RESTRICTED  
  
WT/WGTTT/W/29  
 
28 November 2019  
(19-8203) Page: 1/2 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology   
 
 
DRAFT  
 
REPORT (2019) OF THE  WORKING GROUP ON TR ADE AND TRANSFER  
OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE  GENERAL COUNCIL  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  Ministers agreed, at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001, to "an 
examination, in a Working Group under the auspices of the General Council, of the relationship 
between trade and transfer of technology, and of any possible recommendations on steps that might 
be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries".1 
The Working Group has reported on its work at each WTO Ministerial Meeting , at which  the Ministers 
had reaffirmed their commitment to advance the work of the Working Group on Trade and Transfer 
of Technology and instructed the General Council to further report  to the Ministerial Sessions.  
 
1.2.  The Working Group held three sessions during 2019. The reports of the meetings are contained 
in documents WT/WGTTT/M/60, WT/WGTTT/M/61 and WT/WGTTT/M/62.2 At these meetings, 
Members continued the analysis of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology, as 
well as considered any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate 
of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries.  
2  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECH NOLOGY  
2.1.  During the year 2019 , work on the  analysis of the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology  registered little progress.  At the November 2019 meeting, the Delegation of Chad , on 
behalf of the LDC Group, underscored  the critical role tech nology played in increasing productivity 
and output, and to diversify economies to better integrate into the regional and global value chains. 
LDCs called on Members to continue the work within the Working Group's mandate and requested 
that an evaluation be undertaken to determine what had been accomplished by the Working Group 
since its establishment  as well as of what remained to be done . 
3  ANY POSSIBLE RECOMME NDATIONS ON THE STEP S THAT MIGHT BE TAKE N WITHIN 
THE MANDATE OF THE W TO TO INCREASE FLOWS  OF TECHN OLOGY TO DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES  
3.1.  During the year 2019 , work on possible recommendations that the Working Group could make 
in the future  proceeded on the basis of a presentation made by the  UN Technology Bank for L east 
Developed Countries  (hereafter, the Bank). The Bank, which was granted ad hoc  observer status at 
the first meeting of the Working Group in 2019, highlighted in its presentation their mandate, terms 
of reference and activities. The presentation underscored  that the mandate of  the Bank was to work 
towards achieving the 2030 Agenda in the 47 LDCs, through building capacities in science, 
technology and innovation (STI) and assessing their appropriate technology needs. The focus of the 
Bank's work was on: (a) strengthening STI cap acity of LDCs; (b) promoting the development and 
implementation of national and regional STI strategies; (c) reinforcing partnerships in the public and 
private sectors and encouraging cooperation among those involved in STI, including academics; (d) 
                                                
1 Paragraph 37 of document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1 .  
2 To be issued.  
 WT/WGTTT/W/29  
 
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  suppor ting the LDCs as they identify, access and use technologies; and (e) helping the smooth flow 
of transfer of technologies to LDCs.  
3.2.  Members found the presentation by the Bank for LDCs useful and relevant to the work of the 
Working Group. The Working Group de cided to continue , on an ad hoc  basis, providing the Bank 
with observer status in the Working Group.  
3.3.  The Chairperson  reiterated,  at the November 2019 meeting , the importance of a formal 
submission by the proponents of a submission made in 2008 by India, Pa kistan and the Philippines 
- entitled "Facilitating Access to Information on Appropriate Technology Sourcing – A Step to 
Increase Flows of Technology to Developing Countries" . The proponents had informed the Chair that 
they were still in the process of rev ising their submission and that they intended to table it in the 
near future.   
3.4.  At the November 2019 meeting, the discussion underscored the role that technology can play 
as a driver of trade and economic development. Some Members felt that the path to inno vation and 
technology could lead to development and industrialization creating wealth, jobs and improving 
standards of living.  They felt that rapid technological advances and increasingly information -driven 
global economy were impacting on the competitiven ess and market opportunities of specific groups 
and regions – a problem which a number of countries were struggling to address. Constructive and 
meaningful work in the Working Group could help address these challenges. For this to happen, the 
Group needed to target discussion on specific and practical ways to address the needs and challenges 
faced by developing countries, in particular the LDCs. In this context, it was very important to share 
experiences and concrete examples on how Members, which had made rapid advances on the 
technology frontier, had overcome similar difficulties. The crucial role of technology transfer in 
preserving the eco -system was also underlined .  
4  FUTURE WORK  
4.1.  Members have continued their examination of the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology and possible recommendations that might be made within the mandate of the WTO to 
increase flows of technology to developing countries. The ongoing work has covered a number of 
issues and has helped to enhance Members' understandi ng of the nexus between trade and transfer 
of technology. The Working Group will continue to look at  these issues in the coming year .  
 
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