RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/W/64
15 October 1999
(99-4420)
Committee on Trade and Development
Twenty-Seventh Session
WTO PROGRAMME FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION
Three-Year Plan (2000-2002)
Note by the Secretariat
Introduction
1. The guidelines for WTO technical cooperation, adopted by the Committee on Trade and
Development on 15 October 1996, require that the Three-Year Plan for technical cooperation be
presented to the Committee on Trade and Development.  The present document covers the period 2000-
2002.
2. It is appropriate, at this juncture, to indicate that the present document is only a first, preliminary
approximation to what may become the 2000-2002 Three- Year Plan as understood in the Guidelines for
Technical Cooperation.  The critical financial situati on presented to Members over the last few months,
both formally and informally in the framework of the CTD and the Committee on Budget, Finance and
Administration; the launching, by a number of Me mbers, of the Global Trust Fund for WTO Technical
Cooperation; the presentation of va rious proposals on the substantive approaches, the administration, the
financing and the evaluation of WTO technical coope ration activities; the results of the work of the
internal Secretariat Task Force on Enhanced Technical  Cooperation; the prospect of important decisions
to be taken by Members at the Third WTO Mini sterial Conference; and the initiation of new
negotiations, are all circumstances that suggest the need for a prudent approach.
3. Furthermore, the intensification of the work in the preparatory process for the Ministerial
Conference appears to have prevented Members to concentrate on the consideration of their specific
technical cooperation requirements, which has resulted in a number of requests received in the
Secretariat which is smaller than in normal years.
4. In this context, Members may wish to reve rt to a substantive consideration of the WTO
programme of technical cooperation in a fort hcoming meeting of the Committee on Trade and
Development to be held early in the year 2000.  In the meantime, the present document assembles a
number of elements to be considered, including br oad lines of action of a tentative nature for the
Secretariat's technical cooperation activities on diffe rent WTO subjects for the year 2000. A number of
specific activities has also been compiled, on a regional basis, and appear in Annex 1.  For theyears 2001 and 2002, an indication is given for conti nuity of work and a general statement of an
indicative nature is included, outlining likely priorities for the future.
Background
5. Since the establishment of the WTO in 1995, technical cooperation activities of the WTO
Secretariat have expanded in scope and increased in numbers.  This was made possible thanks to aWT/COMTD/W/64
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very significant increase of extra-budgetary financial contributions from certain WTO Members, as
the WTO regular budget for technical cooperation remained constant over that period.  As a result, it is
projected that 90% of technical assistance activ ities in 1999 (measured by number of activities and
excluding the regular Trade Policy Courses and the support provided to the ITC) will have been
financed through extra-budgetary resources.
6. As reflected in the Reports on technical cooperation provided to the CTD over the years,
these activities have registered a fourfold increase  since the entry into force of the WTO Agreement.
In 1995 the WTO Secretariat performed some 79 technical cooperation activities, most of them
financed through the regular budget for technical cooperation of 741 thousand Swiss francs. In 1996
the number of activities increased to 124 (a 57% increase over 1995 activities). In 1997, 227 activities
(83% increase) were carried out. In 1998, over 300 activities were executed (34% increase).A detailed report on technical cooperation activities in 1999 will be provided to the Committee in the
year 2000. However, it may be noted that by the end of September 1999, over 240 activities had
already been carried out.
7. This very significant increase in the volume of technical assistance activities has not been
matched over the same period by an equivalent increase in the human resources of the WTO
Secretariat, either in the Technical Cooperation Division or in any of the other Divisions which
provide their expertise on each particular subject.  Whilst the consequent intensification of the
workload has been absorbed by the Secretariat staff, the situation may have reached a point where this
level of activity is not sustainable given, particularly, increasing staff responsibilities in servicingCommittees, dispute settlement panels, and new negotiations. It may be recalled that the problems
arising from the lack of financial resources, the lack of certainty as to their availability, and the human
resources situation, have been highlighted in previous Three-Year Plans.
8. The situation described in the previous paragraphs only confirms the increasing dynamism in
WTO technical cooperation activities. One way or another, various parts of the Secretariat are
involved, on a daily basis, in providing advice and technical assistance to Members. Up to now, the
increasing workload, both on substance and on administration, logistics and coordination, has been
absorbed by the Secretariat, with the same basic manning table of the past three years and with
relatively minimum internal adjustments. However, it may be expected that human resources which
during this period have been dedicated to t echnical cooperation activit ies, might with the
commencement of new negotiations, and also due to an increase in recourse to dispute settlementprocedures, be diverted to other work.  In this situation, it may not be possible to sustain the
increasing trend in technical cooperation activities.
Financial Situation
9. The CTD and the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration, have received detailed
information as to the financial situation of technical cooperation activities, and have had an
opportunity to exchange views on the subject, both  formally and informally. At the request of both
Committees, the Secretariat issued document WT/BFA/42-WT/COMTD/20, which contains the
information provided.
Structure
10. In the process of preparing the present docum ent, a communication was sent to Delegations of
developing countries and of countries in transiti on which are Members and Observers, inviting them to
present requests for technical cooperation activities for 2000-2002 by 15 September 1999. This target
date was set in terms of the lead-time required by th e Secretariat for the production and circulation of the
present document.  It does not imply that requests presented afterwards will not receive adequate
attention and response.  Replies to this communi cation have been received from delegations, some ofWT/COMTD/W/64
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them in very precise terms for 2000, some containing only indications of areas of interest and preferred
modes of delivery (e.g., technical missions, general semi nars, technical workshops, etc.).  In some other
cases, requests pending from the previous pl an have also been taken into account.
11. In light of the above, the structure of th e present document differs from the structure of
document WT/COMTD/W/48. After the present introductory section, the Plan describes the broad lines
of action for the Secretariat's technical cooperat ion activities on different WTO subjects for the year
2000. For the years 2001 and 2002, a general statement of an indicative nature is included, both where
work will be carried on along the lines of the previous  year and where an outline of likely priorities for
the future is possible. Annex 1 contains a list of foreseen/planned activities for 2000, presented on a
regional basis.
12. The Trade Policy Courses are also an important component of WTO technical cooperation
activities at headquarters. Annex 2 to this note presents the activities carried out in this context as well
as future plans for the residential Trade Policy Courses over the next Three-Year Period (2000-2002).WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 4
Year 2000
1. Agriculture and SPS Agreements
1.1 Agreement on Agriculture
Under the special and differential treatment provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture,
developing countries have until the end of 2003 to implement their commitments.  In addition the
negotiations on continuing the reform process on agriculture will start this year as required under
Article 20 of the Agreement.  Therefore, while the focus of the Secretariat's technical cooperation
activities will remain on assisting Members in implementing their sp ecific commitments in
agriculture, it will also provide assistance, on the re quest of Members, in the area of the negotiations.
Much of this assistance will be provided at or from headquarters.
It is envisaged to provide targeted assistance by way of missions to the capitals of 5 or 6
Members on a demand-driven basis, the actual number of missions will depend on the requests
received and resource availability.  In addition, the Secretariat intends to participate in a number of
regional seminars on the rules, commitments and nego tiations in agriculture.  Normally these regional
seminars will be conducted in cooperation with other international or regional organizations, in
particular the World Bank and/or FAO.  WTO sponsorship of the participation of some Members in
these seminars may be required.
1.2 SPS Agreement
The SPS Agreement will apply to least-developed countries as from 1 January 2000.
Therefore, in 2000 SPS workshops and seminars will have to address LDCs' needs in particular
(mostly African countries).  However, SPS technical assistance and cooperation is also typically
demand driven.  The Secretariat has already received formal or informal requests for the organizationor participation in workshops or seminars in different countries and regions.
The present structure of seminars appears to be appropriate, with slight adaptations depending
on the target country/region.  Seminars for LDCs typically include a session on general introduction
to WTO and dispute settlement procedures, followed by a detailed presentation of the SPSAgreement, including implementation and operation issues.  Three other sessions follow for the
presentation of the "three sisters" work, presented by officials of each of these organizations.  Finally,
special sessions dealing with the practical implementation of the Agreement (risk assessment;
equivalence;  methods of producti on (HACCP);  enquiry points, etc.) are also now an integral part of
SPS seminars.
With regard to technical assistance to developing countries in a more advanced stage of
implementation of the Agreement (Central and South America;  Asia), emphasis will be placed in the
special sessions dealing with the implementation of the Agreement.  This approach will draw on
external experts in the relevant areas and this  will have financial implications for the WTO.
Additionally, efforts for improved coordination of technical assistance and cooperation between the
Secretariat and Members, and between the Secretariat and other international organizations will bemade.
Missions already provisionally scheduled are indicated in Annex 1.WT/COMTD/W/64
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2. Market Access Issues
2.1 Tariff Schedules
In the year 2000 the Secretariat will have to continue providing assistance to a number of
developing countries in connection with the transposition of their pre-Uruguay Round Schedules into
the Harmonized System, including the changes that have taken place in 1996 (HS96). Requests for
assistance in this respect are expected to come from a number of developing and least-developed
country Members in the African, Asia-Pacific, Central America and Caribbean areas.  In addition,
assistance will need to be provided to some developing countries with a view to establishing
consolidated loose-leaf schedules of tariff concessions.
2.2 Agreement on Customs Valuation
A total of 55 developing countries have made use of Article 20 of the Agreement enabling
them to invoke a 5 year delay for the application of the provisions of the Agreement; for 28 of them
the transition period ends at the end of 1999.  For another 21, the transition period ends at the end ofthe year 2000.  The Secretariat's activities in this area will thus have to be oriented towards assisting
those countries to be adequately prepared for the fulfilment of their obligations by that deadline.  The
WTO Secretariat has organized a technical assistance programme which makes use of expert
consultants (a Spanish, a French and an English-speaking) to go to each of the countries which have
invoked the delay and who request assistance, to assist them with all aspects of their transitionalprocess.  The Market Access Division  has conducted 24 such missions in the last 2 quarters of 1998
and the first three quarters of 1999.  The Division estimates another 15-20 missions to be held through
the year 2000.
Coordination with the WCO valuation team is an on-going process because it is clear to all
that cooperation with the WCO will contribute to the effectiveness of technical assistance activities.
2.3 Agreement on Rules of Origin
The Committee on Rules of Origin has been working on the harmonization work programme
(HWP) for non-preferential Rules of Origin.  Members have committed themselves to making their
best endeavours to complete the work programme by  November 1999.  If the HWP is finalized it will
become necessary to assist a large number of developing countries to implement the new harmonized
rules of origin.  In the meantime, it will be necessary to assist certain smaller developing countries
which specifically request so, in the understanding of technical negotiating issues.  For instance, in the
current year two such requests were received and missions carried out.
2.4 The Integrated Data Base for Personal Computers
On 16 July 1997, the General Council decided, inter-alia , that the Secretariat "...shall, upon
request, provide technical assistance to Members in relation to the submission of the data required for
the Integrated Data Base for Personal Computers." In pursuance thereof, the Secretariat has started in
1998 a technical assistance programme for the PC IDB. Its continuation will cover:
• the dissemination and training on the PC  software for submission preparation;
• conducting PC IDB workshops tailored to regional and/or national requirements;
• continued participation in WTO seminars to provide training; and
• pursuing the establishment of contacts in missions and national capitals.WT/COMTD/W/64
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During 1999, a number of devel oping countries which had not yet submitted their IDB data
have requested assistance on the preparation of th eir IDB submissions. Information on these activities
will be provided in the forthcoming report on technical cooperation activities for 1999.
During 1998 and 1999 the Statistics Division participated in regional seminars in conjunction
with other WTO divisions, principally with Market Access Division and in seminars for LDCs.  Given
that the results of this collaboration we re successful, the intention is to pursue it.
Workshops exclusively on IDB matters will be undertaken as well in 2000 and 2001. These
activities would target the officers responsible for the collection of customs tariff data and import
statistics. A number of missions have been listed in Annex 1.
3. Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
In 1998, the following approach to technical cooperation in the area of textiles and clothing
for the 1999-2000 planning period was proposed:
"The progress achieved, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement on Textiles and
Clothing, in the integration process of internationa l trade in these products to the multilateral rules
means that this sector will be of increasing inte rest to developing countries, including the least-
developed among them.  Since technical cooperation is a demand-driven process, the Secretariat is not
yet in a position to provide proposals for specific technical cooperation missions.  However, theSecretariat stands ready in this area to organize, upon request, three regional or sub-regional seminars
and three national seminars each in 1999 and 2000, covering the three broad regions of developing
countries in the world." (WT/COMTD/W/48)
Technical assistance and cooperation at the nati onal level, both for Geneva-based delegations
and for capital-based government officials,  have  also been undertaken, and will continue, upon request
from interested Members.
This method has worked well in 1999 with our participation in selected regional and national
seminars in each of the main geographical regions.  The year 2000 is already covered by the existing
approach.  It is, of course, difficult to anticipate the needs which might flow from the upcoming
Ministerial meeting;  however, the current approach would appear to be a viable method to maintainfor the subsequent years, subject to any modifications resulting from the Ministerial meeting.
4. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
A number of developing country Members, in particular least-developed country Members,
have indicated that they experience problems with respect to raising national awareness among
government agencies and industries of the TBT Agreement, and have requested technical assistance in
the form of workshops and seminars.  In responding to that, the sub-regional seminars organized for
the participation of officers who are involved in implementing the TBT Agreement, standards
information and trade promotion, as described in document W/48 for 1999, would be continued.Taking into account the result of the 1997 First Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement, the regional
seminars would be coordinated with other international organizations and special attention would be
given also to the development of human and institutional resources, in particular, with respect to
conformity assessment procedures.  During a WTO Symposium on Conformity Assessment
Procedures held on 8-9 June 1999, it was considered beneficial if the WTO could contribute to theactivities undertaken by regional and international systems in response to an increasing demand for
technical assistance.  Pending the nature of decisions taken at the WTO Ministerial Conference in
Seattle, further requests for technical cooperation in relation to the TBT Agreement may arise.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 7
Furthermore, the WTO is also likely to receive invitations to participate in activities
organized by others, for example, on the basis of  experience in 1999, by the SADEC, ESCWA, OAS,
APEC, ITC and ISO.
5. Rules Agreements
5.1 Regional activities
A number of activities developed with regional financial institutions, such as the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) during 1996, 1997, 1998
and 1999 have produced positive results and demonstrated the usefulness of inter-agency cooperation.
This collaboration will be continued in the year 2000.
The project with the IADB includes three activities for the year 2000.  Previous activities with
Latin American and Caribbean countries have covere d already a wide range of general issues and are
now starting to delve into more specific topics.  As e xperience of countries in the use of contingent trade
remedies increases, it has become necessary to cove r particular subjects stemming from the application
of contingent trade remedies, such as injury and causality determinations and calculations of dumping
and subsidization margins. In the case of subsid y disciplines, a seminar for Caribbean countries is
planned which would take into account their special condition as small economies.
The project with the ADB also includes tw o activities for the year 2000.  One of the
programmes shall be a specialized injury determination seminar which would further the activities
undertaken with the most advanced  countries in the area of contingent trade remedies.  The other
activity with the ADB will focus on providing capacity  building for Asian transition economies.  Since
in the past ADB financing has not always been av ailable, it might be necessary to plan for the
eventuality that these very important programmes may have to be fully WTO financed.
5.2 Country Specific Assistance
This programme provides the opportunity of a more specialized assistance to Members. The
issues to be dealt with in each programme are coor dinated with the government agencies receiving the
assistance and are custom-tailored to their specific  needs.  Some requests for assistance pending from
1999 will be attended to in the year 2000, as well as ong oing programmes designed to assist countries to
develop WTO consistent national legislation once they  have decided to do so. Four country specific and
two ongoing programmes on legislation implementa tion are planned for the year 2000.  Experience has
shown that some Members tend not to make their need s for technical assistance known to the Secretariat
until sometime during the year when this assistance is  required.  This situation should be taken into
account in order that the Secretariat may be in a position to respond to any eventual urgent requests
which may come throughout the year 2000.
5.3 Other Assistance
Assistance on the preparation and review of dr aft legislations and regulations on contingent
trade remedies is also available to Members.  This  is done strictly upon request by the Member desiring
to adopt implementing legislation. Therefore, it is difficult to foresee the number of these types of
programmes to be conducted in the next two years.
5.4 Seminars on Rules
In order to enhance the participation of devel oping countries in the activities of the different
committees of the rules agreements (Anti-Dumping, Subsidies and Countervail, and Safeguards), and to
improve their response to their various notificati on obligations, the Secretariat will continue itsWT/COMTD/W/64
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assistance in the form of regional seminars in the area of WTO rules.  For the year 2000 special focus
will take place on these types of programmes to help  the capacity building process in Africa and the
transition economies in Southeast and Central Asia .  Additionally, depending on the outcome of the
Seattle Ministerial, it is possible that there may be a need to change the focus of  these events to take into
account the issues that may arise post-Seattle.
5.5 Accession Related Missions
The Rules Division envisions continuing its as sistance to acceding countries.  The purpose of
this assistance is to clarify the rights and obliga tions in the rules area that the acceding country acquires
upon accession to the WTO.  It is difficult to estimate the number of missions in this area to be carried
out since this is done strictly at the request of the Working Party on Accession of the particular country
or the acceding country itself.
6. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect s of Intellectual Property Rights
Developing country Members are scheduled to ha ve brought their intellectual property regimes
into line with their TRIPS obligations by 1 Janua ry 2000.  The implementation of the TRIPS Agreement
by these Members will be reviewed by the Council for TRIPS in the year 2000 and 2001.  This will
mean that for this group of countries the empha sis will increasingly move to assisting them to
participating fully in the operation of the TRIPS Council, including meeting their procedural
obligations under the Agreement, in particular thos e relating to notification and review procedures,
and the other mechanisms and processes of the WTO related to TRIPS matters, including as a result
of the Seattle meeting.  However, it can be expected that there will continue to be an on-going need
for assistance also in respect of the process of im plementation, both in regard to substantive standards
and enforcement, notably in the areas of training and public awareness.
For least-developed country Members, the focus will continue to be on assisting them to
understand the rights and obligations which flow from the TRIPS Agreement, aimed at helping them
to assess the amendments that may be needed to their national legislation, the adaptations in
institutions that may be called for and other requirements for which they would need to plan, and
training staff, both for these purposes and for the actual implementation of TRIPS-consistent
legislation in the fields of standards and enforcement.  Priority continues to be attached to assistance to
least-developed countries.
The technical cooperation made available by the Secretariat is essentially demand-driven,
within the available resources. The main modes of supply of technical cooperation specifically
relating to the TRIPS Agreement is information and advice given to Members in Geneva, seminars
and workshops for developing countries, technical missions to individual Members, and, to a lesserextent, NGO conferences.
Importance is attached to ensuring complementarity and cooperation with other
intergovernmental organizations.  In this regard, the Secretariat intends to continue its close
cooperation with WIPO in the provision of technical cooperation.
The extent to which the Secretariat has been able to meet the demand for assistance both
directly and through cooperation with WIPO a nd other intergovernmental organizations has been
limited by the available personnel and financial resources.  TRIPS-related activities cited in Annex 1
may need to be reviewed in the light of any future decisions by Members taken on this matter.
7. General Agreement on Trade in Services
Technical cooperation activities in services are expected to hinge around fiv e major issues:WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 9
(i) interpretation of GATS rules, guidelines  and disciplines;  (ii)   implementation of existing
commitments;  (iii) ongoing rule-making efforts (emergency safeguards, subsidies, government
procurement ) and negotiations on new disciplines (domestic regulation);  (iv ) facilitation of the
accession process;  and (v) preparation of the new services round due to start in January 2000.  Of
course, these activities are closely interrelated.  For example, the interpretation of existing rules andcommitments will help current Members to identify potential areas for future negotiations and/or
assist acceding countries in defining negotiating and adjustment strategies in the accession process.
Previous concerns that increased requests for technical cooperation - associated with recent accessions
and the new round - may lead to resource impasses have materialized in the course of 1999.  It thus
remains  important that requests for assistance be forwarded as early as possible and, whenever
feasible, be coordinated in the context of existing frameworks for regional trade and economic
cooperation.
While predominantly demand driven, technical assistance in the area of existing commitments
may continue  to focus on the results of the extended negotiations on basic telecommunications and on
financial services.  These activities are of longer-term relevance in particular for those countries that
have made pre-commitments to be phased in over the coming years.  As in the past, technicalcooperation is also intended to enable developing countries to participate effectively in the ongoing
negotiations under Articles VI:4, X, XIII and XV of the GATS and the work currently undertaken in
the Committee on Specific Commitments (scheduling questions and sectoral classification issues).
Assistance for accession countries generally aims to provide information on the principles and
structure of the Agreement, its main provisions, and the obligations incurred in scheduling
commitments.  The Secretariat has carried out various missions to acceding countries and recent
Members in 1999 and, given high continued interest by the administrations involved, is likely to
receive additional requests.
With the start of the new round, the Secretariat is committed, as resources permit, to assisting
developing countries in preparing themselves for act ive participation.  This implies identifying their
own negotiating interests in individual sectors and modes of supply  as well as interpreting, and
effectively responding to, potential requests from trading partners.
As in the past, assistance will be granted in th e form of both individual country missions and
regional seminars for countries with a similar economic and institutional background.  While countrymissions help to familiarise representatives from interested ministries and agencies with relevant
GATS provisions, regional seminars are a particularly cost- and resource-efficient way of informing
selected country participants of the main features of the Agreement.  To facilitate planning, it is
necessary that potential hosts of such seminars indicate their interest in advance.
8. Trade and Environment
For the year 2000, the Trade and Environment Division (TED) plans to continue its series of
regional seminars on trade and environment for developing and least-developed countries and
transition economies.  One regional seminar to be held in Malta and postponed could be organized inearly 2000 for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, followed by seminars for Asia, French-
speaking Africa, English-speaking Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Spanish-
speaking Central and South America, and the Caribbean, totalling seven regional seminars for the
year 2000.  Again, representatives from both the Ministries of Trade and of Environment will be
invited to attend.  The objective of the seminars will be a more in-depth examination of theinformation already provided in past regional seminars regarding the ongoing discussions and the
relevant GATT/WTO rules with respect to trade and environment issues.  Issues of particular concern
to different regions, such as the market access imp act of eco-labelling schemes, or the environmental
benefits of removing trade restrictions and distortions, will be addressed.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 10
Having received multiple requests for technical assistance in the preparation of developing
countries for the WTO Ministerial Conference in 1999, the TED anticipates a possible increase in
demand for TC seminars organized by IGOs, such as the UN Regional Economic Commissions,
UNCTAD and UNEP, both regionally and nationally.  Judging from past experience, the Divisionexpects further requests to jointly organize international seminars for developing countries on trade-
related policies in specific sectors or on particular issues such as those related to multilateral
environmental matters dealt with by other bodies.  Experience also tells us that the WTO will also be
requested to participate in activities wholly organized by others.
9. Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme for Selected Least-Developed and Other
African Countries (JITAP)
A Joint Integrated Programme of Technical Assistance for Selected Least-Developed and Other
African Countries was launched in early 1996 by the WTO, UNCTAD and the International Trade
Centre.  The specific objective of the programme is to assist least-developed and other African countries
in the expansion and diversification of their trade and to improve their integration into the multilateral
trading system.
An important development under this programme  is the fact that a Joint ITC/UNCTAD/WTO
Trust Fund has been established, with voluntary c ontributions from a number  of donor countries, thus
putting this programme on a sustainable financial basis for 1999 and beyond. It may be recalled that asubstantive presentation of this programme was made to the CTD at its 25
th session.
Activities under this programme will continue in  the year 2000 in accordance with the country
project documents and implementation plans, based on the JITAP clusters of activities.
10. Least-Developed Countries
As agreed during the High Level Meeting on Least-Developed Countries held in October
1997, six core organizations (IMF, ITC, UNDP, UNCTAD, World Bank, and WTO) are working
together with the LDCs to coordinate their trade assistance programmes through an Integrated
Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least-Developed Countries. The forthcoming
report on technical cooperation to be presented to the CTD early in the year 2000 will containinformation on the activities undertaken in 1999. It may be recalled that a substantive presentation of the
Integrated Framework was made to the CTD at its 25
th session.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the Integrated Framework, a specific web-site
(www.ldcs.org) has been developed by the Integrated Framework's Administrative Unit at ITC. Theaim of the site is to become both a management tool for the six agencies and a communication tool for
stakeholders in the process. At the same time, it serves as a medium of communication between the
agencies, the least-developed countries and their development partners, multilateral, regional and
bilateral. The web-site provides also, among other things, general information on the Integrated
Framework and is open to contributions from other development partners.
Although progress so far has been slow, a s ubstantive strengthening of the Integrated
Framework is expected in the near  future.  Round Tables are to be held in 4 LDCs before the end of
1999. In this context, some activities may already be foreseen for the year 2000 in the context of
programme implementation arising from those Round Tables, and further Round Tables, also in the
year 2000,  are in the pipeline. Regional seminars a nd short trade policy courses as a follow-up to the
High-Level Meeting and complementary to the country exercises are also foreseen. These activities
have been included in Annex 1. A dditional activities which may be agreed upon shall be introduced at
the appropriate time.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 11
11. Accessions
The demands on accession negotiations in general, both for existing working parties and any
new ones that may be created, will become greater and more complex.  From the end of 1999 andbeyond, with the attention of WTO members focusing increasingly on the new negotiations in the
WTO, the accession negotiations will have to take into account the issues being discussed in the
context of multilateral negotiations.  Consequently, the technical assistance needs and requirements of
the acceding governments can be expected to increase during this period, and the Secretariat will be
called upon to fulfil these to the maximum extent possible.
The technical assistance activities relating to accessions will be focussed on countries which
are at the early or very initial stages of the process such as Nepal, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Cambodia,
Sudan, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Lebanon.
The Secretariat will also continue to provide technical assistance to the accession of large economies
such as Viet Nam, Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.  As the accession negotiations of these countries
will be running in parallel with the multilateral trade negotiations, the activities launched in the
year 2000 can be expected to be carried over into the years 2001 and 2002.
12. Dispute Settlement
12.1 Special Training Course s on Dispute Settlement Pr ocedures will continue to be organized by the
Secretariat at WTO Headquarters. Three of these c ourses are foreseen for the year 2000. On request,
these courses may also be organized in the field, on a national basis.
12.2 Training Courses on Dispute Settlement (Int roduction) and Advanced  Training Courses on
Dispute Settlement are also regula rly organized on a regional, sub-regional or national basis.  These
courses are much appreciated because not only do they provide participants with a practical
understanding of the practices and procedures of th e WTO dispute settlement process, but they also
allow participants to work with all the various WTO agreements together, in the same way in which they
may be raised as claims or defences in actual cases.
In view of the high demand for these courses, the Secretariat envisages to continue, subject to
the availability of appropriate funding, the programme of regional and subregional workshops initiatedin 1998 for the training of government official s of developing countries on dispute settlement
procedures and practices. A special  component on dispute settlement and the way it connects together
all of the WTO agreements is also regularly include d in the activities specifically directed at the least-
developed countries.
12.3 Specialized legal assistance will continue to be  provided to developing and least-developed
countries, in pursuance of the provisions of Article  27:2 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
for the Settlement of Disputes.
13. Trade Policy Review Mechanism
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is increasingly seen as having an important technical
assistance component, particularly for least-devel oped countries and for small vulnerable developing
economies. It helps to give the relevant Members an  overview of its economy and of the role of trade
and trade-related policies in achieving sustainabl e development.  Frequently, it assists in the
identification of implementation problems with respect  to WTO obligations and with the identification
and prioritisation of further technical assistance n eeds, e.g. in the area of customs valuation and
procedures and TRIPS. The recent Report to Mini sters on the Appraisal of the Operation of the
Mechanism suggested that the parties to the Integrated Framework take cognizance of the relevantWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 12
Members' trade policy review.  The Singapore Mi nisterial also laid emphasis on the importance of
reviews for LDCs.  Since then seven LDCs have been reviewed, and Members have seen this as having
had an important technical assistance aspect. In the Report to Ministers, Members found it important,
largely in recognition of the technical assistance component, that all LDCs be reviewed as soon as
possible. The programme of reviews for the next few years will therefore seek to include as many LDCs
and small, vulnerable economies as possible. This will contribute to the further integration of these
countries into the multilateral trading system.
14. Other Issues
14.1 Investment, Competition Policy, and Government Procurement
Paragraph 22 of the Singapore Ministerial Decl aration states that the technical cooperation
programme of the Secretariat will be available to de veloping and in particular least-developed country
members to facilitate their participation in the groups established under paragraphs 20 and 21 on the
relationship between trade and investment, the interaction between trade and competition policy, and
transparency in government procurement.  It should also be noted that several of the proposals that have
been made on this subject in the context of the pr eparations for the third Ministerial Conference put
heavy emphasis on technical cooperation, both in order to  facilitate full participation in any negotiations
or other work that might be undertaken and to assi st in the implementation of any arrangements that
might result from such work.
In the light of the above, the Secretariat sees the need to plan to increase its capacity to provide
technical cooperation in this area, which will of course require appropriate resources to be made
available, notably in the operational division in question  Given the limits on the Secretariat's own
resources, cooperation with other intergovernmental or ganizations is a key aspect and recourse is also
made to the use of outside experts.  The focus is  not only on government officials from capitals, through
symposia, but also on Geneva-based delega tions, through events in the Geneva area.
(a) Investment.  In the year 2000, the WTO pl ans to organize jointly with other inter-
governmental organizations two seminars on investment for Geneva-based delegations.
The Secretariat also plans to participate in  conferences, seminars and other events on
trade and investment organized by other institutions.
(b) Competition Policy. Two seminars for Geneva-based delegates and two regional
seminars are planned to be organized jointly with other inter-governmental
organizations.  The Secretariat also plans to  participate in conferences, seminars and
other events on competition policy organized by other institutions.
( c) Government Procurement.  The Secretariat plans to participate in a number of events,
including regional seminars, conferences et c., on government procurement organized
by other institutions.
14.2 Notification Procedures and Obligations
The Secretariat will continue to give attention and respond to requests for assistance on
notification procedures and obligations. As in th e past, in the year 2000 a specialized Workshop on
Notification Procedures and Obligations will be orga nized in Geneva for Geneva-based delegations. The
Technical Cooperation Handbook on No tifications Procedures and Obligations will be updated
accordingly and disseminated as widely as possible among interested Member governments.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 13
Moreover, a module on these issues continues to be used in seminars and workshops on the
WTO held at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.
A web-page has been set up in the WTO official site to facilitate contact between capital-based
officials and WTO experts on notification issues (www.wto.org/wto/tct/tctdnot.htm). A CD-ROMversion of the Handbook is also under consideration.
14.3 Cooperation with Universities in Developing Countries
To contribute to the strengthening of human and institutional capacities of developing
countries, the WTO Secretariat has decided to cooperate upon request, with universities in developing
countries to design a course on international trade. The WTO will support the universities byproviding them with relevant WTO materials including CD-ROMs, teaching aids such as slides, case
studies and summaries and arrange for visits to the universities by WTO staff members who happen to
be in the country for technical cooperation or official missions.
15. Activities Carried Out Using Information Technology Tools
Information technology is increasingly being in corporated into technical cooperation activities,
in order to develop new and more efficient and cost-e ffective delivery instruments. IT tools are used for
several purposes: (i) information dissemination (web-s ites and electronic publications); (ii) improving
communications (e-mails and on-line fora); (iii) de livery of technical assistance (distance learning,
video-conferencing). The following list highlights so me of the recent developments and plans for the
period 2000-2002 in this area.
15.1 WTO Reference Centres
Since it is at the recipients' end where information dissemination becomes a critical activity
for those Members who lack adequate retrieval capacities and following a needs assessment carried
out under the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP) in July 1996, the Secretariat
incorporated, in the establishment of WTO Reference Centres on the multilateral trading system, the
use of information technologies to help decision makers in developing and least-developed countries
better understand and make use of the rules and mechanisms of the WTO.  This was achieved through
procurement of computer equipment and internet connectivity as well as training of governmentofficials on how to access trade-related inform ation resources on the Internet and CD-ROMs.
A WTO Reference Centre is designed to serve government Ministries and Departments in a
country.  Associated with the Centre is training of persons to help users navigate the web and in
particular, WTO-related web-sites and electronic publications, download documents, send and receive
electronic mail, and use search engines to look for specific information.  The establishment of theWTO Reference Centres has since been expanded as part of WTO's contribution to the Integrated
Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to LDCs. The network of WTO Reference
Centres that presently covers over 60 least-developed and other developing countries will continue to
grow, in particular for the benefit of small developing economies.
15.2 WTO web-site (www.wto.org)
This is the official site of the World Trade Organization. It is a trilingual site (English, French
and Spanish) that contains a wealth of informa tion (over 15,000 pages) about the rules and mechanisms
of the multilateral trading system, the latest news, WTO legal texts, developments in International
Trade, schedule of meetings,  and a document database, the DDB, which provides access to over70,000 working documents of the WTO. Access to rest ricted documents and confidential information
is limited to Members only and is password-protected.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 14
The site is used by individuals from about 150 countries, including an increasing number
from least-developed and developing countries. At present, over 200,000 users visit  the WTO site
each month and download a significant  volume of documents and data (the equivalent of 60 million
pages of text per month). In the coming weeks, a new, revamped and easier-to-use structure will be
put in place and in the course of next year, a more performing search engine will be incorporated. Atthe same time, a Guide to the use of WTO web-site on CD-ROM will be produced and circulated to
WTO Members.
15.3 ITD web-site (www.itd.org)
The Information Technologies for Development Project is a joint initiative of  the WTO and
the World Bank Institute. In the framework of this project, a specialized web-site has been set-up that
is focused specifically on social and economic development and how these are related to trade. Itoffers information, analysis and comments on these issues through case studies and interactive guides
as well as an opportunity to exchange views through an on-line conference facility. This web-site
should be of particular interest to officials of developing countries dealing with the social and
economic aspects of trade.
In 1999, the ITD web-site was also used to post the documents presented during several
symposia organized by the WTO so that officials in capitals as well as other interested parties could
access at least the documentation distributed during those events.
Development and strengthening of the WTO/World Bank Trade and Development web-site
will continue during the year 2000 and beyond.
15.4 Distance-Learning
(a) The WTO: a training package.  A computer-based package on the World Trade
Organization has been prepared by the Secretariat and is now accessible in the WTO web-site. It
mirrors the structure of a general seminar and covers all the concepts developed in a normal 4 to 5 day
seminar run by TCD. It consists of ten modules. Each of the first nine modules corresponds to a three-
four hour seminar lecture, and includes a review section using the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
approach.  The last module - module 10 - contains the Final Act as well as other key WTO
documents.
(b) This package can be seen as two inter-related components: (i) a set of over
350 “slides”. Each slide has a title and  contains some bullet points.  Slides are grouped in units and
sections, which form the structure of the modules.  These slides are available in English, French and
Spanish on-line; (ii) a “book” that contains a short explanation for each bullet point appearing on the
slides. This “book” is for the moment only available in English and its translation into French andSpanish will be available before year end.  By the year 2000, a CD-ROM will be pressed and
distributed as electronic documentation.  The same material contained in the CD-ROM will be made
available in printed form as well, i.e. a "book" and a set of slides.
(c) Computer-Based Training (CBT) series.  The objective of this initiative is to capture
on CD-ROM the subject-matter presented in the 3-month WTO Trade Policy Courses. The target
audience are trade officials of developing countries as well as other interested persons who are not in
a position to attend the residential courses. Using the CD-ROMs,  they will have access to the course
material developed by WTO experts. The material is presented using a multimedia approach that
combines text, audio and video segments in an interactive, pedagogical manner. Each moduleincludes a test through which the student, and instructor, can measure progress in absorbing the
subject-matter. The first module was recently completed on the Agreement on Textiles and ClothingWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 15
that incorporates three hours of course material and is available in the three working languages of the
WTO. In the year 2000, two new CBT issues will be produced on SPS and TRIPS, respectively.
15.5 Video-Conferencing
Video-conference is a powerful tool that can be used for interaction between headquarters-based
WTO experts and capital-based government official s and other interested institutions/individuals.
For instance, through the Internet, the availab ility of the WTO training package in the WTO
web-site referred to above, provides the user in  the field with the opport unity of interacting with
Geneva-based experts either through electronic mail or , subject to the availability of adequate hardware
and software, on a one-to-one basis in real time.
Video-conferencing through dir ect high quality video links has been used for advisory missions
without leaving headquarters, and for complementin g, from Geneva, mission teams  which are already
in the field. This modality could, in the longer term, also allow the organization of events at a regional
level, without the need for any of the participants to leave their home countries, or any of the experts to
travel from Geneva. A small meeting room at the Secretariat has been set up with the appropriate
equipment. The use of this facility, first started in late 1998, will further expand in the year 2000 and
beyond.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 16
Years  2001-2002
1. Agriculture and SPS Agreements
In the years 2001 and 2002, the Secretariat intends to continue technical assistance focusing
on specific national concerns and practical implementation of the Agreements (risk assessment;
equivalence;  methods of production (HACCP);  enquiry points, etc.).  It is envisaged to organize, or
participate, in about six national or regional semi nars, two in Africa, two in Asia and two in the
Central/South American region.  It is also anticipated that African countries will request furthertechnical assistance with regard to the practical implementation of the SPS Agreement.  As on earlier
occasions, participation of the private sector will be encouraged.
2. Market Access Issues
2.1 Tariff Schedules
Assistance will continue to be necessary for a number of developing countries in the African,
Asia Pacific, Central and Latin American and Caribbean area in connection with the transposition of
their pre-Uruguay Round Schedules into the Harmonized System and, in particular, with the
introduction of the HS96 changes.  Most likely the need for such assistance will be in the same range
as for 1999.  Assistance will also consist in establishing consolidated loose-leaf schedules of tariffconcessions for a number of developing countries.
2.2 Agreement on Customs Valuation
For another 21 developing countries the delay period for the application of the provisions of
the Agreement will expire in the course of the year 2000 or early 2001.  Similar arrangements as in
1998 will have to be made on a regional and individual basis for those countries to assist them.
2.3 Agreement on Rules of Origin
If the Harmonized Work Programme is finalized, most likely many developing countries will
request assistance for implementation during 2000 and the following years. In the meantime, it will be
necessary to assist certain smaller developing countries which specifically request so, in the
understanding of technical negotiating issues.
2.4 The Integrated Data Base for Personal Computers
The activities described for the year 2000 would be continued.
3. Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
The activities described for the year 2000 would be continued.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 17
4. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
The activities described for the year 2000 would be continued.
5. Rules
The activities described for the year 2000 would be continued
6. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect s of Intellectual Property Rights
The Secretariat's intention is that its techni cal cooperation activities would broadly follow the
same principles as in the year 2000.
7. General Agreement on Trade in Services
The Secretariat expects that the demand for technical assistance will continue to increase as
the new round of services negotiations takes off.  Countries may seek specialized assistance onindividual areas where liberalization is likely to occur and/or where they need to specify their own
positions (including in the field of rule-making).  Support activities in this context may take various
forms, focusing for example on the legal framewor k within which the negotiations proceed, on the
economic and institutional conditions of the sectors and modes affected and/or on past liberalization
experience of comparable countries in the same region or income group.  At the same time, withvarious accessions being completed, the new Members are likely to request additional seminars to
train their staff.  Further requests are expected to result from participants in and/or the Secretariats of
regional economic integration agreements who are in the process of analysing and implementing
relevant GATS obligations or preparing themselves for negotiations.
In the event of resource constraints, the Secretariat may need to consult with Members on
their priorities.
8. Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme for Selected Least-Developed and Other
African Countries (JITAP)
The activities described for the year 2000 would be continued.
9. Trade and Environment
The Secretariat's technical cooperation activities in this area would continue, subject to the
decisions to be taken by WTO Members on the work that should be undertaken in the WTO.
10. Least-Developed Countries
The activities described under the year 2000 would be continued.
11. Accessions
The activities described under the year 2000 would be continued.
12. Dispute Settlement
The activities described under the year 2000 would be continued.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 18
13. Trade Policy Review Mechanism
The activities described under the year 2000 would be continued.
14. Other Issues
14.1 Investment, Competition Policy, and Government Procurement
The Secretariat's intention is that its techni cal cooperation activities would broadly follow the
same principles as in the year 2000, subject to any decisions to be taken by the WTO Members at the
third Ministerial Conference in Seattle on the work that should be undertaken in the WTO.
The Secretariat's intention is that its techni cal cooperation activities would broadly follow the
same principles as in the year 2000, subject to any decisions to be taken by the WTO Members at the
third Ministerial Conference in Seattle on the work that should be undertaken in the WTO.
14.2 Notification Procedures and Obligations
The Secretariat will continue to give attention and respond to requests for assistance on
notifications procedures and obligations.
15. Activities Carried Out Using Information Technology Tools
The activities described under the year 2000 would be further developed.
Final remarks
Technical cooperation activities are continuously evolving. They adapt constantly, inter alia,   to
the needs of the recipient countries,  to the situat ion of implementation of the WTO Agreements, to the
requirements arising from new negotiations and, in general, to any further developments in the
multilateral trading system.
Technical cooperation needs, both in the year 2000 and more so in the year 2001, will likely be
determined, among many other considerations, on three specific factors:  first, the expiration for somedeveloping countries of the transition periods for th e full implementation of some of the agreements;
second, the processes of reviews and negotiations to be initiated in accordance with the "built-in" agenda
of the Final Act of the Uruguay Round including, inter alia , the progressive liberalization of trade in
services and the continuation of the process of reform  in international trade in agriculture; and third on
.the decisions to be taken by WTO Members at the Third WTO Ministerial Conference on the future
work programme of the WTO.
These are some of the needs that the Secretaria t will have to take into account in the future
drawing up of its programme for technical cooperation activities in the years 2001 and 2002WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 19ANNEX 1
ACTIVITIES FORESEEN FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Technical Cooperation Missions Organizer Funding Other
fundingExecution Participating Countries
Comments
1. ( Quarter 1/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
TBT, especially Conformity Assessment
Procedures for African countries and the
Middle-EastWTO / other
international
organizations[..............] TED
2. ( Quarter 2/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for English-speaking
African countriesWTO [..............] TED
3. ( Quarter 2/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for French-speaking
African countriesWTO [..............] TED
4. ( Year 2000 ) Nigeria
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
English-speaking Western African states
(ACP)WTO / ACP
SecretariatNo cost European
Commission /
ACP FundTCD
5. ( Year 2000 ) Ethiopia
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial Conference
for OAU countries - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
6. ( Year 2000 ) Nigeria
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial Conference
for ECOWAS countriesWTO [..............] TCD
7. ( Year 2000 ) Botswana
National seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
8. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial Conference
for SADC countriesWTO [..............] TCD
9. ( Year 2000 ) Sierra Leone
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference Centre -
Follow-up to HLMWTO Norway Trust
Fund (PC);
Programme
Support FundISD, IMRD
10. ( Year 2000 ) Zambia
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial Conference
for COMESA countries - Integrated
FrameworkWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2011. ( Year 2000 ) Gabon
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
CEMAC countriesWTO [..............] TCD
12. ( Year 2000 ) [..AFRICA..]
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
French-speaking Central African states (ACP)WTO / ACP
SecretariatNo cost European
Commission /
ACP FundTCD
13. ( Year 2000 ) South Africa
[National seminar]
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Agriculture, SPS, TBT, TRIPS, future trade
negotiations.WTO / Government of
South Africa[..............] Government
of South AfricaTCD
14. ( Year 2000 ) [..AFRICA..]
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
Southern African states (ACP)WTO / ACP
SecretariatNo cost European
Commission /
ACP FundTCD
15. ( Year 2000 ) Togo
Regional seminar
Rules for French-speaking LDCs; Integrated
database - Integrated FrameworkWTO United Kingdom
Trust Fund;
Switzerland
Trust FundTCD, Stat.D Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
Dem. Rep., Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Madagascar, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe,
Togo
16. ( Year 2000 ) Tanzania
Regional seminar
Rules (Safeguards, subsidies, anti-dumping)
and IDB for English-speaking LDCs -
Integrated FrameworkWTO United Kingdom
Trust Fund;
Switzerland
Trust FundTCD, Stat.D Cambodia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Namibia, Kiribati, Lao
P.D.R., Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mozambique,
Myanmar, Nepal, Western Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu,
Zambia
17. ( Year 2000 ) Togo
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
18. ( Year 2000 ) Côte d'Ivoire
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
French-speaking Western African states
(ACP)WTO / ACP
SecretariatNo cost European
Commission /
ACP FundTCD
19. ( Year 2000 ) Nigeria
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
20. ( Year 2000 ) Cameroon
National seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
21. ( Year 2000 ) Cameroon
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
22. ( Year 2000 ) Mozambique
National seminar
Trade-related Round Table  - Integrated
FrameworkWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2123. ( Year 2000 ) Niger
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading system:
specialized subjects - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
24. ( Year 2000 ) Côte d'Ivoire
Regional seminar
Market Access for UEMOA countriesWTO / UEMOA [..............] TCD
25. ( Year 2000 ) Gabon
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
26. ( Year 2000 ) Ethiopia
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
27. ( Year 2000 ) Burundi
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD Activity postponed from 1998 -
28. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
29. ( Year 2000 ) Zambia
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
30. ( Year 2000 ) Côte d'Ivoire
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO / UNCTAD / ITC JITAP Fund TCD
31. ( Year 2000 ) Kenya
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO / UNCTAD / ITC JITAP Fund TCD
32. ( Year 2000 ) Zambia
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
COMESA Member Countries (21) - Integrated
FrameworkWTO / Common
Market for Eastern
and Southern Africa
(COMESA)[..............] TCD Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Congo Rep. Of, Congo,
Dem. Rep., Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
33. ( Year 2000 ) Senegal
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
34. ( Year 2000 ) Côte d'Ivoire
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
35. ( Year 2000 ) Congo, Rep. Of
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] [......]
36. ( Year 2000 ) Namibia
Regional seminar
Integrated Database (IDB)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundTCD
37. ( Year 2000 ) Comoros (or Madagascar)
National seminar
Agriculture and SPS for CEACFAO [..............] AgDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2238. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
Regional workshop
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
IOC Member countriesWTO / IOC [..............] IOC [......]
39. ( Year 2000 ) Nigeria
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
ECOWASWTO [..............] N.A [......]
40. ( Year 2000 ) Mali
National workshops
Market Access, Electronic Commerce and
Training of Trainers for the private sector -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
41. ( Year 2000 ) Mali
National workshops
Agriculture, Dispute Settlement, GATS,
TRIPS, TBT, Subsidies and Compensatory
measures - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
42. ( Year 2000 ) Malawi
Technical mission
Implementation of WTO Agreements -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] [......]
43. ( Year 2000 ) Madagascar
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
French-speaking Eastern African countries
(Comesa)WTO / ACP No cost European
Commission /
ACP Fund[......]
44. ( Year 2000 ) Portugal or Brazil
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
Portuguese-speaking African countriesWTO [..............] TCD
45. ( Year 2000 ) Democratic Republic of Congo
Technical mission
IDB Technical AssistanceWTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
46. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National seminar
Implementation mission on Safeguards and
Anti-dumpingWTO [..............] RD
47. ( Year 2000 ) Morocco
National seminar
Anti-dumping implementationWTO [..............] RD
48. ( Year 2000 ) South Africa
National workshop
Anti-dumpingWTO No cost EC RD
49. ( Year 2000 ) Central African Republic
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
UDEAC Secretariat - Integrated FrameworkUDEAC / CEMAC Norway Trust
FundCEMAC/UEM
OATCD, ERAD
50. ( Year 2000 ) Angola
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading system (in
Portuguese) - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2351. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
Negotiating techniquesWTO [..............] TCD
52. ( Year 2000 ) Ghana
Technical mission
Intellectual Property and International Trade
and Investment for Law studentsUniversity of Ghana,
Faculty of LawJITAP Fund TCD, LegD
53. ( Year 2000 ) Namibia
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
SADC Member Countries (12)WTO / ACP
Secretariat / Southern
African Development
CommunityNo cost European
Commission /
ACP FundTCD
54. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritania
National seminar
SPS Measures - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
55. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritania
National seminar
Legal issues - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
56. ( Year 2000 ) Tunisia
Conference
WTO and the Multilateral Trading SystemWTO / UNCTAD / ITC
- University of SfaxJITAP Fund University of
SfaxTCD
57. ( Year 2000 ) Angola
National seminars
WTO and the Multilateral Trading system -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
58. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
Dispute SettlementWTO [..............] TCD
59. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
Contingency MeasuresWTO [..............] TCD
60. ( Year 2000 ) Congo, Rep. Of
Technical mission
Establishment of WTO Reference CentreWTO Hong Kong,
China Fund;
Programme
Support FundIMRD, TCD
61. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
Training on Customs valuation for officialsWTO [..............] TCD
62. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
TRIPSWTO [..............] TCD
63. ( Year 2000 ) Mauritius
National workshop
SPS Measures and TBTWTO [..............] TCD
64. ( Year 2000 ) Ethiopia
Training course
Short Trade Policy Course for Ethiopian
officials - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
65. ( Year 2000 ) Angola
National workshops
Market Access; Anti-dumping; SPS Measures;
Import licensing; Intellectual Property –
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2466. (Year 2000) South Africa
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCD
67. (Year 2000) Côte d'Ivoire
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 25ACTIVITIES FORESEEN FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION COUNTRIES
Technical Cooperation Missions Organizer Funding Other
fundingExecution Participating Countries
Comments
68. ( Quarter 1/00 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for Asian countriesWTO [..............] TED
69. (Quarter 1/00) Singapore
Regional seminar
WTO and the multilateral trading system for
Asian developing economiesWTO Japan Trust
FundTCD
70. ( Quarter 3/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
TBT, especially Conformity Assessment
Procedures for Asian countriesWTO / other
international
organizations[..............] TED
71. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Customs mattersWTO [..............] TCD
72. ( Year 2000 ) Sri Lanka
National seminar
Implementation mission on Safeguards and
Anti-dumpingWTO [..............] RD
73. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Rules Implementation seminar for Asian
Economies in transitionWTO / Asian
Development Bank
(ADB)[..............] RD Possible ADB financing
74. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Injury determination seminar for Asian
countriesWTO / Asian
Development Bank
(ADB)[..............] RD Possible ADB financing
75. ( Year 2000 ) Fiji
Regional seminar
Sub-regional seminar on the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading SystemWTO / Forum
Secretariat[..............] TCD
76. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Implementation of the Agreements on
Agriculture, SPS and TBTWTO [..............] TCD
77. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Trade Negotiations SimulationsWTO [..............] TCD
78. ( Year 2000 ) Tonga
National seminar
WTO and the multilateral trading system:
Accession processWTO New Zealand
Trust FundAccD With consultant
79. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2680. ( Year 2000 ) Bangladesh
Training course
Training of Officials on Notifications, Anti-
dumping, Safeguards, Customs valuation and
TRIPs - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
81. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
82. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Training course
Short Trade Policy Course for Asian countriesWTO [..............] TCD
83. ( Year 2000 ) Mongolia
Technical mission
Trade policy and transparency of trade-related
laws and regulations; Government
procurement; establishment of WTO
Reference CentreWTO [..............] TCD
84. ( Year 2000 ) Mongolia
National seminar
Implementation of the Uruguay Round
Agreements, Investment and Competition
Policy, Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial
Conference (issues in the new round of
negotiations)WTO [..............] TCD
85. ( Year 2000 ) Philippines
National seminar
Contingencies, Anti-dumping, Countervailing
Duties and SafeguardsWTO [..............] TCD
86. ( Year 2000 ) Philippines
National seminar
Trade and Environment, and MEAsWTO [..............] TCD
87. ( Year 2000 ) Philippines
National seminar
Subsidies Disciplines and Countervailing
MeasuresWTO [..............] TCD
88. ( Year 2000 ) Thailand
Regional seminar
Dispute Settlement Procedures and PracticesWTO [..............] TCD
89. ( Year 2000 ) Western Samoa
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
90. ( Year 2000 ) Singapore
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
91. ( Year 2000 ) Taipei, Chinese
Technical mission
IDB Technical AssistanceWTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
92. ( Year 2000 ) Philippines
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.DWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 2793. ( Year 2000 ) Vanuatu
Technical mission
Legal advice and training on Negotiating skills;
WTO Obligations; Market Access, Customs
valuation; TRIPs; Notification requirements -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
94. ( Year 2000 ) Vanuatu
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
95. ( Year 2000 ) Solomon Islands
Technical mission
Legal advice and training on WTO Obligations;
Institutional machinery for compliance with
WTO obligations; Agriculture, SPS, TBT;
Market Access, Rules of Origin, Customs
valuation, import licensing, preshipment
inspection; TRIPs;  Services,
Telecommunications, Financial Services -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
96. ( Year 2000 ) Bangladesh
National workshop
WTO Notification obligations and procedures -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
97. ( Year 2000 ) Western Samoa
Technical mission
Legal Advice on existing legislation -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
98. ( Year 2000 ) Bangladesh
Technical mission
Legal advice on Anti-dumping, Safeguards,
Customs valuation and TRIPs - Integrated
FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
99. ( Year 2000 ) Western Samoa
Technical mission
Legal advice and training on Agriculture, SPS,
TBT; Market Access, Rules of Origin, Customs
valuation, import licensing; Anti-dumping,
Safeguards; TRIMs; TRIPs;  Services,
Telecommunications, Financial Services and
Professional Services - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
100. ( Year 2000 ) Nepal
Technical mission
Legal advice and training on Multilateral and
bilateral trade negotiations; Agriculture, SPS,
TBT; Market Access, Rules of Origin; Anti-
dumping, Subsidies, Safeguards; Textiles;
TRIMs; TRIPs;  Dispute Settlement;
Competition Policy - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 28101. ( Year 2000 ) Myanmar
Technical mission
Legal advice and training on Multilateral and
bilateral trade negotiations; Agriculture, SPS,
TBT; Market Access, Rules of Origin, Customs
valuation and import licensing; Subsidies;
TRIMs; TRIPs; Services; Dispute Settlement;
Environment; Competition Policy - Integrated
FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
102. ( Year 2000 ) Maldives
Technical mission
WTO Notification obligations and procedures -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
103. ( Year 2000 ) Maldives
Technical mission
Legal advice on TRIPs - Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
104. ( Year 2000 ) Cambodia
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
105. ( Year 2000 ) Bhutan
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
106. ( Year 2000 ) Solomon Islands
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System -
Integrated FrameworkWTO [..............] TCD
107. (Year 2000) New Zealand
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCD
108. (Year 2000) Singapore
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 29ACTIVITIES FORESEEN FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN, AND CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES
Technical Cooperation Missions Organizer Funding Other
fundingExecution Participating Countries
Comments
109. ( Quarter 3/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for Central and
Eastern Europe and Central AsiaWTO [..............] TED
110. ( Quarter 4/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
TBT, especially Conformity Assessment
Procedures for Eastern European countriesWTO / other
international
organizations[..............] TED
111. ( Year 2000 ) Estonia
Regional seminar
Services: maritime transport and electronic
commerce; Agriculture and SPSWTO [..............] TCD
112. ( Year 2000 ) Czech Republic
Regional seminar
Rules: Anti-dumping, Safeguards and
Countervailing dutiesWTO [..............] TCD
113. ( Year 2000 ) Latvia
Regional seminar
Rules: Anti-dumping, Safeguards and
Countervailing dutiesWTO [..............] TCD
114. ( Year 2000 ) Czech Republic
Regional workshop
Services NegotiationsWTO [..............] TCD
115. ( Year 2000 ) Turkey
Regional workshop
Services NegotiationsWTO [..............] TCD
116. ( Year 2000 ) Albania
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCD
117. ( Year 2000 ) Armenia
National seminar
Rules: Anti-dumping and SafeguardsWTO [..............] TCD
118. ( Year 2000 ) Azerbaijan
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCD
119. ( Year 2000 ) Croatia
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCD
120. ( Year 2000 ) Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCD
121. ( Year 2000 ) Kyrgyz Republic
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading SystemWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 30122. ( Year 2000 ) Latvia
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial
Conference: implications for BSEC Baltic
countriesWTO [..............] TCD
123. ( Year 2000 ) Lithuania
National seminar
WTO and Multilateral Trading System:
implications of WTO MembershipWTO [..............] TCD
124. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial
Conference: implications for BSEC countriesWTO [..............] TCD
125. ( Year 2000 ) Estonia
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
126. ( Year 2000 ) Hungary
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
127. ( Year 2000 ) Latvia
Technical mission
IDB Technical AssistanceWTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
128. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Training course
Short Training Course for Central and Eastern
European CountriesWTO [..............] TCD
129. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Training course
Short Training Course for Commonwealth of
Independent StatesWTO [..............] TCD
130. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Training course
Trade Negotiation Simulations for ECO
Secretariat membersWTO [..............] TCD
131. ( Year 2000 ) Turkey
Training course
Trade Negotiation Simulations for BSEC
Secretariat membersWTO [..............] TCD
132. ( Year 2000 ) Hungary
Regional seminar
Dispute SettlementWTO [..............] TCD
133. ( Year 2000 ) Turkey
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial
Conference: implications for BSEC countriesWTO [..............] TCD
134. (Year 2000) Czech Republic
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO […………] TCD
135. ( Year 2000 / 2001 ) Belarus
National seminars
Agriculture and SPS; Services; Market
Access; Technical regulations and standardsWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 31ACTIVITIES FORESEEN FOR LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES
Technical Cooperation Missions Organizer Funding Other
fundingExecution Participating Countries
Comments
136. January 2000 Dominican Republic
Technical Mission
Customs ValuationWTO [……..…] TCD
137. ( Quarter 1/00 ) Colombia
National seminar
Trade in ServicesWTO [..............] TCD
138. ( Quarter 1/00 ) Colombia
National seminar
Dispute SettlementWTO [..............] TCD
139. ( Quarter 2/00 ) Colombia
Technical mission
Trade FacilitationWTO [..............] TCD
140. ( Quarter 2/00 ) Colombia
National seminar
New issues of International Trade - Follow-up
to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
141. ( Quarter 2/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
TBT, especially Conformity Assessment
Procedures for Latin American and Caribbean
countriesWTO / other
international
organizations[..............] TED
142. ( Quarter 2/00 ) United States of America
Regional Workshop
Two-week Advanced Training Course for
Government Officials, including IDB: English-
speaking (13 countries)WTO / OAS [..............] TCD, LegD,
TED, Stat.D
143. ( Quarter 3/00 ) United States of America
Regional Workshop
Two-week Advanced Training Course for
Government Officials, including IDB: Spanish-
speaking (19 countries)WTO / OAS [..............] TCD, LegD,
TED, Stat.D
144. ( Quarter 3/00 ) Colombia
Technical mission
Customs valuationWTO [..............] TCD
145. ( Quarter 4/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for Caribbean
countriesWTO [..............] TED
146. ( Quarter 4/00 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for Central and South
America (Spanish-speaking)WTO [..............] TED
147. ( Quarter 4/00 ) Colombia
National seminar
Regionalism and the Multilateral Trading
SystemWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 32148. ( Year 2000 ) Barbados
Technical mission
Rules: anti-dumping and subsidies legislationWTO [..............] TCD
149. ( Year 2000 ) Venezuela
National workshop
GATSWTO WTO/TC
(Regular
budget)TSD
150. ( Year 2000 ) Argentina
Regional workshop
Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Calculations
(advanced) for MERCOSUR and Chile (5)WTO / INTAL WTO/TC
(Regular
budget)INTAL TCD Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile
151. ( Year 2000 ) Barbados
Technical mission
Notification requirementsWTO [..............] TCD
152. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional workshop
Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Calculations
for Central AmericaWTO / INTAL WTO/TC
(Regular
budget)INTAL TCD Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile
153. ( Year 2000 ) Barbados
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for
public and private sectorsWTO [..............] TCD
154. ( Year 2000 ) Costa Rica
National workshops and Technical missions
Customs Valuation, Rules of Origin,
Intellectual Property, Electronic Commerce,
TBT, SPS Measures, Agriculture, Anti-
dumping, Subsidies, Competition Policy, Trade
in ServicesWTO [..............] TCD
155. ( Year 2000 ) Paraguay
National seminar
Dispute SettlementWTO [..............] TCD
156. ( Year 2000 ) Paraguay
National seminar
Customs ValuationWTO [..............] TCD
157. ( Year 2000 ) Paraguay
National seminar
Agriculture and SPS MeasuresWTO [..............] TCD
158. ( Year 2000 ) Paraguay
National seminar
Rules: Anti-dumpling, Safeguards and
Countervailing dutiesWTO [..............] TCD
159. ( Year 2000 ) Trinidad and Tobago
Regional seminar
Subsidies Disciplines and Notification
Requirements for CARICOM (11)WTO / INTAL WTO/TC
(Regular
budget)INTAL TCD Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada,
Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St
Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago
160. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
Technical mission
Integrated DataBase (IDB)WTO [..............] TCD
161. ( Year 2000 ) Cuba
National seminar
SPSWTO [..............] AgDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 33162. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional workshop
Competition PolicyWTO / INTAL [..............] INTAL [......]
163. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional workshop
Market Access: future negotiation issuesWTO / INTAL [..............] INTAL [......]
164. ( Year 2000 ) Uruguay
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
165. ( Year 2000 ) Peru
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
166. ( Year 2000 ) Brazil
Technical mission
IDB Technical Assistance (bound duties)WTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
167. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
Technical mission
Rules of OriginWTO [..............] TCD
168. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
Technical mission
Preshipment InspectionWTO [..............] TCD
169. ( Year 2000 ) Venezuela
National seminar
Intellectual PropertyWTO [..............] TCD
170. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
Technical mission
Negotiating capacities for the New Round -
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
171. ( Year 2000 ) Venezuela
National seminar
Dispute SettlementWTO [..............] TCD
172. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
National seminar
Trade and EnvironmentWTO [..............] TCD
173. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
National seminar
Negotiating capacitiesWTO [..............] TCD
174. ( Year 2000 ) Venezuela
National seminar
TBTWTO [..............] TCD
175. ( Year 2000 ) Venezuela
National seminar
Electronic CommerceWTO [..............] TCD
176. ( Year 2000 ) Colombia
National workshop
Anti-dumping and Countervailing duties for
Colombia and PeruWTO [..............] RD
177. ( Year 2000 ) Guatemala
Technical mission
Harmonized System (HS)WTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 34178. (Year 2000) Brazil
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCD
179. (Year 2000) St. Lucia
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCD
180. ( Year 2001 ) Colombia
National seminars
Subsidy Disciplines, TBT and SPS,
Safeguards and Anti-dumpingWTO [..............] TCD
181. ( Year 2002 ) Colombia
National seminars
Trade Negotiations, Intellectual Property,
Dispute Settlement, TextilesWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 35ACTIVITIES FORESEEN FOR COUNTRIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Technical Cooperation Missions Organizer Funding Other
fundingExecution Participating Countries
Comments
182. ( Quarter 1/00 ) Malta
Regional seminar
Trade and Environment for Mediterranean
countries and the Middle-EastWTO [..............] TED
183. ( Year 2000 ) Oman
National seminar
Trade in Services and Foreign Direct
InvestmentWTO [..............] TCD
184. ( Year 2000 ) Brunei Darussalam
National seminar
RulesWTO [..............] TCD
185. ( Year 2000 ) Brunei Darussalam
National seminar
Competition PolicyWTO [..............] TCD
186. ( Year 2000 ) Cyprus
Technical mission
Notification requirementsWTO [..............] TCD
187. ( Year 2000 ) Cyprus
National seminar
Results of the Seattle Ministerial Conference:
New Round of Negotiations regarding Trade in
ServicesWTO [..............] TCD
188. ( Year 2000 ) Cyprus
National seminar
WTO and the Multilateral Trading system
(Rules, Anti-dumping, TRIPS, TBT, Dispute
Settlement)WTO [..............] TCD
189. ( Year 2000 ) Malta
Technical mission
IDB Technical AssistanceWTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
190. ( Year 2000 ) Cyprus
National seminar
SPS Measures and Risk AnalysisWTO [..............] TCD
191. ( Year 2000 ) Cyprus
National seminar
Agriculture; Notification requirements and
procedures; Results of the Seattle Ministerial
Conference: New Round of NegotiationsWTO [..............] TCD
192. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
Training course
Short Trade Policy Course for IsDB members
(Arabic)WTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IsDB)[..............] TCD
193. ( Year 2000 ) Brunei Darussalam
National seminar
SubsidiesWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 36194. ( Year 2000 ) Oman
National seminar
Follow-up to Accession: conformity with WTO
rules and creating public awarenessWTO [..............] TCD
195. ( Year 2000 ) [...................]
Regional seminar
Rules Implementation seminar for Arab
countriesWTO [..............] RD
196. ( Year 2000 ) Oman
National seminar
Electronic CommerceWTO [..............] TCD
197. ( Year 2000 ) Oman
National seminars
Dispute Settlement, Anti-dumping and
SafeguardsWTO [..............] TCD
198. ( Year 2000 ) Oman
National seminar
Developing skills for Multilateral Trade
Negotiations with respect to Accession to the
WTOWTO [..............] TCD
199. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
Regional seminar
Electronic Commerce for Arab and Middle-
Eastern countriesWTO [..............] TCD
200. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Trade in Services and Foreign Direct
InvestmentWTO [..............] TCD
201. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Electronic CommerceWTO [..............] TCD
202. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminars
Dispute Settlement, Anti-dumping and
SafeguardsWTO [..............] TCD
203. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
204. ( Year 2000 ) Lebanon
Training course
Short Trade Policy Course for ESCWA
membersWTO / ESCWA [..............] TCD
205. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
Training course
Trade simulation to develop negotiating skills
of senior Government officialsWTO [..............] TCD
206. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
National seminar
Electronic CommerceWTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCD
207. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
Symposium
Customs Unions and Free-Trade zonesWTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 37208. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
Symposium
Follow-up to Accession: conformity with WTO
Rules and creating public awareness (one-day
seminar in Riyad, Jeddah and Dammam)WTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCD
209. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
National seminar
Dispute Settlement; Anti-dumping Practices
and SafeguardsWTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCD
210. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
National seminar
Negotiating Skills relating to Accession to the
WTOWTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCD
211. ( Year 2000 ) Qatar
National workshop
Trade FacilitationWTO [..............] TCD
212. ( Year 2000 ) Qatar
National seminar
TBT and SPSWTO [..............] TCD
213. ( Year 2000 ) Qatar
National seminar
Harmonized System (HS)WTO [..............] TCD
214. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
National seminar
Trade in Services and Foreign Direct
InvestmentWTO / Islamic
Development Bank
(IDB)[..............] TCD
215. ( Year 2000 ) United Arab Emirates
Technical mission
Assistance in setting-up a specialized
Department with qualified national staff dealing
with trade-related mattersWTO [..............] TCD
216. ( Year 2000 ) Saudi Arabia
Regional seminar
Systemic Issues of Regional IntegrationWTO [..............] TCD
217. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
Training course
Trade policy issues, rights and obligations
under the WTO legal frameworkWTO [..............] TCD
218. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Regional Trade Agreements and their specific
notification requirementsWTO [..............] TCD
219. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Customs Valuation for senior management in
the Directorate of CustomsWTO [..............] TCD
220. ( Year 2000 ) Israel
Technical mission
IDB Technical AssistanceWTO Switzerland
Trust FundStat.D
221. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
SPS and TBTWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 38222. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
Training course
WTO Agreements for Government staff and
the private sectorWTO [..............] TCD
223. ( Year 2000 ) Bahrain
National seminar
Notifications for Senior Officials in the
Directorate of Foreign TradeWTO [..............] TCD
224. ( Year 2000 ) United Arab Emirates
National workshop
Dispute Settlement for Government OfficialsWTO [..............] TCD
225. ( Year 2000 ) United Arab Emirates
Regional seminar
Follow-up to the Seattle Ministerial ConferenceWTO [..............] TCD
226. ( Year 2000 ) Qatar
Technical mission
Preparation of the Integrated DataBase (IDB)WTO [..............] TCD
227. (Year 2000) Egypt
Regional workshop on dispute settlement
procedures and practicesWTO [………..] TCD
228. ( Year 2001 ) Cyprus
Technical mission
Information technologies and WTO Reference
Centre, including the IDBWTO [..............] TCD
229. ( Year 2002 ) Brunei Darussalam
National seminars
Investment, Services, TBT, SPS MeasuresWTO [..............] TCD
230. ( Year 2002 ) Cyprus
National seminar
Electronic CommerceWTO [..............] TCDWT/COMTD/W/64
Page 39
Annex 2
WTO TRADE POLICY COURSES HELD IN GENEVA
The Training Division of the WTO Secretariat plans, organizes and ensures the running of
residential trade policy courses (TPCs) in Geneva for officials from developing countries and
economies in transition, which are Members and Observers of the WTO.
1. Overview
Developing countries
On an annual basis three regular courses of tw elve-week duration are held, two in English and
one in French or Spanish, alternatively.  The courses aim to widen the participating officials'
understanding of the multilateral trading system and international trade law, and of the activities,
scope and structure of the WTO, in order to enable them to improve the effectiveness of their work in
their own administration.
Courses in 1999
The 1999 programme comprised the 10th, 11th and 12th Regular Trade Policy Courses and the
9th Special Trade Policy Course for countries with economies in transition (the last such course in its
present format), as indicated below:
10th WTO TPC:  11 January – 1 April (English)
9th Special Trade Policy Course- 6 April- 30 April (English)
11th WTO TPC:  26 April – 16 July (French)
12th WTO TPC:  13 September – 3 December (English)
Calendar of courses envisaged for the year 2000-2002
2000 Programme (invitations already issued)
13th WTO TPC: 17 January-7 April (English)
14th WTO TPC: 25 April-14 July  (Spanish)
15th WTO TPC: 18 September-8 December (English)
2001 Programme (dates of courses to be determined)
16th WTO TPC:  (English)
17th WTO TPC:  (French)
18th WTO TPC:  (English)
2002 Programme (dates of courses to be determined)
19th WTO TPC:  (English)
20th WTO TPC:  (Spanish)
21st WTO TPC:  (English)WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 40
2. Training priorities
In order to improve the planning and delivery of trade policy courses, the Secretariat has
identified the following areas as priorities for improvement/development.
Candidate selection
The number of courses offered to developing countries increased from two to three in 1998
and the number of applications for each course is  constantly growing.  All developing and least
developed countries are invited to submit candidacies, and as of this year economies in transition
which have acceded or are in the process of accession to the WTO are also invited. Every effort is
made to ensure that over a two-year period (in which 144 WTO fellowship places are available) every
Member and, where possible, Observer to the WTO from the above-mentioned countries gets at leastone place while strictly adhering to the well-established objective selection criteria.
Course content and delivery
Increasing the training from two to three courses has necessitated an effort to standardize at a
high level of quality the key course elements which comprise:
- Lectures, presentations and discussions on trade theory, the formulation of trade
policy, the provisions of WTO legal instruments and agreements emphasising the
development dimension, implementation of WTO obligations, issues such as regionaleconomic integration and the interaction be tween trade and environmental policies as
well as the structure, scope and functioning of the WTO system.   The Course will
increasingly utilise information technology tools that participants have at their
disposal including access to the WTO Website, Internet and the DDF.
- The presentations are complemented by practical work including round table
discussions and case studies.  Participants are encouraged to conduct a research on
WTO-related issues of interest to them, with the assistance of the Training Division
and Secretariat experts.  Officials also take part in a workshop on negotiating
techniques and simulation exercises on trade negotiations, policy debate exercises anddispute settlement, in which they put into practice their knowledge of trade policy
issues and develop analytical and negotiating skills acquired on the course.  The
programme includes visits to international organizations based in Geneva and
attendance at meetings of WTO bodies, so as to allow the participants to observe the
functioning of the WTO on the spot.
- There are also two study tours:  one in Switzerland and the other abroad, which serve
as case studies for national trade policy-making.
Evaluation and follow-up
Evaluation – identifying specific training objec tives and then measuring how well the course
achieves those objectives – takes place mainly th rough the preparation and discussion of weekly
evaluation reports done by the participants, which are discussed with them at mid-term and at the end of
each course.  These evaluations are an important fact or in deciding on changes and improvements to the
organization and delivery of the cour ses.  A longer term evaluation sy stem is also being developed to
measure the effectiveness of the training activity in  terms of identifiable improvements back on the job.WT/COMTD/W/64
Page 41
3. Resource considerations
Budget
The financing of Regular Trade Policy Courses is ensured through the Regular Budget of the
WTO, and the costs of study tours are shared with the host WTO Members.  Twenty-four officials perRegular course receive WTO fellowships. On an annual basis 72 officials are trained for 12 weeks
each, giving a total of 4,320 man-days of training provided by the courses.
Human resources
The presentations and exercises are carried out to a large extent by Secretariat officials dealing
directly with the respective subjects.  "Outsourcing" is used whenever expertise is not available in-house: approximately twenty-five per cent of each Regular course is performed by outside
consultants/lecturers. In addition, twelve per cent is delivered by experts put at the disposal of the
WTO by other relevant international organizati ons (World Bank, WIPO, WCO, ITC, UNCTAD, ITU
and ISO) within the context of expanding cooperation.
4. Future work
During the period 2000-2002 the overall priority of the Secretariat will be to consolidate its
expanded trade policy course activities in terms of improving the quality of the content and delivery
of the courses, developing and maintaining appropriate evaluation and follow-up practices, andimproving utilisation of new technologies for the benefit of course participants.  Starting in the
year 2000, particular attention will be given in the curriculum to the issues and areas for negotiations
which would be agreed by Members at the Seattle Ministerial Conference.
The first step of a major follow-up activity was launched at the beginning of October this
year.  The Training Division has undertaken a comprehensive audit of the former participants in order
to set up a database which will become the key element for undertaking various follow-up activities.
The Training Division intends to make the consolidated list available to all delegations in due course.
_______________