ofwaivers ofobligations under GATT 1994, andtherelated draft
decisions.
TheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods reported ontheCouncil 'sconsideration of
these requests.WT/GC/W/38
Page13
TheGeneral Council agreed torevert tothismatter atitsnext meeting.
Atitsmeeting on14October 1996, theGeneral Council again considered these requests and
adopted theDecisions ontheextensions ofthewaivers (WT/L/185 -Canada; WT/L/182 -Cuba;
WT/L/186andWT/L/187-EuropeanCommunities;WT/L/188-SouthAfrica;WT/L/183andWT/L/184-
United States; andWT/L/189 -Zimbabwe), inaccordance withtheDecision-Making Procedures Under
Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93).
() Status ofwaivers ineffect onthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council took notethatinconsultations heldrecently
bytheChairman onthestatus ofwaivers ineffect onthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement,
there appeared tobebroad agreement thateach Member thatsought anextension ofsuch awaiver,
alistofwhich wasprovided inWT/L/153/Rev.1, should submit arequest foritsextension which should
bedealt with under theprovisions ofArticle IX:3 oftheWTO Agreement andthat, pursuant tothose
provisions, such requests should firstbeconsidered bytheCouncil forTrade inGoods.
() Accessions
() Bulgaria (WT/GC/M/14)
InNovember 1986 andFebruary 1990, theGATT 1947 Council hadestablished aworking
party toexamine Bulgaria 'srequest foraccession totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade.
Subsequently, inpursuance oftheDecision regarding requests forWTO accession adopted bytheGeneral
Council on31January 19953,theGATT 1947 Accession Working Party hadbeen transformed into
aWTO Accession Working Party.
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theGeneral Council considered theWorking Party 'sreport
(WT/ACC/BGR/5 andCorr.1, Add.1 andAdd.2).
TheGeneral Council approved thetextoftheProtocol ofAccession (WT/ACC/BGR/7) and
thetextofthedraft decision ontheAccession ofBulgaria and,inaccordance with theDecision-Making
Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93),
adoptedtheDecisionontheAccessionofBulgaria(WT/ACC/BGR/6).TheGeneralCouncilthenadopted
thereport oftheWorking Party (WT/ACC/BGR/5 andCorr.1, Add.1 andAdd.2).
() Georgia (WT/GC/M/13)
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from Georgia
(WT/ACC/GEO/1) concerning itsinterest inacceding totheWTO Agreement pursuant toArticle XII
thereof.
TheGeneral Council agreed toestablish aworking party toexamine Georgia 'srequest, and
authorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson oftheWorking Party inconsultation with
representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative ofGeorgia.
3SeeWT/GC/M/1, Item 4(g).WT/GC/W/38
Page14
() Kazakstan (WT/GC/M/10, 11)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from
Kazakstan (WT/ACC/KAZ/1) concerning itsinterest inacceding totheWTO Agreement pursuant to
Article XIIthereof.
TheGeneral Council agreed toestablish aworking party toexamine Kazakstan 'srequest, and
authorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson oftheWorking Party inconsultation with
representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative ofKazakstan.
TheChairman invited Kazakstan, onbehalf oftheGeneral Council, toattend meetings ofthe
General Council and, asappropriate, meetings ofother WTO bodies asanobserver during theperiod
when theWorking Party wascarrying outitswork.
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Ekblom
(Finland) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Kyrgyz Republic (WT/GC/M/11, 13)
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from the
Kyrgyz Republic (WT/ACC/KGZ/1) concerning itsinterest inacceding totheWTO Agreement pursuant
toArticle XIIthereof.
TheGeneral Council agreed toestablish aworking party toexamine therequest oftheKyrgyz
Republic, andauthorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson oftheWorking Party inconsultation
with representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative oftheKyrgyz Republic.
TheChairman invited theKyrgyz Republic, onbehalf oftheGeneral Council, toattend meetings
oftheGeneral Council and, asappropriate, meetings ofother WTO bodies asanobserver during the
period when theWorking Party wascarrying outitswork.
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Metzger
(France) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Mongolia (WT/GC/M/13)
InOctober1991,theGATT1947CouncilhadestablishedaworkingpartytoexamineMongolia's
request foraccession totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade. Subsequently, inpursuance of
theDecision regarding requests forWTO accession adopted bytheGeneral Council on31January 19954,
theGATT 1947 Accession Working Party hadbeen transformed intoaWTO Accession Working Party.
Atitsmeeting on18July 1996, theGeneral Council considered theWorking Party 'sreport
(WT/ACC/MNG/9 andCorr.1, Add.1, Add.1/Corr.1, andAdd.2).
TheGeneral Council approved thetextoftheProtocol ofAccession (WT/ACC/MNG/11) and
thetextofthedraft decision ontheAccession ofMongolia and,inaccordance withtheDecision-Making
Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted theDecision ontheAccession ofMongolia (WT/ACC/MNG/10). TheGeneral Council then
4SeeWT/GC/M/1, Item 4(g).WT/GC/W/38
Page15
adopted thereport oftheWorking Party (WT/ACC/MNG/9 andCorr.1, Add.1 andAdd.1/Corr.1, and
Add.2).
() Oman (WT/GC/M/12, 14)
Atitsmeeting on26June 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from Oman
(WT/ACC/OMN/1) concerning itsinterest inacceding totheWTO Agreement pursuant toArticle XII
thereof.
TheGeneral Council agreed toestablish aworking party toexamine Oman 'srequest, and
authorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson oftheWorking Party inconsultation with
representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative ofOman.
TheChairman invited Oman, onbehalf oftheGeneral Council, toattend meetings oftheGeneral
Council and,asappropriate, meetings ofother WTO bodies asanobserver during theperiod when the
Working Party wascarrying outitswork.
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Akram
(Pakistan) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Panama (WT/GC/M/14)
InOctober 1991, theGATT 1947 Council hadestablished aworking party toexamine Panama 's
request foraccession totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade. Subsequently, inpursuance of
theDecision regarding requests forWTO accession adopted bytheGeneral Council on31January 19955,
theGATT 1947 Accession Working Party hadbeen transformed intoaWTO Accession Working Party.
Atitsmeeting on2October 1996, theGeneral Council considered theWorking Party 'sreport
(WT/ACC/PAN/19 andCorr.1, Add.1 andAdd.2).
TheGeneral Council approved thetextoftheProtocol ofAccession (WT/ACC/PAN/21) and
thetextofthedraft decision ontheAccession ofPanama and,inaccordance with theDecision-Making
Procedures Under Articles IXandXIIoftheWTO Agreement agreed inNovember 1995 (WT/L/93),
adoptedtheDecisionontheAccessionofPanama(WT/ACC/PAN/20).TheGeneralCouncilthenadopted
thereport oftheWorking Party (WT/ACC/PAN/19 andCorr.1, Add.1 andAdd.2).
() Papua New Guinea (WT/GC/M/10, 11)
InNovember 1995, theGeneral Council hadadopted aDecision (WT/L/98) authorizing Papua
New Guinea toaccede totheWTO Agreement under terms setoutinitsProtocol ofAccession
(WT/L/99).
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from Papua
New Guinea requesting thatthetime-limit foracceptance inparagraph 6ofitsProtocol ofAccession
bechanged to13May 1996 (WT/GC/W/30), andadraft decision tothiseffect intheAnnex tothat
document.
Therepresentative ofJapan reiterated hisGovernment 'sconcern with regard toPapua New
Guinea 'sapplied tariff oncanned mackerel thatwasinexcess ofthebound tariff.
5SeeWT/GC/M/1, Item 4(g).WT/GC/W/38
Page16
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision extending thetime-limit (WT/L/130).
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, theGeneral Council considered acommunication from Papua
New Guinea requesting thatthetime-limit inparagraph 6ofitsProtocol ofAccession befurther extended
to13August 1996 (WT/GC/W/33), andadraft decision tothiseffect intheAnnex tothatdocument.
TheGeneral Council adopted theDecision further extending thetime-limit (WT/L/148).
() Saudi Arabia (WT/GC/M/10)
InJuly1993, theGATT 1947 Council hadestablished aworking party toexamine Saudi Arabia 's
request foraccession totheGATT. Following therequest bySaudi Arabia foraccession totheWTO
Agreement (WT/ACC/SAU/1), thatworking party hadbeen transformed intoaWTO Accession Working
Party.
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Weekes
(Canada) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Seychelles (WT/GC/M/13)
InJuly1995, theGeneral Council hadestablished aworking party toexamine Seychelles 'request
foraccession totheWTO Agreement, andhadauthorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson
oftheWorking Party inconsultation with representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative of
Seychelles.
Atitsmeeting on18July1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatMr.Ravaloson
(Madagascar) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Tonga (WT/GC/M/10)
InNovember 1995, theGeneral Council hadestablished aworking party toexamine Tonga 's
request foraccession totheWTO Agreement, andhadauthorized itsChairman todesignate the
Chairperson oftheWorking Party inconsultation with representatives ofMembers andwith the
representative ofTonga.
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council that
Mr.Harbinson (Hong Kong) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.
() Vanuatu (WT/GC/M/11)
InJuly1995, theGeneral Council hadestablished aworking party toexamine Vanuatu 'srequest
foraccession totheWTO Agreement, andhadauthorized itsChairman todesignate theChairperson
oftheWorking Party inconsultation with representatives ofMembers andwith therepresentative of
Vanuatu.
Atitsmeetingon16April1996,theChairmaninformedtheGeneralCouncilthatMrs.Syahruddin
(Indonesia) hadagreed tochair theWorking Party.WT/GC/W/38
Page17
() Statement byCuba ontheUnited States 'Helms-Burton Actof1996 (WT/GC/M/11)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on16April 1996, therepresentative ofCuba expressed concern
thattheUSHelms-Burton Actof1996 wasaviolation ofinternational trade rules andinternational
law,aswellasofundertakings entered intobytheUnited States when signing theFinal ActEmbodying
theResults oftheUruguay Round, and noted that hisGovernment had recently circulated a
communication onthismatter (WT/L/142).
() Hungary -Invocation ofArticle 48oftheVienna Convention ontheLaw oftheTreaties
(WT/GC/M/11)
Atitsmeeting on16April 1996, therepresentative ofHungary informed theGeneral Council
ofHungary 'sinvocation, on9April 1996, ofArticle 48oftheVienna Convention ontheLawofTreaties
with respect toSection IIofPart IVofSchedule LXXI, andexpressed hisGovernment 'sreadiness
tohold consultations with anyMembers onthismatter.
() Brazil -Provisional safeguard measures concerning imports oftoys (WT/GC/M/13)
AttheGeneralCouncilmeetingon18July1996,therepresentativeoftheEuropeanCommunities
expressed concern atBrazil 'srecent initiation ofasafeguard investigation andtheimposition ofa
provisional safeguard measure onimports oftoys originating inallthird countries.
() Notification requirements (WT/GC/M/11)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on16April 1996, theDirector-General noted thatMembers
hadrecently been reminded oftheir unfulfilled notification requirements for1995 andtheir notification
requirements for1996, andunderlined theimportance offulfilling these obligations.
() Procedures forthecirculation andderestriction ofWTO documents (WT/GC/M/10, 12,13)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatnofurther
progress onthismatter hadbeen achieved since themeeting oftheGeneral Council inDecember 1995
andthatheintended torefer tothismatter inastatement hewould make under aseparate Agenda item.6
Atitsmeeting on26June 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thathewasstill
notinaposition tosubmit adraft decision onthismatter forconsideration byMembers.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman saidthatfollowing extensive
consultations held since thebeginning oftheyear, agreement hadnow been reached onacompromise
textthatappeared tobeagreeable toamajority ofdelegations. Heproposed thatthetextofthedraft
decision onthismatter, withparagraph (h)oftheAppendix redrafted toreflect thecompromise regarding
panel reports, beadopted atthepresent meeting.
TheGeneral Council adopted theprocedures forthecirculation andderestriction ofWTO
documents (WT/L/160/Rev.1).
6Seeunder point [..]-"Election ofChairperson".WT/GC/W/38
Page18
The Chairman then made thefollowing statement: "Inadopting these procedures onthe
circulation andderestriction ofdocuments, theGeneral Council takes notethatMembers attach particular
importance totherestricted nature ofdocuments sodesignated, andthatindividual governments should
proceed accordingly intheir handling ofsuch documents."
() Arrangements foreffective cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations
- Relations between theWTO andtheInternational Monetary Fund andtheWorld Bank
(WT/GC/M/13)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman saidthatinformal consultations
ondraft arrangements forrelations between theWTO andtheIMF andtheWorld Bank were currently
under way, andproposed thattheGeneral Council revert tothisitem atitsnext meeting.
TheGeneral Council soagreed.
() Guidelines forarrangements onrelations with non-governmental organizations pursuant to
Article V:2oftheWTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/10, 12,13)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theChairman informed theGeneral Council thatnofurther
progress onthismatter hadbeen achieved since themeeting oftheGeneral Council inDecember 1995
andthatheintended torefer tothismatter inastatement hewould make under aseparate Agenda item.7
AttheGeneral Council meeting on26June 1996, theChairman recalled thatapproval ofthe
proposed guidelines onthismatter hadbeen linked toagreement onderestriction procedures, onwhich
hewasstillnotinaposition tosubmit adraft decision forconsideration.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July 1996, theChairman drew attention tothedraft
guidelines forarrangements onrelations with non-governmental organizations which hadbeen agreed
ininformal consultations held in1995 andheld inabeyance pending adecision onprocedures forthe
circulation andderestriction ofWTO documents. Since thelatter hadbeen adopted earlier atthat
meeting8,heproposed thattheguidelines onrelations with non-governmental organizations alsobe
adopted.
TheGeneral Council soagreed (WT/L/162).
() Compliance with theobligations ofArticles 70.8 and70.9 oftheTRIPS Agreement
(WT/GC/W/10)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on6February 1996, therepresentative oftheUnited States
expressed concern thatanumber ofcountries hadnotcomplied with theobligations ofArticles 70.8
and70.9 oftheTRIPS Agreement andreserved hisdelegation 'srights forfuture action inthisregard.
7Seeunder point [..]-"Election ofChairperson".
8Seeunder point [..]-"Procedures forthecirculation andderestriction ofWTO documents".WT/GC/W/38
Page19
() WTO Press Release onTrade andForeign Direct Investment (WT/GC/M/15)
AttheGeneralCouncilmeetingon14October1996,therepresentativeofIndiaexpressedconcern
attherecent issuance bytheSecretariat ofaPress Release entitled "Trade andForeign Direct Investment -
New Report bytheWTO", which raised thefundamental andimportant issue oftheroleoftheSecretariat
anditsrelationship with Members.
() Administrative matters
() Offices oftheDeputy Directors-General (WT/GC/M/11)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on16April 1996, theDirector-General proposed thatsince
preparationsfortheMinisterialConferenceinDecember1996wouldrequirealltheattentionofMembers,
thecontracts ofthethree Deputy Directors-General, Messrs. Hoda, Lavorel andSeade, which were
duetoexpire on31July1996, beextended foraperiod ofoneyear, andthatheinitiate consultations
onfurther renewals ornew appointments early in1997, well inadvance ofthedate ofexpiration of
their terms ofoffice.
TheGeneral Council agreed toproceed assuggested bytheDirector-General ifthismatter were
notraised again atitsnext meeting.
() Staff-related matters (WT/GC/M/10)
Atitsmeeting on6February 1996, theDirector-General recalled theDecision oftheGeneral
Council atitsmeeting on30October 1995 with regard tothereview ofthequestion ofsalaries, pensions
andother conditions ofservice ofWTO staff (WT/L/91), andoutlined reasons forwhich itwasurgent
fortheGeneral Council toresume consideration ofthese questions inorder toreach decisions assoon
aspossible. Heproposed thatinformal consultations bytheChairman would beappropriate forthis
purpose.
TheGeneral Council agreed thatitsChairman hold informal consultations onthese matters.
() Pensions andsalaries ofWTO staff (WT/GC/M/15)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on14October 1996, theChairman said thatininformal
consultations heldrecently, noconsensus hadbeen possible onthetextofadraft proposal onconditions
ofservice forWTO staff thathehadcirculated, andthathewould continue hisconsultations onthis
matter.
() Observer status
() Governments
- Georgia (WT/GC/M/12)
Atitsmeeting on26June 1996, theGeneral Council granted observer status toGeorgia.WT/GC/W/38
Page20
() International intergovernmental organizations (WT/GC/M/10, 11,12,13,14,15)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on6February 1996, theChairman saiditwashisunderstanding
thatpending agreement onguidelines forobserver status forinternational organizations, theUnited
Nations, UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank, FAO, WIPO andOECD would beinvited tothenext meeting
oftheGeneral Council, inaccordance with theadhocarrangements approved on16March 1995.9
AttheGeneralCouncilmeetingon16April1996,theChairmanrecalledhisearlierunderstanding
onthismatter.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on26June1996, theChairman recalled hisearlier understanding
onthismatter.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman saiditwashisunderstanding
that, pending agreement ontheorganizations tobeaccorded observer status intheGeneral Council
inaccordance with theguidelines forsuch status agreed on18July10,theUnited Nations, UNCTAD,
IMF, World Bank, FAO, WIPO andOECD would beinvited tothenextmeeting oftheGeneral Council.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on2October 1996, theChairman recalled hisprevious
understanding onthismatter.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on14October 1996, theChairman recalled hisprevious
understanding onthismatter.
() Guidelines onobserver status forinternational intergovernmental organizations
(WT/GC/M/12, 13)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on26June 1996, theChairman recalled thatagreement on
guidelines onobserver status forinternational intergovernmental organizations hadbeen awaiting
agreement ontheparticipation oforganizations asobservers intheDispute Settlement Body andthat
anessential aspect ofthiswould bethearrangements forcooperation between theWTO andtheIMF
andtheWorld Bank thatwere presently under consideration. Theguidelines therefore could notyet
befinalized.
AttheGeneral Council meeting on18July1996, theChairman recalled thatMembers hadthus
farconsidered thatguidelines onobserver status forinternational organizations could notbeadopted
until agreement hadbeen reached onarrangements forcooperation between theWTO andtheIMF and
World Bank. Pending theapproval ofthose arrangements, heproposed thatMembers agree onthe
textascontained inPC/IPL/W/14, withanamendment toparagraph 3thereof, which would notprejudge
theoutcome oftheconsultations ontheabove arrangements, butwhich would atthesame time enable
theGeneral Council toadopt guidelines atthepresent time. This would allow theWTO tosettle the
question oftheattendance ofinternational intergovernmental organizations inWTO bodies intime for
decisions tobetaken regarding theparticipation ofobserver organizations attheMinisterial Conference
inSingapore.
TheGeneralCounciladoptedtheguidelinesonobserverstatusforinternationalintergovernmental
organizations proposed bytheChairman (WT/L/161, Annex 3).
9SeeWT/GC/M/3, Item 3.
10Seeunder sub-point [..]below -"Guidelines onobserver status forinternational intergovernmental
organizations".WT/GC/W/38
Page21
() Election ofChairperson (WT/GC/M/10)
AttheGeneral Council meeting on6February 1996, astheoutgoing presiding officer ofthe
General Council, theChairman made astatement onthework oftheGeneral Council in1995
(WT/GC(96)/ST/1).
TheGeneral Council then unanimously elected Mr.Rossier (Switzerland) totheChair.