TN/CTD/35  
 
17 November 2021  
(21-8696) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Special Session   
 
 
REPORT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT IN 
SPECIAL SESSION, AMBASSADOR KADRA AHMED HASSAN (DJIBOUTI ),  
TO THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE  
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1.1.  At the informal Heads -of-Delegation meeting of 25 October 2021, I reported on the discussions 
that had taken place at the  formal meeting of the  Special Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development ( CTD SS ) on 24 September 2021. I had, in particular, highlighted the fact that 
divergent views remained among Members on the ten G -90 Agreement -specific proposals  on S&DT . 
Progress  in the CTD SS was proving challenging , due to a lack of engagement on the substance of 
the ten proposals .  
1.2.  I had also reported on the informal bilateral meetings that I subsequently held in the first half 
of October with interested delegations. As will be recalled, I sent out an open invitation to all 
Members for this purpose. My objective in holding these bilateral meetings was to explore how 
progress could be made in the discussions in the CTD SS in the time remaining until MC12, and what 
elements would need to fall in place for an outcome on S&DT at MC12 to become possible. Although 
the bilateral setting was conduc ive to a frank and open sharing of views, Members ' positions on the 
G-90 proposals remained broadly unchanged . 
1.3.  After the bilateral consultations had been completed, I start ed a process of informal 
consultations in small groups. The objective was to facilit ate an exchange of views between 
interested delegations and the G -90 on how Members could arrive at an outcome on S&DT at MC12, 
and what this outcome might look like.  
1.4.  Shortly after I began th is small -group process, the G -90 made a submission, in the form of 
draft Ministerial text on S&DT. A proposed paragraph was submitted to the General Council Chairman 
for inclusion in the MC12 outcome document. Subsequently, on 3 November 2021, the G -90 
circulated a draft Ministerial Decision on S&DT in documents JOB/TN /CTD/1, JOB/TNC/100 and 
JOB/GC/280.  
1.5.  The proposed language by the G -90 reaffirms S&DT as an integral part of existing and future 
WTO Agreements. Recalling paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the proposed language 
instructs the CTD SS to expedi tiously complete the review of the ten G -90 proposals and report to 
the General Council, with clear recommendations for a decision, at the next Ministerial Conference.  
1.6.  This language proposed by the G -90 inevitably formed a large part of the discussion in the 
small -group consultations that I held. In these consultations , the G-90 explained that, given the 
short time remaining until the Ministerial Conference, they had adopted a pragmatic approa ch and 
were no longer aiming to have agreement on their proposals by MC12. Rather, they were seeking 
instructions from Ministers t o continue the work on the G -90 proposals after MC12 , on the basis of 
the original mandate given at Doha . 
1.7.  Reactions from other  delegations to the proposed language by the G -90 were mixed. While all 
delegation s recognized the  importance and significance of S&DT as a fundamental pillar of the 
multilateral trading system , some  of them  did raise concern with the reference in the prop osed 
Ministerial text to paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration, as well as the instructions to continue work 
on the G -90 proposals  in the CTD SS . On the other hand, a number of delegations fully supported 
the proposed G -90 text and said that this was a good  basis to make progress  in the CTD SS . TN/CTD/35  
 
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  1.8.  Some delegations felt that it would be important to have a broader and forward -looking 
discussion on  development and  S&DT  after MC12 . The G-90 also indicated that they would be willing 
to have such a discussion in the future , but stressed that a distinction must be  made between such 
a discussion , and the mandate in paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration, which the proponents 
believed still needed to be fulfilled.  
1.9.  In spite  of these different perspectives on what an outcome on S&DT a t MC12 might look like, 
it appeared that all the delegations that participated in the small -group consultations at least 
remained open to consider the possibility of a  forward -looking outcome on S&DT. Furthermore, 
it was recognized that the stalemate in the CTD SS was not healthy for th e work in other areas , and 
for the  organization  as a whole . I therefore encouraged delegations to continue their discussions . 
I indicated that I remain ed available to convene any further meetings , or assist in any way that 
I could  in my capacity as Chair  of the CTD SS , in order  to help move the process forward . 
1.10.   As I understand it, c onsultations in this area are now continuing at the level of the 
General  Council Chair , and possible language that may be acceptable to both sides is being actively 
considered. I am hopeful that the discussions among Members will help lead to an understanding on  
how work on S&DT  in the CTD SS can continue after MC12 . As I have said before, it is only by 
tackling the difficult issues relating to S&DT and working together creatively that Members will be 
able to find the much -needed solutions.  
1.11.   I shall be maintaining close contact with delegations, and with the General Council Chairman, 
to keep informed of how the discussions are progressing, and how this might be translated into 
language for the MC12 outcome document. While I stand ready to facilitate any further discussions 
that may be required, I would like to stress once aga in that it is ultimately for Members to show the 
necessary flexibility and political will to collaborate, so as to collectively determine how to arrive at 
an outcome on S&DT at MC12.  
1.12.   Finally, as we enter the last phase before MC12, I would like to share a few thoughts  with 
Members . In my  view, it is largely  because of  a lack of political w ill that discussions in the CTD SS 
have not been able to advance. Indeed, since I took over as Chair two years ago, I have heard 
delegations repeat their positions  many time s, but I have not seen readiness to engage in actual 
negotiations on the proposals on the table. This is regrettable, because the work of the CTD SS 
remains  extremely important  to this  organization . Furthermore, any progress that is made in the 
CTD SS  can also have a positive impact on other discussions taking place in the WTO which are 
concerned with issues relating to S&D T.  
1.13.   In that regard, the opportunity provided by MC12 should not be missed . I believe that w hat 
will be re quired to make real progress in the CTD SS will be for Ministers to send a clear and strong 
political signal of their willingness to conclude these negotiations. This would  set the stage for a 
more positive , substantive  and constructive discussion after MC 12, where d elegations embrace the 
process of negotiations, without prejudice  to the outcome . Ultimately, it will be  for Members to work 
together  to determine a commonly achieved outcome  to these negot iations . We are living in 
exception al times , and this outcome should form  part of the much -needed multilateral solutions in 
a post -COVID -19 era – for all Members, and in particular for developing countries and LDCs.  
 
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