RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/COMTD/W/21
21November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4961)
Committee onTrade andDevelopment
Thirteenth Session
25November 1996
REPORT ONTECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING
I. Introduction
Theestablishment oftheWTO andthenewmultilateral trading system thatemerged fromthe
Uruguay Round negotiations, hashadimplications forthetechnical cooperation thatisprovided to
developing countries andtoeconomies intransition, bothinterms ofcountries 'requirements andthe
wayinwhich assistance isdelivered. Recognising theneedtoadjust technical cooperation activities
tonewconditions inthemultilateral trading system, theCommittee onTrade andDevelopment has
focused during several ofitssessions onthedrafting ofguidelines fortechnical cooperation, which
were adopted on15October 1996. These guidelines provide thebackbone fornewactivities tobe
undertaken infuture andlargely reflect thenewfeatures oftechnical cooperation andtraining inthe
WTO.
Theactivities carried outsince thecreation oftheWTO were broadly discussed inareport
prepared forthesixth session oftheCommittee onTrade andDevelopment inMay 1996
(WT/COMTD/W/14 andAdd.1). Based ontheinformation provided atthattime, thecurrent report
reviews thetechnical cooperation andtraining activities carried outinthecurrent year.
II. Technical Cooperation Activities: Institution andCapacity-Building
Regional Distribution ofTechnical Cooperation Activities1
Since January 1996, atotalof124technical cooperation activities havebeenorganized. This
compares with79activities in1995, amounting toanincrease ofover50percent. These activities
were heldin65countries, withoveronehundred beneficiary countries participating, thereason for
thisbeingthatseveralactivitieswereorganizedatthesub-regionalorregionallevel,coveringparticipants
fromdifferent countries inoneseminar, e.g.APEC, ASEAN, CARICOM, ALADI, SADC, ACP-EU-
WTO regional seminars.
Table1givesaregionalbreakdown,showingthatwhilemajoreffortshavebeendirectedtowards
assisting African countries, withatotalof(43)activities heldinAfrica intheyear1996 (more than
double thenumber ofactivities heldin1995), activities forcountries inother regions (except Europe)
havealsoincreased. Technical assistance activities included (23)inAsia, (16)inEurope, (26)inLatin
America andtheCaribbean, (11)intheMiddle Eastand(5)inOceania. These developments show
thatwhile theactivities oftheWTO Secretariat continued tofocus onAfrica, efforts toassist other
regions were enhanced inparallel.
1Fulldetails ontechnical cooperation activities pertypeareprovided intheAnnex.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page2
Table 1
Technical Cooperation Activities perRegion
AREAS 1995 1996 TOTAL
AFRICA 20 43 63
ASIA 18 23 41
EUROPE 17 16 33
LATIN AMERICA AND
CARIBBEAN16 26 42
MIDDLE EAST 6 11 17
OCEANIA 2 5 7
TOTAL 79 124 203
With respect tothetypeofactivity covered bytheWTO, Table 2shows thatthemajority
ofactivities in1996 consisted ofparticipation inorcontribution totechnical cooperation workshops
andconferences (50), technical missions (19), regional seminars (26)andnational seminars (29).
Compared to1995, thenumber ofworkshops andconferences inwhich theSecretariat participated
hasincreased considerably. Thiscanbeexplained bythefactthatfollowing thecoming intoforce
oftheWTO Agreements, there isfelttobeaneedtoassess theimplications oftheAgreements on
anational levelinabroader andsometimes more specific way.
Africahasbenefittedfromthelargestnumberoftechnicalcooperationactivities(43),representing
onethirdofallactivities. They weremainly delivered intheformofworkshops andconferences (14),
national seminars (13)andtechnical missions (9).InAsia, mostofthetechnical cooperation activities
alsoconsisted ofworkshops andconferences (12)andregional seminars (6).Atotalofseven workshops
andconferences andeightregional seminars wereheldinLatin America andtheCaribbean. TheMiddle
Eastmostly hadworkshops andconferences (5)andtechnical missions (3).Oceania hadtwotechnical
missions, twonational andoneregional seminars. InEurope, technical cooperation activities were
mostly delivered intheform ofworkshops. Itwould thusappear thatwhile thetypeofactivity has
often changed inaregion, eachregion continued tobecovered byavariety ofactivities.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page3
Table 2
Technical Cooperation Activities perType
TYPE OF
ACTIVITYAREA
YEARAFRICA ASIA EUROPE LATIN
AMERICA
and
CARIBBEANMIDDLE
EASTOCEANIA TOTAL
NATIONAL
SEMINARS1995
1996
TOTAL7
13*
20*7
2
98
1
97
10*
17*4
1
50
2*
2*33
29*
52*
REGIONAL
SEMINARS1995
1996
TOTAL3
7*
10*8
6
141
2
36
8*
14*0
2*
2*0
1
118
26*
44*
TECHNICAL
MISSIONS1995
1996
TOTAL10
9*
19*1
3
40
1
12
1*
3*1
3
42
2*
4*16
19*
35*
WORKSHOPS,
CONFERENCES,
SYMPOSIA1995
1996
TOTAL0
14*
14*2
12
148
12
201
7
81
5*
6*0
0
012
50*
62*
ALL ACTIVITIES 1995
1996
TOTAL20
43*
63*18
23
4117
16
3316
26*
42*6
11*
17*2
5*
7*79
124*
203*
*Insome cases, several technical cooperation activities were held jointly inonemission. The total number ofactivities therefore does not
necessarily correspond tothenumber ofmissions carried outineach region. Forfurther details itisreferred totheAnnex.
Implementation ofWTO Obligations
Themajority oftechnical cooperation activities (Table 3)related inacross-cutting manner
totheWorld Trade Organization andtheUruguay Round results (39),followed bymore specialised
activities, including onTRIPS (16),dissemination ofthe"Business Guide" (12)ontheUruguay Round
(activity carried outjointly withITC), theIntegrated Technical Assistance Programme inSelected Least-
Developed andother African Countries (11),Rules (10),Notification Requirements (8),andServices
(7).Furthermore,theactivitiescoveredabroadrangeofothertechnicalissues,includingtheHarmonized
System, Customs Valuation, Rules ofOrigin, Agriculture, theSanitary andPhytosanitary Agreement,
Trade andEnvironment. MostWTO Divisions wereassociated withthetechnical cooperation activities,
thusallowing countries tobestbenefit from available expertise intheSecretariat.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page4
Table 3
Technical Cooperation Activities perSubject
SUBJECT DIVISION 1996
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND
THE URUGUAY ROUND RESULTSACCESSION, LEGAL AFFAIRS, MARKET
ACCESS, RULES, SERVICES, TECHNICAL
COOPERATION, INT.PROP. AND INV., TEXT.,
ERAD.39
TRIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
INVESTMENT16
BUSINESS GUIDE TECHNICAL COOPERATION 12
INTEGRATED PROGRAMME TECHNICAL COOPERATION (WITH UNCTAD
AND ITC)11
RULES (DUMPING, AD,
SUBS.&CVD,SAFEGUARDS)LEGAL AFFAIRS, RULES 10
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS TECHNICAL COOPERATION 8
SERVICES SERVICES 7
AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE, TECHNICAL COOPERATION 5
SPS AGRICULTURE 5
SINGAPORE MINISTERIAL
CONFERENCETECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH UNDP
AND UNCTAD5
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT LEGAL AFFAIRS 4
TEXTILES AND CLOTHING TEXTILES &CLOTHING 4
TBT TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT 3
SCHEDULES, HARMONIZED SYSTEM AGRICULTURE, MARKET ACCESS,
TECHNICAL COOPERATION, SERVICES3
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
INVESTMENT2
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT 2
MARKET ACCESS TECHNICAL COOPERATION, MARKET
ACCESS2
Notifications
AWorkshop (thesecond ofitskind) onnotifications wasorganized inFebruary 1996.
Theobjective wastocontribute toabetter understanding ofnotification requirements andtohelpWTO
Members discharge theirobligations inamore effective way. TheWorkshop wasprimarily intended
fortrade policy officials from developing countries, butthemeeting wasalsoopentoofficials from
other Members andtocountries intheprocess ofaccession. Intotal, 52participants tookpartinthe
Workshop, representing 42countries.
Inorder toraiseawareness onMembers 'notification obligations, theSecretariat hasincluded
aspecial module onnotification requirements innational aswellasinregional seminars. Upon request,
theSecretariat hasorganized technical missions toassist Members incomplying withtheirnotification
obligations. Inaddition, thisareaisregularly covered intheassistance provided toGeneva-based
delegations.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page5
Onthebasis ofaproposal made attheWorking Group onNotification Obligations and
Procedures, theSecretariat hasprepared aTechnical Cooperation Handbook onNotification
Requirements. ThisHandbook consists ofself-contained sections -oneperAgreement orUnderstanding
oftheFinal ActoftheUruguay Round -thatwillconstantly bekeptup-to-date through thecirculation
ofanychanges oradditions. Thefirstdelivery oftheHandbook wascompleted inOctober 1996under
thedocument series WT/TC/NOTIF.
Eachsection oftheHandbook consists offiveparts: (i)overview ofnotification requirements;
(ii)listing ofallnotification obligations; (iii)documents concerning guidelines andformats; (iv)"mock"
examples ofnotifications; and(v)textoftheAgreement/Understanding.
Dissemination oftheBusiness Guide
In1995, theITCjointly withtheCommonwealth Secretariat prepared apublication entitled
"Business Guide totheUruguay Round". Thispublication isaimed atexplaining insimple terms the
improved andstrengthened rule-based system thatemerged from theUruguay Round negotiations.
Itsmain purpose istoassist thebusiness communities indeveloping countries identifying thenew
challenges andmarket opportunities inthetrading system andtheimplications oftheAgreements for
thesecountries. Thedocument wasreviewed andapproved bytheWTO Secretariat andhasbeenmade
available inEnglish, French andSpanish.
Inorder toshare theinformation contained inthispublication, ITChasorganized, incooperation
withlocalchambers ofcommerce and/or tradeassociations, aprogramme ofdissemination thatincludes
31national seminars tobeheldindeveloping countries. TheWTO Secretariat isactively participating
withatleastoneresource person inmost ofthedissemination efforts oftheresults oftheUruguay
Round undertaken bytheITC.
Dispute Settlement
Inaccordance withArticle 27.3oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing the
Settlement ofDisputes (DSU), theTechnical Cooperation andTraining Division, jointly withtheLegal
Affairs Division, organized theseventh Special Training Course onDispute Settlement Procedures
andPractices from6-9February 1996andtheeighth Course from17-20 September 1996. Theobjective
wastobriefandtrainofficials fromdeveloped anddeveloping country Members aswellasnon-Members
intheprocess ofaccession. Theprogrammes forbothcourses included lectures ontheGATT/WTO
systemandpresentationsonthenewdisputesettlementproceduresandmechanisms,withspecialemphasis
onprovisionsrelatingtodevelopingcountries.Theyalsoincludedexercisesoncasestudiesandsimulated
panel hearings. Atotalof63participants tookpartinthese courses.
There areseveral developing countries currently involved inconsultations under theDSU or
atthePanel phase ofdispute settlement. While thisshould benefit thesystem inthelongrun,ithas
highlighted theresource difficulties faced bydeveloping countries inpresenting theircases attheWTO.
TheDSU attempts toaddress thisproblem through aprovision which requires theWTO Secretariat
toprovide legaladvice andassistance todeveloping countries. Consistent withthemandate given to
theWTO Secretariat under Article 27.2oftheDSU, theTechnical Cooperation andTraining Division,
principally through theuseofconsultants, hasprovided legaladvice andassistance inrespect ofdispute
settlement toanumber ofdeveloping countries invarious stages ofdispute settlement.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page6
Briefing Sessions
BriefingsessionsforGeneva-baseddelegationsandvisitingofficialsofleast-developedcountries,
developing countries, economies intransition andcountries intheprocess ofaccession areorganized
onaregular basis. These briefings areprovided either toindividual delegations andofficials orin
theformofbriefing sessions forseveral delegations. Theyconstitute averyimportant aspect oftechnical
assistanceandaddressspecificconcernsofindividualorgroupsofcountries.Theyalsoassureafollow-up
ofmissions, seminars andworkshops thatareheldinthese countries.
Twoevents were ofparticular importance:
-InSeptember, abriefing session wasorganized forAmbassadors from Least-Developed
Countries Members ontheWTO andtheUruguay Round Results; thismeeting wasscheduled back
tobackwithaMeeting oftheCommittee onTrade andDevelopment andtheSub-Committee onLeast-
Developed Countries inorder toalsofacilitate Member 'sparticipation therein. Thetwodaymeeting
wasfinanced byNorway under theWTO Trust Fund.
-Ministers andsenior officials from29Least-Developed Countries Members oftheWTO were
invited toGeneva from13-15 November forathree daybriefing session covering aspects relating to
trade anddevelopment under theUruguay Round Agreements andassisting andfacilitating advance
preparation toensure effective participation intheSingapore Ministerial Conference oftheWTO. This
meeting wasmade possible withthefinancial support ofthegovernments ofNorway, Korea andthe
Czech Republic.
Accession
TheSecretariat hasorganized technical missions toassist countries engaged intheaccession
process totheWTO andother countries thatarecontemplating accession. These missions focus on
advice andexplanations ofthebenefits ofthemultilateral trading system andonpractical andtechnical
issues relating toaccession. Dataandinformation areprovided regarding issues intheaccession process
aswellasparticular assistance forcountries thathavesorequested, forthetechnical preparation of
theMemorandum offoreign trade, andinaccordance withtheWTO 'srules inthisarea.
Separately, theWTO hasassisted countries thatwereGATT Contracting Parties andwhohad
otherwise completed therequirements fororiginal Membership totheWTO under theMarrakesh
Agreement, buthadnotyetcompleted theirratification process todosoprior toyear'send.Non-
ratification would entail renegotiating theiraccession totheWTO. Ninedeveloping countries started
1996 withtheirratifications stillpending; currently oneleast-developed andonedeveloping country
remain inthatsituation.
Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)
Intheyear1996, technical assistance wasprovided toseveral developing countries inthe
preparation oftheirtrade policy reviews. While thefrequency ofreviews ofdeveloping andleast-
developed countries islower thanfordeveloped countries, itrepresents amajor exercise; thenumber
ofrequests hasthusgradually increased. TheSecretariat isprepared toprovide assistance inthisarea
toallrequesting developing countries, inparticular African andleast-developed.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page7
Provision ofTechnical Information
TheSecretariat hascontinued toprepare studies onindividual products ofinterest todeveloping
andleast-developed countries. Upon request, dataontradeflows, tariffs andnon-tariff measures have
often beenmade available. Information wasalsoprovided towards theassessment ofother countries '
schedules onmarket access ingoods ofrelevance todeveloping countries 'export interests aswellas
datadesigned tohelpthemassess theimpact ontheirservices tradeofspecific commitments onservices
made bydeveloped countries.
Inaddition, comprehensive studies ontheoutcome oftheUruguay Round forrequesting
individual countries orgroups ofcountries, aswellasbackground notes onspecific issues indifferent
areas ofthenegotiations, were prepared.
III. Special Funded Projects andRegional/National Programmes
SincetheestablishmentoftheWTO,severalinitiativeshavebeentakenthatgiveanewdimension
totechnicalcooperation.Theseinitiativesaimataddressingtheparticularsituationofindividualcountries
orgroups ofcountries, andmostly arecomplemented bythefunding ofaclearly defined setofactivities,
thusconsiderably enlarging thescope ofsuchassistance. Some ofthese initiatives arebuiltaround
closecooperation between theITC,UNCTAD andtheWTO andreflect acommon concern toenhance
theoverall efficiency andeffectiveness ofpolicy-making indelivering technical assistance todeveloping
countries. Theyarealsoaneffort tobring together intoamore coherent framework arange ofactivities
bythethree organizations already present intheirmandates andwork programmes.
Onespecific casewithrespect tospecial funded projects relates totheparticipation atthe
SingaporeMinisterialConferencebyMinistersandaccompanyingseniorofficialsfromLLDCMembers,
which willbemade possible through aspecial fundthathasbeenputtogether forthispurpose from
generouscontributionscommittedbyNorway,theEuropeanUnion,theNetherlands,Belgium,Denmark,
Finland, Australia andSingapore. Inaddition, theFriedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) isproviding
financial assistance tofacilitate journalists coming from least-developed andsome other developing
countries toattend andreport ontheMinisterial Meeting.
Themain objectives, features andstateofplayofthevarious projects andprogrammes can
besummarised asfollows:
i) Africa
- Technical Cooperation forAfrica intheMultilateral Trading System
Aswasdiscussed inthedocument prepared forthesixthsession oftheCommittee onTrade
andDevelopment (WT/COMTD/W/14), various initiatives havebeentaken toaddress theparticular
situation ofAfrica, including possible avenues andperspectives forproduct andmarket diversification,
aswellaspromoting thedevelopment ofnewforms ofjointaction designed tohelpsecure agreater
share ofworld trade fortheAfrican continent. These largely flowfromdecisions taken attheAfrican
Ministerial Trade Conference ontheUruguay Round results heldinTunis inOctober 1994, atwhich
timeparticipating countries emphasized theneedforandrequested increased technical assistance by
international organizations.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page8
AprogrammewasestablishedinclosecooperationamongITC,UNCTADandtheWTO,entitled
"TechnicalCooperationforAfricaintheMultilateralTradingSystem,MainActivitiesbytheInternational
Trade Centre (UNCTAD/ITC), theUnited Nations Conference onTrade andDevelopment (UNCTAD)
andtheWorld Trade Organization". Awiderange ofactivities arecurrently undertaken inAfrica by
thethree organizations, which areinscribed under thisprogramme.
- Integrated Technical Assistance Programme inSelected Least-Developed andother African
Countries
Thisprogram responds totheurgent needs ofleast-developed andother African countries to
beassisted intheexpansion anddiversification oftheirtrade andimprove theirintegration intothe
multilateral trading system, andtodemands bythethree organizations 'respective memberships for
improved coordination andcooperation among them, inorder tobothmaximise theeffectiveness of
theoverall results andtoimprove theutilization ofavailable resources.
Theprogramme iscurrently undertaken ineightAfrican countries: namely, fourleast-developed
countries -Benin, Burkina Faso, Tanzania andUganda- aswellasthefourcountries visited inJanuary
1996 bytheWTO Director General andtheITCExecutive Director -Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya
andTunisia- asafollow uptothesaidvisit. However, itsfurther development andextension toother
African andleast-developed countries isenvisaged forexecution inthefuture.
Theimplementation oftheProgramme isscheduled totakeplace intwostages. Inthefirst
stage, itfocuses onactivities relating tothedissemination ofinformation ontheUruguay Round
Agreements andtheimplementation ofobligations ofMembers. Thetypes oftechnical assistance
activities thatfallinthiscategory include national seminars, technical missions andtraining activities.
Inthesecond stageoftheProgramme, theactivities willmainly focus onstrengthening ofinstitutional
capacities, human resource development andinstitution building aswellasscope forproduct andexport
diversification.
Withregard totheimplementation oftheProgramme, activities undertaken instageonerelated
tocreating public awareness onthemultilateral trading system inthese countries bydisseminating
information through national seminars, which included representatives ofthepublic andprivate sector.
These seminars havebeencarried outjointly among thethreeorganizations. Inparallel tomostnational
seminars, activities relating totheimplementation oftheWTO Agreements havebeencarried outin
countries thatwerevisited. These focused onnotification obligations, assessing theneeds foradapting
nationallegislationandotheraspectsrelatingtoMembers'obligationsunderWTOrulesortotheconduct
oftheirnational trade policies.
Inpreparation forthesecond stage oftheProgramme, fact-finding missions wereundertaken
between MayandSeptember ineachoftheeightselected countries jointly byITC/UNCTAD andWTO.
These missions aimed atassessing theneeds ofcountries withregard tohuman resources andinstitutional
capacity-building. Meetings were heldwithofficials from thepublic andprivate sector andwith
representatives ofother international organizations inthecountries (World Bank, UNDP). Also, the
selection process ofpotential trainers thatmaybeassigned fordeveloping human resource capacity
wasinitiated.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page9
- ACP-EU-WTO Regional Seminars
TheWTO hascollaborated withtheACPSecretariat andtheEuropean Union, which provided
thefunding foraseries ofsub-regional seminars forACPcountries in1996. They included fivesub-
regional seminars inAfrica, oneintheCaribbean andoneintheAsia-Pacific region. Thelast
tworegional seminars (Côte d'Ivoire andUganda) wereextended foroneday,withtheparticipation
ofUNCTAD andWTO andfinanced bytheUNDP, toprepare Members fortheSingapore Ministerial
Meeting. Moreover, theWTO participated inthetwodayMinisterial Meeting thattheACPSecretariat
organized inBrussels foritsMembers toprepare theSingapore Ministerial Conference.
- WTO Trust Fund forTechnical Assistance
Itisrecalled thatonthebasisoftheNorwegian contribution, theWTO Trust Fund wascreated.
Since itsestablishment, theWTO activities carried outunder itsterms ofreference havebeenbased
ontheframework activities agreed tobyNorway andtheWTO. Thisincludes aprogramme ofwork
thatcovers technical missions, workshops andseminars organized inAfrica and/or inGeneva. These
terms ofreference willalsoprovide thebackdrop forfuture activities.
Twospecific activities listed intheinitial programme havealready beenundertaken. One
consisted ofaworkshop which washeldinMayinSouth Africa onAnti-Dumping andCountervailing
DutyInvestigations forthebenefit ofthemembers oftheSouthern African Customs Union Agreement
(SACU) which comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland andSouth Africa. Themainpurpose
ofthisworkshop wastoassist these countries inunderstanding therelevant newrulesunder theWTO
Agreements. Theother activity consisted ofaworkshop which tookplace inGeneva inOctober on
IntellectualPropertyRightsfor23participantsfrom17English-speakingAfricancountries.Theobjective
wastoassist African developing countries tobetter understand theTRIPS agreement andprepare or
adjust national legislation intheareaofintellectual property rights, keeping inmind thatdeveloping
countries haveatransition period fortheapplication oftheprovisions oftheAgreement. Asimilar
Workshop willbesetupforFrench-speaking African countries inthebeginning of1997.
With theagreement oftheNorwegian authorities, itwasdecided tofinance participation of
Ambassadors fromleast-developed countries toGeneva atthesessions oftheCommittee onTrade and
Development andoftheSub-Committee onLeast-Developed Countries andataBriefing Session, which
tookplace inSeptember 1996. Theobjective ofthese meetings wastoassist least-developed countries
which donothaveapermanent mission inGeneva, inunderstanding theUruguay Round multilateral
trade agreements andbriefing them ontheupcoming Ministerial Meeting inSingapore.
Partofthefunds wasallocated tothedevelopment ofinformation technology material inthe
form ofadidactic CD-Rom fortechnical cooperation andtraining, thatwillallow countries tohave
better andfaster access totraining material. Thisproject isstillunder preparation andwillrequire
further efforts before becoming fullyoperational.
Inaddition, some activities carried outunder the"Integrated WTO/UNCTAD/ITC Technical
Assistance Programme inSelected Least-Developed andOther African Countries" werefinanced from
theFund.
ii) Asia
-Aregionalseminarfortwenty-twoAsiandevelopingcountrieswasfinancedthroughavoluntary
contribution bytheGovernment ofJapan andorganized inManila, thePhilippines (March 1996).WT/COMTD/W/21
Page10
-NewZealand hascommitted funds totheWTO tobeusedoverthenexttwofinancial years,
which should bedevoted totraining activities, encompassing assistance forPacific Island nations to
meetWTO obligations ortoimplement accession requirements. Afactfinding mission wascarried
outintheregion andinconjunction withtheACP-EU-WTO regional seminar thatwasheldinPort
Moresby inJune1996, toassess theneeds fortraining activities andtheareas thatwould needtobe
covered. Thetraining course isscheduled totakeplace inthefirsthalfofnextyear. Technical missions
withregard toaccession issues andimplications ofWTO Membership werecarried outinTonga and
Solomon Islands.
iii) Latin America andtheCaribbean
OneoftheACP-EU-WTO regional seminars washeldinGeorgetown inJuly. Otherwise there
currently isnospecial funding forprojects inLatin America andtheCaribbean; allactivities arefunded
through theWTO regular budget, cost-sharing andinvitations fromother institutions, suchasSELA,
WIPO, andtheInter-American Development Bank.
Within theoverall activities intheregion, special mention canbemade ofnational and
subregional training courses thatwereheldontheUruguay Round andtheMultilateral Trading system
inUruguay andChile, aswellasinMexico forCentral American andCaribbean countries. Also,
technical seminars were heldwithvarious working groups ontheFreeTrade AreaoftheAmericas
(Honduras, Argentina, Brazil).
Separately andfollowing requests, theWTO hasprovided theCaricom Secretariat with
information regarding notification requirements under theUruguay Round Agreements, inorder to
assist Caribbean Members discharging theirWTO obligations.
iv) Eastern andCentral European andCentral Asian Countries
Most activities carried outinEastern andCentral European andCentral Asian Countries relate
totraining andcontain specially financed programmes. Inparticular, asdetailed below, Switzerland
andtheUnited States havemade available funds forspecial training courses covering different countries
intheregion.
Inaddition, ineachoftheabove mentioned regions, there arecontacts withanumber of
institutions interested inorganizing technical assistance activities jointly withtheWTO.
IV. Joint Technical Assistance withOther International Organizations
TheWTO technical assistance activities arebeing closely coordinated withanumber ofother
international organizations which provide technical assistance ontradeissues. Thisapplies particularly
totheoperation ofthejointprogrammes, aswellasother activities organized byWTO. Moreover,
theWTO Secretariat hasmade available theservices ofitsofficials forparticipation inseminars,
workshops orcourses sponsored byother organizations, inparticular theITC,UNCTAD, theWorld
Bank, theIMF, andRegional Economic Commissions. Ithasalsocoordinated participation byWTO
officials inconferences andother events organized bythese international organizations.
V. Trade Policy Courses
TheWTO iscontinuing GATT 'spractice oforganizing training courses fordeveloping countries
ontrade policy, international trade lawandthemultilateral trading system. Offered alternately in
English, French andSpanish, theCourses areopen toofficials from developing countries, whether
GATT/WTO Members ornot. TheThird WTO Trade Policy Course, inSpanish, washeldfromWT/COMTD/W/21
Page11
29January to3Mayandincluded 24officials. TheFourth WTO Trade Policy Course, inEnglish,
started on26August andwillendon29November 1996. Twenty-six officials areparticipating in
thiscourse, including twofree-auditors. Courses address theresults oftheUruguay Round andthe
rights andobligations ofWTO Members, haveapractical orientation andaredesigned tohelpofficials
preparethemselvesforthetasksawaitingthemintheirnationaladministrations.Theprogrammeincludes
participation inseminars andgroup discussions, aworkshop onnegotiating techniques andsimulated
exercises forconducting trade negotiations andforthesettlement ofdisputes.
Special courses arealsoorganized forofficials fromeconomies intransition. OneSpecial Trade
Policy Course forEastern andCentral European andCentral Asian Countries (thesixthofthiskind
financed bytheSwiss Government), washeldbetween 20May and19July1996, andincluded
24officials.Amainconsiderationforholdingthiscoursewastheneedtofacilitateeffectiveparticipation
ofthese economies inworld trade andtheconsolidation oftheirprocesses ofeconomic reform. An
additional reason wastoprovide explanations andtraining toofficials fromthelargemajority ofthese
countries which aregoing through negotiations foraccession totheWTO. Attherequest andwith
thefinancial support oftheGovernment oftheUnited States ofAmerica, aspecial WTO Trade Policy
Course for28officials fromKazakhstan andtheKyrgyz Republic washeldfrom9to29April 1996.WT/COMTD/W/21
Page12
Table 4
Trade Policy Courses
Description Number of
ParticipantsNames ofCountries which Participated
Total number of
Participants inWTO
Regular Trade Policy
Courses from
December 1955 to
November 1996
PerRegion:
-Africa
-Asia
-Middle East
-Latin America and
Caribbean Area
-Europe1490
456
360
88
450
132129countries, 10organizations
48countries, 5organizations
31countries
10countries, 2organizations
27countries, 4organizations
13countries
Third WTO Trade
Policy Course
29January 1996 to
3May 1996
(Spanish)24 Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador,
ElSalvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, ALADI.
Fourth WTO Trade
Policy Course
26August 1996 to
29November 1996
(English)26 Bangladesh, Barbados, Cambodia, People 'sRepublic ofChina,
Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
Korea, Lesotho, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Vietnam, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, CARICOM, UN-ESCWA.
Sixth Special Trade
Policy Course for
Eastern andCentral
European andCentral
Asian Countries
20May to
19July199624 Albania, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyz Republic, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Special WTO Trade
Policy Course for
Kazakhstan andKyrgyz
Republic
9to29April 199628 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz RepublicTECHNICAL MISSIONS: 19
AFRICAWT/COMTD/W/21
Page17ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
KENYA
(21-23/1) a/NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
(TCTD) (1)INDIA
(15-16/1)TRIPS (IP)(1) ARMENIA
(21-28/5)SERVICES (TSD)
(1)SAUDI
ARABIA
(14-15/10)SERVICES
(TSD) (1)TONGA
(12-14/6)ACCESSION
(TCTD) (1)
GHANA
(19-21/1)WTO AND THE
URUGUAY ROUND
RESULTS (TCTD) (2)
NAMIBIA
(21-23/2)NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
(TCTD) (2)
TUNISIA
(16-17/1)WTO AND THE
URUGUAY ROUND
RESULTS (TCTD) (1)BANGLADESH
(16-20/9)HSSCHEDULE
(MA) (1)UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
(17-18/11)WTO AND THE
URUGUAY
ROUND
RESULTS
(DDG,
MA,TEXT.,
RULES, IP,
TSD) (6)
TUNISIA
(13-14/5)INTEGRATED
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMME (TCTD)
(1)MYANMAR
(20-25/9)HSSCHEDULE
(MA) (1)QATAR
(19-20/11)WTO AND THE
URUGUAY
ROUND
RESULTS
(DDG,
MA,TEXT.,
RULES, IP,
TSD) (6)SOLOMON
ISLANDS
(23-25/6)ACCESSION;
WTO AND THE
URUGUAY
ROUND
RESULTS
(TCTD) (1)
UGANDA
(4-5/7)FACT-FINDING
MISSION, INTEGRATED
PROGRAMME WITH
UNCTAD AND ITC
(TCTD) (2)WT/COMTD/W/21
Page18 AFRICA ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
KENYA
(9-11/7) b/ANTI-DUMPING,
SUBSIDIES AND
COUNTERVAILING
MEASURES (RULES) (1)
TANZANIA
(15-16/7)FACT-FINDING
MISSION, INTEGRATED
PROGRAMME WITH
UNCTAD AND ITC
(TCTD) (2)PERU
(30/9-4/10)SAFEGUARDS
(RULES) (2)
BURKINA FASO
(29-30/7)FACT-FINDING
MISSION,
INTEGRATED
PROGRAMME WITH
UNCTAD AND ITC
(TCTD) (1)WORKSHOPS -CONFERENCES -SYMPOSIA: 50WT/COMTD/W/21
Page19AFRICA ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
COTE D'IVOIRE, 16
COUNTRIES (22-24/4)WIPO, SYMPOSIUM ON
TRIPS (IP)(1)SINGAPORE
(4/1-12/4)WTO TRADE
POLICY
COURSESWITZER-
LAND, 31
COUNTRIES
(6-9/2)SEVENTH
DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT
COURSE (LAD) (1)SAINT-LUCIA
(17-19/4)SERVICES
WORKSHOP OF
THE
ORGANIZATION
OFEASTERN
CARIBBEAN
STATES (TSD) (1)SYRIA
(3-4/6)ROUND TABLE
ONSYRIAN
EXPORT
DEVELOP-
MENT (TCTD)
(1)
SOUTH AFRICA
(5-11/2)REGIONAL
COOPERATION (ERAD)
(1)PEOPLE 'S
REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
(16-17/4)UNDP
WORKSHOP,
STATE-OWNED
ENTERPRISES
(TCTD) (1)SWITZER-
LAND, 42
COUNTRIES
(13-14/2)NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
(TCTD) (1)JAMAICA, 14
COUNTRIES
(28/4-2/5)MINISTERIAL
CONFERENCE
ONSUGAR (AG)
(1)BAHRAIN, 21
ARAB
COUNTRIES
(16-18/3) g/WTO AND THE
URUGUAY
ROUND
RESULTS;
SERVICES
(TCTD, TSD)
(2)
COTE D'IVOIRE,
56COUNTRIES
(6-10/5)CONFERENCE ON
REGIONAL AFRICAN
TELECOMMUNICA-
TIONS (TSD) (1)INDONESIA, 18
COUNTRIES
(2-4/5)WIPO,
SYMPOSIUM ON
TRIPS (IP)(1)ITALY
(19/4)UPOV
INFORMATION
MEETING (TRIPS)
(1)VENEZUELA,
29
COUNTRIES
(13-15/5)WIPO,
SYMPOSIUM ON
TRIPS (IP)(1)TURKEY
(30/9-2/10)ISLAMIC
DEVELOP-
MENT BANK:
TECHNICAL
REGULATIONS
(TE)(1)
ETHIOPIA, 44ECA
COUNTRIES
(7-13/2)ECA TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE OF
EXPERTS (TCTD) (2)PHILIPPINES,
18COUNTRIES
(18-19/1)WIPO,
SYMPOSIUM ON
TRIPS (IP)(1)ITALY
(19-21/6)INT'L
DEVELOPMENT
LAW INSTITUTE
SEMINAR ON
WTO AND
URUGUAY
ROUND RESULTS
(LAD AFFAIRS)
(1)BRAZIL
(9-14/6)CONFERENCE
ON
TELECOMMU-
NICATION (TSD)
(1)LEBANON
(2/10)EFFECTS OF
THE PAC
REFORM AND
THE WTO
AGREEMENTS
ON
MEDITERRA-
NEAN
COUNTRIES
(TCTD) (1)WT/COMTD/W/21
Page20 AFRICA ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
ETHIOPIA, 44ECA
COUNTRIES (14-16/2)ECA SESSION OF
AFRICAN MINISTERS
(TCTD) (2)HONG KONG
(26-27/3)OECD
WORKSHOP ON
FOREIGN
DIRECT
INVESTMENT
FOR "DYNAMIC
NON-MEMBER
ECONOMIES"
COUNTRIES (IP)
(1)ITALY
(18-20/11)REGIONALISM
AND DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT IN
WTO (INT'L
DEVELOPMENT
LAW INSTITUTE
(IDLI)) (LAD) (1)CUBA
(21-23/10)WIPO SEMINAR
ONTRIPS (IP)(1)BAHRAIN
(10/11)WHO-ICDRA
INTERNA-
TIONAL
CONFERENCE
OFDRUG
REGULATORY
AUTHORITIES
(IP)(1)
SOUTH AFRICA, 18
COUNTRIES (17-19/4)WIPO, SYMPOSIUM ON
TRIPS (IP)(1)CHINESE
TAIPEI
(22-24/4)WTO AND THE
URUGUAY
ROUND
RESULTS;
TEXTILE AND
CLOTHING
(TEXT) (1)GENEVA
(17-20/9)EIGTH DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT
COURSE
SOUTH-AFRICA
(27/4-11/5)UNCTAD IX(TCTD,
DEV) (3)PAKISTAN
(9-11/7)COTTON
EXPORT
CORPORATION
CONFERENCE
ONTHE
FUTURE
DIRECTION OF
THE PAKISTANI
TEXTILE AND
TRADE
INDUSTRY
(TEXT) (1)GENEVA
(24/9)BRIEFING
SESSION FOR
AMBASSADORS
FROM LLDC 'sON
WTO AND
URUGUAY
ROUND RESULTSMEXICO
(26/8-6/9)SELA TRADE
POLICY COURSE
(ACC, TCTD) (2)
SOUTH AFRICA, 5
COUNTRIES (20-24/5)WORKSHOP ON
ANTI-DUMPING AND
COUNTERVAILING
DUTY
INVESTIGATIONS
(RULES) (2)THAILAND
(5-9/8)TRAINING
COURSE ON
DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT
(LAD) (1)AFRICAWT/COMTD/W/21
Page21ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
TUNISIA
(17-19/6)ISLAMIC
DEVELOPMENT BANK
WORKSHOP ON
TEXTILES TRADE AND
INTERNATIONAL
REGULATIONS (TEXT.)
(1)PHILIPPINES
(23-25/9)UNCTAD-ASEAN
WORKSHOP ON
INVESTMENT
(TRIPS) (1)GENEVA
(7-11/10)TRIPS
AGREEMENT
FOR OFFICIALS
FROM LLDC 's
AND OTHER
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICAN
COUNTRIESBRAZIL
(17-26/9)ANTI-DUMPING,
COUNTERVAI-
LING MEASURES
FOR LATIN
AMERICAN
COUNTRIES
(RULES, TCTD)
(2)
ZIMBABWE
(26-27/6)IMPLICATIONS OFTHE
WTO FOR ZIMBABWE
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES (WITH
ITC) (TCTD, RULES) (2)SINGAPORE
(16/10)CONFERENCE
OFTHE
SINGAPORE
TRADE
DEVELOPMENT
BOARD AND
THE LAW
SOCIETY (IP)(1)GENEVA
(9-10/10)BRIEFING
SESSION FOR
NEW DELEGATES
ONACTIVITIES
OFWTO AND
THE URUGUAY
ROUND RESULTS
MOROCCO
(4-6/9)ATRIP ANNUAL
MEETING (IP)(1)PEOPLE 'S
REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
(14-16/8)ESCAP
SYMPOSIUM ON
URUGUAY
ROUND FOR
ECONOMIES IN
TRANSITION IN
ASIA (ACC) (1)GENEVA
(13-15/11)MEETING FOR
MINISTERS FROM
LLDC 'sONWTO
AND SINGAPORE
MINISTERIAL
CONFERENCE
AGENDA
SOUTH AFRICA
(18-21/11)WTO-ISO-ITC JOINT
SEMINAR FOR THE
SADC COUNTRIES (TE)
(1)THAILAND
(7-11/10)ANTI-DUMPING,
COUNTER-
VAILING
MEASURES FOR
EAST ASIA
(RULES) (2)SWITZER-
LAND (18/11)UNDP-UNCTAD :
REPRESENTA-
TIVES OFARAB
COUNTRIES:
PREPARATION
OFSMC
(ACCESS, TCTD)
(2)
MOROCCO
(19-22/11)CAPACITIES REQUIRED
FOR DIVERSIFICATION
OFAFRICAN
ECONOMIES (ERAD)
(1)WT/COMTD/W/21
Page22 AFRICA ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST OCEANIA
COUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION
AND NO.OF
OFFICIALSCOUNTRY/
DATESUBJECT -
DIVISION AND
NO.OF
OFFICIALS
ZAMBIA
(9-13/12)TRIPS (ARIPO) :
AFRICAN REGIONAL
INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTY
ORGANIZATION) (IP)(1)
a/ National seminar from 21-23/1: seealsotechnical mission onsame dates.
b/ National seminar from 8-12/7: seealsotechnical mission onsame dates.
c/ National seminar from 20-21/9: seealsoregional mission on16-20/9.
d/ National seminar on13/7: seealsoregional seminar 8-12/7.
e/ National seminar on19/10: seealsoregional seminar 14-18/10.
f/ Regional seminar from 4-6/3: seealsoregional seminar on11-12/3.
g/ Regional seminar from 19-20/3: seealsoconference on16-18/3.
Theabbreviations usedfortheidentification oftheWTO Divisions arethefollowing:
ACC Accessions Division
AG Agriculture andCommodities Division
DEV Development Division
IP Intellectual Property andInvestment Division
LAD Legal Affairs Division
MA Market Access Division
RULES Rules Division
TCTD Technical Cooperation andTraining Division
TE Trade andEnvironment Division
TEXT Textiles Division
TPRD Trade Policies Review Division
TSD Trade inServices Division