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WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
23 July 2020 
(20-5075) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Trade and Development  
111th Session    
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 26 MAY  2020 
Chairman: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo (Afghanistan)  
 
A. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AN D EXPERIENCES ON THE  IMPACT OF  THE  
COVID -19 OUTBREAK ON  THE TRADE OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  ................................  2 
B. BRIEFING BY THE INST ITUTE FOR TRAINING A ND TECHNICAL COOPERA TION 
(ITTC) ON THE WTO’S TECHNICAL -ASSISTANCE A CTIVITIES AND THEIR    
EVOLUTION IN THE PRE SENT CIRCUMSTANCES  ................................ ..............................  8 
C. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 10 
 
1. The Chairman  opened the meeting by noting that , in light of the COVID -19 outbreak,  the 
111th Session of the Committee on Trade and Development ( CTD) was being held as a special 
virtual session. He said that he wished to start by express ing appreciation to his predecessor in the 
Chair, Ambassador Chad Blackman of Barbados, for having steered the Committee over the past 
year, and for having initiated a written process that had allowed the Chairmanship to be handed 
over on 1 May 2020. He thanked  Members for their trust in electing him, and looked forward to 
their collaboration in taking the work of the Committee forward in the current  extraordinary 
circum stances . He also congratulate d Ambassador Moniqu e Van Daalen of the Netherlands  for her 
election as the Chairperson of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries  for 2020 . The 
completion of this election, which had been done through a written process i nitiated by him , would 
allow Ambassador Van Daalen to start planning the work of the Sub -Committee for the year 
ahead. Turning to the topics for discussion at  the present meeting, he recalled that he had noted 
in his communication to Members  on 11 May 2020  that, while the current extraordinary 
circumstances did not allow a physical meeting of the  CTD to take place , the holding of a virtual 
meeting of the Committee would at least allow him to start interacting with delegations. He had 
therefore proposed that  a special half -day virtual meeting of the CTD be held  – with the objective 
of transparency and information exchange, and without any decision -making items on the agenda. 
In his communication, he had suggested that Members could use this virtual meeting to exchange 
views and experiences on the impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on the trade of developing 
countries. He had also indicated that the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) 
could provide the C ommittee with an update relating to the WTO’s technical -assistance  (TA) 
activities and their evolution in the present circumstances.  
2. He went on to say  that the draft agenda for the 111th Session of the CTD was contained in 
document WTO/AIR/COMTD/19/Rev.1, circulated on 15 May 2020 . Having been made aware of the 
strict timeframes required to finish the present virtual meeting on time, he indicated that he 
wished to propose a small amendment to the agenda. In particular, w hile the main subjects for 
discussion  at the present meeting were covered under items A and B, he did not believe that 
agenda item C  – which was titled “Any other issues that Members may wish to raise”  – would 
necessarily contribute anything to Members' discussions as a stand -alone agenda ite m. This item 
had been  originally placed on the agenda for information -sharing purpose s, but given the limited 
time available to complete the present meeting, his proposal was that this item be merged under 
“Other Business”  – given that “Other Business” would broadly be expected to cover any 
information sharing matter not discussed  under agenda items A or B. Therefore, once discussion 
under item B was concluded, the Committee would move directly to “Other B usiness” . He believe d 
that this would be the best way to proceed  in the interests of time and efficiency . Finally , he said 
that he wished to make a brief intervention for transparency purposes under “Other Business” , 
concerning the status of work in the CTD’s various Dedicate d Sessions. He explained that, because WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  of the COVID -19 outbreak, the usual calendar of CTD meetings had been disrupted . He wished to 
highlight some issues in this regard, as this could  help Members in their consideration of how some 
of the regular work of the Committee might be re -started.  
3. The agenda was adopted  as amended . 
A. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AN D EXPERIENCES ON THE  IMPACT OF THE COVID -19 
OUTBREAK ON THE TRAD E OF DEVELOPING COUN TRIES  
4. The Chairman  said that the purpose of the present  agenda item was to allow delegations to 
exchange  views and experiences on the impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on the trade of 
developing countries. While the long -term economic and social implications of the COVID -19 
outbreak were not yet fully known,  the devastating effect of the pandemic on economies all over 
the world could already be seen. At the General Council meeting of 15 March 2020, Members  had 
exchanged views on trade responses to the COVID -19 pandemic. He felt that it was important to 
share the message that he had heard from many Members at that meeting, which was that trade 
must form part of the solution in assisting and supporting recovery from the crisis. The importance 
of keeping markets open at this time could not be over -emphasized. Further more, while  this was a 
global crisis that affected all Members, he believed that it was necessary to highlight the particular 
impact of the crisis  on developing countries, least developed c ountries ( LDCs), and small, 
vulnerable economies (SVEs) – and hence the need for these countries to continue to benefit from 
trade opportunities during  this difficult period  and beyond . He therefore  believed that it was timely 
to have a discussion in the CTD on the impact of the COV ID-19 outbreak on the trade of  
developing countries. He noted  that the outbreak had happened only relatively recently, and that 
over time – as more data became available – a clearer picture would emerge of the repercussions 
on trade. Nevertheless, an exchange of views at the present me eting would allow Members to 
have an appreciation of what were the experiences to date of developing countries, and perhaps 
also allow some thoughts to be shared on how continued trade opportunities for these countries 
might be ensured.  
5. The representative of the United Kingdom  said that COVID -19 was the most serious global 
challenge in a generation . The United Kingdom was concerned that many low and lower 
middle -income  countries were particularly vulnerable to COVID -19 because of their exposure to 
international shocks, lack of financial stability and macroeconomic imbalances. Measures to control 
the spread of COVID -19 were having a profound impact on glob al trade and supply chains . These 
measures would continue to have a significant negative impact on businesses in developing 
countries , and potentially jeopardized  decades of hard -fought trade -led prosperity. This was why 
the Un ited Kingdom was working to keep  supply chains open, an d to mitigat e the immediate 
impacts of restrictive trade measures in response to the pandemic . The United Kingdom was 
pivoting its existing Aid-for-Trade programmes to work with  affected businesses and support 
developing country Members to make proportiona te and evidence -based trade -offs b etween virus 
containment and open trade. It was also supporting the protection of key supply chains and trade 
routes so as to ensure that essential goods and services, including critical medical and food 
supplies, could re ach the most vulnerable. Th rough its Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund 
(TFA2+) and its funding to the World Bank, the United Kingdom was providing support  to eligible 
developing  Members to better understand the trade -related impacts of COVID -19 on their 
economies, to notify  COVID -related measures to the WTO  monitoring exercise , and  to tackle the 
COVID -19 crisis through better trade facilitation.  
6. He believed that it was necessary to act together to respon d to the global pandemic. 
Developing countries were simultaneously facing a  health crisis, a humanitarian crisis and the risk 
of a protracted economic crisis . This was why the United Kingdom was ensuring that the 
multilateral  trade response to COVID -19 responded to the needs of the most vulne rable countries. 
The United Kingdom  welcomed the outcomes agreed at the virtual ext raordinary 
G20 Trade  Ministers meeting held on 14 May 2020 – including the commitments on development 
and humanitarian aid  – and supported the Joint Statement on Open Market s, Flow of Essential 
Goods and Supply Chain Connectivity, organized  through the United Nations General Assembly. He 
went on to say that  the WTO also had a  role to play.  While the present circumstances did not allow 
for physical formal meetings to be held, the WTO remained the world’s leading platform for 
discussing global trade. It was the place where  the impact of COVID -19 on the global trading 
system  could be discussed , where ideas and solutions could be shared, and where initiatives to 
mitigate the global economic crisis to come  could be  launched.  As the  crisis evolved , his delegation WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  would continue to work with the WTO and with Members on appropriate initiatives suppo rting free,  
fair, rules -based trade that was  inclusive of developing countries , and to ensure  that crucial supply 
chains and transport routes remain ed open for food and medicine.  Developing countries 
themselves needed to be the  leaders in this discussion . The United Kingdom welcomed the present 
meeting as a way to work together.  
7. The representative of South Africa  emphasized the importance of exchanging views on the  
impact of COVID -19 on the work of the CTD, and on how issues of importan ce to all Members – 
and in particular the most vulnerable – could be addressed.  He said that COVID -19 wa s drastically 
reducing Africa’s current and future economic prospects.  According to the World Bank , COVID -19 
would  likely drive Sub -Saharan Africa into it s first recession in 25 years, with growth potentially 
falling as low as -5.1% in 2020. The crisis could push millions of households into poverty. Food 
security wa s at risk because of trade disruptions, lower agricultural production and other 
challenges su ch as climate change. African countries need ed resources to contain and combat the 
pandemic, and to safeguard lives and livelihoods.  COVID -19 was a stark reminder of  the urgent  
need to address persistent structural pro blems facing the world . Initial estima tes suggest ed that 
the disruptions could contribute to increased global poverty , with the number of  poor and hungry 
people rising by 2%. The crisis had  aggravated deep -seated inequalities between and within 
countries.  It showed  how critical was the Doha De velopment Agenda ( DDA), and the need to 
ensure that the multilateral trading system ( MTS) promote d inclusive growth and development.  
The pandemic threaten ed to devastate large parts of the developing world. Only with a concerted, 
cooperative, and holistic approach c ould the international community avoid a large -scale 
humanitarian crisis. The most pressing priority was to overcome the pandemic and save  lives. At a 
minimum, this meant  providing medical services, equipment, and ramping up production of 
essential medicines and supplies. An effective response to the pandemic required  timely access to 
affordable medical products , including diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment ( PPE) and 
ventilators.  
8. He went on to say that t he WTO agreements recognize d the link between tr ade and 
development , and contained special provisions for developing countries . The most vulnerable 
Members needed to receive assistance in order to address issues that were magnified by the 
pandemic. As part of a work programme going forward, the MTS  needed to support production -led 
growth, jobs and structural transformation . In this regard, he believed that the CTD should  identify 
policy tools that developing count ries need ed to promote industrial development and put their 
economies on a sustainabl e development path. He also pointed to the need to strengthen special 
and differential treatment ( S&D) provisions , which were critical to promote public health, 
accelerate  industrialization, upgrade and modernize manufacturing, promote technology transfer 
and close the digital divide to promote an inclusive digital agenda . The G90 proposals tabled in the 
Special Session of the CTD (CTD SS) articulated these aspects, yet Members ha d thus far not been 
willing to engage on the proposals . The pandemic highlighted the importance of S&D , which was 
an inherent right of developing countries.  He went on to stress the importance of  an Aid -for-Trade 
agenda that supported and buil t the supply -side capacity of developing co untries , and also outlined 
how COVID -19 had  exposed the effects of the digital divide and the need to promote inclusive 
digital trade. In line with the 1998 Work Programme on E -Commerce, t he CTD need ed to examine 
and report on the develop ment implications of e -commerce, taking into account the economic, 
financial and development needs of developing countries. He additionally stressed the need for 
debt relief as part of a sustainable approach to debt, in particular in light of  the corporate and 
sovereign debt defaults that the crisis had triggered. In closing, he said that the CTD wa s critical in 
laying the foundation for a strong, sustained and inclusive recovery.  
9. The representative  of Botswana , on behalf of the African Group , said that he wished to share 
a number of points with regard to the challenges facing Africa as a direct impact of COVID -19. 
Although the COVID -19 outbreak ha d reached the African continent later than the rest of the 
world , it had spread quic kly, and all 54 African countries were now  affected. As a result, Africa’s 
response to COVID -19 continued to take shape.  The priority for African countries was to protect 
the life and health of their people, secure the needs of domestic markets , and lay th e groundwork 
for economic recovery.  All indications were that the health impact  of the outbreak in Africa, as well 
as the  economic, development and social consequences, would  be disproportionate compared to 
other regions of the world. This was especially the case  considering that African economies were 
structurally frail and dependent on few commodity exports , and the destination markets for these 
exports had not been spared from COVID -19. Africa was also heavily dependent on imports of 
pharmaceutical produ cts and medical equipment, which were essential to combat COVID -19. As a WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  net importer, Africa n countries  believed  that emergency measures designed to tackle COVID -19, if 
deemed necessary, had to  be targeted, proportiona te, transparent, and temporary,  and needed to  
be consistent with WTO rules.  He called for  an urgent and coordinated approach to address  trade 
restrict ive measures , so that such measures  did not significantly affect African countries and their 
ability to e nsure access to essential goods  on reasonable and affordable terms.  
10. He went on to say  that the World Bank  had warned  of significant economic and socia l 
impacts from COVID -19 in Sub -Saharan Africa, which were projected to cost the region between 
USD 37 billion and USD 79 billion in estimated output losses in 2020 alone. This was expected to 
have negative implications on agricultural productivity, while weakening supply chains, increasing 
trade tensions  and limiting job prospects, among others. The World Bank had further indicated 
that economic growth was  expected to contract to between -2.1% and -5.1% in 2020, sparking 
the region’s first recession in 25 y ears. The African Development Bank (AfDB) had similarly 
estimated that African economies would enter a recession in 2020. It was projected that these 
economies would lose up to USD 212 billion in 2020 and 2021 , and would need up to 
USD 154 billion  in recovery support.  Africa had already been facing a debt crisis  before  COVID -19, 
and there wa s a real need for debt relief to free up fiscal space for African countries to effectively 
finance the emergency response to COVID -19. In light of the gloomy ou tlook, and in order to chart 
the way forward, African countries needed in the immediate future to safeguard domestic market 
needs and keep supply chains flowing and connected . This would allow  them to secure  essential 
needs and food security . In the long  term, a reform of WTO rules would  allow developing countries 
and LDCs to adopt trade policies that enable d them to industrialize and diversify their economies in 
order to be resilient to external shocks. The present crisis had  exposed the structural 
vulnerabilities and wide inequality gaps  in African countries. This  underscored  the importance of 
strengthening  S&D provisions to promote inclusive growth , and to ensure  that the MTS was 
responsive to the needs of developing countries  and LDCs.  He stressed that S&D should not be 
regarded as a compromise , but rather as a necessity to help addres s the challenges posed by 
global crises  such as the COVID -19 pandemic.  It was of paramount importance for African 
countries to  accelerate their regional i ntegration through the implementation of the African 
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the development of a continen tal integration agenda 
that aimed  to accelerate Africa’s industriali zation and economic diversification, with a view to 
achieving th e continent’s collective self -reliance.  
11. The representative  of China  believed that it was  importan t for Members  to take  stock of  the 
pandemic, a nd to  discuss what should be done  – including in terms of the assistance that was 
needed. She said that  global demand had slumped because of the pandemic , and global supply 
chain s had been disrupted . Developing Members were encountering significant reductions in their 
exports of commodities and services, and were facing difficulties in  producing and gaining  access  
to essential medical supplies. The WTO ha d a role to play in helping developing Members address 
these  challenges. In this regard, Aid for Trade was  of paramount importance in the response  to the 
pandemic. Aid for Trade  contributed to enhancing infrastructure, bridging the digital gap , and 
enhancing  the production and trade capacity of developing Members for their better integration 
into global value chain s (GVCs) . She went on to say that China was  among the first countries to be 
hit by COVID -19, and this had caused a huge shock to China’s economic development. China’s 
gross domestic product ( GDP), as well as  its total imports and exports , had contracted in the first 
quarter of 2020 . After the massi ve lockdown , and the painstaking efforts made to tame the virus, 
the country was gradually reopening.  She expressed appreciation for the support provided by the 
international community when China was fighting against COVID -19, and noted that  China was 
also making its own contributions to the global fight against the pandemic. On the trade front, 
China was endeavouring  to keep its market open , and to boost trade with its glo bal partners. The 
127th China Import and Export Fair , which  would take place online  in mid -June, would  create an 
international trade platform enabling foreign traders to remotely promote their products and 
conduct business matching with Chinese partners. Furthermore, the 3rd China  International  Import 
Expo would be held in Shanghai in Nove mber. On the aid front, China had  provided anti -pandemic 
donations to 140 countries and international organizations, and had exported large quantities of 
anti-pandemic supplies to 189 countries and regions. In addition, China would  provide 
USD 2 billion ov er 2 years to help with COVID -19 response s and economic and social development 
in affected countries, especially developing countries.  In closing, she noted that a global crisis 
called for collective action  and a global solution . Trade needed to  be part of the solution to support 
recovery. To this end, her delegation called on Members to maintain  global supply chains stable, 
open and safe. More targeted and material TA was needed. Members could  only get out of this 
crisis with concerted and coord inated efforts.  WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  12. The representative of India said that , according to WTO statistics, world trade was  expected 
to fall by between 13% and 32% in 2020 , as the COVID -19 pandemic disrupted  normal economic 
activity and life around the world . The World Bank expec ted remittances to fall by 20% and global 
GDP to fall by at least 2%, with developing countries seeing a fall of 2.5% and industrial countries 
a reduction of 1.8%. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 
predicted that the pandemic would  reduce flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) by between  
30% and 40%. India had experienced a reduction  of 60% in  merchandise exports in April 2020 
compared to April 2019. India was a service -led economy, and the U nited States and Europe were 
the major destinations of its services exports. Given the vast spr ead of COVID -19 in these parts of 
the world , India’s  software exporters  were likely to be negatively affected.  The crisis served as a 
powerful reminder of  the inter-connectedness between co untries, and the need for a coordinated, 
global strategy to overcome the unprecedented public health situation. However,  in formulating a 
response, it was  critical to bear in mind that the negative effects of the pandemic would  be 
disproportionately higher  in developing countries and LDCs  with large populations and limited 
resources. The uneven impact of the pandemic necessitate d renewed efforts on the part of 
Members in the area of S&D. She went on to say that India ha d been playing a proactive role in 
ensuring the availability of vital drugs such as hydroxychloroquine a nd paracetamol across the 
globe. India  had also donated and exported critical medical supplies  – including masks, sanitizers, 
and PPE – to more than 120 countries , and had despatch ed teams o f doctors to many countries.  
She also noted that t he COVID -19 pandemic ha d accelerated the shift to a digital economy , and 
had further highlighted the gaping digital divide between dev eloped and developing countries. This 
re-emphasized  the urgent need to b uild the capacities, skills and infrastructure of developing 
countries and LDCs in this important area. It also further strengthen ed the continued relevance of 
S&D, and highlight ed the need to reinvigorat e the Work Programme on E -Commerce.  In 
conclusion, she indicated India’s readiness to work constructively with the Chairman and with 
Members to protect human life and restore trade, global economic growth and jobs.  
13. The representative of Indonesia  said that the battle against COVID –19 had pus hed 
Members’  health systems to  their limits. The pandemic had also severely affected social welfare 
and global economic growth. He emphasized in particular the negative impact on developing 
countries and LDCs, which were struggling with limited health pers onnel, medicines and medical 
equipment. He called for  the development al needs of developing Members to be addressed 
according to WTO rules, and in this regard stressed the need to ensure that trade rules did not 
hinder efforts to utilize policy space, part icularly when it came to matters of life and death. The 
limited capacity and resources of developing Members in fighting this pandemic was reason 
enough for the WTO to address the needs of these Members . In this regard, he believed that it 
was reasonable t o expect greater policy space and flexibilities under rules relating  to the 
Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights , or other possible means , so 
as to ensure equitable and affordable access to medicines and medical devices in the context of 
the combat against th e pandemic. Since the establishment of the WTO, the need for  policy space 
had never been greater . He indicated in this regard that policy space should n ot be seen as a 
disruption to competition in global merchandise trade, but rather as a lifeline to those in need, 
particularly for health purpose s. His delegation was of the view that these flexibilities should be 
targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary. He called on Members to prove that 
development was still at the heart of the WTO . 
14. The representative of Tunisia  supported the intervention  by Botswana. He expressed his 
delegation’s concern over the negative economic and social effects of th e crisis in developing 
countries . Sev eral vital economic sectors had been seriously affected, and there were growing 
fears of a global economic slowdown.  Forecasts suggest ed that world growth could be halved in 
2020 – from the previously predicted 3% , to just 1.5% . Developing countries were suffering on 
several fronts, including from capital flight, currency depreciation  and losses in export earnings 
resulting from falling commodity prices and decreased tourism revenues.  While the  consequences 
of COVID -19 could  only be assessed once the situation had  been brought under control, he wished 
to stress that trade was one of th e most affected sectors in developing countries. Lockdown s, 
social distancing and other measures to limit the spread of the virus had had a negative impact on 
trade, supply chains and development.  Tunisia had  taken a proactive approach , and had quickly 
implemented preventive and coordinated measures to slow the spread of COVID -19. Action had 
also been taken to support  various areas of the economy, including the health sector, social 
security schemes and struggling businesses. However, the global lockdown had inevitably had an 
immediate impact on the economy and on trade.  Managing the crisis required  a forward -looking 
approach , with an emphasis on rescuing businesses and the economy , while also keeping a close WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  watch on indicators  such as the level of inflatio n and  the level of public debt . With a collective 
commitment , his delegation believed that  a return to normality could be envisaged in 202 1 – with 
lockdown s being lifted in a gradual and organized way, and recovery being experienced  at the 
global level.  
15. The representative of Japan  said that COVID -19 was an unprecedented public health crisis, 
which also had a devastating economic and trade impact.  In re sponse to the impact of the 
pandemic on developing countries’ trade, Japan would ensure stable glo bal supply chains , as well 
as the flow of emergency assistance supplies through additional funding to the World Customs 
Organization  (WCO) . Specifically, Japan  was planning to hold a training program me for customs 
officials in developing countries , in orde r to build their capacity in quarantine and preventive 
measures , and in implementing  expeditious custom s procedures for emergency relief goods.  
16. The representative of The G ambia , on behalf of the LDC Group, said that  the LDCs were 
concerned about the impact  of COVID -19 on world trade, as well as  on the WTO’s TA  activities that  
supported the integration of LDCs into world trade.  He highlighted the significant negative impact 
of the crisis on the trade of LDCs  – in particular due the fall in demand from trading partners, and 
the concentration of LDCs’ exports on only a few products.  The situation the LDCs were facing 
reinforced the  need for them to develop their economies and  trade towards more diversification 
and internal resilience.  The re cent trade restrictions that had been implemented by different 
Members on medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural products were also a lesson o n the risks that 
could  arise from a global health crisis , and the dependencies that exist ed between countries  on 
products that were essential to preserve lives. He believed that Members needed to reflect on the 
best multilateral regulatory responses to ens ure that global health crises did not lead to shortages 
of essential medical and food products worldwide.  It was in this spirit  that the LDC Group had 
circulated a communication in the General Council on 4 May  2020. The communication called on 
Members to not put in place, to the extent possible, restrictions on exports of medical, 
pharmaceutical and agricultural products, on which LDCs depend ed heavily as net importers.  He 
concluded  by calling on Members to consider developing  a more resilient MTS, which wa s equitable 
and geared towards improving living conditions.  
17. The representative of Ecuador  said that the present  exchange of views and experiences was 
important in providing direction on how to step up international response measures to help tackle 
the crisis.  She indicated that Ecuador’s  trade ha d been severely affected, both directly and 
indirectly, by the repercussions of COVID -19 and the containment measures appl ied by many  
countries.  Ecuador’s  economy wa s dollar -based  and relied  on five main sources of foreign 
exchange income  – which were trade, FDI, tourism, remittances and, as a last resort, external 
borrowing.  Although there were as yet no  accurate statistics  on trade performance in April and 
May 2020, the damage to exports wa s expected to be severe.  Ecuador was a net exporter of 
primary ag ricultural and fishery products, which – together with oil  – account ed for the largest 
share of public and private national  income. A record 12.4% drop in exports had been recorded in 
March relative  to February.  According to the authorities , COVID -19 ha d had an extremely serious 
impact throughout the production sector. In the agro -export sector, economic losses stood at 
USD 300 million in early March.  The fall in demand from Ecuador's main trading partners  had had 
a severe  adverse effect on Ecuadorian exports.  Average monthly prices for oil fell by 50% between 
January and March  2020, and t he oil trade balance for the  first quarter of 2020 fell by 42.3% 
relative  to the same period in 2019.  The standstill in international air traffic and the reduction in 
global land transport were among the factors that had contributed to the historic fall in the price of 
oil per barrel , which now stood at close to USD  35. Regarding tourism, possible scenarios 
projected by the authorities included  losses of USD  150 million over 30 days , and USD 345 million 
over 60 days.  She recalled that her delegation had mentioned at the 15 May 2020 General Council 
meeting that one of the greatest challenges wa s to devise a global post -COVID -19 action plan . In 
this regard, she indicated that such a plan should cover a number of elements, including the 
reactivation of internatio nal trade in goods and ser vices,  a moratorium on the payment of external 
debt for a reasonable period  – possibly for between 6 months to one year – and flexibility in 
renegotiating the external debt of developing countries , particularly those considered to be the 
most vulnerable.  Such c ooperation would  play a vit al role in preventing a collapse of the world 
economy.  Members needed to  work in an inclusive and coordinated manner towards a future of 
shared development. In order to achieve sustainable and extensive economic recovery, it  was vital 
to ensure renewed international commitment – based  on global solidarity, and through the 
strengthening of a transparent, predictable,  non-discriminatory and rules-based MTS . WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  18. The representative of Afghanistan  indicated that he wished to outline  his country’s  
experience s with the pandemic  and its  impact on trade.  He said that Afghan istan had  registered  to 
date around 11 ,500 confirmed cases and 219 deaths. These figures could , however,  be misleading 
given the lack of test kits.  An estimate  by the Afghan Health Ministry  indicated that  80% of the 
population was at risk of contracting the virus.  Since the end of March  2020, all shops and 
businesses except grocery stores and pharmacies  were closed. According to  the Afghanistan 
Chamber of Commerc e and Investment, 80% of micro, small and medium -sized enterprises  
(MSMEs)  were severely impacted by the outbreak and the lockdown.  Trade had been suspended 
due to border closure s with neighboring countries, which had caused revenue loss and higher 
inflati on due to the shortage of consumer goods in the market.  An estimated 96% of revenue from 
customs had  not been collected  and tax revenues ha d decreased by 30%.  More than 270,000 
thousand Afghan immigrants and refugees  had returned from neighboring countries since the 
outbreak without any creditable health checks or other safety measures.  There was  fear of 
widespread poverty and famine , due to the outbreak and the consequent  lockdown and trade and 
investment suspension.  The Taliban and ot her terrorist groups  had increased their deadly attacks 
on military and civilian  targets since the outbreak.  Afghanistan’s experience illustrated  the case of 
countries fighting two o r more enemies at the same time, including insurgent groups, poverty and 
the coronavirus.  
19. He went on to say that his government had  assigned a task force within 
the Ministry  of Health to contain the virus.  The lockdown in Kabul and other cities , which was first 
declared at the end of March for a two -week period, had  now been ext ended until the end of the  
month . In light of w idespread violations , the Interior  Ministry had deploy ed more police with strict 
measures to enforce the lockdown.  To fight the pandemic, the government had  allocated 
USD 25 million, although  this was  not sufficient given  the severity  of the situation.  In this regard, 
he thank ed the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank 
(ADB), the U nited States, the E uropean Union, China and the United Arab Emirates  for their 
assistance.  Up to 250,000 needy families in  Kabul began receiving ten breads  per day in the first 
phase of the free bread project during the pa ndemic. This initiative had since been expanded to 
other provinces as well.  However, e ven the distribution of food r elief had led  to some criticism and 
grievances. P rotests had been held in some provinces , and one protest relating to a food 
distribution mechanism in a western province  had led  to four deaths and dozens being wounded.  
Ordinary Afghans and businesspeople  were stepping up  to support needy families.  He express ed 
his delegation’s solidarity with nations affected by COVID -19, and indicated that Afghanistan was 
working with its neighbors to allow trade to flow smoothly. In this regard, he said th at he wished 
to take the opportunity to recognize those M embers which were trying to minimize disruption s in 
trade flows.  His delegation was a co -sponsor of the  joint Ministerial Statement on COVID -19 and 
the MTS, and he urged  other Members to join as well . Finally, he said that he wished to express 
support for the 4 May 2020 communication from the LDC Group on trade measures taken by 
Members since the outbreak of the virus . 
20. The representative of the European Union  said that COVID -19 had  highlighted the 
interconnectedness of  economies and societies. This had been emphasized by  the European Union  
at the 15 May 2020 General Council  meeting.  The core of the challenge faced by all Members wa s 
the disruption or collapse o f global supply chains , which had led not only to shortages of essential 
supplies – including those necessary to fight the pandemic  – but also to the severe disruption of 
sectors heavily reliant on global supply chains for intermediate goods, and especially raw 
materials. While  the resulting fall in commodity prices had a disproportionate impact o n developing 
countries, these countries were also struggling  to source the necessary raw materials for key 
sectors of their own economies.  This was  why the European Union had emphasiz ed the imperative  
of building sustainable and resilient supply chains . These were a key element in effectively 
guaranteeing sup plies in emergencies since they  allowed access to a broad range of suppliers. 
They were also the most future -proof, since it was no t known what products would  be essential in 
any future crisis. Resilient  supply chains rest ed on a bedrock of predictable and transparent trade 
rules. It was for this reason that the European Union continued to emphasiz e the need for a global 
solution based on a reinforced, open, rules -based MTS. This necessitated  ensuring the role of the 
WTO as a focal point for transparency regarding any trade -related measures taken by Members to 
fight the pandemic. It was also for thi s reason  that the European  Union was pushing for a 
multilateral framework to facilitate trade in essential medical supplies and protective equipment.  
21. She additionally noted that the present global emergency  required  emergency responses , 
particularly in the  case of developing countries  and LDCs . To this end, the E uropean Union had WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  swiftly carried out a reorientation of its development cooperation programmes for the purpose of 
counte ring the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic.  At the core of these efforts was t he 
European  Union’s Aid-for-Trade strategy. It was a matter of pride that the E uropean Union and its 
member States continue d to be the world’s largest providers of Aid for Trade. T he current crisis 
only highlighted  the importance of these efforts.  The European Union’s "Team E urope " response 
package to COVID -19 included  a total of EUR 23 billion to help developing  countries preserve their 
production and trading capacities, as well as to support  growth and employment.  At the same 
time, the E uropean Union wa s working with international organiz ations, partner countries, and the 
European private sector to build strong and resilient value chains in strategic sectors. In doing so, 
efforts were being made to  ensure that sust ainability, re sponsible business conduct,  and labour 
and human rights – as well as environmental standards  – were not only respected, but also 
became the backbone of global recovery.  
22. The representative of the United States  said that her delegation was deeply saddened by the 
loss of life over the p ast few months due to COVID -19.  She indicated that she was taking the f loor 
to share information on ongoing efforts by the United States to help Members respond to 
COVID -19. As Ambassa dor Shea  had emphasized at the 15 May 2020 General Council meeting , the 
United States  was acting with urgency, on a large scale, and to a national as well as global benefit. 
She informed the Committee that, as of 1 May  2020, the United States  Department of State and 
the U nited States Agency for Intern ational Development (USAID) had committed more than 
USD 900 million in assistance to fight the pandemic in the world’s most at -risk countries. This 
emergency funding would  save lives by improving public health education, protecting healthcare 
workers, increasing disease surveillance, and st rengthening laboratory systems  and rapid  response 
capacity in more than 120 countries around the world. In addition to government aid, private 
American businesse s, non -profit groups, charities and individuals ha d collectively provided nearly 
USD 4 billion in donations and assi stance. Together, Americans had  provided nearly USD 6.5 billion 
in government al and non -government al assistance and donations to the global COVID -19 
response. As a r esult of these efforts, the United States’  contribution to the COVID -19 response 
accounted  for nearly 60 % of global totals of government al and non -government al assistance . 
The United States was  also providing critical support to in ternational organizations fighting the 
pandemic , including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) , the World Food Program me 
(WFP) , and dozens  of other organizations.  Despite the tremendous toll COVID -19 had taken on the 
United States in terms of lives lost and economic challenges, the United States was proud to be 
the largest single  donor to the global r esponse efforts, building on  decades of leadership in 
life-saving health and humanitarian assistance.  
23. The C ommittee took note  of all interventions.  
B. BRIEFING BY THE INST ITUTE FOR TRAINING A ND TECHNICAL COOPERA TION 
(ITTC) ON THE WTO’S TECHNICAL -ASSISTANCE  ACTIVITIES AND THEI R 
EVOLUTION IN THE PRE SENT CIRCUMSTANCES  
24. The Chairman  said that he had requested the ITTC  to provide the Committee with a briefing 
on the WTO’s TA activities and their evolution in the present circumstances. This therefore touched 
on what was the current situation with regard to TA activities since the COVID -19 outbreak. He 
noted for the record  that the ITTC had recently circulated two reports regar ding TA. The first of 
these was the Technical Assistance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which had been circulated on 
12 May 2020 in document WT/COMTD/W/255. The second report was the Annual Performance 
Report on Technical Assistance and Training for 2019,  which had been circulated on 15 May 2020 
in document WT/COMTD/W/256 . These reports were not on the agenda for the present meeting, 
and he was not expecting to have any sort of detailed discussion on them. While the ITTC might 
wish to highlight a few key p oints from these reports for Members’ information – given that these 
reports had now been circulated – the formal consideration of the reports would only take place 
once the Committee returned to addressing the regular items on the CTD’s agenda.  
25. The Direct or of the ITTC  said that the Secretariat had started implementing the TA activities 
planned for 2020, in accordance with the Biennial Technical Assistance a nd Training Plan for 
2020-2021, and in cooperation with beneficiary countries. An unprecedented situ ation was now 
being faced , both with respect  to measures adopted by countries to address the immediate health 
aspects of the pandemic , as well  as the measures being implemented to bolster economic 
recovery. In this context, TA and capacity building ha d a role to play in supporting the efforts of 
beneficiary countries. In April 2020, the Secretariat had written to Members to seek preliminary WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  views on whether their top TA priority areas of interest had changed because of COVID -19. 
Responses from some Members had been received, and the Secretariat continued to await 
responses from others. The Secretariat was now  exploring how best to execute the planned TA 
activities for 2020 . She we nt on to provide an update of the status of the activities. With regard to 
e-learning  courses , she recalled that these  courses served both as a training tool and as a 
selection tool . The courses that had been affected were those that served as a prerequisi te for 
face-to-face activities . The  postponement of several face -to-face activities had had  an impact on 
the number of participants who register ed for online courses to advance to ano ther learning level. 
Such participants normally represent ed around 45% of  the total number of participants. The 
Secretariat had lear ned that some participants were experiencing difficulties in accessing  a 
computer or the Internet because of the lockdown situations in their respective countries. Some 
participants had also indicated that they did not have  direct  access to the course catalogue, and 
had to wait 24 hours  after registration  in order to access the courses. These m atters were being 
looked into , in consultation with the platform provider. The Secretariat had also increased its 
efforts to promote courses, in particular those that were not  used as  prerequisites for face -to-face 
activities. Support to participants  had i ntensified through the extension  of deadlines, and by 
sending material in accessible formats . New courses  had additionally  been developed, which it was  
hoped would  attract additional interest in online courses.  
26. She next provided an  update on face-to-face activities  in 2020, which she indicated had 
been affected the most by the pandemic . By mid -March , 20 such activities  had been implemented. 
Two of these were eight-week courses , which had to be cut short  by a week . It was also necessary 
to deliver some  of the modules through virtual  means. While the Secretariat had managed to get 
most of the participants back to their respective countries before the situation worsened , some 
challenges were experienced with four of the participants.  Although this had som e financial 
implications, she was pleased to report that the losses were minimized, as the Secretariat had 
been able to negotiate with  the hotels  for refunds , while also requesting participants to reimburse 
the daily subsistence  allowance  for the days they  were not physically present . A few other 
activities that were planned had been postponed, but with no cost incurred. She hoped that the 
Secretariat would at some point be able to present to Members a clearer picture on the losses in 
monetary terms, as a result of COVID -19. In light of the challenging situation , the Secretariat had 
been exploring alternative possibilities to  deliver the planned  face-to-face activities . One option 
was to postpone  these activities  to 2021, while the second option was see whether these activities 
could be delivered virtually . On the question of postponement, she said that i t was relatively easy  
to postpone face -to-face courses funded through the Global Trust Fund, since the financial 
resources could be carried forward to 2021. The challenge arose for the activities funded from the 
regular budget, since these  resources were not normally carried forward to the next year. She 
indicated that she had informed  the Administration and General Services Division (AGSD)  of the 
situation, so that the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (CBFA) could be alerted  of 
the need to carry forward some of the TA activities originally planned for 2020. In light of t he need 
for additional funding for 2021,  her understanding was that a budget  increase of approximately 
13% would be put forward for consideration  by the CBFA . 
27. Turning to the second option, which was to deliver courses virtually, she informed the 
Committee that  six activities  had thus far been delivered by virtual means. These included three  
Regional Moot Court Competitions , two technical barriers to trade (TBT) activities on e -ping, and 
one activity on rules of origin. Since the feedback from the participants had been  positive, the 
Secretariat would continue to explore the possibility of implementing TA activities virtually. As an 
example of a future course to be delivered online, she pointed  to a regional trade policy course  
that was to be piloted  for the Caribbean region. The ITTC was currently looking into issues relating 
to the content and deliver y of an eight-week online  course .  She noted more generally that it took 
time to develop effective virtual training material, and that efforts were being made to enhance 
available video conferencing tools . In addition, the ITTC  had been closely following the experiences 
of other organizations, and was considering how best to tr ain TA providers so as to have  an 
effective del ivery of online activities. The possible role of WTO reference centr es in alleviating 
some challenges relating to  infrastructure,  connectivity and soft ware was also being explored. In 
terms of the implementati on of future activities,  the Secretariat was currently reviewing 
Members'  requests  with respect to TA , and was considering how these could be implemented 
without impacting on activities already  in the pipeline for 2021. In the case  of regular budget 
activities originally planned for 2020 that could no t be delivered virtually, she expressed hope that 
the CBFA  would consider positively the option  to carry forward the se activities to 2021. WT/COMTD/M/111  
 
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  28. The representative of South Africa  thanked the Dir ector of the ITTC for the briefing , and 
emphasized the importance of the WTO’s TA activities. He pointed in particular to the benefits of 
regional activities, as well as  those activities tailored specifically to the needs of individual 
countries. Noting  that several Members had mentioned the existence of the  digital divide , he 
supported the need for steps to be taken to improve a ccessibility  in this regard . He additionally 
stressed the importance of responding to the specific TA needs expressed by Member s. Finally, he 
called for alternatives to be found so as to be able to deliver the TA activities planned for 2020, 
and noted that it was for the CBFA to consider the matter  of transferring  certain allocations from 
one year to the next.  
29. The Committee took note  of the interventions.  
C. OTHER BUSINESS  
30. The Chairman  said that he wished to make a brief intervention, for transparency purposes, 
concerning the status of work in the various Dedicated Sessions of the CTD. He explained that, 
because of the COVID -19 outbreak, the calendar of meetings of the Dedicated Session s had be en 
disrupted, and  he welcome d any guidance  from Members as to when and how some of this work  
could resume . He noted f irstly in this regard that the CTD’s 11th Dedicated Session on Regional 
Trade Agreements , which was to have  been held on 6 April 20 20, could not take place as 
scheduled, due to the suspension of meetings at the WTO. He had recently discussed the matter of 
outstanding regional trade agreements (RTAs) for consideration with the Chairman of the 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRT A), and both he and the CRTA Chairman had felt 
that it would be useful if Members could move forward and complete the consideration of the RTAs 
that were to have been  reviewed  earlier in the year in the CRTA and in the CTD’s Dedicated 
Session on RTAs . On this matter , he wished to explore whether Members might be willing to hold a 
meeting of the CTD’s  Dedicated Session on RTAs sometime towards the end of June  2020.  This 
would allow the Dedicated Session to complete its consideration of the India -Afghanis tan 
agreement, the ASEAN -Korea agreement, and the agreement between MERCOSUR and the 
Southern African Customs Union. He was in Members’ hands as to whether such a virtual meeting 
should be held. He went on to say that he also wished to raise the matter of the CTD’s Dedicated 
Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on S&D. This Dedicated Session  was mandated to meet 
twice a year, and the first meeting of 2020 would normally have taken place in June or July. He 
wondered  if Members had any views on whether , under the circumstances,  a meeting of the 
Monitoring Mechanism should be held before the summer break . The Committee would otherwise 
hold only one meeting of the Monitoring Mechanism in 2020 , after the summer break. Finally, he 
recall ed that the CTD’s 40th Dedicated Session on Small Economies was to have been held on 
26 March  2020. This meeting could also not take plac e, due to the suspension  of meetings at the 
WTO. He would need to explore with the SVE Group how it wished to take things forward . While he 
would be reaching out to Members on some of the issues that h e had raised in his intervention, he 
inquired whether any Member  wished to take the floor  on these issues . 
31. No Member took the floor.  
32. The meeting was adjou rned. 
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