./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/AG/R/1
19 April 2002
(02-2241)
Committee on Agriculture
Special Session
SUMMARY REPORT ON THE ELEVENTH MEETING
OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE SPECIAL SESSION
HELD ON 26 MARCH 2002
Note by the Secretariat
1. As agreed by the Trade Negotiations Committee (TN/C/M/1) the Special Session of the Committee
on Agriculture, which was established by the General Council (WT/GC/M/53), is pursuing negotiationsunder paragraphs 13, 14 and other relevant provisions of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and held its
eleventh meeting on 26 March 2002.  The meeting was opened by Chairperson Ambassador Apiradi
Tantraporn of Thailand.
2. The agenda as contained in WTO/AIR/1746 was adopted.
ITEM A :  ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON
3. Following consultations undertaken in accordance wi th the "Guidelines for Appointment of Officers
to WTO Bodies" (WT/L/31), and as noted by the General Council at its meeting on 15 February 2002,
consensus had been reached, inter alia , on the nomination of Mr. Stuart Harbinson of Hong Kong, China for
election as Chairperson of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture (WT/GC/M/73, paragraph 55
refers).  Accordingly the election of Mr. Harbinson of Hong Kong, China to Chairman of the Special Sessionwas signified by acclamation.
4. On taking over the position of Chairman, Mr. Harbinson, on behalf of the Special Session, thanked
Ambassador Tantraporn for what she had achieved over the previous year when the Special Session had
successfully undertaken a large volume of work.  He noted that the successful completion of the second
phase under her guidance had laid the foundations for working towards the establishment of modalities for
further commitments by the deadline of end-March 2003 set by the Doha Ministerial Conference.
ITEM B :  ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MODALITIES
5. The Special Session adopted the attached programme for March 2002 to March 2003.
6. Cuba noted that the agriculture negotiations were very important to many countries.  For this reason
it suggested that transparency was needed concerning the consultations which the Chairman might hold and
it also pointed out that documents for meetings should be circulated as far in advance of meetings as possible
and translated as quickly as possible to assist Members in their participation.
ITEM C :  OTHER BUSINESS
7. No issues were raised under "Other Business".
8. The next Informal Special Session is scheduled to be held on 17-19 June and the next Formal Special
Session on 20 June.
9. The Chairman outlined the general content of the report he would be making to the General Council
(TN/AG/1 refers).TN/AG/R/1
Page 2
Programme March 2002 – March 2003 under Paragraphs 13 and 14
of the Doha Development Agenda
Special Session Commi ttee on Agriculture
26 March 2002
The negotiations under this programme shall build on the negotiating proposals and submissions worked on
by participants over the last two years and shall be based on paragraphs 13, 14 and the other relevant
provisions of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.
The negotiations shall be conducted in accordance with the following schedule:
(i) Informal Special Session 17-19 June 2002, Formal Special Session 20 June 2002:  Export Competition
(including export restrictions) – Technical elaborat ion of detailed possible modalities, including rules-
related elements.
(ii) Informal Special Session 2-3 September 2002, Formal Special Session 4 September 2002:  Market
Access – Technical elaboration of detailed possible modalities, including rules-related elements.
(iii) Informal Special Session 23-25 September 2002, Formal Special Session 27 September 2002*:
Domestic Support – Technical elaboration of detailed possible modalities, including rules-related
elements.
(iv) Informal Special Session 18-20 November 2002, Formal Special Session 22 November 2002*:
Matters that require follow-up from previous meetings.
(v) Informal/Formal Special Session 22-24 January 2003:  Comprehensive and substantive review of
possible modalities, including rules-related elements.  This review will take place on the basis of an
overview paper to be prepared by the Chairperson and to be circulated by 18 December 2002.
(vi) Informal/Formal Special Session 24-28 February 2003:  Consideration of the first draft of modalities
for further commitments.  (Draft to be prepared and circulated in advance of the Special Session.)
(vii) Informal/Formal Special Session meetings 25-31 March 2003*:  Establishment of modalities as a basis
for the subsequent submission of comprehensive draft schedules.  (Draft to be prepared and circulated
in advance of this Special Session.)
In accordance with paragraph 13 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration special and differential treatment for
developing countries shall be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations under this programme.  Non-trade concerns will be taken into account in these negotiations as provided for in the Declaration.
The Chairperson will report to the Formal Special Se ssion meetings on the work undertaken in the Informal
Special Session and to the TNC on each Formal Special Session meeting.
It is also understood that throughout the period covere d by this programme the Special Sessions will be
complemented by informal consultations, including consultations between Members and consultations under
the direction of the Chairperson.  The issues to be taken up in these consultations will not necessarily follow
the order set out above in the programme of meetings.  As for the consultations by the Chairperson due
regard will be given to sufficient advance notice, to tr ansparency and to the schedule of meetings in other
WTO bodies.
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* Meetings held in the same week as regu lar meetings of the Committee on Agriculture.