WT/GC/205  
 
20 December 2019  
(19-8922) Page: 1/25 
   
 
GENERAL COUNCIL  
ANNUAL REPORT (2019)  
The present report has been prepared in pursuance of the Procedures for an Annual Overview of 
WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).  
 
Since its previous annual report1, the General Council ha s held five meetings, on 28 February, 7  May, 
23-24 July,  15-16 October  and 9-10 December 2019,  and a special meeting on 10 May.  The minutes 
of these  meetings, which remain in the record of the General Council's work, are co ntained in 
documents WT/GC/M/176, WT/GC/M/177, WT/GC/M/178, WT/GC/M/179 , WT/G C/M/180  and 
WT/GC/M/1812. 
 
The following subjects are included in the report:  
 
1   REPORTS BY THE C HAIRMAN OF THE TRADE  NEGOTIATIONS COMMIT TEE AND 
REPORTS BY THE DIREC TOR-GENERAL  ................................ ................................ ............  4 
2   IMPLEMENTATION O F THE BALI, NAIROBI AND BUENOS AIRES OUT COMES – 
STATEMENTS BY THE CH AIR  ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
3   INFORMAL PROCESS  ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE FUNCTIONING O F THE  
APPELLATE BODY  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  6 
3.1   Statement by the Chair  ................................ ................................ ................................  6 
3.2   Report by the Facilitator  ................................ ................................ ...............................  6 
3.2.1    Report by the Facilitator and Draft Decision on the Functioning of the Appellate Body  ....... 7 
3.3   Fostering a Discussion on the Functioning of the Appellate Body – Communications from 
Honduras  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  7 
3.4   Guidelines for the work of Panels and the Appellate Body – Communication from Brazil, 
Paraguay and Uruguay  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  8 
3.5   Guideline Development Discussion – Communication from the Separate Customs Territory     
of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ................................ ................................ ...................  8 
3.6   Informal Process on matters related to the Functioning of the Appellate Body – 
Communication from Japan, Australia and Chile  ................................ ................................ ...... 8 
3.7   General Council Decision on the Dispute Settlement System of the WTO – Communication 
from Thailand  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  8 
3.8   Appellate Body Impasse – Communication from the African Group  ................................ .... 8 
4   WORK PROGRAMME O N ELECTRONIC COMMERC E ................................ .......................  8 
4.1   Review of Progress  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 8 
4.2   Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communication from  
Australia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Mexico;   
New Zealand; Norway; Singapore and Switzerland  ................................ ................................ .. 9 
                                                
1 The annual report  of the General Council for 2018 was circulated in WT/GC/200 . 
2 To be issued.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  4.3   Statement by the Chair   ................................ ................................ ...............................  9 
4.4   Reports by the Chairs of the Council for Trade in Goods and of the Council for Trade in 
Services   ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  9 
4.5   Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communication from  
Chad on behalf of the LDC Group   ................................ ................................ .........................  9 
4.6   Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communications from    
Australia; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China;             
Iceland; Israel; Republic of Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Panama; Paraguay;            
Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand and Uruguay  ................................ ................................ ....... 9 
5   TRIPS COUNCIL MA TTERS  ................................ ................................ .........................  10 
5.1   TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints Moratorium – Communicat ion from Chile, 
Colombia, New Zealand and Panama  ................................ ................................ ................... 10 
5.2   TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints Moratorium – Communication fr om Canada, 
Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, New Zealand, Panama and Uruguay  ................................ ............ 10 
5.3   Annual Review of the Special Compulsory Licensing Sy stem – Paragraph 7 of the  
Annex to  the Amended TRIPS Agreement and Paragraph 8 of the Decision on the  
Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and  
Public Health – Report of the Council for TRIPS; and,  ................................ ............................. 10 
5.4   Proposal for a Decision on an Extension of the Period for the Acceptance by Members of      
the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement   ................................ ................................ .......10 
6   REVIEW OF THE OP ERATION OF THE BALI DECISION ON TRQ ADMI NISTRATION – 
REPORT TO THE GENERA L COUNCIL  ................................ ................................ ...............  11 
7   WORK PROGR AMME ON SMALL ECONOM IES – REPORTS   ................................ ..........  11 
8   AID FOR TRADE – REPORT   ................................ ................................ .......................  12 
9   THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASPECTS O F COTTON – STATEMENT  BY THE 
DIRECTOR -GENERAL   ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 12 
10   REVIEW  OF  THE  EXEMPTION  PROVIDED  UNDER PARAGRAPH 3 OF  THE GATT 1994  .. 12 
11   WAIVERS ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  13 
11.1   Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries – Extension of Waiver  ............ 13 
11.2   United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA as amended) –                
Extension of Waiver  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 13 
11.3   Introduction of Harmonized System 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions – Draft Decision   ................................ ................................ ...13 
11.4   Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement   ................................ 13 
12   REQUEST FOR OBS ERVER STATUS BY THE AFRICAN UNION – COMM UNICATION 
FROM BENIN ON BEHALF  OF THE AFRICAN GROU P  ................................ .......................  14 
13   ACCESSION  OF  CURAÇAO  – REQUEST FROM THE KIN GDOM OF THE  
NETHERLANDS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  14 
14   TWELFTH SESSION  OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ................................ ..........  14 
14.1   Statement by the Chair   ................................ ................................ ............................ 14 
14.2   Election of Officers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....15 
14.3   Attendance of Observers from Governments and Intergovernmental Organizations  ........... 15 
14.4   Attendance of N on-Governmental Organizations  ................................ ........................... 15 
15   THE VISIT TO TH E WORLD TRADE ORGANI ZATION OF MR. ANTÓNI O GUTERRES, 
SECRETARY -GENERAL OF  THE UNITED NATIONS  ................................ ...........................  15 WT/GC/205  
 
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  16   PROCEDURES TO S TRENGTHEN THE NEGOTI ATING FUNCTION OF TH E WTO – 
COMMUNICATIONS  FROM  THE UNITED  STATES  AND  STATEMENT  BY                                                                           
THE  UNITED  STATES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 15 
17   THE CONTINUED R ELEVANCE OF SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TRE ATMENT IN 
FAVOUR OF DEVELOPING  MEMBERS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND ENSU RE 
INCLUSIVENESS – COMM UNICATION FROM CHINA , INDIA, SOUTH AFRIC A,      
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA, LAO PE OPLE'S DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLIC, 
PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA, KENYA AN D CUBA  ................................ ................  16 
18   PURSUING THE DE VELOPMENT DIMENSION IN WTO RULE -MAKING E FFORTS – 
COMMUNICATION FROM NO RWAY, ICELAND, NEW Z EALAND, SINGAPORE AN D 
SWITZERLAND  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  17 
19   STRENGTHENING T HE WTO TO PROMOTE DE VELOPMENT AND INCLUSIVITY – 
COMMUNICATION FROM P LURINATIONAL STATE O F BOLIVIA; CUBA; ECU ADOR;  
INDIA; MALAWI; SOUTH  AFRICA; TUNISIA; UG ANDA AND ZIMBABWE  ..........................  17 
20   STATEMENT ON SP ECIAL AND DIFFERENTI AL TREATMENT TO PROM OTE 
DEVELOPMENT – STATEM ENT BY CHINA, CUBA, INDIA, NAMIBIA, OMAN ,  
SOUTH AFRICA, UGANDA  AND ZIMBABWE  ................................ ................................ ..... 17 
21   PROCEDURAL GUID ELINES FOR WTO COUNC ILS AND COMMITTEES A DDRESSING 
TRADE CONCERNS – COMMUNICATION FROM ALBA NIA; AUSTRALIA; EURO PEAN UNION; 
HONG KONG, CHINA; RE PUBLIC OF KOREA; REP UBLIC OF MOLDOVA; NE W ZEALAND; 
NORWAY; PANAMA; QATA R; SINGAPORE; SWITZE RLAND; THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS 
TERRITORY OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU; THAILAND; TUR KEY; AND 
UKRAINE AND STATEMEN T BY CO -SPONSORS ................................ ................................  18 
22   AN INCLUSIVE AP PROACH TO TRANSPAREN CY AND NOTIFICATION                
REQUIREMENTS IN THE WTO – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GRO UP,                       
CUBA AND INDIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  19 
23   STATEMENT DELIV ERED BY THE UNITED S TATES ON THE IMPORTA NCE OF 
TRANSPARENCY IN WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT   ................................ ...........................  19 
24   EXPANDING THE S COPE AND MANDATE FOR  THE GENEVA WEEK – STATEMENT BY  
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ON BEHALF  OF THE OECS AND COM MUNICATION 
FROM SAINT LUCIA, SO LOMON ISLANDS AND VANUATU  ................................ ...............  19 
25   CHALLENGES POSE D TO THE WTO BY NON -MARKET POLICIES AND PRACTICES – 
UNITED STATES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  20 
26   LDCS' VIEWS ON WTO REFORM DISCUSSIO NS AND PROPOSALS – STATEMENT BY 
CHAD ON BEHALF OF TH E LDC GROUP  ................................ ................................ ............  20 
27   STATEMENT IN SU PPORT OF THE RULES -BASED MULTILATERAL  
TRADING S YSTEM – STATEMENT BY  SWITZERLAND  ................................ .......................  20 
28   EUROPEAN UNION – SAFEGUARD MEASURES  ON INDICA RICE FROM   
CAMBODIA – REQUEST F ROM CAMBODIA  ................................ ................................ ....... 20 
29   SPS AGRICULTURE  ISSUES – STATEMENT BY CANADA  ................................ ...........  20 
30   TRADE RESTRICTI VE MEASURES BY BRAZI L – STATEMENT BY ECU ADOR  ................  21 
31   EXPORT RESTRICT IVE MEASURES BY JAPA N – STATEMENT BY THE REPUB LIC OF 
KOREA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  21 
32   WTO OPEN DAY – STATEMENT BY THE DIR ECTOR -GENERAL  ................................ .. 21 
33   US  TRADE  RESTRICTIVE  MEASURES  ON  THE  ICT  INDUSTRY  – STATEMENT  
 BY  CHINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  21 
34   G20 OSAKA SUMMI T AND THE G20 MINIST ERIAL MEETING ON TRA DE AND  
DIGITAL ECONOMY – STATEMENT BY JAPAN  ................................ ................................ . 21 
35   EIGHTH CHINA RO UND TABLE ON WTO ACC ESSIONS – STATEMENT BY 
THE RUSSIAN  FEDERATION ................................ ................................ ............................  21 WT/GC/205  
 
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  36   COMMITTEE ON BU DGET, FINANCE AND AD MINISTRATION  ................................ .... 22 
36.1   Reports and Recommendations   ................................ ................................ .................. 22 
37   WTO PENSION PLA N ................................ ................................ ...............................  22 
37.1   Reports   ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 22 
37.2   Election of  Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Management Board   .................. 22 
38   ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR MEMBERS  IN ARREARS  ................................ ..... 22 
39   INTERNATIONAL T RADE CENTRE UNCTAD/W TO – REPORT OF THE J OINT                
ADVISORY GROUP ON IT S 53RD SESSION  ................................ ................................ ....... 23 
40   REVIEW OF WTO A CTIVITIES  ................................ ................................ ..................  23 
41   APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS TO WTO BODI ES ................................ ........................  23 
42   ELECTION OF CHA IRPERSON  ................................ ................................ ...................  25 
 
1  REPORTS BY THE CHAIR MAN OF THE TRADE NEG OTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND REPORTS 
BY THE DIRECTOR -GENE RAL (WT/GC/M/176; WT/GC /M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; 
WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
1.1.  Ministers  at Doha established a Trade Negotiations Committee under the authority of the 
General Council to supervise the overall conduct of the negotiations (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1). In 
accord ance with the Principles and Practices endorsed by the Trade Negotiations Committee at its 
first meeting in 2002 (TN/C/M/1), the TNC reports to each regular meeting of the General Council.  
1.2.  At the General Council meetings in February , May, July, October  and December , the Chair 
recalled that the Director -General had convened Informal TNC and Informal Heads of Delegation 
meetings where he had reported on each occasion on relevant activities  since his previous report 
and noted that, as per established practice , the Director -General's report, the reports of the Chairs 
of negotiating bodies, and the statements delivered by delegations would be included in the minutes 
of the respective General Council meetings .3 
1.3.  At the February  meeting, the representative of Barbados spoke. T he General Council took note 
of the report of the Chairman of the TNC and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements 
delivered at the Informal TNC and Informal HODs meeting s on 27 February4 and by  the 
represe ntative of  Barbados at the February General Council  meeting . 
1.4.  At the May meeting, t he General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the TNC 
and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements delivered at the Informal TNC and 
Informal H ODs meetings on 3 May.5 
                                                
3 The Director -General's reports and those of the Negotiating Group Chairs at the February, May, July, 
October and December Informal TNC and Informal HODs Meetings were incorporated in the minutes of the 
respective General Council meetings and were also circulated in JOB/TNC/73, JOB/TNC/74, JOB/TNC/75, 
JOB/TNC/76 and JOB/TNC/77, respectively.  
4 The statements at the 27 February  Informal TNC and  Informal  HODs Meeting s by the following 
delegations are incorporated in the minutes of the February General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/176 : Benin 
(African Group); S witzerland; Haiti (CARICOM); Canada; Malawi (ACP); Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on 
E-Commerce); Central African Republic (LDCs); Indonesia; European Union; Colombia ( Structured Discussions 
on Investment Facilitation for Development ); Norway; China ; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); 
Thailand; Mexico; United States; Singapore; Brazil; New Zealand; Republic of Korea; India; Vanuatu (Pacific 
Group); Russian Federation; Nepal; Turkey; Chinese Taipei; Japan; Ukraine; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Egy pt; 
Kenya; Malaysia; Jamaica; Cambodia; Argentina; Panama (Article XII Members); Ghana; Uganda; Chile; Trinidad 
and Tobago; Costa Rica; Montenegro; Mali (C -4); St. Lucia; Nigeria; Paraguay; Hong Kong, China; Zimbabwe; 
Pakistan and Plurinational State of Bo livia. 
5 The statements at the 3 May  Informal TNC and Informal HODs Meeting s by the following delegations 
are incorporated in the minutes of the May General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/177: Canada (Ottawa Group); 
Jamaica (ACP); Panama (Article XII Members);  Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on E -Commerce); Trinidad 
and Tobago (CARICOM); Japan; Mexico; Angola; European Union; Colombia (Structured Discussions on 
Investment Facilitation for Development); China; Ghana; Cuba; Singapore; India; Peru (including  Lima Group); 
Argentina; United States; Egypt; Chinese Taipei; Barbados; Chad (LDCs); Brazil; Chile; New Zealand; Thailand WT/GC/205  
 
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  1.5.  At the July meeting, the General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the TNC 
and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements delivered at the Informal TNC and 
Informal HODs meetings on 19 July.6 
1.6.  At the October meeting, the General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the 
TNC and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements delivered at the Informal TNC and 
Informal HODs meetings on 14 October7 as well as of the statements delivered at the General Council 
meeting  by H.E. Abdulrahman Al -Harbi, Governor of the General Authority of Foreign Trade of the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and  by H.E. Maria Luisa Hayen, Minister of Economy of El Salvador.  
1.7.  At the December  meeting, the General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the 
TNC and of the Director -General 's report  on 6 December and  of the statement at the General Council 
meeting, of the report of the Chair of the Negotiating Group on Rules in TN/RL/32 , and of the 
statements delivered at the Informal TNC and Informal HODs meetings on 6 Decem ber8 as well as 
those delivered  by the representative s of Barbados, the Russian Federation, the Philippines, Haiti 
and Montenegro  at the General Council meeting . 
2  IMPLEMENTATIO N OF THE BALI, NAIRO BI AND BUENOS AIRES OUTCOMES – 
STATEMENTS BY THE CH AIR (WT/GC/M/176; WT/GC /M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; 
WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
2.1.  Since July 2014, the item on implementation of the Bali outcomes has been included on the 
General Council's agen da at the request of the Chair, to provide an update on the work taking place 
in the regular bodies which were directly working on the various Bali Decisions. After the Tenth and 
Eleventh Sessions of the Ministerial Conference, reports on the implementatio n of the Nairobi and 
Buenos Aires outcomes were also provided under this item.  
                                                
(ASEAN); Russian Federation; Republic of Korea; Paraguay; Norway; Pakistan; Turkey; Uruguay (Informal 
Working Group on MSMEs); Plurin ational State of Bolivia; Switzerland; Benin (African Group and C -4); Sri Lanka; 
South Africa; Indonesia; Solomon Islands (Pacific Group); St. Lucia (OECS); Nigeria; Hong Kong, China; 
Malaysia; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Nepal.  
6 The statements a t the 19 July  Informal TNC and Informal HODs Meeting s by the following delegations 
are incorporated in the minutes of the July General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/179: Paraguay; Singapore; 
Chad (LDCs); Republic of Korea; Chile; Benin (African Group  and C -4); Panama (Article XII Members); European 
Union; Nepal; Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on E -Commerce) ; India; Thailand (ASEAN); China; 
Kazakhstan; Mexico; Sri Lanka; Colombia (Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development) ; 
Switze rland; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Japan; New Zealand; United States; South Africa; Brazil; Jamaica (ACP) ; 
Canada (Ottawa Group) ; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs) ; Turkey; Indonesia; Trinidad and Tobago 
(CARICOM) ; Egypt; Montenegro; Russian Federation; Malaysia; Norway; Uganda; Ecuador; Afghanistan; Hong 
Kong, China; Argentina; Nigeria; Chinese Taipei; Pakistan; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Haiti; Viet Nam; 
Peru (Lima Group) and Philippines.  
7 The statements at the 14 October  Informal TN C and Informal HODs Meeting s by the following delegations 
are incorporated in the minutes of the October General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/180: Singapore; Costa Rica 
(Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation); Chad (LDCs); Cuba; Australia (Joint S tatement Initiative on 
Electronic Commerce); Panama (Article XII Members); Benin (African Group and C -4); China; New Zealand; 
Chile (Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development); Switzerland; Brazil; Japan; Pakistan; 
European Union; T rinidad and Tobago (CARICOM); Argentina; Malaysia; Russian Federation; South Africa; United 
States; Ecuador (GRULAC); India; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); Jamaica (ACP); Turkey; 
Thailand (ASEAN); Nigeria; Canada (Ottawa Group); Indonesia; Hong  Kong, China; Iceland; Chinese Taipei; 
Egypt; Senegal; Mexico; Norway; Uganda; Republic of Korea; Colombia; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Peru; 
Montenegro; St. Vincent and the Grenadines (OECS); Viet Nam; Nepal; Paraguay; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela ; Sri Lanka; Ghana; Cambodia and Morocco . 
8 The statements at the 6 December  Informal TNC and Informal HODs Meeting s by the following 
delegations are incorporated in the minutes of the December General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/181: 
Argentina; Japan; Beni n (African Group); Paraguay; Costa Rica (Joint Initiative on Services Domestic 
Regulation); Republic of Korea; Turkey; Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce); Thailand 
(ASEAN); Russian Federation; Chad (LDCs); India; Vanuatu (ACP); E uropean Union; Pakistan; United States; 
Egypt; Norway; China; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); Canada (Ottawa Group); Brazil; 
Singapore; Peru; Switzerland; South Africa; Mexico; Chinese Taipei; Indonesia; Iceland; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela ; Hong Kong, China; Nigeria; Solomon Islands (Pacific Group); Chile (Structured Discussions on 
Investment Facilitation for Development); Kazakhstan; Panama (Article XII Members); Israel; Malaysia; Trinidad 
and Tobago; Colombia; St. Lucia (OECS); Nepal; Cam bodia and Viet Nam.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  2.2.  At the General Council meetings in February , May, July, October  and December , the Chair 
reported on the work taking place in WTO regular bodies to fulfil the Bali, Nairobi and B uenos Aires 
Ministerial mandates.9 
2.3.  At the February  meeting, the representative of the Central African Republic (LDCs)  spoke. The 
General Council took note of the Chair's report and of the statement.  
2.4.  At the May meeting, the representatives of Benin  (African Group), Chad (LDCs) and Angola  
spoke. The General Council took note of the Chair's report and of the statements.  
2.5.  At the July meeting, the representatives of Benin (African Group) and Chad (LDCs)  spoke. The 
General Council took note of the Chair's report and of the statements.  
2.6.  At the October  meeting, the representatives of Chad (LDCs) Benin (African Group) and 
Tajikistan  spoke. The General Council took note of the Chair's report and of the statements.  
2.7.  At the December  meeting,  the Chair man of the Committee on Trade Facilitation and the 
representatives of Chad (LDCs) and Benin (African Group)  spoke. The General Council took  note of 
the Chair's report and of the statements.  
3  INFORMAL PROCESS ON MATTERS RELATED TO T HE FUNCTIONING OF TH E APPELLATE 
BODY  
3.1  Statement by the Chair (WT/GC/M/176)  
3.1.  At the February  meeting, t he Chair recalled that , following the discussions on matters rel ated 
to the functioning of the Appellate Body  that had taken place  at the December 2018 General Council  
meeting, he conducted consultations and subsequently held an Informal G eneral Council  meeting in 
January , where he had kicked off an Informal Process  on Matters  related to the Functioning of the 
Appellate Body and appointed Ambassador Walker (New Zealand) to facilitate it.   
3.2.  Ambassador Walker, as the Facilitator of the Informal Process, then reported on the 
developments in this regard. His report can be found in JOB/GC/215. The representatives of Brazil; 
the European Union; Benin (African Group); Canada; Barbados; Ghana; India; China; Uganda; 
Australia; Uruguay; Switzerland; Japan; Ecuador; Mexico; Singapore; Norway; Egypt; Pakistan; 
Turkey;  the Republic of Moldova; Thailand; Morocco; Argentina; Colombia and Guyana spoke. At 
the end of the discussion, the Chair proposed that the Informal Process led by Ambassador Walker 
as Facilitator continue under the auspices of the General Council and tha t another stock -taking take 
place at the May GC meeting.  The General Council took note of the Chair's statement, of the 
Facilitator's report and of the other statements.  
3.2  Report by the Facilitator (WT/GC/M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179  and WT/GC/M/180 ) 
3.3.  At the May meetin g, the Chair noted  that since the February G eneral Council  meeting, 
Ambassador Walker had continued his consultations on the Informal Process on Matters related to 
the Functioning of the Appellate Body  under the auspices of the General Council , and had pro vided 
an additional report to all delegations in an Informal Open -ended meeting on 9 April. Ambassador 
Walker, the Facilitator of the Informal Process, reported on the developments in the Informal 
process . His report can be found in JOB/GC/21 7.  
3.4.  The repres entatives of the  Republic of Korea; the European Union; Mexico; Canada; 
Switzerland; Ukraine; Singapore; Colombia; Nigeria; Jamaica (ACP); the Philippines; Argentina; 
Benin; Guyana; India; Egypt; China; Chad (LDCs); Malaysia; Peru; Indonesia; Viet Nam; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Turkey; Honduras and the United States spoke. At the end of the 
discussion, the Chair said that Members needed to continue exploring possible compromise solutions 
ahead of the next General Council meeting in July and appeal ed to all delegations to engage in that 
                                                
9 The Chair's statements were subsequently circulated in JOB/GC/214, JOB/GC/216, JOB/GC/219, 
JOB/GC/221 and JOB/GC/224 respectively.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  conversation.  The General Council took note of the Chair's statement, of the report of the Facilitator 
and of the other statements.  
3.5.  At the July meeting, Ambassador Walker (New Zealand), the Facilitator of the Informal Process  
on Matters related to the Functioning of the Appellate Body , reported on the developments in this 
regard. His report can be found in JOB/GC/220.  
3.6.  The representatives of Chile; Pakistan; Norway; Turkey; South Africa; Thailand; Colombia; 
India; Japan; Ecuador; China; Australia; Singapore; Canada; the European Union; Brazil; the 
Russian Federation; the Philippines; Switzerland; Jamaica (ACP); the United States; Costa Rica; 
Indonesia; Uruguay (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Paragua y, Peru and Uruguay); 
Guyana; Qatar; Zambia; Mexico; Egypt and Uganda spoke. The representative of China again took 
the floor . At the end of the discussion, the Chair said that Members would need to decide on the 
format and vehicle for the next stage of th e informal process in the second half of the year. She 
asked Ambassador Walker, as Facilitator, to continue consulting with delegations on this very 
important matter immediately after the summer break.  The General Council took note of the Chair's 
statement , of the Facilitator's report and of the other statements.  
3.7.  At the October  meeting,  Ambassador Walker (New Zealand), the Facilitator of the Informal 
Process  on Matters related to the Functioning of the Appellate Body , reported on the developments 
in this re gard. His full report , including the draft instrument presented,  can be found in JOB/GC/ 222.  
3.8.  The representatives of Brazil; Uruguay; Guatemala; China; Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM); 
Australia; Chile; Chinese Taipei; Japan; Ecuador; Benin (African Group); the United States; 
Chad (LDCs); Thailand; Turkey; Mexico; Norway; the European Union; the Republic of Korea; South 
Africa; Singapore; Iceland; Indonesia; the Russian Federation; Switzerland; India; Qatar; 
Jamaica  (ACP); Guyana; Argentina; Barbados; Colombi a; Pakistan; Nigeria and the Dominican 
Republic spoke.  At the end of the discussion, the Chair  said that  she and the Facilitator hoped that 
Members would give due consideration to the draft instrument that had been presented and asked 
the Facilitator to co ntinue to work with Members in the urgent task of restoring the necessary trust 
and confidence to implement any such instrument in the future. The General Council took note of 
the Chair's statement, of the Facilitator's report and of the other statements.   
3.2.1   Report by the Facilitator and Draft Decision on the Functioning of the Appellate 
Body (WT/GC/M/181)  
3.9.  At the December  meeting, Ambassador Walker (New Zealand), the Facilitator of the Informal 
Process, reported on the developments in this regard. His full report, including the draft decision 
presented (WT/GC/W/791), can be found in JOB/GC/225.  
3.10.   The representatives of Japan; Chile (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, 
Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Chile); Argentina; Ecuador; Nigeria; Chinese Taipei; 
the Republic of Korea; Chad (LDCs); Barbados; Benin (African Group); Zambia; Ukraine; Trinidad 
and Tobago (CARICOM); South Africa; Uruguay; Pakistan; the Plurinational State of Bolivia; India; 
Egypt; the United States; Jamaica (ACP ); the European Union; Indonesia; Turkey; the Russian 
Federation; Brazil; Singapore; Mexico; Switzerland; Guatemala; Canada; Australia; China; Colombia 
and Cameroon spoke. The representatives of Benin (African Group) and Japan again took the floor. 
At the end of the discussion, the Chair said that the draft decision emanate d from nearly one year 
of discussions, and that it represent ed the collective effort and good will of the entire WTO 
Membership to address the concerns that ha d been raised with regard to  the functioning of the 
Appellate Body and its adherence with the DSU. It remain ed up to Members how th at work w ould 
be taken forward in the future. She and Ambassador Walker  would be looking to assist Members in 
those efforts going forward.  The Director -General also intervened.  The General Council took note  of 
the Facilitator's report and of the statements.  
3.3  Fostering a Discussion on the Functioning of the Appellate Body – Communications 
from Honduras (WT/GC/M/176)  
3.11.   At the February  meeting, the representativ e of Honduras presented its communications on 
fostering discussions relating to 90 days, Rule 15, alleged judicial activism by the Appellate Body, 
and precedent  circulated in documents WT/GC/W/758, WT/GC/W/759, WT/GC/W/760 and WT/GC/205  
 
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  WT/GC/W/761 , respectively. The representatives of the Republic of Korea; Panama; the Philippines; 
El Salvador; Indonesia; Hong Kong, China and Guatemala spoke.  During their intervention, the 
Republic of Korea and Panama  referred to both items 4 and 5 of the February GC agenda10. The 
General Council took note of the statements.  
3.4  Guidelines for the work of Panels and the Appellate Body – Communication from 
Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (WT/GC/M/177)  
3.12.   At the May meeting, the representatives of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay presented their 
communication containing a proposal to adopt guidelines on the completion of appeals by persons 
who ceased to be A ppellate Body  members, timeframes, factual elements of Panel Reports, exte nt 
of analysis and findings by Panels and the A ppellate Body , value of adopted Panel and AB Reports 
and filling of vacancies in the A ppellate Body circulated in document WT/GC/W/767/Rev.1 . The 
General Council took note of the statements.  
3.5  Guideline Developm ent Discussion – Communication from the Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (WT/GC/M/177)  
3.13.   At the May meeting, the representative of Chinese Taipei presented its communication 
containing a proposal to develop guidelines on the A ppellate Body 's future functioning circulated in 
document WT/GC/W/763/Rev.1 . The General Council took note of the statement.  
3.6  Informal Process on matters related to the Functioning of the Appellate Body  – 
Communication from Japan, Australia and Chile (WT/GC/M /177)  
3.14.   At the May meeting, the representatives of Japan, Australia and Chile  presented their 
communication containing a  proposed  draft decision on the scope of issues to be considered by the 
Appellate Body , 90 days, precedent, 'overreach' and a regular dial ogue between the DSB and the 
Appellate Body  circulated in document WT/GC/W/768/Rev.1 . The General Council took note of the 
statements . 
3.7  General Council Decision on the Dispute Settlement System of the WTO – 
Communication from Thailand (WT/GC/M/177)  
3.15.   At the May meeting, the representative of Thailand  presented its communication containing 
a propos ed draft decision  on transition rules for outgoing A ppellate Body  members , 90 days, 
municipal law , findings necessary for the resolution of the dispute , precedent and  a regular dialogue 
between the DSB and the adjudicative bodies of the WTO circulated in document WT/GC/W/76 9. 
The General Council took note of the statement.  
3.8  Appellate Body Impasse – Communication from th e African Group (WT/GC/M/179)  
3.16.   At the July meeting, the representatives of Benin (African Group), Nigeria and South Africa 
presented  their communication  calling for the resolution of the Appellate Body Impasse and 
proposing amendments on: transitional rules for outgoing Appellate Body members; com position of 
Appellate Body members; term of office for Appellate Body; duration of examination of cases before 
the Appellate Body and the application of obiter dicta during disputes  circulated in WT/GC/W/776 . 
The General Council took note of the statements . 
4  WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE  
4.1  Review of Progress (WT/GC/M/179)  
4.1.  At the July meeting, t he CTG, CTS and CTD Chairs reported on the work taking place in their 
respective areas. The Chair then reported on the informal open -ended meeting she  had conven ed 
on 17 June to discuss the moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic 
transmissions, including India and South Africa's relevant submission s (WT/GC/W/747 and 
                                                
10 Item 4 of the February GC agenda related to the " Informal Process on Appellate Body Matters – 
Stateme nt by the Chairman " and Item 5 of the February GC agenda related to " Fostering a Discussion on the 
Functioning of the Appellate Body – Communications from Honduras ". WT/GC/205  
 
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  WT/GC/W/774 ), noted that she intended to consult broadly with Members after su mmer and 
reminded delegations that the General Council would need to take a decision on the moratorium by 
the end of the year.  Her full report can be found in WT/GC/W/780. The representatives of India; 
Chad (LDCs); the European Union; the Russian Federatio n; South Africa; Uganda; the United States; 
Hong Kong, China; Benin; Singapore; Costa Rica; Switzerland and Norway spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements of the Chair and of the Chairs of the CTS, CTG and CTD, of the 
reports in S/C/57 and G /C/65 and of the other statements.  
4.2  Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communication from 
Australia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Mexico; New 
Zealand; Norway; Singapore a nd Switzerland (WT/GC /M/180)  
4.2.  At the October  meeting, the representative of Switzerland introduced the communication  in 
WT/GC/W/782  co-sponsored11 by Australia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Hong Kong, 
China; Iceland; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore and Switzerland propos ing to extend the 
e-commerce moratorium until MC12 and to continue the work under the Work Programme on 
Electronic Comm erce during this period and  also noted that the moratorium was without prejudice 
to Members' right to impose internal taxes, fees or other charges in a manner consistent with WTO 
Agreements.   
4.3.  The representatives of  Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Costa Rica; Chile; Iceland; Mexico; 
Georgia; Australia; Paraguay; Uruguay; Argentina; Indonesia; the European Union; Panama; 
Chinese Taipei; Thailand; Chad (LDCs); Guatemala; the United States; Japan; Canada; India; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Jamaica (ACP); N igeria; the Republic of Korea; the Dominican 
Republic; Peru; South Africa and Brazil spoke.  During its intervention, Thailand  referred to both 
items 9 and 10 of the October GC agenda12. The representative of Switzerland again took the floor. 
At the end of t he discussion, the Chair invited all Members to engage in the consultations that she 
was conducting on the work programme and the moratorium with a view to make progress by the 
December meeting of the General Council.  The General Council took note of the s tatements.  
4.3  Statement by the Chair (WT/GC/M/181)  
4.4  Reports by the Chairs of the Council for Trade in Goods and of the Council for Trade 
in Services (WT/GC/M/181)  
4.5  Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communication from 
Chad on behalf of the L DC Group (WT/GC/M/181)  
4.6  Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce – Communications from 
Australia; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; 
Iceland; Israel; Republic of Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Panama;  Paraguay; 
Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand and Uruguay (WT/GC/M/181)  
4.4.  At the December  meeting,  Deputy Director -General  Yi, on behalf of the CTS Chair, and the CTG 
Chair presented their reports in S/C/58 and G/C/66, respectively. Chad (LDCs) introduced the LDC 
Group's communication in WT/GC/W/787 and Switzerland, on behalf of the co -sponsors, presented 
the communications in WT/GC/W/782/Rev.2 and WT/GC/W/792.  
4.5.  The General Council adopted the Decision on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce in 
WT/GC/W/794  and the Draft Decision on TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints as contained 
in WT/GC/W/790.  The decisions were subsequently circulated in WT/L/1079 and WT/L/1080, 
respectively.  
                                                
11 The latest revision to the communication can be found in document WT/GC/W/782/Rev.1 addi ng Israel; 
Panama and  Paraguay to the list of co -sponsors.  
12 Item 9 of the October GC agenda related to the " Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic 
Commerce – Communication from Australia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Georgia; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; 
Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; and Switzerland " while Item 10 of the October GC agenda related to 
the "TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints Moratorium – Commun ication from Chile, Colombia, New 
Zealand and Panama ". WT/GC/205  
 
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  4.6.  The representatives of Benin (African Group); India; Jamaica (ACP); Tr inidad and Tobago 
(CARICOM); Chinese Taipei; Thailand; South Africa; Barbados; St. Lucia (OECS); Switzerland; 
Indonesia; Japan; Chad (LDCs); Australia; Chile; Argentina; Pakistan; the United States; Mali; the 
European Union; Malaysia; the Republic of Korea ; Canada; Israel; Nigeria; China; Uruguay; Hong 
Kong, China; Colombia; the Russian Federation and Brazil spoke.  The interventions were made either 
on item 7 or on item 8 of the December GC agenda or on both13. The General Council took note of 
the Chair's statement, of the reports in S/C/58 and G/C/66 and of the other statements.  
5  TRIPS COUNCIL MATTERS  
5.1  TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints Moratorium – Communication from 
Chile, Colombia, New Zealand and Panama (WT/GC/M/180)  
5.1.  At the October  meeting, Chile introduced  the communication in WT/GC/W/783  co-sponsored 
by Chile;  Colombia;  New Zealand and Panama propos ing to extend the TRIPS moratorium until MC12 
and to continue the examination of the scope and modalities for complaints of the types provi ded 
for under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII of GATT 1994 during this period.   
5.2.  The representatives of  New Zealand; Panama; Colombia; the Russian Federation; Hong Kong, 
China; South Africa; India; the European Union; the Plurinational State of  Bolivia; Bangladesh; 
Nigeria; Canada; Guatemala and Sri Lanka spoke.  During its intervention, Colombia  referred to both 
items 9 and 10 of the October GC agenda14. At the end of the discussion, the Chair noted that 
discussions on the issue were taking place  in the TRIPS Council and encouraged delegations to 
actively engage in those discussions.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
5.2  TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints Moratorium  – Communication from 
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, New Zealand, Panama and Uruguay (WT/GC/M/181)  
5.3.  At the December  meeting,  the Chair announced that she would take up the Item on TRIPS non -
violation and situation complaints and the item on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce 
together. She noted that after a number of consultations led by the TRIPS Council Chair, and an 
open-ended informal meeting of the TRIPS Council on 19 November, it had emerged that consensus 
around an extension of the moratorium until MC12 could be possible.  Discussions on the item would 
continue upon opening the floor under the item on the Work Progr amme on Electronic Commerce.15 
The representatives of Chile; Panama; Guatemala and Uruguay introduced the item including the 
communication in WT/GC/W/790. Bangladesh spoke.   
5.3  Annual Review of the Special Compulsory Licensing System – Paragraph 7 of the 
Annex  to the Amended TRIPS Agreement and Paragraph 8 of the Decision on the 
Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and 
Public Health – Report of the Council for TRIPS (WT/GC/M/1 81); and,  
5.4  Proposal for a Decision on an Extens ion of the Period for the Acceptance by Members 
of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement (WT/GC/M/1 81) 
5.4.  In August 2003, the General Council adopted a Decision on the Implementation of Paragraph 
6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health.  Paragraph 8 of that Decision 
provided that the TRIPS Council should review annually the functioni ng of the system set out in the 
Decision with a view to ensuring its effective operation, and should annually report on its operation 
to the General Council.  In addition, in keeping with the August 2003 Decision, the General Council 
adopted, in December 2 005, a Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement, which was submitted to 
Members for acceptance. In accordance with Article X:3 of the WTO Agreement, the Protocol entered 
into force on 23 January 2017, upon acceptance by two -thirds of the WTO Members who had 
accepted it on or before that date. The same legal provision also stated that for each other Member, 
the Protocol would take effect upon acceptance by it. In this regard, the TRIPS Council at its meeting 
                                                
13 Item 7 of the December GC agenda related to the " TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints  – 
Communication from Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, New Zealand, Panama and Uruguay " while Item 8 of  
the December GC agenda related to the " Work Programme and Moratorium on Electronic Commerce ". 
14 See footnote 12.  
15 See paragraphs 4.5 to 4.6.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  in October 2019 agreed to submit to the General Counc il a proposal for a decision on a seventh 
extension of the period for the acceptance by Members of this Protocol.  
5.5.  At the December  meeting, the Chair of the TRIPS Council introduced the report of the Council 
(IP/C/ 84) on its annual review of the Decision on  the Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha 
Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, as well as a proposal for a Decision on a 
Seventh  Extension of the Period for the Acceptance by Members of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS 
Agreement (IP/C/ 83).  
5.6.  The General Council took note of the report of the TRIPS Council in document IP/C/ 84, and 
adopted the draft decision extending the time period for acceptance by Members of the Protocol 
amending the TRIPS Agreement to 31 December 20 21. The decision wa s subsequently circulated in 
WT/L/1081.  
6  REVIEW OF THE OPERAT ION OF THE BALI DECI SION ON TRQ ADMINIST RATION – 
REPORT TO THE GENERA L COUNCIL  (WT/GC/M/181)  
6.1.  At the December  meeting,  the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture presented the 
Committee's report (G/ AG/29) including some recommendations to the General Council p ursuant to 
paragraphs 13 -15 of the Bali TRQ Decision and the Committee's consideration of the matter . The 
General Council took note of the report in G/AG/29 and approved the recommendations cont ained 
in Annex 2 to the report.  
7  WORK PROGRAMME ON SM ALL ECONOMIES – REPO RTS (WT/GC/M/176; 
WT/GC/M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
7.1.  At the February  meeting, t he CTD Chair noted that following relevant discussions as mandated 
by Ministers at MC11, the SVEs were preparing an outcome document to be taken up at the next 
dedicated session in March. The agenda would include presentations on vulnerability of small 
economies to natural disasters and its impact on trade and the common fund for commodities. The 
representatives of Guatemala (SVEs), Trinidad and Tobago and Sri Lanka spoke.  The General Council 
took note of the CTD Chair's report and of the statements.  
7.2.  At the  May meeting, Deputy Director -General  Agah, on behalf of the CTD Chair, reported that 
at the recent Dedicated Session, the SVE Group presented an outcome document (WT/GC/W/772) 
which provided a background of the work undertaken in accordance with the MC11 mandate. The 
CTD also discussed in the dedicated session trade and natural disasters and commodities trade.  The 
representatives of Guatemala (SVEs), Trinidad and Tobago, and Sri Lanka spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the CTD Chair's report and of th e statements.  
7.3.  At the July meeting, t he CTD Chair reported that the SVE Group was working on possible topics 
for future debate which would be proposed in a meeting of the Dedicated Session after the summer 
break with the view to making recommendations at MC 12. The representatives of  Guatemala (SVEs) 
and Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM) spoke.  The General Council took note of the CTD Chair's report 
and of the statements.  
7.4.  At the October  meeting,  Deputy Director -General  Agah, on behalf of the CTD Chair, reported 
that, at its next meeting, the CTD would consider a communication from the SVEs on future work in 
the dedicated session and that the SVEs would introduce some follow -up issues on the challenges 
faced by small economies in attracting investments.  The represe ntatives of  El Salvador (SVEs) and 
Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM)  spoke . The General Council took note of the CTD Chair's report and 
of the statements.  
7.5.  At the December  meeting,  Deputy Director -General  Agah, on behalf of the CTD Chair, reported 
that, at the dedicated session, the CTD considered a proposal by the SVE Group for a Ministerial 
Decision at MC12 on the Work Programme , and that discussions were on -going. The representatives 
of El Salvador (SVEs), Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM), St. Lucia (OECS) and B arbados spoke.  The 
General Council took note of the CTD Chair's report and of the statements.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  8  AID FOR TRADE  – REPORT (WT/GC/M/1 79) 
8.1.  At the July meeting, the Director -General reported on the Aid for Trade Global Review 2019  
and noted that it had been  the largest one since the launch of the Aid for Trade I nitiative. The issues 
covered centred on the theme of "Supporting Economic Diversification and Empowerment" – with 
women's economic empowerment figuring prominently in the discussions. Other topics ta ken up 
included LDC graduation, trade and peace, standards, sustainability, tourism and e -commerce, 
among others. The representatives of Chad (LDCs) ; China;  Morocco;  Canada;  the European Union;  
Ecuador;  Cambodia;  Benin (African Group) ; Cote d'Ivoire and Ni geria spoke . The General Council 
took note of the report by the Director -General and of the statements . 
9  THE DEVELOPMENT ASSI STANCE ASPECTS OF CO TTON – STATEMENT BY THE 
DIRECTOR -GENERAL (WT /GC/M/181)  
9.1.  In Paragraph 1.b of the 1 August 2004 Decision on the Doh a Work Programme (WT/L/579), 
the General Council, inter alia, took note of the bilateral, multilateral, and regional efforts to make 
progress on the development assistance aspects of the Cotton Initiative, and instructed the 
Secretariat to continue to work  with the development community and to provide the Council with 
periodic reports on relevant developments. The Council also instructed the Director -General to 
consult with relevant international organizations, to direct effectively existing programmes and any 
additional resources towards development of the economies where cotton had vital importance. The 
Bali and Nairobi Decisions reaffirmed this mandate, and invited the Director -General to continue to 
provide periodic reports.  
9.2.  At the December  meeting, the Director -General reported on the successful launch of the first 
World Cotton Day on 7 October which had underlined the need to create a more level playing field 
for trade in cotton, and to increase development assistance on cotton and cotton -related produc ts, 
in particular for LDCs. D eputy Director -General  Wolff then reported that the work on the Director -
General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton had continued to make progress during 
2019. He thanked Members of the development community, those wh o significantly contributed to 
the South -South Cooperation for Cotton Development Assistance and several multilateral 
institutions. The representatives of Benin (C -4); Chad (LDCs); the United States; India and China 
spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements by the Director -General and the Deputy 
Director -General, and of the other statements.  
10  REVIEW OF THE EXEMPT ION PROVIDED UNDER P ARAGRAPH 3 OF THE GA TT 1994 
(WT/GC/M/176  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
10.1.   At the February  meeting, the General Council conducted a review of the exemption granted 
to the US legislation – the Jones Act – which prohibits the use, sale or lease of foreign -built or 
foreign -reconstructed ships in US national waters – and takes place in the General Council every two 
years. In line with the procedure agreed by the Council in 2002, statements made at GC meetings 
in 2019, questions posed to the United States and related replies would form the basis of th e 2019 
review, together with the annual report pro vided by the U nited States  (WT/L/1055). The  
representatives of the  European Union; Norway; Canada; the Republic of Korea; Panama; Hong 
Kong, China; Japan and Australia spoke. The United States then made a statement . The General 
Council took note of the sta tements  and agreed to  revert back to the matter at its last regular 
meeting in 2019.  
10.2.   At the December  meeting, the General Council again considered the exemption provided 
under paragraph 3 of GATT 1994 for review  including the two annual reports provided by  the United 
States (WT/L/1055 and WT/L/1078) . The representatives of the United States; Norway; Japan; 
China; the Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China; the European Union; Australia and Panama  spoke. 
The General Council took note of the statements and also took note that the subsequent review 
under the two -yearly cycle provided in paragraph 3(b) of GATT 1994 would normally be held in 
2021. WT/GC/205  
 
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  11  WAIVERS  
11.1  Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries  – Extension of Waiver 
(WT/GC/M/179 and WT/GC/M/180)  
11.1.   At the July16 meeting, the representative of Chad  (LDCs) made a statement on the waiver 
concerning the Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries.  The General Council took 
note of the statement.  
11.2.   At the October  meeting, the General Council adopted the draft decision concerning the 
extension of the waiver on the "Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries" 
circulated in document G/C/W/764 including G/C/W/764/Add.1 and G/C/W/764/Add.2. The decision 
was subs equently circulated in WT/L/1069. The representatives of Chile; China; Chad (LDCs); India; 
Nepal; Turkey and Benin  spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
11.2  United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (C BERA  as amended)  – 
Extension of Waiver (WT/GC/M/180)  
11.3.   At the October  meeting, the General Council adopted the draft decision concerning the 
extension of the waiver on " United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act  (CBERA as 
amended)" circulated in document G/C/W/765. The decisi on was subsequently circulated in 
WT/L/1070. The representatives of t he United States; Jamaica; Barbados; St. Lucia (OECS); Trinidad 
and Tobago (CARICOM)  and Haiti spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
11.3  Introduction of Harmonized System 20 02, 2007, 2012 and 2017 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions – Draft Decision (WT/GC/M/181)  
11.4.   At the December  meeting, the General Council considered four  draft waiver decisions, 
contained in G/C/W/ 768, G/C/W/769, G/C/W/770 and G/C/W /771 which co ncerned the Introduction 
of Harmonized System 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of Tar iff 
Concessions, respectively. The Chair of the  Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration 
of this matter by that Council. The General Co uncil took note of the report and, in accordance with 
the Decision -Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the W TO Agreement agreed in 
November  1995 (WT/L/93), adop ted the four draft Decisions which were subsequently circulated in 
WT/L/ 1082, WT/L/ 1083, WT/L/ 1084 and WT/L/ 1085.  
11.4  Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  (WT/GC/M/179  
and WT/GC/M/181 ) 
11.5.   Under Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement, "[ a]ny waiver granted for a period of more than 
one year shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Conference not later than one year after it is granted, 
and thereafter annually until the waiver terminates ." 
11.6.   At the July meeting, the General Council considered the following waivers for review under 
Article IX:4:  
i. Least -Developed Country Membe rs – Obligations under Article 70.8 and Article 70.9 of 
the TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products, granted on 30 November 
2015 until 1 January 2033 (WT/L/971)  
ii. Canada – CARIBCAN, granted on 28 July 2015 until 31 December 2023 ( WT/L/958, 
WT/L/1065 ) 
iii. United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, granted on 5 May 2015 until 
31 December 2019 ( WT/L/950, WT/L/1063 ) 
11.7.   In doing so, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers in documents  WT/L/1065 and WT /L/1063. The representatives of Trinidad and Tobago 
(CARICOM); Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Chad (LDCs); Barbados; St. Lucia (OECS); the United States 
                                                
16 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  and Canada  spoke. T he General Council took note of the reports contained in documents WT/L/1065  
and WT/L/1063 and of the statements , and agreed to revert to the review of multi -year waivers 
under Article IX.4 of the WTO Agreement at its last regular meeting in 2019 . 
11.8.   At the December  meeting, the General Council considered the following waivers for review 
under Arti cle IX:4:  
i. Preferential treatment in favour of Services and Service Suppliers of Least Developed 
Countries, granted on 17 December 2011 until 31 December 2030 (WT/L/847, 
WT/L/982)  
ii. Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 26 July 2018 
to 31 December 2024 (WT/L/1039)  
iii. Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver, granted on 7 December 2016 until 
31 December 2021 (WT/L/1003, WT/L/1076)  
iv. European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the Western 
Balkans, granted on 7 December 2016 until 31 December 2021 (WT/L/1002, 
WT/L/1077)  
v. United States – African Growth and Opportunity Act, granted on 30 November 2015 
until 30 September 2025 (WT/L/970, WT/L/1073)  
vi. United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, granted  on 
7 December  2016 until 31 December 2026 (WT/L/1000, WT/L/1074)  
vii. United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal, granted on 7 December 2016 until 
31 December 2025 (WT/L/1001, WT/L/1075)  
11.9.   In doing so, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers in documents  WT/L/1073, WT/L/1074, WT/L/1075, WT/L/1076 and WT/L/1077. The General 
Council took note of those reports  and of the Chair's statement.  
12  REQUEST FOR OBSERVER  STATUS BY THE AFRIC AN UNION – COMMUNICATION FROM 
BENIN ON BEHALF OF T HE AFRICAN GROUP (WT /GC/M/181)  
12.1.   At the December  meeting,  the representative of Benin (African Group) introduced the request 
for Observer Status by the African Union circulated in document WT/GC/W/789. The representativ es 
of Egypt; Nigeria; Argentina; South Africa; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group); Chad (LDCs); 
Haiti; Cameroon; the European Union; the United States and Uruguay spoke. The representative of 
Benin (African Group) again took the floor.  The General Co uncil took note of the statements.  
13  ACCESSION OF CURAÇAO  – REQUEST FROM THE K INGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS 
(WT/GC/M/181)  
13.1.   At the December  meeting,  the Kingdom of the Netherlands introduced the request for 
accession of Curaçao in document WT/ACC/CUW/1 and passed the floor to Minister Giselle McWilliam  
- Minister  of Economic Development of Curaçao. The representatives of Trinidad and Tobago; 
Uruguay; the European Union and the United States spoke. The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
14  TWELFTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONF ERENCE  
14.1  Statement by the Chair (WT/GC/M/177 and WT/GC/M/179)  
14.1.   At the May and July meetings17, the Chair made a statement regarding the preparations for 
MC12 including on consultations that would be conducted in due course on matters relate d to: 
                                                
17 This item was taken up under "Other Busine ss" at the May and July meetings.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  Election of Officers; Attendance of Observers from Governments and IGOs; and Attendance of NGOs . 
The General Council took note of the Chair's statement.  
14.2  Election of Officers (WT/GC/M/180  and WT/GC/M/181 ) 
14.2.   At the October  meeting, the General Council ag reed to formally elect H.E. Bakhyt Sultanov, 
Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to chair the Twelfth Session of the 
Ministerial Conference . The representative of Kazakhstan spoke. The General Council took note of 
the statement.  
14.3.   At the December  meeting , the Chair encouraged Group coordinators to finalize their 
consultations so that the election of the MC12 Vice Chairs could be taken up at th e next meeting. 
The General Council took note of the Chair's statement.  
14.3  Attendance of Observers from Governments and Intergovernmental Organizations 
(WT/GC/M/180)  
14.4.   At the October  meeting, the General Council agreed to repeat past practice by inviting the 
Governments with Observer Status at MC11 to attend MC12. With respect to the attendance of IGOs, 
the Chair noted that on the basis of the consultations she had conducted , the positions previously 
expressed had not changed and that the difficulties regarding the issue remained.  She also noted 
that she remained available to consult . The General Council took note of the Chair's statement.  
14.4  Attendance of Non -Governmental Organizations (WT/GC/M/180)  
14.5.   At the October  meeting, the General Council agreed to repeat past practice by following the 
procedure that had been agreed by the General Council in July 1996 in this regard.  
15  THE VISIT TO THE WOR LD TRADE ORGANIZATIO N OF MR. ANTÓNIO GUT ERRES, 
SECRETARY -GENERAL OF  THE UNITED NATIONS  (WT/GC/M/178)  
15.1.   At the 10 May  special meet ing, the Director -General  welcomed the Secretary -General of the 
United Nations , Mr. António Guterres , to the WTO  and stressed the importance of multilateral 
cooperation  for being a powerful force for good , supporting economic growth, development, stability 
and peace . The Secretary -General of the United Nations highlighted  trade's contribution to economic 
growth and sustainable development . He also stressed the need to resolve the trade tensions  which 
threat ened international trade and the rules -based multilateral trading system  through multilateral 
dialogue and cooperation. He  welcomed ongoing WTO reform efforts by  Members which should be 
guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . He then  called on everyone to work together 
to honour the commitment to achieve a universal, rules -based, open, non -discriminatory and 
equitable international trading system.  The Chair noted that m ultilateralism was a public good which 
should be  protected for peace and pros perity and thanked the  Secretary -General for his unwavering 
support in that regard  and for his timely visit to the WTO.  
16  PROCEDURES TO STRENG THEN THE NEGOTIATING  FUNCTION OF THE WTO  – 
COMMUNICATION S FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ST ATEMENT BY THE UNITE D STATES  
(WT/GC/M/176 ; WT/GC/M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
16.1.   At the February  meeting, t he representative of the United States presented the 
communications in documents WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 titled "An Undifferentiated WTO: Self-declared 
Development Status risks Institutional Irrelevance" and WT/GC/W/764  on "Draft General Council 
Decision – Procedures to Strengthen the Negotiating Function of the WTO".   
16.2.   The representatives of the Central African Republic (LDCs); Brazil; Mexico; Oman (GCC); 
China; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group); Turkey; Benin (African Group); Tanzania; India; 
Uganda; Norway; Kazakhstan; New Zealand; Jamaica; Trinidad and Tobago; Cana da; Switzerland; 
Egypt; the Republic of Korea; Cuba; Colombia; Australia; El Salvador; Pakistan; Israel; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Indonesia; Sri Lanka; Barbados; Cameroon; Bangladesh; Chile 
(Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Pa raguay, Peru and Uruguay); Malawi (ACP); 
Peru; the European Union; Mali; Uruguay and Zimbabwe spoke.  During their intervention, s everal WT/GC/205  
 
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  delegations referred to both items  6 and 7  of the February GC agenda18. The General Council took 
note of the statements.  
16.3.   At the May meeting, t he representative of the United States provided an update regarding its 
discussions with delegations concerning its communications in documents WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 and 
WT/GC/W/764  since the February General Council  meeting .  
16.4.   The represen tatives of Paraguay; Chad (LDCs); South Africa; Brazil; Japan;  the European 
Union; China; India; Australia; Argentina; Pakistan and Egypt spoke.  During their intervention, 
several delegations referred to both items 6 and 7  of the May GC agenda19. The representatives of 
the United States; China and South Africa again took the floor . The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
16.5.   At the July meeting, the representative of the United States provided an update regarding its 
discussions with delegations concerning its communications in documents WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 and 
WT/GC/W/764  since the May General Council meeting .  
16.6.   The representatives of China; the European Union; Chad (LDCs); India; Jamaica; Peru; 
Uganda; Turkey; Benin (Afri can Group) and South Africa spoke. The representative of the United 
States again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
16.7.   At the October  meeting,  the representative of the  United States made a statement on this 
matter including its submissions in documents WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 and WT/GC/W/764 and also 
concerning the relevant US Presidential Memo.  
16.8.   The representatives of Brazil; Chad (LDCs); the European Union; India; South Africa; China; 
Australia; Turkey; Jamaica (ACP); Indonesia; Norw ay; Barbados; Switzerland; Benin (African 
Group); Thailand; Pakistan; Senegal and Oman spoke.  During their intervention, several  delegations 
referred to both items 7 and 11 of the October GC agenda20. The representative of the United States 
again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
16.9.   At the December  meeting,  the representative of t he United States made a statement on this 
matter including its submission in document WT/GC/W/757/Rev.1 and its revised communication in  
document WT/GC/W/764/Rev.1 , and also concerning the relevant US Presidential Memo . 
16.10.   The representatives of China; Uruguay (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, 
Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay); the European Union; Barbados; South Africa; India; Ecuador; Jamaica 
(ACP); Turkey and Benin (African Group) spoke. The  representative of the  United States again took 
the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
17  THE CONTINUED RELEVA NCE OF SPECIAL AND D IFFERENTIAL TREATMEN T IN FAVOUR 
OF DEVELOPING MEMBER S TO PROMO TE DEVELOPMENT AND E NSURE INCLUSIVENESS – 
COMMUNICATION FROM C HINA, INDIA, SOUTH A FRICA, BOLIVARIAN RE PUBLIC OF 
VENEZUELA, LAO PEOPL E'S DEMOCRATIC REPUB LIC, PLURINATIONAL S TATE OF BOLIVIA, 
KENYA AND CUBA (WT/G C/M/176)  
17.1.   At the February  meeting, the represent ative of China introduced  the communication in 
WT/GC/W/765/Rev. 1 on "The Continued Relevance of Special and Differential Treatment of 
                                                
18 Item 6 of the February GC agenda related to the " Procedures to Strengthen the Negotiating Function 
of the WTO – Communications from the United States " while Item 7 of the February GC agenda related to " The 
Continued Rele vance of Special and Differential Treatment in favour of Developing Members to Promote 
Development and Ensure Inclusiveness – Communication from China, India, South Africa and the Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela ". 
19 Item 6 of the May GC agenda related to the "Procedures to Strengthen the Negotiating Function of the 
WTO – Communications from the United States " and Item 7 of the May GC agenda related to " Pursuing the 
Development Dimension in WTO Rule-Making Efforts – Communication From Norway ". 
20 Item 7 of the October GC agenda related to the " Procedures to Strengthen the Negotiating Function of 
the WTO – Statement by the United States " and Item 11 of the October GC agenda related to the " Statement 
on Special and Differential Treatment to Promote Developm ent – Statement by China, Cuba, India, Namibia, 
Oman, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe ". WT/GC/205  
 
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  Developing Members to Promote Development and Ensure Inclusiveness " co-sponsored21 by China;  
India;  South Africa; the  Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;  Lao People's Democratic Republic, the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia;  Kenya and Cuba .  
17.2.   The representatives of India; Kenya; Pakistan; South Africa;  Thailand (ASEAN); Japan; 
Ghana; Myanmar; Singapore; Hong Kong, China;  the Philippines; Cambodia; Nigeria; Afghanistan; 
the United States; China; India; Brazil and Argentina spoke. During their intervention, s everal 
delegations referred to both items 6 and 7  of the February GC agenda22. The General Council took 
note of the statem ents. 
18  PURSUING THE DEVELOP MENT DIMENSION IN WT O RULE -MAKING EFFORT S – 
COMMUNICATION FROM N ORWAY, ICELAND, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE A ND 
SWITZERLAND (WT/GC/M /177)  
18.1.   At the May meeting, the representative of Norway introduced the communication in 
WT/GC/W/770 /Rev. 2 related to "Pursuing the Development Dimension in WTO Rule -Making Efforts " 
co-sponsored23 by Norway;  Iceland;  New Zealand;  Singapore and Switzerland .  
18.2.   The representatives of Iceland; New Zealand; Switzerland; Canada; Mexico; Hong Kong, 
China; Turkey; Afgh anistan; Uruguay; Thailand (ASEAN); Jamaica (ACP); China; Malaysia; India; 
Chad (LDCs); Egypt; Colombia; Barbados; Ecuador; Benin (African Group); Japan; South Africa; the 
European Union; Nigeria; Indonesia and the United States spoke.  During their interve ntion, s everal 
delegations referred to both items 6 and 7  of the May GC agenda24. The representative of Norway 
again took the floor . The General Council took note of the statements.  
19  STRENGTHENING THE WT O TO PROMOTE DEVELOP MENT AND INCLUSIVITY  – 
COMMUNICATION FROM P LURINATIONAL STATE O F BOLIVIA; CUBA; ECU ADOR; INDIA; 
MALAWI; SOUTH AFRICA ; TUNISIA; UGANDA AN D ZIMBABWE (WT/GC/M/ 179)  
19.1.   At the July meeting, the representative of India introd uced the communication in document 
WT/GC/W/778/Rev.1  on "Strengthening the WTO to Promote Development and Inclusivity " co-
sponsored25 by the Plurinational State of Bolivia; Cuba; Ecuador; India; Malawi; South Africa; 
Tunisia; Uganda and Zimbabwe .  
19.2.   The repre sentatives of Zimbabwe; Uganda; the Plurinational State of Bolivia; Oman; South 
Africa; Ecuador;  Benin; China; Chad (LDCs); Pakistan; the United States; Bangladesh; 
Jamaica  (ACP); Sri Lanka; the European Union; Egypt; Nigeria; Canada; Morocco; Norway; 
Indonesia; Turkey; Guyana and Afghanistan spoke. The representatives of South Africa and India 
again took the floor . The General Council took note of the statements.  
20  STATEMENT ON SPECIAL  AND DIFFERENTIAL TR EATMENT TO PROMOTE 
DEVELOPMENT – STATEM ENT BY CHINA, C UBA, INDIA, NAMIBIA,  OMAN, SOUTH AFRICA,  
UGANDA AND ZIMBABWE (WT/GC/M/18 0) 
20.1.   At the October  meeting, the representative of India introduced  a joint statement on this 
matter circulated in document WT/GC/202/Rev.1  on "Special and Differential Treatment to Promote 
Development " co-sponsored by the African Group ; the Plurinational State of Bolivia;  Cambodia;  
China;  Cuba;  India;  Lao People's Democr atic Republic ; Oman;  Pakistan and the Bolivarian Republic 
of Venezuela .  
20.2.   The representatives of China; Benin (African Group); Chad (LDCs); Uganda; Zimbabwe; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Oman; Pakistan; Jamaica (ACP); Colombia (Argentina, Brazil, Chi le, 
Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay); Cuba; Sri Lanka; the Dominican Republic; 
                                                
21 The latest revision to the communication can be found in document WT/GC/W/765/Rev.2 adding the 
Central African Republic and Pakistan  to the list of co -sponsors.  
22 See footnote 18.  
23 The latest revision to the communication can be found in document WT/GC/W/770/Rev.3 adding 
Canada; Hong Kong, China and Mexico to the list of co -sponsors.  
24 See footnote 19.  
25 The latest revision to the communication can be found in docu ment WT/GC/W/778/Rev.2 adding the 
African Group to the list of co -sponsors.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM); Namibia; Ecuador; Bangladesh; Barbados; the United States; 
Indonesia; Turkey and South Africa spoke.  During their interventio n, several  delegations referred to 
both items 7 and 11 of the October GC agenda26. The representatives of  India and Benin (African 
Group) again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
21  PROCEDURAL GUIDELINE S FOR WTO COUNCILS A ND COMMI TTEES ADDRESSING 
TRADE CONCERNS – COMMUNICATION FROM ALBANIA; AUSTRALIA; EUROPEAN UNION; 
HONG KONG, CHINA; RE PUBLIC OF KOREA; REP UBLIC OF MOLDOVA; NE W ZEALAND; 
NORWAY; PANAMA; QATA R; SINGAPORE; SWITZE RLAND; THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS 
TERRITORY OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN AND MATSU; T HAILAND; TURKEY; AND  
UKRAINE  AND STATEMENT BY CO -SPONSORS (WT/GC/M/179 ; WT/GC/M/180  AND 
WT/GC/M/181 ) 
21.1.   At the July meeting,  the representative of the  European Union introduced  the communication 
in document WT/GC/W/777/Rev.1.  related to a Draft General Council Decision on Procedural 
Guidelines for WTO Councils and Committees Addressing Trade Concerns  co-sponsored27 by 
Australia; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; the Republic of Korea; New Zealand; Norway; 
Panama; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei ; Turkey and Ukraine .  
21.2.   The representatives of  Ukraine; Australia; Turkey; New Zealand; Chinese Taipei; Switzerland; 
Norway; Singapore; Panama; the Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China;  Thailand; Mexico; the 
Republic of Moldova; the Russian Federation; the United States; Uruguay; Chad (LDCs); Argentina;  
the Dominican Republic; Canada; Bangladesh; Sri Lanka; China; South Africa; Brazil; Japan; 
Paraguay; Chile; Ecuador; Nigeria; India; Egypt; Indonesia and Colombia spoke. The  representative 
of the  European Union again took the floor . The General Council to ok note of the statements.  
21.3.   At the October  meeting,  the representative of the European Union presented the revision of 
the communication in document WT/GC/W/777/Rev.328 co-sponsored by Albania; Australia; the 
European Union; Hong Kong, China; the Republic of  Korea; the Republic of Moldova; New Zealand; 
Norway; Panama; Qatar; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei ; Thailand; Turkey and Ukraine .  
21.4.   The representatives of Qatar; Australia; Iceland; Chad (LDCs); Uruguay; Bangladesh; 
Ecuador; Colombia; Nigeria; Japa n; Guatemala; Paraguay; the United States; Mexico; Chile; South 
Africa; Indonesia; Sri Lanka; India; Canada and Oman spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
21.5.   At the December  meeting,  the representative of the European Union introduced the item on 
behalf of the co -sponsors of  WT/GC/W/777/Rev.429: Albania; Australia; the European Union; Hong 
Kong, China; Iceland; the Republic of Korea; the Republic of Moldova; New Zealand; North 
Macedonia; No rway; Panama; Qatar; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei ; Thailand; Turkey and 
Ukraine . 
21.6.   The representatives of Nigeria; Argentina; Ecuador; Canada; Uruguay; Chad (LDCs); 
Paraguay; Indonesia; South Africa; Guatemala; the United States and Bangladesh spok e. The 
representative of the European Union again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
                                                
26 See footnote 20.  
27 A revision to the communication was subsequently circulated in document WT/GC/W/777/Rev.2 adding 
Albania; Republic of Moldova and Thailand to the list of co -sponsors.  
28 This revision included  Qatar as a co -sponsor  and amendments to the recitals and paragraphs 1, 7, 12, 
13 and 14.  
29 This revision included  Iceland and North Macedonia as co -sponsors to the submission.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  22  AN INCLUSIVE APPROAC H TO TRANSPARENCY AN D NOTIFICATION REQUI REMENTS 
IN THE WTO – COMMUNI CATION FROM THE AFRI CAN GROUP, CUBA AND INDIA 
(WT/GC/ M/179)  
22.1.   At the July meeting , the representative of South Africa introduced  the communication in 
document JOB/GC/218/Rev. 1 concerning "An Inclusive Approach to Transparency and Notification 
Requirements in the WTO " co-sponsored30 by the African Group ; Cuba an d India.  
22.2.   The representatives of India; Oman; Nigeria; Egypt; Benin (African Group) ; Uganda; Chad 
(LDCs); Costa Rica; Switzerland; Jamaica (ACP); Uruguay;  the European Union; Bangladesh; the 
United States; Japan; China; Norway; Canada; Thailand; Argentina; Sri Lanka; Indonesia; Pakistan; 
Turkey; Chile; Mexico; Chinese Taipei and the Plurinational State of Bolivia spoke. The 
representative of South Africa (African Group) again took the floor . The General Council took note 
of the statements.  
23  STATEMENT  DELIVERED  BY THE UNITED STATE S ON THE IMPORTANCE OF 
TRANSPARENCY IN WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT ( WT/GC/M/179  AND WT/GC/M/180 ) 
23.1.   At the July meeting, the United States made a statement on the importance of transparency 
in WTO Dispute Settlement and  recalled its proposal at the 1998 Ministerial Conference on opening 
all dispute settlement hearings to the public and making all submissions by the parties publicly 
available .  
23.2.   The representatives of the  Russian F ederation; Canada; Australia; Japan; Switzerland; 
Turkey; the European Union; South Africa; China; Norway; Peru; Indonesia and India spoke. The 
representative of the United States again took the floor . The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
23.3.   At the October  meeting, the representative of the United States presented the joint statement 
in document WT/GC/W/785  on the " Importance of Transparency in WTO Dispute Settlement " co-
sponsored by Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; Costa Rica; New Zealand; No rway; Singapore; 
Switzerland; Chinese Taipei and the United States .  
23.4.   The representative of Canada; Chinese Taipei; Switzerland; Colombia; Australia; Chile; Costa 
Rica; the European Union; Guatemala; Brazil; South Africa; China; Japan; Mexico; Norway; 
Indonesia; Peru; Ind ia and Argentina spoke. The representative of the United States again took the 
floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
24  EXPANDING THE SCOPE AND MANDATE FOR THE GENEVA WEEK  – STATEMENT BY 
ST. VINCENT AND THE GREN ADINES ON BEHALF OF TH E OECS AND COMMUNICA TION 
FROM SAINT LUCIA, SO LOMON ISLANDS AND VA NUATU (WT/GC/M/177 A ND 
WT/GC/M/180)  
24.1.   At the May31 meeting, the representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (OECS) made a 
statement on the  importance of  Geneva Week and proposed to broaden the scope of eligible 
participants . The representatives of  Dominica and Grenada spoke . The General Council took note of 
the statements.  
24.2.   At the October  meeting, the representative of St. Lucia (OECS)  introduced  the communication 
in WT/GC /W/781/Rev.1  on "Expanding the Scope and Mandate of the Geneva Week " co-sponsored32 
by Barbados;  Saint Lucia;  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;  Solomon Islands and Vanuatu .  
24.3.   The representatives of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Mauritius; Sri Lanka; Chad ( LDCs); 
Suriname; Bangladesh; Barbados; Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM); Benin (African Group); the 
                                                
30 The latest revision to the communication can be found in document JOB/GC/218/Rev.2 adding Oman 
to the list of co -sponsors.  
31 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the May meeting.  
32 The latest revision to the communication can be found in document WT/GC/W/781/Rev.2 adding Sri 
Lanka  to the list of co -sponsors.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  European Union; the United States; Guyana; Jamaica and Honduras spoke . The representative of 
St. Lucia (OECS) again took the floor . The General Council took no te of the statements.  
25  CHALLENGES POSED TO THE WTO BY NON -MARKE T POLICIES AND PRACT ICES – 
UNITED STATES (WT/GC /M/181)  
25.1.   At the December  meeting, the representative of the United States made a statement on the 
challenges posed to the WTO by non-market policies and practices .  
25.2.   The representatives of China; the European Union; Japan and Chinese Taipei spoke. The  
representatives of the  United States and China again took the floor.  The General Council took note 
of the statements.  
26  LDCS ' VIEWS ON W TO REFORM DISCUSSION S AND PROPOSALS – STATEMENT BY 
CHAD ON BEHALF OF TH E LDC GROUP  (WT/GC/M/181)  
26.1.   At the December  meeting,  the representative of Chad (LDCs) introduced this item including 
the communication of the LDC Group in JOB/GC/223 and JOB/GC/223/Corr. 1 entitled " LDC Views 
on WTO Reform Discussions and Proposals ".  
26.2.   The representatives of Canada; the European Union; South Africa; Afghanistan; Cambodia; 
the United States; India; Benin (African Group) and Jamaica (ACP) spoke. The representative of 
Chad (LD Cs) again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
27  STATEMENT IN SUPPORT  OF THE RULES -BASED MULTILATERAL TRADING  SYSTEM – 
STATEMENT BY SWITZER LAND  (WT/GC/M/181)  
27.1.   At the December  meeting,  the representative of  Switzerland introduced this item including 
the statement entitled " Statement in  support of the rules-based multilateral trading system " co-
sponsored by Afghanistan; Argentina; Australia; Benin; Bangladesh; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; 
Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Chad; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; the Dominican 
Republic; Egypt; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Jama ica; 
Kenya; the Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liechtenstein; 
Malawi; Malaysia; Mali; Mauritania; Mexico;  the Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; 
Myanmar; New Zealand; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Paki stan, Panama; Paraguay; Peru; 
Qatar; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and The Grenadines; Senegal; Singapore; 
Switzerland; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Ukraine; Uruguay; Vanuatu and Viet Nam  and 
subsequently circulated in  documen t WT/GC/203 . 
27.2.   The representatives of Mongolia; Trinidad and Tobago; Chinese Taipei; Japan; the European 
Union; Uruguay; Thailand; Hong Kong, China; Malaysia; Cambodia; Norway; South Africa; Chad; 
the United States; Israel; Jamaica; Afghanistan; Argentina; I ndia; Honduras; Qatar; Cameroon and 
the Russian Federation spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
28  EUROPEAN UNION – SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON I NDICA RICE FROM CAMB ODIA – 
REQUEST FROM CAMBODI A (WT/GC/M/177)  
28.1.   At the May meeting,  the representative  of Cambodia made a statement concerning the 
European Union 's withdrawal of DFQF market access under the EBA scheme for its Indica Rice by 
imposing a safeguard duty under EU Regulation 2019/67. The representatives of Thailand; Chad 
(LDCs); Myanmar; Yemen; Afghanistan; China and Benin spoke . The representative of the European 
Union made a statement. The General Council took note of the statements.  
29  SPS AGRICULTURE ISSU ES – STATEMENT BY CA NADA (WT/GC/M/177)  
29.1.   At the May meeting,  the representative of  Canada raised concerns on the suspension by China 
of two Canadian establishments from exporting Canadian canola seeds for not meeting China's 
import requirements and increased inspection of imports of canola seeds from other Canadian 
companies.  The representative of China provided a response and noted that it intended to continue 
to discuss the matter with Canada in the SPS Committee.  The General Council took note of the 
statements.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  30  TRADE RESTRICTIVE ME ASURES BY BRAZIL – STATEMENT BY ECUADOR 
(WT/GC/M/177)  
30.1.   At the May meeting,  the representative of Ecuador raised concerns on Brazil's suspension of 
imports of bananas from Ecuador on the basis of alleged presence of the bract mosaic virus that 
could contaminate Brazilian banana plantations. The representative of Brazil said that the decision 
to suspend such imports was based on the adoption of phytosanitary measures necessary to 
preserve plant life and could be more fruitfully discussed in the SPS Committee.  The General Council 
took note of the statements.  
31  EXPORT RESTRIC TIVE MEASURES BY JAP AN – STATEMENT BY TH E REPUBLIC OF 
KOREA (WT/GC/M/179)  
31.1.   At the July meeting,  the representative of the  Republic of Korea raised  concerns on Japan's 
tightening of export controls on three materials — fluorinated polyimide, hydrogen fluorid e and 
photoresist – which were essential for the production of Korean semiconductors. The representative 
of Japan said that the measure was part of its operational review of export controls to prevent the 
proliferation of certain goods for national securit y purposes. The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
32  WTO OPEN DAY – STATE MENT BY THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL (WT/GC/M/17 6) 
32.1.   At the February33 meeting, the Director -General announced that there would be a WTO Open 
Day on 16 June (Sunday) and invited everyone  to participate in the day's activities.  The General 
Council took note of the Director -General's statement.  
33  US TRADE RESTRICTIVE  MEASURES ON THE ICT  INDUSTRY – STATEMEN T BY CHINA 
(WT/GC/M/179)  
33.1.   At the July34 meeting, the representative of China raised  concer ns on the US Executive Order 
on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain, and its 
announcement of putting relevant Chinese companies into the export control "Entity List". The 
representative of the United States stressed that WTO Councils and Committees were not 
appropriate venues to discuss issues of national security.  The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
34  G20 OSAKA SUMMIT AND  THE G20 MINISTERIAL  MEETING ON TRADE AN D DIGITAL 
ECONOMY – STATEMENT BY JAPAN (W T/GC/M/179)  
34.1.   At the July35 meeting,  the representative of Japan provided a report on the  G20 Osaka Summit 
and the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy in Tsukuba  and referred to the 
respective Declarations circulated in WT/L/1066 and WT/L/106 7. The General Council took note of 
the statement.  
35  EIGHTH CHINA ROUND T ABLE ON WTO ACCESSIO NS – STATEMENT BY TH E RUSSIAN 
FEDERATION (WT/GC/M/ 181)  
35.1.   At the December36 meeting,  the Russian Federation made a statement on the Eighth China 
Round Table on WTO Accessions hosted in Moscow by the Russian Government on 4 -5 December .37 
China spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
                                                
33 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the February meeting.  
34 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at t he July meeting.  
35 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  
36 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the December meeting.  
37 See also WT/ACC/35 – WT/GC/204 – WT/MIN(20)/1 . WT/GC/205  
 
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  36  COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  FINANCE AND ADMINIS TRATION  
36.1  Reports and Recommendations (WT/GC/M/177  and WT/GC/M/181 ) 
36.1.   At the May meeti ng, the General Council  considered the report by the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration on its meeting in March (WT/BFA/17 8), took note of the CBFA Chair's 
statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific recommendation in paragraph 9.7 of 
WT/BFA/178 and adopted the report.  
36.2.   At the December  meeting,  the Chair man of the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration  introduced the reports of the CBFA in documents WT/BFA/179 , WT/BFA/180, 
WT/BFA/181, WT/BFA/182 and  WT/BFA/ 183, including the Committee's recommendations. The 
representatives of China and the European Union spoke. The General Council took note of the 
statements, approved the Budget Committee's specific recommendations contained in 
paragraph  3.37 of WT/BFA/180; paragraphs 4.6 and 7.3 of WT/BFA/181; paragraphs 1.24 and 2.4 
of WT/BFA/182 and paragraphs 3.11, 4.13 and 1.100 of WT/BFA/183  and adopted the reports . The 
Director -General then took the floor.  
37  WTO PENSION PLAN  
37.1  Reports (WT/GC/M/179)  
37.1.   At the July meeting,  the Chair of the Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan introduced 
the Annual Report of the Management Board for 201 8 contained in document WT/L/10 60, and the 
Report of the Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the Financial Statements o f the WTOPP 
in document WT/L/10 64. The General Council took note of the Annual Report of the Management 
Board for 201 8, the Report of the Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the Financial 
Statements of the WTOPP, and the WTOPP Chair's statement.  
37.2  Election of Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Management Board 
(WT/GC/M/1 79 and WT/GC/M/181 ) 
37.2.   Article  4(a) of the Regulations of the WTO Pension Plan provides, inter alia , for the election 
by the General Council of a Chairperson, four members and f our alternates to the Management 
Board of the Pension Plan, each for a three -year term.  
37.3.   At the July meeting,  the Chair recalled the process of consultations that had been undertaken 
regarding the vacancy in the WTOPP Management Board announced through a co mmunication sent 
to delegations in May.  On the basis of this process, she suggested that the candidate proposed in 
document WT/GC/W/775, Ms. Kelly Milton (United States), be elected to the Management Board as 
a Member . The General Council so agreed.  The d ecision was subsequently circulated in WT/L/1068 . 
37.4.   At the December  meeting, the Chair recalled the process of consultations that had been 
undertaken regarding the vacancy in the WTOPP Management Board announced through a 
communication sent to delegations in  September. On the basis of this process, she suggested that 
the candidate proposed in document WT/GC/W/7 86, Mr. Rob Cook (United Kingdom) , be elected to 
the Management Board as a Member . The General Council so agreed.  The decision was subsequently 
circula ted in  WT/L/1086 . 
38  ADMINISTRATIVE MEASU RES FOR MEMBERS IN A RREARS  (WT/GC/M/176; 
WT/GC/M/177 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
In October  2012, the General Council approved a recommendation from the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration regarding revised Administrative Measures for Members in 
arrears, as contained in WT/BFA/132, Annex I. These new revised Measures entered into for ce on 
1 January 2013. These Measures required that at the end of each meeting of the General Council, 
the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration should provide information 
with regard to which Members and Observers were under Ad ministrative Measures; and, the General 
Council Chairperson would request Members and Observers in Categories II and III to inform the 
Secretariat as to when the payment of arrears might be expected.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  38.2.   At the General Council meetings in February , May, July, October  and December38, the Chair 
of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration provided information with regard to which 
Members were under Administrative Measures and the Chair made the said request to Members and 
Observers in Categories II and I II. The  General Council took note of the statements.  
39  INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/WTO – REPORT OF THE JOINT ADVISORY 
GROUP ON ITS 5 3RD SESSION  (WT/GC/M/181)  
39.1.   At the December  meeting, the General Council considered a report of the Joint Advisory Group 
on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Fifty -Third Session (ITC/AG(LIII)/276), which 
had been considered initially by the Committee on Trade and Development at its meeting on 
22 November where it had been presented by the Chair of the Joint Advisory Group, 
Ambassador  Terhi Katriina Hakala  (Finland ). The CTD Chair made a statement on the Committee's 
consideration  of the report.  The representative s of Trinidad and Tobago (CARICOM); Benin (African 
Group); the European Union and the International Trade Centre (Observer)  spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the CTD Chair's statement  and of the other statements, and  adopted the report 
of the Joint Advisory Group.  
40  REVIEW OF WTO ACTIVI TIES (WT/GC/M/181)  
40.1.   At the December  meeting, the General Council co nsidered Annual Reports for 2019  from WTO 
bodies that had been drawn up in pursuance of the Decision concerning procedures for an annual 
overview of WTO activities and for reporting under the  WTO in document WT/L/105.  
40.2.   The General Council took note of the  Chair's  statement, adopted the report of the Committee 
on Trade and Development in document WT/COMTD/ 99 and  took note of the reports of other WTO 
bodies, including the reports of the bodies un der the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, in documents 
WT/TPR/ 440, G/L/ 1343, S/C/ 59, IP/C/ 85, G/L/1344, G/L/1341,  G/L/1346,  G/L/1340, WT/CTE/ 26, 
WT/BOP/R/ 117, WT/BFA/184, WT /REG/ 30, WT/WGTDF/ 18, WT/WGTTT/ 21, GPA/ AR/2, and 
WT/L/ 1071.  
40.3.   The General Council then adopted the draft Annual Report for 2019 of the General Council 
(WT/GC/W/788), on the understanding that the Secretariat would make the necessary adjustments 
to include matters considered at that meeting.  
41  APPOINTMENT OF OFFIC ERS TO WTO BODIES  (WT/GC/M /176 ; WT/GC/M/179 ; 
WT/GC/M/180  AND WT/GC/M/181 ) 
41.1.   At the February  meeting,  the Chair recalled that in accordance with the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies approved by the General Council in 2002 (WT/L/510), and 
the related practical steps  to improve their implementation (JOB/GC/22), he, together with the Chair 
of the Dispute Settlement Body, Ambassador Sunanta Kangvalkulkij (Thailand), had conducted 
consultations on a slate of names for the appointment of Chairpersons to WTO regular bodies  listed 
in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the Guidelines . In addition, they had also consulted on the 
appointment of new Chairpersons for the CTD SS , CTE SS  and DSB SS . The process had included an 
informal open -ended Heads of Delegation meeting which  had been held on 26 February where he 
had provided an account of the process and where he had shared with delegations the slate of names 
where there appeared to be consensus.  
41.2.   Regarding  the WTO regular bodies, he inform ed deleg ations that, on the basis of  those 
consultations, there had been  consensus on the following slate of names on WTO regular bodies in 
Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5:  
General Council  H.E. Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij (Thailand)  
 
Dispute Settlement Body  
 H.E. Dr. David Walker (New Zealand)  
                                                
38 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the February, May, July, October and December 
meetings.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  Trade Policy Review Body  
 H.E. Mr. Manuel Teehankee (Philippines)  
 
Council for Trade in Goods  
 H.E. Mr. José Luis Cancela (Uruguay)  
 
Council for Trade in Services  
 H.E. Mr. Geert Muylle (Belgium)  
 
Council for TRIPS  
 H.E. Mr. Lundeg Purevsuren (Mongolia)  
 
Committee on Trade and Development  
 H.E. Mr. Chad Blackman (Barbados)  
 
Committee on Balance -of-Payments 
Restrictions  H.E. Ms. Cheryl K. Spencer (Jamaica)  
 
Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration  H.E. Mr. Dagfinn Sørli (Norway)  
 
Committee on Trade and Environment  
 Mr. Jean -Marie Paugam (France)  
 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
 H.E. Mr. Carlos Mario Foradori (Argentina)  
 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance  
 H.E. Mr. Refiloe Litjobo (Lesotho)  
 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of 
Technology  
 H.E. Dr. Rashidi Said (Malaysia)  
41.3.   Concerning the negotiating bodies, consultations showed that there was consensus on the 
following appointments:  
Committee on Trade and Development in 
Special Session  H.E. Mr. François Xavier Ngarambe (Rwanda)  
Committee on Trade and Environment in 
Special Session  H.E. Mr. Leopold Samba (Central African 
Republic)  
 
41.4.   Additionally, upon departure of the current Chair, Ambassador Coly Seck (Senegal), there 
was consensus that the Chairmanship of the Dispute Settlement Body in Special Session (DSB SS) 
would be taken over by H.E. Mr. Kokou Yackoley Johnson (Togo) . The Chair  then recalled that 
appointm ents for the regular bodies would be for one year  in keeping with  the general rule in the 
Guidelines.  All appointments would be made formally by the WTO bodies concerned at the ir 
subsequent meetings in 2019. The General Council took note of the consensus on the slate of names 
for the appointment of officers in the WTO b odies and of the Chair's statement.  
41.5.   On behalf of t he Chairs of the CTG and CTS , the Chair  made a statement on the consultations 
on the Chairmanships of the subsidiary bodies  of the two Councils  in accordance with the relevant 
guidelines.  The General Council took note of the  Chair's statement.  
41.6.   At the July39 meeting,  the Chair advised Members that the appointment process for the Chair 
of the Negotiating Group on Rules was still ongoing and the proc ess for appointing the CTD SS Chair 
would soon commence . The General Council took note of the Chair's statement.  
41.7.   At the October40 meeting, the representative of Ecuador (GRULAC) made a statement on the 
Chairmanship of the Negotiating Group on Rules. The rep resentatives of Mongolia (Asian Group of 
Developing Members) and Benin (African Group) also spoke . The Chair appealed on all delegations' 
                                                
39 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  
40 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the October meeting.  WT/GC/205  
 
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  sense of responsibility as she stood ready to continue to consult and assist them in the process.  The 
General Council took note of the statements.  
41.8.   At the December  meeting, the Chair said that in accordance with the Guidelines for the 
Appointment of Officers to WTO bodies in document WT/L/510 and the practical steps to improve 
the implementation of the Guidelines (JOB/GC/2 2), she would be starting the selection process for 
the appointment of chairpersons to the WTO bodies in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Annex to the 
Guidelines. In accordance with paragraph 7.1(b) of the Guidelines, she would be assisted in the 
selection proc ess by the serving Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, Ambassador David Walker 
(New Zealand). The General Council took note of the statement which had been made pursuant to 
the Guidelines for the Appointment of Officers.  
42  ELECTION OF CHAIRPER SON (WT/GC/M/ 176)  
42.1.   At the February  meeting,  the Chair, as the outgoing presiding officer of the General Council, 
made a statement. The General Council then unanimously elected H.E. Ambassador Sunanta 
Kangvalkulkij (Thailand)  to the Chair.   
42.2.   The Director -General and the newly -elected Chair spoke. The General Council took note of 
the statements.  
 
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