RESTRICTED  
  
WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
5 August  2021 
(21-6087) Page: 1/14 
Committee on Trade and Development  
115th Session    
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 28 JUNE  2021 
Chairman: H.E. Dr Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
B. OBSERVERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  2 
(I) Request for attendance of ad hoc  observers  ................................ ................................ ... 2 
(II) Further consideration of requests for observer status by the League of Arab States, 
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial 
Consulting, the Organisation International e de la Francophonie, the Common Fund for 
Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the  
Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement  ................................ ................................ .... 2 
C. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  ................................ ..............................  2 
(I) WTO Technical Assistance Annual Report 2020 (WT/COMTD/W/259)  ................................ . 2 
(II)  Preparations for the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2022 -2023 – 
Briefing by the I nstitute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC)  ................................ ....... 2 
D. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – WORK IN THE COMMITTEE ON THE BASIS OF  
THE CHAIRM AN'S CONCLUDING STATEMENT FROM THE EIGHTH MINISTERIAL 
CONFERENCE (WT/MIN(11)/11)  ................................ ................................ ......................  7 
(I) Committee on Trade and Development Mandate: Focal Point for Consideration and 
Coordination of Work on Development in the WTO – Proposal from Barbados, Belize, China,  
Cuba, Ecuador, India, and the African Group (WT/COMTD/W/208)  ................................ .............  7 
(II) Operationalization of the CTD's Mandate: A Proposal to Deliver Outcomes based on  
the MC8 Mandate - Proposal from China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the Afr ican Group 
(WT/COMTD/W/192)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  7 
E. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE  ................................ .....................  9 
(I)  Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC) Notification of Customs Union – Communication from  
China, Egypt and India (WT/COMTD/W/175)  ................................ ................................ ...........  9 
F. REVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET 
ACCESS TO LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ................................ ................................ ..... 10 
G. WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE  ................................ ..................  11 
H. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING ................................ ................................ ..................  12 
I. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 12 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairman  said that the draft agenda for the 115th Regular Session of the Committee on 
Trade and Development (CTD)  was contained in Airgram  WTO/AIR/COMTD/23/Rev.1 of 
18 June 2021. He recalled that, at the last meeting  of the CTD, he  had indicated his intention to hold 
informal consultations in small groups on expectations for the CTD in the current year. For WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 2 - 
 
  transparency purposes, he wished  to make an intervention under "Other Business " to brief the 
Committee on the informal consultations that he had  held in this regard .  
2. The agenda was adopted , as amended . 
B. OBSERVERS   
(I) Request  for attendance of ad hoc  observers  
3. The Chairman  recalled that, at previous sessions of the CTD, Members had agreed to invite a 
number of intergovernmental organizations on an ad hoc  meeting -by-meeting basis. These were the  
Arab Maghreb Union, the Economic Community of Central African States, the  Economi c Community 
of West African States, the Economic Cooperation Organization , the  Inter-Arab Investment 
Guarantee Corporation, the Islamic Development Bank, the  African  Union, the Organization  of the 
Islamic Conference, the South Centre, the  Pacific  Islands  Forum, the United Nations Environment 
Programme, the  West African  Economic and Monetary Union, and the World Intellectual Property 
Organization.  These organizations had been invited to the p resent meeting. He proposed that the 
same organizations be invited to the next formal meeting of the CTD.  
4. It was so agreed . 
(II) Further consideration of requests for observer status by the Le ague of Arab States, 
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countrie s (OPEC) , the Gulf Organization for 
Industrial Consulting, the Organi sation Internationale de la Francophonie , the Common 
Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) 
and the Groupe de la Banque Afr icaine de Développement  
5. The Chairman  said that the positions of delegations had been previously expressed. 
He inquired whether there were any changes in Members' positions on these requests for observer 
status.  
6. No Member took the floor.  
7. The Chairman  noted that there were no changes in Members' positions , and that there was 
therefore  no consensus at the present  time to approve these requests for observer status . He 
suggested that the Committee take note and  revert to these requests at the next meeting.  
8. It was so agreed . 
C. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
(I) WTO Technical Assistance Annual Report 2020 (WT/COMTD/W/259)  
(II)  Preparations for the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2022 -2023 – 
Briefing by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC)  
9. The Chairman  said that there were two sub -items reflected under the present  agenda item  
concerning tec hnical assistan ce (TA) . There was firstly the Technical Assistance Annual Report 
(TA Report) for 2020, which was contained in document WT/COMTD/W/259. The second sub -item 
concern ed a briefing by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) on preparations 
for the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan  (TA Plan)  for 2022 -2023.  He invited the 
representatives of the ITTC to make a brief presentation on the two i ssues  together . 
10. The presentation by the ITTC first touched upon the TA Report  for 2020.  The 
ITTC representative said that t he report took into account the fact that a large part of the data and 
figures on TA were now available online , in real time , through the TA dashboards . As a result of the 
availability of a significant amount of data online, the report had  been refocused  so as to present a 
dynamic picture of the WTO 's TA programmes and the results for the year . This was done based on 
testimonies , examples and case studies  from beneficiaries , with the objective of presenting the 
information in a user -friendly way. The first  chapter of the report  was on the evolution and the 
management of resources. This chapter  presented the four Key  Results which were identified in the WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 3 - 
 
  TA Plan for 2020 -2021. Key Result 1 promote d governments ' implementation of WTO Agreements 
and the full  realization of Members ' rights and obligations . Complementing Key Result 1  were 
three  additional Key Results focused on supporting the accession of new Members  to the WTO  
(Key Result  2), encourag ing universities and economic institutions on their work related to trade  
(Key Result 3) , and promot ing the understanding of WTO work among other non -governmental  
stakeholders  (Key Result 4) . He noted that 2020 had not been a normal year, in light of the 
COVID -19 pandemic. Nevertheless, in the course of the year, the Secretariat had  pursued the 
development of the TA management system , which  was a tool to help organ ize TA and to measure 
outcomes. New tools had been put in place to receive  request s for national TA activities  by 
beneficiaries , and the TA dashboards  and been developed . New tools had also been created to help 
organize virtual activities, which were put in place in the second half of the year. In 2020,  while 
online WTO courses were available throughout the year , in-person activities were suddenly stopped 
in mid -March . Thes e were progressively and partially replaced with virtual activities, particularly  in 
the second half of the year. Less TA activities than expected  were therefore organized . However, 
since virtual activities could  reach a broader audience than in -person act ivities, it had been possible 
to make up for a more limited number of in -person TA  activities and train approximately 
15,000  participants , which was the same number as in 2019. In March 2020, travel had also been 
halted , which  had resulted in significant financial savings. The major costs in 2020  were linked to 
staff and consultants , as well as  to the internship programmes.  
11. The second chapter of the report was concerned with the evolution of the curriculum and 
participation of benef iciaries in TA activities. The chapter  outlined  the various types of adaptation s 
that the Secretariat had made in 2020 in order to continue to support beneficiaries, despite the 
major challenges caused by the pandemic . He believed that Members and the Secr etariat had been 
successful in addressing these unexpected challenges , in particular by being able to maintain the 
relevance and the volume of TA activities.  He went on to say that t he third chapter of the report was 
concerned with prioritizing inclusion. The focus on this chapter was on efforts to foster the 
participation of least developed countries ( LDCs) in the multilateral trading system (MTS) , which 
remain ed one of the key priorities of the WTO TA programmes , as well as on effo rts to promote  the 
participation of women in TA  activities with the objective of coming closer to gender parity. Another 
aspect of inclusion was to promote the offer of trilingual TA that respect ed the linguistic preferences 
of Members.  Turning to the four th chapter of the report, he said that this chapter  was concerned 
with results and impact. While the details of the results measured  for 2020 were contained in 
Annex  1, the chapter  presented some of these results.  In this regard, he said that s ome 86% of 
activities focused on Key Result 1, while Key Results 2 represented 12% of activities . At an 
aggregated level, the WTO 's TA fully met 53% of its planned targets and partially met 12%  of them.  
Although t hese figures were considerably lower than in previous years , they were satisfactory given 
the unprecedented  circumstances.  He also noted that the fourth chapter provided  detailed 
information about the positive  results obtained  in a number of areas . As examples, he pointed to a 
decrease in the number of outstanding notifications, as well as  enhanced participation in WTO work . 
He also noted  that some accession processes had continued, and  that the internship programmes 
had not been impacted by the pandemic . In addition, he pointed to the positive impact  of the second 
phase of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP).   
12. The presentation by the ITTC went on to address the preparations for the Biennial TA Plan for 
2022-2023. The ITTC representative said that it had been the practice for many years for Members 
to consi der biennial TA Plans in the CTD . These p lans define d the strategy and identifie d the priorities 
that would  be followed by the Secretariat over the period  in question . They anticipate d results, as 
well as mechanisms for implementation and sources of fundin g for the activities. The intention f or 
the 2022 -2023 period  was to build on the work carried out under previous TA Plans , while at the 
same time adapting the TA offer to the evolving needs of the MTS, and Members and Observers. It 
was also the intention t o incorporate lessons learned over the past years, and especially over the 
past months in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic. Th e new TA Plan was being developed in the 
context of economic uncertainty, compounded by the effects of the pandemic. As had been noted 
earlier, the Secretariat's ability to organize face -to-face TA activities, whether in Geneva or abroad, 
had been severely limited  since March 2020. Travel and meeting restrictions, as well as lockdowns 
and other similar measures, ha d affecte d the Secretariat 's ability to supply TA. There were similar 
constraints o n the demand side . In addition, limitations on access to computer equipment and 
reliable internet connection, especially for government officials forced to work from home, ha d 
affect ed the capacity of beneficiaries to request and to benefit from TA activities. These factors ha d 
had an unequal impact on access to TA across beneficiaries , and beneficiaries with a high er need for 
TA often also face d comparatively higher challenges. H owever, the reasons that had justified the WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 4 - 
 
  development of the WTO TA programme over the years remained , and had acquired a new urgency. 
The 2022-2023 TA Plan  therefore intend ed to focus on the needs of beneficiaries and reflect the 
priorities and mandates adop ted by Members. Ownership by beneficiaries ensure d the efficacy and 
sustainability of TA programmes, as beneficiaries were best placed to determine their own needs. 
As part of the preparation of the TA Plan, the Secretariat ha d consulted beneficiaries thro ugh special 
questionnaires. Responses had been received from 73 beneficiaries, which represent ed 
approximately 56% of potential beneficiaries. This was slightly higher than the 71 responses that 
had been received  two years ago in the context of  the TA Plan  currently being implemented . An 
informal meeting would be held on 21 July  2021 to provide  information to all Members and Observers 
on the responses received , as well as to present the new features that had recently been added to 
the TA dashboards . 
13. He went  on to say that t he 2022 -2023 TA Plan would maintain the overall strategy and 
approach adopted by previous TA Plans , and would continue to give priority to activities supporting 
Members' efforts to implement WTO Agreements. The overall design of th e Plan was mainly guided 
by two strategies , which were Results -Based Management (RBM) and the Progressive Learning 
Strategy  (PLS) . The Plan would be structured around  the four Key Results  that had been referred to 
earlier in the presentation.  It would be explain ed in the Plan  how the se four Key Results w ould be 
pursued over the 2022 -2023 biennium , taking into consideration Members' needs. Due to the current 
uncertainty over how factors related to COVID -19 would  affect the request and delivery of 
TA activities over the next months, the Plan intend ed to provide indicators, baselines, and targets 
to be used to measure the attainment of the Key Results in different scenarios . One scenario looked 
at what could  be reasonably accomplish ed, assuming that the current conditions that negatively 
affect ed TA activities would  be progressively overcome in the 20 22-2023 period . A second scenario 
addressed what could be  accomplish ed if the current conditions that negatively affect ed TA activities 
continue d during all or most of the 2022 -2023 period . The delivery of the WTO's TA would continue 
to be designed to assi st developing countries, and especially LDCs. Special attention would also  
continue to be given to Members and Observers without representation in Geneva. At the same time, 
the Secretariat w ould continue developing and strengthening its pedagogical methods  – including 
with respect to the means of delivery  – with the aim of improving the learning process, knowledge 
transfer and retention. The pandemic -related limitations ha d provided both the Secretariat and 
beneficiaries a better understanding of the opport unities and limitations that remote measures  
offered for the delivery of TA to address training needs. There were certain necessary preconditions 
for participants to benefit to the fullest extent from remote training opportunities. The Secretariat 
intend ed to use the experience of the past months to make a more efficient and flexible use of 
different methods of delivery of TA activities, and to increase participation and interactivity  – 
especially so as  to make an optimal use of financial, human , and enviro nmental resources, as well 
as to foster the well -being and productivity of trainers and participants. The Secretariat intend ed to 
maintain its use of partnerships, which add ed value to the TA provided by the WTO . As was the case  
in previous periods, the Se cretariat was commit ted to promoting fully inclusive activities that 
respond ed to the needs of the weakest and most vulnerable beneficiaries . This would be done by 
strengthening the participation of LDCs in TA activities ; by addressing gender imbalances in  
TA participation; and by continuing to promote multilingualism and the use of the three  WTO working 
languages in TA activities.  
14. The Chairman  said that, b efore opening the floor,  he wished to provide some updated 
information regarding the  third phase of the WCP. This followed from the intervention  that he  had 
made at the last meeting, which had been shared with all delegations. He recalled that, as part of 
his intervention  at the last meeting , he had indicated that the Knowledge Management  Division 
(KMD) of the Secretariat would coordinate the selection process for the third phase of the 
programme. In terms of a further update, he said that the KMD ha d advised that the selection 
process was well under way. The assessment of applications by a cross -cutting team from seven 
divisions at the WTO was very advanced. A series of meetings with the programme's Academic 
Advisory Board of renowned experts reviewing applications was ongoing. A further update would  be 
provided to the CTD at the next meet ing. 
15. The representative of the Republic of Korea  thanked the ITTC for the annual report  and the 
information prov ided. He also t hanked the Chairman for the update provided on the WCP. His 
delegation recognized the importance of training the trainers , and ensur ing that academia around 
the world  was more conver sant with WTO law.  WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 5 - 
 
  16. The representative of China  expressed appreciation to t he ITTC for the annual report  and the 
presentation . Her delegation was pleased to see that the information  in the report  was presented 
using a new  user-friendly  approach, with more graphs and storytelling. She congratulate d the ITTC 
for its success in 2020, despite the severe disruptions caused by the COVID -19 pandemic , and 
appreciate d the  efforts of the Secretariat to ensure the continued delivery of TA activities in 
innovative ways and maintain the volume and relevance of the activities. She said that China ha d 
been working closely with the Secretariat in the past ten year s, under the China Programme , with 
the aim to facilitate the accession of LDCs to the WTO and support their integration into the global 
economy. China appreciate d the prof essionalism of the Secretariat , and look ed forward to continued 
cooperation in the years ahead.  She went on to say that , on many occasions, it had been noted that 
the pandemic ha d hit developing Members, and especially LDCs , the hardest. Her delegation saw  
the value of TA activities in helping these countries  better respond to the pandemic and recover 
quickly from the economic downturn. In this regard, t he ITTC's work  was more crucial than ever  
before . She noted the progress in the TA Plan for 202 2-2023, and hope d that more  targeted 
assistance could be provided this year and beyond,  so as to better serve the needs and interests of 
developing Members, and especially LDCs.  
17. The representative of Chad, on be half of the LDC Group , indicated  that he wished to express 
appreciation for th e work of the ITTC, including in the context of the presentation that was made. 
He believed  that the percentage of planned targets met  in 2020  was very positive, given the 
circumstances. However, many planned TA activities had not been held , due to travel restrictions 
and other constraints. The LDC Group wished to reiterate the request that the se activities  be 
completed without reducing the entitleme nt to future TA.  He noted that  the inability to hold 
face-to-face activities during the pandemic had proven  particularly difficult for LDCs , given their 
limited telecommunications  and related  infrastructure . The delivery of TA exclusively through virtual 
means was therefore not a solution, and was also not desirable, given the importance of physical 
interaction for communication and negotiations.  The best approach would be to have a mixture of 
virtual and physi cal TA activities. In the context of virtual TA activities, he  wondered whether the 
Secretariat had carried out an evaluation of the impact of these  activities, particularly with regard 
to LDCs. He also  observed that it would be useful if experts from the Secretariat could start trave lling 
once again to beneficiary countries  – and in particular LDCs – to deliver TA . In this regard , he 
inquired  whether the Secretariat had started planning any physical TA activities, either in Geneva or 
in capitals.   
18. The repr esentative of Guatemala  expressed her delegation's appreciation for the work of the 
Secretariat, and especially that of the ITTC. She noted that considerable efforts had been made to 
improve the information contained in reports to Members  and congratulate d the ITTC on the new 
format of the annual report, which ha d greatly improved its readability and presentation. Guatemala 
had taken  part in the consultations on possible improvements to the report, and she believe d that 
her delegation's  sugges tions were reflected in the final version . The Secretariat was encourage d to 
maintain  the new format . She took note that TA -related data were available online, and indicated 
that her delegation would attend the informal meeting on 21  July 2021 where  inform ation on this 
data would be presented.  As far as the content of the annual report wa s concerned, she observed 
that the COVID -19 pandemic had had a significant impact on TA activities. She encourage d the 
Secretariat to continue implementing the TA Plan, including by using available virtual tools . She 
explained that, a lthough vaccination campaigns were making progress , developing countries were 
still not free of the virus and travel restrictions could therefore continue . She also noted with concern 
that voluntary contributions for TA had reached a new record low. Her delegation hoped that this 
fall in contributions was a consequence of the pandemic and that donations would  return to normal 
levels , in particular given that the regular budget only cover ed 12% of TA costs, with the remain der 
relying  on voluntary contributions.  
19. The representative of Nepal  thanked the ITTC for the briefing provided, and for the annual 
report. His delegation believed  that the activities conducted through the ITTC  were extremely useful 
for building the capacity of trade officials in developing countries and LDCs . Furthermore, the efforts 
by the ITTC to continue with the activities through the pandemic were highly commendable. Thanks 
to these efforts, the WTO internship programme could continue, and interns ha d been able to  
contribute to the work of missions with limited staff. He also indicated that in-person activities  would 
be more effective for LDCs and landlocked developing countries ( LLDCs ), as officials in these 
countries faced several  challenges to participate in virtual activities, due to limited internet access 
and logistic al constraints . In terms of preparations for the 2022 -2023 TA Plan, he said that he wished 
to make two requests. He noted firstly that  LDCs and LLDCs fac ed unique challenges and  difficulties WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 6 - 
 
  in their development endeavours, including in terms of participat ion in the global trading system . 
These groups of countries had also  been the hardest hit by the pandemic. While t he ITTC ha d been 
conducting regular programmes focusing on LDCs , it was rare to find capacity -building programmes 
focusing on LLDCs. He noted that 26 LLDCs were Members of the WTO, and an additional five were 
Observers negotiating their accession. He said that it wou ld be appreciated if a few capacity -building 
programmes could be dedicated to LLDCs, with a view to enhancing their capacity to address their 
unique challenges relat ing to trade. This ma tter could be further discussed at the informal meeting 
scheduled for 21 July  2021. He went on to say that his second request was concerned with LDC 
graduation. He observed that LDC graduation was a common global target and was part of the global 
agenda. A few LDCs ha d graduated, while a few more would be graduating in the near future , and 
some were on the path to graduation. Countries that graduated lost access to a wide range of 
international support measures , which could  create further challenges for them. He therefore 
indicated that it would be appreciated if a few capacity -building programmes could focus on  
LDC graduation . This would enable the countries  in question to take the necessary initiative s to 
ensure a  smooth transition , and would also help them with their trade sector developm ent so as to 
pursue a sustainable graduation. In closing, he expressed appreciation to the donors  for their 
contributions.  
20. The representative of the European Union  congratulat ed the ITTC for the new format for the 
annual report , which she said was more user-friendly than the previous format . Her delegation also 
wished  to commend the Secretariat for  having  relatively quick ly replac ed some of the suspended 
face-to-face activities  with virtual activities, which had allowed TA to continue through the pa ndemic . 
The European Union believe d that all Members should be able to participate effectively in the MTS 
and in the work of the WT O, and trade -related TA was an important factor in supporting developing 
Members , and especially LDCs , in that  regard . Her de legation  welcome d the continued focus on 
support to LDCs and Africa, and also welcome d the increased participation of LDCs in e -learning 
courses relative  to 2019. She expressed appreciation for the efforts by the Secretariat  – as well as 
by the beneficiari es – to increase participation  in TA activities , and to enhance the efficiency and 
impact of the activities. She also indicated that her delegation wished to see the activities targeting 
the main goals, and be ing kept within the planned budget. Her delegation looked forward to engaging 
in the process concerning preparation for the 2022 -2023 TA Plan, including in the context of the 
meeting scheduled for 21 July  2021. Finally, she thanked the Chairman for the update provided on 
the third phase of the WCP, and said that her delegation looked forward to hearing further updates 
from the Chairman on the programme . 
21. The representative of Cuba expressed appreciation to the ITTC for the  information provided, 
and for having fo und ways to deal with the challenges posed by  the pandemic. He said that Cuba 
faced infrastructure and connectivity problems , and also faced a blockade for access to some 
platforms which made it difficult to benefit from  TA. However, the ITTC had found pragmatic 
solutions which had allowed his colleagues to access  TA activities . He also commended the ITTC for 
having outlined potential scenarios in the preparation of the 2022-2023 TA Plan, which was an 
approach that allowed for adap tation and learning from existing  situations.  
22. The representative of the United States  congratulated the Secretariat on the annual report, 
which was well structured, interactive, and easy to consult. The report effectively illustrate d 
high-impact TA activities and clearly o utline d how beneficiary countries use d WTO resources by 
giving voice to compelling stories and TA examples during a difficult year of readjusting to teaching 
and training remotely. As an entry point for countries to access WTO -related TA activities, her 
delegation believe d that  the ITTC should continue to refine its reporting through the new 
e-Dashboard, as an effective tool to give Members ' access to real -time TA data. She welcome d the 
time and resources the Secretariat had invested in launching this effort. Her delegation  also took 
note that the number of outstanding notifications relating to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) 
measures, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and trade -related aspects of intellectual property rights 
(TRIPS) continued to fall in 2020, also thanks to the use of electronic notification tools and 
databases. Members needed to explore how digital tools and distance learning innovations c ould 
continue as the pande mic subside d. Turning to the preparations for 2022-2023 TA Plan, she said 
that her delegation appreciated the briefing by the ITTC, and  looked forward to further engagement 
and discussions on this.  
23. The representative of the ITTC said that he would respond  to the two questions posed by 
Chad. With regard to assessing the impact of virtual TA activities on LDC s, he said that the only 
assessment that had taken place of a virtual activity so far was the assessment of a regional course WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 7 - 
 
  for Caribbean countries , which did not have any participation from LDCs. T he assessment had shown 
that, while it was possible to hold some activities virtually,  there were also certain difficulties  
associated with the organization of virtual activities . For example, during th e activity for the 
Caribbean countries, a tornado in the region had caused power  cuts in some of the participating 
countries. Such eventualities were difficult to predict in adv ance. He also noted that a virtual regional 
course for English -speaking African countries was currently being organized, and some LDCs would 
be participating in this course.  He next turned to the question regarding  when in -person activities in 
LDCs would b e organized. On this matter, he said that Secretariat regulations did not permit any 
travel for TA purposes at the present time. Furthermore, while health -related restrictions were being 
relaxed in some countries, there were still many restrictions in plac e in other countries including in 
LDCs. Therefore , for the moment, it was not possible to give an indication of when in -person 
activities in LDCs would resume.  
24. The Committee took note of the WTO Technical Assistance Annual Report for 2020  and of all 
interventions.  
D. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – WORK IN THE COMMITTEE ON THE BASIS OF THE 
CHAIRMAN'S CONCLUDING STATEMENT FROM THE EIGHTH MINISTERIAL 
CONFERENCE (WT/MIN(11)/11)  
(I) Committee on Trade and Development Mandate: Focal Point for Considerati on and 
Coordination of Work on Development in the WTO – Proposal from Barbados, Belize, 
China, Cuba, Ecuador, India, and the African Group (WT/COMTD/W/208)  
(II) Operationalization of the CTD's Mandate: A Proposal to Deliver Outcomes based on the 
MC8 Manda te - Proposal from China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group 
(WT/COMTD/W/192 )1 
25. The Chairman  said that, at the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC8), Ministers had 
reaffirmed the positive link between trade and development and called for focused work in the CTD. 
Ministers had called on Members to fully operationalize the mandate of the CTD as a  focal point for 
development work. Two submissions containing proposals for work under the MC8 mandate were 
included on the agenda of the present meeting. The first submission – by Barbados, Belize, China, 
Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group  (WT/COM TD/W/208 ) – contained a proposal for the CTD 
to report on the development -related work taking place in other WTO bodies. The second  submission 
– by China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group  (WT/COMTD/W/192 ) – contained three 
proposals. In the order  they were presented in the document, the first proposal was for the 
Secretariat to continue to update its report on the implementation of the special and differential 
treatment ( S&D) provisions in the WTO  Agreements and Decisions. The second proposal was for the 
CTD to report on the development -related work taking place in other WTO bodies, while the 
third proposal was for the CTD to make a recommendation for parties to regional trade agreements 
(RTAs) to submit their notification and information requireme nts jointly. He noted that the 
two submissions had remained on the CTD's agenda for several years. At the last meeting , a number 
of the proponents had requested that the submissions be maintained on the agenda.  He indicated 
that he would first invite the proponents of the two submissions to brief the Committee on the status 
of the propos als, after which the floor would be opened for intervention s by other delegations . 
26. The representative of India indicated that his intervention related to b oth document 
WT/COMTD/W/208 and document WT/COMTD/W/192. He said that the two submissions, when taken 
together, contained three proposals. The first proposal, which was for the Secretariat to continue to 
update its report on the implementation of S&D provi sions in the WTO Agreements and Decisions, 
was discussed and agreed to at the 87th Session and the 109th Session  of the CTD . Turning to the 
second proposal, which was for the CTD to report on the development -related work taking place in 
other WTO bodies, h e said that this proposal was in line with the terms of reference (TORs) of the 
CTD, as well as with the MC8 mandate. He also noted that there was a precedent from 1996 for this 
type of work in the CTD, as h is delegation had previously highlighted. The pro ponents were simply 
urging the CTD to restart this practice. As for the third proposal – which was for the CTD to make a 
recommendation for parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information requirements jointly 
– the proponents believed that thi s would help ensure a timely consideration of RTAs, and the full 
 
1 The discussion concerning documents WT/COMTD/W/208 and WT/COMTD/W/192 is presented together 
in this Note, as the Chairman invited the Committee to take the two sub -items together .  WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 8 - 
 
  realization of the responsibilities assigned to the CTD. He expressed the willingness of the proponents 
to engage in informal consultations in order to arrive at a consensus. In closing, he r equested that 
the items concerning the two submissions be maintained on the CTD's agenda.  
27. The representative of China  said that she wished to echo India in reiterating the necessity of 
continued discussion on the two submissions . She noted that the submiss ions had been on the 
agenda for quite a long time  and regrett ed that no consensus ha d yet been reached , in particular  
with regard  to the CTD's TORs and the notification issue. Her delegation wished to  reiterate the 
importance of development issues, which deserv ed Members ' attention more than ever before, 
especially when the pandemic was still spreading around the world. China  therefore encourage d 
Members ' constructive engagement on the two proposals , and was open to further discussions in all 
configurations  – whether informal or formal  – to move the discussions forward.  
28. The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , supported the interventions 
by India and China. He regretted that the discussions on the proposals had not been able to advance. 
The objective of the proposals  was to strengthen the role of th e CTD in line with its mandate. He 
called on all Members to engage constructive ly, so as to allow the Committee to fully play its role as 
a focal point for development work in the WTO.  
29. The representative of Cuba said that it was of utmost importance to his delegation to address 
issues related to development. He expressed support  for the intervention s by India, China and 
Cameroon, and regretted that consensus had still not been reached on  the proposals. He called on 
Members to continue discussions on the proposals, and requested that the items concerning the 
two submissions be maintained on the CTD's agend a.  
30. The representative of the United States  said that eight years was sufficient time for the 
proposals to have been fully considered by other Members. Moreover, the proponents themselves 
had failed to take any initiative for several years to advance their  ideas. It was time for the 
proponents to address the concerns raised previously by Members – either by revising their 
proposals, or by dropping the proposals altogether. Either way, the items needed to be removed 
from the CTD agenda until the proponents h ad something new to say. Her delegation had repeatedly 
stated on the record that there was no consensus for these items to remain on the agenda as 
standing items as if there was unfinished business to address. In fact, in repeated meetings, previous 
Chairs  had had to actively solicit acknowledgement of the item from the proponents. While the 
proponents were free to add these items to the agendas of future meetings, the United  States did 
not agree to these as standing items. Her delegation failed to see any basis from the CTD's  rules of 
procedure that would justify these items remaining on the agenda, without the required action by 
the proponents. With respect specifically to the proposal for the CTD to make a recommendation for 
parties to RTAs to submit thei r notification and information requirements jointly, the United States 
had repeatedly stated that the proposal suggested a diminishing of Members' substantive rights and 
obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the General Agree ment on 
Trade in Services (GATS), and the Enabling Clause. Her delegation saw no prospect for consensus 
on the proposal in either the CTD or the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA). The only 
outcome from the proposal would be to provide one Membe r with the right to prevent others from 
complying with their notification obligations, which would be prejudicial in the face of any dispute 
settlement proceedings regarding a particular RTA. The proponents had failed to make their case.  
31. The representative of the European Union  believed that it would be useful if any informal 
meetings organized to discuss the submissions under consideration could also involve participation 
from other Members besides the proponents. This might help to avoid  a repetition of the same 
positions at each formal meeting. She indicated her delegation's openness to participate in any such 
discussions. She went on to say that her delegation's understanding of the MC8 mandate was that 
the CTD should further explore th e positive link between trade and development. This needed to be 
based on constructive exchanges on clearly identified topics, in line with the instruction from MC8 
to carry out focused work. She emphasized that the European Union had engaged constructivel y on 
the proposals submitted in the context of the MC8 mandate that had previously been agreed to by 
the Committee. However, the remaining proposals did not respond to the requirement to carry out 
focused work. Moreover, her delegation was not aware of any  efforts by the proponents in the last 
few years to take into consideration comments from other Members or to engage with them. 
Regarding the proposal for the CTD to report on the development work of other WTO bodies, her 
delegation was of the view that th is would give the CTD an oversight function for all aspects of the 
WTO's work. The proposal went against the mandate to act as a focal point on development issues WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 9 - 
 
  and carry out focused work. Members needed to discuss what this focused work should be, and n ot 
re-open the CTD's mandate. Turning to the proposal for the CTD to make a recommendation for 
parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information requirements jointly, she said that this 
needed to form part of a wider discussion in the context of  paragraph 28 of the Nairobi Ministerial 
Declaration.2  
32. She also indicated that she wished to repeat that her delegation had  engaged constructively , 
and consensus had been reached on some of the proposals . However, for some years now, there 
had been no attempt on the part of the proponents to reach out informally  to other Members, and 
positions were therefore simply repeated at each CTD meeting. While her delegation  stood ready to 
engage in any informal co nsultations , she shared the view of the United States that there was no 
reason to keep these  items as standing item s on the agenda.   
33. The representative of the Republic of Korea  said that he had listened carefully to the 
interventions that were made.  His de legation was aware that the Chairman had been engaging in 
informal consultations  with Members  in order to discuss ways to advance o n the  CTD's work. He 
wondered whether the Chairman could  share  some thoughts, based on his consultations , on how 
progress could be made on some of the longstanding issues  on the CTD's agenda.  
34. The Chairman  said that, as he had indicated at the beginning of the meeting, he would be 
making an intervention under "Other Business" regarding the informal consultations that he had 
undertaken  with Members  in small group s. While these consultations had  not necessarily  led to 
solutions to some of the longstanding issues on the agenda , they were nevertheless the beginning s 
of a conversation. His intention was to hold more discussions in informal settings , which he hoped 
would help Members find ways forward on at least some of the issues.  
35. The Committee took note of all interventions.  
E. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE  
(I)  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Notification of Customs Union – Communication from 
China, Egypt and India (WT/COMTD/W/175)  
36. The Chairman  said that the sub -item listed under the present agenda item made reference  to 
the GCC Customs Union notification. The sub -item also referred to the communication from China, 
Egypt and India, which was circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/175. The sub -item was requested 
by the co -sponsors of the document at the last meeting.  
37. The re presentative of India said that document WT/COMTD/W/175 raised systemic concerns 
relating to the legal and procedural implications of the dual notification of the GCC  Customs Union 
under both the Enabling Clause and GATT Article XXIV. These concerns, which  remained 
unaddressed, also applied to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Association of Southeast 
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea, as well as the Comprehensive Economic 
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India the Republic of Kor ea – even though these agreements 
had already been considered by Members. In this regard, some Members had expressed the view 
that the systemic concerns raised in document WT/COMTD/W/175 were outside the scope of the 
CTD and needed to be discussed in the N egotiating Group on Rules. In India's view, the CTD was 
the appropriate forum to consider issues arising from RTAs with a dual notification. In doing so, the 
CTD could consult with other WTO bodies, as per paragraph 3 of its TORs. The non -resolution of the  
matters raised in document WT/COMTD/W/175 was the main reason why the consideration of the 
GCC Customs Union was pending for such a long time. H is delegation requested that the present 
sub-item be maintained on the CTD's  agenda.  
38. The representative of the United States  said that this sub -item had long ago fulfilled its 
purpose of informing Members of the notification made by the GCC and needed to be removed from 
the agenda.  
 
2 This intervention by the European Union, which was made at the 110th Session, is reflected in the minutes 
of this meeting at the request of the delegation of the European Union.  WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 10 - 
 
  39. The representative of China  said that her delegation shared the views expressed by India. The 
dual notification of RTAs remain ed an important issue, as it ha d system ic implications for the work 
of the CTD, the Enabling Clause and the balance of Members ' rights and obligations. Her delegation 
saw the need for further discussion s in order  to address the system ic concern s. 
40. The Committee took note of all interventions . 
F. REVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS 
TO LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
41. The Chairman  said that an item concerning duty -free and quota -free (DFQF) market access 
for LDCs had been on the CTD's agenda since early 2006. Under this item, delegations had provided 
information on the steps they were taking, or had already taken, to provide DFQF m arket access to 
LDCs. Written communications by some Members had also been considered.  
42. The representative of the United States  said that preferential trade regimes help ed to 
strengthen the United States' trade ties with developing countries. They also prov ided a means to 
promote more open markets , enhance protection of intellectual property rights , and embrace 
stronger worker rights in beneficiary countries. In 2020, the United States  imported USD 18 billion 
worth of goods  from LDCs , three -quarters of which  were labor -intensive manufacturing products 
such as clothing , shoes , furniture and toys. One-fifth of this total, or USD  3.5 billion, came in under 
preference program mes including the Generalized System of Preferences ( GSP), the African Growth 
and Opportunit y Act (AGOA), Haiti HOPE and the Nepal preference program me. For instance, the 
United States'  imports under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act ( CBERA ) preferences 
increased by 21%, from USD 1.4 billion in 2019 to USD 1.7 billion in 2020. O f the USD 1.7 billion in 
imports under CBERA in 2020, energy -related products accounted for 41 %. Textiles and apparel  
imports, of which almost all were apparel , accounted  for 43 % – or about USD 700 million of the 
USD 1.7 billion in imports from countries o f the Caribbean Basin. Finally, agricultural products and 
processed food accounted for 11 %, while  mining and manufacturing accounted for 5%. Haiti , and 
Trinidad and Tobago , remained the leading suppliers of the United States'  imports under CBERA, 
with the United States importing USD 757 million from Haiti alone in 2020, and USD 472 million 
from Trinidad and Tobago during the same period. Through trade -related TA program mes like 
Prosper Africa and the Standards Alliance, the U nited States Government continue d to provide 
substantial TA to AGOA beneficiary countries to reap the full trade benefits and opportunities 
available under AGOA, as well as to strengthen implementation of the TBT Agreement.  
43. The representative of China  expressed her delegation's commitment to the Decisions to 
provide DFQF market access to LDCs. She said that she wished to t ake the opportunity  to brief 
Members on China's recent implementation of DFQF market access for LDCs. China currently  applied 
zero tariffs on 97% of tariff lines for 41 LDCs, and on 95% of tariff lines for another two LDCs. The 
implementation of zero  tariff treatment ha d greatly enhanced LDCs' exports to China. According to 
the LDC market access reports prepared annually by the Secretariat, China ha d remained the most 
open market to LDCs for several consecutive years. She assured Members of China's commitment 
to help LDCs further integrate into the global economy  – through DFQF market access , as well as 
through other initiatives.  
44. The representative of India said that he wished to express his delegation's commitment to the 
Hong Kong and Bali DFQF Decisions. Under these Decisions, India became the first developing 
country to extend th e DFQF  facility to LDCs. In particular, India announced the Duty -Free Tariff 
Preference (DFTP) Scheme for LDCs in 2008. The DFTP Scheme was announced to give support to 
LDCs in their trade initiatives. India now provide d LDCs duty -free market access on 96 % of tariff 
lines, and preferential duties on another 2.2% of the lines. India was the fourth biggest export 
destination for LDCs, and remain ed committed to support LDCs in their integration into the global 
trading system. Finally, he urged the Chairman to continue efforts to help find a solution regarding 
the Secretariat report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs.  
45. The Committee took note of all interventions.   WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 11 - 
 
  G. WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE  
46. The Chairman  said that, as  in previous meetings, he wished  to once again draw 
Members'  attention to the Decision taken at the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) 
concerning the WTO's Work Programme on E -Commerce. In this Decision, which was contained in 
documents WT/MIN(17)/65 and WT/L/1032, it was agreed to continue the work under the 
Work Programme, and to endeavour to reinvigorate it. He noted that t he CTD was one of the 
subsidiary bodies of the General Council mandated to undertake work under the Work Programme. 
Although there were no specific proposals to consider in the CTD at the present  time, a number of 
Members ha d indicated their interest in this area.   
47. The representative of India said that, under the Work Programme on E -Commerce, Members 
had decided to examine all trade -related issues relating to global e -commerce, taking into account 
the economic , financial , and development needs of developing countries. The CTD was specifically 
tasked to report on the development implications of e -commerce , including in relation to small and 
medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) . However, no comprehensive assessment of the developmental 
impacts of global e -commerce focusing on exports and the export -oriented development of 
developing countries had been undertaken to date. Instead, some Members had started negotiations 
under the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e -commerce rules, which was undermining the 
multilateral track instituted under the Work Programme  on E-Commerce . He went on to say that 
e-commerce ha d witnessed high growth owing to the pandemic, both in developed and developing 
countries . This made it all the more necessary to exam ine the developmental impact of global 
e-commerce , particularly on developing countries ' exports and the associated growth and 
development. This spurt in digital economic activity  had, on the one  hand,  opened up new  
opportunities for the growth of global t rade and  development . On the other hand , it had also brought 
to the fore the ever -widening digital divide within and across Members.  Moreover, the pace of digital 
development ha d been markedly different for developing  countries and  LDCs.  In view of this, i t was 
important for Members to ensure that global e -commerce deliver ed inclusive development. To gain 
from global e -commerce, developing countries would  need to advance their dig ital industrialization 
by building their digital infrastructures and developing their digital skills and capacities. Linking into 
digital platforms was not sufficient, as the products sold on these platforms also need ed to be 
competitive in the digital wor ld. In conclusion, he urged the Membership to examine the mandated 
issues, instead of prematurely jumping into rulemaking. Rulemaking under the JSI at this stage 
would once again create asymmetry and reverse S&D, similar to what existed in the Agreement on  
Agriculture.  While e-commerce ha d revolutionized  the global trading landscape , the dividends could  
not be harnessed automatically. Equally crucial was the preparedness for the disruptions inherent 
with technological revolutions. This would depend on polic ies, regulations and  measures in place 
both at domestic and international  levels.  A development -friendly e -commerce  architecture 
therefore  became imperative.  In this regard, India was working with like -minded Members on a 
submission to the CTD . He hoped that the submission would be ready before the next CTD meeting.  
48. The representative of Pakistan  said that his delegation wished to recall and reiterate its 
statement made under the present agenda item at the last  CTD meeting . Pakistan was  strongly 
supportive of having this item on the CTD's agenda, and also supported having meaningful 
discussion s in the CTD on the subject. He stress ed that the CTD wa s the most appropriate forum to 
discuss  issues relating to  e-commerce for developing countries and development, and that it had a 
multilateral mandate that needed to be taken forward on all digital trade and development issues.  
49. The representative of  the United Kingdom  said that his delegation remain ed a strong s upporter 
of the J SI on E -Commerce . These discussions ha d brought much -needed energy and dynamism to 
the WTO, enabling a significant proportion of the Membership to make vital progress on areas where 
new rules and commitments were urgently needed to demonst rate th e Organization 's credibility to 
21st century business and society across the globe. The U nited Kingdom  was closely supporting 
developing countries' participation in the JSI on E-Commerce through its Trade and Investment 
Advocacy Fund (TAF2+). Ten co untries were currently receiving enhanced support through the 
grant, with six countries benefitting from deep -dive work and analysis specifically on e -commerce. 
He encourage d wider interest and participation from across the Membership, particularly from 
developing countries and LDCs. This would  ensure that these negotiations were as inclusive as 
possible , and would pave the way for them to be adopted multilaterally in the future.  
50. The Committee took note of all interventions . WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 12 - 
 
  H. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING  
51. The Chairman  said that the next meeting of the CTD's Regular Session was tentatively 
scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 10 November 2021. An initial agenda would be circulated 
four weeks before the meeting, on 13 October 2021, as p er the CTD's rules of procedure. After the 
circulation of this initial meeting notice, Members would still have the opportunity to request items 
on the agenda for the meeting. The agenda would close on 28 October 2021 and would be circulated 
on 29 October 2021.   
I. OTHER BUSINESS  
52. The Chairman  said that he  wished to make an intervention, for transparency purposes, to brief 
the Committee on the informal small -group consultations that he had held. This intervention also 
provided  the opportunity to lay out what he had in mind going forward as concer ned the CTD's work , 
after having listened to Members' views and suggestions during the informal consultations. He 
indicated that his intervention would  be a little longer than what Members were normally used to 
hearing under "Other Business". He explained that he had not in itially intended to deliver a statement 
of this length. However, given the valuable contributions that were made by so many delegations 
during the informal consultations, he felt that it would be important to share with the Committee 
what he believe d was useful information for all Members. He would  also be sending his statement 
to Members after the present  meeting.  He recall ed that, at the last CTD meeting  on 29 March 2021 , 
he had indicated his intention to hold informal consultations in small groups on expectations for the 
CTD in the current year. He had  wanted these consultations to be as inclusive as possible, in the 
sense that all Members wishing to participate would be welcome to do so. In this spirit, he had  sent 
a communication to all Members on 26 April  2021, inviting interested delegations to contact the 
Secretariat. He had  also reached out himself  to some Members and Group Coordinators. He then 
proceeded to organize six small -group info rmal consultations, in virtual format, between 
18 and 26 May 2021. Overall, 29 delegations participated in the consultations, including seven 
Group Coordinators. He took this opportunity to thank the delegations that had attended the 
consultations. In orde r to have a constructive and focused discussion, he had  invited delegations to 
focus their interventions on two questions. The first question was: "How could we advance in the 
various areas of our existing work in the CTD?". The second question was: "What new areas of work 
could potentially be addressed by the Committee?". He had  indicated that he would be in listening 
mode as delegations addressed these questions.  He went on to say that the discussions in the 
informal consultations were rich and varied and  had brought out a wealth of suggestions. While i t 
would  not be possible for him to list each and every one of the suggestions that were made , he 
would highlight a few, and also mention some of the main themes that were addressed, so as to 
give a flavour o f the discussions that had taken  place. That being said, he also wished to  emphasize 
that all views and ideas shared by delegations during the consultations remain ed on the table for 
further discussion, and he therefore encourage d Members that wish ed to pursue their ideas to bring 
them up again in future informal consultations.  
53. He indicated that he would move on to outline the discussions that had taken  place on the 
first question, regarding how the Committee could advance in the v arious areas of its existing work. 
In this regard, he said that i t is was important to mention that several Members shared the feeling 
that solutions needed to  be found on a number of longstanding issues on the CTD's agenda, on 
which divergent views ha d been expressed. This was encouraging to him. As Chairman of the 
Committee, he could  play a role in facilitating discussions among Members to try to find ways forward 
on these difficult issues. Some of the issues which were specifically mentioned during the 
consultations concern ed the proposals relating to the mandate from MC8, as well as the issues 
relating to the notification of the GCC Customs Union. Another area that was mentioned concern ed 
the Secretariat report on Members' DFQF market access schemes for LDCs, which ha d not been 
prepared for a number of years, due to divergent views among some Members on the scope and 
coverage of the report.  Also in the context of advancing on the CTD's existing work,  he said that he 
had detected a particular interest to h old substantive discussions in the context of the WTO's Work 
Programme on E -Commerce. However, it was also appreciated that there would be a need for the 
Committee to consider a proposal from one or more delegations before any concrete work c ould be 
undert aken. He therefore encourage d Members wishing to pursue discussions in this area to consider 
submitting formal proposals for work. Discussions had additionally highlighted the importance of  TA 
for developing countries and LDCs. In this regard, there were s uggestions that the manner in which 
the CTD addresse d TA issues could be broadened, for example by hearing briefings not only from 
the ITTC, but also from other relevant agencies or programmes regarding their TA activities. It was WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 13 - 
 
  also suggested that the Secretariat undertake an assessment of the advantages and challenges 
associated with the virtual capacity -building activities that were implemented in the context of the 
COVID -19 pandemic. Another proposal to enrich the discussions was for beneficiarie s of TA activities 
to provide examples and case stories of the difficulties they face d due to capacity constraints. Briefly 
mention ing a few additional elements of the discussion, he said that there was a suggestion that 
more presentations by the Secretari at of its analytical work in areas of relevance to the CTD would 
be useful. There was also a call to ensure coherence between the work of the CTD and the work of 
other international organizations, and for external speakers to address the Committee in order  to 
share experiences on relevant issues.  
54. Discussions  had touched upon the work of the CTD's subsidiary bodies as well. He said that, 
without entering into details, it appeared that there was broad satisfaction with the work of some of 
these subsidiary bo dies, although a number of suggestions were nevertheless made to improve their 
functioning. However, several delegations mentioned the problematic situation in the 
CTD's  Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on S&D. The Monitoring Mechanism was 
established in December 2013, but it ha d yet to be operationalized, since no written submissions 
had been made. He said that t his was clearly a concern for many Members, and he therefore intend ed 
to work with Members to see what could be done to operationaliz e the Monitoring Mechanism.  With 
regard to the CTD's Dedicated Session on Small Economies, there was a call for discussions on how 
to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on the economic and trade performance of small 
economies. On this matter, he drew Members' attention to the meeting of the Dedicated Session on 
Small Economies that ha d been scheduled for 6 July 2021, in order to discuss the economic and 
trade impact of natural disasters on small economies. He hoped that this meeting w ould prove useful. 
There was additionally interest expressed in having the work of the Sub -Committee on LDCs reported 
or presented to the CTD. In this regard, he observe d that the work of the Sub -Committee was 
already reflected in the CTD's annual report to th e General Council. Furthermore, the CTD ha d 
benefitted in recent times from briefings by the Chairperson of the Sub -Committee. Nevertheless, 
given the interest expressed on this matter, he would be willing to look into it further. Finally, he 
mention ed that a number of delegations  had made reference to the negotiations on S&D taking place 
in the Special Session of the CTD. Although the Special Session was not a subsidiary body of the 
CTD, and he was not the Chair of this body, he indicated that he wished to  mention for completeness 
that calls were made for these negotiations to be unblocked. This completed  what he wanted to say 
on the first question he had posed to Members.  
55. On the  second question  he had posed to Members , regarding the new areas of work that  could 
potentially be addressed by the Committee , perhaps the most frequent suggestion he had  heard 
was for the CTD to discuss the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on the trade of developing 
countries , while also exploring how the WTO could help these count ries through the recovery period, 
and build economies resilient to future shocks. There were several ideas shared on what could be 
done under this broad theme , including presentations on research undertaken in the area , 
experience -sharing by Members, and drawing on the outcomes of the Aid -for-Trade Stocktaking 
Event held in March 2021. Another broad category of suggestions related to ways to link the 
CTD's  work to sustainable development and the attainment of the Sustain able Development Goals 
(SDGs). Some specific areas mentioned in this regard included the challenges faced by developing 
countries in the context of climate change, natural disasters and desertification. How to make 
policy -making more targeted towards the a chievement of development objectives and the 
attainment of the SDGs was also raised as a possible area for discussion.  Among the other 
suggestions made, there were calls to discuss issues of interest to LLDCs . Another suggestion was 
for the CTD to address issues relating to the participation of developing countries in global value 
chains. Proposals were also made for discussions to take place on trade financing issues from a 
development perspective, on how to facilitate the transfer of technology to develop ing countries, 
and on appropriate indicators of economic development. Finally, some delegations raised the 
question of what the CTD could contribute in terms of concrete outcomes at  the Twelfth WTO 
Ministerial Conference  (MC12 ). On this matter, he noted that, as per the experience in past years, 
Members could expect the CTD's  Dedicated Session on Small Economies to work towards a 
Ministerial Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies on the basis of a proposal by the 
Group  of Small, Vulnerable Econom ies. However, some other possibilities were also discussed during 
the informal consultations, and he encourage d any delegations that continue d to feel that there were 
realistically any other areas in which the CTD could contribute to concrete outcomes at M C12 to get 
in touch with him, and to also feel free to raise their ideas in future informal consultations.  He said 
that this ended his overview of the discussions that had taken  place in the informal consultations. WT/COMTD/M/115  
 
- 14 - 
 
  He reiterated that his summary was not me ant to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a flavour of 
the discussions.  
56. Before closing,  he said that he wished to briefly share some thoughts on how and where he 
saw the process going from here. With regard to  the CTD's work going forward, it was clear that 
there were many areas which Members wished to  see addressed. The informal consultations that he 
had held needed to  therefore be seen as only a first step. The objective from here would be to see 
what c ould be done to address the numerous issues that ha d been raised, in order to arrive at 
concrete outcomes. His intention, therefore, was to continue to meet informally with Members in 
different formats in the coming weeks and months. Through bilateral meetings a nd small -group 
meetings, as well as possible meetings with larger groups of delegations, he hoped to be able to 
work with Members in order to advance on the numerous issues that ha d been raised. For one thing, 
he wished to see tangible progress on several longstanding issues on the CTD's agenda on which 
divergent views ha d been expressed , with the hope of finding solutions that would be acceptable to 
all Members. More generally, he wished  to see Members  advance on existing areas of the 
CTD's  work, in partic ular on the basis of the suggestions made by delegations. Furthermore, he 
hoped to be able to assist Members in determining new areas of work for the Committee – once 
again based on delegations' suggestions.  He would therefore soon start a process of infor mal 
consultations with Members, in different configurations, in order to see how Members could  take 
forward some of these issues. He hoped to address one or two of them in small groups before the 
end of July, and would pick up the work again after the summ er break. As part of the process, he 
was also thinking of convening an informal, open -ended meeting of the CTD in September or 
October  2021. He believed that  this would  be useful in order to allow the Membership to take stock 
of where things st ood in discu ssions on these issues, and to determine what more would need to be 
done as Members  approach ed the final CTD meeting of the year. As he had indicated earlier, the 
tentative date for this final meeting was 10 November  2021. At this formal meeting, he intend ed to 
make a statement outlining the process of informal meetings that  he had held, and hopefully 
reporting on some agreed outcomes.  
57. The representative of the Republic of Korea  thanked the Chairman for his leadership, and for 
his willingness to look at ways to make progress on some of the longstanding issues. Korea  looked 
forward to taking part in the Chairman's  informal consultations in the coming months.  
58. The representative of China  expressed appreciation to the Chairman for his report. Her  
delegation looked forward to further  engagement with Members  in order to move  the discussion s in 
the CTD forward.  
59. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
__________