RESTRICTED  
  
WT/GC/M/205  
 
2 October  2023 
(23-6610) Page: 1/167 
General Council  
24-25 July 2023    
 
 
   
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD AND IN VIRTUAL FORMAT  
ON 24 AND 25 JULY 2023  
Chairperson: H.E. Dr.  Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme  (Botswana)  
The Chair person , the Director -General and delegations welcomed  H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al 
Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates . H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed 
Al Zeyoudi  was appointed as MC13 Chairperson under Item 2 and addressed the General Council 
following his election.1 They also bade farew ell to Deputy Director -General Anabel González, as well 
as to Ambassador Ravesa Lleshi of Albania; Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi of Finland; Ambassador Mani 
Prasad Bhattarai of Nepal; Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha of Pakistan; Ambassador 
Mikael Anzén of Sweden; Ambassador Didier Chambovey of Switzerland; Ambassador José Luis 
Cancela of Uruguay; Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi -Peter of South Africa ; Ambassador Katrin 
Saarsalu -Layachi of Estonia , and expressed appreciation for their valuable contributions.  
 
Subjects discussed2: 
1   REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND  
 REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL ................................ ................................ ..............  3 
2   THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE – ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  5 
3   FOLLOW -UP TO OUTCOMES OF MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES  ................................ ...... 8 
A. MC12 - WTO REFORM  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
(i) Report by the Chairperson  ................................ ................................ ...........................  8 
(ii) Proposed Revisions to WT/L/452 "Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction of WTO 
Documents" – Communication from Australia; Brazil; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; European 
Union; New Zealand; Norway; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen And Matsu; and the United Kingdom  ................................ ................................ ......... 13 
(iii) A development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the World Trade Organization – 
Communication from the African Group  ................................ ................................ ................ 13 
(iv) WTO Ministerial Conferences – Communication from Brazil  ................................ ............. 14 
(v) Maximising the Value of WTO Ministerial Conferences – Communication from Australia; 
Canada; China; Japan; New Zealand; No rway; and Thailand  ................................ ................... 15 
(vi) 30 for 30 Suggestions for Improving the Functioning in WTO – Request from India  ........... 15 
 
1 The statement of H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United 
Arab Emirates , is reproduced in  paragraphs 2.5 to 2.10 under item 2 . 
2 The proposed agenda was circulated in document WT/GC/W/898 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  (vii) Small Steps to Make a Difference – Communication from Australia; Chin a;  
and Thailand  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 15 
(viii)  Reinforcing the Deliberative Function of the WTO to Respond to Globa l Trade Policy 
Challenges – Communication from the European Union  ................................ ........................... 16 
(ix) Dispute Settlement Reform – Communication from the African Group  .............................. 17 
B. MC12 - WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONI C COMMERCE  ................................ .............. 52 
(i) Review of Progress  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....52 
(ii) Reinvigoration of Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and Moratorium on Imposing 
Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions – Request from India and South Africa  ................... 54 
(iii) Reinvigorating the Work under the 1998 Work Programme on Electron ic Commerce: A 
Development Approach to the Work Programme on E Commerce – Communication from the 
African Group  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 55 
C. MC12 - PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT – 
DURATION OF EXTENDED DEADLINE  ................................ ................................ .................... 70 
D. MC12 - PARAGRAPH 24 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON THE WTO RESPONSE  
TO THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC AND PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE PANDEMICS – STATEMENT  
BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 76 
E. BUENOS AIRES (MC11), NAIROBI (MC10) AND BALI (MC9)  ................................ ............ 82 
4   WORK PROGRAMME ON SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF THE 
DEDICATED SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  ....................  86 
5   COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION – REPORTS ON  
MEETINGS OF MARCH AND MAY 2023  ................................ ................................ ............  91 
6   TRADE RELATED CHALLENGES OF THE LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND WAY 
FORWARD: PROPOSAL FOR WTO SMOOTH TRANSITION MEASURE S IN FAVOUR OF 
COUNTRIES GRADUATED FROM THE LDC CATEGORY – COMMUNICATION  
FROM DJIBOUTI ON BEHALF OF THE LDC GROUP  ................................ ...........................  92 
7   FOOD SECURITY THROUGH AGRICULTURAL REFORM: TOWARDS AGRICULTURE 
OUTCOMES AT THE 13TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - COMMUNICATION FROM 
ARGENTINA; PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA; BRAZIL; CHILE; COLOMBIA;  
COSTA RICA; ECUADOR; EL SALVADOR; GUATEMALA; HONDURAS; PANAMA;  
PARAGUAY; PERU; THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; AND URUGUAY  ................................ .. 103  
8   PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE -
RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES – COMMUNICATION FROM  
THE AFRICAN GROUP  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 119  
9   POLICY SPACE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT - A CASE FOR REBALANCING  
TRADE RULES TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION AND TO ADDRESS EMERGING 
CHALLENGES SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, CONCENTRATION OF PRODUCTION AND 
DIGITAL INDUSTRIALISATION – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICA N GROUP  ........  132  
A. A CASE FOR REBALANCING THE AGREEMENT ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING 
MEASURES (ASCM) – POLICY SPACE TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION IN DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP  ................................ ................  132 
B. THE ROLE OF TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN RESILIENCE BUILDING: REINVIGORATING 
THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE WTO ON TRADE AND TRANSFER  OF TECHNOLOGY – 
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP  ................................ ................................ .. 132 WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  C. A CASE FOR REBALANCING THE AGREEME NT ON TRADE -RELATED INVESTMENT MEASURES 
(TRIMS) – POLICY SPACE TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION AND STRUCTURAL 
TRANSFORMATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  ................................ ................................ . 132 
10   STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE AND STABILITY OF GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL  
AND SUPPLY CHAINS – COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA  ................................ ..............  145  
11   BRIEFING ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ACCESSION OF COMOROS - 
REQUEST FROM MOROCCO  ................................ ................................ ...........................  150  
12   BRIEFING ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ACCESSION OF TIMOR -LESTE – 
REQUEST FROM PORTUGAL  ................................ ................................ ..........................  150  
13   WAIVERS UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  ................................ ....... 161  
A. REVIEW OF WAIVERS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE IX:4 OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  ................  161 
(i) Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement  ................................ ..............................  161 
(ii) Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 and Article  70.9  
of the TRIPS Agreement with respect t o Pharmaceutical Products, granted on  
30 November 2015 until 1 January 2033  ................................ ................................ .............  161 
(iii) Kimberley  Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 26  July 2018 
through 31 December 2024  ................................ ................................ ...............................  161 
(iv) European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to  
the Western Balkans – granted on 28 July 2021 until 31 December 2026  ................................  161 
14   WTO PENSION PLAN  ................................ ................................ .............................  161  
A. ELECTION OF MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES  ................................ ................................  161 
B. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING  
31 DECEMBER  2022 ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  162 
C. REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION PENSION PLAN (WTOP P) FOR  
THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022  ................................ ................................ ................  162 
15   OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 163  
15.1   WTO Action to Assist Developing Countries and LDCs in Crisis Response  ........................  163 
15.2   Statement by the Chairperson in connection with Administrative Measures for   
Members in Arrears  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  165 
ANNEX 1  - STATEMENT BY DJIBOUTI, ON BEHALF OF THE LDC GROUP, AT THE 
CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL  
ON 13 JULY 2023  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  167  
 
1  REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND REPORT BY 
THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL  
1.1.  Under the first item "Report by the Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee and report by 
the Director -General", the Chairperson  invited  the Director -General as Chairperson of the TNC to 
provide her report since the last report to the General Council.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  1.2.  The Director-General  and Chairperson  of the Trade Negotiations Committee  delivered the 
following report3: 
1.3.  I convened an Informal Heads of Delegation meeting on the 1 6 May to report on my 
consultations with Members  about your suggestion to organize a Senior Offici als Meeting (SOM). My 
report was circulated in JOB/TNC/109 . I likewise convened a Formal TNC and Informal HODs, last 
Thursday, 20  July. My report and those of the Chair person s of the CoA -SS, NGR  and CTD SS were 
circulated to delegations in JOB/TNC/111 . Given  the extensive discussion which will be formally 
recorded in the TNC minutes4, my report today will be brief.  
1.4.  Let me again commend delegations for what I thought was a very good meeting and a very 
good atmosphere. As I said on Thursday, the meetings are getting more focused compared to two 
years ago when I arrived. This gives me a lot of hope. I think we had a great atmosphere, which we 
need to maintain if we want to have positive results at MC13 – and that was my sense from the TNC 
last week.  
1.5.  As we prepa re for the SOM, I recognize the helpful ideas shared at our meeting on Thursday – 
and express my appreciation to all Members in this regard. I am reflecting on them more closely  
and I will continue to do so  in the coming weeks as we lay the ground for Seni or Officials to have 
meaningful and productive engagement in October.  
1.6.  I likewise thank Members for supporting the organizing principles for the SOM agenda that I 
put forward and the possible format for the SOM. Some of you said you would be consulting with 
your capitals, and I welcome any further comments  that you may have  to refine our thinking and 
try to finalize the process as we move forward.  
1.7.  Knowing in advance the topics to be taken up at the SOM seemed to be a major preoccupation 
of several Members. As I said on Thursday, I am beginning to have clar ity about where we might 
go, especially given our MC12 mandates and the other emerging areas that Members wish to discuss.  
1.8.  At the same time, while work has intensified in various areas, I pointed out that we are not yet 
at the stage to determine which issu es to put before Senior Officials for their blessing, decision, or 
political guidance, as appropriate. We need to allow processes to further progress to ensure that we 
aim for targeted political guidance and action that would propel us – and not take us ba ck – in our 
preparations for MC13.  
1.9.  Rest assured that the GC Chairperson and I are here to guide the membership  in this process 
from now until the SOM. Working with the membership  and the Secretariat, we will likewise ensure 
that the Senior Officials will r eceive all necessary reports and the modalities of this meeting including 
areas to be taken up and the expectations in advance to provide them adequate  time to prepare for 
the SOM.  
1.10.   Let me clarify one point raised in my report at the TNC. I had said that th e GC Chairperson 
and I would send a letter to Ministers on the SOM at the beginning of October but then also said 
that we would have a Joint Informal HODs on 10 October. Some of you have since reached out to 
me to ask when the letter would actually go out.  Let me clarify that it would go out after the 
10 October meeting as we would need your inputs at that meeting in order to shape what we say in 
the letter. That would give the officials two weeks to prepare.  
1.11.   We are entering a period of multiple negotiation s which will only further intensify. The reality 
is, we do not have much time. So, let us do whatever we can to help each other, especially smaller 
delegations, including back  up from home. I am doing my part – trying to drum up more support for 
you from L eaders, Ministers and Senior Officials when I meet them. I have heard you and I 
acknowledge the challenges that you face. But at the same time, given what lies ahead, I seek your 
understanding in being a little more flexible. We in the Secretariat will try  our best to avoid meeting 
clashes – but there might be periods where, try as we may, this will be unavoidable. I ask your 
patience and understanding to make adequate arrangements for coverage. The Secretariat will also 
 
3 The Director -General's statement was subsequently circulated in d ocument JOB/GC/350 . 
4 TN/C/M/46 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  stand ready to brief any delegation as needed, especially those with small capacity or could not 
attend a meeting, to give them whatever information they need to make sure that they are abreast 
of what is happening. I hope this will not arise too often – but I do ask for your patience if thi s 
arises.  
1.12.   As we brace ourselves for an intense period ahead, please take a well -deserved break for the 
summer. I also encourage you to find a moment to engage capitals during your holidays – to seek 
whatever clarity, guidance and support you need to fully engage after the summer break. You have 
collectively worked hard since MC12 – and I commend all of you for your efforts. Now is the time to 
start reaping the fruits of our labour together through achieving tangible progress in the remaining 
road ahead to A bu Dhabi.  
1.13.   The representative of India delivered  the following statement5:  
1.14.   I request the Secretariat to place on record of this GC meeting, India 's statement delivered 
at the last TNC meeting held on 20 July 2023.6 As regards the Senior Officials Meeting , we have a 
few suggestions to make. Our statement that follows captures these suggestions in detail.  Briefly 
put, the meeting must be focused with detailed modalities worked out before hand; SOM be apprised 
of work done since last Ministerial Conference on the pending mandates from MC12 and past MCs; 
present status thereof; the items that are ready for placing before the Minister for decision or for 
seeking further refined mandate; or are for information etc; SOM should also be apprised of the 
items that require further discussion; and the details of new items identified, if any. These status 
notes be shared in advance; this would facilitate the SOM to set expectation level for the Ministerial; 
and also, in workin g towards finalizing agenda for the Ministerial. This would require intense work 
going forward. We would like to suggest that GC Chair may meet informally with interested 
delegation specifically on this point, so that road map could be prepared while going  into the summer 
break and serious work begins in early September.  
1.15.   The General Council took note  of the report of the Director -General.  
2  THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE – ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS  
2.1.  The Chairperson  recall ed that at its meeting i n December  2022, the General Council had agreed 
that the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) would  be hosted by the United Arab Emirates in 
Abu Dhabi in the week of 26 February 2024. As follow -up to the December meeting, and further to 
the contacts wi th the authorities of the United Arab Emirates as the Host of MC13 and the Director -
General, she was  pleased to indicate Monday, 26 to Thursday, 29 February 2024, as the precise 
dates for MC13. She also took  this opportunity to inform delegations that MC13  would  take place in 
the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). A communication with these precise dates would  
be circulated shortly.   
2.2.  In moving to the three sub -items related to  MC13 administrative matters , the Chairperson  
referred to  the statement  that she had delivered  to the  recent  TNC meeting7, in which she had  
already provided an overview of these matters.  Taking up sub -item 2.A. relate d to the "Election of 
Officers ", she recalled that the Rules of Procedure (Rule 12) for the Ministerial Confe rence 
establish ed that "During the course of each regular session a Chairperson and three Vice -
Chairpersons shall be elected from among the Members. They shall hold office from the end of that 
session until the end of the next regular session."  The customary practice ha d always been that the 
Minister of the Government hosting a Ministerial Conference outside Geneva was elected as 
Chairperson. The three Vice -Chairpersons were then selected from the other broad groupings of 
Members. From the exchanges she ha d had with Members, she believe d that Members could  repeat 
that past practice for MC13. She therefore  propose d that the General Council formally agree d to 
 
5 The statement was delivered under item  3 at the meeting . A written version of the statement was sent 
subsequently to the Secretariat for inclusion under this  item. 
6 The statement is contained in TN/C/M/ 46 and is incorporated by reference in the record of this meeting.  
7 JOB/TNC/111 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  elect H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Ar ab 
Emirates, to chair the Thirteenth Session of the Ministerial Conference.  
2.3.  The General Council so agreed . 
2.4.  On behalf of the WTO membership, t he Chairperson  congratulated  His Excellency Minister Thani 
bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on his appointment as Chairperson of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial 
Conference.8  
2.5.  H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United  Arab 
Emirates , delivered the following statement:  
2.6.  It gives me great pleasure to be here with you today, to build on our shared objectives and 
take another important step towards the next Ministerial meeting of the WTO. I would like to take 
this moment to express my gratitude to the Members for their confidence in the United Arab Emirates 
as host and Chair of this vital asse mbly. The UAE is fully committed to working closely with all 
Members towards ensuring the success of MC13 , set to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2024 . 
2.7.  This leaves us with less than six months to forge consensus on a range of complex topics ahead 
of MC13. During this critical time, we must ensure that our Ministerial deliberations are both decisive 
and efficient. It has become clear that trade policy extends far beyond the scope of trade itself, it is 
about shaping our common future that takes into account environment, global health and poverty. 
It is our collective responsibility to contribute to predictable, rules -based and open trade and 
investment environm ent, and thus, create prosperity for all. This is precisely why success for MC13 
is so imperative. Let us turn to Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD), I extend my 
congratulations to everyone who contributed to fully fledged text on IFD agreement.  Following on 
from that milestone, we can now direct our focus towards the procedural and technical steps that 
must be taken before or until MC13.  
2.8.  Regarding the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement , it has been promising to witness the continuous 
flow of new rati fications, for which I must express my gratitude to  all Members and the  Director -
General  for their work.  Let us maintain this momentum to ensure we obtain the necessary number 
of ratifications before MC13. At the last Fish Week, we witnessed a positive shift to move from 
exchanging ideas to tabling text proposals. This shift must be maintained so that no time is wasted 
until the entry into force of the Agreement. It is also  essential that we continue  to capture sufficient 
financial resources for technical a ssistance toward the Fish Fund Mechanism – a well -endowed Fund 
will be a key indicator for success for the WTO at MC13.  
2.9.  Next, work on the reform of the WTO continues to move ahead, and the adoption of a 
comprehensive road  map will be a major driver of pro gress. I am fully informed that delegates have 
worked intensively  on this matter. Nevertheless, consensus building on concrete proposals remains 
under my expectations on the trajectory to MC13. Therefore, we need to work together to agree on 
a possible roa d map. The time has come to build consensus on a broader set of reforms that consider 
all functions of the Organization.  
2.10.   With that in mind, I urge us to look towards the future with optimism and confidence. 
Together, we have the power to shape a more prosp erous and inclusive world through international 
trade and cooperation. Let us seize the opportunities before us and work hand in hand towards a 
successful MC13 and a promising future for the WTO.  I look forward to working with each and 
everyone of you, and  to hosting you in Abu Dhabi.  
2.11.   The Chairperson  thanked His  Excellency  and noted that his  presence at the General Council  
and the remarks he had  just delivered were a clear sign of his country's commitment towards the 
Organization and the shared objective of  a successful MC13. She noted that the membership ver y 
 
8 In addition to the delegations that took the floor under this item, delegations continued  to convey, under 
various agenda items  throughout the General Council meeting, congratulations to His Excellency Minister Thani 
bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on his election as MC13 Chairperson.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  much look ed forward to working with him and the United Arab Emirates,  as they prepare d for the 
Ministerial Conference, and at the Conference itself.  
2.12.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
2.13.   Let me join the GC Chairperson in congratulating H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi for his 
election as Chairperson of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. This is a testament to the 
WTO membership 's confidence in your ability to ensure a productive and meaningful MC13 – one 
that we all want to deliver  for people. As we progress towards MC13, the GC Chairperson , together 
with the DDGs and I , will be working closely with you as MC13 Chairperson and t he three Vice 
Chairpersons – when they are elected. We have already established a good working relationship but  
let me reassure you  that our MC13 Taskforce led by Deputy Director -General Angela  Ellard will be 
at hand to support you and your team in Abu Dha bi. You have also already met the Director of the 
Council and TNC Division , Ambassador Santiago Wills , with whom you will continue to work closely 
as Members prepare for a successful MC13.  We all look forward to this very fruitful collaboration and 
success ful delivery.  
2.14.   Thereafter, t he Chairperson  invited , in line with customary practice,  the coordinators of the 
other three broad groupings – i.e., Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) and the 
developed countries  – to consult with their constituent s with a view to putting forward their 
respective nominations for the three Vice-Chairpersons. The General Council would  revert to this 
matter at the next regular General Council meeting in November  with a view to agree on the three 
MC13 Vice -Chairpersons.  A communication would be sent to the group coordinators on this matter.  
2.15.   On sub-item 2.B. "Attendance of Observers" , and as the Chairperson  had foreshadowed  at 
the TNC meeting, she proposed  to repeat  past practice, namely, to  invite the Governments with 
regular observer status in the General Council plus the following five Governments, which ha d 
previously been granted observer status only at Ministerial Conferences , i.e.,  Cook Islands , Eritrea , 
Niue, San Marino and Tuvalu.  
2.16.   The General Council so agreed . 
2.17.   Concerning sub-item 2.C. "Attendance of Non -governmental Organizations (NGOs)",  the 
Chairperson  said that their attendance ha d been governed by a procedure that was agreed by the 
General Council in July 1996. This was as follows . A limited number of accre dited NGO 
representatives were allowed to attend only the Plenary Sessions of the Conference, without the 
right to speak; applications from NGOs to be registered are accepted on the basis of Article V, 
paragraph 2 of the WTO Agreement, i.e., NGOs "concerne d with matters related to those of the 
WTO"; and a deadline would  be established for the registration of NGOs that wish ed to attend the 
Conference.  As indicated at the TNC meeting on 20 July, she proposed to  follow this past practice 
based on the procedure  she had  read out. A deadline for registration would  be communicated in due 
course. Once the registration procedure was finalized, the Secretariat would  circulate the list of 
registered NGOs to all Members for information.  
2.18.   The General Council so agreed . 
2.19.   The representative of Kazakhstan  delivered the following statement:  
2.20.   Let me first extend our warm welcome to H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of 
State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates . I would like to take this moment to extend our 
congratulations to the esteemed Minister on his appointment as Chair person  of the Ministerial 
Conference and look forward to working together as we move towards MC13.  As representative of 
Kazakhstan, who chaired the Twelfth WTO  Ministerial Conference , we understand the responsibilities 
that come with the esteemed role of the Chair personship  and host of the Ministerial Conference.  
Therefore, we wish Minister Al Zeyoudi the best of luck in the preparatory work for the upcoming 
Conference in Abu Dhabi. We have  no doubt that his expertise and vision will lead  to a successful 
and impactful event . Once again , I would like to assure that Kazakhstan stands ready to share its 
MC12 experience and expertise with the new Ministerial Conference Chair person . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  2.21.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
2.22.   The LDC Group congratulates H.E. Dr . Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for 
Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, on his election as Chair person  of MC13. He can count on 
the full cooperation of the LDC Group for the success of MC13.  Regarding  the attendance of observers 
and the presence of non -governmental organization s at MC13, the LDC Group shares the fact that 
the General Council has followed th e practice established at previous sessions of the Ministerial 
Conference.  
2.23.   H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab 
Emirates , delivered the following statement:  
2.24.   We have been working with the Secretariat fo r the last few weeks and we would like to present  
Members  the MC13 logo. As explanation, t he logo presents the falcon with the wings and the colours 
match the WTO colours. We hope with all Members' support we will have concrete outcomes taking 
trade up to the sky and to the next level.  
2.25.   The representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  delivered the following statement:  
2.26.   Let me begin by congratulating  H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed AL Zeyoudi, Minister of State of 
Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates for being elected as the Chairman of the Thirteenth  
Ministerial Conference set to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2024.  Let me also congratulate ourselves for 
launc hing the logo of MC13.  Your Excellency, with all the positive spirit you bring to this room, we 
assure you our full support to have a very successful MC13.  
2.27.   The representative of India delivered  the following statement9:  
2.28.   I would like to congratulate the M inister of Trade  of the UAE  for formally being appointed as 
MC13  Chairperson . India would like to wish the host a very successful MC13 as entire membership, 
particularly developing Members , including LDC look forward to MC13 with lot of hope for decision 
on pending mandates.  
2.29.   The General Council took note  of the statements made.  
3  FOLLOW -UP TO OUTCOMES OF MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES  
3.1.  The Chairperson  said that the  item "Follow -up to Outcomes of Ministerial Conferences" cover ed 
several matters  and that she would  start by taking up  sub-item 3.A. on WTO  reform.  
A. MC12 - WTO REFORM  
(i) Report by the Chairperson10 
3.2.  The Chairperson  delivered the following statement11: 
3.3.  Delegations will recall that my last report to the General Council on WTO reform was in May 
( JOB/GC/342  ). Since then, I convened an informal meeting on WTO reform focused on the 
deliberative function and institutional matters on 16 June. During that retreat, Members had 
constructive and meaningful discussions on facilitatin g participation in WTO Bodies - "Reform  by 
Doing", engagement on cross -cutting issues, trade concerns, and other trade -related matters and 
on the functioning of the General Council , the Trade Negotiations Committee  and the conduct of 
Ministerial Conference s – with a view to better harnessing their potential. Let me put on record my 
 
9 The statement was delivered under item 3 at the meeting . A written version of the statement was sent 
subsequently to the Secretariat for inclusion under this  item. 
10 JOB/GC/ 345/Add.1  – State of Play - in WTO Councils , Committees , and Negotiating Bodies - "Reform 
by Doing" . 
11 The Chairperson's statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/GC/349 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  thanks to all Members for your active participation and our four Facilitator s – Ambassadors Tarishi, 
Kelly, Teehankee and Villegas – for effectively steering the discussions in t he breakout sessions.  
3.4.  Overall, I received good feedback from Members, who informed me that they found the 
informal environment conducive to a free interaction. I have taken note of a few suggestions that I 
will reflect upon regarding methodology to ensure  clearer expectations from future retreats. The 
report containing my reflections and conclusions including on the way forward, and those of the 
Director -General – which were both on the basis of the briefing we received from the Facilitator s – 
were circula ted as document JOB/GC/346 . In terms of the next steps, I informed Members of my 
intention to conduct consultations – before this GC meeting – with all interested Members with a 
view to finalizing what seemed to be an emerging road  map to MC13 on the deliberative function. 
In particular, I sought Members' views on:  
a. the milestones to MC13;  
b. topics to be taken up at or by each milestone; and,  
c. Members' expectations by each milestone.  
 
3.5.  I also recalled that there were a number of reform -related proposals  that had been circulated 
to the General Council and asked Members  how they saw those moving forward in light of the 
emerging road  map. I n this regard, I  met delegations  – in a span of  7 days12. I thank the Members 
including  group coordinators who particip ated in my consultations.  I will now outline what have 
emerged as milestones, or what I have chosen to simply label as "stations" where we need to stop 
or pause to reflect in the journey to Abu Dhabi and the topics Members wish to be addressed as well 
as how these stations can be utilized to ensure that we have a successful MC13.  
THE ROAD MAP  
 
Station 1: July General Council and TNC Meetings  
3.6.  The first station members have identified is the  July meetings of the TNC (held last Thursday)  
and today's General Council. At Station 1, Members expect to take stock of MC13 preparations. We 
already had a productive discussion at last Thursday's TNC where the Director -General laid out a 
segment of this road map – focusing on  the work leading to the  October  SOM, the SOM itself and 
work after the SOM leading to MC13.13 I will return to this matter later in my report.  Several issues 
that we need to take stock of as we prepare for MC13 were underscored. The importance of follow 
up work from MC12 was stressed. In this reg ard, I heard from delegations that it would be helpful 
to have an overall factual picture of the state of play from this work that Senior Officials in October 
and Ministers at MC13 could take note of, and as necessary, provide focused guidance to assist 
delegations in taking forward the follow up work. As a response to this request – including at last 
week's TNC, the Director -General and I have tasked the Secretariat to prepare a brief, factual 
summary of this state of play for each of the MC12 outcomes. It  will be updated as we go along. It 
is our intention that this be circulated soon to facilitate the SOM and MC13 preparations.  During the 
consultations, calls were also made to focus work on mandated issues in our rulemaking work 
(negotiations).14  
3.7.  As you know, we took stock of these at last week's TNC. I also heard the call to focus our 
efforts on regular work15 - where we have the opportunity at today's meeting for a stocktake under 
respective agenda items, including this one.  I wish to point out that des pite this long wish list, I did 
hear many Members call  for pragmatism , realism , prioritisation  and avoiding a 'Christmas tree' 
approach, where we have an overcrowding of issues such that we are unable to register 
 
12 The consultations took place on 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17 July 2023.  
13 See JOB/TNC/111 . 
14 The issues mentioned included: the second wave of the fisheries subsidies negotiation s and the 
ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies; agriculture reform – domestic support, PSH, SSM, cotton, 
export competition, export restrictions, market access; and the G -90 Agreement Specific Proposals.  
15 The issues mentioned included: Dispute Settlement  Reform, WTO Reform in general, Development and 
LDC Issues, LDC Graduation, MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme, Work Programme on Food Security, E -
Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium, TRIPS Moratorium on Non -Violation and Situation Compl aints, 
paragraph  8 of the MC12 TRIPS Decision, paragraph s 23 and 24 of the MC12 Declaration on Pandemic Response 
and Preparedness, Work Programme on Small Economies and Accessions, among others.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  achievements on any of them.  What I also he ard repeatedly mentioned was  that efforts needed to 
be stepped up to build a deliberative pathway, including more safe spaces – not only amongst 
Geneva Ambassadors and delegations, but also at the Senior Officials' and Ministerial level – 
including at MC13 . It was pointed out that the prevailing global situation of polycrisis, and the 
challenges faced by the WTO itself, including with respect to Dispute Settlement , demanded genuine 
WTO Reform. This is why some suggested that MC13 needs to be a genuine "Refo rm Ministerial". In 
this regard, the specific themes I heard for deliberation included:  
a. trade and industrial policy  
b. trade and climate as well as sustainability issues,  
c. inclusiveness – MSMEs, women and youth,  
d. global industrial and supply chains,  
e. food security,  
f. resilience -building, and  
g. incorporation of JSIs into the WTO architecture.  
 
3.8.  Let me mention in this regard that I heard calls for me to appoint Facilitator s or friends of the 
chairperson to assist Members with some of these efforts on which I  am continuing to reflect. As GC 
Chairperson, I am here to facilitate deliberations including responding to requests for safe spaces. 
Having said that, let me stress that, given the WTO's Member -driven nature, the onus is also on the 
proponents to reach ou t to delegations to initiate these discussions, provide clarity on what they 
want to be discussed and move these discussions forward.  To ensure transparency, inclusiveness 
and the Member -driven nature of such discussions, ample preparation is needed. This means that 
work to lay the ground for productive conversations should be done prior to the SOM and MC13. 
This is also a point that the DG underscored at the TNC last week.  Finally, with regard to Station 1, 
delegations expect that horizontal procedural mea sures based on Members' proposals on reform -
by-doing and discussions could be recommended to WTO Bodies for implementation as appropriate, 
at today's meeting – and I will return to this point.  
Station 2: Informal Meetings on WTO Reform  
 
3.9.  Let us now move to Station 2. Following the request from the European Union and the African 
Group – and, more importantly, their extensive outreach to Members to define expectations, working 
with them and the DG, I will convene an Informal Meeting on WTO Reform on 25 -26 Sept ember 
2023. This will focus on trade and industrial policy. We will work with the proponents on the 
modalities, which will be circulated prior to the retreat. Station 2 could also have other stops and 
pauses – due to the growing interest in another retreat  focusing on trade and climate, and inclusion. 
This could probably take place in early October. But again, let me reiterate that the onus to lay the 
ground for these discussions is on the proponents, and I look forward to seeing action and follow up 
in this regard.  
Station 3: Joint Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting  
 
3.10.   This leads us to the third stop or pause on our journey, Station 3. As the Director -General 
said last week, she and I will jointly convene an Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting on 10 October 
2023 to finalize preparations for the SOM. This third station is in response to a concern expressed 
by Members during my consultations – and with which I agree – that the gap or distance between 
today's General Council and the next one in November seemed rather long without a stop or pause 
to take stock and plan ahead. The DG and I have heard you loud and clear. The SOM needs to be 
utilized in the most effective way to help Members reach their MC13 targets. As such, beyond 
stocktaking, the Joint HOD s will be the occasion to determine what to put forward to senior officials. 
This is the moment to set the level of ambition, clarify expectations and concretize the agenda for 
the SOM.  After the Joint Informal HODs, as the DG mentioned last week, we will send a letter to 
your Senior Officials informing them about what will be expected of them. This will also include the 
modalities of the SOM – and from what we heard last week, the format or methodology for the SOM 
is going to be key.  Consequently, the rout e between Stations 1 and 3 will be intense. As the Director -
General mentioned, she will provide pit stops to check Members' progress and address issues along 
the way. I will be working closely with the DG in this regard.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Station 4: Senior Officials Meeting  
 
3.11.   Station 4 is the Senior Officials Meeting on 23 -24 October 2023. Building on the Joint Informal 
HODs, I heard in my consultations that we need to be clear and targeted on the agenda for this 
meeting. Many of you have said we cannot just have a listing of  priorities.  Following what I heard 
from Members during my consultations, and the DG's message and your interventions at the July 
TNC, there seem to be several actions that Members seek at the SOM:  
a. Take decisions  – for example on LDC Graduation if Members are not in a position to do so 
at today's GC.  
b. Take note  – of progress including on the reform by doing work and follow up work on 
MC12 outcomes, among others. Here, the factual report on the state of play on MC12 
follow -up work would be helpful.  
c. Endorse  – (i) deliberative pathway topics and their scope; (ii) MC13 structure which allows 
Ministers to take decisions instead of negotiating and have interactive deliberations on 
pressing global issues and (iii) structure of an outcome document reflectiv e of a reforming 
WTO in both form and substance.  
d. Deliberate  – on pressing global issues in an interactive format. And we also heard views 
on this at last week's TNC.  
e. Provide political guidance  – that is, ways forward in various areas including on how to 
resolve specific issues.  
 
Station 5: November General Council and TNC Meetings  
 
3.12.   Soon after coming out of the SOM, we will arrive at Station 5 comprising of the November 
General Council and TNC meetings – tentatively scheduled on 1 -2 and 28 November 2023, 
respectively. As I heard from many of you, Members would wish to use these meetings to:  
a. build on progress on work that was taken note of by Senior Officials, and  
b. flesh out the matters that have been endorsed and on which we received political guidance 
– including by putting together textual language.  
3.13.   During the same period, as the DG announced at last week's TNC, she would provide further 
pit stops to check progress and resolve issues. I will also be working closely with her and the 
membership  in this regar d. The work of the GC and the TNC will be coordinated to ensure that all of 
our efforts towards MC13 would shape up coherently.  
Station 6: December General Council Meeting  
 
3.14.   This will then direct us to Station 6 which is the December General Council Meetin g tentatively 
scheduled on 14 -15 December 2023. Apart from taking up end -of-year matters and preparing 
reports for Ministers, I heard many of you say that we should not simply take stock of progress 
during this meeting. Members stressed that the December G C should be the moment where we 
begin to crystallize the outcomes and matters to be put forward to Ministers at MC13.  
Station 7: Thirteenth Ministerial Conference  
 
3.15.   This leads us to our final destination – Station 7 – MC13 in Abu Dhabi. I heard many of you 
stress the need to iron out remaining issues and ensure that Ministers will be in a position to take 
appropriate action on matters to be forwarded to them. To this end, some mentioned that it may be 
a good idea to hold another SOM shortly before the meetin g, for this purpose, which could result in 
an eighth stop or station, but this remains to be seen as the journey unfolds.  
3.16.   This is the road  map that I would like to put forward based on what I heard during my 
consultations. A tabular summary of it with the 7 Stations, the dates and Members' expectations will 
be annexed to my report that will be circulated after this meeting.16 The road  map I just presented, 
needless to say, is not set in stone. Some other Stations and Pit Stops could be established, as 
 
16 JOB/GC/349 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  neces sary. The road  map is there to ensure that our deliberations in the lead up to MC13 have 
direction and purpose and are targeted towards enabling productive and meaningful Ministerial 
engagement in Abu Dhabi. As I approach the end of my report, allow me to update you on an 
important aspect of WTO reform which is reform by doing .  
REFORM BY DOING  
 
3.17.   Part of your expectations on Station 1 of the road  map relates to "reform by doing". In this 
regard, I recall Members' request to me at the 16 June retreat and duri ng my consultations to 
appoint a Facilitator  to distil a list of measures from Members' proposals that could apply horizontally 
in all WTO Bodies. As GC Chairperson, I thought that it would be efficient for me to request the 
Secretaries of WTO Bodies to assist me, to identify a few non -controversial  crosscutting procedural 
improvements that all WTO Bodies could consider implementing as appropriate or if feasible. These 
are based on Members' submissions and takes into account discussions in WTO Bodies. These were 
also shared with Regular Body Chairs w ith whom I met on Wednesday to prepare for this GC meeting. 
The main objectives of these measures are to facilitate the participation of Members in WTO Bodies 
and to enhance better preparation for meetings and follow -up work. The ten procedural measures 
that I would invite all WTO Bodies to consider applying as appropriate or as feasible are the following:  
a. Further enhancing support to delegates, including new ones, by the Secretariat.  
b. Further enhancing support to new Chairpersons by the respective Secretari es of WTO 
Bodies.  
c. Modernizing the appearance and format of airgrams, as appropriate and feasible, 
supplementing it with useful information to help with the preparation of meetings.  
d. Systematically hyperlinking documents cited in airgrams, reports and any other 
documents circulated to Members.  
e. As applicable or if feasible, using annotated agendas ahead of formal meetings describing 
each agenda item and providing relevant background.  
f. Consideration of introduction of e -agendas, as appropriate.  
g. Circulati ng oral reports by the Chairpersons or the Secretariat, as appropriate.  
h. Aiming at circulating minutes as quickly as possible after the meetings.  
i. Improving e -registration of delegates through e -delegate – including indicating the subject 
areas that a deleg ate is responsible for. In this regard, the role of delegation coordinators 
will be critical.  
j. Continuing to engage in experience and information sharing sessions, as appropriate.  
3.18.   Let me be clear. I will not invite the General Council to take a decision on these measures – 
neither will I instruct that these measures be applied horizontally in all WTO Bodies. This is simply 
a recommendation for the WTO Bodies' consideration. Let me also recall that, at the 16 June retreat, 
Members noted the efforts undertaken  and agreed to advance our "reform by doing" work as 
appropriate in the respective WTO Bodies. As promised, the Secretariat has updated the "reform by 
doing" document (  JOB/GC/345/Add.1  ) – which was referenced in the Airgram for today's meeting.  
Regarding our own reform -by-doing efforts in the GC, as I mentioned earlier, we need to further 
reflect on how to maximize efficiency in the GC. The General Council has also put in place some 
measures to improve its functioning including an annotated agen da. 
OTHER PROPOSALS ON THE DELIBERATIVE FUNCTION  
 
3.19.   Concerning other deliberative function proposals17, I am still reflecting on the suggestion s I 
heard during my consultations and at last week's TNC to appoint one or more Facilitator s, to work 
with Members  to distil commonalities in proposals as appropriate and in so doing identify issues 
where traction could be built for further work . But to facilitate my reflection, I invite proponents to 
clarify their intentions with regard to how they see these matters m oving forward.  
 
17 These include  the frequency of M inisterial Conferences , structure of M inisterial Conferences , how to 
deliberate cross -cutting issues and other trade -related matters, external stakeholder engagement, and the 
Secretariat role, among others . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  OTHER REFORM AREAS  
 
3.20.   Finally, let me recall that Ministers at MC12 committed themselves to work towards necessary 
reform of the WTO in all its functions. In this regard, work in other reform areas is continuing. 
Dispute Settlement  Reform cont inues to remain a high priority and informal discussions among 
Members is ongoing assisted by Mr. Marco Molina (Guatemala). I have taken note that the Dispute 
Settlement  Body will take up the item on " Dispute Settlement  Reform Discussions", for the third 
time, on Friday 28 July – which will include an update on this process from Mr. Molina. In addition, 
there is paper on this issue by the African Group which will be presented under this agenda item.  
3.21.   You also heard each other's views at last week's TNC/H ODs. On developmental aspects of 
WTO reform , the CTD Chair, Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic), continues work 
with Members in the CTD. He convened an informal, open -ended CTD meeting on 26 June .18 I have 
been informed that the discussions were useful, with many valuable contributions made. LDC 
graduation featured prominently, and delegations indicat ed their readiness to work towards an 
outcome on Annex 1 of the LDC s' proposal even before MC13. As GC Chairperson, I am here to 
assist Members in achieving your collective goals on WTO Reform – especially as we head to MC13.  
(ii) Proposed Revisions to WT/L/452  "Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction 
of WTO Documents" – Communication from Australia; Brazil; Canada; Colombia; Costa 
Rica; European Union; New Zealand; Norway; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen And Matsu; and the United Kingdom (  WT/GC/W/897  ) 
3.22.   The Chairperson  invited  Canada to introduce the communication on "Proposed Revisions to 
WT/L/452  'Procedures for The Circulation and Derestriction of WTO Documents ' " ( WT/GC/W/897  ). 
3.23.   The representative of Canada  delivered the following statement:  
3.24.   A number of Members have reviewed the decision taken in 2002 on the derestriction of 
documents and have put together a series of modest proposals intended to enhance transparency 
and accessibility of information. In general, the WTO is much less transparent as compared to other 
international Organization s and we believe that there is room for us to improve. What we have 
proposed are a series of tweaks to the  2002 decision, which would build on, and enhance, the 
transparency of documents while retaining the right of any Member to keep its own communications 
restrictions when necessary. It also adds guidance on the WTO website.  In closing, we welcome 
engagement  by Members, and we hope that the General Council can agree to make these changes 
and adopt the resulting revised decision.  
(iii) A development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the World Trade 
Organization – Communication from the African Group (  WT/GC/W/895  ) 
3.25.   The Chairperson  invited  South Africa  to introduce the communication from the African Group 
on "A Development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the World Trade Organization" 
( WT/GC/W/895  ). 
3.26.   The representative of South Africa , on behalf of the African Group , delivered  the following 
statement:  
3.27.   The African Group welcomes this opportunity to introduce our submission contained in 
document WT/GC/W/895 . We take our cue on WTO reform from two key documents, namely: ( i) 
The African Ministers of Trade Declaration on WTO Issues contained in document WT/MIN(22)/10 , 
and (ii) joint communication titled "Strengthening the WTO to Promote Development  and Inclusivity " 
in document WT/GC/W/778/Rev.5 . The submission we are introducing today calls for reforms that 
are sensitive to the special needs and challenges of developing countries. We believe that  reform of 
WTO bodies must, therefore , be seen through the lens of development.  Chairperson , allow us to 
thank you and the Secretariat for organi zing the Informal Meeting on WTO Reform focused on the 
Deliberative Function and Institutional Matters. As we indicated then, reform by doing must be 
Member-driven, open, transparent, inclusive and address the interests of all Members, including 
 
18 JOB/COMTD/2 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  development issues . These are  principles  that are  agreed in paragraph 3 of the MC12 Outcomes 
Document.  
3.28.   Our submission in document WT/GC/W/895  therefore elaborates on further principles that 
must underpin the institutional reforms under way, among them , preservation of consensus 
decision -making and Member -driven character of the WTO , and the need for  discussion s and 
oversight of the General Council  on reforms that alter the rights and obligations of Members , 
including the need to ensure that there is due consideration for capacity constraints of developing 
Members , both in terms of process  but also  with regards to any new obligations or outcomes . WE 
also want to emphasize that there must be r espect of specific mandates of WTO bodies in reform 
processes and outcomes , as well as safeguarding  and strengthening special and differential 
treatment (SDT). The Africa n Group notes that several proposals are indeed congruent with ours  
that have been submitted by Members , particularly on basic administrative elements, such as 
circulation of documents, format of agendas and meeting records, early circulation of post -meetings 
chairs' summary reports, enhancing coordination between WTO bodies, calendar and scheduling of 
meetings, the use of digital tools (including regularising virtual participation), and regular capacity 
building of delegates and capital -based officials.  
3.29.   However, we also note that there are some  suggestions from other Members that go against 
our stated principles,  and this will require discussion . The Africa n Group also considers the following 
elements very important.  The need to ensure that  agendas of WTO bodi es reflect standing agenda 
items, mandates or outcomes of Ministerial Conferences to ensure proper monitoring and oversight, 
including accountability. Agenda -setting within WTO bodies must also  address the interests of 
developing countries  and importantly,  WTO bodies must uphold clear and well -defined mandates to 
enhance their relevance and alignment of activities with priorities of Members.  
3.30.   With regards the role of intergovernmental or international organizations and the private 
sector, the Africa Group i s of the view that current modes of interaction such as observer status, 
thematic sessions and the WTO Public Forum are sufficient, save for improvements to ensure balance 
of views and perspectives. On the organization of work on institutional reforms, the  Africa n Group 
proposes consideration of the  establishment of a working group that would report to the General 
Council focusing on matters of institutional reforms within the WTO. This would ensure coherence 
as well as  horizontal oversight, including serving as a filter between subsidiary bodies and the 
General Council, as necessary.  
(iv) WTO Ministerial  Conferences – Communication from Brazil (  WT/GC/W/882  ) 
3.31.   The Chairperson  invited  Brazil to introduce its communication on "WTO Ministerial 
Conferences" (  WT/GC/W/882  ). 
3.32.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
3.33.   Brazil is pleased to introduce this document, which reflects our long -standing objective of 
strengthening the role of the WTO ministerial engag ement. Our priority is to have a WTO ready to 
face global trade and developmental challenges.  We thank you, Madam Chairperson, for organizing 
the reform retreat in June. It allowed Members to have an earnest and direct conversation, including 
on our propos al. Building upon that, I would like to formally present Brazil's new proposal to reinforce 
the Organization's deliberative function by holding yearly Ministerial Conference s. We essentially 
propose that, after MC13, meetings of the Ministerial Conference should be convened once every 
year until 2027. At that date, Members will assess the results and reevaluate the periodicity of 
Ministerial meetings.   
3.34.   This revised proposal (  WT/GC/ W/882  ) aims to address concerns mentioned by delegations, 
particu larly those of developing countries. We are of the view that this proposal will enable us to 
better engage collectively in response to longstanding and emerging trade issues. More frequent 
interaction among trade ministers, including from LDCs, should also  lead to a better comprehension 
of specific developing countries' needs and expectations, which will contribute to rebuilding much 
needed trust among Members.  We are also pleased to see other Members' proposals on Ministerial 
Conferences, such as the one p resented by Australia (  WT/GC/ W/873  ), which we fully support, 
China (  WT/GC/ W/879  ), India (  WT/GC/ W/874  ), the African Group (  WT/GC/ W/895) , all of which WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  indicate convergence towards making high -level meetings more dynamic and fit for purpose. As a 
developing country, Brazil welcomes those initiatives that are central to the promotion of our 
respective development processes.  
(v) Maximising the Value of WTO Ministerial Conferences – Communication from 
Australia; Canada; China; Japan; New Zealand; Norway; and Thailand 
( WT/GC/W/873/Rev.1  ) 
3.35.   The Chairperson  invited  Australia to provide upd ates on its communication on "Maximising 
the Value of WTO Ministerial Conferences" (  WT/GC/W/873/Rev.1  ).  
3.36.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
3.37.   We want to thank the growing list of co -sponsors – Canada ; China ; Japan ; New Zealand ; 
Norway and Thailand , as well as our latest co -sponsors Hong Kong , China ; and Türkiye . Given the 
length of the agenda I will be brief. As Brazil eloquently said, there is a growing sense more broadly 
amongst the membership that we need to do something different in Abu Dhabi. That is why we must 
make MC13 our first genuine Reform Ministerial.  
(vi) 30 for 30 Suggestions for Improving the Functioning in WTO – Request from India 
( WT/GC/W/874  ) 
3.38.   The Chairperson  invited  India to provide updates  on the communication on "30 For 30 
Suggestions for Improving the Functioning in WTO" (  WT/GC/W/874  ). 
3.39.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
3.40.   We have now a sizeable pool of suggestions in various submissions made by Members, 
including those contained in the document prepared by the Secretariat ( JOB/GC/345  ). India 's 
suggestions are contained in document dubbed as "30 for 30 ". In the context of the work of 
Committees, these suggestions are to be distilled to filter common  agreeable points for 
implementation across Committees without discretion once agreed by the General Council . Examples 
are annotated agendas, issuance of minutes, hyperlink of documents, calendar of meetings, Chair 
summar y reports , etc. This will make the process efficient. The respective Committees should then 
be free to implement other suggestions beyond the common minimum considering the need of 
respective Committees. Other filters should be for suggestions that require further discussion such 
as priorit ization of agenda items; and suggestions that are not acceptable. We had this opportunity 
in the retreat in June, but we missed it. Most of the time was taken up in discussions on the 
deliberative functions, which to our understanding was to be discussed i n September. We should 
now complete this exercise quickly. We would further like to suggest that JOB/GC/345  should 
become a living document, updated maybe twice a year for the first two years and then once a year 
subsequently.  
3.41.   Certain suggestions are for in stitutional reform for the institutional level in the WTO for 
improving the work and enhancing transparency. These needs consideration by the General Council . 
Here, I would like to reiterate that "30 for 30 " contain certain baby steps besides common agreed  
steps. For example, productive apps, website management, WTO calendar, manner and extent of 
external stakeholder consultation, transparency in WTO news items, shunning one step backwards 
to take two steps forward approach, organization  of Ministerial Conf erence , text-based negotiations, 
review of work of facilitative WTO bodies, refining conduct rules. These suggestions will go a long 
way for improving the functioning of the WTO.  
(vii) Small Steps to Make a Difference – Communication from Australia; China;  and 
Thailand (  WT/GC/W/879/Rev.2  ) 
3.42.   The Chairperson  invited  China to introduce the communication on "Small Steps to Make a 
Difference" (  WT/GC/W/879/R ev.2 ). WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.43.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
3.44.   China, along with Australia an d Thailand, has the honour to introduce the communication 
entitled "Small Steps to Make a Difference" circulated in WT/GC/W/879/Rev.2 . Though it is the first 
time of this proposal being submitted to GC meeting, as it was circulated before retre at, I assume 
most of colleagues are quite familiar with it. I am just going to highlight some key messages in the 
interest of time. The proposal gives suggestions on four areas for the purpose of improving the 
WTO's deliberative function and facilitate Members' participation in WTO's daily work, especially for 
small delegations, including LDCs. (i) On better conducting meetings for better participation : With 
many suggested measures in the table, we suggest the Secretariat to categorize these measures. 
Based  on it, the Secretariat should be given the discretion to take step on those suggestions which 
could be implemented within the Secretariat's mandate and capabilities. In this regard, we are 
pleased to note that the General Council Chairperson  held discussi ons with the Secretariat and has 
recommended 10 horizontal measures for Councils  and Committees  to implement.  
3.45.   (ii) On Ministerial Conference : We support enhancing the Ministerial Conference's decision -
making function by holding inter -sessional Vice -Minist erial level senior official meetings or thematic 
Ministerial Meetings at the appropriate time. To de -dramatize Ministerial Conference s, we strongly 
suggest holding  a Vice -Ministerial level meeting two to three  days prior to Ministerial Conferences . 
We are pleased that this suggestion has gained broad support among Members. We hope it could 
be agreed and scheduled when we are approaching MC13.  (iii) On the General Council : To improve 
the discussing efficiency and highlight the decision -making function of the General Council, our 
proposal gives a suggestion on the sequencing of agenda items. We suggest that new submission 
should come first, but submission within the purview of a relevant council or committee should first 
be taken up and con sidered in that council or committee. For re -submitted proposals that have not 
garnered consensus yet, interventions should be limited, and other formats of discussions, such as 
thematic or informal discussions should be organized when needed.  (iv) On exte rnal engagement : 
The proposal emphasizes the importance of enhancing external engagement while adhering to 
important principles. For example, engagement of external stakeholders is balanced,  and all voices 
are heard; the decision -making process should alwa ys remain member -driven; when cooperating 
with other international organization s, the WTO should play the role on its own merits and within its 
mandate, synergizing rather than duplicating work of other organization s or overburden WTO's own 
agenda.  
(viii)  Reinforcing the Deliberative Function of the WTO to Respond to Global Trade Policy 
Challenges – Communication from the European Union (  WT/GC/W/864  ) 
3.46.   The Chairperson  invited  the European Union to provide an update on the communication on 
"Reinforcing the D eliberative Function of the WTO to Respond to Global Trade Policy Challenges" 
( WT/GC/W/864  ). 
3.47.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
3.48.   Since tabling our communication in March, the European Union has engaged in many 
discussions with Members on how to take these work streams forward.  Let me start with deliberation 
on trade and state intervention in support of industrial sectors. Few topics are more challenging for 
the global trading system than the impact of subsidies on both trade and the achievement of 
legitimate public policy objectives. While the WTO has mandates to negotiate on trade distortive 
support in the agriculture sector and to complete disciplines on fisheries subsidies, there is no 
structured dis cussion on industrial subsidies and other forms of support in the industrial sectors, 
including its development dimension. We look forward to launching discussions on this topic in the 
retreat in September.  The retreat should explore the challenges and opp ortunities of industrial 
subsidies and policy tools in support of industriali zation in developing countries based on evidence -
based discussions.   
3.49.   On the second topic of trade and  global environmental challenges, deliberation is ongoing 
already in the Commi ttee on Trade and Environment , with active engagement and interest by many 
Members on various topics. It is essential now for enhanced deliberation for Members to agree on a 
balanced list of topics for thematic sessions that encompass the interests of all Members.  On the 
third area of  trade and inclusiveness, we believe this is a topic of interest for all Members and merits WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  a Ministerial discussion at MC13. Inclusiveness covers four dimensions in our view. First, how the 
WTO can support integration of vulne rable developing countries into global value chains. Second, 
how to do we enhance the participation of women and of SMEs in global trade.  
3.50.    Third, how can we make the trade -policy making process more inclusive , including by 
enhancing stakeholder engagement  in the WTO. Fourthly, to exchange experiences on how Members 
can ensure that the benefits of trade are shared more broadly and that those negatively affected 
receive the necessary support. A Ministerial discussion on these topics would help us to identify  how 
to take the inclusiveness agenda forward in the WTO.  We further note that a number of WTO reform 
papers also address the need to enhance engagement with external stakeholders. The 
Director -General's recently establishment of the Civil Society and Busi ness Advisory Groups to the 
Secretariat is a further welcome contribution to making the WTO more inclusive and bringing in 
broader perspectives.  
(ix) Dispute Settlement  Reform – Communication from the African Group 
( WT/GC/W/892  ) 
3.51.   The Chairperson  invited  Cameroon to introduce the African Group communication on " Dispute 
Settlement  Reform" (  WT/GC/W/892  ). 
3.52.   The representative of South Africa , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.53.   The WTO Dispute Settlement  system remains in crisis as Members continue to appeal into the 
void, leaving some disputes unresolved. At MC12, WTO Members committed to having a fully and 
well-functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024. To this extent, 
reforming the Dispute Settlement  mechanism and restoring the two -tier system with the right to 
automatic appeal and en suring accessibility and equitable participation remain priorities for the 
African Group.  The informal discussions on Dispute Settlement  reform that began in 2022 are 
ongoing and currently in phase III under a facilitator -led process. The African Group has  engaged 
actively and constructively in the informal discussions, with the aim of having a balanced agenda, 
balanced discussions and a balanced outcome that addresses our concerns, preserves an effective, 
independent, fair, two -tier Dispute Settlement  mech anism that is accessible to all.  
3.54.   We acknowledge the importance and contribution of the informal process. We note that the 
discussions have been advancing at a fast pace, and now with only a few months before MC13, we 
are at a critical stage, which require s us to bring all these issues to a conclusion.  We understand 
that the informal discussions are now moving towards initiating the drafting phase after the summer 
break. The African Group is of the view that the next step to move to if we are to proceed tow ards 
the drafting phase, is to multilaterali ze the process and discussions. It is in this regard that the 
Africa n Group has put forward its proposal at this stage, in view of the progression towards the 
drafting phase, but also considering the time we have  left before  MC13.  
3.55.   In addition, we are calling for a multilateral process with a clear roadmap that will facilitate a 
clear and shared process towards meeting our objectives. The lack of a roadmap makes it difficult 
for Members to see how we move forward in terms of meeting the MC12 mandate.  We are concerned 
with calls for an early harvest or mini package at MC13, especially if it does not address our issues. 
Any outcome must be balanced and take into account the interests of all. Our interest is to addres s 
long standing concerns with the Dispute Settlement  system, and thereby achieve a meaningful 
reform that ensures a system accessible to all.  The African Group will continue to be actively and 
constructively engaged in the discussions and is interested in working with all Members to find a 
solution. We believe that all Members need to be actively engaged towards finding a lasting solution.  
The African Group has an open mind on how we move forward with the process, but also believes 
that there is a need for a clear process on how we bring the issues to conclusion.  
3.56.   The Chairperson  thanked  all delegations for introducing and providing updates on the sub -
items and communications.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.57.   The representative of Antigua and Barbuda, on  behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.58.   We also align with the statements by the ACP and CARICOM Group(s ). Many thanks 
Chair person  for your state -of-play report on the ongoing reform efforts in the WTO Councils , 
Committees  and Negotiating Bodies. As a small del egation which lacks the wherewithal to follow the 
work of several WTO bodies as closely and as often as we would like, we are particularly grateful for 
your report. We agree with you that the General Council should continue to monitor progress and 
coordina te with WTO bodies as work advances. We also support the updating by the Secretariat of 
the table in JOB/GC/345  ahead of every regular meeting of the General Council at least until MC13. 
These outcomes are essential to allow us to have sight of this very imp ortant work. Nonetheless, we 
urge the Chair person s of the respective bodies to intensify their outreach, particularly to regional 
groupings, on their work.  
3.59.   In terms of the other elements on this agenda item, the limited time available for Members 
to take the floor does not allow for a comprehensive engagement. This underscores the need, with 
haste, for a dedicated corridor to facilitate the institutional and deliberative aspects of WTO reform. 
Nonetheless, we will offer some brief reactions on some of the proposals. Regarding the  Proposed 
Revisions to WT/L/452  "Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction of WTO Documents " 
( WT/GC/W/897  ), the OECS is certainly committed to transparency in the work of the WTO. 
However, we do not believe that derestriction of documents should take place by default , so as to 
preserve sensitive negotiating positions of Members, as well as information which a Member may 
consider to be sensitive.  
3.60.   We generally support the thrust of the African Group's communication outlining develo pment 
perspectives on institutional reforms of the WTO. Concerning Brazil's proposal on Ministerial 
Conferences, we do not believe the call for yearly Ministerial Conferences adequately takes into 
account the resource constraints of small delegations and s mall developing Members with small 
public administrations and financial constraints. We are not yet convinced that a change on the 
status quo for Ministerial Conferences is warranted, bearing in mind also that nothing precludes the 
Director -General from co nvening mini sessions of Ministers as required. With respect to the 
communication from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Thailand, we view 
this proposal positively and believe that there is scope to maximi ze the value of Ministerial 
Conferences. Essentially, we do not necessarily need more frequent or annual conferences, but 
conferences which yield more value for Members, in areas such as deepened policy engagement.  
3.61.   We find India's 30 -for-30 initiative to be constructive and it merits further engagement by the 
membership . We stand ready to work with India in this regard. In terms of the small steps proposed 
by Australia, China and Thailand, we are particularly interested in the principles for external 
engagement. We agree that the WTO can benefit from more effective external engagement, mindful 
of the need to ensure that there is balance and inclusivity in the nature and extent of its external 
engagement. We commend the European Union for its v ision for WTO reform. Reinvigorating the 
deliberative function of the WTO can certainly contribute to enhancing its relevance and strengthen 
the trust dividend between and amongst Members. We must ensure that those issues which are 
most germane to the trad e and development interests of developing and least -developed Members 
are given adequate visibility. In this regard, we are open to further discussing with the EU, an 
illustrative identification of other matters which may be ripe for further deliberative e ngagements.  
3.62.   Finally, we thank the African Group for its submission on Dispute Settlement  reform. We are 
broadly supportive of the need to formalize the ongoing informal discussions on Dispute Settlement  
Reform to make them more accessible and inclusive. W e commend Mr. Marco Molina of Guatemala 
for his able stewardship of the informal process. We believe that the membership  can agree on a 
pathway to merge this work into a formal or multilateral stream, ideally under the aegis of the 
Dispute Settlement  Body.  An MC13 package for Dispute Settlement  reform should ideally come from 
the DSB. Even if we are unable to agree on when the informal process should be formalized, ahead 
of text -based negotiations in the autumn , we should nonetheless seek to agree through t he DSB, 
on the principles to guide the informal work.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.63.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
3.64.   We thank the proponents of WT/L/452  for the document, we are studying the implications 
thereof and will revert following national consulta tions. We support the African Group  submission, 
which provides a comprehensive view on the challenges facing African Group m embers but also 
outlines key issues that are critical to improving the functioning of WTO bodies. Importantly , it calls 
for preserva tion of the key principles that underpin the WTO, and highlights principles that should 
inform the institutional reforms, including inclusivity, transparency and development. Importantly, 
reforms should not add additional burdens to already stretched deleg ations nor add new obligations. 
If we are to improve the efficiency of WTO bodies, it is also important to consider how to streamline 
processes recogni zing the development needs and challenges faced by developing countries. The 
paper also makes specific pr oposals on reforms that can be considered including addressing 
overlapping meetings, improvement of meeting agendas and post -meeting reporting. If the WTO is 
to deliver on development, WTO bodies need to ensure that issues of development and of particular 
interest to developing countries, including LDCs are prioritized as this is key to an inclusive MTS. 
Importantly, the submission emphasizes the key issues to be observed in relation to preparation for 
the General Council  and Ministerial Conferences in orde r to have outcomes that are representative 
of the views of the entire membership. It highlights the need to ensure that in areas where there 
are active negotiations for outcomes, these meetings must, to the extent possible , take place in 
formal mode. They should always be open, inclusive and transparent and their scheduling should 
genuinely take into account the resource constraints of developing countr y Members , including LDCs. 
In relation to the TNC and H ODs, the submission highlights the need to streamli ne these meetings 
to enable better focus and structured discussions on negotiations which is the mandate of the TNC. 
This will ensure that the meetings are value -adding and a platform for real exchange rather than 
just reading of statements.  
3.65.   We thank all the Members that have put forward submissions on institutional reforms and 
hope that the membership will consider all the proposals currently on the table which provide good 
ideas on how to enhance the functioning of WTO bodies to better serve the membersh ip. There are 
questions we have on some such as WT/GC/W/897  and we will engage with the proponents 
bilaterally. We will include specific comments on each in our longer statement to be submitted to 
the Secretariat.19 In conclusion, it is important to identify common threads in the various 
submissions to identify areas of convergence that can be agreed in the General Council . We believe 
this is internal work that can be concluded by the General Council  and does not nee d to go to Senior 
Officials  nor MC13. On the EU's paper on the deliberative function, we thank the EU for its submission 
as entailed in WT/GC/W/864  and the various exchanges we have had. We look forward to exchanging 
views on the different perspectives ari sing from the African Group  and EU papers with the 
membership in the upcoming retreat to be convened by the GC Chair person  in September.  
3.66.   On WT/GC/W/897 , we thank the proponents for the communication circulated on 13 July. Our 
capital is considering the com munication and we are open to discussing it bilaterally with proponents. 
In the interim, we have the following two questions : (i) Please explain deletion of para graph  2(b). 
(ii) Could proponents please expand on the scope and intent of para graph  5. For ins tance, does this 
extend to the link leading to documents, data and resources? If yes, would this not render the rest 
of the Decision otiose? Have the implementations including unintended consequences of all 
WTO documents being public ab initio  been thoroug hly considered by the proponents ? 
3.67.   On Brazil's proposal (  WT/GC/W/882  ), while the submission is appreciated, we are not 
convinced that there are adequate reasons to depart from the timeframe of at least once every two 
years as provided in the Marrakesh Agreement. As Brazil states the Ministerial Conference is 
mandated by the Marrakesh Agreement (  Article IV:I  ) to meet at lea st once every two years. This 
is flexible enough to enable the Ministers to meet as frequently as possible.  WTO negotiations result 
in legally binding and enforceable commitments which distinguishes this institution from many 
Organization s that hold annual  meetings. In addition, the current timeframes  already result in 
significant cost and resource allocation implications, especially for Members with resource 
constraints which have been exacerbated by the Covid -19 pandemic and polycrisis. These costs 
would only increase with the adoption of annual meetings without a guarantee of concomitant 
 
19 As requested by the delegation, the  longer  version of the statement , which was submitted  after the 
meeting, has been herewith reflected . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  benefit.  Rather than change the frequency of MCs which creates certain expectations in view of the 
history of the WTO, the membership could agree to Ministerial gathering s in between Ministerial 
Conferences  to exchange views as necessary on burning trade issues. The polycrisis may necessitate 
engagements by Ministers in various formats to reflect on the state of play in international trade and 
implications thereof.  
3.68.   The co mmunication by Australia et al ( WT/GC/W/873/R ev.1 ) rightly emphasizes that 
WTO Ministerial Conferences should focus on WTO reform. In our view, reform must be development 
oriented. It must be centred  on ensuring that the WTO is better placed t o deliver on the objectives 
as set out in the preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement.  The Africa Group together with Cuba, India 
and Pakistan have set out a vision for a development -oriented  WTO reform in the communication 
WT/GC/W/778/Rev.5 . It is critical that Ministerial Conference s focus on delivering on existing 
mandates. That would go a long way to addressing the prevailing trust deficit and boost the 
credibility of the WTO.  
3.69.   The Indian delegation has proposed "30 for 30"  ( WT/GC/W/874  ), an initiative to introduce 
34 operational improvements to the WTO by 1 January 2025, before the 30th anniversary of the 
signing of the Marrakesh Agreement.  The focus of the initiative is on bringing incremental changes 
to improve the operational efficiency of the various WTO bodies. The suggested changes include a 
yearly meeting calendar, standard annotated agenda formats, minutes of WTO Committee meetings 
within two to four weeks of completion, two overview sessions on WTO digital tools annually, a 
standard ized set of information on the WTO website, a Specific Trade Concern dashboard, and a 
productivity application (app).  The Indian delegation has also suggested developing a system that 
helps users search for Members' positions in a particular Council/Commit tee based on year and 
agenda items.  
3.70.   In addition to these suggestions, the Indian delegation has proposed that the Council and 
TNC Division of the WTO Secretariat compile and communicate a list of changes implemented on a 
periodic basis to WTO Members and external stakeholders. The Indian delegation emphasizes that 
these changes are incremental, and they should not interfere with ongoing deliberations on the 
larger WTO reform agenda. The broader WTO reform is an area that my delegation has greatly 
emphasize d. It is critical to ensure that developing countries, and in particular, in Africa are more 
effectively integrated into the global trading system. Improved operational efficiency of the WTO 
through incremental changes such as those proposed by India would  contribute to broader reform. 
South Africa supports initiatives seeking to improve the effectiveness of the WTO. My delegation will 
work constructively with the Indian delegation and the broader membership  to this end.  
3.71.   On the EU's paper on the deliberativ e function, we thank the EU for its submission as entailed 
in WT/GC/W/864 . We also thank the EU for the constructive discussions we have had. We look 
forward to exchanging views on the different perspectives arising from the African Group  and EU 
papers. We  also plan to organi ze a seminar to take the WTO membership through our perspective 
as entailed in the African Group  paper. We note that there are elements contained in the EU 
submission that do seem to overlap with the submission by the African Group, whi ch this meeting 
will consider under item 9, albeit the issues are addressed and approached from very different 
perspectives. Among these are broadly, the interaction between trade policy and industrial policy 
(what the EU terms "state intervention"), the r einvigoration of the role of the CTD as focal point on 
development, and the centrality of development in WTO reform.  
3.72.   The scope of support measures for industrial sectors and state intervention envisaged to be 
part of the discussion given that state intervention encompasses a wide variety of issues that depend 
on differences in Members specific circumstances and challenge s is still unclear to us. It is important 
to also recognize the long -standing asymmetries in relation to agriculture subsidies that are urgent 
in the context of food security and are key to development. There are significant divergences in our 
perspective on industrial policy,  but we value the opportunity to engage, particularly in a workshop 
where global experts on trade and industrial policy can assist our deliberations. In this regard, we 
thank Ambassador Teehankee and the IGDC for the very informative discussion on 21 July in which 
UNIDO and UNIDESA provided valuable insights. As we approach discussions on these complex 
issues , it would be prudent to remind ourselves that Member s are not homogenous, and that a one -
size-fits-all approach may not provide the right pathway to t ake us forward.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.73.   On WT/GC/W/892 , we associate ourselves with the statement by the Africa n Group.  WTO 
reform must also ensure a fully and well -functioning two -tier Dispute Settlement  mechanism 
accessible to all Members by 2024. A fully functioning two -tier Dispute Settlement  mechanism is a 
top priority for reform of the WTO, and it is crucial to the effective operation of the multilateral 
trading system. While noting the progress in the informal discussions which we have actively and 
constructively participate d in, as discussions advance towards the drafting phase, the process needs 
to be multilaterali zed under the DSB with a clear roadmap towards achieving the shared objective.  
3.74.   We are concerned with calls for an early harvest or mini package, especially if it  does not 
address our issues. Any outcome must be balanced and take into account the interests of all.  It is 
our considered view that if discussions are deemed to be ripe enough to progress towards text -
based solutions, that these be undertaken in a multil ateral setting under the authority of the DSB. 
The development of a clear roadmap on the other hand will ensure transparency, enable planning 
and full and effective participation of all Members. It is this inclusive approach that will enable us to 
achieve our shared objective of a fully functioning Dispute Settlement  mechanism by 2024.  South 
Africa  will continue active and constructive engagement with all Members to find a lasting solution 
towards reform of the Dispute Settlement  system . 
3.75.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
3.76.   The ACP Group thanks you for your report and commends you on your outstanding work. The 
Group also thanks you for the detailed road  map to MC13, which it has taken good note of. We al so 
welcome all the proposals on WTO reform. Regarding JOB/GC/345/Add.1 , we appreciate the work 
done by the Chair person s and the Secretariat reflecting the improvements in the functioning of all 
WTO bodies, within their existing mandates. Annotated agendas and expedited meeting minutes are 
well featured  in the document. We applaud the LDC Group proposal of April last year, having been 
one of the first submissions under WTO reform calling for these practical steps that can be taken by 
the WTO bodies. The steps reflected in JOB/GC/345  and JOB/GC/345/Add.1  can also help reduce 
the silo tendencies that we have witnessed over the years. The ACP Group appreciates that new 
items on the agenda should be reflected in a manner that allows us to manage our work. However, 
we suggest that care is taken to ensure  that items that are under deliberation in this and other 
bodies are not placed on the agenda in a manner that loses our need to deliberate and conclude 
those items as a priority. Such items should also be given priority on the agendas of the relevant 
meetings.  
3.77.   Regarding items 2 to 9, the ACP Group continues to examine each of the proposals. While 
these proposals are listed on this agenda, all other prior proposals must be given the same attention 
and consideration. We appreciate the retreats that have bee n held on institutional reform and other 
areas and wonder if Members might consider  Dedicated Session s to take up the proposals 
systematically and discuss how the proposals might evolve in preparation for the Senior Officials 
Meeting in October. Our group is tracking each proposal. We indicated at the HODs meeting, that 
Senior Officials should be presented with a concrete plan to advance the work on institutional and 
deliberative reform through an appropriate vehicle, ideally a General Council appointed fac ilitator or 
facilitators.  
3.78.   Senior Officials should also be updated on the work already undertaken with respect to 'reform 
by doing', namely the improvements already being implemented within the subsidiary bodies.  It 
might be helpful to receive some guidanc e from Senior Officials on which of the issues might be 
better resolved at the level of the General Council, with a narrower range of issues going to the 
Ministers.  On Dispute Settlement  reform, Senior Officials should receive an update on the ongoing 
informal discussions on Dispute Settlement  reform. Well in advance of the Ministerial, this informal 
process must be formalized. We welcome the paper from the Africa n Group that also addresses the 
matter of formalizing this process. This is critical given the instructions by our Ministers in the 
MC12  Outcome Document, to have "a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system 
accessible to all Members by 2024".  
3.79.   The representative of Trinidad and Tobago  delivered the following statement:  
3.80.   We align with the CARICOM and ACP Group statements.  Thank you for your detailed report, 
Chair person , and for the proposed road  map you outlined this morning. We also welcome the many WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  submissions under this agenda item. For us, it is a clear indication of the keenness of the  membership  
to address the mandate given to us by our Ministers at MC12 and ultimately to work towards shaping 
a WTO that is fit -for-purpose and equal to emerging and future challenges. Admittedly, we do not 
yet see our particular interests adequately refl ected in the multiple submissions and, in this regard, 
we remain hopeful that a submission that has been in the works for some time could be ready to 
come before the membership  for consideration in the period ahead. We welcome your indications 
regarding sc heduling of at least one retreat following the summer break.  
3.81.   Overall, we are of the view that, as has been done for the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce, it is perhaps time to focus our efforts through the appointment of a facilitator. There are 
many commonalities among the submissions, especially as relate d to the deliberative function, and 
it could be time to bring those common strands together, preferably within the context of dedicated 
discussions open to the full membership. On the question o f Dispute Settlement  reform, identified 
by many delegations as a priority for MC13, our resource constraints have meant that we have not 
been active participants in the process ably led by Mr. Marco  Molina  from Guatemala. While we 
appreciate the importance  of working discretely and constructively in the informal context, we 
remain keen for there to be periodic engagement in our more formal structures on the work that is 
being done. We share some of the views expressed today regarding multilaterali zing of th is work. 
In this regard, we do wonder whether the Senior Officials meeting might not be an opportune 
moment to provide an update on this process and the progress secured to date.  
3.82.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDCs , delivered the followin g statement:  
3.83.   The LDC Group thanks you for your comprehensive report on your activities on WTO reform. 
We took part in your consultations. We took the opportunity to share our ideas on the reform of the 
WTO with you and the Members of this Organization . We congratulate all the groups and Members 
who presented communications on various aspects of the reform. Some ideas in these 
communications intersect with some of our ideas on reform in April last year (  JOB/GC/223.R ev.1 ). 
In addition to the practi cal steps we introduced in this discussion, we hope that Members also 
consider the concerns  that the LDC Group raised concerning the need to reform the administrative 
measures practices against LDCs, who need also to access documents while addressing any a rrears.  
3.84.   At MC12, Ministers decided "we commit to work towards necessary reform of the WTO. While 
reaffirming the foundational principles of the WTO, we envision reforms to improve all its functions. 
The work shall be Member -driven, open, transparent, incl usive, and must address the interests of 
all Members, including development issues. The General Council and its subsidiary bodies will 
conduct the work, review progress, and consider decisions, as appropriate, to be submitted to the 
next Ministerial Confer ence". With this in mind, we believe that  the Secretariat document 
JOB/GC/345/Add.1  is a useful tool that deserves to be fully appreciated. It provides an overview of 
what is actually "reform through action", within the existing mandates of the W TO bodies. However, 
we would like to flag our concern about "agenda setting" category in the matrix , which refer s to 
placing new agenda items at the top of the list and casting deliberative issues that are under 
consideration and require further deliberati ons lower on the agenda.  
3.85.   We congratulate the various Councils , Committees , working groups and other bodies of the 
WTO for the measures adopted, which include suggestions from the LDC Group. These steps facilitate 
the participation of Members in their work without modifying their rights and obligations within the 
Organization.  The "reform through action" process is consistent with our communication.  Through 
it, we presented our ideas on the improvements to be made for a better functioning of the 
Committ ees through pragmatic measures that could be taken quickly, before MC13. We are pleased 
that some Members have quoted our submission or taken up our ideas in their proposals for 
WTO reform.  Paragraph 3 of the MC12 Outcome Document reaffirms some of the car dinal principles, 
notably inclusiveness, consensus, Member -driven and transparency, which should guide the work 
on reform, which also feature in the communication from the LDCs and those of other Members.   
3.86.   Under the leadership of the General Council, we wa nt to ensure that all proposals are treated 
equally in terms of scrutiny and that any agreement on reform would be the result of a consensus 
that respects the multilateral nature of the WTO.  We have other elements in our submission to the 
General Council t hat covered improvements to the committee functions, which have been discussed 
by many Members and taken on board by some of the WTO bodies. We stress that our submission WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 23 - 
 
 
  is in the General Council specifically because it is cross -cutting in nature. We have  also engaged in 
the Council for Trade in Goods  and other bodies and  commend the CTG for kicking off the internal 
work to put in place improvements that are within the existing remit of the Secretariat and the 
Chair person . The LDC Group thanks all the dele gations for their presentations. Our group engaged 
with five of the proponents on their proposal.  The LDC Group welcomes the communication from 
Canada and other co -sponsors regarding procedures for circulation and derestriction of 
WTO documents. We are exa mining the new submissions. We also welcome the submissions from 
the UK, India and the Africa n Group, which contain elements raised by the LDC Group.  
3.87.   In conclusion, the LDC Group wishes to remain proactive and committed to contributing to 
the work on WTO reform . In this regard, we would like our statement at the consultations with the 
Chairperson of the General Council on 13 July 2023 to be included in the minutes of the meeting on 
this agenda item.20 Finally , the LDC Group commend s the Council and TNC Division for its effort to 
produce an annotated agenda for the General Council. We hope that there will be some more time 
for the next annotated agendas to assist us with some descriptive information under some of the 
other agenda items having document refere nces. In addition,  the LDC Group suggests that it would 
be useful on the virtual platform (Interprefy) to indicate which agenda item is under discussion for 
those of us joining online, but more importantly, for our capital -based delegates.  
3.88.   The representati ve of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
3.89.   Thank you for your instructive report, and your able leadership on reform. It is both critical 
and appropriate that our Ministers engage with the global imperatives impacting our trading system. 
We have a big job to do over the next few months to make the most of this reform moment.  Australia 
strongly supports your deliberative pathway to Abu Dhabi and the various stations and pit stops 
along the way. This includes preparing the ground here in Geneva, for e xample through retreats and 
the engagement of our  Senior Officials. The topics you listed for deliberation also make sense,  but 
we cannot tackle them all on the way to Abu Dhabi. We have argued before that there is room for 
three or four such topics – trade and climate, trade and inclusion (including, gender,  development, 
and first nations' peoples), trade and industrial policy and the broader question of subsidies. If the 
last of these topics is not proceeding well in respect of agriculture, we should also  ensure there is 
deliberative time at Abu Dhabi to consider how to proceed on agricultural subsidy reform. You 
mentioned concept notes on these topics. We would welcome those concept notes as soon as 
possible . We also support your eminently sensible approach to institutional reform. Maintaining our 
reform by doing momentum and swiftly implementing agreed ideas will ensure we have good 
progress to report to Ministers by MC13. We appreciate the solid ideas for impro ving our 
effectiveness on the table today – including Brazil's annual Ministerial proposal, the Canada -led 
transparency proposal and China's 'Small Steps to Make a Difference' submission which we should 
seriously consider implementing before Abu Dhabi.   
3.90.   To be a genuine Reform Ministerial, MC13 must also deliver on Australia's top reform priority 
of restoring a fully functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024. This 
is a clear mandate set by Ministers at MC12.  If we are to deliver  on this mandate, we need to be 
pragmatic and flexible, including on the format of the reform discussions. The discussions are 
transparent and open to all Members. We agree the discussions will need to be formalized in the 
future, but this must be done at the right time, and now is not that time. The innovative, informal 
nature of the discussions has been critical in moving some issues to the stage where they are now 
ready for drafting but there is still work to do on some topics of fundamental importance. We should 
give the informal process an opportunity to progress further those important issues.  With a 
steadiness of purpose, we can use MC13 to advance reform on all fronts – more rulemaking if we 
can, restoring the Dispute Settlement  system, advancing the  deliberative function, and giving effect 
to a new approach to Ministerial Conference s. 
 
20 As requested by Djibouti, on behalf of the LDC Group, the LDC Group statement  - shared with the 
Chairperson of the General Council  during her consultations on 13 July 2023  - has been reproduced  in Annex  1. WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.91.   The representative of Samoa , on behalf of the Pacific Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.92.   The Pacific aligns with the ACP statement. We thank you , Chairperson,  for your report. We 
note the way forward for MC13 preparations and a promising road  map for advancing discussions 
on pertinent issues including the deliberative function of the WTO.  We would like to express our 
deep appreciation for the updated matrix on the  state of play of the reform by doing work in WTO 
Councils , Committees  and Negotiating Bodies. This has been a useful document to keep us well -
informed of the efforts undertaken in the respective WTO bodies to facilitate the participation of 
Members. Given  the increasing number of submissions relating to WTO reform, we believe this 
practice could be transformed to produce an updated matrix of WTO reform submissions that would 
assist smaller delegations like ours keep up with documents being tabled on this i mportant work. 
This would also assist in ensuring that WTO reform is an open, transparent and inclusive process. A 
dedicated central repository on the WTO website is also a welcome alternative. We thank all 
proponents for the statements made to highlight t he key points of their submissions, both new and 
revised, which aim to advance our discussions on WTO reform. The Pacific  Group  is reviewing these 
submissions and will reach out to proponents for any clarifications we may need.  
3.93.   As we prepare for MC13, and  learning from previous Ministerial Conferences, we suggest an 
improvement in the organization  of meetings by providing listening rooms for all Ministerial meeting s 
and small group meetings at MC13. Perhaps the practice undertaken by the Negotiating Group on 
Rules, where Delegations listen in online, could be considered. This would ensure that technical 
officials in respective delegations are able to fully support Ministers throughout the Conference. The 
Minister plus two format is insufficient in our view.  As a minimum, Minister -plus-four format may be 
adequate.  Regarding the Dispute Settlement  reform, the Pacific  Group  views the restoration of the 
fully functioning two -tiered Dispute Settlement  system as a priority for MC13. It is crucial for us that 
the Dispute Settlement  system is accessible and affordable to all including small Members. In this 
connection, it is also important that Members consider how the discussions in the informal process 
can be brought into the formal process.  
3.94.   The representative of Costa Rica  delivered the following statement:  
3.95.   Costa Rica is pleased to introduce this joint communication and proposing several adjustments 
to procedures to improve the circulation and derestric tion of WTO documents. In our opinion, 
transparency is essential for the improved functioning of the Organization and an improved outward 
image, which requires the simplest possible access to documents.  The changes we suggest in 
document WT/L/452  are heading in t hat direction and strike a balance between the right retained 
by Members to decide which documents and information should be kept confidential and the 
transparency that stakeholders and the outside world in general expect from our work. For example, 
we pro pose that airgrams and annotated agendas are unrestricted, in the same way that 
WTO agendas are made public from day one.  
3.96.   We also propose that the public should have access to the information available on the 
WTO website, except for information or documen ts that are otherwise restricted.  These measures 
will foster a greater public understanding of the work we do at the WTO and make it easier for the 
private sector, academia and civil society more broadly to follow our work.  I would like to take this 
opport unity to recall that Costa Rica with other Members presented a comprehensive document on 
WTO reform at the last meeting (  WT/GC/ W/877/Rev.1  ). The document was not included as a 
specific item on the agenda of this General Council meeting, but c onsidering the document remains 
pertinent to the ongoing efforts of reform by doing at the WTO, and Costa Rica reiterates the 
importance of this in the reform work of the regular bodies. With the document we  are tabling today 
with other Members, we wish to contribute to an important component to WTO reform.  
3.97.   On WT/GC/W/873/R ev.1, Costa Rica would like to refer to the communications prepared by 
Brazil and Australia, with other Members, on the functioning  of Ministerial Conferences.  As we have 
noted in the past, Costa Rica strongly supports Brazil's proposal that Ministerial Conferences be held 
annually. We believe that this will contribute to "de ‑dramatizing" the Ministerial Conferences, to 
making the wor k of the Organization across its three pillars work more smoothly and permanently, 
to securing results here through the General Council and other bodies on a regular basis, and to 
contributing to the regular involvement of Ministers in the work of the WTO.  Costa Rica also strongly WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 25 - 
 
 
  supports the communication from Australia and other Members, which we believe contains valuable 
ideas that complement Brazil's proposal. Costa Rica supports its ideas, aimed at maximizing the 
value of Ministerial Conferences and t he meetings of our Ministers, involving them in the work we 
are doing and creating opportunities for them to give us guidance , so we can move ahead with our 
work in the periods between Ministerial Conferences.  
3.98.   On WT/GC/W/892 , Costa Rica thanks the African Group for its communication on ensuring 
the Dispute Settlement  mechanism is fully functional, which is a priority issue for our government. 
However, we believe that discussions should continue in the informal proces s, which is being led 
with great success by the Deputy Permanent Representative  of Guatemala Mr. Marco Molina who 
has our support and who we thank for all his efforts and the dedication he has put into this task. 
This informal process is transparent and op en to all WTO Members and has contributed to the 
inclusion of everyone's interests and to bridging the gap between different positions. We encourage 
Members to engage actively and constructively in this process. Progress has been made in this area 
that mus t be preserved and when the time comes should be brought to the Dispute Settlement  Body 
or General Council "with the aim of having a fully and well ‑functioning Dispute Settlement  system 
accessible to all members by 2024".  
3.99.   The representative of Türkiye  delivered the following statement:  
3.100.   We thank you for the report on the road  map on the deliberative function of the WTO. We 
also thank the African Group for their contribution to this debate with a development perspective. 
We definitely agree that focus on the principles of inclusivity, transparency and development is 
important in the reform process. We shared our detailed views with regard to the matters contained 
in JOB/GC/345/Add.1  in the  16 June informal meeting, thus I will not  be repeating those today. We 
support the general process followed by the Chair person  in this regard.   
3.101.   Coming to the proposals tabled with regard to the WTO reform, I would like to reiterate that 
we value efforts to im prove WTO's efficiency and relevance, thus thank all Members for their 
proposals under the reform agenda.  With regard to the previously issued papers, again I would like 
to refer to my previous statements for the sake of time management since our stance re garding 
those remains the same. On the other hand, we would like to convey our appreciation to Australia 
for their proposal on "Maximizing the Value of WTO Ministerial Conferences" which we co -sponsored. 
In our view, relieving the usual high pressure off t hese conferences and avoid credibility discussions 
on outcomes is essential while preserving their rulemaking role. Besides, instead of having yearly 
Ministerial Conferences , organizing senior official or ministerial meetings when there are issues ripe 
enough to make decisions or a need emerges for political impetus to push negotiations forward on 
an ad hoc  basis is a more effective and efficient approach.  I would like to conclude by indicating that 
as always, Türkiye is ready to engage in a constructive di alogue with all Members to continue the 
process of WTO reform.  
3.102.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
3.103.   I would thank the Chairperson for her initial report on the future stations of our road to Abu 
Dhabi. On future retreats, particu larly the September retreat on industrial policies, two important 
points for Brazil. First, industrial subsidies  and policy must be tackled in parallel with agricultural 
subsidies and polic y. This is a horizontal discussion. Second, IP rights is an indispe nsable part of any 
discussion on industrial policy and development.  
3.104.   Allow me to make some brief comments on the new proposals.  Regarding the communication 
from the African Group on Dispute Settlement  reform, Brazil shares the concern of having a fully 
and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system by 2024, as mandated at MC12. As repeatedly said 
in this room, Dispute Settlement  reform is a top priority for Brazil.  In this regard, we are pleased 
with t he level of engagement shown by delegations and with the depth of the debate that has been 
taking place so far in the informal process.  We believe that this has been possible because the 
informal process has been designed to strike a good balance. It enabl es substantive, frank, in -depth 
discussion while at the same time it ensures that all Members can participate and safeguard full 
transparency throughout the process. We thank Mr. Marco Molina of Guatemala for facilitating this 
process. DS reform is no smal l task, and it is an urgent one. We are confident the process will be 
formalized in due course, and we look forward to continuing engagement with all Members.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 26 - 
 
 
  3.105.   Concerning document WT/GC/W/895  put forward by the African Group on the development 
perspective on institutional reforms, although it is still under consideration in capital, Brazil very 
much welcomes the views expressed on principles, especially inclusivity, transparency and 
development, with which we fully agree. We believe many of the ideas espous ed in the paper not 
only safeguard the interests of developing countries , Brazil included, but also are in connection with 
other interests expressed by a large range of Members.  Brazil acknowledges the vital role of 
development as an integral part of the r eform agenda and as a guiding principle, shaping decisions 
at every stage and aspect of WTO reform discussions, including Dispute Settlement  reform.  
3.106.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
3.107.   MC13 is just around the corner,  and it is time for the membership  to shift gears after the 
summer break and prepare effectively for Abu Dhabi. In this regard, we welcome the road  map, 
which was presented by the General C ouncil Chair person  this morning.  We believe that there is a 
certain convergence on the list of issues that should compose the package of multilateral outcomes 
at MC13.  I have already expanded on the issues at the TCN/informal H ODs on the 20 July, and 
there fore will not repeat them today.  
3.108.   However, one issue deserves particular attention . For the European Union a well and fully 
functioning Dispute Settlement  system in the WTO is a key priority. We treat very seriously the 
commitment made at MC12 "to conduct discussions with the view to having a fully and well -
functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024". This is the key defining 
issue for the credibility and legitimacy of the WTO.  While we acknowledge that the ongoing 
discussions a re challenging, the European Union fully supports an ambitious schedule. If we are to 
have a fully functioning Dispute Settlement  system "by 2024", these discussions must pave the way 
for agreement on Dispute Settlement  reform at MC13.  We wish to underscor e that the ongoing 
discussions are open to all Members and the European Union indeed appreciates the efforts to ensure 
that the process is transparent and inclusive. It is already a multilateral process! We value the broad 
participation in the meetings, wh ich contributes to the quality of the exchanges, and enhances the 
understanding of the positions of Members on particular issues. We support the process as set up at 
the moment and we thank the facilitator  for his efforts. The process of informal discussio ns and 
reporting to the Dispute Settlement  Body every other month strikes a good balance between the 
need for transparency and accountability, and that of progressing in a quick manner.   
3.109.   At MC13, we should also allow time for Ministers to deliberate on cri tical issues for the 
multilateral trading system, as mentioned in my previous intervention and in particularly subsidies 
and other state intervention. The Ministerial Conference should represent a steppingstone to launch 
a process of enhanced deliberation on these issues. The Senior Officials Meeting in October is a key 
milestone that requires proper preparation, and that should help put us on track for a successful 
MC13. I welcome the road  map outlined by the General Council Chair person  at the beginning of  the 
meeting.  The European Union believes that the Senior Officials Meeting should serve four main 
purposes . It should provide guidance on the key outcomes for decision at MC13, with a particular 
focus on four issues: Dispute Settlement  reform, agriculture, phase 2 of the Fisheries Subsidies 
Agreement , and enhanced deliberation.  
3.110.   Secondly, it should provide a steer on the MC13 Ministerial Declaration, for which drafting 
should start immediately after the meeting. The European Union prefe rs a short and streamlined 
Declaration with focus on WTO reform, with some issues addressed through specific Decisions. We 
welcome the ten cross -cutting improvements identified by the General Council Chairperson  for 
subsidiary bodies and look forward to th eir implementation.  It should also pave the way for the 
adoption of a decision on the LDC Graduation Annex 1 proposal ahead of MC13. The European Union 
would support accelerating a decision on this matter.  If we want to deliver these concrete outputs 
at th e Senior Officials Meeting, the European Union strongly advocates for a facilitator  on 
improvements for the TNC, General Council and Ministerial Conferences.  We look forward to further 
consultations with Members and  reenergi zing our discussions after the s ummer break.  
3.111.   The representative of Ecuador  delivered the following statement:  
3.112.   I should indicate at the outset that I am making this statement on behalf of the delegations 
of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay, as co -sponsors of document WT/GC/W/881 , WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 27 - 
 
 
  circulated on 13 June 2023.  The co -sponsors' intention behind this document is to contribute 
constructively to the discussions on improving the functioning of the WTO and its subsidiary bodies.  
As part of this process, our delegations have been ad vocating a bottom -up approach in the 
Organization's other bodies. The same Members submitted JOB/CTG/21  to the Goods Council and 
five technical committees (Agriculture, Market Access, TBT, SPS and Trade Facilitation).  I would like 
to stress that document WT/GC/W/881  is intended to provide food for thought on the role that the 
General Council should play in these discussions.   
3.113.   We believe that the working methods of each subsidiary body need to be respected, by 
conducting a case -by-case analysis, in the appropriate setting, to identify areas for improvement 
taking into account the particularities of the General Council itself and each subsidiary body.  We 
should encourage and maintain, rather than impede, the reform by doing work that v arious bodies 
have already embarked upon, each within its own remit, which does not require any discussion or 
future decision by the General Council.  The General Council should provide the space for offering, 
recording and receiving feedback on the progres s of the subsidiary body reforms. This would ensure 
structured and coherent dialogue throughout the Organization and foster the analysis of the 
horizontal issues, applicable to various subsidiary bodies, that are identified in this process, such as 
the adoption of a definitive annual calendar or the assessment of the potential budgetary impact of 
these improvements in the appropriate setting.  The Members co -sponsoring document 
WT/GC/W/881  call on Members to seek convergence and take pragmatic decisions witho ut delay.  
This was my statement on behalf of the delegations that I mentioned at the beginning.  
3.114.   I would now like to raise, on behalf of Ecuador, two specific points concerning my country's 
position on the reform process.  First, we wish to reiterate our su pport for the work of Mr. Marco 
Molina in facilitating the debate and identifying common ground between Members on the topics of 
reform and, in particular, the Dispute Settlement  Body. We are confident that his work will prove 
successful and that the Body will be revived as a result.  Second, I wish to renew Ecuador's position 
in favour of Brazil's updated initiative contained in document WT/GC/W/882 . In our view, the 
revitalization of the Ministerial Conference as a more dynamic and practical forum is a usef ul and 
positive step that would enable it to carry out its work in a manner akin to similar multilateral bodies. 
The idea of incorporating this modus operandi into the Ministerial Conference initially on a provisional 
basis, for a set number of years, seem s appropriate to us.   
3.115.   We also appreciate the proposal presented by Canada on transparency, a principle to which 
Ecuador is committed. Regarding the publication of reports, we could wait until the reports are in 
the consultation phase, even if they are fact ual reports, so that they can be immediately accessible 
to the public . We welcome the proposals and efforts of India and the United Kingdom, which have 
shown convergence in terms of the use of tools to facilitate our work in the various fora of this 
Organi zation and the continuous improvement of the Organization's deliberative function.  I would 
like to thank the African Group for its proposal on reform of the Dispute Settlement  Understanding, 
a priority and substantive issue regarding the reform of this Org anization.  As for the Senior Officials 
Meeting, we should focus on a substantive and specific agenda. For example, we consider the 
involvement of officials in discussions that should be pursued a pragmatic manner given their 
facilitative nature, such as th e use of digital tools and agendas, to be a good use of officials' time.  
3.116.   The representative of Colombia  delivered the following statement:  
3.117.   On WT/GC/W/897 , Colombia supports and welcomes this proposal. It is essential for us to 
move toward a more inclusive and accessible WTO for all stakeholders, by promoting the active and 
constructive participation of a wide range of voices in the decision -making  process. This is a small 
but necessary step in this regard. We are changing the default system of restricting all documents 
to one in which the publication of most WTO documents is permitted, except in specific and limited 
situations. This change, as well  as being invaluable for the proper governance of the Organization, 
is also practical in nature . The level of restrictiveness is much higher than in other organizations, 
and it is often cumbersome for everyone. Moreover, it is quite ineffective in the mode rn world. We 
therefore believe that the proposed decision combines the good with the practical. We congratulate 
Canada for its leadership and encourage Members to adopt the decision as presented.  
3.118.   On WT/GC/W/882 , we welcome Brazil's proposal that this Genera l Council should decide 
that, after MC13, meetings of the Ministerial Conference will be convened once every year until WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 28 - 
 
 
  2027. At that date, Members will assess the results. Colombia supports the proposal. In addition to 
the reasons presented by Brazil, we would add that a shorter interval between high -level meetings 
is beneficial internally for all permanent missions, by strengthening ministerial follow -up and 
strategic momentum on our issues. It  is an appropriate and useful procedural step to increase the 
Organization's responsiveness to current global challenges affecting international trade, such as food 
security, climate change, and agricultural and industrial subsidies. It is not the solution for 
everything. The technical and political will to move forw ard on the different issues is essential, but 
the proposal allows for a more conducive environment for the deliberative sessions among Ministers 
to build confidence and facilitate solutions to the short and long -term challenges of global trade.  
3.119.   The represe ntative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
3.120.   I appreciate all the efforts of Members to push forward the process by the proposals and I 
would like to make some comments on them. First of all, the concept of the proposal for maximizing 
the value of M inisterial Conferences, which is WT/GC/ W/873/Rev.1 , on which Japan is also a co -
proponent, is first to forge basic agreement on the outcome of each agenda before Ministerial 
Conference  takes place to enhance its predictability, and second, to ma ke a Ministerial meeting the 
venue where Ministers discuss major trade challenges as well as initiatives that the WTO will take 
toward the future. In this vein, items on WTO reform should not be made points of contention at 
MC13, and our preparations at th e working level, including among ourselves, have to lay the ground 
in advance for the outcomes to be agreed by Ministers. From this perspective, we value the senior 
officials meeting process. In addition to the senior officials meeting in October, another SOM just 
before MC13 should be organized to make necessary preparations.   
3.121.   Dispute Settlement  reform remains to be Japan's top priority. We support the ongoing 
informal Member -driven process, which is open and transparent to all Members. We should continue 
and seek a process in terms of how Members can move forward on the substance. We look forward 
to constructive discussions further in this process.  Regarding the EU proposal on the substance of 
deliberative reform, it is important to agree at MC13 on the in itiation of discussions on state 
intervention and industrial policy, as well as on trade and environment toward MC14. Members need 
to deepen mutual understanding at the retreat -style meeting in September, in order to clarify points 
to be discussed at the Senior Officials Meeting  in October as well as toward MC13. Japan will actively 
engage in the discussions.  Enhancing the engagement of external stakeholders in the WTO's 
discussions is one of the important elements of deliberative function reform. The proposal on the 
circulation and derestriction of WTO documents (  WT/GC/W/897  ) will serve for this purpose and 
Japan supports the proposal.  
3.122.   Lastly, on the improvement of day -to-day work of the subsidiary bodies, Japan supports the 
approach of updating prog ress through reform by doing under the General Council Chair and 
reporting the outcomes to Ministers at MC13. While ensuring transparency to Members by reporting 
the progress at each General Council, we would appreciate it if the GC Chair and the Secretari at led 
this process to secure expeditiousness and today's General Council chair's report is encouraging.  
3.123.   The representative of the Republic of Korea  delivered the following statement:  
3.124.   Thank you for your report on the recent work on reform  by doing and I al so thank the 
Secretariat for preparing this document. I also commend Members who submitted proposals on 
WTO reform and have presented today for their tireless work and dedication. The proposals have a 
common theme on reform by doing , which is a bottom -up, gradual process and not a one -time 
procedure, which reduces the risk of failure. We caution against a horizontal standardization of 
measures and strict rigidity, which do not take account of the special circumstances of each 
committee. In this regard , docu ment WT/GC/W/877 , which Korea co -sponsors, is not on the agenda 
today to avoid repetitive statements but  should be continuously considered. We should develop and 
make further progress, which can be updated by the Secretariat to be reported to Senior Officia ls in 
October and, consequently, to Ministers at MC13.   
3.125.   As for WTO institutional reform, we should view the functioning of  the Trade Negotiations 
Committee and the General Council and the Ministerial Conference  in the same spirit. On suggestions 
to convene  a Senior Official Meeting two or three  days before the M inisterial Conference , this should 
be contemplated along with the periodicity of  Ministerial Conference s, as an annual convening of the WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Ministerial Conference  would make it less appealing to hold a Senior Officials Meeting  before the 
meeting. We can also decide whether it would be efficient and productive to hold a Senior Officials 
Meeting , after reviewing the outcome of the October Senior Officials Meeting . Regardless of the 
organization of the  Ministerial Conference , we concur that efficient agenda -setting of the General 
Council  is important. While we view that all proposals raised today are equally important, we should 
exercise self -restraint on having so many  agenda items for the General Council  that would eventually 
overload the work for  Ministerial Conference . We agree on the proposed conduct of the General 
Council , for new submissions to come first and priority to those requiring decisions. We should also 
refrain from direct submission to the General Council  without prior discussions in the relevant 
Committees  and proposals coming to the General Council should be jointly requested with co -
sponsors and not on a solitary basis.  
3.126.   Lastly, we expect that derestricting WTO documents will contribute to improving 
transparency and would appeal to external stakeholders. Finally , on the African Group proposal on 
Dispute Settlement  reform, we fully share the view that accessibility is important and we support 
the process of the current informal discussions, as the discussions are held in an open, transparent 
and inclusive manner, with all Members having access to information and being able to address their 
interests and concerns. In this vein, we would like to com mend Mr. Marco  Molina  (Guatemala) for 
his tireless work and all Members for their active participation.  
3.127.   The representative of Chile delivered the following statement:  
3.128.   With regard to WTO reform, my delegation welcomes the informal meeting of 16 July and 
believes that future work should address three key aspects . First, we must continue work on the 
deliberative an d monitoring function to improve the functioning of Ministerial Conferences, 
strengthen the work of the councils and committees, enhance transparency, search for new ways of 
promoting engagement with external stakeholders and increase the use of factual and scientific 
information in developing negotiations. The establishment of a dedicated process to pursue these 
discussions in a structured  manner could help prepare for an early harvest before MC13. The Senior 
Officials Meeting in October will be central to this process.   
3.129.   Second, we must address the negotiating function and think about how we can move forward 
on the adoption of decisions and  respond to the major current challenges, thus ensuring that the 
Organization remains relevant.  Lastly, having a fully functioning Dispute Settlement  system is a 
priority, especially considering the mandate given at the most recent Ministerial Conference. We 
must continue our efforts to this end, particularly as regards the Appellate Body. We welcome the 
transparent and inclusive process led by Mr. Marco Molina of Guatemala, and we thank him for his 
work. We hope that this process will be formalized when it  is deemed most appropriate to do so.  We 
are grateful for and are considering the contributions made today. We would like to comment on 
two of them, focusing on the Ministerial Conferences.   
3.130.   We thank Brazil for introducing the communication contained in do cument WT/GC/W/882 , 
which is in line with other ideas shared by Members wishing to explore ways of strengthening the 
work of the Ministerial Conference as the highest decision ‑making body of the WTO.  We agree on 
the need to find ways to reduce unnecessary s train on the multilateral trading system and the WTO 
as its leading Organization , with the aim of "de ‑dramatizing" the Conference.  We are currently 
considering the communication and its draft General  Council decision internally.   
3.131.   We would also like to than k Australia for introducing the communication in document 
WT/GC/W/873/Rev.1 . It retains the ideas proposed in its original version and explores ways of 
strengthening the work of the Ministerial Conference. We welcome the approaches outlined in the 
communication intended to strengthen the Ministerial Conference and increase its effectiveness as 
the highest decision ‑making body of the WTO.  We are still considering the communication internally, 
particularly with respect to certain elements such as what effect, if any, some of these approaches 
could hypothetically have on the extension or duration of the Ministerial Conferences, and what form 
endorsing outcomes would take (whether they would need to be Ministerial decisions or statements, 
for example ). We believe it would be interesting to explore the possibility of holding intersessional 
Ministerial gatherings on a regular basis (addressing WTO priority issues only) and potential 
organizational arrangements.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.132.   The representative of Canada  delivered the  following statement:  
3.133.   MC13 is fast approaching and as many have noted, it is time for us to kick into gear to 
ensure a well organi zed, less drama -filled and most importantly, successful Ministerial meeting. In 
that regard, Canada supports the pathway and s tations that you put forward on the way to a 
successful Abu Dhabi. On the deliberative topics, we support the intervention from Australia - and 
agree that there is room for three or four topics. The ones outlined by Australia, trade and climate, 
trade and inclusion, trade and industrial policy and the broader question of subsidies. We would also 
welcome the concept notes that you made reference to as soon as is possible.  Allow me to make a 
few comments on the issue of Dispute Settlement  and the important goal of returning to a fully 
functioning system.  
3.134.   We fully agree with what many Members have noted - the work on Dispute Settlement  
reform and indeed all work at the WTO must be done in a way that is inclusive, transparent and that 
enabl es the full, effective and equal participation of all Members. We also strongly believe that there 
is more than one way to achieve this goal and that we must be flexible and pragmatic if we want to 
maximize progress in the months ahead. The manner in which  the conversations have unfolded is a 
good example of this. The last few months have seen intense and meaningful discussion on this 
issue that is of primary importance to all Members. The discussions have been open to all and we 
have seen active, construct ive participation from a wide range of Members, including from many 
developing countries .  
3.135.   We have met in a variety of configurations - the idea being that exchanges of views should 
take place in whichever format is most useful at a given point in time and  on a given issue. When 
small group meetings took place, reports were circulated to provide further transparency. Mr. Marco 
Molina and several other Members have consistently reached out to delegations to provide the 
opportunity to be debriefed on any meet ing that may have been missed or which there is additional 
interest. Canada itself has done this and have also organized meetings with delegations on issues 
such as accessibility to try to advance this issue in a constructive and productive manner. The fac t 
that these discussions took place in an informal setting has been, in our opinion, a key ingredient of 
the progress that we are seeing. It allows us to meet as often as is required. It allows us to be candid 
and speak more freely. This in our opinion is the best way to come to a shared understanding on 
what a reformed Dispute Settlement  system should look like and will allow for more constructive 
work towards our MC12 commitment. The time may indeed come when formali zation could be the 
next "station" in o ur journey towards a fully functioning dispute system but  modifying the format of 
our discussions now risks jeopardi zing the momentum that we have worked so hard to build and 
that we must sustain if we want to deliver on next steps.  
3.136.   The representative of Norway  delivered the following statement:  
3.137.   Your road map sounds sensible,  and you have Norway 's full support in the work ahead.  I will 
limit our comments to two of the communications, both from the African Group.  On "A development 
perspective on institution al reform ", we agree whole heartedly with the importance of consensus 
and inclusivity and the Member -driven nature of the Organization.  However, we are concerned that 
these principles are used as arguments to stop any form of progress. There is a fine bala nce also 
here to take into consideration.  It is worrying that the African Group finds it necessary to write about 
the need for impartiality of both the chairs and the Secretariat. We take it for granted that both 
institutions are impartial and serve the wh ole membership. This does not mean that they should 
stop thinking but  do the necessary analysis and give alternatives to help the membership move 
forward.  
3.138.   On the need to uphold the rights and obligations of Members, we agree that institutional 
reform should not make such changes but  help to lighten any burden if meaningfully possible. Most 
importantly, institutional reform should be a tool so that Members can better concentrate on having 
the discussions needed  to negotiate new rules that make the WTO and its agreements fit for purpose 
in a changing world.  On Dispute Settlement  reform, Norway would like to thank Mr. Marco  Molina of 
Guatemala  again for his personal efforts in organizing and structuring the inform al meetings on 
Dispute Settlement  reform. We welcome the inclusive and transparent spirit with which meetings 
have been organized, including the high degree of flexibility for delegations. But we also understand 
the concerns that the intensity of meetings does add burden especially to smaller delegations. But WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  if we want to attain our objective, we cannot  seem to get around the need for having many meetings. 
For smaller delegations , it is therefore especially valuable that he has arranged regular updates on 
the progress in the discussions, which should have answered some of the concerns voiced by the 
African Group and other Members in this room.  
3.139.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
3.140.   I would like to start by touching on a general issue . When I saw the agenda, with so many 
proposals under this item, I cannot help asking what is the best way to address all these proposals? 
I am sure in the next General Council;  more proposals will come. How to have well -guided 
discussions? Maybe it is wor thwhile to spend time to discuss. Suggestions in our proposal could be 
part of the solution. Now I come back to the comments on your report and other proposals. First, 
on procedural suggestions. On procedural issues, we strongly suggest giving  the General Council 
Chairperson  and the Secretariat leeway to work on that. China welcomes the list on horizontal 
measures recommended by the GC Chairperson . It is well -noted that some measures have already 
been applied by WTO Councils  and Committees , including the Ge neral Council  itself. We encourage 
the GC Chairperson  and the Secretariat to continue to do so. The table prepared by the Secretariat 
and its updates  are also encouraged. Second, on Ministerial Conference s, China has co -sponsored 
the proposal of "Maximizin g the Value of Ministerial Conference". We should de -dramatize  Ministerial 
Conference s, at the same time, continue to preserve and enhance its decision -making function. For 
the annual  Ministerial Conference s, we believe, when Ministers come to the meeting,  they are 
expecting meaningful discussions and deliverables. Otherwise, they may lose interest in it.  
3.141.   On the African Group's proposal on Dispute Settlement  reform, we always believe that 
developing Member's participation is important. As we always believe, a good Dispute Settlement  
mechanism means "small ones can win cases against big ones". To bring Dispute Settlement  back 
to normal function, ensuring all Members can exercise equal opportunity in pro tecting their rights 
should be our priority. With the fast -approaching deadline and the heavy tasks ahead, we appreciate 
the facilitator , Mr. Molina's efforts and leadership. In the meantime, we fully understand the restraint 
of small delegations. Sometime s, it could also be a challenge to big delegations. In the coming 
months up to  MC13, meeting clash es will happen more frequently. Therefore, we encourage 
Chairpersons  and facilitator s to have meetings well planned as far as possible.  
3.142.   On the  EU's proposal,  we are open to having discussions on trade -related emerging issues. 
However, for some controversial issues, like state intervention, before we decide to establish a 
dedicated discussion in the WTO, there need to be basic education exercises through semina rs, 
workshops and other informal formats to build common understanding on the issue we are going to 
discuss. Such kind of  an informal exercise will also help us identify  an appropriate approach for 
further work. All in all, when we are going to launch disc ussions on controversial issues, we have to 
ensure they will be pragmatic, constructive and result -oriented, rather than antagonistic.  
3.143.   Thank  you for also briefly touching on other WTO reform topics. Revitalizing  the WTO 
negotiation function has always bee n an important part of WTO reform. At the beginning of this 
month, we successfully concluded the text -based  negotiation s on Investment Facilitation for 
Development. This initiative counts over 110 participating WTO Members, with more than two -thirds 
of WTO  Members, including more than 70 developing Members with 20 LDCs. As an inclusive and 
pro-multilateral initiative, outreach will continue to be our next priority. In the meantime, we will 
start discussions on the legal incorporation of this Agreement into the WTO legal architecture. In 
this process, we need intensive technical discussions. But as a development nature agreement, with 
so many developing Members , including LDCs , who support it, need it and more , other developing 
Members are giving positive con sideration to join it, we do not  see any reason that the legal 
incorporation would be blocked.  
3.144.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
3.145.   Coming back to the matters at hand , I think we should take a degree of pride and satisfaction 
at this outpouring of ideas that we have about reforming this Organization . That is why our agenda 
is so packed. It is a good thing that so much is happening  in so many Committees . We have tried to  
play our modest little part in that. With five different proposals in five different Committees , plus as 
you will remember, proposals in this General Counsel on reform. I think that is generally a good WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  thing. I think it is good too that we are thinking ab out how to make a success not just of MC13 from 
a substantive point of view. It is right that we think in particular about how our Ministers will arrive. 
Whether they are arriving by rail or by Formula One racing motor car. Whether it is by your stations 
or your pit stops , I think it is also important that we have in mind to the countryside in which they 
are going to be inhabiting. The context in which they are going to be coming here. I think there are 
some really interesting proposals out there from Brazi l and Australia and others. We also know that 
whether we have an annual Ministerial  Conference  or biannual Ministerial Conferences , or whatever 
we do, that in itself is not sufficient. It is also the culture which supports it. As other people around 
here h ave said , that culture is inclusive and efficient is really important that we look at the ways in 
which we prepare for  and then run Ministerial Conferences . Whether that be green rooms or other 
things.  
3.146.   One specific issue, which I think is so dear to so ma ny of us, is Dispute Settlement . I wanted 
to pay tribute to the work that Mr. Marco Molina from Guatemala has been doing on this.  It is really 
important we do this in a transparent way, that we do as an inclusive way , and we do it in a 
purposeful way that leads us to a successful conclusion in Abu Dhabi. Using  the work that has been 
going on in this informal manner we need to continue that informality of process, in order to ensure 
that we do indeed succeed. Thank you , Chairperson,  for what you set out this  morning in terms of 
our approach moving forward. Thank you for the way that you are bringing us together. We look 
forward to a purposeful autumn here. It is important that we do not get too distracted discussing 
what we should discuss, and actually get do wn to the hard work of negotiating a successful 
completion of MC13.  
3.147.   The representative of the Philippines  delivered the following statement:  
3.148.   We thank you Chair person  for your briefing on the MC13 road  map and support very much 
and will travel with you thr ough the seven stations or train stops we have to make in order to arrive 
to a successful February 2024  Ministerial Conference . On WTO reform, as the Secretariat paper on 
the state -of-play of the reform by doing has shown, we are already progressing on imp lementing 
institutional tweaks that are improving efficiency and substantive engagement.  We would like to 
thank Members for their respective submissions, which all have their own unique value, and in 
several cases require specific decisions. We see these s ubmissions as threads that need to be woven 
together to form a unified whole and for this reason, it would be useful if we could compile those 
proposals that require further deliberation by the General Council. On the specific proposals, we 
thank delegatio ns for their introductions today.  We welcome further deliberations on the Australia 
and Costa Rica et al WT/GC/W/ 897 proposal , which would help make the Organization  more open 
and transparent.  We support the African Group's WT/GC/W/ 892 and WT/GC/W/ 895 communications 
underlying objective to ensure that development underpins WTO reform, i ncluding through better 
inclusivity and agenda -setting.  We welcome the reintroduction of Brazil's proposal and  see merit in 
considering its WT/GC/W/ 882 communication to shift to yearly Ministerial Conferences, which is the 
norm for most international organization s and engender better responsiveness to pressing issues 
and stabilize expectations for future Ministerial Conferences .  
3.149.   In connection with Ministerial Conferences , we appreciate the relevance of the Australia et 
al WT/GC/W/ 873 communication with its  ideas on framing the format, structure and conduct of 
MC13 and future Ministerial Conferences . Likewise, India's WT/GC/W/ 874 30 for 30 communication 
presents useful recommendations to improve the MCs and rationalize Committee work.  We welcome 
and note the overlaps of the EU's WT/GC/W/ 864 communication and the Africa Group's 
WT/GC/W/ 895 communication, and we look forward  to the retreat on trade policy and state 
intervention, which may create a pathway for new mandated work.  We appreciate the presentation 
by China of their WT/GC/W/ 879 communication with Australia and Thailand, which calls for outcome -
oriented approaches to considering proposals and which can help us frame our work moving forward 
after the Summer break.  We look forward to resuming our work in September and are prepared to 
reach clear decisions and engage in reform by doing on these reform -related proposals, w hich would 
demonstrate that we, in Geneva, are capable of institutional self -reflection and self -improvement 
ahead of MC13.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.150.   The representative of Chinese Taipei  delivered the following statement:  
3.151.   On WTO reform of the deliberative function, we thank the pro ponents for their efforts and 
for their proposals. Here I would like to make the following overall comments . We support the 
Chair person  to appoint a facilitator  to help identify the commonalities from the proposals to help 
converge as quickly as possible. Since there are many common elements among the various 
proposals to improve  the WTO's functioning and operations, we suggest the appointed facilitator  to 
compile the elements into categories for the purpose of discussion and for allowing Members to have 
broader observations about the fields of conversions. This would help swiftly converge the widest 
possible scope of elements from various proposals. We also suggest that the facilitator  appointed by 
the Chair person  to better use informal meetings and thematic session s to generate more candid 
discussions and to identify the elements which are in better position to attract consensus.   
3.152.   On Ministerial Confere nces, we have the following points to make . We agree not to overload 
the Ministerial Conference. But the world is looking closely at our Ministerial Conference. We need 
to set forth realistic targets but with a high level of ambition for Ministers to achie ve. In our view, 
we can make MC13 a "Reform Ministerial", as suggested by Australia, not only to attract attention 
and support, but also to concentrate our efforts. Transparency of Ministerial Conference s and trust 
among Members are always of the utmost im portance. If there is an absolute need for a Green Room 
or small group meeting during Ministerial Conference s, Members being invited for these meetings 
should be representative and balanced. Complete information about such meeting should be made 
immediatel y available to non -participating Members.  Regarding Dispute Settlement  reform, we are 
satisfied with the format and progress of the current informal discussions , which allow candid 
discussions and create a very positive environment for convergence on diffi cult issues.  Considering 
the current good progress under the informal process, it might not be the right time for Members to 
formalize the informal process right now. We suggest Members to allow the informal process for a 
few more months to gain more concr ete results before formalizing the process.  
3.153.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
3.154.   India would like to thank Members for showing their interest in our proposal dubbed 30 for 
30. I would also like to reiterate my thanks to you for identifying some of those elements from this 
paper in your ten steps identified for different WTO bodies. Coming to item 3, other proposals. We 
would request that when we conduct those thematic discussions or retreat kinds of get -togethers, 
the report by t he facilitators should also be made available to us, so that it helps with the institutional 
memory. Our request of getting Deputy Director -General Zhang's observations as a document, for 
institutional memory and helping us in future discussion of the last  development -related retreat in 
February 2023, is again requested and again on table. So, we would like that to be considered.  
3.155.   The Africa n Group communication WT/GC/W/ 895 covers wide ground and make s extremely 
relevant, valid and useful suggestions. We thank the Africa n Group for such carefully considered and 
well thought out suggestion s. Fully agree that reforms should be incremental and should not impinge 
on right s and obligations of Members, be  Member-driven  and processes  must be open, transparent, 
inclusive and consensus -based. We also agree, fully associate  with and would like to echo the 
submissions on external engagement. External engagements with non -governmental  organization s 
and the private s ector should not undermine the basic character of the  Organization  as Member -
driven , should be limited to public forum and seminars and  to informal sessions  that are not linked 
to Committee meetings. The whole issue of this external engagement requires wid er discussions 
considering the past deliberation in the GC itself, and the document giving that mandate in the GC 
itself. The suggestions on conduct of , and decision -making process in , Ministerial Conference s, the 
General Council  and the Trade Negotiations  Committee,  including the process to be followed in run -
up to  Ministerial Conference s, in paragraph s 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5  of WT/GC/W/895  are very pertinent 
and these must be followed. Also, we fully agree with the suggestions on engagement on cross -
cutting and trade issues as contained in para graph  5 of WT/GC/W/895 .  
3.156.   On another submission by the African Group relating to DSU refor m in document 
WT/GC/W/892 . As the process is moving to the drafting stage, India has a strong preference to have 
the drafting process formalized and multilateralized under the leadership of the DSB Chairperson 
with clear and transparent reporting to the me mbership. India is of the view that the legitimacy of 
the Dispute Settlement system is best ensured by adherence to the foundational principles written WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  in the DSU. Changes should be incremental and consensus -based. Reforms should be aimed at 
enabling effic iency and independence, while enhancing the accountability and responsiveness of the 
system to their stakeholders. We would be concerned if there are fundamental changes to the DS 
system, such as from an adjudicative, binding process at a standing appellat e body to an optional, 
ad hoc  and limited review process.  
3.157.   On the EU proposal, we have given our remarks on all the main three themes in bilateral 
discussions with the EU. On WT/GC/W/897 , which is on the subject of de -restriction, we appreciate 
the objectiv e, but it would be desirable if proponents could explain the issues or concerns in the 
existing process.  
3.158.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
3.159.   I thank you , Chairperson,  and other colleagues sincerely for your kind words on th e occasion 
of my last  meeting of  the General  Council , indeed my last meeting at the WTO . I had  the occasion 
to say a  few words about this last Thursday at the TNC meeting. Today, I will simply reiterate my 
gratitude to all  the colleagues  with whom  I have cooperated  fruitfully  and in a friendly  atmosphere.  
I wish the Director -General , you Chairperson , and all other  colleagues  a successful  Ministerial  
meeting next year.  We already  had the opportunity  to make  substantive  comments  on a number  of 
the communications discussed under this agenda item.  I will therefore  focus my statement  on the 
process.  In this regard, Switzerland  supports  the road  map that you , Chairperson, have outlined this 
morning.  I would  like to make  a few comments  on the issues  raised  in the discussion on WTO reform. 
These issues starkly vary in scope and nature.  A number of proposals and measures do not require 
formal decisions. For instance, better planning of the WTO's annual calendar, introduction of 
electronic agendas  and better sequencing of agendas. As you  suggested, these issues should be 
implemented  by the WTO bodies  without  further  discussions.  In order  to track progress,  the General 
Council  could be informed  on a regular basis about the latest developments.  A second category  of 
issues  are those  that require  more discussion,  but where  consensus is within reach. In our eyes, 
cross-cutting Thematic Session s, stakeholder involvement (private sector) and yearly Ministerial 
Conference s fall within this category. For these issues, we  propose  to initiate  a dedicated  facilitator -
led process  with a view to reaching  an outcome for MC13.  A third category of issues are subjects of 
political importance. This includes level playing field, trade and sustainability , trade and inclusiveness 
and policy space for industrial development.  For these  issues,  we propose  to establish  at MC13  
dedicated  processes  that will allow Members to engage on the substance.  The upcoming Senior 
Officials Meeting next October will be an important opportunity to take  stock  and provide  guidance  
on how to deal with reform  issues  of political  importance.   
3.160.   I would  also like to make  a few comments  on the communication  from the African  Group on 
Dispute Settlement  reform under sub-item 9. Having a fully operational Dispute Settlement  system 
by 2024 is a priority also for Switzerland.  Informal  discussions  on Dispute Settlement  reform  have 
been intensive  and constructive  over the last months  and weeks.  They have allowed  all Members  to 
conduct  a genuine dialogue on their concrete interests.  We are grateful  to the facilitator  Mr. Marco  
Molina  for his engagement  and his efforts  in setting up an efficient, transparent and solution -oriented 
process.  We still have many  issues  and possible  solutions  to discuss, and  little time. In our view, 
continuing the informal discussions in their current format, which ensures transparency and 
inclusiveness, is the only way to progress and bring us closer to our shared goal.  
3.161.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following statement:  
3.162.   Thailand welcomes and thanks you for your suggested road  map. It is clearly laid out and 
we welcome that. I would like to share our observations on WTO reform. We thank all the colleagues 
who have tabled many proposals, Thailand views the WTO reform agenda as one of our top priority 
issues at MC13. We are pleased to co -sponsor several proposals on this matter , namely,  
WT/GC/W/ 871, WT/GC/W/ 872, WT/GC/W/ 873, WT/GC/W/ 877 and WT/GC/W/ 879. For the 
remaining papers, we are still consulting with capital.  We have observed several issues arising from 
those papers. Growing numbers of submissions under the WTO reform topic have shown that 
Members have high hope on WTO reform,  and we are  therefore ready to embark on a reform by 
doing but on other matters as well. In addition to that, I would like to make comments on procedural 
and substance aspects of the proposals that we have seen. On the substance, Thailand has spoken 
already at the TN C meeting. I would like to add  that even though we are fully in support of the WTO WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to embark on considering this matter, so that WTO can show the world that we are moving forward 
in addition to existing issues or traditional issues. We are still open as to  what kind of new issues 
will be placed on the table in future. We have heard issues such as food security, industrial subsidies, 
climate change and digitalization, to name just a few. We view that these issues are important, but 
we think that we require p olitical guidance from the Senior Officials Meeting  before we come up with 
what will be on the WTO agenda of the future.   
3.163.   On procedure , I would like to mention that there were three layers of procedural aspect s 
that Members aim to improve from the proposal s, namely ( i) at committee and secretary level ; 
(ii) at the General Council level and ( iii) at Ministerial Conference  or high -level engagement. We 
think that we can benefit from a matrix and also from a facilitator  that the EU and some Members 
have suggested. Briefly on Dispute Settlement  reform, I have not said much in the past on this but 
let me assure other delegations that Thailand view s that this issue is one of the most important 
issues for us as well. We applaud the effort by the D eputy Permanent Representative  of Guatemala. 
We assure the African Group that, from what we have seen the process, he  is trying his best to 
comply with being open, inclusive and transparent.  
3.164.   The representative of Tunisia  delivered the following statement:  
3.165.   Allow me to make a small organizational remark. I suggest that one of the first points for 
improvement would be to use a mechanical or digital tool for requesting the floor, at least in this 
Council Room. It is so frustrating to raise one's flag first and take the floor four hours after 
delegations that had raised their flag  much later. The order in which we speak can sometimes be 
important and Members should have room to manoeuvre when taking the floor. For various practical 
and transparency -related reason s, the list of speakers should be displayed automatically, as in 
several other institutions. This would not be a major investment.   
3.166.   We thank you, Chair person , for your report and the elaborate and ambitious road map, and 
we take note of the statement by th e Director -General . We align ourselves with the statements 
made by South Africa on behalf of the African Group.  We also thank the Groups and Members for 
their submissions and for the constructive manner in which they have carried out their work over 
the re cent months.  Our position on WTO reform essentially aligns with document WT/GC/W/ 778 of 
the African Group, on reform that promotes development and inclusivity and defends the principles 
underpinning the WTO, which is replicated and expanded upon in the new African Group 
communication in document WT/GC/W/ 895. We also support several of the points raised in China's 
communication in document WT/GC/W/ 879 on small steps to make a difference, and the EU 
communication in document WT/GC/W/ 864 on reinforcing the deliberative function and responding 
to global trade policy challenges.  We welcome the re levant consultation process between the African 
Group and the European Union in this area and the intensity of the meetings. They have allowed 
convergence on several key topics, such as the centrality of the development dimension to reform, 
the inclusivity  of multilateral trade and the policy space for industrial development in Africa. In this 
connection, we thank you for convening the upcoming retreat on this topic on 25 and 26 September.   
3.167.   Regarding inclusion and outreach, my delegation remains rather amen able to informed WTO 
engagement with external stakeholders and to diversifying dialogue and experience sharing, while 
observing  the principle that the WTO is a Member -driven institution and that improving inclusion of 
all its Members remains the top priori ty. The renewed concern regarding the need to take note of 
the resource constraints of small delegations and rationalize meetings so that there are no overlaps 
should not be treated as a secondary concern . It is a real and persistent challenge for delegati ons, 
which seek to participate fully in all WTO processes.  I agree with the remarks made by the 
Ambassador of Panama at a previous meeting, highlighting the usefulness of the WTO reviews or 
briefings prepared by the Secretariat. I welcome the Secretariat's  efforts to promptly provide us with 
the minutes of meetings on the website. I think that a weekly summary of developments in the 
negotiations on certain cross -cutting issues addressed in several committees at the same time, such 
as reform, the response to  the pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics, development and 
technology transfer, will be a positive contribution to efforts to boost inclusiveness.   
3.168.   We also welcome India's communication proposing improvements in anticipation of the 
30th anniversa ry of the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement. We share its views on several of the 
34 proposed  improvement s put forward and we will be happy to continue working with India on all WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 36 - 
 
 
  its suggestions.  We thank Brazil for its communication calling for more frequent Ministerial meetings. 
While we might share the same aspirations in terms of building trust, creating better understanding 
and improving responsiveness to challenges, it is difficult for us to see what benefit would be derived 
from less than 10 months of actual work between two Conferences.  We would instead favour 
intersessional senior official meetings or thematic ministerial meetings for enhancing follow -up on , 
and preparation for , conferences . We welcome the momentum behind the informal technical 
discussions under way and Mr. Marco  Molina 's considerable efforts to ensure a transparent and 
inclusive process. We support the African Group's proposal in document WT/GC/W/ 892, which we 
consider provides a  solid foundation for improving transparency, inclusivity and working methods to 
strengthen accessibility for all Members. We expect that the discussions will allow  Members to honour 
the mandate, with a view to having a fully functional Dispute Settle ment system by 2024.  
3.169.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement21: 
3.170.   Ambassador Pagan expressed the United States ' support for the General Council 
Chair person 's recommendation to advance consideration on ten cross-cutting procedural 
improvements and for the road  map towards MC13. The United States indicated its support for and 
joined as a co -sponsor of the proposal contained in document WT/GC/W/897 . Ambassador Pa gan 
thanked the proponents of other reform related documents on the agenda, indicating a willingness 
to work with other Members on advancing these ideas and signaled an openness to the designation 
of a facilitator to organize work.  
3.171.   On the dispute settleme nt reform paper from the Africa Group, Ambassador Pagan agreed 
that the dispute settlement reform process needs to be transparent and inclusive. The United States 
believes that the process that we are engaged in is consistent with these principles and is u nder the 
stewardship of a very capable facilitator. Ambassador Pagan noted that each member is invited to 
every meeting with steps taken to keep all members apprised if they cannot attend.  All members 
have complete access to all the information in the proc ess. The United States ' That will need to 
happen for discussion to be taken.  Ambassador Pagan noted the United States ' openness to 
acknowledging areas of convergence – whether we harvest them or park them, we need to provide 
space for the more difficult di scussions to be had.  
3.172.   On the EU paper WT/GC/W/864 , Ambassador Pagan agreed with the premise that various 
forms of state intervention distort the playing field in a fundamentally unfair manner, undermining 
policy goals of developing and developed members alik e. However, discussions on state intervention 
should not be limited to subsidies, it should be open to a broader set of state interventions. 
Discussions should focus on distortions being observed in the market and how these distortions are 
not adequately a ddressed by WTO rules.  
3.173.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following statement:  
3.174.   I would like to thank the Members who have made their presentations on agenda item 3 .A. 
I would like to make three brief points.  First, the short runway to MC13 impli es that we must sharpen 
our focus on key deliverables that will entrench the WTO's relevance. In this context, Singapore 
commends the extensive efforts and consultations you have undertaken to develop a road  map to 
guide the preparatory process for MC13. W e welcome the road  map that you have outlined, it is a 
good start towards MC13.  But what we have to do now is to work together to provide more 
granularity to this road  map and identify common checkpoints  in the negotiations, including when 
to agree to start text -based discussions on key issues such as agriculture,  fisheries subsidies and 
any outcome document. We commend the African Group's contribution to the reform discussion, and 
we will study the vario us proposals closely. While there are numerous common -sensical ideas such 
as the early circulation of documents, there are also other ideas that require deeper reflection and 
discussion. It would be useful for the African Group to synergi ze ideas with othe r Members who have 
tabled similar proposals. We must avoid a "my paper or no paper" -approach and find commonalities 
with one another to move forward.  
 
21 A copy of the statement was submitted after the meeting, and the statement  has been reproduced as 
submitted  and requested by the delegation.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.175.   On Dispute Settlement  reform (  WT/GC/W/892  ), given that Members have repeatedly 
emphasi zed our foremost priority is to meet the MC12 mandate to have a "fully and well -functioning 
Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024", the onus is  on us to try all means 
to make genuine progress on this front. The process initiated by Mr. Marco Molina of Guatemala has 
been conducted in a transparent and inclusive manner, with meetings open to all Members and 
regular updates have been provided. Changing the format of the discussions now will jeopardi ze the 
momentum that has been generated. We should recogn ize that changing tyres on a moving car may 
veer us away from our desired destination. We urge Members to be pragmatic and flexible to 
maximize  progress in the remaining time.  
3.176.   The representative of Barbados , on behalf of CARICOM , delivered the following st atement:  
3.177.   CARICOM thanks the WTO Secretariat for preparing the state  of play in the WTO Councils , 
Committees  and Negotiating Bodies referred to as reform by doing – "reform with a small 'r'". We 
also thank you for your report this morning on your recent consultations, including as it relates to 
MC13, on the emerging road  map on the deliberative function or "reform with a big 'R'" and how you 
have set out your stations . We hope everyone will buy a one -way ticket as the aim is to squarely 
move to ano ther level and destination even though in our luggage,  we will be taking a number of 
outstanding MC12 issues that need to be addressed. We take note of the retreats planned in the 
autumn  to discuss key issues.  We have a large number of valuable proposals b efore us today, 
notably from developing Members . This is a clear reflection of the high importance that WTO 
Members place on all aspects of WTO reform. As you have heard from the OECS, CARICOM members 
have clearly begun assessing the proposals but there ar e time constraints to do them justice and 
really have a shared understanding of the implications and opportunities . Hence , centrali zing the 
discussion of such proposals, in dedicated discussion formats could be a pragmatic way forward. 
This could be helpfu l in remedying the current situation where WTO reform discussions are scattered 
across the various WTO Committees  and Councils  and then allow small delegations with limited 
capacity to more effectively participate in WTO reform discussions. We are mindful of the additional 
workload that this could have on you Chair person . We are therefore supportive of the appointment 
of a facilitator  or facilitator s under the auspices of the General Council to assist in guiding our work 
on this issue.   
3.178.   We have taken note o f the progress made in the ongoing informal process on Dispute 
Settlement  and we look forward to seeing how this can be further anchored in the multilateral track 
of our work in the WTO and to an update to Senior Officials on progress made. This will help us to 
receive the appropriate guidance to meet the 2024 deadline set by Ministers at MC12.  CARICOM 
looks forward to the roll out of the road  map on the deliberative function and through your stations 
approach, to continuing our discussions on the state of play and type of guidance we will collectively 
seek from our Senior Officials in October.  Our Group wishes to affirm our association with the 
statement by the ACP Group.   
3.179.   The representative of Malaysia  delivered the following statement:  
3.180.   Please allow me to express Malaysia's profound gratitude to you , Madam Chair person,  and 
the Secretariat , for your tireless effort s in engaging with Members and other key stakeholders, as 
well as in finding the best pathw ay and 'stations' to ensure the success of the upcoming Senior 
Officials Meeting and MC13.  Malaysia would like to thank all proponents for their hard -work and 
dedication in drafting the respective communication s that ha ve stimulated and facilitated our 
discussions on WTO reform. Please allow me to share two points with regard to agenda item 3 .A. 
Firstly, the WTO Reform is an ongoing process . Hence, we need to prioriti ze and what should be put 
in our luggage to Abu Dhabi needs to be carefully selected. Reform by doing is important and will 
definitely move us forward, but Malaysia believes that the existing gaps in the contentious issues 
can be reduced if we could start some of the reform process by trying to understand each other 
better and  address the trust deficit issue . We may call it as "reform by understanding ". We believe 
that all proposals should be evaluated thoroughly and fairly . Secondly , Malaysia would like to 
reiterate our priority to see the restoration of a fully functional two -tier Dispute Settl ement  system 
to uphold a fair, open and non -discriminatory rules -based multilateral trading system. Malaysia is of 
the view that our inability to address this very important element will jeopardi ze all other initiatives, 
including the fact -based and creati ve proposals which are currently on the table, as this issue reflects 
the credibility and effectiveness of the Organization .  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.181.   The representative of Saint Lucia  delivered the following statement:  
3.182.   It is a pleasure for me to participate for the first time in a meeting of the WTO's General 
Council. As Saint Lucia's non -resident Ambassador to the WTO, I thought it important to come to 
this particular meeting to conduct an assessment of the lay of the l and ahead of what will be a very 
important Senior Officials Meeting in the autumn . At the outset, let me associate with the statements 
of the OECS, CARICOM and the ACP.  I want to especially speak to the issue of Dispute Settlement  
reform and thank the Afri can Group for its communication on formalizing this process. Saint Lucia 
assigns great importance to the full restoration of binding Dispute Settlement  at the WTO. We may 
all agree that the Dispute Settlement  system stands as a cornerstone in maintaining a  rules-based 
global trading system. The Dispute Settlement  system also stands as an indispensable mechanism 
to help the smallest, poorest and most vulnerable Members to better navigate the uneven power 
dynamics of global trade. We have empowered our OECS r epresentatives here to engage actively 
and constructively in the ongoing informal discussions on Dispute Settlement  reform. We are 
committed to a meaningful outcome at MC13. However, I do not imagine that we can present to 
Ministers a package which arises from an informal process for a multilateral decision. Therefore, we 
suggest that a timetable should be established to formalize the process as soon as it is practicable 
to do so. This is essential to guarantee the credibility of any eventual outcome. Havin g said this, we 
also want to place on record our thanks to the facilitator  of the informal process, Mr. Marco Molina 
whose work ethic and competence are exemplary.  
3.183.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
3.184.   We thank you and appreci ate your comprehensive reports. On this item, I would like to refer 
Indonesia's statement in the previous General Council  meeting. On the submissions , I will only 
provide our preliminary view on newly submitted papers, as we have discussed the other 
submis sions in May.  On document WT/GC/W/89 7, while we value the importance of transparency in 
keeping the public updated with our work, we need to be careful to ensure that potentially sensitive 
information does not compromi se the interest of WTO Members.  In rel ation with transparency in 
other small group meetings or informal discussions, it is also worth examining that while we want 
to open more access to public, participation of WTO Members in some processes are still limited. 
More discussion and risk analysis are needed in this matter. Furthermore, on document 
WT/GC/W/895 , Indonesia shares most of the view expressed in this paper, including and not limited 
to the  adherence to the prin ciples in the Marrakesh Agreement ; the need for rebalancing the rights 
and obligations of Members bearing in mind the issue of capacity constraints; decision -making by 
all WTO Members, instead of green room; prioritizing longstanding development mandates; and 
external stakeholders' participation that is fair, balanced and representing views of the voiceless. On 
document WT/GC/W/892 , we share the view that the discussion on Dispute Settlement  reform 
should be inclusive and transparent to all Members, includin g through virtual participation. Members 
should have the ability to raise their concern at any stage of the discussion.  Indonesia's core interest 
is security and predictability of the system, that is only achievable through the upholding of the two -
tier Dispute Settlement  system. The interests being discussed shall be brought together as a whole 
package to the Minister, not as a mini package of "agreeable issue s" and leaving the unaddressed 
issues in limbo.  
3.185.   The representative of Bangladesh  delivered the fol lowing statement:  
3.186.   On WTO reform, Bangladesh aligns with the statement by the LDC Group. We thank you, 
Chair person , for your consultation report and for the state -of-play report on WTO reform contained 
in document JOB/GC/345/Add.1  regarding the wo rk improvement in WTO Councils  and Committees , 
also referred to  as reform by doing. We thank you for the annotated agenda of the General Council  
meeting. This is a good step, and we welcome this initiative as work in progress.  Bangladesh thanks 
the proponents of all eight communications under this item. Our delegation has taken good note of 
all the submissions. These documents highlight the variet y of reform aspects including institutional 
and procedural issues. Bangladesh wishes to highlight some general points. The work under WTO 
reform must be organized on the basis of an identified list suggested and prioritized by Members. 
Any reform must not lead to an alteration of the multilateral and Member -driven character of the 
WTO. The established rules must guide the role and responsibility of the WTO Secretariat. On WTO 
reform ideas, w e urge Members to consider the LDC Group's submission  JOB/GC/223/Rev.1 . All WTO 
bodies should prioriti ze the d evelopment agenda. This is also important, as guaranteed in Article  XI.2 WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  of the Marrakesh Agreement  whereby  LDCs must not be asked to undertake commitments and 
concessions that go beyond their administra tive and institutional capabilities.  
3.187.   Paragraph 4 of the  MC12 Outcome Document asks to conduct discussions to restore  a fully 
and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024. Without the 
Appellate Body, the Dispute Settleme nt system is not fully functional. Discussions for the Appellate 
Body appointment s have been a key priority. Suggestions and inputs from Member s should be the 
basis of such discussions. Currently , we do not see any clear process initiated by the General Council  
or the Dispute Settlement  Body on this important issue. We urge the General Council Chairperson , 
as the General Council  is mandated by MC12 to lead any reform in the  WTO,  to guide the process 
including for the Dispute Settlement  reform.  Bangladesh looks forward to engaging constructively 
with Members, particularly those that submitted proposals on WTO reform.  
3.188.   The representative of Guatemala  delivered the following statement:  
3.189.   This statement is being made in my personal capacity and under my own resp onsibility, as 
the convenor of the informal process on Dispute Settlement  reform. I would like to refer to the 
communication of the African Group on Dispute Settlement  reform and to the interventions of 
Members in this regard, which I really appreciate. Me mbers  share the objective of , and I quote , 
"having a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024". 
Most Members have the expectation to achieve this objective by MC13 , in February next year . At 
every meeting of th is Organization and also outside, Members identify the restoration of the Dispute 
Settlement  system as a top priority. The objective of the informal process on Dispute Settlement  
reform is to provide a platform to enable conversations and find solutions to  achieve the objective 
of having a "fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 
2024". Despite of the qualification as informal, the process that I convene has all the necessary 
elements to ensure its legitimacy and de liver concrete results. Throughout the process, I have 
consistently sought to maintain the highest level of inclusiveness and internal transparency and 
remain committed to ensuring that these elements continue to characterize the process.   
3.190.   Let me briefly describe the main elements of the Dispute Settlement  reform informal 
process . (a) The informal process on Dispute Settlement  Reform is multilateral because all WTO 
Members are invited to participate. The high rate of delegates' participation  is evidence of the 
importance that Members attribute to the Dispute Settlement  system, and of their commitment to 
finding practical solutions with a view to its full restoration. (b) The process is driven by Members 
because all decisions on process and su bstance are being taken collectively by delegates. As a matter 
of fact, delegates are drafting the content of the documents that will be the basis for any outcome 
of the informal process. (d) The process is transparent because all Members receive and have access 
to all documents that we collectively produce.  (d) The process is inclusive because all Members are 
invited and encouraged to participate in all plenary sessions and small -group meetings. (e) The 
process has provided Members with ample opportunities  to submit proposals; explain their interests 
and concerns; provide alternatives to address those; and record their observations. (f) The process 
is flexible because, after revision and reflection, Members can always come back to review the 
materials that we produce.  (g) The process focuses on addressing interests and concerns, as 
opposed to position -based negotiations. This has allowed us to move away from expressions such 
as "concessions", "red lines" and "positions". (h) Last but not least, the process i s public because I 
report to the Dispute Settlement  Body every two months about progress and the informal process 
is already known outside the confines of the WTO.  
3.191.   We are making steady progress and I thank all Members for their engagement and support. 
All of our understandings are the result of numerous meetings and the evolution of our collective 
thinking. I am pleased to report that roughly 80  per cent  of all issues under consideration are ripe 
enough to move to the drafting exercise. The drafting exerci se will start after the summer break,  
and I will provide more details about next steps in my report to the meeting of the Dispute 
Settlement  Body scheduled to take place on 28 July. We will continue working intensively with a 
view to completing the remaini ng 20  per cent . To the extent that we focus our conversations on 
exploring practical solutions to address interests and concerns, I am confident that we can find such 
solutions as part of the informal process.   WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.192.   For my part, I am fully committed. I have bee n working intensively around the clock since 
February. I have done my best to give equal attention and consideration to all delegates, regardless 
of the size of their delegations; the level of development of the Members that they represent; or 
their experi ence or knowledge in Dispute Settlement  proceedings. To me, every opinion counts,  and 
all questions are valid. I have also paid equal attention and consideration to all proposals tabled by 
Members, and I will continue to do so. To finalize this statement, I would like to thank the African 
Group for its communication on Dispute Settlement  reform. I understand that the African Group is 
emphasizing that a drafting process shall continue to be multilateral, transparent, inclusive and that 
facilitates the partic ipation of small delegations. I agree and, as noted before, the informal process 
already has these elements that will continue to apply during the drafting exercise. It is also 
important to caution against a premature introduction of any output of the info rmal process to the 
regular bodies of the WTO at the risk of slowing down progress. I will delineate a plan trying to strike 
the right balance at the next Dispute Settlement  Body meeting.  
3.193.   The representative of Uruguay  delivered the following statement:  
3.194.   Thank you, Chair person , and my thanks to the African Group for their presentation.  As I 
have said on many occasions, Uruguay shares the concern about the ongoing failure of the Dispute 
Settlement  system and hopes that it can be fully functional by 2024, in  line with the commitments 
undertaken at MC12.  Furthermore, as a developing Member with a small delegation to this 
Organization, we would like to acknowledge the integrity, accessibility and transparency with which 
Mr. Marco Molina has led this informal pr ocess of reform.  That said, we believe it is too soon to 
formalize the process underway. As significant progress has been made, we would prefer to let it 
run its course.  
3.195.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
3.196.   We align with the sta tements of the ACP  Group  and CARICOM.  Jamaica favourably views the 
submission by the African Group in WT/GC/W/895 . We agree, for example, that WTO Members must 
have a clear understanding of the concept of reform by doing. Jamaica believes that there are so me 
elements of reform that could fundamentally alter the rights and obligations of Members, which, we 
believe, should be treated differently and more extensively than the elements of reform that are 
broadly administrative in nature.  We wish to see greater streamlining of the reform process to ensure 
that sufficient delineation is embedded and understood by the membership in the process going 
forward. We would support the establishment of a working group , as proposed by the African Group, 
but we believe that  membership of the Working Group should be open to all Members, as is 
customary in the WTO, or, at a minimum, opened to all interested Members.  In the creation of such 
working group , we believe the Chair person  of the General Council should lead consultations to arrive 
at its terms of reference. In addition to the ideas in section 4 of the African Group 's submission, 
Jamaica believes that Ministerial Conferences can benefit significantly by a 1 to 2 days pre -
Conference senior officials meeting, immediately before the  Ministerial Conference , to narrow 
differences and allow Ministers ' engagement to be more focused and productive.   
3.197.   On Brazil 's submission in WT/GC/ W/882 , our resource constraints, especially for our Mi ssion 
that covers both UN and WTO issues in Geneva, have led us to request that the WTO do not be too 
prescriptive on this issue. There may be times when Ministerial meetings are required annually based 
on developments. Other times, there may be no need fo r annual meetings. For this, we believe that 
the current rule accommodates these situations.  A Ministerial Conference  requires heavy lifting, 
beyond that required for Ministerial meetings in other international  organization s. Unfortunately, we 
do not have the budgetary strength to facilitate this. We fear that annual Ministerial Conferences  in 
cases where it is not necessary will lead to meeting fatigue among many Ministers and the outcome 
may be the absence of too many Ministers to give the Ministerial Con ference  the required political 
weight. We need to think this through carefully.  
3.198.   The idea in WT/GC/ W/873  is, from our perspective, more realistic.  WT/GC/W/ 873 has some 
good elements but we believe that many of these initiatives are already being done. Particularly, the 
2nd, 3rd and final bullets under paragraph 3 require further explanation. For example, should the 
focus on the next few Ministerial  Conference  be only on reform? If not, why single out reform when 
there are and could be other equally important issues for the agenda?  We, again, welcome India 's 
submission which has several good ideas and calls on WTO Members  to engage constructively on WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  these ideas.  We welcome the African Group 's submission on Dispute Settlement  and believes it has 
several useful elements. We also thank Mr. Marco  Molina  of Guatemala for his contribution. We join 
calls for consideration of approaches to integrate, at an appropriate tim e, the informal with the 
formal process, and look forward to seeing  progress on paragraph 4 of the MC12 Outcome Document 
by MC13.   
3.199.   Jamaica is concerned that we do not have adequate space to have multilateral discussions 
on proposals on reform. Given that i t is impossible to properly address each proposal in the time 
allotted for interventions at the General Council  meetings, we invite you, Chair person , to consider 
the convening of informal or dedicated meetings where these proposals can be presented and 
discussed. For small delegations like mine, this is the only way we can understand the discourse 
around specific proposals.  
3.200.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
3.201.   We would like to discuss the various documents under this agenda ite m directly relating to 
both substantive and procedural reform issues.  Argentina aligns itself with the statement made by 
the delegation of Ecuador on behalf of the proponents of document WT/GC/W/881 . Argentina 
understands that Members'  development must be at the heart of WTO reform, with a special focus 
on the needs of developing country Members . Reform must be geared towards making the 
Organization work better across its three functions, strengthening the WTO, resolving longstanding 
problems and allowing progress on new trade issues. In this respect, we wish to reiterate our 
statement at the Trade Negotiations Committee, particularly as regards the pressing need to 
re‑establish the Appellate Body and have a fully functioning Dispute Set tlement  system, and the 
need for concrete progress on agricultural reform in line with the mandate under Article 20 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture. We must be aware of the difficulties that we as developing countries face 
in fulfilling the Sustainable Dev elopment Goals. The Organization's reform process must not be used 
to validate elements of policies that exacerbate existing asymmetries.   
3.202.   We thank Canada for document WT/GC/W/897 . We are prepared to engage in a discussion 
on transparency at the WTO, particularly on the derestriction of documents. Regarding information 
on the WTO website, we would like to know what the impact would be on public access to negotiating 
materi als, for example.  We are carefully considering the communication in document WT/GC/W/895 , 
and we thank the African Group for these proposals aimed at boosting international trade ‑related 
development opportunities for developing countries. We look forward to  discussing these highly 
important matters at the September retreat.  We thank Brazil for its communication in document 
WT/GC/W/882  on a topic that we believe merits discussion because it is linked to the effectiveness  
of the Organization.  We wish to reitera te our statement from the previous General Council meeting 
in relation to documents WT/GC/W/874  and WT/GC/W/864 . Regarding the EU's communication, we 
wish to emphasize that we agree on the importance of the goal to protect the environment and 
combat climat e change, but we should be careful not to endorse unilateral measures that 
unnecessarily restrict trade. We believe that the WTO should seek to deliver on the outstanding 
mandates, especially the longstanding ones, without delay. Failing to do so undermine s the 
Organization's credibility in terms of its ability to move trade negotiations forward. We are willing to 
begin a dialogue on transparency, as proposed by the European Union .  
3.203.   We welcome documents WT/GC/W/873  from Australia and WT/GC/W/879  from Australia, 
China and Thailand as a good starting point towards having Ministerial Conferences that facilitate 
frank and inclusive discussions and allow us to agree on solutions and achieve concrete outcomes. 
We agree, in particular, with the  assessment in paragraph 4.2 of the latter document, on the 
engagement of external stakeholders.  We thank the African Group for document WT/GC/W/892 . As 
a major user of the Dispute Settlement  system, Argentina attaches great value to the efficient 
functioni ng of the system and is committed to the mandate contained in paragraph 4 of the MC12 
Outcome Document to have "a fully and well ‑functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to 
all Members by 2024".  Reform of the Dispute Settlement  system has been iden tified as a priority by 
almost all Members. There is also consensus on the fact that only a transparent and inclusive process 
will ensure the reform's success. This notwithstanding, more appropriate methods of work and 
discussion for each stage of the proc ess need to be adopted to allow substantive and productive 
exchanges between Members, based on their respective experiences and expectations.  Argentina 
supports the informal process with a facilitator , open to all Members, initiated at the start of this WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  year, and appreciates the work undertaken and the progress being made within the process.  Without 
prejudice to the above, Argentina reiterates its commitment to the reform process underway and its 
willingness to discuss the best way to continue this process and address procedural issues , such as 
those raised by the African Group, while prioritizing the search for a satisfactory solution to all 
Members' concerns regarding the Dispute Settlement  system that adequately reflects their interests, 
to achieve the ob jective agreed at MC12.  
3.204.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following statement:  
3.205.   Nigeria associates  itself with the statement delivered by the African Group.  We have 
consistently maintained that it is of critical importance that the reform process adheres to the 
principles of transparency, inclusiveness, fairness, and equity within the balance of the rights and 
obligations of all Members under the covered Agreements. We are of the view that the reform process 
should be geared towards the delivery of  outcomes that would help developing countries overcome 
their development challenges and better use global trade to drive growth. The African Group paper 
shed light on issues that must be addressed and adhered to, through the institutional reform process 
to foster effective participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system. It took 
into account the capacity constraint of developing country Members,  especially those with small 
sized delegation s, and recommended  needed  improvements in the operations of WTO r egular bodies 
to foster effective participation of these delegations in  the WTO.  
3.206.   The paper also shed light on the African Group views on the role and presence of other 
stakeholders, intergovernmental or international organizations in the WTO. Nigeria shares these 
views. We believe it is in the interest of all Members that the WTO remains a Member -driven 
Organization  with the Secretariats as enabler . On the issue of effective stakeholders' engagement, 
we believe the existing WTO channels of engagement with external stakeholders such as annual 
Public Forum, attendance of civil society at Ministerial Conferences, briefings by the Secretariat, has 
enabl ed non -state actors to positively shape discussions and negotiations in the WTO. While we 
share some Members ' views regarding the need to revitalize the involvement of these stakeholders 
in the trade debate, we believe it is of critical importance that we adopt a fair and balanced approach 
that would allow for plurality and multiplicity of voices and ensure developing countries do not come 
under undue pressure from these stakeholders in the course of trade negotiations or discussions.  
We call on Members to give due consideration to the elements of the proposal.  
3.207.   On WT/GC/W/874 , Nigeria wishes to thank India for its proposal.  This proposal is currently 
being reviewed in our capital . It appears the paper contains some noteworthy ideas under respective 
theme on h ow we can effectively improve the functioning of the WTO and ensure effective 
participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system. Ideas such as the ones on 
time bound work program on making dispute settlement accessible ; capacity buil ding and legal 
assistance in Dispute Settlement ; and Trade Policy Review Mechanism are creative and worth 
exploring. We look forward to engaging with India and other Members to discuss the paper and 
explore possible way s forward on the issues contained therein.  On WT/GC/W/864 , Nigeria wishes to 
thank the European Union  for their submission . We wish to associate ourselves with the statement 
by the African Group and the ACP.  In spite of the laudable accomplishments of the WT O highlighted 
in the 1st sentence of paragraph 1 of the EU paper, Nigeria believes the inability of the WTO to adapt 
to the evolving nature of the global economic landscape continue to undermine the economic benefits 
derivable by Members. It is for this re ason that we will continue to support WTO reform that would 
revitali ze the Organization  and enhance its role in global economic policy -making.  
3.208.   However, while we agree with the EU that there is scope to enhance the deliberative function 
of the WTO, we note  that some of the issues adduced in the paper falls outside the mandate of the 
WTO. For example, in our view, issues  related to green transition should be handled in forum such 
as the UNFCC or other specialized environmental agency. The WTO is only compete nt to deal with 
trade. The UNFCCC requires developed countries to take the lead in addressing climate change and 
provide climate finance and technology which is exemplified in the organi zing principle of "Common 
but Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR).  Furthermore, while we share some of the views 
expressed under the theme trade policy and state intervention in support of industrial sectors, we 
hope the intention is not to further constrain policy space or undermine efforts to secure further 
policy spac e for developing countries to pursue economic diversification and industrialization.  Our 
initial views notwithstanding, we will continue to engage constructively with the EU towards WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  enhancing the deliberative function of the WTO to foster greater and effec tive participation of 
developing countr y and LDC  Members  in the multilateral trading system.  
3.209.   On WT/GC/W/892 , we wish to associate ourselves with the statement by the African Group.  
We all share a desire to multilateralize the informal process to quickly fulfil the mandate in 
paragraphs  3 and 4 of the MC12  Outcome Document  that tasks us to restore the f ull function of the 
Dispute Settlement  system by 2024. Therefore, we must develop a specific plan to achieve this 
objective.  On process, the paper highlights the challenges with the informal process, therefore we 
are willing to work together with all Membe rs to ensure that the process is open, inclusive and 
transparent.  As a way forward, we strongly suggest that the solution contained in the African Group 
paper serve s as a guide to facilitate participation and guarantee inclusivity, which includes the 
availability of translation services and the opportunity for remote participation at the meetings.  
3.210.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
3.211.   We agree with the road map and the pit stops to reach MC13. You can count on my  
delegation.  With respect to the proposals on the deliberative function, we support the initiatives 
aimed at reducing the decision -making burden that is placed on Ministers . We agree that this Council, 
as the highest authority, should facilitate this process between Ministerial Conferences. We are in 
favour of holding senior officials'  meetings before Ministerial Conferences. The meeting planned for 
October will be a good op portunity to test its effectiveness.  In terms of reform by doing, we 
appreciate the acknowledgement of our work within the Council for Trade in Goods together with 
the other proponents of document JOB/CTG/21/Rev.2 . We call on Members to take prag matic 
measures as soon as possible.  We believe that the working methods of each subsidiary body need 
to be respected, by conducting a case ‑by‑case analysis, in the appropriate setting, to identify areas 
for improvement taking into account the particulariti es of the General Council itself and each 
subsidiary body.  We should encourage and maintain, rather than impede, the reform by doing work 
that various bodies have already embarked upon within their respective remits, which does not 
require any discussion o r future decision by the General Council.  We thank the Chair person  for the 
update on the reform by doing work already underway, and we invite the General Council to continue 
monitoring the progress of concrete actions and to assess specific measures that r equire action by 
the General Council.  
3.212.   Other reforms should continue at the committee level without interference from the  General  
Council.  Concerning the Dispute Settlement , we support all efforts by Members to deliver on the 
MC12 mandate to have a fully f unctioning dispute settlement system  by 2024. We appreciate the 
facilitator 's efforts to move these discussions forward, and we hope that the DSB can be formalized 
as soon as possible.  Regarding engagement with external stakeholders, the WTO cannot appear to 
exclude the stakeholders whom it serves. However, we must maintain a delicate balance between 
the confidentiality necessary to move forward in sensitive negotiations and the involvement of 
stakeholders. We believe that the Public Forum should be strengt hened, and potential ways of 
enhancing engagement with external stakeholders, such as seminars, thematic sessions and 
workshops, should be explored, while ensuring a balance of sectors, interests and regions.  New 
items on the negotiating agenda should be r elevant to the Organization's work and remain within its 
expertise and capabilities. We should also avoid overburdening the agenda, which stalls progress in 
unfinished negotiations on longstanding issues. Such negotiations should be given priority when 
allocating resources such as meeting rooms, providing interpretation and assigning staff.  Before I 
conclude, I would like to mention that my delegation considers development to be a cross ‑cutting 
issue, and any reform process must strike an appropriate balanc e with the interests of Latin 
American and landlocked developing countr y Members . The principles of inclusivity and transparency 
should serve as a compass to guide all discussions on reform.  
3.213.   The representative of Kazakhstan  delivered the following statement:  
3.214.   Let me first start by thanking all the Members who made the submissions for their time, 
efforts, wisdom and commitments to the WTO reform.  We carefully reviewed all the submissions 
made by Members to date and tried to gr oup them under categories and under two broader 
categories , (i) proposals or submissions made on institutional reforms and (ii) reform of deliberative 
functions.  Under  the first broad group of submissions, proposals on institutional reforms we also 
identif ied procedural operational recommendations on how to improve the functioning of various WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  bodies of the WTO and we also recogni zed Dispute Settlement  reform. Under the second broad group 
of the reform of deliberative functions , we identified the proposals ma de on the decision -making  
process, inclusiveness and transparency, including on how to better organi ze Ministerial 
Conferences. The second sub -item is development and list of substantive issues. As a result of this 
exercise , we were happy to learn that the re is a significant number of convergences and 
complementarities between proposals and recommendations contained in various Members ' 
submissions.  For instance, on institutional matters , we have identified proposals that focus on 
enhancing transparency, inf ormation sharing and accessibility by implementing measures such as 
improving information sharing and planning, utili zing digital instruments, agenda setting, preparing 
timely minutes and facilitating cross committee coordination  - we can enhance the funct ioning of 
the Organization even before the forthcoming Ministerial Conference.   
3.215.   With respect to the second broader group on the deliberative function of the WTO, we have 
found that there is a common theme , which is development and also proposals related to  
inclusiveness of the decision -making  processes. We support the approach of reform by doing and 
commend the work already undertaken by different WTO bodies in advancing the Organization's  
reform agenda. As we continue our work to address the differences am ong Members ' approaches to 
Dispute Settlement reform , as well as on  the deliberative function, we believe that there is a very 
strong ground for the report on the convergences and commonalities at the Senior Officials Meeting  
and, subsequently at the Minis terial Conference , on the functions of WTO bodies on procedural 
institutional reforms.  We would like to propose that the Secretariat compile s all the proposals on 
WTO reform , incorporating the progress made through the reform by doing approach in various WTO 
bodies , along with the ten measures suggested by the Chairperson.  I believe we can then see where 
we can agree on convergences. I would like to wish all of us all the best  in continuing these 
discussions and we recogni ze the challenges , as I have said on DS reform and on the deliberative 
function . But we should make very visible progress for the Senior Officials Meeting  and for the 
Ministerial Conference for our report  on the progress made on the institutional reforms.  
3.216.   The representative of Malawi  delivered the following statement:  
3.217.   We welcome your report and the proposed road  map to a successful MC13 presented this 
morning.  We align ourselves to the statements delivered by t he Africa n, ACP and LDC Groups.  
Paragraph 3 of the MC12  Outcome Document (  WT/MIN(22)/24 – WT/L/1135  ) provides the mandate 
to work towards the necessary reform of the WTO and that such work must be Member -driven, 
open, t ransparent, inclusive, and must address the interests of all Members, including development 
issues.  Development should remain central in the reform process by ensuring that the needs of the 
LDCs and developing countries are taken into account. The reform s hould bring a balance in the 
WTO rules which would allow these countries to navigate and recover from the ongoing global crisis.  
3.218.   On the circulated documents, we take full note of them as they contain elements aimed at 
contributing to improved functioning of this Organization . These are still under consideration. We 
thank the delegations for these proposals and look forward to working with them.  We would like to 
thank the Council  and TNC  Division for their dedication in creating an annotated agenda for this  
meeting of the General Council. We look forward to having more comprehensive ones in future to 
further aid us in our participation.  On Dispute Settlement  reform, there was consensus among 
Members to have a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members 
by 2024. Restoring the two -tire Dispute Settlement  system is key in this reform area. We are aware 
of the ongoing informal pro cess and would like to join the delegations that are calling on making it 
multilateral. This would ensure inclusivity and achieve a Dispute Settlement  system which is 
accessible and usable by all Members.  
3.219.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the follow ing statement:  
3.220.   We would like to thank you, Chair person,  and the Director -General  for your reports. Pakistan 
welcomes the submissions under this important and growing agenda in the lead -up to MC13 . It 
might take a rolling process to thrash these out by the membership over a longer timeframe, as we 
continue to receive more submissions on the subject. There are quite a few overlaps and 
commonalities which makes the case for introducing some of these reforms earlier that will only 
facilitate our working. We are  in consultation with capital over these proposals but venture some 
preliminary comments.  While it is true that WTO needs to address the polycrises and stakeholder WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  consultations can be enlightening, these need to be balanced. There have been long debates o n this 
forum on the role of other organization s and their participation and we continue to hold that Members  
represent all stakeholders and their synthesized views and the same practice has delivered 
effectively.  
3.221.   On submissions WT/GC/W /873 and WT/GC/W /879, Pakistan believes that mostly it is not 
the number of Ministerial Conferences  we hold that determine outcomes but the quality and focus 
of engagement among Members in various configurations during and prior to each  Ministerial 
Conference . It has been correctly pointed out that high pressure conferences may result in 
unpredictable outcomes and risk compromising transparency, but it is only reflective of how we 
engage prior to it. In this vein, as suggested in the papers, we are already gear ing up for the October 
Senior Officials Meeting and hoping that it provides some guidance on much awaited Dispute 
Settlement  reform in accordance with the mandate of paragraphs 3 and 4 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document. Starting with the commencement of an effe ctive and inclusive multilateral process on 
Dispute Settlement  reform under the Dispute Settlement  Body and with this objective endorse the 
submission WT/GC/W/892  by the African Group.  On the submission by India,  we understand that 
the list of suggestions f or operational efficacy of this Organization  is a collection of doables that may 
bring substantial improvements.   
3.222.   On the African Group communication  WT/GC/W/895 , we fully endorse the fundamental 
principles laid down for the reform process and will serve as a benchmark for the suggested reforms. 
We also echo the proposal of setting up of the working group that would report to the General Council 
and focused only on matters of institutional reforms within the WTO. This would not only ensure 
inclusivity but als o make sure that institutional changes that might otherwise have wide ranging 
implications or could even alter the balance of rights and obligations of Members are avoided.  I 
would like to add that the issue of WTO reform has gathered significant ideas and  submissions from 
a lot of Members. Now, it is essential that we pay heed to developing Members' calls for these 
reforms to address asymmetries, bring balance to the WTO rules and focus on the development 
dimension to respond to the polycrises the world is  grappling with. Sustainability of development is 
necessary, we need to incorporate technology transfer, technical and capacity building assistance 
for the developing and LDC Members keeping in view challenges faced by their existing and 
prospective economic development. In this very spirit, I believe this membership needs to consider 
developing mechanisms within WTO which give developing and LDC Members the ability to respond 
to crisis -like situations in a quick, effective and efficient manner, lest we see a repeat of the fractures 
of global value chains and economic downturn resulting from Covid -19 and other crises.  
3.223.   The representative of Nepal  delivered the following statement:  
3.224.   My delegation aligns  itself with the statement by the LDC Group and would like to add few 
points . We commend  you, Chairperson,  for your initiation of an annotated agenda and  the ten steps 
proposed this morning . We also appreciate JOB/GC/345/Add.1 . We have been emphasizing that 
reform should be transparent, inclusive and Member -driven, focusing  on the  challenges of small 
delegation s. Small delegations wish to participate meaningfully and constructively . However , they 
face challenges due to the ove rlapping of the meeting schedules.  Nepal reiterates that the 
development dimension of reform should also be in the centre of discussion in addition to institutional 
matters, considering the different levels of Members' development.  Trade deficit -related ch allenges 
of any Member should also be a priority. Any Member facing huge trade gaps after joining the WTO 
such as having several times higher export -import ratio like 1:10 , though ratio threshold can be 
discussed further , should be given adequate flexibili ty to adopt needful policy space in a non -
discriminatory manner until it comes below the threshold. Concerns of Members , especially the LDCs, 
which joined the WTO through the accession process with very high level s of commitment s and 
obligations beyond the ir capacity should be addressed. Nepal would like to thank Members and 
Groups for their submissions regarding WTO reform . Some elements of the submissions have 
convergence with the LDC Group 's submission, and we wish to engage constructively.  
3.225.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
3.226.   Allow me to reiterate the fundamental WTO principle contained in para graph  2 of the 
Preamble to the Marrakech Agreement Establishing the WTO, which recognizes the need for posit ive 
efforts to ensure that developing count ry Members , and especially the least developed among them, WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  secure a share in the growth in international trade commensurate with the needs of their economic 
development . The principles of the Marrakech Agreement s hould remain the linchpin of the reform 
process.  The African Group submission in doc (  WT/GC/ W/895  ) highlights the principles that should 
underpin the institutional reform required to advance inclusivity, better engagement and 
development in all WTO functi ons. We associate ourselves with the African Group 's submission and 
statement in that regard.  A set of commonly agreed principles should guide institutional reform and 
its related  activities to ensure transparency throughout the process, which would, as a result, lead 
to balanced deliverables in substance. As previously highlighted during the retreat held last June, 
institutional reform requires a comprehensive approach and collaboration among all  Member s and 
WTO bodies, therefore the establishment of a wor king group dedicated to institutional reforms should 
be highly beneficial and productive. This would bring together representatives from different WTO 
bodies to identify common issues, share best practices and propose reforms as required.  This 
working grou p can comprehensively review the functioning and effectiveness of various WTO bodies. 
It should focus on identifying areas of improvement, streamlining procedures, enhancing 
transparency and ensuring inclusivity.  We would also highlight the importance of d eveloping a 
catalogue of ideas that would contain the broader categories of Members' suggestions regarding the 
reform process including  on MCs.  
3.227.   On WT/GC/W/882 , we thank Brazil for their proposal concerning a yearly meeting of the 
WTO Ministerial Conference . We believe that by scheduling MC13 in February 2024, we are somehow 
already operationalizing the objective of the proposal, which is to reduce the intervals between 
Ministerial meetings.  While acknowledging that nothing in the current rules prevents having a 
Ministerial every year, we emphasize the need to ensure a reasonable frequency of Ministerial 
meetings, allowing us to efficiently prepare for s ound Ministerial outcomes on issues of relevance to 
the mandate of this Organization . The frequency of Ministerial Conference s should consider the 
capacity and financial constraints facing some developing Members and LDCs. Senior Officials 
Meetings  could l ead to better Ministerial results. The upcoming Senior Officials Meeting in October 
should be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and contribution to a successful MC13. It could also 
serve in testing new document distribution and circulation techniques , agenda setting procedures, 
green room meetings and other relevant reform ideas.  Regarding the submissions contained in 
WT/GC/W/873/Rev.1  , WT/GC/W/879/Rev.2  and WT/GC/ W/897 . We thank the proponents for their 
suggestions and ideas, we sent them to capital to be reviewed. We remain open to discussing ideas 
without introducing elements not sufficiently discussed in the WTO.  India's proposal in document 
WT/GC/W/874  contains several common ideas of institutional improvements with other proposals 
that appear to be achievable.  
3.228.   As for the EU submission  ( WT/GC/W/864  ), we also expressed our interest in this subject 
during the two previous GC meetings.  We underscore the need to focus on areas of convergence 
between this document and the  document submitted by the African Group on policy space for 
industrialization. We should be able to agree on a specific list of topics to address as we reform the 
deliberative functions. We will take active part in the discussion which will take place at the 
September retreat on policy space for industrialization. We urge all other Members to engage 
constructively in these discussions to promote industrialization and drive an adequate response from 
the WTO to address emerging challenges facing our countrie s. We fully support the African Group 
submission in WT/GC/ W/892 . We reiterate our commitment to working constructively towards 
achieving a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  system accessible to all Members by 2024, 
in accordance with the MC12 m andate. While we recogni ze the development achieved in the 
discussions on the Dispute Settlement  reform under the current process, facilitated by Mr. Marco 
Molina to whom we would like to express our gratitude, we believe, that time has come to commence 
an effective, open and inclusive formal multilateral drafting exercise under the oversight of the 
Dispute Settlement  Body. This would ensure inclusivity and transparency and will enable a wider 
participation in the process, including experts from capitals. W e thank Mr. Marco Molina for his 
statement.  We would like to stress the importance of giving particular attention and priority to the 
issues raised by developing Members and LDCs, and to make sure that their demands are effectively 
addressed in the Dispute  Settlement reform outcome.  
3.229.   The representative of Brunei Darussalam  delivered the following statement:  
3.230.   I join others in thanking you for your progress report on WTO reform work including the 
successful conduct of the informal meeting on 16 June , as well as  the ten proposed procedural WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  measures. We also support your proposed road map for MC13 including the regular updates by the 
Secretariat through  a factual state-of-play matrix on the work being carried out on the 
implementation of MC12 mandates until MC13.  Once again, we thank the proponents who have 
submitted proposals in moving forward the WTO reform agenda and we highlight the following . On 
Brazil's communication WT/GC/W/ 882 on Ministerial Conferences , while we recognize the 
importance of strengtheni ng the WTO's responsiveness to challenges impacting international trade, 
increasing the frequency of Ministers' interaction annually would pose more burden especially to 
small delegations that already cover other international organizations due to capacity  constraint. It 
would be helpful if the proponent could provide a structure or a format of WTO Ministerial 
Conference s that would be less onerous for Members' further consideration.   
3.231.   Brunei Darussalam shares most of the elements contained in the communicat ion 
WT/GC/W/ 879, particularly, on the proposed working process , the General Council and external 
engagement, which we view as practical in assisting our work more effectively.  Based on Members' 
submissions and past discussions, we can see that there are di fferent types of reform work with 
varying degree s of complexity and completion point s. Some procedural improvements or the process 
of implementation would require more consideration. As we prepare for MC13, we would like to 
suggest the Secretariat to compi le a list of reform work that has been carried out and  is in the 
pipeline for implementation since the MC12 for  General Council  consideration, whi lst continuing 
finding convergence on other reform proposals. This list could serve as a stocktake document fo r 
consideration at the  Senior Officials Meeting .  
3.232.   The representative of the Russian Federation  delivered the following statement:  
3.233.   We would like to thank the delegations , especially the African Group , China and India , for 
tabling useful suggestions on WTO reform. We note that the number of reform proposals keeps 
growing and this dictates the necessity to prepare a categorized list with a summary of discussions 
on them or their implementation progress.  Some of the reform suggestions we are  quite ready to 
get behind. I will briefly point out just a few. Responsible approach of Members to their commitments 
should be ensured. WTO rules are not optional. The WTO needs to be more effective in combating 
new forms of trade protectionism and distor tion of competition. Plurilateral negotiations are a useful 
tool, however only as long as they are inclusive and transparent. Speaking of transparency, we find 
the practice of green room meetings outdated. A more inclusive format should be found. The 
propo sal to hold additional thematic discussions and meeting s on the current challenges of 
international trade deserves special attention. Such discussions should be inclusive in all respects, 
and the topics should reflect major concerns of the whole WTO member ship. In this regard, we 
express general support for the communication of the African Group on Dispute Settlement  reform. 
Our delegation agrees that the text -based negotiations should only be undertaken under the 
multilateral process to be conducted by the  General Council and its subsidiary bodies as agreed 
under paragraph 3 of the MC12 Outcome Document. With all respect to the effort of the participants 
and the facilitator  of the current informal process , the efforts which our delegation really shares, I 
cannot agree with those delegations who define this process as fully transparent and inclusive.  
3.234.   On procedural issues , we support your efforts, Chair person , to streamline the work of the 
General Council  and make it more focused. This can facilitate consensu s and improve decision -
making capacity. We thank you for leading by example and introducing the practice of preparation 
of annotated agendas for General Council  meetings. We should also look into ensuring better 
interaction between the WTO Councils  and Committees , including holding joint meetings. Members' 
oversight of the Secretariat's activities, including of its analytical work, should be strengthened. The 
choice of themes for Secretariat reports should be the prerogative of Members. Current trade and 
economic realities demand focused analysis from the Secretariat – instead of lengthy reports that, 
to our regret and surprise, happen to contain controversial interpretations and conclusions. Such 
work should be done exclusively at the request of Members.  This is by no means a comprehensive 
list, but I will stop here in the interest of time. My delegation is ready to further participate in 
constructive discussions on these documents.  
3.235.   The representative of Tanzania  delivered the following statement:  
3.236.   My delega tion aligns itself with the statement by the LDC G roup on sub -item 3 .A(i) on the 
Report of the Chair person  and the submission of the African Group on sub -item 3 .A(iii) regarding ''A WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the World Trade Organi zation''.  I would like to 
reiterate a few points regarding those issues as follows: (i) The WTO reforms should intend to 
improve the functionality of the institution for the prosperity of multilateral trading systems rather 
than to change the current archi tecture of the institution as established from the Marrakesh 
Agreement.  (ii) Development should be at the centre of the reform outcomes taking into account 
the development needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs). That said, the 
principal of Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) should remain intact. (iii) Reform is a 
progressive process . MC13 is not an ultimatum . Issues should  be sequenced according to their 
priorities.  (iv) Any improvement on the working of the Secretariat shall adhere to Article  VI.a of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing  the WTO, pa rticularly , it shall not seek to influence Members in 
their engagement but rather remain perpetually neutral in nature. (v) In the case of external 
stakeholders' engagement, the WTO shall establish specific rules to govern their appointment and 
limitations  of their engagement mainly focusing on experience sharing. They will not influence 
Members' positions and decision -making as negotiations and decision -making in the WTO remain 
solely an intergovernmental responsibility and prerogative. (vi) All WTO reform  issues should be 
accorded equal attention in the discussions, and their outcomes will be reached by consensus in the 
General Council and reported to the Ministerial Conference for adoption.  
3.237.   With regards to the communication from Brazil in document WT/GC/W/882  about  the 
conduct of WTO Ministerial Conferences. Our view in this matter is in line with the views expressed 
by many delegations on 16 June 2023 during the informal General Council meeting on WTO reform 
focused on the deliberative function and institu tional matters , whereby it was clearly mentioned that  
the Ministerial Conference intervals should remain as stated in Article IV .1, that there will be a 
Ministerial Conference held at least once every two years. However, my delegation can support the 
idea of convening a Ministerial Conference at any time deemed necessary, particularly when there 
is an agenda for our Ministers to discuss and make a decision.  Nevertheless, my delegation finds it 
difficult to support the General Council to adopt a formal decis ion endorsing that from now on a 
Ministerial Conference will be held every year.  WTO outcomes, by their nature, are politically and 
economically sensitive, and thus, we cannot afford to reduce the relevance of Ministerial 
Conferences. Also, Members should be mindful of time, energy and resources it takes WTO to 
prepare a Ministerial Conference. Therefore, if it was to be held every year, it would be exorbitantly 
tiring and costly, particularly for small delegations. My delegation would like to suggest that the 
functioning of the General Council need s to be reviewed to be able to act as a decision -making organ 
in between Ministerial Conferences. Most issues being brought to the General Council  are not of a 
decision -making nature. For example, the first readin g and hearing of proposals could be taking 
place in respective WTO bodies. Let me welcome the good initiative of the General Council of 
circulating an annotated agenda containing  document links that ties well with the current slogan of 
reform by doing . 
3.238.   The representative of Nicaragua  delivered the following statement:  
3.239.   We echo the views expressed by the African Group in document WT/GC/W/895 . As Nicaragua 
has raised at different meetings, the reform process should be premised on the principles of 
inclusive ness, transparency and development, preserving consensus decision ‑making in order to 
consider the interests of all Members, especially those with a lesser share in international trade.  We 
urge all Members to take into account the capacity constraints of de veloping Members . We must 
also seek the participation of small delegations such as ours, as our capacity is often limited because 
of our inability to attend meetings that are scheduled at the same time.  In addition, reform should 
strengthen the provisions of special and differential treatment in favour of developing and 
least‑developed Members, and this process at no time should dilute the areas and benefits already 
achieved by developing Members.  Reform should reaffirm the principle that this Organization is 
Member ‑driven.  On Brazil's proposal to hold annual Ministerial Conferences, as a developing Member , 
we draw Members' attention to the budgetary implications, both for the WTO and for financially 
constrained Members. Instead of holding the Conferences mo re frequently, we should make our 
work in Geneva more proactive.  
3.240.   The representative of Cambodia  delivered the following statement:  
3.241.   My delegation associate s itself with the LDC  Group' s statement. We express our appreciation 
for your comprehensive reports an d efforts on WTO reform. We also appreciate the road  map ahead WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to MC13. We welcome the proposals that have been submitted on WTO reform by Members including 
their respective updates. This shows the keen interests of all Members in having a strong, well -
functioning and relevant WTO. We thank the proponents who have reached out to us to explain their 
submissions in detailed and to identify where there could be common positions. We took note  of the 
alignment of some proposals on WTO reform with the LDC  Group 's elements contained in 
JOB/GC/223.Rev.1 , having regard to  the LDC  Group 's concerns as part of the reform efforts.  It is 
noted that reforms have already been undertaken  in some WTO bodies in terms of improving the 
monitoring and deliberative fun ction of the WTO , which provided indications that reform by doing is 
working in a Member -driven, inclusive and consensus manner. We also stress the need to restore 
the full y function ing Dispute Settlement  system by 2024.  My delegation express es its gratefu lness 
for the efforts made by WTO bodies on reform by doing pursuant to their respective functions and 
feasible practices especially the annotated agenda for this General Council  meeting.  
3.242.   The representative of Mozambique  delivered the following statement:  
3.243.   Thank you , Chairperson,  for your comprehensive report, includ ing the road  map to move 
forward.  On WTO reform, Mozambique takes note of all proposals submit ted by Members on this 
important issue. The institutional reforms should preserve the Member -driven n ature of the WTO. 
Regular consultations, negotiations and discussions should be held to build consensus on proposed 
reforms and ensure their successful implementation. The reform of the WTO Dispute Settlement  
system will have a significant impact on the fu nctioning of the entire multilateral trading system and 
is an important issue for developing countries and least -developed countries. The discussions and 
negotiations will remain open to all delegations, and Members will need to be able to address issues 
of concern to them during the process.  
3.244.   The representative of Ukraine  delivered the following statement:  
3.245.   Taking this opportunity, my delegation welcomes the report by the Chairperson as well as 
the submitted proposals by Members on WTO reform. The valuable ideas and constructive 
suggestions play an important role in contributing to our ongoing discussions on further reforms.  
We have numerous approaches and submissions on the table , some of them suppo rted by Ukraine. 
In this regard, we would like to highlight several aspects.  Ukraine supports the idea of enhancing 
the deliberative function of the WTO to effectively address global trade policy challenges and ensure 
the smooth and relevant functioning of  the Organization.  We believe that engaging external 
stakeholders can add value to this process, fostering a better understanding of specific issues and 
facilitating informed decision -making for the benefit of all Members . However, given the sufficient 
number of contributions from Members on WTO reform , at this stage, it would be useful to advance 
to the compilation of a single comprehensive paper, so -called "umbrella paper", which would cover 
a clear set of steps to be taken in order to achieve practical a nd tangible results.  We prefer to 
continue intersessional work, involving active participation from Ministers and capital -based experts 
through retreats or dedicated events. This approach can contribute to more productive outcomes 
and collaboration.   
3.246.   Ukraine considers that substantial reform in agriculture should remain a core pillar for our 
common goal of holding a successful MC13 . Sustainable food systems cannot by designed and 
evolved without sound rules for trade in agriculture. We also believe that fin ding an agreed basis to 
restore a functioning Dispute Settlement  system and to proceed to the appointment of Appellate 
Body members are urgent issues in order to have a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement  
system accessible to all Members by 2024.  Despite of the war unleashed by the Russian Federation , 
that is taking place for 17 months in a row, we would like to underline that Ukraine remains strongly 
committed to a predictable, rules -based multilateral trading system.  We remain ready to engage 
constructively in the WTO reform process while moving towards realistic and meaningful outcomes 
in view of approaching MC13 and realizing full potential of the WTO.  Ukraine would like to express 
its gratitude to partners for their strong and consolidated sup port and call on other WTO Members 
to deprive the Russian Federation  of its tools to commit the crime of aggression against Ukraine and 
to undermine the rules -based multilateral trading system.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.247.   The representative of New Zealand  delivered the following stat ement:   
3.248.   We support your vision of the road map ahead of us to MC13. We believe it will be important 
to make the most of the stations you have identified along the way. This entails us working hard to 
arrive at agreement and take decisions on those issues t hat many of us have identified as ones 
where there is scope for the General Council to take early action, such as on Annex 1 of the LDC 
graduation proposal. It also requires us to commit to an intensified level of engagement and 
creativity to build consens us outcomes on the main negotiating areas, we have all spoken of on fish, 
on agriculture, on Dispute Settlement reform throughout the autumn. It entails us preparing well to 
make full and focused use of the time of our Senior Officials in October, to give additional impetus 
to those efforts ahead of MC13. Not only do we support your efforts to ensure that we have prepared 
the ground as well as possible for our Ministers at MC13, but we also want to make sure that we 
make the most of the opportunity MC13 its elf represents. For this reason, we support the ideas 
Australia has set out in document WT/GC/W/873  on ways to maximize the value of Ministerial 
Conferences starting in Abu Dhabi at MC13.  
3.249.   We welcome your report on the outcome of your consultations on ways to improve the 
functioning of WTO bodies and support you and the Secretariat moving forward with the practical 
steps you have identified. Also, in the spirit of improving the functioning of the WTO, New Zealand 
has co -sponsored and sees real value in the modest practical steps outlined by Canada to streamline 
the de -restriction of documents in support of increased efficiency and transparency in the 
Organization. Like others, New Zealand place s high priority on the restoration of a fully functioning 
WTO dispute settlement system accessible to all by 2024. We have been pleased to engage in the 
informal reform discussions ably facilitated by Guatemala's Deputy Permanent Representative, 
Mr. Marco Molina . While intensive , as other delegations have commented, we have appreciated the 
inclusive and transparent nature of these discussions. We think the informality of the process has 
helped generate good progress . With that in mind, we would like to enco urage all of us to continue 
in a constructive and pragmatic spirit to enable further progress, including to refine and focus the 
ideas for reform that have been contributed by a broad range of Members. Given this, we see value 
in allowing this informal pro cess enough additional time to make further progress before we bring 
these issues into a formal process.  
3.250.   The representative of Sri Lanka  delivered the following statement:  
3.251.   We thank you , Chairperson,  for your detailed report on your consultations. We also thank 
all the delegations for their submissions. We see a range of constructive suggestions in those 
submissions. We have sent these proposals to our capital for comments. Therefore, we share our 
preliminary thoughts on some of the proposals.  We can support most of the elements elaborated in 
the proposal WT/GC/ W/895  by the African Group. We agree that any WTO reform process needs to 
be inclusive, transparent,  Member -driven  and development oriented. Sri  Lanka  also appreciate s 
reassurance from the facilitator  of the informal process on Dispute Settlement  reform. Capacity 
constraints of developing Members need to be taken into consideration. As expressed in the 
Preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement, the noti on of 'development' is core to the objectives of the 
WTO. One of the best ways to ensure development aspirations of the developing countries is to 
ensure effective Special and Differential Treatment provisions which recogni ze the development 
needs and challenges faced by developing countries. We reiterate that SDT should be an integral 
part of any reform process. This has been well reflected in the African Group proposal.   
3.252.   We see a lot of merits in the proposal WT/GC/ W/874  by India.  This proposal is in line with 
paragraph 3 of the MC12  Outcome Document. The suggestions are indeed constructive through 
which the entire membership could benefit. If we could collectively work, we will be able to achieve 
most of the targets set in the proposal, by the time th e WTO completes 30 years of its functioning 
in 2025. We observe that there are similar proposals submitted by some other Members including 
the ten points indicated in your report relating to the functioning of the WTO. With all these inputs, 
my delegation believes we can have a more comprehensive and common set of proposals for our 
deliberation on this matter.  My delegation will engage constructively to implement the most feasible 
and realistic proposals out of all these submissions.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.253.   The representative of Lao PDR  delivered the following statement:  
3.254.   Lao PDR aligns itself with the statement of the LDC Group. We recognize that the WTO is 
facing institutional challenges that need to be addressed in a systematic, transparent and inclusive 
manner to ensure a well -functioning WTO in all of its pillars, as well as addressing imbalances and 
promoting inclusive growth and development.  Lao PDR is of the view that reforms must preserve 
the core values and fundamental principles of the WTO and consider the interests of all  Members , 
including developing Members and LDCs. On Dispute Settlement  reform, Lao PDR thanks Mr. Marco 
Molina  for the comprehensive statement delivered and we have them fully seconded. We are pleased 
to update the meeting that Lao PDR has become the 130th Member to co -sponsor Guatemala 's 
proposal, document WT/DSB/W/609/Rev.25 , to urgently fill all the vacancies of the Appellate Body 
in order to restore a full, inclusive and transparent functioning of the WTO's Dispute Settlement  
system by 2024, including its oversights and monitoring system to be more inclusive, effective and 
transparent . 
3.255.   The representative of Moldova  delivered the following statement:  
3.256.   Referring to the proposals tabled on WTO reform, I would like to reiterate our preliminary 
position regarding a few points suggested in these pro posals, some of which are still under 
examination by the capital. Referring to Brazil's proposal and other proposals on yearly Ministerial 
Conferences . We note that Moldova is in favour of processes that would not complicate the system . 
Therefore , we would  not support proposals that would generate additional high costs to Members.  
Article IV .2 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO states that the General Council  has 
the authority to act on behalf of the Ministerial Conference and is the WTO's high est-level decision -
making body in the intervals between Ministerial Conferences. We believe that the current structure 
is sufficient for ensuring Members' deliberations and the approval of important decisions in an 
effective and efficient manner.  Our deleg ation is concerned about the proposals on multiplying 
Ministerial meetings since we believe that organizing Ministerial Conferences on a yearly basis will 
impose an additional burden in terms of costs and capacity to  the WTO Secretariat , as well as to all 
Members . In particular,  to developing Members with small delegations, which face continuous budget 
and capacity constraints. Instead of suggesting yearly Ministerial  Conferences , which would impose 
higher costs for our delegations, we believe that the membership should encourage the genuine, 
open minded, efficient engagement of all Members with a consensus -oriented approach, focusing 
and concentrating our efforts on improving our  work within this Organization  and on the adoption of 
the results during regular  General Council  sessions.  
3.257.   Referring to the external engagement , as suggested in the paper on small steps to make a 
difference communicated by Australia, China and Thailand , Moldova agrees that  the WTO needs to 
be better understood and supported by external stakeholders and indeed a balanced, inclusive and 
non-discriminatory external engagement could be a useful way to ensure the WTO's relevance. We 
strongly believe that the im provement of the process of external engagement should be based on 
existing guidelines and practices of the WTO. We share the view that the engagement could take 
the form of informal meeting s and experience sharing events while formal meetings and processe s 
related to the negotiations should be limited only to the membership and its observers, according to 
the current practice. Referring to the necessity to reinforce the deliberative function of the WTO to 
respond to global trade policy challenges, Moldova supports the communication from the European 
Union (  WT/GC/W/864  ) and we are interested to engage on the suggested proposal on improving 
the deliberative function.  Referring to Dispute Settlement  reform and the ongoing informal 
discussions, Moldova fully s upports the current process, which is transparent, inclusive and result 
oriented . In this context we support the necessity of integrating these discussions in a formal mode 
within the relevant WTO body when feasible and we reiterate the importance of deliv ering the 
mandate of restoring the Dispute Settlement  system  by 2024.  
3.258.   The representative of Zimbabwe  delivered the following statement:  
3.259.   Zimbabwe applauds the Director -General's  report and your comprehensive report 
Chair person , containing among the key mes sages, the ten-measure road  map that you elaborated. 
We stand ready to play a constructive role in this regard.  We align ourselves to the statement 
delivered by the Africa n and the ACP Groups , all reinforcing the importance of prioriti zing the 
development dimension in the WTO reform agenda and preserving consensus decision -making. WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Reform by doing should be  Member -driven , open, transparent, inclusive in terms of addressing the 
interests of all Members , including the development dimension. Due reg ard to capacity constraints 
of developing Members is critical. We thank proponents of a number of communications which signal 
a strong desire to adequately prepare and feed into the forthcoming Senior Officials Meeting in 
October and seeking concrete outco mes at MC13.  
3.260.   The Chairperson  said that she was  truly heartened by the constructive WTO reform debate.  
She thanked  all delegations for submitting communications and proposals , noting that this was  a 
testimony to Members' commitment to work towards necessar y reform of the WTO. It was through 
these very communications and proposals that the WTO reform discussion was carried forward. She 
further said that, a s Chairperson of the General Council, she would  continue to facilitate this 
constructive and result -oriented discussion, in an open, inclusive, transparent and Member -driven 
manner . She also said that she had taken note of the comments on the road map  on the deliberative 
function  on the road towards MC13  which  she had presented  in her report. She  had taken p articular 
note of a number of delegations who had proposed the appointment of a facilitator/facilitators to 
look at the various  reform  proposals and papers to identify convergences. She would make an 
announcement on this appointment soon after the summer b reak and looked forward to its 
continuation in September . 
3.261.   The General Council took note  of the Chairperson's report and of all the statements made.  
3.262.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
3.263.   On the proceedings today, Chairperson, I want to echo your remarks about how productive 
the discussions have been and to thank Members for that and for their support for the road map. I 
just want to say the road map has folded in the road map that was anno unced at the TNC. It is one 
continuous, one will not stop at the SOM but keep going , it is one flow of a road map. I am glad that 
people are coming behind that. I want to say the Secretariat stands ready to work with Members in 
all configurations to keep c ompiling the reform by doing efforts for the General Council and for the 
SOM. We will be working hard at that , as well as at the concept notes that will underpin the 
discussions once we are clear on which ones we are going to have. In the reform by doing, I just 
wanted to mention  that it will be important to be also wary of the clarity of rules , what is within the 
power of the Secretariat, and what is within the purview of Members . So, as the facilitators work , I 
hope that this will come out clearly.   
3.264.   I think the second comment is to also come back to an issue that Norway had raised and 
thank them kindly for their comment on the issue of partiality or impartiality . It leads me to comment 
on the issue of some of the work and studies that have been done , and I do want to say , within the 
Secretariat's mandate  to do some analysis and work . We will continue to do that  and w e have always 
been doing  it. Sometimes the analysis , as factual as it may be, may not be to the liking of some 
Members or the other. We underst and that but we hope that if some bit of analysis does not play to 
what a Member would like to see, that would not be grounds for accusing the Secretariat of being  
partial . We will continue to do our work in the most supportive and objective way we possibl y can 
do. I would also like to say that sometimes for the Secretariat it is quite tough when two Members 
have difficulties with each other. Sometimes the Secretariat is put in the middle in a very 
uncomfortable way. We try to do the best we can to forge a path that leads us to some neutral 
conclusion as much as we can and I do want to ask Members, under those circumstances, to try as 
much as possible to avoid putting the Secretariat in the middle. But if we do get in the middle, we 
will do our best to get o ut of it without too much harm and damage to staff. Let us move forward to 
the reform by doing compilation of work and to the road to MC13.  
B. MC12 - WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE  
(i) Review of Progress  
3.265.   The Chairperson  recalled that the MC12 Decisi on on the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce instructed the General Council to hold periodic reviews based on the reports that may be 
submitted by relevant WTO bodies. In this respect, she would provide a brief overview of the work 
that had taken place in the Councils for Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and TRIPS, as well as the 
Committee on Trade and Development, as reported by the respective Chairpersons. With regard to WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  the work in the regular bodies, Members had expressed support for the reinvigora tion of the Work 
Programme with a focus on its development dimension as per the MC12 Decision. Since MC12, the 
Work Programme had been considered in each of the bodies, including in informal consultations. 
However, the level of engagement varied among thes e bodies. The CTS discussed the e -commerce 
Work Programme at all its meetings held since MC12. In this context, Members had continued to 
share information on domestic developments related to electronic commerce. The CTD had continued 
discussions on a commu nication on "Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development". Based 
on these discussions, there was a general recognition among the Members of the need to address 
the digital divide. The TRIPS Council had addressed e -commerce at its June meeting on t he basis of 
a request and a submission from one delegation. The discussions had also touched upon having the 
Work Programme as a standing item on the Council agenda; however, there was still no consensus 
on this issue.  
3.266.   With regard to the CTG, apart from C hair-led consultations in September and October 2022 
on the role of the CTG in the implementation of MC12 mandates including the Work Programme, 
and an informal meeting in October, no proposal had been submitted to the Council; thus, no further 
discussion had taken place. One common issue that had emerged referred to the organization of 
work. For some Members, e -commerce was a cross -cutting issue; as such, discussions should remain 
at the level of the General Council and the subsidiary bodies should only pl ay a complementary role. 
On the other hand, other Members believed that all the bodies tasked with the implementation of 
the Work Programme should actively engage in technical work – including on the moratorium where 
mandated – and then report to the Gener al Council.  
3.267.   The Chairperson  on behalf of Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius), Facilitator  for 
the E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium , delivered the following statement22: 
3.268.   Since my last report to the May General Council ( JOB/GC/341  ), three Dedicated Discussions 
have been held. The first one on digital trade facilitation and facilitation of electronic transactions 
was held on 16 May; digital industrialisation on 23 June; and t he moratorium on 18 July. As per the 
circulated calendar of meetings up until MC13 ( ICN/GC/4  ), a discussion on ecommerce -related 
technology transfer is scheduled for 21 September. I wish to recall that these issues were selected 
based on topics raised by Membe rs last year as highlighted in my report to the General Council in 
December 2022 ( JOB/GC/330  ). I would like to thank Members for their active engagement and 
express my appreciation in particular to those delegations that put forward written submissions and  
made detailed presentations – these were very useful in guiding the overall discussions. Let me note 
that a full list of Members' submissions under the Work Programme is available in document 
RD/GC/24/Rev.1 .  
3.269.   In the Dedicated Discussions, I have con tinued to encourage Members to reflect on the role 
that the WTO can play, either alone or in cooperation with other Organizations. In this regard, 
delegations generally agree on the WTO's contribution as a forum for structured discussions and 
experience sh aring. Many also reiterated the importance of the WTO's convening power to bring 
together relevant Organizations working in this area. Some emphasised the need for policy space to 
pursue digital industrialization and bridge the digital divide. Delegations also noted the WTO's role 
in providing relevant technical assistance and capacity building, for example through the Institute 
for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) and the Aid for Trade initiative. There has also been 
interest in hearing the privat e sector's perspective on these issues. Some delegations also referred 
to the WTO's rulemaking function and the relevance of certain agreements/commitments to e -
commerce.  
3.270.   On 1 -2 June, a two -day workshop was held with the participation of several 
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs). Delegations participated actively in this event. Let me add 
a few words on last week's meeting on the moratorium which showed an intensificat ion of discussions 
including on scope, definition and impact of the moratorium, in line with the MC12 Decision. We now 
have a number of submissions highlighting Members' views and detailing the different arguments. 
Members have also heard each other on mor e than one occasion. I trust that this will help in 
furthering their internal consultations, as we work towards achieving further clarity and seeking 
convergence. In terms of next steps, after the September dedicated discussion, Members will have 
 
22 The Facilitator 's statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/GC/351 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to focus on identifying potential outcomes and recommendations for MC13. The format of these 
meetings may vary as necessary, and other dates might be added if there is a need to intensify our 
work ahead of MC13. But let me remind Members, once again, that they are in the driving seat. My 
role is simply to facilitate these conversations. It is the Members who define the substance and pace 
of work, including on any possible recommendations or outcomes.   
(ii) Reinvigoration of Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and Moratorium on 
Imposing Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions – Request from India and South 
Africa  
3.271.   The Chairperson  invited the delegation of India to provide any updates on the sub -item on 
"Reinvigoration of Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and M oratorium on Imposing Customs 
Duties on Electronic Trans missions".  
3.272.   The representative of India delivered the following statement23: 
3.273.   We welcome the progress made in Work Programme on e -commerce, where high -quality 
discussions have taken place under the able leadership of Ambassador Usha Canabady. The meetings 
with the International Organizations in June, however, could have been even mo re productive if the 
views related to Development were also included in substance and not just in name. Nonetheless, 
we are finally seeing some movement on the discussion on the scope and the definition of the 
moratorium on customs duties on electronic tra nsactions, where the onus remains on the proponents 
of the said moratorium to clarify their understanding.  India supports an exploratory and non -
negotiating engagement under the Work Programme on e -commerce at the WTO as part of the MC12 
decision on reinvi goration of Work Programme, dedicated discussions on various aspects of e - 
commerce were held this year, when India presented two papers on subjects with a focus on 
development dimensions and made detailed interventions at the various sessions of the struc tured 
discussions. India's paper on consumer protection in e -commerce, that is WT/GC/W/857  discusses 
in detail the current context of the rapid growth of the e -commerce sector, the paradigm of consumer 
protection in e -commerce, challenges and recurrent issu es in consumer protection in e -commerce, 
regulatory aspects and a brief description of work at the international level on the theme at different 
international fora. Another paper on role of digital public infrastructure in promoting e -commerce 
that is WT/GC/W/863  describes the various challenges and issues limiting the adoption and use of 
e-commerce, the paradigm of digital public infrastructure, DPI, and ideal features of good digital 
public infrastructure. The paper also highlights some notable DPI projec ts, including those adopted 
in India and attempts to elicit a positive discussion on the topic amongst the members.  
3.274.   At the end I wish to say that India has maintained that currently there is no common 
understanding amongst the membership on the scope or i mpact of the moratorium. The realities 
prevailing in 1998 when WTO Members agreed for the first time to the temporary morato rium have 
changed significantly during the subsequent two decades. These changes necessitate a re - 
examination of the implications o f the temporary moratorium, particularly from the development 
perspective. India and South Africa have also been making several joint submissions, including 
WT/GC/W/798  and WT/GC/W/833 , highlighting the adverse impact of the moratorium on developing 
Members  and suggesting that a reconsideration of the moratorium is important. We welcome the 
paper WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1  and appreciate the efforts of South Africa and the Africa Group to remind 
us that the original mandate of the Work Programme on E -Comm erce should be met in its totality. 
We also welcome the Africa Group papers WT/GC/W/883  highlighting the importance of 
reinvigorating the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology and WT/GC/W/888  
highlighting the importance of Transfer of Technolog y in the context of Work Programme on E -
Commerce .  
 
23 As requested by the delegation, the longer version of the statement, which was submitted after the 
meeting, h as been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  (iii) Reinvigorating the Work under the 1998 Work Programme on Electronic Commerce: 
A Development Approach to the Work Programme on E Commerce – Communication from 
the African Group ( WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1  ) 
3.275.   The Chairperson  turned to Cameroon to provide any the African Group communication "A 
development approach on the Work Programme on e -commerce".  
3.276.   The representative of Cameroon  on behalf of the African Group  delivered the follo wing 
statement:  
3.277.   The African Group would like to express gratitude to Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady 
for her report and acknowledge the importance of the Thematic Sessions she organized, and the 
contributions made by Members during the discussions. The sub mission highlights the need to 
reinvigorate the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, aligning with its development dimension 
as stated in WT/L/274 , based on the emphasis made by Ministers at MC12. The main focus is on the 
development mandate to ensure that deve loping countries benefit from the growth of global e -
commerce. Strategic interventions are required to boost growth and well -being, support digital 
industrialization, address the digital divide, and promote domestic digital sectors and small digital 
firms in developing countries. A developmental and inclusive approach is necessary, encouraging 
developing countries to participate not only as consumers but also as producers in e -commerce. The 
paper outlines critical elements for the development agenda, includ ing supporting digital 
industrialization, addressing the digital divide, creating enabling legal and regulatory frameworks, 
promoting domestic digital sectors, and building national and regional digital platforms.  
3.278.   Moreover, the communication raises concer ns about the lack of common understanding on 
the scope and definition of electronic transmissions, which can lead to legal and regulatory 
uncertainties for firms involved in cross -border e -commerce. It calls for clarity on the scope and 
definition of elect ronic transmissions to understand the implications of the moratorium on digital 
industrialization. The communication emphasizes the importance of continuing work under the Work 
Programme on e -commerce to ensure inclusivity and extend the benefits of e -comm erce, especially 
to developing countries. To facilitate this, the communication presents three recommendations: 
(i) Make the Work Programme a standing item under the General Council, with the Facilitator 
reporting on activities and progress; (ii) Establish  the E-Commerce Work Programme as a standing 
item in relevant WTO bodies, following the mandate in WT/L/274 ; (iii) Conduct a review of 
discussions in mandated bodies to assess progress on the development dimension of the Work 
Programme. In conclusion, we would l ike to re -emphasise the significance of focusing on 
development in the e -commerce sector and ensuring broader benefits and inclusivity for all WTO 
Members, particularly developing Members.  
3.279.   The Chairperson  recalled  that the Work Programme on E -Commerce was being discussed 
extensively and effectively in the Dedicated Discussions under the able leadership of the Facilitator. 
She expressed her  gratitude to the Facilitator for her tremendous efforts in ensuring open, 
transparent, inclusive and Member -driven disc ussions. She asked delegations not to repeat and 
duplicate the ongoing Facilitator -led discussions at and to intervene only if there was anything to 
add.  
3.280.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.281.   We com mend the Chairs of WTO bodies for their progress reports on the mandate given by 
Ministers at MC12 to the General Council to carry out periodic reviews, including on the scope, 
definition and impact of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmi ssions. We also 
commend the Facilitator of the Structured Discussion on the E -Commerce Work Programme, H.E. 
Madame Usha Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius) for her report and for her tireless efforts to move the 
discussion forward. Since the last General Council m eeting, important discussions, including on 
development aspects, have taken place as part of the reinvigorated Work Programme on e -
commerce. We actively participated in its discussions as well as the workshop organized on 1 and 2 
June 2023, with the partic ipation of the relevant international organizations. This activity was very 
rich in terms of content and should be repeated in the future. Given the constraints of LDCs to 
participate in e -commerce, we attach great importance to the development dimension o f the Work WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Programme on e -commerce. To this effect, the LDC Group is working on an update of its 
communication WT/GC/W/787  of 2019, which reported on our difficulties in the field of electronic 
commerce. The LDC Group has been active in a few Dedicated Discussions including sharing 
information on regulatory status in LDCs such as consumer protection, data protection, e -
transa ctions and others. The LDC Group appreciates the last Structured Discussion and welcomes 
the intensification of discussions on the moratorium, including experiences on the question of tariffs 
and taxation of imports of digital goods.  
3.282.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
3.283.   The ACP Group applauds the excellent conduct of the dedicated discussions on the e -
commerce Work Programme, led by the able Facilitator Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady. Rich 
information has been shared in the dedicated discussions and we think that much of the material in 
the discussions in the effort to reinvigorate the Work Programme, in particular the development 
aspects, can give a good sense of where the membership is in terms of the  thematic areas addressed. 
We appreciate the WTO in its convening role as well, to have reached out to other important 
institutions in recognition of their own mandates on the topics that we have considered. There are 
also a number of interventions needed to ensure that those developing countries falling behind can 
catch up and use the e -commerce ecosystem as a key component of their economic and social 
development. There continues to be far too few developing country stars in a position to benefit 
from bei ng producers in the field.  
3.284.   Regarding the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, many gaps 
remain. We are not clear on the differences between the revenue collection goals of governments in 
the digital trade platform and the goal to harn ess participation of consumers and businesses in 
developing Members and LDCs that may bear the costs of duties, taxes, and other charges. The 
transformation experienced in trade by virtue of the technological advancements in e -commerce 
takes on a number of  characteristics experienced by all countries. We know that duties were 
essentially not charged on the content of the physical version, rather tariffs were imposed on the 
carrier media of the software. This practice in the context of the GATT/WTO was based  on the GATT 
Decision 4.1 – Valuation of Carrier Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment, of 
24 September 1984, for Members party to the decision. That decision provided that "only the cost 
or value of the carrier medium itself shall be taken into account. The questions raised on the 
implications, if all electronic transmissions are deemed services, are important for our Members to 
tackle given what was understood at the time the Mode 1 and Mode 2 of services commitments were 
made." As far as w e understand, there is no consensus yet on whether software content is 100 per 
cent a service or a good, or a hybrid. However, many proponents of services commitments and the 
moratorium, do charge a tax or fee on "importation" of services from other countr ies. A deeper 
understanding of all charges, fees, taxes, implications in the digital domain, including in the context 
of goods or services is required. This way our Ministers can provide clear guidance to Members on 
the decision on the moratorium at MC13 a nd next steps on the Work Programme issues including 
trade related e -commerce regulatory schemes. Until we have a better understanding and solution -
oriented recommendations on the cross -cutting issues of the moratorium for developing Members, 
it may be pru dent to continue the time limited treatment afforded to customs duties and electronic 
transmissions at the WTO.  
3.285.   The representative of Antigua and Barbuda , on behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.286.   At the outset, we align with the ACP and C ARICOM statements. Let me place on record our 
gratitude to Ambassador Canabady of Mauritius for her incredible work, ably supported by the 
Secretariat, in facilitating the reinvigoration of the E -Commerce Work Programme, including 
deliberations on the Mora torium. We will continue to give her our full support. We also call for 
pragmatism, particularly on the Moratorium, and hope that we will achieve consensus on extending 
it. We see the Moratorium as playing a vital role in the broader e -commerce and digital  trade 
ecosystems. We believe that discontinuing the Moratorium would have a negative impact on 
consumers and the business environment. Meanwhile, not only is it likely to prove practically difficult 
to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions, bu t any revenue gains are also likely to be 
marginal, if not a net loss. We thank the African Group for its communication on a development 
approach to the Work Programme on E -Commerce, mindful that Ministers at the Twelfth Ministerial WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Conference agreed to re invigorate the work under the Work Programme in line with its development 
dimension. We are broadly supportive of many of the tenets of the African Group's proposal. Many 
of these tenets confirm the need for the WTO to deepen its engagement with external s takeholders, 
including inter -governmental Organizations, the private sector and academia to advance discussions 
on and find solutions to the e -commerce developmental needs of developing and least -developed 
Members.  
3.287.   The representative of Trinidad and Tobag o, on behalf of CARICOM , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.288.   CARICOM continues to attach great importance to the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce and its reinvigoration. In this regard, we thank both the African Group and India and 
South Africa for the ir submissions under this agenda item and welcome the emphasis therein on the 
development dimension of our work. We also thank Ambassador Dwarka -Canabady for her report 
and for her perspectives on what lies ahead as we look to MC13. We take this opportunit y to reiterate 
that we are pleased with the approach to our work this year under the stewardship of the Facilitator. 
We have found the frequency and spirit of our engagement and experience -sharing to be useful and 
constructive. We applaud the Facilitator f or ensuring that we have remained faithful to the aim of 
addressing the trade -related e -commerce topics brought forward by Members, which has meant not 
shying away from the less straightforward topics. The focus on the development dimension has 
provided a platform for a better appreciation of our constraints, but also of the opportunities that 
exist to secure support from the WTO and other international Organizations.  
3.289.   We have also adhered, under the Facilitator's guidance, to Ministers' instructions regard ing 
intensifying our discussions on the moratorium, through the two dedicated discussions on the 
moratorium held so far this year and through our engagement on the subject with experts from 
pertinent international Organizations at the start of June. We rec ognise that the question of the 
moratorium is an important one for many delegations and that, despite clear articulation of the 
varying perspectives on its renewal, the divergence in views remains. Chair, given the importance 
that CARICOM attaches to our w ork under the Work Programme and to the moratorium, we are keen 
to avoid a stalemate on this issue at MC13. It would be our preference to have agreed text settled 
on this matter in advance of the Ministerial. The calendar laid out by the Facilitator gives us some 
months to focus on this task. Nevertheless, we do wonder whether this particular task is one that 
could benefit from the input of higher -level decision -makers, such as our Senior Officials, in the 
months leading up to MC13. Bearing in mind the TNC Chair's comments last week on gauging where 
we stand in September as we map out the agenda then for the Senior Officials Meeting, consideration 
could be given at that point to seeking input and direction on this file from our Senior Officials in 
October.  
3.290.   The representative of Samoa , on behalf of the Pacific Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.291.   We align with the ACP statement. We wish to thank the Facilitator Ambassador Canabady 
for her report regarding the dedicated discussions and the consultations s he has undertaken. We 
also appreciate the experience - and knowledge -sharing by Members during the discussions which 
has helped us better understand the various issues we must address in this multifaceted area. Within 
the Pacific alone, our islands experien ce different levels of progress or development in the ICT sector 
and e -commerce. Notwithstanding our geographic distances, the disparities and challenges that we 
are faced with highlighting many in the digital environment. Therefore, the Group recognizes t he 
importance of progressing discussions on the work programme, especially the development 
dimension, to address the digital divide faced by developing countries and LDCs. We also welcome 
the focus of the next dedicated discussion in September on technolog y transfer related to e -
commerce, which is an important area. On the submissions by India and South Africa as well as the 
African Group, we thank them for their insights which are useful in our assessment and outlook of 
the work under the Work Programme. A s we prepare for MC13 and in light of the MC12 decision on 
the moratorium, it is important that further discussions on this issue be undertaken so as to ensure 
a balanced decision is taken at MC13.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.292.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following s tatement:  
3.293.   Thank you Chair for presenting the report on behalf of the Facilitator, who has demonstrated 
exemplary stewardship of the Dedicated Discussions. I would also thank India and South Africa for 
their submissions. Let me make three points. First, the  reinvigorated Work Programme on E -
Commerce has been useful. It has enabled Members to learn from each other's experiences, and 
more importantly, better understand each other's position. In this context, Singapore continues to 
participate actively in the w ork programme and we had shared our experiences in trade digitalisation 
in May and together with a group of 14 Members co -sponsored the communication ( WT/GC/W/875  ) 
regarding the scope, definition, and impact of the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Ele ctronic 
Transmissions, which directly addressed the queries of some Members with concerns on the 
Moratorium. Second, we should avoid repeating entrenched positions, which do not contribute to a 
meaningful and productive dialogue. Singapore remains committe d to contribute to evidence -based 
discussions so that we can make progress on these issues. At the last Dedicated Session, the robust 
exchange of views underscored the importance of the Moratorium to businesses and consumers, 
particularly in small, develop ing Members and LDCs. A recent Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) 
report highlighted that the Moratorium serves the long -term interests of LDCs, by providing greater 
certainty and predictability for businesses as well as skilled talents who are seeking jo b opportunities 
in the digital labour platforms. For example, the report noted that Bangladesh ranks second in terms 
of contracted workers via the Upwork  platform which provides freelance remote contract work 
opportunities in a diverse range of sectors for  talented professionals. Third, we must deliver a 
sustainable outcome on the Moratorium. As DG Ngozi had highlighted, we should identify meaningful 
deliverables for MC13, and the extension of the Moratorium should be one of these outcomes. Failing 
to do so  will send a negative signal to the business community and undermine the WTO's ability to 
respond meaningfully to the digital transformation.  
3.294.   The representative of Canada  delivered the following statement:  
3.295.   We thank the Facilitator for the report and dedic ated work on these important issues being 
dealt with under the Work Programme on E -Commerce. With their leadership, we have fully 
reinvigorated the Work Programme. Canada is pleased with the level of engagement on the last 
Dedicated Session, which focused on the moratorium. Building on the communication in 
WT/GC/W/889  from Canada and other co -sponsors, many delegations reiterated the longstanding 
benefits of not imposing customs duties, including for developing Members and particularly for 
MSMEs and consumers, and supported the extension of the moratorium. As indicated before, we 
remain open to engage in further discussion ahead of MC13, and we note the strong interest 
expressed to hear more from the private sector and academics, and we believe this would help 
moving the discussion forward. Canada also acknowle dged that further exchange on the broader e -
commerce -related development issues, including bridging the digital divide is needed under the work 
programme. In that regard, we welcome the revised document by the African Group as we move 
forward towards MC13,  and Members can count on our continued constructive engagement.  
3.296.   The representative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
3.297.   Japan expresses its sincere appreciation to Ambassador Canabady for her leadership in the 
discussions of the Work Programme on E lectronic Commerce. In the past seven meetings, we saw 
a variety of Members raise relevant issues and share their own experiences and had constructive 
discussions. Through the two -day workshop in June with the relevant international Organizations, 
we had a  better understanding on the existing activities, projects, measures or research of those 
Organizations. Japan believes that the Dedicated Session would be the appropriate place for 
Members to conduct meaningful and efficient discussions to obtain the achi evement in the limited 
time before MC13. We also believe that if we could hold some meetings inviting people from the 
business sector and academia formally or informally, that would bring further added value. Looking 
ahead to MC13, we believe in the necess ity to demonstrate how the WTO can play a substantive role 
in electronic commerce. Japan believes that the moratorium has provided certainty and predictability 
for both consumers and businesses, including MSMEs, and has fostered the development of digital 
trade under the multilateral trading system. Therefore, while Japan believes that the moratorium 
should be eventually made permanent, at MC13 we should maintain this important rule. From a 
similar perspective, Japan is always ready to contribute to the dis cussion on the development aspect 
of electronic commerce under the Work Programme.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.298.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following statement:  
3.299.   Nigeria wishes to thank India and South Africa for placing this issue on the agenda. We 
welcome the ongoing constructive engagements by Members on the Development Dimension of 
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. We support the work programme and look forward to 
the adoption of an inclusive and development -oriented agenda at MC13. On Moratorium on Imposing 
Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions Nigeria is mindful of the negative effects of an 
unpredictable global e -commerce environment for our businesses and consumers that is likely to 
occur from the non -renewal of the Moratorium. We believe the benefits of  the Moratorium outweigh 
the cost. In our view, non -Renewal will only mean the WTO has chosen not to be responsive to the 
economic realities of the 21st century. In view of this, Nigeria supports the extension of the 
Moratorium at MC13.  
3.300.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
3.301.   We thank Ambassador Canabady for her report and express our satisfaction with the renewal 
of discussions on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. We reiterate our willingness to 
continue this process in the manner proposed by Ambassador Canabady, that is, to identify points 
of convergence that would allow us to achieve a substantive outcome at MC13. Argentina agrees 
with the key aspects of the paper from the African Group, in that the gains from digital t echnologies 
and e‑commerce are not automatic for developing countries owing to the lack of infrastructure and 
access to financing, technology and know ‑how, among other factors. Integrating technology into 
everyday life presents new opportunities for growth , work and development. Countries are facing 
the challenge of how to harness technology in order to maximize these opportunities. Work must be 
done to ensure that the benefits of these innovations are distributed in a fair and balanced manner. 
We cannot fa il to mention digital divides, which have multiple facets, including digital literacy and 
skills, and the capacity to create content and use ICT to develop and expand businesses, including 
e‑commerce. Leveraging technology also requires a sound regulatory framework, focused on 
instilling confidence in consumers in order to promote online trade operations.  
3.302.   The renewal of the Work Programme in response to the MC12 mandate and the discussions 
in the preceding months have given Members the opportunity to expre ss their views, highlight 
problems and share their experiences related to e ‑commerce. We believe that, on this basis, we can 
now begin to identify points of convergence in certain areas. In other areas, such as the moratorium 
on electronic transmissions, m arked differences of opinion persist. We hope that the discussions will 
continue in the same constructive spirit and in good faith so that we can also identify points of 
convergence on these issues before our ministers meet. Argentina can support the propo sal by 
certain Members to include the moratorium as part of the discussions at the Senior Officials Meeting 
planned for October.  
3.303.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
3.304.   I would thank India and South Africa and support their effort s in keeping this very important 
item on the GC agenda, and South Africa for their submission. While we are open to further 
discussions and evidence on the issue. We now have to weigh and compare the costs that some 
developing and LDC Members had to face u nder the moratorium and the comparative advantages 
and how far has the moratorium helped developing Members in their industrialization efforts through 
transfer of technology. To allow for the digital growth in developing countries, particularly in absence 
of substantial transfer of technology and other enabling factors, Pakistan is of the view that the 
moratorium needs to be considered for termination.  
3.305.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
3.306.   There has been very considered and tho ughtful engagement by Members in the Work 
Programme on Electronic Commerce over the past year. That is what Members requested, and that 
is what we are seeing, and we thank Ambassador Canabady for her careful stewardship of the 
process. It is evident that w e are successfully fulfilling our MC12 mandate of a reinvigorated Work 
Programme – and that the Work Programme is facilitating many productive discussions on issues 
key to driving the continued growth of the global digital economy. Australia was pleased to  co-
sponsor the joint communication WT/GC/W/889 , introduced by Canada at the Dedicated Session of WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  the Work Programme last week. Through this communication, a diverse range of co -sponsors from 
different regions and at different stages in their development r esponded in good faith to requests to 
clarify the scope, definition and impact of the moratorium. This communication also underscores the 
consequences of letting the moratorium fall, that is, a decline in revenue, competitiveness, 
productivity and innovati on for those Members that choose to impose duties. Australia was greatly 
encouraged by hearing so many Members voice their support for the rollover of the moratorium at 
the meeting.  
3.307.   On inclusion, we have heard a lot in the discussion on bridging the devel opment divide. To 
let the moratorium expire would be to worsen that development divide. Australia is doing research 
on the impact of the moratorium on gender, through the group 'The Trade Experettes" who are 
conducting workshops in various regions. Again, we are finding that the moratorium is important to 
promoting inclusion. Throughout our discussions in the Work Programme, including on the digital 
divide, Members have sought to highlight the powerful role of e -commerce in driving development 
and shared vi ews on how we can support developing and least developed Members to benefit from 
e-commerce. We recognise the continued work to be done in this space and note suggestions 
outlined in the communication WT/GC/W/888  circulated by the African Group. I would like to echo 
the call of Trinidad and Tobago – we need certainty, which means we need draft decision text ahead 
of time and well before the end of the year.  
3.308.   The representative of Tunisia  delivered the following sta tement:  
3.309.   We thank the Facilitator, Ambassador Dwarka Canabady, for her able leadership. The 
Dedicated Discussions held to date have helped us further explore the thematic issues on the Work 
Programme on Electronic Commerce, in particular concerning the deve lopment dimension. The 
meetings have confirmed the priority that developing countries attach to policy space for stimulating 
growth in the sector. The revised communication by the African Group, with which we fully align 
ourselves, indicates developing cou ntries' strong commitment to being the main architects of an 
ambitious and development -focused Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, ensuring that the 
challenges they face are appropriately addressed, and seeking to provide adequate responses to the 
assoc iated issues, including closing the digital divide, the tax burden on electronic transactions, 
consumer and data protection, and the construction of secure payment systems. Furthermore, the 
points raised by South Africa, India and other delegations in thei r various communications about the 
role of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions in achieving digital policy 
objectives or digital industrialization strategies would benefit if they led to a clear decision, especially 
if the argument s of advocates of a permanent moratorium are evidence based and shed light on the 
scope of electronic transactions. With regard to the role of the WTO, Members should work to identify 
the means through which the WTO can facilitate digital technology transf er, improve access to it and 
build digitalization capacities and skills in order to bridge the growing digital divide. At the same 
time, if we are to better address the current disparities and identify the areas to be developed, it is 
essential to explore the existing flexibilities in certain WTO Agreements, including the TRIPS and 
SCM Agreements, and to assess the effectiveness of their contribution to the development of digital 
sectors in developing country Members and LDCs and to the capacity building of  their SMEs and their 
inclusion in global electronic commerce.  
3.310.   The representative of Nepal  delivered the following statement:  
3.311.   My delegation aligns with the statement by the LDC Group and would like to add few points: 
my delegation would like to thank the F acilitator for her report and appreciates her efforts. Due to 
weak and poor technological development and digital divide, LDCs have not been able to participate 
in and benefit from e -commerce opportunities, which might further widen the existing gap among 
Members in future. The way e -commerce is increasing makes its landscape more dynamic. The e -
commerce Work Programme should be able to address the challenges faced by the LDCs through 
enhancing support in the development aspects as well as technical support . We welcome the 
Discussion held on the moratorium and believe that further discussions are needed to advance 
clarification on the scope and definition. My delegation thanks India, South Africa and the African 
Group for the important proposal and stands re ady for further discussions.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.312.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
3.313.   First, we would like to express our gratitude to Ambassador Usha Canabady for her report, 
and commend her for her extensive efforts in facilitating our discussions on this issue. We look 
forward to continuing our discussions after the summer break, to elaborate more on potential 
concrete outcomes we could have at MC13. We would like to thank India and South Africa for 
reintroducing their proposal on the reinvigoratio n of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce 
and the moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. Moreover, we would 
like to express our full support to the paper of the African Group, contained in WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1 . 
The reinvigoration of the Work Programme on e -commerce should prioritize development and serve 
as a means for developing and LDC Members to use e -commerce to boost their economic growth 
and sustainable development. Existing gaps and needs in developing countr ies show that gains from 
growth in global e -commerce will not be automatic for these countries. The situation requires 
strategic interventions at all levels, including at the national and international levels, as well as by 
enabling developing countries to  adapt their productive capabilities and trade competitiveness to 
take account of these developments. We welcome the joint efforts of the WTO and the World Bank 
in that regard.  
3.314.   Moreover, to ensure that e -commerce contributes effectively to achieving sustai nable 
development, there is a need to examine potential effects of e -commerce on other policy areas 
including: industrial, trade and environmental policies. There is also a need to conduct a cost -benefit 
analysis of the moratorium under all scenarios, incl uding termination, extension, or retention, to 
evaluate the potential implications each of these scenarios may have on developing countries. 
Furthermore, we believe that developing countries should participate effectively in e -commerce by 
transforming thes e countries into producers and not just consumers. To do so, the development 
agenda of e -commerce should include, among other things, promoting domestic digital sectors and 
small digital entrepreneurs, as well as building national and regional digital plat forms in developing 
countries coupled with regulatory reform; in addition to the need to build requisite digital 
infrastructure and to address the digital divide and connectivity. In closing, we would like to stress 
that reaping the full potential of e -commerce requires international cooperation, including by sharing 
good practices and enhance access to technology, as well as inclusivity, to ensure that no one is left 
behind. We associate ourselves with the statement by the African Group.  
3.315.   The representative  of Ecuador  delivered the following statement:  
3.316.   I would like to begin by thanking Ambassador Usha Canabady for her great work in 
facilitating the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the moratorium. The discussion on 
digital industrialization in June was useful and important. For Ecuador, information and 
communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is a key component for e -commerce to thrive, hence 
the focus on improving a ccess to ICT services and digital literacy. It is important for digital tools to 
be accessible, and for fixed and mobile Internet to be accessible via fixed or mobile networks. 
Regulations to improve access in rural areas, for example, are therefore key to ols for expanding the 
benefits of e -commerce. Given the growing number of electronic payments and e -commerce 
transactions by MSMEs, my country's primary need is to have a reliable logistical network and digital 
platforms that keep them connected with their  local and cross -border clients. Progress should be 
made in this area based on recently implemented regulations, such as the Law on Personal Data 
Protection and the Fintech Law, and our efforts to improve consumer protection policies.  
3.317.   For Ecuador and othe r Members that have taken the floor, digital trade contributes and can 
contribute further still to the Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason, the international 
community must not forget that the digital divide continues to be a real obstacle and o ne that is 
difficult to overcome; it deprives us of opportunities to promote sustainable development. The digital 
divide prevents many states and millions of people from benefiting from the opportunities offered 
by the digital world. Digital transformation , connectivity and the financial inclusion it facilitates, as 
well as digital support for the empowerment of women and small and medium -sized enterprises, are 
vital for the comprehensive and inclusive development of trade and economic activity in Ecuador 
and other developing countries. In our view, the moratorium on customs duties serves the interests 
of developing Members by boosting trade, which benefits these Members , their societies and the 
international trading system in general. Ecuador has already ex pressed this position on other 
occasions, with arguments that I am not going to repeat since they are well known. For my country, WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  the moratorium has shown itself to be an appropriate tool to help incentivize innovation and promote 
digitalization in general , and to exploit and increase economic opportunities through predictable, 
reliable and inclusive e -commerce.  
3.318.   The representative of Costa Rica  delivered the following statement:  
3.319.   I would first like to thank Ambassador Dwarka ‑Canabady for her report as Facili tator. Costa 
Rica is pleased with the work we are undertaking under her leadership and, in particular, the active 
participation of Members. Both the workshop in early June with International Organization s and the 
Dedicated Session on the moratorium on tari ffs on e ‑commerce last week have been valuable 
opportunities to exchange experiences and have data and evidence ‑based discussions on the issues 
included under the work programme. Costa Rica believes that it is essential to maintain the 
moratorium and make it permanent once and for all. Since the first decision on the moratorium, 
Costa Rica has supported a permanent commitment not to impose tariffs on e ‑commerce. Costa 
Rica's successful participation in trade in microprocessors and electronic products and me dical 
devices with high value ‑added information technology and telecommunications components, and its 
successful participation in information technology services and corporate back ‑office services where 
electronic transmissions are essential, has shown us that the moratorium has contributed to these 
gains and to the substantial reduction of the digital divide for Costa Rica. For this reason, together 
with other Members, we contributed to the discussion on the moratorium with document 
WT/GC/W/889  that we tabled in the Dedicated Session on 18 July, where we presented data and 
evidence on the benefits of the moratorium for all WTO Members, and in particular developing 
Members like ours, as well as small and medium ‑sized enterprises that wis h to participate in 
international trade and created an environment that favours the participation of women 
entrepreneurs in international trade.  
3.320.   Costa Rica, like many other developing countries, has made commitments not to impose 
tariffs on e ‑commerce in its free trade agreements, and we have this provision with significant 
trading partners (such as the United States, the European Union, EFTA members, Mexico, Colombia 
and Singapore). Without the moratorium, our exporters would face higher trade costs, disc rimination 
and more bureaucracy, which would make them less competitive, render their internationalization 
difficult and affect the competitiveness of companies that have invested in Costa Rica. The purported 
loss of tax revenue due to the moratorium is ei ther non ‑existent or completely marginal to the 
benefits of the existence of the moratorium. Its non ‑existence would affect the growth prospects of 
economies globally, thereby reducing tax collection through other channels, such as value added tax 
or incom e tax. In fact, studies such as the OECD (2019)24 or the ECIPE (2019)25 showed that this 
discussion cannot be limited to the potential loss of tax revenues, but that the impact of the 
moratorium on competitiveness, economic growth and development must be t aken into account. 
Imposing tariffs on electronic commerce would mean higher prices and lower consumption, which in 
turn affects GDP growth and reduces tax revenues. We believe that freer e ‑commerce and the 
 
24 Footnote reproduced as provided in the statement sent by the delegation for inclusion in the records: 
Andrenelli and López González (2019).Electronic transmissions and international trade - shedding new li ght on 
the moratorium debate., OECD Trade Policy Papers, No. 233, OECD Publishing, Paris: "The debate about whether 
or not to extend the WTO Moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions has, to date, 
narrowly focused on its potential c ustoms revenue implications. This paper sets out to broaden and deepen this 
debate. First, by putting current estimates of the customs revenue implications into perspective, showing that 
potential losses tend to be low relative to overall government revenu e. Second, by deepening the debate on the 
cost of tariffs, arguing that these are unstable sources of revenue, that they are associated with lower output 
and productivity and that their burden falls mainly on domestic consumers, not foreign firms. Third, b y 
broadening the debate to consider the benefits associated with electronic transmissions, including growing 
consumer welfare and export competitiveness. The paper argues that, overall, the revenue implications of the 
Moratorium are likely to be relatively  small and that its lapse would come at the expense of wider gains in the 
economy."    
25 Footnote reproduced as provided in the statement sent by the delegation for inclusion in the records:  
Hosuk -Lee Makiyama, Director of ECIPE (European Centre for Intern ational Political Economy) and Fellow of 
London School of Economics and Badri Narayanan, PhD, Associate Professor at University of Washington, 
Consultant at McKinsey Global Institute, UN ESCWA, FAO, Commonwealth Secretariat and GTAP Research Centre. 
"The E conomic Losses from Ending the WTO Moratorium on Electronic Transmissions". ECIPE Policy Brief No 
3/2019. "Our research shows that if countries ceased to uphold the moratorium and levied import duties on 
digital goods and services, they would suffer negati ve economic con - sequences in the form of higher prices and 
reduced consumption, which would in turn slow GDP growth and shrink tax revenues."    WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  decision to make the moratorium permanent would h elp developing countries, such as my own, to 
remain competitive in the digital economy, to further reduce the digital divide, to benefit from the 
transfer of technology and to be part of high value ‑added GVCs.  
3.321.   Lastly, the moratorium relates only to custom s duties, not other regulations, nor does it 
prevent the application of internal taxes, such as value added tax (VAT). In the absence of global 
rules on the digital economy, developing countries already have considerable policy space and 
regulatory autonom y. That autonomy will not be extended if the moratorium lapses. Neither will it 
reduce the digital divide that affects many developing countries, as well as the regions of our 
countries. On the contrary, it would only impose greater burdens on the developm ent of e‑commerce.  
3.322.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
3.323.   At the outset, Indonesia would like to thank the Facilitator of the Dedicated Discussion on 
E-Commerce, for her work in reinvigorating the Work Programme on E -Commerce. F rom these 
discussions, clearly it is imperative to address e -commerce development issues and create a 
balanced and inclusive framework that benefits all Members. It is vital to recognize that not all 
nations have fully benefited from the digital revolution . Disparities unfortunately still persist between 
developed and developing as well as LDC Members. Therefore, Indonesia firmly believes that the 
Work Programme must address development issues as its central element. We advocate for 
measures that will promo te digital inclusion, capacity -building, and technology transfer to enable all 
countries to harness the potential of e -commerce. We also view it is crucial to foster an enabling 
environment that supports the growth of MSMEs in the digital sphere, as they p lay a pivotal role in 
driving economic development and creating employment opportunities. Hence, we support the 
African Group's communication on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and agree that a 
development -oriented and inclusive approach to e -commerce is essential to ensure that the benefits 
of e-commerce are shared more widely.  
3.324.   With regard to the moratorium issue, we remain convinced that it is time to re -evaluate its 
relevance in the current digital landscape. Indeed, the digital economy has ev olved significantly 
since the imposition of the moratorium, and it is crucial to strike a balance between fostering e -
commerce growth and ensuring that Members can exercise their legitimate fiscal policy tools to 
supporting the developmental needs in devel oping countries and LDCs in particular. To this end, 
Indonesia has endeavoured to contribute to the discussion, by presenting our views on the issue of 
customs duties on electronic transmissions and on Provisions for the Import of Digital Goods in 
Indonesi a by Electronic Transmission, at the last two meetings on the moratorium. On that note, we 
firmly believe that all WTO Members will collectively work to reach a conclusive decision on the 
termination of the moratorium on import duties on electronic transmi ssions at the upcoming MC13.  
3.325.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
3.326.   I wish to reiterate my support for the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on 
electronic transmissions and the reinvigoration of the 1998 Work Program me on electronic 
commerce. We have historically supported this extension and hope that we are able to agree on one 
at MC13, given its importance for ensuring predictability in the global economy, especially for 
MSMEs. Paraguay will follow the specific deba tes and workshops to be held in the context of the 
1998 Work Programme with interest, particularly as regards the analysis of the scope and impact of 
the moratorium and the development dimension, with a view to channelling the benefits of the digital 
econo my for all Members. Paraguay is particularly interested in discussing the digital divide; 
deepening understanding of the impacts of the moratorium and the obstacles for MSMEs; and 
sharing experiences concerning the establishment and application of internal  non-discriminatory 
taxes that are consistent with WTO rules on electronic transmissions and emerging digital services. 
Moreover, in Paraguay's view, it is crucial to continue discussing the importance of a solid regulatory 
framework that builds trust in e lectronic transactions and facilitates a digital ecosystem that 
promotes e commerce.  
3.327.   The representative of Tanzania  delivered the following statement:  
3.328.   I would like to align myself with the statement of the LDC Group. I will start by commending 
H.E Usha Dwa rka-Canabady, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mauritius, for having WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  ably facilitated a number of consultative meetings. My delegation has participated in those 
consultations and expressed its views accordingly, particularly on the e -commerce mor atorium. Last 
week we welcomed the experience sharing and thematic discussions, which we found quite useful, 
particularly the presentation made by Indonesia regarding steps being undertaken by its 
Government to regulate and monitor imports of e -transmittab le goods. At some point, the concept 
of tracking e -transmittable goods was being portrayed as would be costly and impossible to 
implement. However, from the presentation it was proven to be the contrary. My delegation remains 
convinced that data capture fo r e-transmittable goods is critically an important exercise that need 
to be reinforced not only for revenue collection but also to better understand the trading dynamics 
of e-transmittable products. By doing so, the Government will be in a better position to make 
appropriate, effective and well -informed policies. With the current exponential growth of e -
commerce and the digital economy, to continue with the moratorium is to deprive developing 
countries and LDCs of expanding their revenue collection base and  developing their e -commerce 
sector. That said, my delegation is looking forward to a continued discussion on this matter towards 
MC13. We will remain engaged in the negotiations seeking a balanced and harmonious solution.  
3.329.   The representative of Chile delivered the following statement:  
3.330.   Chile appreciates the work carried out under the Work Programme on electronic commerce, 
especially considering the Dedicated Discussions in 2023.  Our country advocates keeping the 
moratorium on customs duties on electronic tr ansmissions in place. From our point of view, it helps 
digital trade grow and benefits our citizens.  We understand the concerns of some Members regarding 
the loss of tax revenue as a result of not imposing these duties. However, the benefits for exporting 
businesses, in particular SMEs, outweigh such concerns.  In this context, we are concerned about the 
impact that the non ‑renewal of the moratorium may have on businesses, such as excessive price 
increases to meet tax obligations or the need to implement for ced localization measures in order to 
avoid cross ‑border trade of digital products. The moratorium is one of the cornerstones of digital 
trade, which has benefited and will continue to benefit SMEs, especially those that have less access 
to traditional exp orts. in this regard, we will continue to promote the moratorium in our trade practice 
(at the next Senior Officials Meeting planned for October, for example) and we hope that it can 
become a cross ‑cutting WTO decision.  
3.331.   The representative of  Bangladesh  delivered the following statement:  
3.332.   Bangladesh aligns with the statement by the LDCs. Our delegation thanks H.E. Ambassador 
Usha, the Facilitator for E -Commerce Work Programme for the commendable work and her report. 
Bangladesh welcomes the Thema tic Sessions, including the focused discussions on e -commerce 
moratorium. This is crucial to understand the impacts of this moratorium, including from the 
perspectives of revenue loss or revenue gain in developing countries. In addition, any discussion on 
e-commerce Work Programme must include development as the central element, with a view to 
ensuring that the developing countries and LDCs accrue benefit from e -Commerce. We also thank 
the Secretariat for the compilation of the submissions by Members on the  e-Commerce work -
program contained in RD/GC/24/Rev.1 . We also propose the Secretariat prepare an information note 
on the development dimension of the works in the relevant WTO bodies since the establishment of 
the e -commerce work program in 1998. Bang ladesh thanks India for providing updates on the e -
commerce issues. We thank the African Group for presentation  of the item on the reinvigoration of 
e-commerce Work Programme ( WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1  ). Bangladesh welcomes the proposal that the 
review of the e -commerce Work Programme should be maintained as a standing agenda item in the 
GC and the other relevant WTO bodies. Our delegation looks forward to engaging constructively with 
Members on this issue.  
3.333.   The representative of Chinese Taipei  deliver ed the following statement:  
3.334.   We thank Ambassador Usha Canabady for her effort to facilitate the discussions of the Work 
Programme. We are pleased that the discussions have been constructive. We are happy to see that 
the reinvigoration of Work Programme on e -commence is going well and hope that the discussion 
will lead to concrete results with the goal of substantially reducing the digital divide. About the 
Moratorium, when Members decide the possible extension of Moratorium, it is of high importance to 
consider inputs from academia and private stakeholders, including MSMEs and women 
entrepreneurs. Ultimately, the WTO is to create friendly trading environment for the businesses. We WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  suggest including e -commerce as a topic for the SOM in October to address diffi cult issues, so that 
the e -commerce outcomes can be smoothly harvested at MC13. Our hope is that the WTO can be 
reasonably expected to provide a stable and predictable trade environment for businesses to boost 
and to enhance the general welfare of consumer s. In conclusion, we support the extension of the 
moratorium at MC13 and would like to see the Moratorium being made permanent to ensure business 
certainty. This is to boost digital economy for all , and to avoid disruption of the stable environment 
of the digital economy.  
3.335.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
3.336.   Jamaica aligns itself with the statements by the ACP Group and CARICOM. We thank 
Ambassador Canabady for her report.  Bridging the digital divide is critical in ensuring that the 
benefits of e -commerce are truly inclusive and shared by all. We support the Facilitator 's roadmap 
post summer break. Jamaica is encouraged by the level of engagement on this file. We value the 
sharing of Members ' national experiences and the ideas pre sented in the meeting s. We commend 
the Facilitator for organizing the two-day workshop with international Organization s in June. The 
workshop was useful as it highlighted some of the ongoing work by the different international 
Organization s. It also confir med that e -commerce is multidimensional.  The WTO, therefore, has to 
collaborate with other international Organization s to harness the full potential of e -commerce for 
sustainable development.  In this connection, Jamaica calls for a streamlined roadmap on how the 
WTO will collaborate with relevant Organization s on the road to MC14. It is only through such an 
approach that we will be able to deliver on the development dimension, as requested by o ur 
Ministers.   
3.337.   On the point of the development dimension, Jamaica thanks the African Group for its 
communication contained WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1  which outline some useful perspectives. We support 
the general thrust of the submission.  The WTO should agree a renewal of the Work Programme  on 
e-commerce at MC13, within the context of the outcome of the rich discussions we have had over 
the past few months under the leadership of Ambassador Canabady.  On the moratorium, we noted 
that there is much interest  in this issue. We welcome Members ' engagement during the two 
Dedicated Sessions on the topic. Jamaica fully supports a renewal of the moratorium.  Jamaica, 
however, calls for a process that addresses the concerns raised by some Members. Studies and the 
gathering of empirical evidence would be useful.  Given the limited time left before MC13, we should 
be focused,  and we should redouble our efforts to find a solution to the issues raised. The Senior 
Officials meeting provides an opportunity to narrow such div ergencies, if the meeting is adequately 
structured.  Let us put our minds together so that we do not waste this golden opportunity.  
3.338.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
3.339.   We thank the Facilitator for her report , and we welcome  the thematic sessions she has 
organized and the contribution of Members in these discussions. We also welcome the outline of the 
programme going forward.  We welcome Ambassador Canabady's stewardship of the process and for 
facilitating the engagement among  Members.  As for the moratorium, Ministers agreed on its 
termination and set a clear sunset period for Q1 of 2024. The onus of changing that rests upon 
proponents of the moratorium. My delegation has engaged actively and constructively in related  
discussio ns. At the April Dedicated Discussion on the moratorium, my delegation circulated a set of 
key questions in relation to the stated benefits of the moratorium and requested written responses 
from proponents. No responses have been received. The lack of resp onses will not address the 
reservations of delegations that have made the assessment that the moratorium has run its course.  
3.340.   On the reinvigoration of the WPEC, we believe that, as we approach MC13, we need to ensure 
that the issues of concern to developin g countries are addressed. Importantly, the lack of 
convergence on the scope and definition of the moratorium does not bold well for a decision on the 
moratorium. The extension was already difficult at MC12, and the decision cannot always be seen 
as a "fai t accompli"  without addressing the core developmental issues of concern to developing 
countries. The outcomes on the developmental aspects must be concrete if we are to have any other 
outcome other than the termination as provided for in the MC12 decision. Our call re mains that the 
Work Programme should be a standing item under the General Council and the mandated bodies to 
enable us to make progress. The Facilitator work is under the GC and should be complemented by 
technical discussion on these issues in relevant bod ies and the GC looks at the cross -cutting issues WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  according to the WPEC - and not on the technical aspects that should be discussed by the relevant 
bodies. The General Council should undertake a review of the discussions in the mandated bodies to 
examine pr ogress made in the relevant bodies on the development dimension of the Work 
Programme. Where the developmental dimension of the WPEC is concerned, we fully support the 
statement to be shared by the African Group which articulates our perspective on a devel opment 
approach to the Work Programme in the paper WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1 . We are also working with other 
like-minded groups to further articulate our understanding of the development outcomes we need 
to work towards under the WPEC.  
3.341.   The representativ e of Sri Lanka  delivered the following statement:  
3.342.   We have had several Dedicated Sessions, together with a few Thematic Sessions, under the 
Work programme on Ecommerce under the Facilitator's leadership. If we analyse the interventions 
made by many developing country Members at these dedicated sessions, we  can come to several 
conclusions: First, the global e -commerce landscape has become extremely complex. Second, all 
countries are not on an equal footing to benefit from global e -commerce, mainly due the digital 
divide which encompasses digital infrastructu re and accessibility as well as accessibility to 
complementary services such as international e -payment platforms. Third, business entities in many 
developing countries are still far away from e -commerce readiness, due to host of barriers including 
lack of  trust, lack of infrastructure, language issues, cultural differences, ITC illiteracy etc. Fourth, a 
lot of support needs to be directed to the developing countries to close the digital divide and to help 
them overcome any barriers which prevent them parti cipate in global e -commerce effectively. 
Accordingly, our engagement in the work programme should be development oriented. In this 
context, we support the African Group submission WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1 , which suggested to align 
our work in the Work  Programme around a development agenda. The proposal has identified an 
array of pertinent elements to be incorporated in such a development agenda including: supporting 
digital industrialization; addressing the digital divide; providing policy space to dev elop legal and 
regulatory framework; promoting domestic digital sectors and small digital firms; building national 
and regional digital platforms; preserving critical policy tools; promoting technology transfer and 
equitable access to new technologies; and  sharing good practices in terms of digitally transforming 
economies.  
3.343.   The representative of Hong Kong, China  delivered the following statement:  
3.344.   Hong Kong, China would like to thank Ambassador Canabady for her excellent leadership in 
reinvigorating the Work  Programme on E -Commerce. We would also like to thank the African Group 
for its recent submission on adopting a development and inclusive approach to the Work Programme. 
Hong Kong, China considers that the Dedicated Sessions should remain an appropriate fo rum to 
focus our resources in discussing substantive issues relating to e -commerce. Last but not least, we 
would like to reiterate our commitment to work with Members in the coming months on a permanent 
solution, or at least securing further extension of t he moratorium on customs duties on electronic 
transmissions at MC13.  
3.345.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
3.346.   The European Union welcomes the interest among Members to implement the MC12 Decision 
on e-commerce and in part icular, the intensified engagement we have seen on  the development - 
and digital trade -related issues. We are glad to see the Work Programme truly reinvigorated, 
particularly in line with its development dimension. The Dedicated Discussions on the moratoriu m - 
related issues have also been very useful. The European Union notes the clear support for the 
extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. We have heard 
numerous Members, both developed and developing, arguing that the mor atorium must be 
maintained due to its key importance to development of digital economy and trade. The European 
Union fully shares this view. The extension of the moratorium remains one of the EU's key objectives. 
We stand ready to engage further in the Wor k Programme on this topic with a view of reaching an 
agreement on the extension of the moratorium and the Work Programme at MC13.  
3.347.   We welcome the communication by the African Group regarding the development approach 
to the Work Programme in order to ensure  inclusivity and broaden the benefits of e -commerce, 
especially to developing countries. This highlights the need for further work on many other topics WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  already broached in Work Programme meetings. In this relation, we do not see the need to have the 
Work P rogramme as a standing item in the GC agenda; it can be raised whenever there are news or 
progress to report. We also believe that we should bring together relevant stakeholders into our 
discussions, including businesses and academia. Let me use this oppor tunity to thank the Mauritius' 
Ambassador for her efforts in facilitating our Work Programme discussions. We look forward to 
working with all the Members in identifying a way forward on both the Work Programme and the 
multilateral e -commerce moratorium ahe ad of MC13.  
3.348.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
3.349.   Switzerland thanks Ambassador Dwarka ‑Canabady for her report and her excellent 
facilitation. The Thematic Sessions were very informative, and Switzerland appreciates the quali ty 
of the discussions that took place. In terms of process, we support the way forward proposed by the 
Facilitator. We thank the African Group for their recent paper. It should be noted that most of the 
issues raised in this paper have been discussed in th e past few weeks. Switzerland looks forward to 
continuing to explore the matter with other Members. However, we remain of the view that 
Dedicated Sessions are the most appropriate forum to discuss fund issues. Furthermore, we see no 
added value in creating  a standing item on the agenda of the General Council or other bodies.  
3.350.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
3.351.   China thanks Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady for her efforts in facilitating the e -
commerce Dedicated Discussions. Our tha nks also go to the African Group for their proposal 
WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1 . China agrees with the proposal that General Council should play a central role 
in the whole process. China supports the suggestion of setting the Work Program as a standing item 
in relevant bodies. Therefore, we suggest the coordination among CTG, CTS, TRIPS Council, CTD 
and the Dedicated Discussions should be enhanced to avoid duplication of work. With Members' 
intensified engagement in the development -oriented e -commerce De dicated Discussions during the 
first half of 2023, China is pleased to see that the MC12 Ministerial Decision has been faithfully 
implemented, particularly in line with the development dimension. Meanwhile, we recognize the 
value of the moratorium Dedicate d Discussions and the workshop in early June, which helped us 
better understand its implications. China supports extending the moratorium again, and we 
encourage all Members to work in a constructive and cooperative manner with a view to delivering 
a posit ive MC13 outcome, including continuing the moratorium. China notes that the WTO 
Secretariat is working on a joint study regarding digital trade with other international Organizations, 
and the moratorium is one of the key issues in this study. China support s this kind of study. China 
hopes that the analysis would be conducted in a neutral and objective way so as to find common 
grounds to facilitate further discussions and build consensus.  
3.352.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following statement:  
3.353.   Firstly, I would like to express our appreciation to Ambassador Usha Chandnee Dwarka -
Canabady for her continuing dedication in facilitating that Dedicated Session  to reinvigorate the work 
program as mandated by the MC12.  We have seen that, under her stewardship for the discussions 
in the past months, Members have exchanged views constructively and we have found that 
interactive engagement is very useful. Thailand also had participants from the capital during the 
workshop with relevant intergovernmental Organizations in June and they were very happy with the 
level of engagement. Also, Thailand would like to express our thanks to the African Group for 
reintroducing that paper ( WT/GC/W/875/Rev.1  ). We do share the  views contained in the paper 
particularly that development dimension is vital to the growth and sustainability of e -commerce and 
enabling businesses and individuals to harness the full potential of online -commerce and contribute 
to overall economic progre ss. But at the same time, Thailand recognizes that each country has 
specific contexts taken into account of the different stages economic, social, regulatory development, 
which might require different policy approaches and flexibility to address unique cha llenges and 
capitalize the benefits of e -commerce. We have taken note that many issues that have been 
suggested in the paper being undertaken by the work programme. Our suggestion is that the 
continued discussion under Ambassador Canabady leadership should  focus on policy space and 
digital development which, in our view, is a broad concept and cross -cutting issue. We also welcome 
participation of international Organization and other stakeholders where appropriate. Lastly, on the 
moratorium, we hope that thi s issue will be concluded before the MC13.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.354.   The representative of Malawi  delivered the following statement:  
3.355.   We aligned ourselves with the statements delivered by the African Group, ACP and the LDC 
Group. Let me start by expressing my appreciation for the re ports from various WTO Bodies and the 
Facilitator on the e -commerce Work Programme and Moratorium on the progress which has been 
made following our MC12 mandate and our existing mandate as set out in WT/L/274 . Our Ministers 
emphasized that the work under the Work  Programme on Electronic Commerce should be 
reinvigorated in line with its development dimension. This approach will close the digital divide, build 
productive capacities, promote transfer of technology and ensure that e -commerce will be used as 
a catalyst  for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. Given the growth being 
experienced in e -commerce globally, all obstacles to leveraging the digital transformation need to 
be addressed, the WTO is rightly placed to ensure Members harness the full  potential of the digital 
economy. We thank India and South Africa for their submission and their active role on this file. We 
stand ready to continue with constructive engagement with Members on this very important topic.  
3.356.   The representative of Nicaragua  delivered the following statement:  
3.357.   Nicaragua has undertaken to develop the e -commerce sector to help SMEs and 
entrepreneurs, and to facilitate the integration of Nicaraguan companies into the digital economy. 
In this regard, we commend the progress made in the discussions on the Work Programme on 
Electronic Commerce, and thank and congratulate the Ambassador of Mauritius to the WTO for her 
work. We can see from the discussions that Members share various points of interest, including the 
importance of online consumer protection, the focus on the digital divide, and the sector's legal and 
regulatory framework. We are well aware of the benefits that the moratorium on customs duties on 
electronic transmissions brings for Members in digitalizing the economy and in tegrating SMEs into 
global trade. Numerous independent studies have demonstrated that maintaining the WTO's 
moratorium on digital customs duties fosters certainty and predictability, both for the domestic 
digital economy and for global production networks and supply chains, and that collecting customs 
duties on every digital transaction would hinder the flow of information and data through software, 
digital content and any other Internet -based process, impacting economic output, as well as 
countries' produc tivity and innovation levels.  
3.358.   The C ovid-19 pandemic contributed to the emergence and proliferation of digital platforms 
across the different sectors of the global economy, helping to bring down transaction costs. This is 
a situation that companies, primari ly SMEs, in my country are now making use of. Like other WTO 
Members, Nicaragua has, at the bilateral level, committed to not imposing customs duties on 
electronic transmissions. We recognize that e -commerce can drive economic growth and 
opportunities, and  that it is important to have regulations that build the trust of online consumers 
and also prevent unnecessary obstacles to the use and development of e -commerce. Not having a 
moratorium could mean that customs duties are imposed, which would lead to even  more 
fragmentation and, in turn, create market inefficiencies and trade diversion, and deepen the digital 
divide. It is also worth considering that some Members do not have an adequate legal framework to 
support a system for collecting customs duties on e lectronic transmissions. To sum up, Nicaragua 
supports the extension of the moratorium in line with the previously mentioned criteria.  
3.359.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
3.360.   First, let me thank Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady for facilitating important work.  We 
welcomed the opportunity to provide our contribution to the discussions this year, including on the 
importance of the moratorium.  The most concrete step that WTO Members could take to foster a 
robust digital econom y is to extend the moratorium. Our views on this are well known.   
3.361.   We thank the African Group for their contribution to this discussion. The United States 
remains open to further discussions in the Work Program on the moratorium and other e -commerce 
issues in advance of MC13.  However, as we have explained previously in General Council meetings, 
we do not see a need to establish any new permanent agenda items for the General Council or in 
the sub -bodies. In line with Members ' WTO reform goals, it is important  that discussions in WTO 
bodies be guided by specific detailed proposals that allow Members to adequately prepare to 
contribute. A standing agenda item can create stagnation and bloated agendas , and we should all 
strive to avoid this.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.362.   The representative o f the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
3.363.   We want to thank the excellent work of the Facilitator, Ambassador Canabady, to revitalise 
discussions under the E -Commerce Work Programme. The active engagement by Members, including 
by Ambassadors, and the number of written contributions - including from the UK - demonstrates 
that we are having a constructive discussion on the Work Programme. As Canada says, the Work 
Programme has been reinvigorated. Given this discussion, and as you said, we do ques tion the value 
of repeating it here at the GC. But given we are discussing it, we just wanted to echo the concerns 
of the global business community about not renewing the customs duties moratorium. We have 
heard broad support from Members for the recent wo rkshop with international Organizations, and 
the UK would agree. We would encourage the Facilitator to build on this success and invite 
businesses, in particular MSMEs from developing countries, to an informal meeting in the autumn to 
hear directly from th em why this matters. You asked us to only highlight new issues, so we just 
wanted to highlight to the General Council our communication  on the e -commerce moratorium. As 
India recognised, and Australia outlined, this communication provided answers to questi ons from 
some Members on the scope, definition and impact of the moratorium. It also provides sound 
evidence on the moratorium's benefits, as well as on the negative impact of it not being renewed. 
So, we would agree with Trinidad and Tobago and others in saying that we should reach agreement 
on the moratorium ahead of MC13 and avoid taking the rulebook of the WTO back to the 1990s . 
3.364.   The representative of Malaysia  delivered the following statement:  
3.365.   Malaysia views the Dedicated Sessions as very useful, and they have stimulated constructive 
discussions among Members. We would like to express our appreciation to Ambassador Usha 
Canabady, for facilitating these important tasks, as she reflected in her report. Malaysia is of the 
view that the e -commerce Work Pro gramme is a good example, where continuous engagements and 
experience sharing could bridge the gaps between Members, which in a long run will definitely reduce 
the digital divide; and help us to understand the unique development needs of developing Members . 
On the moratorium of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmission that will expire by 
31 March 2024, we believe this is one of the priority issues that should be discussed and 'dramatized' 
by the Senior Officials in October - for a clear politi cal guidance, as we want to ensure our Ministers 
could have a meaningful time and a productive meeting in Abu Dhabi.  
3.366.   The representative of the Republic of Korea  delivered the following statement26: 
3.367.   Korea appreciates Ambassador Canabady for her efforts, an d we are pleased to see the Work 
Programme is reinvigorated under her leadership. The monthly discussions, including the most 
recent one on the e -Commerce moratorium, have been genuinely useful to deepen our 
understanding of Members' positions and the real ity they face. Korea also co -sponsored the recent 
paper on the Moratorium, which, we believe, has provided a clear landscape and will help end some 
of arguments for the sake of argument. Further, we believe that business community's first -hand 
experiences can inspire and benefit our discussions on moratorium. Thus, in line with the spirit of 
WTO Reform, we support the idea of having further engagement with the private sector, in formal 
or informal setting. Smooth extension of e -Commerce moratorium before or  at MC13 will signal the 
beginning of genuinely reformative WTO.  
3.368.   We particularly appreciate developing countries' active participation and contribution to the 
reinvigoration of the e -Commerce Work Programme. We also thank the African Group for its 
submissi on of two communications to the GC. Given the current momentum in the Work Programme 
discussion, Korea reiterates its position that we should be more prudent in having the agenda as a 
standing item in the General Council. By refraining from duplicating the  agenda across meetings, we 
believe Members can focus their efforts and ensure constructive progress.  
3.369.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
3.370.   Brazil would like to convey our appreciation to Ambassador Dwarka -Canabady of Mauritius 
for her report and for her leadership and efforts as a Facilitator of the dedicated discussions on e -
 
26 As requested by the delegation, the longer version of the statement, which was submitted after the 
meeting, has been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  commerce under the General Council. We would also like to thank Members for their submissions 
and presentations, particularly during the recent T hematic Sessions on digital industrialization and 
the moratorium on customs duties. These discussions allowed Members to share experiences and 
foster mutual understanding on different aspects related to E -Commerce.  Brazil reiterates its 
commitment to the i mplementation of the MC12 mandate to reinvigorate the Work Programme on 
E-Commerce in line with its development dimension and looks forward to engaging in future 
Dedicated Discussions on transfer of technology related to digital trade and on possible outco mes at 
MC13.  
3.371.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
3.372.   I would just like to thank all the participants who have taken floor in this discussion and 
would like to reiterate that this agenda should be the standing agenda because it gives  an 
opportunity and hope that, sometime, we will have clarity on the scope and definition of the 
electronic transmission. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank South Africa in particular 
and the African Group on their paper WT/GC/W/875  and to  remind us that the original mandate of 
the Work Programme on e -commerce should be met in its totality. Certainly we will have opportunity 
in the subsequent agenda to discuss submission of paper WT/GC/W/833  of African Group as well as 
WT/GC/W/888  which is relating to Working Group on trade and transfer of technology and 
highlighting the importance of transfer of technology in the context of Work Programme on e -
commerce.  
3.373.   The representative of Cambodi a provided  the following statement27: 
3.374.   My delegation would like to place our statement delivered at the last GC meeting on record. 
We do appreciate the progressive report made by H.E. Ms Usha Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius), and 
the last Structured Discussion o n E-Commerce. We need to ascertain that the LDCs can benefit from 
e-commerce by collectively address hard and soft challenges face by the LDCs and to speed up the 
LDCs' readiness to engage in and benefit from e -commerce such as in the areas of: ICT infrast ructure 
and services; Trade logistics and trade facilitation; Payment solutions; Legal and regulatory 
frameworks; e -commerce skills development; and access to financing. In conclusion, we align 
ourselves with the LDC's statement.  
3.375.   The General Council took n ote of the report of the Facilitator and of the statements.  
C. MC12 - PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
– DURATION OF EXTENDED DEADLINE28 
3.376.   The Chairperson  recalled that, at MC12, Ministers decided that "No later than six months  
from the date of this Decision, Members will decide on its extension to cover the production and 
supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and therapeutics." She further recalled that at the General Council 
meeting in March, a common understanding had emerged - namel y: the issue of the duration of the 
deadline would remain on the General Council agenda; that Members would provide an update on 
where they stood on their internal processes; and that substantive discussions would continue in the 
TRIPS Council. She underst ood that, in the TRIPS Council, Members had continued their discussions 
on the substance of paragraph 8 of the TRIPS Decision in a series of informal consultations organized 
by the Chairperson, at an informal open -ended meeting on this topic on 8 June, as well as at the 
formal TRIPS Council meetings. At its last meeting in June, the TRIPS Council had agreed to hold an 
Informal Thematic Session for External Stakeholder Input, which was scheduled for 28 September. 
The item would again be taken up at the next formal TRIPS Council meeting in October. She also 
noted that the Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement ( WT/MIN(22)/30  – WT/L/1141 )  was 
listed under item 13.A. ("Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement"). She 
said that  in the interest of time, and to avoid any unnecessary duplication, any delegations wishing 
to intervene with respect to the review of the Decision might wish to do it under the current item.  
 
27 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
28 WT/L/1141 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.377.   The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.378.   Our Group remains disappointed that WTO Members missed the deadline of 17 December  
2022 which was set by Ministers during MC12 to conclude negotiations on the extension of the MC12 
TRIPS decision to cover the production and supply of diagnostics and therapeutics. This clearly 
indicates the lack of commitment of WTO to adhere to the promises and directives of Ministers. The 
failure of this Organization to timely address critical issues such as this, impacts negatively on o ther 
areas of WTO work. Despite the increasing population immunity from vaccination and infection, the 
virus is still mutating, and the risk of new variants remains. In addition, the protracted discussion 
on response to Covid -19 pandemic diminishes the val ue of the contribution of WTO to the global 
efforts to address the pandemic holistically. The longer it takes to deliver on the extension of the 
MC12 TRIPS decision to cover production and supply of diagnostics and therapeutics, the more the 
WTO loses cred ibility. A solution on vaccines only can never be a holistic solution to addressing 
concentration of production on key medical tools for the pandemic. The African Group showed great 
flexibility in agreeing to the extension of six months to continue negotia tions. This was done in good 
faith to accommodate the appeal from some Members who asked for domestic consultations. The 
intention was never to allow a handful of delegations to delay delivering on the Ministerial mandate. 
In our view, the extension of the  MC12 decision is unfinished business from MC12 and it should not 
be linked with other issues nor MC13 processes. The thematic workshop being arranged by the 
Secretariat under the leadership of the TRIPS Chair is welcome. We therefore call on the membershi p 
to work collectively to finally deliver on the long overdue MC12 Ministerial mandate at the October 
Senior Officials Meeting (SOM).  
3.379.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.380.   As a co -sponsor of the draf t Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement, we hope that 
Members will constructively engage in the spirit of Ministerial Decision WT/L/1141  in order to reach 
consensus to extend the decision to cover the production and supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and 
therapeutics.  
3.381.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
3.382.   Paraguay remains fully committed to the discussion on paragraph 8 of the Ministerial 
Decision on the TRIPS Agreement. We urge Members to reach a consensus on this issue as soon as 
possible. As net importers of medical products with a limited local production capacity, it is important 
for us to have an adequate and transparent international supply of vaccines, therapeutics and 
diagnostics should a pandemic or health crisis arise. Par aguay will closely follow the discussions in 
the TRIPS Council and will work constructively with Members to reach a negotiated solution, bearing 
in mind the key interests of public health and the general wellbeing of our peoples.  
3.383.   The representative of Tanzania delivered the following statement:  
3.384.   I would like to align myself with the statement delivered by South Africa on behalf of the co -
sponsors and the statement by the African Group. Briefly, I would like to register our disappointment 
with the  unsatisfact ory progress in this lifesaving matter. I want to urge Members to consider with 
urgency the extension of the MC12 TRIPS decision to cover the production and supply of Covid -19 
diagnostics and therapies. Doing so, will ensure an affordable and equitable sup ply of therapeutics 
and diagnostics, especially in developing countries and LDCs which have continued to face high 
prices on these products even when are purchased under Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) arrangement.  
3.385.   The representative of Maldives  delivered the following statement:  
3.386.   The Maldives would like to thank the Chair of the TRIPS Council for the update provided 
today and for his continuous engagement with members of the WTO to find a way forward for the 
MC12 Ministerial Decision on TRIPS Agreement. Even th ough WHO has now ended Covid -19 public 
health emergency, the WHO Covid -19 epidemiological updates show that nearly 836,000 new cases 
and over 4500 deaths were reported in the last month. It also states that these numbers may 
underestimate the true number o f global infections due to reduction in testing and delays in reporting WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  from many countries. We must be vigilant as variants of the virus that can evade existing Covid -19 
countermeasures remains a threat. Therefore, we believe that we must redouble our eff orts and 
continue with greater urgency, to achieve a results -oriented outcome with regard to the extension 
of the waiver to cover therapeutics and diagnostics in the TRIPS Council and the General Council. 
The Maldives remains committed to do its part in as sisting to provide universal, equitable access to 
Covid -19 vaccines, including therapeutics and diagnostics. We are deeply concerned that the 
deliberations in WTO have taken too long to provide credible contribution in our fight against the 
pandemic. The p ace of these discussions has outlined the importance of a trigger ready mechanism 
to deal with future pandemics. The extension of the MC12 TRIPS decision to therapeutics and 
diagnostics should be considered a development issue. We urge all countries to sho w solidarity and 
to engage in good faith with all stakeholders in order for the WTO to significantly contribute to the 
global efforts to contain the spread of Covid -19 and prevent future pandemics.  
3.387.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following stat ement:  
3.388.   We wish to associate ourselves with the statement delivered on behalf of the 65 co -sponsors. 
The current TRIPS Waiver Decision of June 2022 is of limited scope as it covers only vaccines. We 
recall that paragraph  8 of the Ministerial Decision on the  TRIPS Agreement provides that no later 
than six months from the date of the Decision, Members will decide on its extension to cover the 
production and supply of Covid -19 therapeutics  and diagnostics. We are disappointed that 
substantive text -based negotia tions have not commenced despite the consensus achieved during 
the extension of the deadline for a decision to be made by members. We call on Members to continue 
their constructive engagements with requisite political will to enable us to extend the decision to 
cover the production and supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and therapeutics as soon as possible. This 
would foster the ramping up of production and ensure timely access to these lifesaving products by 
developing countries.  
3.389.   The representative of Bangladesh  delivered the following statement:  
3.390.   Regarding paragraph 8 of the Ministerial decision on TRIPS Waiver, Bangladesh aligns with 
the statement to be delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of South Africa on behalf of the co -
sponsors of 669/Rev.1  and the statement by the LDC Group. We are disappointed that Members 
could not agree within  the deadline to follow the good gesture of the Ministers. We cannot ignore 
the threat of the future pandemics and the necessity of affordable and timely access to diagnostics 
and therapeutics. Bangladesh welcomes the forthcoming thematic workshop to be organised under 
the leadership of the TRIPS Council Chairperson in September 2023. The workshop may help bring 
some practical insights to support  our decision in this regard. Bangladesh supports that the MC12 
decision on TRIPS Waiver should be extended to cover therapeutics and diagnostic, as soon as 
possible.  
3.391.   The representative of Colombia  delivered the following statement:  
3.392.   Colombia supports the various points discussed today regarding the waiver. We are in favour 
of extending the period to decide on the extension to diagnostics and therapeutics, the extension to 
diagnostics and therapeutics, and maintaining the original waiver on vaccines as ment ioned at the 
end of the agenda. In general terms, Colombia has stated in various forums that voluntary licensing 
mechanisms, though ideal, are not an adequate global response. They are not a silver bullet, as was 
said in a recent and very judicious paper b y the United Kingdom. Alternatives such as the waiver (or 
delinking, which is currently being discussed in the US Congress) are therefore needed. Colombia 
supports a conversation that is aligned with the discussions that are taking place at the WHO in 
relation to the pandemic treaty. In the end, we need to have an "open trigger", which allows the 
waiver to come into operation immediately in the face of any new pandemic, without us wasting 
extremely valuable time in new negotiations. A simple proposal would be to reproduce the waiver at 
which we arrived after years of discussions, but tied to the declaration of a pandemic or a public 
health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the WHO, rather than to COVID -19. We could 
take this decision at MC13 or e ven before, in anticipation of a future public health problem, rather 
than in the middle of one. This would save lives, spare us lengthy discussions and align with the 
ongoing discussions on the pandemic treaty.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.393.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered th e following statement:  
3.394.   Indonesia would like to align ourselves with the statement of South Africa on behalf of the 
co-sponsors.  When we are talking about development as a cross -cutting issue in WTO, we cannot 
leave behind the remaining MC12 mandate. This i ncludes ensuring that all countries, regardless their 
development status, can provide their citizens with quality, affordable and accessible healthcare, 
including in this regard, Covid -19 countermeasures. Concluding this remaining issue will not only 
restore the credibility of WTO as an institution that cater to public and common goods, but also, as 
the DG stated during the TNC meeting, align the WTO works with the works done by WHO through 
the pandemic treaty. On this note, we need to ask ourselves this qu estion "Will the WTO be known 
as an institution that once again fails to deliver when the pandemic strikes back?" Certainly,  we 
should not be complacent and only let time to tell us the answer. The time to act is now. Indonesia 
also welcomes the idea that the senior official meeting can be an opportune time to finish what we 
have started, which is the long overdue Decision on extension of Ministerial Decision on TRIPS to 
cover therapeutics and diagnostics.  
3.395.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the follo wing statement:  
3.396.   The Argentine Republic supports the extension of the Decision on C ovid‑19 vaccines to 
diagnostics and therapeutics. The pandemic revealed inequalities in access to medical goods – not 
only vaccines, but also goods for the diagnosis and trea tment of C ovid‑19. We regret that the 
decisions could not be taken before the deadline initially established under paragraph 8 of the 
Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement. Discussions have in fact been ongoing for three years 
and the Decision of the  12th Ministerial Conference merely postponed the deadline. We also regret 
that, more than a year after the Decision was adopted, there is still no consensus between Members 
on whether to extend the deadline that expired in December. We wish to reiterate h ow important it 
is for our delegation in particular, and developing countries in general, to extend the Decision of the 
TRIPS Agreement of June 2022 to diagnostics and therapeutics, in accordance with the paragraph 8 
mandate.  
3.397.   The representative of South Af rica delivered the following statement:  
3.398.   On behalf of the 65 co -sponsors, the extension of the MC12 TRIPS decision to therapeutics 
and diagnostics is a development issue and is unfinished business which was put on a fast track for 
post-MC12 deliverables and  remains urgent . Under paragraph 8 of the MC12 TRIPS Decision on the 
TRIPS Agreement , Members had agreed to make a decision before 17 December 2022 on the 
extension of this decision to cover the production and supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and 
therapeutics. The continued failure of this institution to conclude this issue contributes to t he lack of 
credibility on the WTO response to the pandemic. We urge Members to join consensus to extend this 
decision to provide greater scope to members to diversify production of these critical products. We 
reiterate that the flexibility entailed in the MC12 decision is very limited. We cannot go to MC13 with 
this decision still outstanding. We want to emphasise that the lack of delivery on this issue does not 
bode well for future compromises by developing countries, even worse on an issue that relates to  
saving lives. The world is talking about building resilience towards preparedness for future 
pandemics, diversification of production and addressing concentration of production, especially in 
regions that have very limited capacities is key.  
3.399.   While the de claration of an end to the public health emergency of international concern 
related to Covid -19 is a positive step, it is important to recognize that the pandemic is not over as 
a global health threat. Despite the increasing population immunity from vaccin ation and infection, 
the virus is still killing and changing, and there is a risk of new variants emerging that could cause 
new surges in cases and deaths. The need for continued efforts to address IP barriers related to 
Covid -19 products is crucial in ens uring equitable access to life -saving tools. The TRIPS Council must 
engage on the extension of the MC12 decision to bring this matter to its conclusion. The DG 
emphasised the need to gear ourselves for parallel meetings after the summer break, small 
delega tions are already overstretched and the only way to reduce parallel meetings is to conclude 
on issues where Ministers have given us clear marching orders. Let us therefore not drag this issue 
unnecessarily. This issue was put on a fast -track with a clear d eadline and the WTO must deliver. 
Importantly, the decision is about saving lives and should not be linked to other outcomes and must 
be treated with the priority it deserves. The timing and nature of the next pandemic is unknown but WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  it is certain to happe n. Hence, a trigger -ready mechanism is even more urgent. The outcome on 
vaccines while a step forward, delivered too little too late, we are unfortunately repeating the same 
on therapeutics and diagnostics. Agreeing to the extension of the deadline was not  an easy decision 
for the co -sponsors.  The September thematic workshop being arranged under the leadership of the 
TRIPS Council Chair is welcome. We urge all Members to expeditiously conclude their domestic 
processes to allow the long overdue Decision on e xtension of Ministerial Decision on TRIPS to cover 
therapeutics and diagnostics to be concluded by the Senior Officials Meeting in October.  
3.400.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
3.401.   Brazil believes that the challenges encountered duri ng the Covid -19 pandemic, along with 
its lingering health, social and economic effects, underscore the continued need for enhanced access, 
production and supply of pharmaceutical and medical technologies. These are necessary to address 
not only the Covid -19 pandemic, but also other equally serious global public and health crises.  
Discussions around the extension of the waiver to cover the production and supply of Covid -19 
diagnostics and therapeutics should go on, particularly in terms of rendering the mult ilateral trading 
system more resilient, better prepared and capable of triggering an effective use of policy options 
available to WTO members under the TRIPS Agreement and subsequent instruments.  
3.402.   The representative Egypt  delivered the following statement29:  
3.403.   At the outset, my delegation expresses its disappointment with the failure to extend the 
Ministerial decision on Vaccines to cover Therapeutics and Diagnostics, which indicates the absence 
of political will to implement consensual decisions taken by our  Ministers.  Allow me, to quote the DG 
in her statement at the TNC meeting that convened on 16 May this year, when she said and I quote 
"We have not learned the lessons of what has happened during this pandemic, and the world has 
not built any resilience to  the next pandemic" end of quote. That said, the longer it takes to deliberate 
on the extension of the MC12 TRIPS Decision to cover the production and supply of diagnostics and 
therapeutics, the less credible contribution WTO will make to the lifesaving ef forts for Covid -19 
patients. Notwithstanding the preceding, we commend the efforts exerted by the TRIPS Council to 
organize an Informal Thematic Session for Stakeholder Input  on 28 September 2023. My delegation 
is looking forward to benefiting from the out comes of this session, especially regarding the evidence 
needed and experience sharing relevant to the production of and access to Covid -19 vaccines, 
therapeutics, and diagnostics. We reckon that this Thematic Session would be a catalyst to finally 
deliver  on the long overdue MC12 Ministerial mandate at the October Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), 
bearing into consideration that the extension of the MC12 decision should not be linked with other 
issues nor MC13 processes. In this regard, we are calling upon o ur trade partners to engage 
constructively and in good faith in the substantive discussions on this decision and to expedite their 
internal processes and deliver on this Ministerial mandate. On the other hand, the Ministerial decision 
on Vaccines during MC 12 has been anchored within a package to enhance resilience during and 
aftermath the pandemic; we recall in this regard the Ministerial mandate of paragraphs 23 and 24 
of the MC12 Declaration on the WTO Response to the Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness fo r 
Future Pandemics. Till today we have not even launched a practical discussion to pave the way for 
the outcome, that could enhance resilience during emergencies. Therefore, discussing a trigger -
ready mechanism is very relevant and fundamental as soon as p ossible to prove that the WTO can 
deliver during crises. Finally, we remain committed to engaging constructively in the discussion at 
any configuration.  
3.404.   The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia  delivered the following statement:  
3.405.   We endorse the statement made by South Africa on behalf of the co -sponsors. We regret 
that, more than one year later, no concrete progress has been made in fulfilling the mandate adopted 
by Ministers at MC12 to extend the decision on the TRIPS waiver to cover therape utics and 
diagnostics, as indicated in paragraph 8 of the decision. It is clear that the international community's 
response to the C ovid-19 pandemic was, for many populations worldwide, belated and limited. The 
pandemic and its effects remain latent and on e of the clearest lessons is the limited access to 
vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. We must prioritize human life and those that have been hit 
hardest by the adverse effects of C ovid-19, namely, vulnerable populations. The high cost of 
 
29 Statement under Items 3(c) and 3(d) , as indicated by the delegation . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  essential med ical supplies to combat the disease became apparent during the pandemic. Many 
countries face major challenges in accessing these medicines and oxygen for intensive care, 
hospitalization and prevention, in addition to diagnostic tests, the procedures for wh ich, such as 
those required for PCR tests, are complex, lengthy and costly. The request made by Bolivia in this 
regard clearly showed how voluntary licensing does not offer an opportunity to provide the rapid 
response required in a health emergency. Accord ingly, we believe that it is crucial to continue the 
discussions to conclude the implementation of the decision. Moreover, we agree with Colombia that 
it would be interesting to hold discussions in the context of the potential treaty on responses to 
health  emergencies being pursued at the WHO. Building developing countries' capacity to produce 
medicines and vaccines is a vital part of any pandemic response. We therefore call on Members to 
continue working to find a consensus for extending the decision to co ver therapeutics and 
diagnostics, as indicated in paragraph 8.  
3.406.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
3.407.   Switzerland  remains  convinced  that an extension  of the MC12  TRIPS  Decision  to Covid -19 
therapeutics and diagnostics is unnecessary and would be counterproductive. Last November, 
together with Mexico, Switzerland submitted facts and figures in communication  IP/C/W/693  which  
demonstrate  that Covid -19 therapeutics  and diagnostics are sufficiently available and th at access is 
not hampered by IP. These trends have since been confirmed, there is a surplus both in products 
and manufacturing capacity. As  agreed  previously,  we can go along  with further  evidence -based  
discussions  on this matter in the TRIPS Council.  
3.408.   The representative of Mozambique  delivered the following statement:  
3.409.   My delegation supports the statement made by South African on behalf of co -sponsors , the 
African Group and the LDC Group. As a co -sponsor, we call on Members to engage constructively, 
in the spirit of Ministerial Decision WT/L/1141 , to reach a consensus on the extension of that decision 
to the production and supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and  therapeutics as soon as possible.  
3.410.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
3.411.   Pakistan would firstly like to echo the statement made by South Africa. When we claim we 
need to stay relevant, we must not forget that timeliness is of th e essence. Pakistan believes that 
at WTO, we must utilize this time of low morbidity of this virus to prepare well for not only future 
pandemics but other crises as well, because if we remain unprepared, the future crisis or crises may 
snatch from us withi n few years, the development gains of decades. This issue needs to be 
understood as a common's problem and thus requires cooperation for its resolution.  
3.412.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
3.413.   We would like to thank all the Members who have participated in this discussion on this topic 
and would like to associate with South Africa for their statement on behalf of co -sponsors of the 
original paper 669 /Rev1. My request would be only that if the timeline of 17 October is over , then 
can we strive for a decision in the Senior Officials Meeting, which will be after that. If one week is 
too short of a time to do that, then can we take help of the November GC, because we often hear 
that we should not load the Ministers with the decisions whic h can be taken before the Ministerial, 
in the General Council meetings. My suggestion, or request, is that can we take this agenda for the 
SOM, or if we are not able to do that, then can we take it to the November GC. The more we delay, 
the more pronounced  will be the need for a trigger -ready mechanism - or there may be a shift from 
WTO to the nearby building of WHO because certainly one cannot wait for this decision endlessly. 
We often heard about running on overdraft in the fisheries subsidies negotiation  because the 
deadline was the year 2020. So, for the extension of TRIPS waiver to therapeutics and diagnostics, 
the overdraft period has already run for more than 100 per cent of the time of six months that was 
given by our Ministers. We have exhausted tho se six months and we have overspent seven more 
months. So, I would like to remind the membership that we should not run on overdraft for long.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.414.   The representative of Türkiye  delivered the following statement:  
3.415.   The General Council agreed last December to the recommendation as put forward by the 
TRIPS Council to extend the deadline on Ministerial Decision's extension to cover the production and 
supply of C ovid-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. Since the 12th Ministerial Conference, Members are 
discussing the  matter through informal meetings and small group meetings. However, there is no 
agreement regarding the extension and the duration of the extended deadline remains open in the 
General Council. Türkiye believes that the issues involved in Covid -19-related diagnostics and 
therapeutics are different from and much more complicated than that of Covid -19 vaccines. Contrary 
to Covid -19 vaccines, there is no clear definition of these products, which further increases the 
importance of having fact and evidence -based discussions. While Türkiye is willing to work together 
in a solution -oriented mode towards a meaningful, viable and fair outcome from a public health 
perspective, we believe that the priority should be given to effectively address concerns previously 
raised by some Members regarding several aspects of any such extension. Further consultations 
among Members and analysis of the issue from different angles with an aim to find satisfactory 
explanations to open questions are required for achieving a common gro und for any convergence. 
Türkiye will remain constructively engaged in the discussions on this issue without undermining the 
basis of the TRIPS Agreement.  
3.416.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , provided  the following statement30: 
3.417.   The ACP Group supports that this item remains on the agenda of the General Council. We 
urge that agreement is reached to resolve the issue to include therapeutics and diagnostics in the 
MC12 TRIPS Waiver decision.  
3.418.   The representative of Cambodia  provided  the follo wing statement31: 
3.419.   My delegation would like to align ourselves with the LDC's statement. On Ministerial Decision 
on TRIPS Agreement, we urge all Members to find a common solution to undertake a decision to 
extend the coverage of the Decision on TRIPS Agreem ent to include therapeutics and diagnostics as 
decided at the MC12.  
3.420.   The representative of Barbados  provided  the following statement32: 
3.421.   Barbados joins others in urging Members to find a resolution to the issue of extending the 
MC12 Decision on the TRIPS Agreement to cover the production and supply of C ovid-19 diagnostics 
and therapeutics.  
3.422.   The General Council took note  of the statements made.  
D. MC12 - PARAGRAPH 24 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON THE WTO RESPONSE 
TO THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC AND PREPAR EDNESS FOR FUTURE PANDEMICS33 – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
3.423.   The Chairperson  delivered the following statement34: 
3.424.   In line with paragraph s 23 and 24 of the MC12 Declaration on the WTO Response to the 
Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics35, a stocktaking exercise of the work of 
WTO bodies listed in the declaration is to be undertaken yearly at the General Council until the end 
of 2024, based on the reports of these bodies. Since MC12, work has continued in relevant Bodies. 
 
30 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
31 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subseque ntly sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
32 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
33 WT/L/1142 . 
34 The Chairperson's statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/GC/352 . 
35 WT/MIN(22)/31 – WT/L/1142 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Let me provide an  overview of this work for this first stock -taking exercise.  In the General Council, 
my predecessor in Chair – Ambassador Didier Chambovey (Switzerland) and I, have provided 
updates36 to Members on pandemic response and preparedness work from various WTO Councils  
and Committees  during the General Council meetings in December 2022, March and May 2023. 
During this period, communications from the African Group37 and India38 were presented and 
discussed . The Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) has also been discussing pandemic response and 
preparedness since last year, as part of its MC12 implementation matters. On 25 October 2022, the 
CTG Chair requested the 14 Chairpersons of the CTG's subsidiary bodies to prepare reports39, under 
their own responsibility and with the assistance of the Secretariat, on the WTO response to the 
Pandemic.  In addition to their respective reports:  
a. The Committee on Market Access conducted its  sixth experience -sharing session40 on 
Covid -19 related goods focusing on LDCs on 24 March 2023 and adopted a document41 on 
lessons learned from the Covid -19 pandemic.  
b. The Committee on Trade Facilitation is looking at possible steps to further its previous 
work r egarding the Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics – and has 
so far had two informal meetings on disaster preparedness in 2023.  
3.425.   The CTG Chairperson also prepared his own report42 on the matter . Following Members' 
suggestions, the CTG is p reparing a report that would constitute an objective record of the 
discussions that have taken place in the CTG and its Subsidiary Bodies in line with paragraph  24 of 
the Declaration.  Since last year , as part of its MC12 implementation matters, the Council  for Trade 
in Services (CTS) has also discussed the Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics. 
On 9 March 2023, Members agreed43 to organize a series of informal information -sharing meeting s 
on Covid -19 and trade in services, focused on: (i) transport and logistics services; (ii) health 
services; (iii) tourism services; and (iv) ICT and digitally delivered services. At its March and June 
2023 meetings, India presented its two communications44 related to pandemic response.  Since 
MC12, the TRIPS  Council has had on its agenda an item on "IP and Covid -19". Under this item, 
Members continue their practice, commenced in 2020, of sharing experiences on domestic C ovid-
related IP measures they have taken during the pandemic on the basis of a Secretariat  compilation 
of such measures that is updated and maintained on the WTO website45. It has been agreed that 
any submissions and initiatives that Members raise under paragraph s 23 and 24 of the MC12 
Declaration would also be taken up under this agenda item.  
 
36 WT/GC/M/202 , WT/GC/M/203  and WT/GC/M/204 . 
37 "Implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the Pandemic and Preparedness 
for Future Pandemics " ( WT/GC/W/858  ). 
38 "Role of Telemedicine Services in Response to the Pandemic " ( WT/GC/W/866 – S/C/W/426  ) and 
"Building a Pool of Health Professionals to Respond Effectively to Pandemics/Natural Disasters " ( WT/GC/ W/867 
– S/C/W/427  ). 
39 Committee on Agriculture (  G/L/1469 – G/AG/W/228  ), Committee on Anti -Dumping Practices 
( G/L/1448 – G/ADP/31  ), Committee on Import Licensing (  G/L/1478 – G/LIC/W/59  ), Committee on Market 
Access (  G/L/1459 – G/MA/W/181  ), Commi ttee on Rules of Origin (  G/L/1466 – G/RO/W/218  ), Committee on 
Safeguards (  G/L/1451 – G/SG/276  ), Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (  G/L/1477 – 
G/SPS/66  ), Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (  G/L/1450 – G/SCM/163  ), Committee o n 
Technical Barriers to Trade (  G/L/1457 – G/TBT/48  ), Committee on Trade Facilitation (  G/L/1475 - G/TFA/W/89 ), 
Committee on Trade -Related Investment Measures (  G/L/1453 – G/TRIMS/13  ) and Working Party on State 
Trading Enterprises (  G/L/1455 – G/STR/31  ). 
40 More information is available here and the summary report of the meeting  is contained  in 
JOB/MA/152/Add.5 . 
41 G/MA/409 . 
42 G/L/1464 . 
43 It was further decided that the meeting s would have balanced representation, provide for the 
participation of external stakeholders from relevant International Organi zations and the private sector, focus on 
the servic es trade -related aspects of the pandemic response falling within the mandate of the Council, and 
address the impact of Covid -19 on the different sectors, the trade -facilitative measures introduced by Members 
in response to the crisis and the implications o f Covid -19 specifically for LDCs.  The first meeting , on transport 
and logistics, was held on 13 June, and the next one, on health services, will be held in conjunction with the 
October cluster of services meetings.  See also S/C/M/152 . 
44 See Footnote 3 . 
45 See https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/trade_related_ip_measure_e.htm . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.426.   The Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) agreed that the item on follow up to the 
MC12 Pandemic Response Declaration will remain on its agenda until the end of 2024. Some ideas 
have been shared on possible work for the CTD to undertake in the co ntext of the Ministerial 
Declaration. The CTD Chair person  has encouraged Members to continue to engage and submit 
written proposals for work in the Committee. In 2022, the Committee considered  a communication46 
from the United States . At its November 2022 meeting47, the Working Group on Trade and Transfer 
of Technology (WGTTT), discussed the role of transfer of technology and know -how in creating 
capacities to respond to Covid -19, and how such capacities could be leveraged to tackle other health 
emergencies , including those that are endemic to developing countries.  Let me take the opportunity 
of this first stocktake exercise to thank the Chairpersons of the relevant WTO bodies for facilitating 
the effective implementation of paragraph s 23 and 24 of this MC12  Declaration. I also thank the 
Secretariat teams supporting them. Finally, I would like to commend all Members for your active 
engagement in this important work stream – which I will continue to follow.  
3.427.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered th e following statement:  
3.428.   Thank you for your comprehensive report. We wanted to start by stressing the importance 
of this work. And to thank all Members that have input into the different Committee discussions. 
This already feel like an area where we are goin g to be able to report real progress to Ministers at 
MC13. We want to particularly praise work underway in the Committee on Market Access, including 
the Committee's report on lessons learned and the emerging work on HS reform with the World 
Customs Organiz ation. This shows paragraph 24 in action. We have to ensure any action we take in 
the WTO is focused on what has and is making a real difference on the ground to the response. We 
want to focus Members' conversations on a pragmatic dialogue for pandemic pre paredness. This is 
why the UK has submitted a paper on the important policy questions for IP, voluntary licensing, and 
their influence on trade and technology transfer for pandemic preparedness.  
3.429.   The paper includes a number of examples of successful indust ry collaboration and their 
impact.  Particularly: AstraZeneca shared technology and know -how with more than 20 experienced 
manufacturers, including in India and Brazil, which enabled supply of over 3 billion doses to 180 
countries around the world. With app roximately two thirds going to low - and middle -income 
countries. Data shows AstraZeneca's vaccine saved over 6 million lives. As of June 2023, Pfizer and 
Bi-oN-Tech have shipped 4.6 billion doses to 181 countries. The manufacturing and supply network 
for the vaccines comprises over 20 sites in Europe, the US, Brazil, and South Africa. MSD has 
operational agreement with more than 20 generic manufacturers from 10 countries. MSD's voluntary 
collaborations cover approximately 90 per cent of the population in LM ICs. We need to better 
understand how the partnerships set out in these examples contributed to the response to the 
pandemic and how we can encourage more partnerships in the future. Given this requires a detailed 
and technical discussion we have not forma lly put this paper on the agenda for the General Council, 
but we look forward to having further technical discussions in the TRIPS Council and Tech Transfer 
Working Group in the autumn.  
3.430.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
3.431.   The MC 12 "Declaration on the WTO Response to the Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness 
for Future Pandemics" instructed relevant WTO bodies to continue or initiate work as soon as possible 
on the basis of Members' proposals, and for the General Council to undertake  a stocktaking exercise 
of the work by the relevant WTO bodies yearly until the end of 2024. China welcomes the ongoing 
pandemic -related work across relevant WTO bodies. We are encouraged that Members have tabled 
proposals at relevant WTO bodies and shared  their experiences through thematic sessions. This is 
very useful. It helps Members to better understand the role that WTO has played in response to the 
pandemic. It also enables members to draw lessons learned from the pandemic and identify possible 
solutions to get prepared for future pandemics. The Covid -19 pandemic will not be the last pandemic. 
We call upon Members to continue and step up the work on this matter with a view to formulating 
possible best practice, guidelines and manual to manage future p andemics. China will continue 
 
46 "Responding to the Covid -19 Pandemic and Supporting Resiliency" (  WT/COMTD/W/268  ). 
47 See WT/WGTTT/M/68 . In this context, Members also shared  domestic experiences and heard the  
perspectives from intergovernment al organizations - including in the context of the trilateral WTO, WHO and 
WIPO cooperation - that analysed lessons that have been learned and challenges experienced during the C ovid-
19 pandemic.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  actively participating in the relevant discussion and make our contribution. In addition, we recently 
circulated a proposal on strengthening the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply 
chains, calling for elim inating Covid -19 pandemic related trade restriction measures to avoid the 
disruption on global industrial and supply chains. We will elaborate  on this proposal later under item 
10.  
3.432.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
3.433.   Thank you for your statement on the implementation of paragraph 24 of the Ministerial 
Declaration on the WTO Response to the Covid -19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics. 
The Covid -19 pandemic has been one of the greatest cr ises since the beginning of this century. It 
has affected the global economy as well as global value and supply chains. LDCs have been the first 
victims of the Covid -19 pandemic. Covid -19 impacted negatively LDCs. Its socio -economic impacts 
in LDCs are sti ll visible. We believe that the response of the WTO to the Covid -19 pandemic must 
facilitate the strengthening of the resilience of our economies and our state of preparedness. To this 
end, we urge Members not to impose export restrictions, which are not c onsistent with WTO rules, 
on essential medical and food products to combat Covid -19 and any future pandemics. We draw 
Members' attention as well to LDC submission in 2020, which formed our contributions to the MC12 
declaration and the food security submiss ions of the group this year.  
3.434.   We also believe that the WTO should encourage the facilitation of trade in these products as 
well as therapeutics and vaccines, among others. LDCs are of the view that undue export restrictions 
imposed by some members on essen tial medical and food products could undermine efforts to 
combat the Covid -19 pandemic. Thus, the LDC Group believes that the outcomes of MC12 should 
encourage the facilitation of trade and in particular of medical, therapeutic and food products, among 
others, of which LDCs are net importers and which they need to fight against the Covid -19 pandemic. 
The LDC Group believes that extending the TRIPS waiver could be part of the WTO's response to the 
pandemic by facilitating the production and supply of Covid -19 diagnostics and therapies. In 
conclusion, we encourage the WTO to continue to play its role in helping the most vulnerable 
Members to better prepare for any future pandemic. This would avoid disastrous consequences like 
those of the Covid -19 pandemic.  
3.435.   I would like to take a pause here to draw your attention to paragraph 8 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document, which should be reflected among those listed as MC12 decisions on the agenda. Ministers 
instructed the General Council to assess progress in implementing d ecisions relating to the services 
waiver and market access in DFQF and report back to MC13. They also instructed the Committee on 
Rules of Origin to report on its work to the General Council prior to MC13.   
3.436.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
3.437.   The ACP Group thanks you for your report on the work being done in WTO bodies pursuant 
to paragraph 24 the MC12 Declaration on the WTO's Response to the Covid -19 Pandemic and 
Preparedness for Future Pandemics. We welcome the progress made and look forward to 
continuation of work in these bodies in light on the ongoing impact of the pandemic on several ACP 
Group members. While we continue with our work to have the WTO effectively contribute to the 
recovery proces s, we also need to ensure that the WTO plays a key global role in building resilience 
so that our members are able to withstand the impact of future pandemics and other international 
emergencies that may interrupt their participation in global trade. We ca ll on the WTO Secretariat 
to deepen its collaboration with other International Organizations in this regard. The ACP Group 
requests that you arrange for a living matrix to be created that documents work underway across 
the various bodies and progress made.  This makes it easier for smaller delegations to effectively 
monitor and engage in these workstreams. The ACP Group also calls on you, Chair, to lead a process 
to prepare a comprehensive progress report for Minister's consideration at MC13.  
3.438.   The representa tive of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
3.439.   We thank the UK for contributing to thi s discussion  under Paragraph 24 of the Ministerial 
Decision  with their paper  which they just referenced, and we encourage further discussions in the 
relevan t Councils.  We would like to also draw Members' attention to the United States' submission WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  in WT/COMTD/W/268  entitled Responding to the COVID -19 Pandemic and Supporting Resiliency, 
and the work of the Trade Facilitation Committee in building resilienc y for future crises. There is a 
lot of good work happening under this Decision and we should be acknowledging all that is going on 
as part of MC13.  
3.440.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
3.441.   Addressing inequitable access to heal th products remains a critical issue in the context of the 
current pandemic and to help us build resilience for future pandemics. The only sustainable means 
of achieving this objective and bolstering health security is to increase production and diversify the 
geographical scope of countries that can produce essential medical products. Addressing IP barriers 
that were visible during Covid -19 is thus critical, hence a TRIPS trigger -ready mechanism is urgent 
to avert the need to negotiate waivers during a cris is. The world is also facing a rising food insecurity 
challenge, hence our continued call for a food security and livelihoods package since MC12, and this 
is even more important in the current context of a worsening food crisis. Delivering on paragraph 8 
mandate under the food insecurity Declaration for NFIDCs and LDCs is therefore critical.  
3.442.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
3.443.   We welcome the communication on voluntary licensing by the UK, which is a constructive 
contribution  on an important  topic.  The examples  it provides  and the questions  it raises  are useful, 
and sharing experience on these would certainly be welcome. Switzerland is convinced that voluntary 
licensing is the most efficient and effective tool for the transfer of technology and knowhow. 
Voluntary licensing enables partners to work in close  collaboration  when  transferring  technology,  
with the transferor  assisting  the recipient in implementing and maintaining the technology, and this 
is the most i mportant point. Voluntary licensing thus ensures that technology transfer will have a 
lasting and sustainable impact and happens in a safe and trusted environment.  
3.444.   The representative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
3.445.   Japan appreciates the submiss ion by the United Kingdom. Japan also recognizes the 
importance of voluntary licensing and is aware that during the Covid -19 pandemic period, many 
voluntary licenses have been advanced and C ovid vaccines and pharmaceuticals have been made 
available in vari ous regions through such licensing cooperation. This submission will help Members 
to understand and discuss how voluntary licensing can work and how it could be further improved. 
The Annex of the document includes some existential examples of voluntary lic enses, and we believe 
it is useful for Members to share their concrete experiences and promote discussions based on such 
experiences. We understand that this proposal will be substantively discussed at subsidiary bodies 
of this institution, to which Japan expects to constructively contribute.  
3.446.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
3.447.   The European Union thanks the UK for their constructive contribution to the ongoing 
discussions. The European Union also thanks the African Gr oup for its Communication. The 
Communication rightly recognises that the MC12 Declaration on the response to the pandemic 
identified a number of challenges facing Members during the pandemic, as well as the importance 
of a stable and predictable trading en vironment. We are encouraged by the fact that a number of 
WTO bodies across the Organization have considered how best to take the work forward on that 
basis. The European Union has been actively engaged in these processes and will continue to do so 
in acco rdance with the MC12 Declaration. According to that Declaration, "relevant WTO bodies will, 
within their field of competence and on the basis of proposals by Members, continue or initiate work 
as soon as possible". The European Union is therefore ready to consider any proposals that Members 
may submit in the context of these WTO bodies to further the implementation of the MC12 
Declaration.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.448.   The representative of India delivered the following statement48: 
3.449.   As India has emphasised previously, our work on the p andemic response is not over. In 
pursuance of MC12 guidance underlining the critical role of services in ensuring resilience during 
Covid -19 and future pandemics, in March meeting, the General Council addressed two submissions 
by India related to the pande mic response, on the role of telemedicine services (WT/GC/W/866) and 
on building a pool of health professionals to respond to pandemics and natural disasters 
(WT/GC/W/867).These were subsequently discussed in the Council for trade in services. India 
propos ed dedicated discussion in the Council for Trade in Services along with a Workshop/Seminar 
to share information, experiences and views on this matter. During the Pandemic, several countries 
took measures to facilitate adoption of telemedicine. The Indian G overnment too undertook many 
initiatives. The Indian government launched the e -Sanjeevani, a web -based platform that integrates 
registration, queue management, generation of e -prescriptions, short message service, and e -mail 
notifications. So far, e -Sanjee vani has crossed an astounding milestone by clocking 100 million 
teleconsultations. This platform has facilitated healthcare access across the country especially rural 
and isolated communities. It is designed for scale and low -cost uptake by health provide rs and 
patients. Further, the government launched the Covid -19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN), a 
state-of-the-art digital solution for one of the world's largest Covid -19 vaccination programmes. 
India offered the technological prowess of the Co -WIN p latform as a Digital Public Infrastructure 
(DPI) freely to all countries in the fight against Covid -19. India has so far achieved the historic 
milestone of 2.2 billion doses of vaccinations.  
3.450.   India also launched the Aarogya Setu app, aimed at Covid -19 cont act tracing, self -
assessment and informing the citizens about the best practices/relevant advisories pertaining to the 
containment of Covid -19. This open -source app is a readily available package for developers 
Measures were also taken by members to reduce  demands on public healthcare system which we 
have briefly captured in our submission. As borne out by WTO TISMOS data, cross -border trade in 
medical services (Mode 1) is most suitable mode in pandemic like situations as this increased by 
14 per cent while  Mode 2 and 4 supply fell sharply. However, cross -border trade in medical services 
remains much below its potential. There is, therefore, an urgent need to facilitate this trade to 
respond to pandemics and future Pandemics. Further, at the global level, Co vid-19 pandemic 
presented a unique situation where surpluses and shortages of health -related resources existed 
simultaneously as the pandemic came in waves, affecting different regions of the world at different 
times. Both situations of pandemics and natur al disasters necessitate coordinated action across 
geographies for their management, mitigation and eventual recovery. To the extent that these crises 
do not affect all geographies at the same time and with same severity, such coordinated action and 
burden -sharing becomes easier. A critical element of response to such crises is the availability and 
deployment of health professionals.  
3.451.   We have therefore, in our submission proposed the idea of establishing a globally recognized 
pool of trained health professi onals which could be drawn by a country in need of these resources 
during a crisis. This collective burden -sharing arrangement would be in the spirit of international 
solidarity during situations of pandemics/natural disasters. Establishing such a pool of resources 
would, inter alia, require skill mapping, matchmaking, and augmenting supplies by temporarily 
relaxing regimes at both regional and global levels. A critical element to facilitate the deployment of 
such a global pool of health resources is develo pment of a multilateral framework/norms for the 
recognition of professional qualifications, in coordination with the relevant international 
Organizations. This would be a crucial step in building preparedness for pandemics/natural disasters. 
Such professio nals may also be granted special mobility rights or exemption from general movement 
restrictions.  
3.452.   Such multilateral solidarity in times of crises is essential for an effective response to 
pandemics/natural disasters. It is both ethically desirable and prac tically conceivable in this context. 
Despite the significant potential which foreign health professionals possess to respond to surge in 
demand for the services in another country, the offtake of their services remains limited owing to 
the way regulations attached to it are managed. For better preparedness to deal with future 
pandemic like situations, there is a need to strengthen implementation of GATS disciplines and 
 
48 As requested by the delegation, the longer version of the statement, which was submitted after the 
meeting, has been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  facilitate recognition of such professionals so that they are able to deliver effectively . In our two 
submissions, we have drawn attention to the questions posed by India which focus on experience 
sharing for these two submissions including challenges, opportunities, trade facilitation aspects.  
3.453.   On 13 June, WTO Members discussed the implication s of the Covid -19 pandemic for transport 
and logistics services in an informal experience -sharing session. Under discussion were the main 
challenges members encountered, the trade -facilitative measures governments introduced in the 
wake of the pandemic, an d the implications of the crisis. India too presented its experience of how 
Deendayal Port, which is the leader among 12 major ports of India in terms of volume of cargo 
handled the crisis. We look forward to further discussions both at the GC and at the C ouncil for Trade 
in Services to analyse lessons that have been learned and challenges experienced during the Covid -
19 pandemic including on India's two submissions.  
3.454.   The General Council took note  of the Chairperson's statement and of all the statements 
made . 
3.455.   The Chairperson  said that she wished to briefly touch upon another follow -up to MC12 
outcomes, related to the MC12 Declaration on Food Insecurity. In that respect, the Committee on 
Agriculture had been undertaking discussions on a dedicated work programm e (G/AG/35 ) on food 
security pursuant to paragraph 8 of the Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food 
Insecurity. The Working Group established for the conduct of thematic discussions would submit its 
report and recommendations to the Committee on A griculture no later than 30 November. To assist 
Members' efforts, the Coordinator of the Working Group had presented a report, under his own 
responsibility, to Members on 3 July ( RD/AG/113 ). Further to paragraph 9 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document, the Trade Facilit ation Committee had held its second Dedicated Session on transit, which 
stressed the need to find implementation support for landlocked developing countries.  
E. BUENOS AIRES (MC11), NAIROBI (MC10) AND BALI (MC9)  
3.456.   The Chairperson  delivered the following stat ement49: 
3.457.   This sub -item relates to the follow -up to outcomes of Ministerial Conferences - "Buenos Aires 
(MC11), Nairobi (MC10) and Bali (MC9)". In this regard, I will only focus on areas where there are 
new developments to report since the previous meeting of the General Council and that have not 
been covered in any way under the previous sub -items. In doing so, I am mindful that some of the 
matters that we discuss under this item intersect with MC12 outcomes. Regarding the LDCs Services 
Waiver, the LDC Grou p indicated that it was working on a written submission to implement paragraph 
8 of the MC12  Outcome Document, relating to the waiver. The LDCs underscored the need for more 
information on the activities of LDC services suppliers and consumers in preferenc e-providing 
Members' markets. To gather this material, the Group is developing a questionnaire, but also called 
on preference -providing Members to seek information from their consumers of LDC services. 
Members also welcomed the announcement that the Secret ariat's workshop on improving LDC 
services trade data would be held during the week of 2 October.  
3.458.   On Public Stockholding for Food Security purposes, the Committee on Agriculture continued 
its examination of the information notified by the only developing Member who has invoked the 
Decision upon exceeding the de minimis level for rice for four consecutive years from 2018/19 to 
2021/22. On the implementation of the Bali Tariff  Rate Quota (TRQ) Decision , the Committee on 
Agriculture reached consensus in June on the report  of the first triennial review of the operation of 
the  Decision . The agreed conclusions of the review in document G/AG/36  focus, inter alia, on the 
transparency of country -specific tariff quota utilization and quota administration arrangements. With 
respect to the implementation of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition, I understand that the 
8th annual dedicated discussion t ook place in June.  
3.459.   On preferential rules of origin for LDCs, with paragraph 8 of the MC12 Outcome Document 
in mind, Members agreed in June that a substantive report should be prepared. Some Members have 
already submitted inputs for the report and the Secr etariat is currently preparing a draft. The 
intention is to be in a position to adopt a report at the October meeting of the Committee on Rules 
 
49 The Chairperson's statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/GC/353 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  of Origin and send it to the General Council ahead of MC13. Regarding duty -free quota -free market 
access for LDC s, divergent views remained among some Members on the scope and coverage of the 
Secretariat report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs. Members were invited to consider the 
matter and provide guidance. In the meantime, and as has been done since 2017, the CTD would 
continue with its annual DFQF reviews without a Secretariat report. On Trade Facilitation, the current 
rate of implementation commitments stands at just under 77 per cent for the entire WTO 
membership, and almost 70 per cent for developing co untries and LDCs together. The rate of 
implementation commitments for LDCs is now approaching 44 per cent. The Trade Facilitation 
Committee continues its work to address the lag in implementation through the provision of technical 
assistance and capacity b uilding. On Aid for Trade, work is underway to launch a new round of 
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) exercise in preparation of the 2024 Global Review. In April, the 
CTD, in the Aid for Trade meeting, met to review how Monitoring and Evaluation is undertak en. In 
June, a further informal meeting took place to consider the Secretariat work, as instructed by the 
CTD Chairperson, to undertake or prepare monitoring formats and indicators. I understand that the 
CTD Chairperson is working hard to integrate final c omments on these formats with a view to 
launching the Monitoring Exercise as soon as possible. Members' responses to the monitoring 
formats are a key input for next year's Global Review.  
3.460.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered  the following 
statement:  
3.461.   The LDC Group thanks you for your report on the implementation of the decisions adopted 
in favour of the LDCs during the sessions of the Ministerial Conference held in Buenos Aires (MC11), 
Nairobi (MC10) and Bali (MC9).  We reiterate that the implementation of the decisions for LDC is one 
of our priorities for the next meeting  of the Ministerial Conference. We urge Members to engage 
constructively to facilitate the implementation of decisions on the LDC services waiver, pr eferential 
rules of origin and duty -free quota -free market access. We take this opportunity to thank the 
delegations that have adopted national measures aimed at implementing the said decisions in favour 
of the LDCs.  
3.462.   The representative of India delivered t he following statement:50 
3.463.   Let me repeat what we said earlier the credibility of the Organization is judged not only on 
taking decisions but also delivering on past decisions. So therefore, we had requested earlier, and 
we request again today, that the compilation of all outstanding  decisions of our Ministers should be 
brought before the General Council by the Secretariat so that we are able to track those decisions 
and take necessary actions. Chair we also repeat that ignoring past decisions does not add to the 
credibility of the Or ganization. We understand that all incumbents have this zeal to show progress 
during their time period. But the credibility of the Organization also depends on how we have 
behaved on the predecessors' decisions. It is said in the WTO that the gestation per iod for any 
decision is pretty long, but ten years even by WTO standards, is way too long and it has been ten 
years since the Ministers provided the Bali decision on the Permanent Solution to PSH. And it is also 
ironic that in times such as now, where ever y meeting room in the WTO and the other IO's are 
beaming with the discussion on food security, how to achieve it, and the issues involved in it when 
we really need to deliver, we are falling short in achieving the permanent solution to the PSH that 
include s new programs and new products. The food security of communities, societies and nations 
was never more critical than now, mainly due to recent developments. In such a situation, any new 
approach that does not consider the centrality of a permanent solutio n to PSH in the Agriculture 
negotiations will be futile. Hence, we have suggested starting with JOB/AG/229  on a permanent 
solution for public stockholding, a joint proposal of three large groups accounting for more than 80 
Members.  
3.464.   Some Members have said tha t PSH is one of the solutions to ensure food security, and is not 
the only solution. We agree. We never said it was the only solution. In the same breath, we are 
saying free trade is not the only solution for food security; free trade is one of the solutio ns, along 
with domestic production. However, if one were to push this argument further, we would like to say 
there is enough evidence of how PSH programmes have avoided starvation and provided food 
 
50 As requested by the delegation, the longer version of the statement, wh ich was submitted after the 
meeting, has been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  security to the needy and the vulnerable during crises. In  fact, during the past two year's crisis, PSH 
had successfully provided food to the entire Indian population. The major agriculture exporters had 
a huge task to rise to the occasion and meet food security challenges in the current crisis; their 
performance  was certainly not perfect, even with their best endeavours. The design and 
implementation of PSH in India have helped India maintain food security for 1.4 billion Indian people 
during a crisis period of the last three years, particularly. Therefore, rathe r than indulging in a 
theoretical debate, we may acknowledge a successful model and help countries implement their 
respective successful models without creating unnecessary barriers and pushing them into lengthy 
debates for years.  
3.465.   I only want to remind thi s house that we often hear that we need to be fit for purpose and 
we need to have an institution for 21st century; but at the same time keep on implementing External 
Reference Price of 1986 -88 vintage for calculation of subsidy and bringing out false narra tive. This 
is ironic that for public stockholding food security purposes, the ask from non -proponents or 
opponents is that that the farmers of my country sell 100 kg of rice at $3 and 100 kg of wheat at 
$4. By pushing this kind of argument, I think we are making more fun of ourselves, and we are 
making ourselves completely irresponsible. We would also like to state that as proponents of a 
Permanent Solution to the PSH, we organized an information meeting on the topic of Fixed External 
Prices. The event was very well attended, with more than 60 participants in the room and 90 -plus 
online. The meeting traced the historical background of why Fixed ERP was used and interestingly, 
there was never an intent to keep the ERP fixed in time for eternity. The summary o f this meeting 
is also circulated to the membership in the document JOB/AG/246 . From now on, we should first 
address the mandated issues on priority before the other elements of Agriculture are taken up. In 
fact, we should find the solution to the Ministerial  mandated issues of PSH and SSM and adopt them 
at the GC level, as we did in 2014, instead of waiting for the next Ministerial Conference. This would 
be in line with the sentiment expressed in the room about dedramatizing the Ministerial Conferences. 
Let m e repeat that our priority remains Agriculture, which is the previous mandate of our Ministers. 
We had mentioned it in the last three CoA -SS meetings and the two TNC meetings to start the text -
based negotiations, particularly on PSH.  
3.466.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
3.467.   The ACP Group acknowledges the LDC Group 's interest that MC12 Outcome Document 
paragraph 8 must also be included in the agenda as MC12 Decision points for MC13.  The Decisions 
taken at pr evious Ministerial Conferences in favour of LDCs were also taken up at MC12, and the 
LDC Group negotiated paragraph 8 in the Outcome Document.  Progress on these elements must be 
reported to the General Council from the relevant bodies on the services waive r, Duty -Free-Quota -
Free, and rules of origin decision follow up as reflected in paragraph 8 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document. The ACP Group supports the LDC Group in its endeavours with Members on these 
elements.  
3.468.   The representative of South Africa  delivered t he following statement:  
3.469.   The rising food insecurity emphasizes the need deliver on food security and livelihoods 
aspects of the outstanding Ministerial mandates including PSH, SSM, cotton and disciplines on 
agriculture subsidies. The outstanding DDA issues remains critical if the WTO is to deliver on the 
development mandate. We therefore urge the Members to prioritize the fulfilment of outstanding 
Ministerial mandates, including the G90 ASPs. We welcome the work programme on NFIDCs and we 
hope we will delive r tangible outcomes for NFIDCs.  
3.470.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
3.471.   Indonesia remains committed to implement the decisions of the previous Ministerial 
mandates as we all continue to work on the MC12 outcomes. On agriculture, it is critical to achieve 
concrete outcome in the next MC13; we should prioritize the work to address the ongoing imbalances 
of the agriculture trade sector to level our playing field and to achieve permanent solution on PSH. 
The vital role of PSH as an im portant policy tool to address global food security cannot be negated. 
Thus, it is only logical that document JOB/AG/229  that represents the interests of 80 WTO Members 
and more than 80 per cent of the world's population should constitute as the basis of text -based 
negotiations. Indonesia stands ready to actively participate in the text -based negotiation and engage WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  construc tively in achieving permanent solution on the issue of PSH, as mandated by the WTO's 
Ministerial Decisions in Bali and Nairobi. Fisheries subsidies is also development issue, as millions of 
small -scale fishermen in coastal areas depended on their welfare a nd livelihood from the ocean. 
However, their livelihood is often jeopardized by large scale industrial fishing that fish in or near 
their EEZ and depleting the fish stocks within the area. To address and contribute to the ongoing 
negotiation in the OCOF pi llar, Indonesia has submitted document RD/TN/RL/172  that further 
regulate this type of fishing. The document also affirms the rights of coastal states to fish within 
their national jurisdiction. Furthermore, we view that transition to fisheries managemen t should be 
contingent upon the sustainability and availability of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building 
(TACB). On that note, Indonesia welcomes the next text -based negotiation and will provide our 
contribution in the discussion.  
3.472.   The representative o f the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
3.473.   The European Union recalls the need to ensure correct implementation of the Bali Decision 
and in particular, highlights the transparency aspects as part of the review in regular Committee on 
Agricultu re. The European Union was part of the group of Members who held consultations with India 
on the basis on Article 6 of the Bali Decision on Public Stockholding. We see these consultations as 
a useful way to increase transparency on the stockholding program mes, in particular as to the level 
of state -level support and look forward to further discussions. The European Union has previously 
spoken on the need for more transparency on the PSH programmes in place, so we see this initiative 
could improve our common  understanding of these policies and help find solutions. The European 
Union will continue to engage in a constructive spirit with all the Members on finding a permanent 
solution on public stockholding as part of the work on agricultural reform. The soluti on needs to take 
account of the food security context and the trade distortion element. Although the European Union 
did not co -sponsor the counter -notification of India's domestic support for wheat and rice market 
price support, we expressed our support of  the questions raised by the co -sponsors and are looking 
forward to receiving India's comments and replies.  
3.474.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
3.475.   Pakistan would like to share disappointment on the progress in the implementation of 
mandates from these Ministerial Conferences. We reiterate that developmental issues can no longer 
be ignored as the modern post pandemic and conflict -ridden world is pushing several developing 
countries and LDCs to a brink where the goals of Marrakesh A greement i.e., livelihoods, standard of 
living and developmental prospects of people in developing countries are diminishing. Delay in 
addressing such important mandates will inadvertently breed mistrust in the multilateral system. 
Pakistan will reiterate,  as we stated in the last GC as well that: (a) unfulfilled mandates and 
unimplemented decisions of all Ministerial Conferences may be compiled; (b) and it be highlighted 
as to what extent have those mandates been addressed or remain unaddressed to date; (c ) This is 
important to be done for development mandates, transfer of technology mandates etcetera;  (d) 
These mandates must be reflected in the agendas of respective Committees and work in this 
direction may be made top priority.  
3.476.   The representative of Cambo dia provided  the following statement51: 
3.477.   My delegation aligns itself with the statement by the LDC Group. Chair, on this agenda item, 
my Delegation would like to comment on implementing specific LDC issues from past Ministerial 
Conferences, including MC12. Madam Chair, we recognize the progress in the discussion on the 
operationalization of the LDC services waiver, improving the simplification of the preferential rules 
of origin, and the DFQF market access for the LDCs. However, some LDC issues are yet to be  resolved 
as follow ups to the MC12 which include the annual review of DFQF market access and the smooth 
transition of Members graduating from LDC. Again, we want to reiterate the meaningful 
implementation of these decisions as agreed to assist the LDC's p articipation in the global trade to 
leave no one behind.  
 
51 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  3.478.   The General Council took note  of the Chairperson's statement and of all the statements 
made.  
4  WORK PROGRAMME ON SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF THE 
DEDICATED SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
4.1.  The Chairperson  recalled that, in accordance with the agreement in the General Council in 
2002, the Work Programme on Small Economies was a standing item on the agenda and the 
Committee on Trade and Development reported    regularly on  the progress of work in its Dedicated 
Sessions. At MC12, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Work Programme and instructed 
the CTD to continue its work in Dedicated Sessions under the overall responsibility of the General 
Council.  
4.2.  Ambassador Jos é Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic), Chair of the Committee on Trade and 
Development , delivered the following statement:  
4.3.  I would like to recall the Decision taken by Ministers at MC12 on the Work Programme on Small 
Economies, which is found in documents WT/MIN(22)/25  and WT/L/1136 . The Ministerial Decision 
contains, inter alia , a reaffirmation of Members' commitment at Ministerial level to the Work 
Programme on Small Economies. Note is taken of all the work conducted to date, and the CTD is 
instructed to co ntinue its work in the Dedicated Session on Small Economies under the overall 
responsibility of the General Council. The Dedicated Session is to continue monitoring the progress 
of the small economy proposals in WTO bodies and in negotiating groups with th e aim of providing 
responses, as soon as possible, to the trade -related issues identified for the fuller integration of SVEs 
into the multilateral trading system. In terms of future work in the Dedicated Session, the Decision 
instructs the WTO Secretariat to provide relevant information and factual analysis for discussion 
among Members on the topic of "integrating small economies into the post Covid -19 economy: 
effects of the pandemic, challenges and opportunities." It was reported at the last General Counc il 
that a meeting of the Dedicated Session was convened on 30 March to allow Members to begin 
discussions on the mandated topic. A background document by the Secretariat – contained in 
document WT/COMTD/SE/W/45  – was prepared for consideration at the meeting. The meeting was 
useful, with many substantive contributions by delegations. Members of the SVE Group highlighted 
the challenges their economies have faced since the crisis caused by the Covid -19 pandemic – as 
well as subsequent crises – which have exacerbated many longstanding difficulties and 
vulnerabilities. Other Members also participated actively in the discussion, making comments and 
suggestions of their own based on the Secretariat paper.  
4.4.  Since that time, I have been exploring with deleg ations – including the members of the SVE 
Group – how to take the discussions forward in the Dedicated Session. On the basis of these 
interactions, it has been determined that a formal meeting of the Dedicated Session will be held 
after the summer break to  focus on the "Challenges and opportunities for small economies in the 
post Covid -19 recovery phase". For this meeting, experience -sharing presentations will be made by 
a number of members of the SVE Group. Invitations will also be extended to a number of 
international Organizations with observer status in the CTD to present their findings on the matter 
and give information on the support they can provide to small economies. I am currently in the 
process of determining the handful of relevant international Organizations that I will be inviting to 
the meeting. In doing so, I shall be taking into account the suggestions that have been made by 
Members. I will also be working with the SVE  Group  Coordinator to identify the members of the SVE 
Group that will make presentations at the formal meeting after the summer break. I take this 
opportunity to encourage all Members to participate actively in the discussions that will take place 
in the Dedicated Session. I also call on all Members to continue to engage in order  to frame responses 
to the trade -related issues identified for the fuller integration of SVEs into the multilateral trading 
system.  
4.5.  The representative of Guatemala,  on behalf of the SVEs , delivered the following statement:  
4.6.  The SVE Group would like to than k the Chair of the CTD for his report on the progress of the 
work of the Dedicated Session. As reported at our last General Council meeting on 8 May, we had a 
round of discussions based on the document on 30 March. The SVEs Group recognized its value, as 
it outlines the specific challenges and opportunities that SVEs face in the current global context, they WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  have suffered strong effects of the Covid -19 pandemic on their economies. As we mentioned at that 
meeting, it is in the interest of the Group to deepen the discussions on this paper, including through 
Thematic Sessions, and that Members share their experiences, so that we could also identify ways 
in which WTO can contribute to overcoming the challenges identified. With this in mind, and in 
agreement with the CTD Chair, Ambassador Sánchez -Fung, who has consulted informally with 
several WTO Members on the proposed way forward and Members have been broadly supportive of 
this way forward to discuss those issues, a meeting of the Dedicated Session on these line s will take 
place after the summer break. During this meeting, a number of international Organizations with 
observer status in the CTD, as well as other WTO Members, will present their findings on the matter 
and give information support they can give with a view to finding ways to help SVE's integrate more 
fully in today's new international trade challenges and that in the future SVE's will face. Indeed, the 
SVE Group looks forward to continuing its discussions to understand how to manage the integration 
of SVE's after the Covid -19 pandemic, and to look towards to the challenges and the opportunities 
of future international trade trends.  
4.7.  The representative of Antigua and Barbuda , on behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
4.8.  We associate with the  statements of CARICOM, the ACP  and the Small Vulnerable Economies 
Group. Many thanks to the Chair of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) for his report. 
We support the way forward on the Secretariat's Background Note on Integrating Small Economie s 
into the Post -Covid -19 Economy. We see tremendous value in a dedicated discussion on the 
Background Note, and look forward to the contributions of relevant external stakeholders to our 
efforts. We trust that the possibility of extending the participation  list beyond existing Organizations 
with observer status will be explored, so as to allow for greater geographic balance and inclusivity 
in our work. In this regard, we place on record our interest in seeing the involvement of regional 
development Organiza tions, including some in the Caribbean, participate in these discussions and 
we remain open to assisting to facilitate such an effort.  
4.9.  The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
4.10.   The ACP Group thanks the Chair of the Dedicated Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development for his report. We commend Ambassador Sanchez -Fung for the dynamism which he 
has brought to this very important file, and we assure him of our full support. Since early this year, 
we have had the benefit of the Secretariat's Background Note on integrating small economies into 
the post -Covid -19 economy. The ACP Group is supportive of holding a Dedicated Session on this 
report. This work can also benefit from external expertise. We remai n committed to engaging further 
in a constructive spirit.  
4.11.   The representative of Trinidad and Tobago  delivered the following statement:  
4.12.   We align with the CARICOM, ACP and SVE Group statements on this item. We thank 
Ambassador Sánchez -Fung for his report. We  also take this opportunity to recognise and commend 
his considered approach to stewarding our work on small economies since his assumption of the role 
of CTD Chair. As we press on with the implementation of the MC12 Ministerial Decision on the Work 
Progra mme on Small Economies, we take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat once again for 
its work on the background note on integration of small economies into the post Covid -19 economy. 
It provides insights and useful statistical details on the impact of the pandemic on economies such 
as ours and, more broadly, on the challenges constraining our meaningful integration into global 
value chains and the multilateral trading system. It also points to potential opportunities, such as 
those relating to digitalis ation and the digital economy. In light of our perspective that the contents 
of this document should inform and even shape our deliberations and negotiations, as pertinent and 
as MC13 approaches, we share the view that it is fitting to deepen our discussio n on the basis of 
this document in the fall. We agree that engagement with pertinent international Organizations on 
our challenges and opportunities in this post -pandemic phase has the potential to enrich our dialogue 
and so we welcome the arrangements to be put in place in this regard. Overall, we endorse the way 
forward proposed by the Chair of the CTD and look forward to meaningful engagement with the 
membership in this regard after the summer break. Finally, we also stand ready to engage in the 
fall on draft text for a Ministerial decision on small economies. We are reflecting and intend to 
participate actively in this drafting exercise. We recall that this Ministerial Decision was one of the WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  early harvests in the lead -up to MC12, thanks in large part to  the proactive and diligent efforts of 
our SVE Group Coordinator, Guatemala. Perhaps we could set our eyes on a similar goal this time 
as well.  
4.13.   The representative of Barbados , on behalf of CARICOM , delivered the following statement:  
4.14.   We thank Ambassador Sánchez -Fung for his report on the progress made in the Dedicated 
Session on Small Economies, particularly as it relates to his consultations with Members on 
enhancing discussions based on the Secretariat's background note on how to int egrate small 
economies into the post Covid -19 economy. We associate with the statements of the SVE and ACP 
Groups under this agenda item. We thank Members for their support in holding a meeting of the 
Dedicated Session after the summer break and to benefit ing from the inputs of other international 
Organizations, including from UNCTAD, ITC and others on these issues. We also look forward to 
hearing from WTO Members as to how they could assist SVES in overcoming these challenges 
multilaterally, regionally and  bilaterally. One area that has been a constraint for small economies 
and small island developing states is debt and we know debt can impact on ability to trade. Take a 
look at the recent UNCTAD report that shows Total external debt of developing countries  grew by 
more than 15 per cent in 2022 compared to pre -pandemic 2019 and when we borrow, we do so with 
markedly higher interest rates as compared to developed countries.  
4.15.   Trying to repay debt at such high levels while also trying to address climate change is 
particularly challenging for SVEs who we all know are on the climate crisis frontlines. In fact, in many 
of our countries interest repayment on debt is more than we are spending on health, education and 
adaptation to climate change: that cannot be right ? Especially when analysis shows that LDCs and 
small island developing states (SIDS) and likely many of the SVEs, will face a projected 40 per cent 
increase in climate related events between 2015 to 2030. As we approach the summer break, we 
should start to  reorient our minds and our discussions toward what a possible MC13 decision on the 
Small Economies Work Programme could entail. This, we think, is one element in a basket of low 
hanging fruit for MC13 which could be taken up by the General Council for agr eement before 
advancing to MC13 for consideration by Ministers. We also want to recall that the General Council 
has a mandate to direct relevant subsidiary bodies to frame responses to the trade -related issues 
identified by the CTD with a view to making re commendations for action. We remain open to 
exploring this.  
4.16.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
4.17.   Thank you to the Chair of the Dedicated Session for a clear and helpful update.  We welcome 
the proposal from the Chair a nd the Small and Vulnerable Economies Group to hold an experience -
sharing session on the challenges and opportunities for small economies in the post Covid -19 
recovery phase. We want to hear from Members of the Small and Vulnerable Economies Group about 
their direct experience, and from a number of international national Organizations who will also join 
the meeting to help us understand better how different Members have responded to the challenges 
and look at how we can best support small economies and SIDS  in the WTO.  
4.18.   The representative of Sri Lanka  delivered the following statement:  
4.19.   Sri Lanka would like to align itself with the statement by the SVE Group. We would like to 
thank Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung, for his report on the progress in the Work Progra mme on 
Small Economies. It goes without saying that SVEs are currently undergoing numerous challenges 
and they have become the immediate and main victims of many global issues besides its own 
domestic situations. SVEs have become particularly vulnerable be yond its very definition based on 
the share of trade due to other unique characteristics of their own which encompass issues in timely 
responses to global events, including global pandemics, climate change, natural disasters, managing 
geopolitical tension and many other issues. The impact of these inherent characteristics of the SVEs 
on their economies is well reflected in external research as well as the documents produced by this 
secretariat as well. In this context, my delegation would like to endorse th e proposal by CTD Chair 
to hold a formal meeting of the Dedicated Session after the summer break to focus on the 
"Challenges and opportunities for small economies in the post Covid -19 recovery phase". We also 
welcome the idea to invite international Organi zations to present their findings and give information 
on support they can provide to small economies at that meeting. If possible, devise these support WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  measures on immediate to medium term basis. My delegation is quite optimistic that our 
deliberations in  the Work Programme and Thematic Sessions will take us closer to achieving the 
main objective of the work programme on SVEs, as mandated in paragraph  35 of the Doha Ministerial 
Declaration. The Ministers during the MC12 further reiterated this with a sense  of urgency to 
promptly address trade -related concerns to facilitate the comprehensive integration of Small and 
Vulnerable Economies (SVEs). Sri Lanka is looking forward to engaging constructively in the work of 
the CTD in its Dedicated Session towards ach ieving this objective.  
4.20.   The representative of Mauritius  delivered the following statement:  
4.21.   Mauritius supports the statement by the SVE Group. The MC12 Ministerial Declaration on 
Small Economies highlights the weaknesses of small economies that hinder their integration in the 
world economy and benefit from global trade. Small economies are already exposed to inherent 
constraints such as geographical isolation, limited resource endowment, small domestic market, lack 
of comparative advantage and exposure to ext ernal shocks as well as climate change. The pandemic 
already brought a number of unprecedented challenges. Current geopolitical situations have further 
aggravated the situation of small economies, exacerbating their precariousness in terms of food 
security , especially considering the fact that a majority of SVEs are NFIDCS. The continued socio -
economic development of this group of members, requires that the membership substantively 
address their needs. In this regard, we welcome the progress report from the  CTD Chair. We look 
forward towards intensifying our discussions during the Dedicated Session scheduled after the 
summer break. An enlarged participation will no doubt contribute towards reaching concrete 
outcomes for MC13 that will address support needed by the SVEs to address the challenges facing 
them to integrate the international trading system.  
4.22.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
4.23.   Jamaica thanks Ambassador Fung for his report and his leadership. We support his post -
summer w ork plan. At the outset, we align ourselves with the statements delivered by the ACP, 
CARICOM and SVEs Groups.  This topic is one of Jamaica 's priorities in the WTO.  We continue to 
interface with the Secretariat 's background note, which we find useful.  We propose that the Chair 
invites the participation of regional and sub -regional Organization s whose membership include small 
economies.  In addition to the workplan outlined, we invite the Chair of the CTD to, if possible, 
convene workshops and other appropria te events on critical issues with a view to gauging how the 
WTO may play an effective role. These events can include: Building capacity within small economies 
to measure the trade impacts of external events, such as pandemics and natural disasters, on the 
economy; Exchange of ideas and good practices among members and with international 
Organization s on measures successfully applied in various circumstances in respect of building 
resilient economic systems and trade policies to respond to impacts such as th ose emanating from 
the pandemic, as well as shocks from natural disasters and the ongoing impact of climate change; 
Discussing the possibilities for designing financial vehicles to improve small economies ' access to 
finance, which includes climate finance,  in order to better facilitate adaptation to the trade 
performance of small economies in a dynamic and evolving global trade environment; Exchange of 
information and good practices on improving value chain integration in small economies; Outlining 
the supp ort that can be made available across the international system and by bilateral partners for 
small economies; and Assisting in mobilising support for assessment of digital readiness of small 
economies, which would improve their ability to engage bilateral partners with a view to developing 
their soft and physical infrastructure.  Jamaica reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of 
the Work Programme and stands ready to engage actively in this regard.  
4.24.   The representative of Samoa , on behalf of the Pacific Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
4.25.   We align with the statements by the SVEs and the ACP. The Pacific Group thanks the Chair of 
CTD for his report and the progression made thus far within this work. And we continue to stress 
the importance of  this work to ensure that the WTO meets its commitment to frame responses to 
facilitate the fuller integration of SVEs into the global trading system. The collaborative work of the 
WTO with other relevant international Organizations can contribute ideas an d solutions that would 
provide SVEs with the opportunities to integrate in the post C ovid-19 context, while also considering WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  other impacts such as climate change and natural disasters. We do look forward to engaging in the 
upcoming discussions on pertinent  issues identified as the Chair of CTD has advised.  
4.26.   The representative of Brazil  provided  the following statement52: 
4.27.   Brazil thanks the Chair of the CTD for the report and continues supporting the work of the 
CTD in a Dedicated Session on Small Economies, a s well as the Work Programme on Small 
Economies. We believe that initiatives that contribute to a better understanding of the differences 
between developing economies and how small economies, in particular, are affected by specific trade 
rules will help pr epare these countries to face specific challenges and further integrate into and 
benefit from the multilateral trading system.  
4.28.   The representative of Saint Lucia  provided the  following statement53: 
4.29.   At the outset, I align with the statements of the OECS, CA RICOM and the SVEs Group. Many 
thanks to the Chair of the Dedicated Session of the Committee on Trade and Development for his 
report. In capital, relevant stakeholders are still assessing the contents of the Secretariat 
Background Note on integrating Small  Economies into the post -Covid-19 global economy. The 
preliminary assessment has been that the report contains very sound factual information and 
analysis. However, there is scope to further unpack some of the recommendations which have been 
made. It is in  this context that we support a dedicated discussion on the Background Note. We also 
support the involvement of relevant external stakeholders, mindful of the need to ensure that voices 
from among SVEs comprise some of these stakeholders.  
4.30.   The representativ e of Ecuador  provided the following statement54: 
4.31.   I would like to thank Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung, Chairperson of the Committee on Trade 
and Development, for his report on the progress of the small economies' proposals in WTO bodies 
and negotiating group s. My delegation associates itself with the statement given by the Ambassador 
of Guatemala, Mr Eduardo Sperisen, on behalf of the countries from the Group of Small and 
Vulnerable Economies (SVEs). As the focal point for agriculture issues in the SVE Group,  Ecuador 
reiterates the need for our Organization's work to always consider the particular vulnerabilities faced 
by SVEs in their agricultural sectors.  Ecuador welcomes the decision taken by the Committee on 
Trade and Development to hold a dedicated sessio n in September on the challenges and 
opportunities for small economies in reducing trade costs – in particular in the area of trade 
facilitation – attracting investment, and especially the impact of natural disasters and health crises.  
4.32.   In this regard, we e xpress once again our deep concern about the severe effects that an El 
Niño event, exacerbated by climate change, is expected to bring this year, which will affect dozens 
of countries, many of them members of the SVE Group.  Extreme weather events undermine  
agricultural production and destroy the infrastructure that enables trade; pose a risk to countries 
whose economies depend on agriculture; have an impact on other sectors such as services; and 
affect the environment, food security, public health and socia l cohesion.  In addition, the effects of 
the C ovid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have highlighted the fragility of the global food 
system, and have dealt a particularly severe blow to LDCs. This is why our delegation is looking 
forward to further discussions on the points contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/W/45  on 
integrating SVEs into the post -Covid-19 economy at the next dedicated session in September.  
4.33.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
4.34.   I just want to say that it is gratifying. We need to strongly support the SVEs , and I am happy 
to see that the study that was put forward by the Secretariat has been of great value. We stand 
ready to continue supporting you in the Work Programme that has been identified. Perhaps it would 
 
52 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
53 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
54 The statement was  not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  be good if SVEs think of how they will participa te during COP28 , in the trade day. There is going to 
be for the first time ever a trade day at COP28 and I think this is something the SVE's should pay 
attention to , because this is one place where we can connect trade and the vulnerability of the 
economie s together.  
4.35.   The General Council took note  of the report of the Chairperson of the CTD and of the 
statements made.  
5  COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION – REPORTS ON MEETINGS 
OF MARCH AND MAY 2023 (  WT/BFA/211  , WT/BFA/212  ) 
5.1.  The Chairperson  drew the General Council's attention to the reports of the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration, in documents WT/BFA/211  and WT/BFA/212 , and invited 
Ambassador Bettina WALDMANN (Germany), Chairperson of the CBFA, to introduce them.  
5.2.  Ambassador Bettina Waldmann (Germany), Chair of the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration , delivered the following statement:  
5.3.  Since my last rep ort to the General Council, the Committee has met on several occasions. In 
my remarks today, I will provide some highlights of the formal meetings of the Committee that took 
place on 9 and 16 March, and on 16 May 2023. The reports of those meetings are con tained in 
documents WT/BFA/211  and WT/BFA /212. I will also provide some highlights of important 
discussions that have taken place since then, including at the formal meeting of the CBFA held on 
18 July 2023.  
5.4.  WTO 2023 -2024 Budget Proposal: I would be remiss if I did not begin by noting that the WTO 
and ITC budget proposals were formally presented to the Committee last week on 18 July 2023. The 
Director -General has requested that the budget be increased in 2024 by 7.4 per cent of the Zero 
Nominal Growth budget amou nt of CHF 197.2 million that has been in place since 2011, and by an 
additional 0.9 per cent in 2025. The proposal also includes a request for funding for an additional 15 
staff posts. The WTO and ITC budget proposals are under consideration by Members. Th e goal is to 
ensure adequate time for in -depth deliberations and to make a recommendation by the November 
CBFA meeting for approval by the General Council at its December meeting. We will be intensifying 
our work through informal technical meetings and oth er formats as necessary in the fall.  
5.5.  Reform Proposal for Addressing the Pension Plan's Funding Gap: Another important matter on 
the agenda of the CBFA relates to the question of pension reform. Members have discussed the topic 
in both formal and informal s ettings – including at meetings of the CBFA held on 9 March, 16 May, 
and 27 June. The aim is to identify a landing zone that will allow Members to address the existing 
actuarial gap between the pension plan's assets and liabilities through reasonable burde n sharing 
among stakeholders. At the same time, the objective is to reassure Members that any landing zone 
will include the commitment to a Member -driven process exploring longer term structural reform to 
be undertaken following the budget process. It will  be important to take a timely decision in this 
regard as it can be expected to have budgetary implications going forward.  
5.6.  WTO Secretariat Transformation Exercise: The CBFA has received helpful updates regarding 
the ongoing WTO Secretariat Transformation E xercise from DDG Ellard since the process began. You 
will also recall that the Director -General provided an update to Members on the Secretariat's vision 
and strategy at the Informal HODs on 20 July.  
5.7.  Performance Audit Report on the Governance and Managemen t of Extra -Budgetary Trust 
Funds: Regarding other work carried out by the CBFA, let me also mention that the Secretariat is 
currently working on developing guidelines to improve the coherence in the management and 
administration of voluntary contributions that will incorporate both last year's recommendations of 
the Committee (  WT/BFA/W/584  ) and the more recent performance audit recommendations of the 
External Auditor (  WT/BFA/W/622/Rev.1  ). The Committee is continuing to provide input to the  
process and monitor the Secretariat's progress as it receives periodic updates on this work.  
5.8.  Contributions from Members and Observers: The Secretariat reported that the overall level of 
contributions in arrears was high. Outstanding contributions due from  44 Members amounted to WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  CHF 16.8 million at the end of 2022, and 18 Members were subject to administrative measures for 
a total amount outstanding of CHF 10.7 million. In addition, 10 Observers were subject to 
administrative measures as at 31 December 2022 . The upward trend in arrears has been sharp. In 
fact, the high level of contributions in arrears is the primary factor that led to the low budgetary 
result of CHF 67,000 in 2022. As always, the Secretariat stands ready to work out payment plans 
with Membe rs under arrears.  
5.9.  The Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration makes the following recommendation 
to the General Council: "The Committee invites the General Council to urge Members and Observers 
under Administrative Measures to liquidate their arrea rs." 
5.10.   The General Council approved  the Budget Committee's specific recommendation in paragraph 
11.7 of the report contained in WT/BFA/211  urging Members and Observers under Administrative 
Measures to liquidate their arrears; took note  of Ambassador Waldmann's statement; and adopted  
the reports contained in WT/BFA/211  and WT/BFA/212 . 
6  TRADE RELATED CHALLENGES OF THE LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND WAY 
FORWARD: PROPOSAL FOR WTO SMOOTH TRANSITION MEASURES IN FAVOUR OF 
COUNTRIES GRADUATED FROM THE LDC CATEGORY – COMMUNICATION FROM DJIBOUTI 
ON BEHALF OF THE LDC GROUP (  WT/GC/W/807/R EV.2 ) 
6.1.  The Chairperson invited Djibouti, on behalf of the LDC Group, to provide the General Council 
with any updates or new developments related to their communicati on. 
6.2.  The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
6.3.  Since last GC meeting the LDC Group engaged the interested delegations. We want to thank 
the delegations who worked with our group to find solutions on our p roposal concerning Members 
graduating from the LDC category. While we continue discussions and expect to conclude on Annex 
1 as quickly as possible for decision in the General Council, we hope that we can today agree to send 
Annex 2 of our proposal to the Sub-Committee on LDCs, with an instruction to formally report to the 
General Council in November this year. Thanks to all the delegations for their support and comments, 
LDC will continue engaging the interested delegations and remain ready to step up the work on the 
LDC graduation proposal. LDC Group thanks the US for explaining their GSP and happy to hear their 
readiness to work with LDC on language. We also thank formal LDC delegations for sharing today 
their challenges and experiences after graduation. Our countries learnt from them. This issue 
remains important and is a standing issue on LDC focal points' agenda. I would like to reiterate that 
LDC's proposal requests a smooth and sustainable transition and has no intention of changing 
unilateral prefere nces which remain in the hands of the Members providing them.  
6.4.  The representative of Bangladesh  delivered the following statement:  
6.5.  Bangladesh aligns with the statement by the LDC Group. Members have been discussing this 
proposal in the GC since 2020 and it has received broad support. We are grateful to Members who 
supported this. We are also grateful for those Members who raised questions, provided textual 
suggestions and engaged constructively. In MC12 Outcome Document, paragraph 5, Ministers clearly 
acknow ledge the challenges including the loss of trade -related international support measures after 
graduation and recognize the importance of WTO measures to address those challenges. Therefore, 
our present submission is most relevant form that perspective. The  LDC Group is working with some 
delegations who provided some textual suggestion on Annex  1 of the LDC proposal. We believe that 
there are wide convergences on the imperative to have a favourable decision as soon as possible. 
The divergences on a few areas  could be abridged. Annex  2 of the LDC submission will require 
technical level discussion. In order to utilize time and make progress, the General Council today may 
instruct the Sub-Committee on LDC s to examine the Annex 2 of the LDC proposal and report ba ck 
to the General Council by the November this year. We seek support from the Members for a 
favourable decision.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.6.  The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
6.7.  The majority of African Group Members are least -developed countries, whose challenges we 
are very familiar with and also experience throughout the African continent. The African Group, 
therefore, welcomes the latest developments in the negotiations towards  reaching consensus on this 
issue that affects the majority of our Members. We are encouraged at the prospects of one step 
forward on this issues that has illuded us since 2020. The African Group considers the proposal by 
the LDCs as contained in document WT/GC/W/807/Rev. 2 as the best basis for a mutually agreeable 
outcome that addresses the concerns of all Members. An outcome on the matter of LDC graduation 
is long overdue and a comprehensive outcome must be agreed before MC13. We take note and 
appreciate the pragmatism with which the LDC Group has approached these negotiations and share 
their view that flexibility must be exercised all around while retaining the key substantive intentions 
of their proposals. The African Group stands ready to support  the adoption by this General Council 
meeting of Annex 1 of the LDC submission which simply encourages Members providing unilateral 
preferences to extend this for some period after graduation of LDCs from this category. The African 
Group further supports t he proposal for the General Council to instruct the Sub -Committee for Least -
Developed Countries further examine Annex 2 of the proposal by the LDC Group, and report to the 
General Council in November this year.  
6.8.  The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the  ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
6.9.  The ACP Group supports the earliest adoption of Annex 1 of the LDC Group proposal for 
graduation from the LDC category. We are encouraged by the news from the LDC Group that 
progress is being made in consultat ions that may result in an agreement on Annex 1 in the coming 
days. In the meantime, we also confirm support for a decision of the General Council to transfer 
Annex 2 of the proposal to the LDC Sub -Committee today, with instructions to the Sub -Committee 
to report back to the General Council in November this year.  
6.10.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
6.11.   My delegation supports the statement by the LDC Group. We have been actively engaged in 
the discussions surrounding this proposal sinc e 2020, and we have observed the broad support it 
has garnered from the membership in general. We commend the LDC Group for their flexibility and 
pragmatism throughout those discussions. Paragraph 5 of the MC12 Outcome Document recognizes 
the challenges fa ced by LDCs, emphasizing the importance of WTO measures to address these 
challenges. We find merit in the proposals presented by the LDC Group in the Annexes. Annex  1, 
which encourages the provision of unilateral trade preferences for a limited period afte r graduation, 
is a compelling initiative. We understand that this proposal is intended as an encouragement and 
not a legally binding obligation, and we believe that the General Council can duly approve it. Annex  2, 
which seeks to discuss the extension of L DC-specific special treatments for a limited period after 
graduation, is an initiative we fully support. We recognize that these provisions already exist within 
the WTO framework and that the General Council can assign the sub -committee with a clear mandat e 
to examine Annex  2, develop recommendations, and report back to the Council, in accordance with 
the LDCs' request.  
6.12.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following statement:  
6.13.   Nigeria wishes to thank the LDC Group for its flexibility and pragmatism in taking into account 
the concerns of Members in their revised proposal. At the outset, we wish to associate ourselves 
with the statements by the African Group and the ACP. Paragraph 5 of the MC12 outcome document 
acknowledged the challenges of  LDCs including the loss of trade -related international support 
measures after graduation and recognizes the importance of WTO measures to address those 
challenges. We reaffirm our support for this proposal because we believe graduated LDCs require 
support  during their transition period to foster stability. We call on Members to give due 
consideration to the elements of Annex 1 and 2 of the proposal and work towards achieving 
consensus on this issue in advance of MC13.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.14.   The representative of Norway  delivered  the following statement:  
6.15.   LDCs are a priority for the membership. For Norway, The LDC proposal Annex 1 is, as we 
have said previously, a low hanging fruit that should be harvested ahead of MC13. We had hoped to 
agree on the text here at the July GC. Howeve r, the Senior Officials meeting should be the place and 
the time to endorse Annex 1. We need a process leading up to that. As to Annex 2, we support that 
it be sent to the Sub -Committee on LDCs.  
6.16.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following state ment:  
6.17.   Thailand would like to thank the LDC Group for reintroducing the revised LDC graduation 
proposal today. To us, the graduation always has a positive connotation because it means that some 
of the LDCs are moving into the future, and it is a mark of ach ievement. We also recognize that, in 
order to move forward, there might be a need for a smooth transition. Therefore, Thailand continues 
to be committed to contributing to this issue. Considering the possibility that the proposed decision 
on the DFQF exten sion or the Annex I under the LDC graduation proposal could be adopted as the 
early harvest of the MC13, and in light of our close trade relations with many LDCs, Thailand is very 
happy today to announce that, after consultation with the LDC Group and with  capital, we are in a 
position to adopt the Annex I if the consensus prevails. Since we have been providing the DFQF to 
LDCs since 2015, Thailand would like to emphasize once again that we look forward to working 
closely with the LDCs into the future. On t he Annex II, we can support the suggestion to have the 
Sub-Committee on LDCs to further discuss the Annex II. We can go along with the proposal by 
Ambassador Kadra who have worked tirelessly on this issue, and I commend her effort a lot. So, I 
hope that is  one thing that we can support LDCs.  
6.18.   The representative of United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
6.19.   As we  have said before , we would have been happy to see this issue sorted back in MC12 last 
June.  We still think it  is really important for us to try and make every effort, strain every sinew to 
sort it out well before MC13. It  is helpful in terms of showing commitment to listen  and to deliver on 
something of importance to so many LDCs.  On the precise modalities about how we go about doing 
that, we welcome the bilateral discussions that have been going on. If our Senior Officials can help 
in trying to finalize or endorse a text i n October , we are very happy to help in any way up to then, 
or beyond then.  It would be good to come back in any case to this General Council for a general 
update in November , and I think in the short term it  would  be really good if we could decide to move  
discussion of Annex 2 to the LDC Sub-Committee , so looking at those technical discussions up and 
running in preparation for a fuller decision.  
6.20.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
6.21.   My delegation welcomes the progress made towar ds the adoption of the decision contained 
in Annex 1 to this revised proposal by the LDC Group , and hopes that it will be adopted at the 
high‑level meeting in October, thus demonstrating the WTO's capacity to deliver 
development ‑oriented outcomes and helpi ng build an environment of cooperation and better 
understanding in the run ‑up to MC13.  
6.22.   The representative of Tanzania  delivered the following statement:  
6.23.   My delegation would like to thank all Members who have demonstrated and exercised 
flexibility in their engagement with understanding and empathy to the LDC Group's request. The 
LDC Group has patiently engaged members since MC11 in 2017 when Ministers strongly urged for a 
meaning WTO smooth transition mechanism that will provide a soft landing to graduating countries 
from LDC Group status. Members have also committed in the UN Doha Program of Action (DPA) to 
mobilize international solidarity, global partnerships for sustainable graduation by ensuring a smooth 
transition from the least developed country catego ry. The UN has called Members to extend LDC -
specific flexibilities for some additional years after graduation, for which the current LDC Graduation 
proposal is an effort towards that direction for which WTO Members need to honour. We were 
disappointed duri ng MC12 when only a handful of Members failed to exercise flexibility for an 
outcome. They dishonoured their own commitments from Doha Program of Action and the UN call. 
At this point, we would like to once again request the General Council to assign the s ub-committee WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  with clear deadline to examine Annex 2 of the LDC proposal and recommend for adoption during the 
next General Council. At the same time, we request this General Council meeting to approve the 
Annex 1. We believe that extending the existing LDC  treatments for a few more years after 
graduation, will not impact global trade significantly should such a decision be made but will send a 
strong positive signal that WTO is caring LDCs and small economies. Therefore, we are looking 
forward to a swifty c onclusion of this matter.  
6.24.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
6.25.   The European Union is ready to continue engaging on Annex 1 and on Annex 2 of the LDC 
proposal. We are ready to support a decision on a transition period for LDC preferences in Annex 1 
as soon as possible, with some adjustment. We understand that informal discussions on such 
adjustments are still ongoing. The European Union also considers that analytical work on Annex 2 
of the proposal could preferably star t as soon as possible in the LDC Subcommittee, in coordination 
with other relevant WTO bodies and stakeholders, on each of the "specific measures" that are listed 
in Annex 2. The challenges involved in LDC graduation merit a specific response from the WTO 
membership. Work should continue in the limited time left before our Senior Officials meet in October 
and our Ministers gather at MC13.  
6.26.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
6.27.   One run we can get on the board at MC13 is this issue of LDC transition arrangements. Thank 
you to Djibouti and Bangladesh for the useful updates on progress made on this proposal. Australia 
is keen to see a swift conclusion to Annex 1 negotiations to lock in this critical MC13 deliverable. I 
have to sa y it is a shame we are not closer to achieving that outcome today. It is time the WTO 
made concrete progress towards establishing appropriate mechanisms to support LDCs as they 
transition. We appreciate bilateral negotiations are ongoing. At an appropriate  time, we should also 
consider moving to a facilitated small group process amongst interested parties to ensure all 
impacted Members are engaged. Australia would be pleased to participate in this. We should give 
ourselves the deadline of the October Senior  Officials Meeting for agreeing to this proposal. It would 
be fitting if our Senior Officials could agree the outcome in October so we can ensure we have our 
first outcome of MC13 in hand. But we must also make progress on Annex 2. This will require detail ed 
technical discussion which will take time. We add our voice to those calling for Annex 2 to be referred 
to the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries for further consideration, with that Sub -
Committee providing a general update on the discussions to  the November General Council meeting.  
6.28.   The representative of Malawi  delivered the following statement:  
6.29.   Malawi aligns with the statement by the LDC Group. Paragraph 5 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document acknowledges the particular challenges that graduation presen ts and recognizes the role 
that certain measures in WTO can play in facilitating smooth and sustainable transition for Members 
after graduation from the LDC Category. We thank all Members who have contributed to this proposal 
thus far and expect that a dec ision on Annex 1 will be made soon by the General Council. We are 
optimistic that during today's discussion, we will reach a consensus to submit Annex 2 of our proposal 
to the Sub -Committee on LDCs and have the Sub -Committee report recommendations to the G eneral 
Council in November. I join my colleagues in wishing Ambassador Xolelwa all the best as she moves 
on to serve her country in other capacities.  
6.30.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
6.31.   We associate ourselves with the Afri can Group statement. We do believe that this is one of 
the issues that can be delivered by the GC before MC13. We welcome the renewed engagement by 
Members to find a solution. During the TNC, we heard an overwhelming call for this issue to be 
finalised by the Senior Officials Meeting in October if not concluded before then. My delegation is 
optimistic that if Members engage in the next coming weeks and months, a solution can be found 
by latest, at the October SOM.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.32.   The representative of Barbados  delivered th e following statement:  
6.33.   Briefly, we are very happy to see the discussions continuing between LDCs and partners to 
ensure that this can be included in the basket of low hanging fruit for agreement in the General 
Council ahead of advancing to Ministers at MC1 3 for their consideration. Agreement on the LDC 
graduation proposal sends a strong signal that the WTO is continuing to do its part to support LDCs. 
We need to step up on this.  
6.34.   The representative of Zambia  delivered the following statement:  
6.35.   We thank all M embers that have supported the LDC proposal for a smooth transition process 
for those countries graduating from the LDC category. The engagement and feedback on the 
proposal has allowed us to address many of the burning issues which we hope now clears the 
concerns that some Members had. We therefore hope that this GC will endorse the recommendation 
to send Annex 2 of the proposal to the LDC Sub -Committee with an instruction that it then reports 
back to the GC by November this year. Lastly, our delegation al igns with the statements already 
delivered and those to be delivered on the various agenda items by the coordinators of the ACP 
Group, the LDC Group and the African Group.  
6.36.   The representative of Niger  delivered the following statement:  
6.37.   My delegation aligns itself with the statement of the LDC Group.  It is worth recalling that at 
MC11 in 2017, the LDC Ministers called for the creation of a WTO smooth transition mechanism to 
support countries after they graduate from the LDC category. Recently, in paragraph 27 6 of the 
Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, the United Nations urged the 
development and trading partners of LDCs, as well as the United Nations system, to provide specific 
support measures for making graduation from the LDC catego ry sustainable and irreversible.  We 
have discussed this proposal since 2020, and we note that it has received broad support from 
Members in general. Our Group has been working tirelessly and was expecting a favourable decision 
at MC12, which, regrettably, we have been unable to reach thus far.  Nevertheless, in paragraph 5 
of the MC12 Outcome Document, Ministers acknowledge the challenges,  including the loss of 
trade‑related international support measures after graduation, and the importance of WTO measures 
in addressing them. This suggests that the merits of the request are recognized and that there is a 
political will to accommodate the request.  Our current proposal seeks to address this, and the LDC 
Group has striven to include, in a pragmatic way, the con cerns raised by other Members.  Annex 1 
to the communication is a call to grant LDCs unilateral trade preferences for an extended period 
after leaving the LDC category. We ask the General Council to adopt the decision in Annex 1 without 
delay.  Annex 2 propo ses discussions and technical work within the Sub -Committee for 
Least‑Developed Countries on the extension of the LDC ‑specific special treatment measures for a 
limited period after graduation. We are not requesting the creation of new flexibilities, since they 
are covered by existing provisions in the various WTO agreements.   
6.38.   We request the General Council to give the Sub -Committee a clear mandate to consider Annex 
2 to the LDCs' proposal, prepare recommendations and report to the General Council before the  end 
of this year, as requested by the Coordinator of the LDC Group.  We stress that LDCs account for 
around 14 per cent of the world's population, but only around 2 per cent of world GDP and less than 
1 per cent of global trade. We cannot claim that the WT O is inclusive or that trade is accessible to 
all if this significant proportion of the world's population and the 46 Members that represent it 
continue to be ignored and excluded.  As you are aware, graduation overnight will not resolve the 
challenges inhe rited by LDCs, especially those linked to natural and structural vulnerability, poverty, 
gender inequality, and insufficient structural transformation and productive capacity, exacerbated 
by the C ovid‑19 pandemic and the current geopolitical situation.  As we also know, all LDCs will 
graduate sooner or later. The purpose of the principal, redundant LDC submission was to establish 
a WTO smooth transition mechanism that provided predictability and certainty for graduating LDCs 
and thereby consolidate their rol e in international trade, which could benefit world trade as a whole.  
Extending the existing LDC treatment for a few more years after graduation will have only a 
negligible impact on global trade in terms of effort, and having such a mechanism would also s end 
a strong message of solidarity to LDCs and demonstrate a commitment to strengthening 
multilateralism on the part of the entire global trading system.  We urge all WTO Members to support 
our call to take the necessary decisions in favour of LDCs.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.39.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
6.40.   With regard to the proposal of the LDC Group in document WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2 , Indonesia 
once again calls on all Members to consider positively and work collectively to achieve an acceptable 
outcome. Indonesia firmly believes in the importance of fostering a fair, transparent, and inclusive 
multilateral t rading system that leaves no country behind. The issue of smooth transition measures 
for countries that have graduated from the LDC category is of paramount importance, to ensure that 
their development gains are not impeded and that they can fully particip ate in the global economy 
on equitable terms. As a WTO Member, we are guided by the vision of the Marrakesh Agreement to 
raise living standards, ensure employment, and foster income growth. Indonesia shares the view 
that special and differential treatment and flexibilities in trade rules are one of the key tools to 
address trade -related challenges, particularly to allow smooth transition for LDC Members. Hence, 
we believe that this proposal is an important step towards ensuring that LDCs can continue to ben efit 
from the multilateral trading system after graduation. Additionally, we urge focused attention on 
LDCs' proposals for graduation during the next Ministerial Conference, ensuring they receive the 
necessary support to thrive in the global trading system . We believe that the adoption of this 
proposal would be a significant achievement for the WTO. It would demonstrate the WTO's 
commitment to helping LDCs achieve their development goals. It would also send a signal to others 
that the WTO is a fair and equi table system that can help all members to prosper.  
6.41.   The representative of Botswana  delivered the following statement:  
6.42.   We thank Djibouti on behalf of LDCs for the paper contained in WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2 . The 
Botswana delegation wishes to commend all  Members for their dedicated efforts in advancing the 
discussions and moving this matter towards a resolution. The recent exchanges have provided 
reassurance and encouragement, and we are now hopeful that we can reach a conclusion during the 
Senior Officia l meeting or, at the latest, at MC13. The Botswana delegation strongly supports the 
proposal of the LDC Group on smooth transition measures in favour of countries that have graduated 
from the LDC category. I would like to emphasize our previous submissions  made during past 
General Council meetings regarding Botswana`s experiences post -graduation.  The challenges 
encountered by LDCs post -graduation are complex and demand thoughtful consideration. The 
challenges become increasingly severe for Least Developed C ountries (LDCs) that are also 
landlocked. As the coordinator of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) Group, I cannot 
overemphasize the utmost importance we attach to reaching a conclusion on this matter. The unique 
challenges faced by being landlocke d are multifaceted and addressing them is crucial for the 
sustainable development and prosperity post -graduation.  
6.43.   The Botswana delegation reiterates its support for the conclusion of this matter before MC13, 
we further support a decision by the General Co uncil to transfer Annex 2 of the proposal to the LDC 
Sub-Committee with instructions to the Sub -Committee to report back to the General Council in 
November this year.  We align with the statement delivered by Cameroon and Kenya on behalf of 
the African Grou p and the ACP Group respectively.  
6.44.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
6.45.   India would like to thank Djibouti for the proposal on behalf of LDC Group. India would 
reiterate its support for a reasonable period for the LDC graduation. W e hope that we do not wait 
for station seven or eight but that it could be delivered on the fourth or fifth station.  
6.46.   The representative of Lao PDR  delivered the following statement:  
6.47.   My delegation aligns itself with the statement by LDC Group. Lao PDR atta ches great 
importance to the smooth and sustainable graduation, we, therefore, fully support the proposed 
proposal by the LDC Group well outlined in Annex I and Annex II. We really hope that this General 
Council approve the proposed next steps or ways forw ard outlined by our LDCs' Coordinator, 
Djibouti, to have Annex I approved by this GC meeting and to have Annex II further deliberated by 
Sub-Committee and reported to next GC meeting in November this year for consideration and 
approval. On my personal note , while expressing our sincere thanks to Donors and International 
Organizations for their invaluable supports and cooperation extended, we would like to see the future 
International Support Measures on LDCs' graduation focusing on specific needs and priori ties of WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  respective LDC countries, as they are diverse in members and at different development stages. For 
the Lao PDR we would like to ask for technology transfer, productive capacity, export produce 
competitiveness improvement, SPS, Digital Transformation , and so -on. Furthermore, we emphasize 
the importance of synergy and complementarity between WTO supporting efforts and other 
Development Cooperation frameworks efforts such UNCTAD, WIPO, ILO, LDCs 5 Plan of Action 2022 -
2031, among others.  Lao PDR stands r eady to work closely with all WTO Members to have this LDCs' 
graduation proposal finalized and eventually approved by the MC13.  
6.48.   The representative of Mauritius  delivered the following statement:  
6.49.   We associate ourselves with the statements made by the ACP G roup and the African Group. 
This item on the transition of LDC Members to developing status has been under discussions for 
quite some time now and is ripe for a decision well ahead of MC13. The membership has 
acknowledged that transition poses substantive difficulties to the countries as they are required to 
make significant amendments to their trade regimes, including with regard to their institutional 
capacity and WTO obligations. It is in light of such difficulties and the need to ensure a smooth 
transit ion, that Mauritius supports the proposed measures for the transition of graduating LDC 
Members. They need the WTO's support to effectively integrate into the global trading system and 
build on progress made.  
6.50.   The representative of Japan  delivered the foll owing statement:  
6.51.   Japan recognizes the importance of providing special measures for developing countries and 
LDCs to engage in the multilateral trading system in a smooth transition, and has been providing 
special preferential treatment for LDCs and general  preferential treatment for a wider range of 
developing country Members. As for Annex 1 of the proposal, Japan considers that an extension of 
special preferential tariff systems and this duration should reflect the situations of providing 
Members and its b eneficiaries. We understand some adjustment work, including specific extension 
period is still going. Japan has interest in and is ready to be engaged in consultation on the wording 
of Annex 1 to pursue convergence among Members. Concerning Annex 2, Japan is open about where 
in the WTO to discuss this proposal. We are ready to participate in evidence -based discussions on 
Annex 2 in a substantive manner, including in the LDC Sub -Committee.  
6.52.   The representative of Samoa , on behalf of the Pacific Group , delivere d the following 
statement:  
6.53.   The Pacific Group aligns with ACP Statement delivered by Kenya. The Pacific Group continues 
to commend the LDC Group for their unceasing efforts to bridge Members' views on their proposal. 
Given the experience of some of our Memb ers as graduated LDCs, we understand and recognize the 
needs of graduating LDCs for smooth transition measures. We continue to be supportive and also 
implore the membership for their support of these efforts. As shared at the TNC meeting last week, 
we cons ider this as a low -hanging fruit that could be harvested now; if not at this General Council, 
then it certainly can be adopted by our Senior Officials during their meeting in October.  
6.54.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
6.55.   Brazil h as consistently engaged in discussions aiming at strengthening the multilateral trading 
system and ensuring that it remains beneficial to all Members. We believe that Special and 
Differential Treatment to LDCs Members plays an important role in achieving t his goal. We welcome 
discussions on the issue of graduation. We acknowledge the legitimate concerns expressed by LDCs 
and reiterate our willingness to work together with the LDC Group to further advance on this topic. 
A result in this issue even before MC1 3 would be highly appreciated not only within the mandate of 
WTO but also as a valuable deliverable for the public in general outside the Organization.  
6.56.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
6.57.   We thank the LDC Group for th e continued engagement on this proposal. We have been 
proactive in providing proposals on Annex I. As we said at the last meeting of the General Council, 
we would like to reach agreement for MC13 and could resolve this soon if there  is willingness to be WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  pragmatic. Annex II contains more elements and is more difficult. We stand ready to engage in 
meaningful discussions on this piece of the LDC graduation proposal in LDC Sub-Committee.  
6.58.   The representative of the Russian Federation  delivere d the following statement:  
6.59.   My delegation would like to once again thank the LDC Group for the communication 
WT/GC/W/807/Rev .2 . We share the concern that the abrupt deprivation of recently graduated LDCs 
of benefits and preferences is a serious  challenge for them. WTO Members should support LDCs in 
this regard in accordance with the UN principle of the "smooth transition". We thank once again the 
representatives of the LDC Group for providing us with clarifications and for their readiness to tak e 
on board our suggestions in a spirit of constructive and mutually beneficial interaction. We are fully 
engaged in further discussions on the LDC graduation proposal with a view to adopting Annex 1 and 
taking the decision on Annex 2 as soon as possible.  
6.60.   The representative of Cambodia  delivered the following statement:  
6.61.    At the outset, we would also like to joint others to bid farewell to Her Excellency Ambassador 
of South Africa. We wish you all the best future endeavour. We appreciate your substantive 
contribution in the system. Back to this agenda item, my delegation aligns with the statement by 
the LDC Group. My delegation would like to reiterate once again that having a smooth transition 
after graduating out of the LDC categories is very important for t he LDCs. We appreciate the 
constructive engagement of Members. Graduation for LDCs is not the end of the road. There is still 
a long way to go after graduation and the road is as rough, if not rougher, than before graduation. 
Therefore, the proposed transi tion period would make this journey smoother and to provide for the 
graduated LDCs a way to sustaining and accelerating their level of development and to avoid any 
slipping back in their development. Since this agenda item is longstanding, we urge to see t he 
decision as the earliest possible. Likewise, I hope the General Council can decide on Annex 1 as soon 
as possible and forward Annex 2 to the LDC Sub -Committee for further deliberation, preferably by 
November this year.  
6.62.   The representative of Mozambique  delivered the following statement:  
6.63.   Mozambique align itself with the statements by the LDC Group, the African Group and the 
ACP Group. All LDCs will graduate, sooner or later. The main purpose of the submission is to establish 
a smooth transition mechanism i n the WTO which provides predictability and certainty. We urge all 
Members to support this proposal to provide decisions in favour of the LDCs. In conclusion, we would 
also like to join in wishing Ambassador Xolelwa a bid farewell and all the best in futur e endeavours.  
6.64.   The representative of Nepal  delivered the following statement:  
6.65.   My delegation aligns with the statement by the LDC Group and wishes to add some points: 
Bilateral discussions with the interested members have indicated that members are really in terested 
to expediate this proposal by LDC Group. At the meeting of TNC on 20 July, almost all Members that 
took the floor emphasized the proposal to put in the priority. We would like to underscore that 
meeting the graduation criteria by LDCs does not nec essarily mean that they are able to overcome 
all the challenges immediately – rather, they will have to encounter several challenges in a new 
economic environment. In this regard, we want a favourable resolution on the LDC Group's 
submission, which we beli eve contributes to smooth and sustainable transition. On the other hand, 
having such a mechanism would also send a strong message in favour of LDCs from the entire 
multilateral trading system. Therefore, my delegation expects a decision on Annex 1 as soon as 
possible from the General Council, and we urge General Council to decide today that it assigns LDC 
Sub-Committee to develop recommendations on Annex 2 and report to General Council by November 
2023, so that the LDC Sub-Committee can begin substantive ex aminations immediately after the 
summer break.  Finally, I also join others in appreciating the roles of the Her Excellency Ambassador 
Xolelwa of South Africa and wish her the best.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.66.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
6.67.   Argentina welcomes all kinds of debate and discussion aimed at ensuring that the multilateral 
trading system benefits LDCs and contributes to their development. Discussions on a smooth 
transition are of great importance and we reiterate our readiness to move them forward.  
6.68.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following statement:  
6.69.   I wish to thank Djibouti for presenting the LDC Group 's revised proposal on Smooth Transition 
Measures in Favour of Countries Graduated from the LDC Category. Graduation is a significant 
milestone and Singapore continues to strongly support efforts to ensure a smooth transition for 
graduated LDCs, including through technical assistance and capacity building. We believe that an 
outcome, par ticularly on Annex 1, of this proposal at MC13 will represent a step forward towards 
delivering a concrete and meaningful outcome on development. We encourage all sides to continue 
to engage constructively and find common ground on the Duty -Free Quota -Free (DFQF) extension 
as soon as possible. With flexibility and creativity, it is entirely possible for Members to reach 
agreement on Annex 2, so that we can collectively achieve our common objective of facilitating LDC 
Members' integration into the multilater al trading system.  
6.70.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
6.71.   We align with the statement by the ACP Group.  Jamaica thanks the LDCs Group for their 
proposal, which we fully support.  My delegation thanks the LDCs Group for their hard work, flexibility 
and pragmatism in pursuit of consensus on this very crucial issue.  Jamaica expected an adoption of 
the proposal today , but we understand that discussions on Annex 1 continues. We do hope those 
discussions can be concluded as soon as possible and before the Senior Officials Meeting.  We agree 
with the LDCs that the General Council should assign the LDCs Sub-Committee with a clear mandate 
to examine Annex 2 of the proposal and develop recommendations for the GC by November this 
year. As a small developing economy, Jamaica fully understands the substantial dislocation of 
economic and social development goals that can happen in the absence of a mechanism to facilitate 
a smooth economic landing into a more competitive field of global trade.  Jamaica calls on WTO 
Members to assist graduating LDCs in their efforts to bring the value and benefits of the WTO, as 
well as to enhance the perception thereof, to the people and stakeholders in their societies.   
6.72.   The representative of Chad delivered the f ollowing statement:  
6.73.   My delegation endorses the statement delivered by Djibouti on behalf of the LDC Group. It 
should first be recalled that, since the Eleventh Ministerial Conference in 2017, LDC Ministers have 
been urging the WTO to set up a smooth transi tion mechanism to support LDCs after they graduate. 
The United Nations has also been calling on WTO Members to extend the specific flexibilities granted 
to LDCs for a few more years after graduation. We have been discussing this proposal since 2020 
and it has received broad support from Members generally. Our Group has worked tirelessly and 
constructively, and hoped to receive a favourable decision during the Twelfth Ministerial Conference. 
However, we did not succeed in obtaining one. My delegation regrets  the fact that the multilateral 
trading system was unable to reach the much awaited  consensus. Nevertheless, in paragraph 5 of 
the MC12 outcome document, Ministers clearly acknowledge the challenges, including the loss after 
graduation of trade -related int ernational support measures, and recognize the importance of WTO 
measures in overcoming these challenges. Our current proposal on LDC graduation seeks to address 
such matters. We believe that, in order to achieve a result, the process must evolve, particul arly the 
positions of certain Members.  
6.74.   The LDC Group has made every effort to include the concerns of other Members in a pragmatic 
way in the current proposal. Annex 1 of this submission is a call to grant LDCs unilateral trade 
preferences for an extended period after their graduation from the LDC category. We request the 
General Council to approve Annex 1 as soon as possible. Annex 2 proposes a discussion and technical 
work within the Sub -Committee for LDCs, focusing on extending the LDC -specific treatment  for a 
certain period of time. We are not seeking to create new flexibilities. It is simply a matter of 
provisions that already exist for LDCs. My delegation asks the General Council to provide the Sub -
Committee for LDCs with a clear mandate to review Anne x 2 of the proposal, prepare WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  recommendations and report to the General Council by November of this year, as requested by our 
Coordinator.  
6.75.   LDCs are home to approximately 14% of the global population, but account for around 2% of 
global GDP and less than 1% of global trade. We know that obtaining flexibilities for graduated LDCs 
will not resolve all the structural difficulties faced by LDCs amid a complex international situation. 
However, any results obtained within the General Council and later at MC13 will be seen as an 
important step in the negotiations on the LDC graduation. The main purpose of the submission is to 
establish a smooth transition mechanism within the WTO that provides predictability and certainty. 
Extending the existing LDC treatment for a f ew more years after graduation will have negligible 
impact on global trade. Moreover, having such a mechanism would send a strong positive signal in 
favour of LDCs from the entire multilateral trading system.  
6.76.   The representative of Tunisia  delivered the fo llowing statement:  
6.77.   Tunisia aligns itself with the statement by the African Group and reiterates its support for the 
communication from the LDC Group. It is essential to ensure a sustained transition for graduated 
LDC Members, particularly in the current so cio-economic context, including by allowing them to 
adopt support measures during the transition period. We believe that the discussions on Annex 1 
have progressed sufficiently to make a favourable decision during this Council session. We are also 
in favou r of continuing the discussions on Annex 2 with a view to making a decision during the 
upcoming General Council sessions before MC13. I would like to join all previous speakers in 
congratulating Ambassador Xolelwa for her substantial and highly valuable co ntribution to the work 
of the WTO and wishing her the best in her future endeavours. We will miss her clear and eloquent 
statements and she will be especially missed in the African Group, which will lose its star player and 
spearhead. We are confident that  she will continue to lend her support to the Group's positions, even 
if she is not here in person.  
6.78.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
6.79.   For LDCs ' graduation, we would like to encourage relevant parties to continue working 
togethe r with a view to reaching consensus on Annex 1 as early as possible. And China is ready to 
participate in Annex 2 discussion.  
6.80.   The representative of Morocco , delivered the following statement:  
6.81.   My delegation supports the statement by Djibouti on behalf of LD Cs and which contains 
realistic proposals to ensure a smooth transition for these countries.  LDCs still face significant trade 
and development challenges after graduation, and risk falling back into that category. The WTO 
therefore has a duty to help these  countries to address the trade challenges they face and ensure 
the smooth integration of this category into global trade. We hope that the General Council will reach 
a consensus on Annexes 1 and 2 as soon as possible, and preferably before MC13.  
6.82.   The repre sentative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
6.83.   I would like to start by thanking all delegations for their useful comments and also their 
support for the graduation and the proposal of the LDC. This is a proposal that  the LDC have had on 
their table for a while, and have put on the table of WTO Members also for a while. Our former 
coordination, Chad, and also our focal point have been advocating for this issue before our own 
coordination. This is a standing issue on th e agenda of our group of focal points. Every time they 
meet this is one of the issues that they discuss, so we appreciate really the interest of delegations. 
I want to assure you that LDCs will continue engaging with the interested delegations and remain 
ready to step up the work on the graduation proposal. I was listening to all delegations' comments 
and I would like to thank the former LDC Members who shared their experiences – that explains why 
this proposal is on the table. We learned from their challen ges and their experiences after 
graduating, and as much as we are very happy to see more and more LDCs on the list of graduation, 
we would like to see a smooth transition and a sustainable one so that when they graduate they do 
not relapse.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.84.   On behalf of th e LDCs I would also like to thank the US for explaining their GSP programme , 
and we are happy to hear that the US is ready to work with the LDCs to find a language that will 
take on board all different GSPs that exist . We remain engaged in finding, in a pr agmatic way, a 
language that will satisfy and is comfortable for all. We took note of all interested delegations that 
want to engage with us on this. I want to clarify there is no hidden agenda in our proposal as LDC s. 
I think the language is very clear. W e are encouraging delegations that provide unilateral 
preferences, duty free quota free , to extend for a period of time their unilateral preferences. More 
importantly, I think we are making sure that in the language , to give comfort to interested 
delegations, we do not have the pretention of changing the unilateral preferences which remain in 
the hands of the Member  providing those unilateral preferences . So, in that spirit , we will continue 
on working on Annex 1 for a quick resolution of all the outstanding  issues  and clarification s that are 
needed . But, also we would like to see today from this GC formally to Annex 2 being sent to the 
LDCs Sub -Committee for further work , with the instruction to report back by November 2023 , so we 
can start also the work in the LDC Sub-Committee.  
6.85.   The representative of Namibia  provided  the following statement55: 
6.86.   We join others in congratulating H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Z eyoudi , Minister of States for 
foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates on his elec tion as Chairperson for the WTO 's 13th 
Ministerial Conference (MC13). As we prepare for MC13, Namibia remains committed towards the 
preparation and look forward to a successful MC13.  We also join others in bidding farewell to my 
sister Ambassador Xolelwa M lumbi -Peter, and acknowledge her significant role played and valuable 
contribution during her tenure. We extend our warmest wishes in her future endeavors.  Namibia 
associates with the statements delivered by Kenya on behalf of the African Group and Cameroo n on 
behalf of ACP on various agenda items. While noting with appreciation the progress made in 
advancing the discussions in various WTO bodies, we remain hopeful that this will spur us towards 
delivering on various mandates of MC12.  On LDC graduation, Nam ibia supports the statement by 
the LDC 's, we deeply concerned about the implications of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 
graduating from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and their ability to fully benefit from the WTO 
agreement. While graduation is a pos itive step towards economic development, it can also lead to 
the loss of certain preferential treatment and support mechanisms that LDCs currently enjoy. With 
the impact of C ovid-19 on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has been devastating, hindering their 
ability to fully utilize the potential of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.  It is essential 
for this Organization  in view of the preamble to the Marrake sh Agreement establishing the WTO, 
which recognizes the importance of international trade in promoting economic growth, raising living 
standards, and creating employment opportunities, as well as the importance of addressing the 
special needs and interests of developing countries, particularly the least developed, that the i ssue 
of LDC 's graduation should be carefully examined to ensure that it does not erode the objectives of 
this Organization  and the commitment made by WTO Members to create flexibilities both reciprocal 
and non-reciprocal  to mainstream LDC 's to global econo mic integration and inclusive development.  
This requires a collaborative effort to address the specific challenges faced by these countries and 
promote their inclusive and sustainable development. The phasing out of international support 
measures associate d with LDC status could present challenges for graduating LDCs in their efforts 
to continue to integrate into the global economy. We call on the development partners to continue 
supporting the LDCs during their transition journey.  Namibia strongly supports  a swift finalization of 
Annex 1 Roadmap and the transfer of Annex 2 to the relevant sub -committee with the aim to have 
it discussed during the next General Council. Delivering on this mandate will allow for smooth 
transition of LDC 's into the global tradi ng system.   
6.87.   The Chairperson  noted that, from the discussion, she understood that there was agreement 
to instruct the Sub -Committee on LDCs to examine the Annex 2 of the LDC proposal 
( WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2  ) and report back to the General Council b y 30 November 2023 with any 
recommendations.  
6.88.   The General Council so agreed  and took note  of the statements made.  
 
55 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  6.89.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
6.90.   I think the issue of LDC graduation was one of the first issues  which was brought to m y 
attention when I first came, by the Ambassador of Bangladesh at the time. Having lived through 
other LDC graduations elsewhere, I thought that this was one issue that this organization could and 
should handle. I want to say thank you. I am very pleased t o see the tremendous progress that has 
been made. The fact that so many delegations took the floor shows that we are getting towards that 
convergence that is needed to make a decision. I think we are all moving towards a place where 
there can be a conclusi on at least on Annex 1 and possibly Annex 2. So, I am looking forward that 
this will be delivered, or part of it anyway, at the Senior Officials Meeting, whilst work continues on 
any remaining parts for delivery at MC13.  
7  FOOD SECURITY THROUGH AGRICULTURAL REFORM: TOWARDS AGRICULTURE 
OUTCOMES AT THE 13TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - COMMUNICATION FROM 
ARGENTINA; PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA; BRAZIL; CHILE; COLOMBIA; COSTA 
RICA; ECUADOR; EL SALVADOR; GUATEMALA; HONDURAS ; PANAMA; PARAGUAY; PERU; 
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; AND URUGUAY ( WT/GC/W/893  ) 
7.1.  The Chairper son invited Brazil, on behalf of the co -sponsors, to present the communication on 
"Food Security through Agricultural Reform: Towards Agriculture Outcomes at the 13th Ministerial 
Conference" ( WT/GC/W/893  ).  
7.2.  The representative of Ecuador, on behalf of the co-sponsors,  delivered the following statement:  
7.3.  Our countries make a significant contribution to global food security through their production 
and export of food in a manner that is sustainable and does not distort world markets. At the last 
Ministerial Co nference, we endorsed the Statement on the Reform of the Multilateral Rules on 
Agricultural Trade ( WT/MIN(22)/17  ), in which we undertook to work together and make progress 
in an ambitious and decisive manner on the three pillars of the Agreement on A griculture in order 
to arrive at a fairer, more transparent, predictable, equitable and market -oriented agricultural 
trading system, in line with Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture. Reform of the multilateral 
rules on agricultural trade remains a p riority for our countries and should be the systemic driving 
force of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13).  Today most developing countries face not 
only market -access barriers, but also the consequences of the extensive use by other Members of 
their fiscal capacity to accentuate distortions. This is compounded by the increasing challenges, 
including those related to extreme climatic events, which agricultural producers, especially 
vulnerable small and medium -sized producers, in our region face.  
7.4.  The lack of substantive progress in the domestic support and market access reform process for 
more than 20 years has not only made it impossible to correct and prevent restrictions and 
distortions in world agricultural markets, but has, in some cases, caused  them to increase. As a 
result, the agricultural sector remains the most distorted in international trade. A more equitable 
agricultural trading system has not yet been established, with a level playing field, capable of 
performing its key role in sustaina ble development and in responding to food security and nutrition 
challenges. The challenges of global food security and environmental degradation make it more 
important than ever to move decisively on reform under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture , 
with a balanced approach that addresses the needs of all Members. Food security and reform are 
indivisible issues at the WTO. A concrete step forward in the reform process would signal that the 
multilateral trading system is capable of addressing key cha llenges for its Members and would open 
the way to outcomes in other areas. Reform is also one of the most effective ways in which the WTO 
can contribute to common environmental objectives, including the fight against climate change, in 
the area of agricult ure ( WT/GC/W/893  ). 
7.5.  In this regard, we are convinced that: (i) reform under Article 20 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture will help to ensure food security at the global level, as well as for each WTO Member, 
especially developing countries; (ii) progress should be made to deliver concrete and tangible results 
across the three pillars of the Agreement on Agriculture; (iii) the results should also be ambitious to 
correct and prevent distortions that negatively affect the economies and development of other 
Members, especially their small and medium -sized agricultural produce rs; (iv) r eform of the 
domestic support pillar, including product -specific support and the concentration of subsidies, should WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  be addressed as a priority at MC13 in a comprehensive, balanced, fair and market -oriented manner; 
(v) Members should contribute to  the reduction of trade - and production -distorting subsidies and 
practices in a substantial, proportionate and progressive manner, bearing in mind their responsibility 
for distortions in international markets ; (vi) t he development needs of Members and non -trade 
concerns, such as food security and nutrition, should be considered; (vi) t he criteria in the 
subparagraphs of Annex  2 and the corresponding transparency requirements must be revised to 
ensure that they are fit for purpose and respect their fundament al and basic requirements; (vii) 
market access conditions should improve under the reform process of the Agreement on Agriculture; 
it should also eliminate unjustified non -tariff barriers by strengthening implementation of the 
relevant WTO Agreements. This  will contribute to global food security, to the real and effective 
integration of small and medium -sized agricultural producers into international markets and will 
have a positive impact on the process of global economic recovery, especially for developin g 
countries.  
7.6.  Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, which sets out the continuation of the reform 
process, is an obligation under international law with which all WTO Members must comply. We 
invite Members to work together to meet the obligations und er the Agreement and to conclude the 
reform process to which they all committed themselves in the Uruguay Round.  
7.7.  The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
7.8.  The ACP Group can support many of the elements outl ined in the submission, as MC13 presents 
an opportunity for WTO Members to deliver on Domestic Support, Cotton, PSH and SSM, as well as 
to coalesce around a realistic work programme for follow -up work, bearing in mind the need to work 
within the parameters  of pre -existing mandates, including on PSH and SSM, which are to be 
negotiated in Dedicated Sessions. Importantly, MC13 provides an opportunity to discipline Blue Box 
support and strengthen Green Box provisions to prevent circumvention of domestic support  
disciplines. Delivering on cotton is long overdue. We should adopt specific modalities to progressively 
eliminate any use of Final Bound AMS as product -specific cotton subsidies, taking into account the 
unique challenge faced by cotton -producing members, including developing countries and LDCs. 
Although we are not demandeurs of market access, we stand ready to discuss disciplines in a manner 
that facilitates sufficient progress on domestic support as a priority in a sequencing of agricultural 
reform. Such disciplines must include SDT for developing countries, LDCs and SVEs, make allowance 
for designation of special products, must seek to address non -tariff barriers issues, and deal with 
concerns on tariff escalation. Given the importance of food security to  the ACP Group, we made a 
submission in RD/AG/115 , in which we outlined ways in which the WTO can substantively and 
collaboratively contribute to food security, especially for LDCs and NFIDCs, in the areas of production 
resilience, financing for imports, acces s to international food markets and availability of food. We 
look forward to working with the WTO membership with a view to finding pathways for the 
incorporation of these initiatives into the WTO's work programme. We hope that we can make 
progress in this  regard immediately after the summer break.  
7.9.  The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
7.10.   We believe all Members should be committed to fulfilling the reforms envisaged under 
Article  20 as well as subseq uent Ministerial mandates. The challenge has always been how to 
approach these issues. In our view, any genuine efforts towards tackling global food insecurity must 
be anchored on outcomes that would address the systemic causes of food insecurity which ste m 
from historical imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture. The  outcomes should also foster 
resilience to future food security crises and shocks. The current food security difficulties are largely 
as a result of concentration in global markets underpinne d by the imbalance of the Agreement on 
Agriculture. This situation continues to increase most Developing Countries vulnerabilities to shocks. 
The growing use of trade distorting domestic subsidies by developed countries through extra AMS 
entitlements, the Blue Box, and the Green Box undermine the competitiveness of African Producers 
in international markets as well as in our domestic market. Furthermore, the policy space to support 
production and farmers' livelihoods through necessary subsidies are constrai ned by AoA rules. This 
further restricts developing country's ability to increase and diversify production to meet food 
security needs. Most African Countries have shifted from being food producers and exporters to net 
food importers. For this reason that we are calling for Domestic Support reforms that are needed to WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  level the playing -field and foster fair global ag ricultural markets. We also believe the most effective 
solution to the problem of food security would be to enable small farmers in developing c ountries to 
enhance their production and productivity, receive good remunerative prices for their produce and 
diversify production across a number of products. WTO rules that are a constraint towards this goal 
must be modified for the benefit of small farm ers.  
7.11.   Regarding the approach to reform outlined in the paper, in particular domestic support reform, 
we believe focus should be placed on addressing the difficulties posed by Domestic support under 
the AoA that distort trade. These are mainly subsidies und er provisions that allows for concentration 
of support. We should work towards MC13 outcomes that would eliminate AMS above de-minimis  
including the use of Final Bound AMS as product -specific cotton subsidies, ensure Blue Box support 
are decoupled from pro duction and check the abuse of provisions for direct payments under 
paragraphs 5 -13 of Green Box. As part of our food security and livelihoods package, we recently 
tabled a proposal on Domestic Support contained in document JOB/AG/242  which we believe would 
foster negotiations towards the delivery of MC13 outcome. A permanent solution on PSH and SSM 
remain an intrinsic part of the food and livelihood security package, including an outcome on cotton. 
We have also tabled a revised propos al on SSM and submitted a joint proposal with the G -33 and 
ACP on PSH. On the issue of improving market access conditions under the reform process, given 
the imbalance of the existing rule that adversely affects the competitiveness of our producers and 
the food security situations in Africa and other regions, we are of the view that negotiations on this 
issue should be contingent on outcomes on Domestic support and mandated issues of SSM, PSH, 
and Cotton. In conclusion, we believe in addition to Article 20,  Ministerial and General Council 
decisions on SSM, PSH and Cotton are also obligations under international law with which all WTO 
Members must comply. We must therefore work collectively to fulfil our obligations under Article 20 
and other mandated issues.  
7.12.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
7.13.   The LDC Group commends the co -sponsors of submission WT/GC/W/893  on food security 
through agricultural reform. Food security is an important subject for our grou p given the soaring 
food prices on international markets and the shortage situation due to climate change and other 
geopolitical factors. We are studying this proposal in our capitals. We are open to discussing with 
the co -authors in order to explore it in  depth. We want to make a few preliminary remarks. We share 
the idea that MC13 should adopt specific measures to improve food security. The proposals contained 
in the work program on food security adopted on the basis of paragraph 8 of the Ministerial 
Declaration on the urgent response to food insecurity adopted at MC12 should serve as our reference 
framework. We believe it is essential to take a long -term perspective and consider responses that 
might apply not only to the current situation but also to futu re disruptions to the global food system. 
As shown by the food price spikes, which occurred intermittently between 2006 and 2013, episodes 
of inflation and excessive volatility combined with disruptions in trade and value chains are recurring 
problems.  
7.14.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
7.15.   Reform of the multilateral rules on agricultural trade remains a priority and should be the 
systemic driving force of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference. A positive and realistic step forward 
in this process would signal that the multilateral trading system is capable of resolving key issues 
for its Members, in turn paving the way for achievements in other areas.  Implementation of the 
rules and negotiations are closely linked through Article 20  of the Agreement on Agriculture, which 
establishes an obligation under international law for all WTO Members. Brazil recognizes that this is 
the overriding commitment, which precedes and guides all other mandates.  Events in recent years 
have put food secu rity at the centre of discussions at the WTO. The challenge of global food security 
at the WTO can only be met by reducing trade distortions and the stimul us of agricultural production 
worldwide, in particular in developing countries. This is reform of Article 20 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture in its essence.   
7.16.   This process must lead to policies that encourage practices to improve agricultural productivity 
through resource -efficient and trade -promoting approaches, including sustainable intensification. 
These policies and practices will contribute to improved and increased food production; poverty 
alleviation; progressive income growth; the fight against the harmful effects of climate change; and WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  the promotion of economic development.  The real obstacle we fac e is the lack of commitment to the 
reform process by the dominant subsidizers who profit from the "status quo". This is particularly 
evident for some developed Members, who bear the responsibility for reforming their long -standing 
and trade -distorting subs idy policies.  The situation is even worse if we consider that the very same 
developed countries want to revive negotiations on industrial subsidies, while maintaining that minor 
advances in transparency and export restrictions for the agricultural sector a re sufficient.  In light of 
these considerations, Brazil joins our Latin American partners in inviting all Members to work 
together to fulfil this long -standing obligation and deliver outcomes on agricultural reform that 
contribute to our shared objectives of food security, sustainable development and the creation of 
more economic opportunities in developing countries.  
7.17.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
7.18.   Australia and the Cairns Group agree holistic agricultural trade reform is  how the WTO can 
best address global food insecurity. We agree that in the current context of rising food insecurity all 
WTO Members must fulfil our commitments to agricultural trade reform. The agricultural sector 
continues to be the most distorted in int ernational trade. No genuine improvement to food security 
is possible without reform of domestic support – to correct the distortions and level the playing field. 
We are concerned that continued failures in agriculture reform will undermine our ability to address 
growing risks to the global food system, which is critical for food security. The challenges of global 
food security, climate change and the increasing prevalence and severity of natural disasters make 
it more necessary than ever to advance decisiv ely on reform and address collective vulnerabilities. 
Concrete progress is not only necessary to address food insecurity and tackle climate change, but it 
would also send an important signal that the multilateral trading system is capable of addressing 
core challenges for its Members. While each WTO Member's context is different, we all face these 
challenges together. The interconnected nature of global food systems and the environment mean 
that the policy prescription of each Member has an impact on the fo od security of others. The trade 
- and production - distorting support that many WTO Members, particularly the majors, maintain, 
weakens global food security, harms the environment and hurts sustainable development. These 
policies prejudicially harm our mos t vulnerable Members – least developing countries, small island 
developing states, and small and vulnerable economies. A genuine commitment to global food 
security necessitates a serious commitment to holistic agricultural trade reform, to fairness and to 
levelling the playing field. Global food security can only be delivered through meaningful agricultural 
trade reform.  
7.19.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
7.20.   Argentina aligns itself with the statement by Ecuador on behalf of the 15 Latin American 
countries that circulated communication WT/GC/W/893 , in follow ‑up to the Ministerial Declaration 
adopted by our ministers one year ago. As developing countries, the Lat in American nations 
understand that reform of the multilateral trade rules under Article 20 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture is the best instrument for achieving food security, allowing us to produce more 
sustainably and minimizing the environmental impact of huge agricultural subsidies. It would also 
allow more trade and enable the global value chain in agriculture to contribute to food security over 
vast areas of the planet by linking efficient producers with their global food markets.  We call on all 
Membe rs to engage in the agricultural negotiations, especially on domestic support and market 
access as a matter of priority. We urge Members to help correct and prevent distortions and high 
levels of protection, which slow the sustainable development of variou s Members and harm the 
environment, in order for the next Ministerial Conference to produce results.  
7.21.   The representative of Ukraine  delivered the following statement:  
7.22.   Ukraine shares the vast majority of the ideas expressed in the communication and we 
emphas ize the importance of addressing the issue of global food security at MC13 in Abu -Dhabi. 
Sustainable food systems cannot be designed and evolve without sound rules for trade in agriculture. 
That is why, Ukraine believes that substantial reform in agricultu re should remain a core pillar for 
our common goal of holding a successful MC13. Over 400 million people around the world rely on 
vital Ukrainian grain supplies to ensure their food security, mainly in the countries in Asia and Africa. 
Last year, when the Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine put the world on the verge of 
famine, the international community united to ensure that Ukrainian grain exports reach those in WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  need. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, launched with the help of the UN and Türkiye,  has proven to 
be a vital lifeline for the world. Almost 33 million metric tons of agricultural products have been 
exported to 45 countries, around two -thirds to the developing countries. More than half of the global 
supply by the UN World Food Programme h as been covered by the Ukrainian grain.  
7.23.   As part of our commitment to global food security, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy 
launched a humanitarian initiative "Grain from Ukraine" which, with the support of 34 donor 
countries, helped to supply 170  000 tons of wheat to Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Kenya. Right 
after the killing of the Grain Deal, Russia started to deliberately attack the Ukrainian cities and 
infrastructure, which are vital for global food security, revealing its true intentions vis -à-vis 
international famine relief effort. The Ukrainian seaports, Odesa and Chornomorsk, Danube River 
port, grain warehouses where hundred thousands of tons of wheat, barley and peas are stored, have 
seen daily attacks with barrages of missiles and drones.  Over the past few days, Russia destroyed 
60 000 tons of the Ukrainian grain, which otherwise could have reached those facing hunger crisis. 
Russia's most brutal attack on Odesa on 23 July damaged critical port infrastructure and 25 historic 
landmarks, inc luding the Transfiguration orthodox cathedral, located in the historic city centre, 
protected by UNESCO. The immediate outcome of Russia's deliberate withdrawal from the Black Sea 
Grain Initiative now will be that the prices will go up again. Hurting those  most vulnerable, primarily 
in Asia and Africa. Russia must stop playing hunger games with the people around the world who 
are facing the threat of hunger. We call on all WTO Members to firmly demand from Russia to resume 
its participation in the deal. Rus sia must keep its voracious imperialistic appetite out of global food 
security.  
7.24.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
7.25.   Switzerland shares their view that the broader agricultural reform can contribute to ensuring 
long-term foo d security and nutrition. The communication highlights the complexity of the issue at 
hand. Intensive discussions are needed to ensure that the reform leads to a sustainable and resilient 
food system. Liberalized trade does not in every case bring about su stainable trade. To maintain 
production capacities for future generations we need to address a variety of issues that go beyond 
simply looking at market distortions. Furthermore, open and predictable markets are key for global 
food security. In this regard , evidence is clear that progress on the topic of export restrictions could 
make a huge impact. Switzerland will continue to engage with Members, in the Committee on 
Agriculture in Special Session. We are ready to contribute to the shaping of a meaningful and 
balanced outcome.  
7.26.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following statement:  
7.27.   We wish to associate ourselves with the statement by the African Group on this issue. As 
stated by the African Group, we believe all Members should be committed to fulfilling the reforms 
envisaged under Article 20 as well as subsequent Ministerial mandates . We also believe food security 
should be accorded utmost priority in the negotiations. In these regards, we believe our efforts 
should be geared towards the delivery of outcomes that would address the systemic causes of food 
insecurity which stem from his torical and current imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture. The 
outcomes should also foster resilience to future food security crises and shocks. Nigeria under the 
auspices of the African Group have consistently shed light on the systemic causes of foo d insecurity 
in Developing Countries and in the interest of time, we would not repeat ourselves. Suffice to say 
that, for us, it is of critical importance that we deliver outcomes that would underpin reforms that 
are needed to level the playing field and f oster fair global agricultural markets.  
7.28.   We also believe the most effective solution to the problem of food security would be to enable 
small farmers in developing countries to enhance their production and productivity, receive 
remunerative prices for thei r produce and diversify production across a number of products. WTO 
rules that are a constraint towards this goal must be modified for the benefit of small farmers. 
Regarding the approach to reform outlined in the paper, in particular domestic support refo rm, we 
believe emphasis should be placed on addressing the difficulties posed by Domestic support under 
the AoA that distort trade. In this regard, the African Group proposal on Domestic Support contained 
in document JOB/AG/242  should be the basis for negoti ations. The proposal is part of the Group 
food security and livelihoods package. A permanent solution on PSH and SSM remain an intrinsic 
part of the package. As with the African Group, we are of the view that negotiations on market WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  access should be conting ent on outcomes on Domestic support and mandated issues of SSM, PSH, 
and Cotton. In conclusion, and as stated by the African Group, we believe in addition to Article 20, 
Ministerial and General Council decisions on SSM, PSH and Cotton are also obligations under 
international law with which all WTO Members must comply. We must therefore work collectively to 
fulfil our obligations under Article 20 and other mandated issues.  
7.29.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
7.30.   We are rea lly keen and willing to make our contribution to this reform effort in agriculture, as 
long as others are prepared to do so. Especially those who contribute most to the global levels of 
trade distorting support. We absolutely recognize that the reform of d omestic support in agriculture 
has a key role to play in tackling food insecurity, reducing the level of harmful trade distortions. 
Seeing how we can repurpose that support, whilst remaining to meet the challenges of enhancing 
productivity, whilst also imp roving sustainability at a time of unprecedented climate change and 
biodiversity loss. It is absolutely right that we are looking at these issues and it's right that we seek 
to be creative, take on board the concerns of others and address our ambitions. Th at does mean 
that our approach has to be comprehensive and include discussions of all forms of support. Our 
Ukrainian colleague is right to remind us that while we are having this debate about how we can 
address these forms of domestic support and other ty pes of distortions, we are living now in the 
aftermath of the Russian decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  
7.31.   This is an initiative that has put 32 million tons of food on world markets over the last year. 
This has helped to address food  insecurity and we're now facing a withdrawal, and worse than that, 
we are facing renewed attacks on Ukrainian ports and Ukrainian grain storage facilitating. This can 
only exacerbate the insecurity that so many countries face right here and now. DG, you h ave recently 
recognized in public the role of export restrictions as something that needs to be tackled by this 
Organization. As something that can, and often does, exacerbate food insecurity by raising food 
prices. We need to look again about how we tackl e this issue. As Members know, we have tabled a 
non-paper on this issue recently and our summer holiday homework is to turn that non -paper into 
a more detailed proposal to address these issues around transparency, to potentially curtail the 
amount of expor t restrictions that are imposed. We would like to thank all those who have engaged 
with us both bilaterally and at CoA -SS on this paper and we are keen to take account of their views.  
7.32.   The representative of Peru delivered the following statement:  
7.33.   We appreciate and align ourselves with Ecuador's statement. We wish to note that the 
remarks made by the countries submitting the communication show our solid commitment to 
agricultural reform under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, as well as ou r constructive 
spirit to achieve real progress towards that goal, taking account of the interests and needs of all 
Members of this Organization. We stress that there is a need to make headway in the three pillars 
of agricultural negotiations in a balanced manner, with discussions based on factual information that 
allows for better analysis. We consider that the issues of public stockholding for food security 
purposes and the special safeguard mechanism (SSM) should correctly be addressed within the 
scope of  domestic support and market access, respectively. We believe that Costa Rica's proposal 
provides the elements for a broad and balanced approach to such matters. Lastly, I would like to 
recall that the negotiation process we are proposing to undertake shou ld not lose sight of the 
common objective of having a fairer, more transparent and equitable trading system.  
7.34.   The representative of New Zealand  delivered the following statement:  
7.35.   New Zealand supports the call for reform in agricultural trade as central to  addressing one of 
the most pressing and fundamental challenges we face in the world today, ensuring food security. 
This is a challenge compounded by Russia's attack on Ukraine as others have reminded us today, 
which New Zealand continues to condemn unequi vocally. We agree that the lack of progress in the 
agreed multilateral agenda for agricultural trade reform, particularly to address the major distortions 
caused by massive subsidies applied by some larger WTO Members and prohibitive market access 
restrict ions prevalent in some markets, including tariff escalation on processed agricultural products 
is a major impediment to sustainable agricultural development and food security globally and to 
progress in other core issues in global trade not least of which is the coherent approach in Climate 
Change, adaption and mitigation.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.36.   The fundamental reform of agricultural trade, through the substantial progressive reduction 
of support and protection, as provided for under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, is  now 
more than twenty years overdue. At MC12, we reiterated the importance of working together and 
making progress in an ambitious and decisive manner on reform under the three pillars of the 
Agreement on Agriculture, in line with Article 20. We must do so  to feed our growing global 
population and for the sake of sustainable and inclusive development.  
7.37.   We cannot afford yet again at MC13 to dismiss this crucial and long -standing WTO imperative 
as 'too challenging '. In New Zealand's opinion nothing undermines the credibility of this Organization 
more, than its inability to meaningfully advance on agriculture negotiations. For our part, New 
Zealand is committed to working with others to advance practical proposals that can make a real 
difference in this area, as  we intensify our work in the C oA-SS towards this end.  
7.38.   The representative of Sierra Leone  delivered the following statement:  
7.39.   Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statements delivered by the African Group, LDC Group, and 
ACP Group and delivers this statement  in our national capacity. We thank the co -sponsors for their 
submission. We are meeting today at the margins of the UN food Systems Summit where world 
leaders are discussing how to institute a more sustainable, productive and inclusive global food 
systems . The rising food insecurity which stems from systemic historical and current imbalances in 
the Agreement on Agriculture coupled with the combined effects of the global pandemic, climate 
change, and the geopolitical challenges, disproportionately affects m ost developing countries and 
LDCs like Sierra Leone. In such unprecedented times, it is our citizens who bear the brunt of such 
volatility. In order to effectively address the current global food insecurity, we, the collective WTO 
community, need to work t owards the delivery of targeted outcomes that would address the 
structural causes of food insecurity and unlock developing countries production capacities. For 
instance, Sierra Leone as LDC and Net Food Importing Country introduced the National Agricultura l 
Transformation Programme 2019 -2023 to achieve sustainable and diversified food production 
including rice self -sufficiency, sustainable livestock management and crop diversification. However, 
our efforts to support production and farmers' livelihoods - agriculture is providing employment for 
around 65 per cent of the country's labour force and about 75 per cent of the population - and to 
meet our food security needs through necessary subsidies such as development box support and de 
minimis  are constrained by AoA rules.  
7.40.   As a result, we are forced to become food importers irrespective of the country's potential for 
agricultural production. At the same time, developed countries continue to use trade distorting 
subsidies through extra AMS entitlements, the Blu e Box, and the Green Box that undermine 
production and productivity in our local market. It is against this background, that we join the call 
for a food security and livelihoods package as a priority outcome at MC13 and redoubling our efforts 
towards agric ultural trade reform that will level the playing field. MC13 provides an opportunity to 
deliver on Domestic Support that distorts trade, Public Stockholding, and Special Safeguard 
Mechanism. In the road to MC13, our work should be guided by the reforms for mulated under Article 
20 and related Ministerial mandates. These must include reducing trade distorting domestic support 
while allowing for the necessary policy space flexibilities for developing countries and LDCs, 
particularly for Net Food Importing Deve loping Countries; a permanent solution on Public 
Stockholding; and a way forward to address the issue of Special Safeguard Mechanism. In this 
regard, we urge Members to support the African Group's proposal on Domestic Support contained 
in document JOB/AG/242 , SSM, and a joint proposal with the G -33 and ACP on PSH. In conclusion, 
as we embark on our flagship national development initiative - Feed Salone  - to boost agricultural 
productivity and ensure food security for our people, we call on Members to engage co nstructively 
in discussions on production resilience, financing for imports, access to international food markets 
and availability of food for LDCs and NFIDCs. Sierra Leons will continue to work with all Members to 
find lasting solutions.  
7.41.   The representativ e of Panama  delivered the following statement:  
7.42.   As co -sponsor of document WT/GC/W/893 , we echo Ecuador's statement. I must stress that 
food security in the broad sense is inherently linked to comprehensive agricultural reform mandated 
under Article 20. We mu st move towards concrete and tangible results across the three pillars of 
agriculture. It is important to achieve substantive outcomes in agriculture at MC13.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.43.   The representative of Costa Rica  delivered the following statement:  
7.44.   Fifteen Latin American delegations have once again come together to send a message about 
the important contribution of our region to global food security, the challenges we face and the role 
that the WTO should play in addressing food security and nutrition challenges.  Our countries, like 
many other developing countries, continue to face barriers to market access, a situation made even 
more difficult by the use of trade ‑distorting subsidies and the increasing implementation of non ‑tariff 
barriers by other Members. This i s compounded by the increasing challenges faced by our producers 
in adapting to climate change, in particular vulnerable small and medium ‑sized producers.  Costa 
Rica, like the other 14 delegations that have co ‑sponsored this submission, is confident that i t is 
through agricultural reform, pursuant to Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, that the WTO 
can effectively address food security and environmental degradation challenges.  For MC13, Costa 
Rica has put forward solutions to address reform of domes tic support agriculture in a holistic, 
balanced, fair and market ‑oriented manner, which respects the development needs of Members and 
non‑trade concerns. This proposal contains valuable elements to address food insecurity. Costa Rica 
seeks to contribute to  the call for all Members to work decisively toward the successful resolution of 
the reform process for MC13, with particular emphasis on the domestic support pillar.  
7.45.   The representative of Chile delivered the following statement:  
7.46.   Latin America has played a nd continues to play a very important role in agriculture and global 
food security, given its agricultural might. Not only is it one of the world's leading food producing 
regions, but it is also a key contributor to the global food supply, directly impacti ng prices and 
availability.  Furthermore, our region's diversity of ecosystems and climates offers an opportunity to 
promote sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices that can improve climate 
resilience and reduce the negative impact o f agriculture on natural resources.  The communication is 
in line with our efforts to promote resilient, open and non ‑discriminatory trade as an important 
means of improving food security.  This is becoming increasingly important given the major food 
securit y challenges our countries are facing, which in all likelihood will continue to mount.  Our 
country shares the pressing need to address food security at the WTO in a pragmatic and holistic 
manner. We will continue to pursue substantive progress on domestic support, market access and 
export competition in order to arrive at a fairer, more predictable, equitable and market ‑oriented 
agricultural trading system. In this vein, we will continue working to bring about substantial 
reductions of trade ‑distorting subs idies in a proportionate and progressive manner, in accordance 
with Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture.  At the same time, our country believes it is essential 
to recognize the importance of giving developing countries adequate leeway to implement e ffective 
agricultural policies. The challenges facing producers in countries like Chile, such as a lack of 
competitiveness, inflation and input price increases, call for a comprehensive approach that takes 
stock of producers' needs.  
7.47.   The representative of Canada  delivered the following statement:  
7.48.   We believe that a meaningful, liberalizing outcome on agriculture would be the most 
significant contribution that this Organization could make to effectively address global food insecurity 
and increase agriculture s ustainability and resiliency. Canada stands ready to work with the co -
sponsors of this communication, and with the broader membership to make progress in this regard. 
There is a closely related issue that Canada feels compelled to raise: The Black Sea Grai n initiative 
has been a lifeline for food security in the Black Sea and globally. Under the initiative more than 32 
million metric tons of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine have been exported to global markets, 
helping to drive down and stabilise global pri ces. The decision of the Russian Federation to withdraw 
its participation in the Initiative will lead to an increase of global food prices, impacting first and 
foremost emerging economies dependent on food imports. Russia's repeated attacks on food export 
and storage infrastructures further exacerbate this grave situation. We commend the efforts of 
Türkiye to facilitate negotiations with Russia in good faith and call on the Russian Federation to 
immediately renew its participation in the agreement to avoid any further shocks to global food 
systems already strained by its war of aggression against Ukraine, which we continue to condemn 
unequivocally.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.49.   The representative of Uruguay  delivered the following statement:  
7.50.   International trade plays a vital role in glob al food security, and Latin America's contribution 
as a major net producer and exporter of agricultural products will continue to grow in the coming 
years. In fact, it is estimated that the region will account for 25 per cent of the net export value of 
agricultural and fishery products worldwide in 2028.  Our countries have remained consistent in their 
production and supply of food, even in the complex international context of recent years, marked 
by the pandemic and supply chain disruptions, international a rmed conflicts, extreme weather events 
and other climate change impacts, and volatile prices of products and inputs for agricultural 
production, such as fertilizers and fuel.  Such consistency has allowed our countries to establish 
themselves as reliable tr ading partners, and our region to consolidate its position as a key player in 
achieving global food security objectives. It is an active and indispensable voice in any discussion 
on food systems and the international trade in agricultural products.   
7.51.   Under the agenda item on follow ‑up to outcomes of Ministerial Conferences, we are often 
reminded of the need to fulfil outstanding mandates. It is important to re member  that 28 years ago, 
WTO Members assumed an obligation under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agr iculture to continue 
making substantial progressive reductions in support and protection in agriculture resulting in 
fundamental reform.  However, the lack of substantive progress in the domestic support and market 
access reform process has not only made it  impossible to correct and prevent restrictions and 
distortions in agricultural markets, but has, in some cases, caused them to increase. This has been 
particularly harmful to developing and least developed countries, where the agricultural sector plays 
a vital role.  The challenges of global food security and environmental degradation make it more 
important than ever to move decisively in this reform process. We must seize the opportunity 
presented by the 13th Ministerial Conference to lay the foundations f or a comprehensive reform to 
address all forms of domestic support that can have distorting effects and take steps to improve 
market access conditions for agricultural products.  We therefore call upon all Members not to forget 
or renege on the commitment t hey made in 1995, but to work together with determination to honour 
it. 
7.52.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
7.53.   South Africa aligns itself with the statement by the African Group. South Africa thanks the co -
sponsors of document WT/GC/W/893  which in part reminds us of the longstanding mandate to 
reform international trade towards a fairer and market -based system. South Africa shares the view 
of those that advocate for MC13 to deliver concrete outcomes on agricultural trade reform. Our 
consis tent position in the relevant negotiating bodies, including the TNC is a call for a comprehensive 
food security and livelihoods package that addresses the most trade distorting support, a permanent 
solution on PSH and SSM in line with their agreed mandates , as well as an outcome on cotton. We 
have in this regard, as part of the African Group tabled proposals towards these ends, including 
recently on domestic support and SSM. Confronting food insecurity and enhancing the livelihoods of 
the most vulnerable fa rmers, especially in developing countries will not be possible without 
addressing the systemic causes that find expression in the current architecture of the AoA, 
particularly unfair rules and trade distorting support subsidies that continue to increase. W e need to 
level the playing and reform the Agreement on Agriculture towards a fairer, more equitable and 
development -centred agricultural trading system. This reform must further, not only to address 
immediate food security challenges but must also foster resilience to future food security crises and 
shocks.  
7.54.   Article 20 reforms must importantly ensure effective SDT, including the preservation of policy 
space to safeguard the livelihoods of low -income and resource -poor farmers. The agriculture 
package at MC1 3 must not only address immediate food security challenges, but also deliver 
outcomes that build resilience in agriculture production, correct the systemic imbalances in the AoA 
and level the playing field. Progress in the market access pillar of the agric ulture negotiations 
depends on progress in the domestic support pillar. Unlocking progress in this pillar requires a 
levelling of the playing field so that our domestic producers can compete under fair conditions, both 
in international and domestic markets . The credibility test of the WTO, and indeed any outcome at 
MC13 on agriculture will be the ability to deliver on all agreed mandates. This includes the mandate 
in Article 20 of the AoA, as well as other Ministerially adopted mandates – that is, on PSH an d SSM. 
Lowering the level of ambition through a package that only adds legal obligations and an WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  administrative burden on developing countries, or further restricting the policy space available to 
members to address food security crises or advance their dev elopment objectives, especially 
developing countries, is not an option.  
7.55.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
7.56.   My delegation aligns itself with the statement given by the delegation of Ecuador on behalf of 
15 Latin American deleg ations on such a crucial topic both for our delegations and for this 
Organization. Agriculture is a top priority for us and must be part of the MC13 agenda. The lack of 
substantive progress in the market reform and domestic support pillars has not only res ulted in a 
failure to reduce restrictions and distortions in agricultural trade, but it has also exacerbated them. 
The Article 20 mandate is an obligation under international law that has long been overlooked, but 
this does not mean that it has lost its im portance or that it can be forgotten. We are convinced that 
it is more relevant than ever, and that other subsequent mandates must be read and interpreted in 
the light of that article. The best way for the WTO to contribute concrete solutions to challenges  
concerning the environment and food security, even though they are not trade concerns, is to move 
forward assertively and decisively with agricultural trade rules reform in accordance with the 
mandate under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture.  
7.57.   We believe that work in the run up to MC13 should deliver concrete results across all three 
pillars, with specific improvements in the market access reform process. Regarding domestic 
support, trade and production distorting subsidies should be addressed in a  substantial, 
proportionate and progressive manner, and the concentration of products through public 
stockholding for food security purposes at administered prices above the de minimis authorized 
levels should be dealt with in a holistic, balanced, fair an d market -oriented fashion. The countries of 
Latin America are committed to the negotiating process as part of the solution to the challenges that 
we collectively face, and we will continue working constructively to attain convergence and move 
the negotiati ons forward, in support of the Chair person 's work. In this vein, my delegation 
encourages the Chair person  to take the region's present and future contributions as key inputs for 
any Chair person  text or "landing zone" for MC13.  
7.58.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
7.59.   We align with the statement of the ACP Group. Jamaica believes that the submission contains 
extremely useful ideas that can help to guide preparation for MC13 in the area of food security. 
Jamaica is committed to Agricul tural trade reform in line with Article 20 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture.  Admittedly, the agriculture negotiations are difficult but delivery of outcomes at MC13 
is not impossible. We need to narrow the focus on what is achievable.  Jamaica believes that the 
strengthening of green box and blue box disciplines, such as through manageable transparency 
provisions, can be a low -hanging fruit.  We can also harvest an outcome on export restrictions in a 
manner that preserves the policy space of LDCs and NFIDCs, a s well as provide policy space for 
other Members to respond to pressing food security needs . The ACP Group has suggested a practical 
way in which this could be done without upsetting the balance in Members' food security policies. 
We can have a work progra mme for other areas of the CoA -SS, while ensuring we make some 
progress on the topics discussed in the Dedicated Sessions of the CoA -SS.  
7.60.   There are proposals on the table that can assist in this regard, including submissions from the 
G33, ACP and African G roup.  Small Island Developing States, such as Jamaica, face unique threats 
to their food security systems due to the impact of climate change, natural disasters and limited 
rural development. One natural disaster or a change in policy of a trade partner ca n have significant 
and far-reaching  impact on the agricultural sector of SIDS.  The level of production in SIDS is 
miniscule, their infrastructure is fragile, they are not globally competitive in agricultural production 
and trade, livelihood is vulnerable a nd our domestic support programmes  are not a threat to global 
agricultural trade. The WTO must, therefore, accord differentiated treatment to these countries in 
the negotiations on agriculture.  We believe that the ACP Group 's submission in RD/AG/115  has 
pragmatic and extremely useful ideas on how we can pursue some low -hanging fruits for 
consideration of Senior Officials and delivery at MC13.  We do hope we can make progress in this 
regard immediately after the summer break.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.61.   The representative of Colombia  delivered the following statement:  
7.62.   Together with the co -sponsors, we call for comprehensive reform under Article 20 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture, which ensures access to food for our countries and all WTO Members. 
The reform process mandated by Article 20 is a legal obligation and was a decisive promise when 
the Uruguay Round package was adopted. My delegation constructively accepted some provisions 
with which it did not fully agree, because an explicit promise was made on the part of the big 
subsidizers, and written into a legal obligation, to substantially reduce domestic support to 
agriculture within five years of the creation of the WTO. Fulfilling this mandate is key to maintaining 
the competitiveness of our agricultural production in order t o reduce subsidy -related environmental 
problems caused by subsidies, and to maintain the balance reached in the discussions of the creation 
of the WTO. That is why this declaration cannot wait, and why we are joining our Latin American 
partners in agreeing  that this is an issue that goes beyond the CoA -SS and is one of the fundamental 
objectives to be achieved at MC13.  
7.63.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
7.64.   This submission WT/GC/W/893  and a number of Members in the CoA -SS and in the p ast GC 
meetings have referred to Article 20 of AoA and highlighted the need to ensure that continuous 
negotiations as an ongoing process to result in substantial reductions in support and protection. This 
is true, but it is only the first part of Article 2 0. But they apparently overlook what has been provided 
in the latter part of the same Article  20 of the Agreement, that these negotiations should be based 
on the experience of implementation and, in particular, should take into account the non -trade 
concer ns and the implementation of special and differential provisions for developing country 
Members so as to ensure that a fair and market -oriented trading system is developed. Hence any 
suggestion of discussion on the continuous reform process under Article 2 0 without first taking stock 
of and addressing the concerns that have emerged during the implementation of AoA will not find 
traction from the rest of the Members. And here the classic example is that when we talk of domestic 
subsidy reform the same propon ents are hesitant in even engaging or allowing a negotiation to start 
on what will constitute subsidy and as we know that subsidy is a function of again External Reference 
Price. Yesterday I also mentioned that we say that we want the Rule Book not to slid e to 1980s. But 
the same proponents say that External Reference Price should remain of 1980s and till we are going 
to discuss the External Reference Price issue particularly in public stockholding programme, it is very 
difficult to understand that what kin d of domestic subsidy reforms are we going to discuss.  
7.65.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
7.66.   We support the statement by the African Group. The document highlights the significance of 
agricultural reform in achieving global food se curity and addressing distortions in world agricultural 
markets. While we share the view that reforming agriculture trade is crucial, we disagree with the 
call to link the outcome on food security solely to the Agriculture Negotiation. Food security should  
be dealt with independently. Short term solution in the form of "food security package " should be 
agreed in MC13 whether we advance on agriculture. Having said so, Egypt fully supports the call for 
reforming the multilateral rules on agricultural trade. O n the agriculture negotiations, we believe 
that tangible outcomes across the three pillars of the Agreement on Agriculture are essential to 
correct and prevent market distortions. We should not exclude the idea to sequence the negotiation 
should sequencing  lead to results, and it should. PSH and SSM should be given priority in the context 
of the negotiations as much as they relate to food security. Egypt recognizes the challenges faced 
by developing countries, due to the extensive use of fiscal capacity by other Members. We concur 
that agriculture reform  must consider the development needs of all Members, with priority given to 
the most vulnerable import -dependent countries including the NFIDCs and LDCs, to ensure long -
term food security and address nutritio n concerns. It is crucial to emphasize that reform should be 
based on the experiences of all WTO Members.  
7.67.   A balanced approach is essential in achieving a fairer and more equitable agricultural trading 
system. Our experience tells us that the current rules  do not provide proper flexibilities to address 
emergencies. That is why we simply have the paragraph 8 on food insecurity discussions. We hope 
the ideas Egypt presented in RD/AG/114  together with the submission from the ACP in RD/AG/115  
could form the basis of a proper food security package. Egypt agrees that agricultural reform is vital 
for ensuring long term food security. Accordingly, we request the prioritization of the needs of th e WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  most vulnerable, NFIDCs, and LDCs in the negotiations. To address the short -term acute situation 
of food insecurity in the context of the outcome expected in MC13, we urge the proponents to outline 
concrete emergency response mechanisms. We are advocates  of the importance of having in place 
a mechanism or flexibility to evoke in emergencies and during crisis. We agree on the need to correct 
market distortion. This is why Egypt supports using the African Group's proposal as a basis for 
discussions during t he negotiations. The African Group's proposal offers valuable insights into 
levelling the playing field and correcting imbalances in the AMS entitlements, contributing to fairer 
and more effective outcomes for all Members. Egypt is committed to engaging co nstructively in the 
negotiations on agriculture to achieve meaningful and inclusive outcomes. We believe that 
addressing the challenges of food security and distortions in world agricultural markets requires 
collective efforts and a balanced approach, cons idering the needs of all Members.  
7.68.   The representative of Tanzania  delivered the following statement:  
7.69.   As we have alluded in the past that food security is a national security matter, hence we 
attach great importance and attention to this submission. We are r eflecting on what should entail 
food security as far as agriculture reform is concerned towards MC13 and find this proposal along 
with other submissions can form a basis for an outcome which will be in line with Article 20 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture. It is indeed, domestic support continuous to be the main distortion in the 
trading of agricultural products globally. Likewise, the Non -Tariff Barriers such as SPS and TBT also 
have become huge challenge and burdensome to developing countries and LDCs in a ccessing certain 
markets. All these issues need to be appropriately dealt in tandem. We hope the discussion towards 
MC13, will also take into account the special needs of developing countries and least developed 
countries as far as food security is concern ed. In this regard, my delegation's statement is aligned 
with that of LDC Group, African Group and ACP.  
7.70.   The representative of Mauritius  delivered the following statement:  
7.71.   As a NFIDC and a small island developing state, Mauritius relies heavily on imports f or 
sourcing of food products which for several reasons cannot be produced or cannot be produced in 
adequate quantities locally. This need , to import food , requires a good multilateral framework and 
regional arrangements in order to guarantee our food secur ity. In this regard we would welcome an 
in-depth discussion of document WT/GC/W/893  as well as other earlier proposals, especially as food 
security is one theme that Members agree as being important. Whilst it has several components, 
the situation of NFIDC s require rapid actions. We believe that the food security situation of NFIDCs 
should not be jeopardized, and their populations not made to suffer from food shortages as result 
of systemic or occasional export restrictions and blockages in the multilateral  trading system. Food 
security and a resilient food trading system must be the hallmark of our present time. The African 
Group has been very active on the issue of food security particularly in line with Article 20 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture to ensure  a more predictable, transparent and fair agricultural trading 
system. Whist we work to address the systemic imbalances and to eliminate artificial barriers like 
export restrictions, we also reiterate our support for Article 6.2 of the Agreement on Agricul ture to 
address food security challenges by supporting domestic production and the ensure the livelihoods 
of small, low -income and resource poor farmers. We need a reformed agricultural trading system 
that is fair and transparent that responds to the chall enges of Members.  
7.72.   The representative of Moldova  delivered the following statement:  
7.73.   As a preliminary reaction, we would like to support the necessity of focusing our efforts in 
order to make substantial progress in all pillars, particularly addressing the i ssues on domestic 
support and market access reform process, which has stagnated for more than 2 decades - 
contributing to the increase of distortions in world agricultural markets which negatively impacts 
farmers, including from small vulnerable developing  economies as Moldova's. The reform should 
take into consideration the special situation of Article XII Group Members which undertook significant 
commitments across all pillars when joining the WTO. Referring to the food security subject, we 
should also me ntion the exacerbated risks of global food security due to the ongoing war initiated 
by Russia in Ukraine. In this context, the Republic of Moldova joins previous voices expressed by 
the European Union, The United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, The United S tates, and others who 
will speak in support of Ukraine on the Black Sea Grain Initiative and global food security.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.74.   We take note with great concern of the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as 
mentioned by the Ukrainian Ambassador, given Russia 's withdrawal from the UN grain deal, that 
aims to sabotage grain exports and to undermine Ukraine's vital role in global food markets. The 
successive attacks launched by Russian Federation on the seaport of Odessa during last and this 
week, which destroye d important amounts of grains, equally undermines global food security, 
putting at high risk the countries which are in most need for food. Moreover, Russia continued to 
terrorize the Odessa region from Sunday night to Monday by launching an attack lasting  almost four 
hours and bombed the port of Reni on the Danube River destroying grain warehouses and other 
facilities used to trade cereals. The Ukrainian port of Reni, which is in proximity to my country, is 
essential for transporting goods on the Danube Ri ver. Russia's attack on Reni Port of the Danube is 
not an issue that only jeopardizes Ukraine's supply, it is an attack with direct economic effects on 
the Republic of Moldova and its neighbour countries, as the purpose is also to disorganize the river 
and railway transport from the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. In this context I would like to take 
this opportunity and reiterate that Moldova will continue to support Ukraine by providing transit 
"solidarity lanes", as well as through creating transit co rridors aimed to ensure a smooth trade of 
cereals. Concluding, we reiterate the demands on the numerous UN General Assembly resolutions 
to the Russian Federation to stop this war and immediately, completely, and unconditionally 
withdraw all of its military  forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized 
borders.  
7.75.   The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia  delivered the following statement:  
7.76.   As we expressed in this document and in the previous declaration that we submit ted as part 
of MC12, we believe that it is important to move forward with agricultural reform as a matter of 
priority ahead of MC13. Our work should be based on the three pillars of the Agreement on 
Agriculture, promoting the issues of food security and so vereignty, the improvement of production 
conditions and real and effective access for small and medium agricultural producers to local, 
regional and global value chains. In my country's view, this improvement must include aspects such 
as technology transfe r, cooperation to tackle the environmental degradation affecting food systems, 
improving market access conditions and contributing to the development and improvement of the 
living conditions of small and rural producers, in complete harmony with Mother Nat ure. Moreover, 
it is vital to eliminate unjustified non -tariff barriers and trade -distorting subsidies, which affect the 
production and exports of developing countries. We reiterate our commitment to participating in 
constructive negotiations that facilita te progress towards a fairer and more transparent, predictable, 
equitable and market -orientated agricultural trade system that contributes to sustainable 
development, including food security and nutrition.  
7.77.   The representative of China  delivered the followi ng statement:  
7.78.   Food security of developing Members is one of the rising and pressing global challenges today. 
One of the lessons we learned from the MC12 negotiation is that, taking into account the multiple 
difficulties we are facing, a substantial food security outcome  package with practical ambition might 
be the most realistic way we should try to achieve. Considering there is only limited time left, we 
hope Members to start this work without any further delay. China always supports the improvement 
of food security of developing Members through reforming the Article 20 of the AoA, correcting the 
unfair and asymmetry rule for developing Members, which is why we ask to eliminate the AMS 
beyond de minims  to level the playing field in the domestic support negotiation. Compa red to nearly 
30 years ago, fundamental changes have taken place in the international agricultural market. As 
food security and climate change have emerged as the key concerns of Members, China is of the 
view that technical analysis and discussion should b e conducted among Members on how to define 
"real distortion" in the current climate, how to objectively reform the agricultural sector for better 
food security and better environment without negatively impacting global gross agricultural 
production and oth er Members' food security. Only by reaching consensus on these fundamental 
concepts in agriculture could we find a way forward. At the same time, China also underscores the 
positive and critical role of reasonable outcomes on PSH and SSM in ensuring the fo od security of 
developing Members.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.79.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
7.80.   With regard to document WT/GC/W/ 893, Indonesia could support the notion of having 
concrete outcomes in the agriculture sector at the MC13 to further support the on -going efforts in 
realizing global food security. To achieve this goal, we are of the view that addressing the challeng es 
of global food security through agriculture reforms relies on our ability to come up with a common 
formula to fix the on -going historical imbalances contained the agreement of Agriculture. At the 
same time , we need to shield and lessen the burdens of ou r small scale and poor farmers from 
devastating impacts of trade distortive measures in the agriculture sector. To this end, we view that 
any contribution aimed at moving forward the reform process of these three pillars of Agreement of 
Agriculture should be conducted in parallel with our efforts in achieving permanent solution of PSH. 
Indeed, it would be impossible to realize global food security without taking into account the needs 
to have more food programs and products as contained in the PSH proposal.  In this regard, Indonesia 
stands ready to further discuss and seek potential positive outcomes in the agriculture sector at the 
next Ministerial Conference.  
7.81.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
7.82.   We must be prepared to secure ou r individual and collective food security in the face of climate 
change and erratic weather patterns. We have always maintained that subsidy concentration is key, 
and a critical impediment to fair and just competition among the membership in agriculture. 
However, we do note that the mandate from our Ministers for a permanent solution to the PSH needs 
expeditious resolution. We suggest that public stockholding negotiations must be put on a fast track. 
We believe that taking small steps in the right direction  instead of ambitious giant leap can move 
things, just the way we did in fisheries subsidies agreement by agreeing to a partial solution to a 
bigger problem. I am sure that Members are cognizant of the fact that trade is not the only solution 
to global foo d insecurity – in fact there is ample evidence that it can be quite to the contrary, Irish 
and Bengal famines being cases in point. PSH helps to achieve multiple objectives, such as ensuring 
affordable access to food, stable agricultural prices for consume rs, and profitable prices to local 
farmers. However, we also believe that a PSH program me of a Member should strictly stick to its 
mandate of food security and its potentially negative externalities such as distorting international 
trade need to be avoided , as best as possible. To this affect Pakistan is happy to co -sponsor proposals 
fielded by the African Group on SSM and domestic support.  
7.83.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
7.84.   We would like to thank the co -sponsors of WT/GC/W/893  which seeks to identify how the 
WTO and its Members can contribute to global food security - through concrete and tangible results 
not only in domestic support, but also market access. While food security considerations have always 
underpinned our agricultural reform efforts, they are even more important in the current context. 
Russia's brutal and needless war against Ukraine has also increased the volatility of food, fertilizer 
and energy prices and exacerbated food insecurity across the globe,  particularly among the most 
vulnerable people.  The United States strongly supports the Black Sea Grain Initiative, under which 
more than 32 million metric tons of grain and oilseeds from Ukraine have been exported to global 
markets, helping to drive down and stabilize global prices.   
7.85.   We join Ukraine, other Members and the UN Secretary -General in expressing our 
disappointment that Russia refused the UN's proposals to keep the Black Sea Grain initiative alive. 
It is essential that Russia return to negotiatio ns, and extend and fully implement the Initiative 
immediately to let Ukraine's grain reach the world. Trade and transparent, predictable, open markets 
are vital components in addressing each dimension of food security which encompasses availability, 
access ibility, utilization, and stability. The WTO Agreements have a proven track -record of improving 
the global food security landscape through their core principles and promotion of strong, rules -based 
trading and science -based regulatory systems. But more can and should be done. We agree with 
the co -sponsors that it is more important than ever, given current food security and environmental 
challenges, to see through reform under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture with a balanced, 
comprehensive appro ach that addresses the needs of all Members.  We will continue to work with all 
Members, including the co -sponsors of this submission, to advance the agriculture reform 
negotiations for the benefit of enhanced global food security.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  7.86.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following statement:  
7.87.   For Thailand, as one of major traders of agricultural products as well as producers which 
almost 40 per cent of the Thai population engaged in agriculture sector, agriculture and food security 
are important issue f or us. In our view, we share the co -sponsors' view that the key solution to the 
long-term agricultural trade reform is to secure food security. So, we emphasize that resilient food 
security cannot be isolated from long -term agricultural reform, they must c oexist. It is overdue for 
the WTO to send a much -needed signal to the outside world that we are serious about long -term 
agriculture trade reform under the Article 20 mandate of Agriculture Agreement, with the goal of 
contributing to greater and more sustai nable food security, the environment, and sustainability. We 
were successful in delivering the outcome of tackling acute food security at MC12, and it is currently 
an ongoing process under the Committee of Agriculture (CoA) to provide a report and 
recommen dations on how we can best use the tools we have for addressing this in the short term.  
7.88.   However, at MC13, even if it is not the end of the road, we cannot miss our chance to offer 
reasonable progress and move a few steps ahead of the status quo on long -term agriculture reform. 
In our view, long -term progressive reform is undoubtedly difficult to achieve but must include the 
participation of all Members in a comprehensive, proportionate and balanced manner. Thailand's 
priority is domestic support reform, an d we see that the Costa Rica proposal (  JOB/AG/243  ) is a 
good starting point for us to move forward, but we are also prepared for discussing other topics, 
including PSH. We would like to thank Ambassador Acarsoy  as the CoA -SS Chair person 's for his 
efforts in  pushing us forward and helping with the negotiations. We hope that we will have tangible 
steps toward agricultural reform at MC13 and will reach a definitive outcome in agriculture and food 
security at MC14.  
7.89.   The representative of Japan  delivered the foll owing statement:  
7.90.   It is Japan's longstanding view that trade plays a critical role in ensuring and strengthening 
food security at the global level and at each Member level. In this context, Japan, as a second largest 
net food importer, considers that streng thening the discipline and transparency of export restrictions 
to ensure smooth trade as well as enhancing the agricultural production capacity of each country 
are urgent issues and represent the key elements needed in order to secure and enhance food 
security. While we recognize that the priorities of Members vary, it is important to demonstrate that 
the agricultural negotiations in the WTO will address the issues of the current food insecurity and 
long-term global food security through the collective effo rts of its Members. We hope that Members 
share the view of how to proceed with the negotiations and have convergence on the general shape 
of the expected outcomes, and that the discussions will lead to Members achieving concrete 
outcomes in the work after summer break. In the context of food security, I need to touch upon the 
situation in Ukraine. Japan strongly condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its attacks 
against civilian infrastructure and cities across Ukraine. On 17 July, the Russian Fed eration 
unilaterally terminated its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Japan condemns the Russian 
Federation for the decision, which would plunge the world to another wave of food insecurity and 
strongly urges Russia to return to the internat ional framework to get the Ukrainian agricultural 
products deliver to the global markets.  
7.91.   The representative of the Russian Federation  delivered the following statement:  
7.92.   The Russian Federation shares the view that despite a short period of time before MC13  the 
WTO Members should endeavour to achieve concrete and tangible results with regards to key pillars 
of agriculture negotiations. For more than 20 years the negotiation process has moved forward with 
little steps and did not generate substantive progress . The positions of WTO Members still differ 
considerably. But that does not mean that we should put our hands down. On the contrary, we 
should strengthen our joint efforts in order to come to mutually beneficial decisions that will help to 
bolster global f ood security. Since some delegations today once again voiced unfounded allegations 
against my country, this time – concerning the situation around the so -called "Grain Deal" – an issue 
that has nothing in common with the mandate of the WTO, and since those  delegations were not 
called to order, I am forced to react. In fact, the "Grain deal" has two parts. The first one is the 
Black Sea Initiative on Ukrainian food and Russian ammonia exports and the second – is the 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ru ssian Federation and the UN Secretariat on delivering WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Russian food products and fertilizers to the world markets. This package was concluded with the 
humanitarian goals of ensuring global food security.  
7.93.   The Russian Federation demonstrated a good -faith and  responsible approach to fulfilling its 
duties as a party to both agreements, but a year later now, progress on implementing these 
agreements has been disappointing. Regarding the supplies of the Ukrainian grain to the countries 
in need, the deal was execu ted improperly - that grain practically did not reach those countries. With 
respect to Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, this deal was not executed at all. Prohibitive 
measures of all possible types continued to be applied to the Russian Feder ation, from banking to 
logistical bans. At the same time, over 12 months of the "grain deal", the Kiev regime has 
accumulated significant military, industrial, and fuel storage capacities around Ukrainian Black Sea 
ports. The main beneficiaries of the Ukra inian grain exports became Western countries which make 
money by re -selling and processing grain. More than 70 per cent was shipped to countries with high 
and higher than average income, including the European Union. At the same time the low -income 
countri es, notably Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia, received less than 
3 per cent – just around 900 000 tons of cargo. Meanwhile, Western countries continued to apply in 
full their restrictions against the Russian export.  
7.94.   The Russian finan cial institutions are not able to carry out financial transactions serving export 
deals. Foreign accounts of Russian agricultural companies have been frozen. Supplies to Russia of 
spare parts and equipment for the production of food and fertilizers are ban ned. Foreign ports have 
been closed to our ships. Insurance rates have been raised to prohibitive levels. The recent WTO 
report on G20 trade measures surprisingly classified those restrictive measures as "not specifically 
trade -related". I suggest the auth ors of that report address the representatives of developing 
countries and LDCs here in this room and ask whether their importers consider those measures as 
barriers to trade with Russia in food and fertilizers. I am sure the response would be positive, an d it 
would matter much more, than the claims of the Western countries who insist that their sanctions 
"do not restrict" trade in those goods. I should add that almost all humanitarian supplies of mineral 
fertilizers that Russia intended to carry out to dev eloping countries were also blocked. Only two 
shipments – 20,000 tons to Malawi and 34,000 tons to Kenya – have been made out of the total of 
262,000 tons blocked in Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands.  
7.95.   A great deal has been said today about the reduction of global food prices thanks to the Black 
Sea Initiative. In fact, the declared 23 per cent reduction in food prices was calculated in comparison 
with the figures during the price shock of March 2022, and later those prices stabilized in a natura l 
manner in market conditions. Thus, the claim that the "Grain Deal" has saved the world from hunger, 
is, at least, exaggerated. The Western capitals should seriously consider lifting their sanctions on 
Russian fertilizers and food. Once concrete results r ather than promises are in place, Russia will be 
ready to consider resuming the deal. In conclusion, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to urge 
again all Members to refrain from politicizing and thus disrupting the work of the WTO. If our 
discussion on global food security goes on in the current manner, our chances to agree on meaningful 
decisions by MC13 are close to zero.  
7.96.   The representative of Zimbabwe  delivered the following statement:  
7.97.   Zimbabwe associates itself with the statements by the African G roup and the ACP. Agricultural 
reform should seriously address the existing systemic imbalances and distortions. On matters of 
food security, we reiterate the call for a permanent solution on PSH and for increased support 
towards productivity and resilienc e in agriculture, in particular unhindered support to small -scale 
farmers. Market access is critical hence the need to help farmers in our countries to grow more food 
and have market access for excess production. The potential for food security and self -sufficiency 
requires a level playing field, reformed and fair rules and regulations boosting market access and 
safeguarding livelihoods.  
7.98.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
7.99.   The European Union would first, point out th at the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine 
has severely worsened global food security. The most effective way to ease the dramatic global food 
security situation is for Russia to end its war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Union 
condemns unequivocally Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative. With its WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  decision, Russia is further exacerbating the global food security crisis it created by its war of 
aggression and its blockade of Ukrainian and destructions seaports. The info we have from the Joint 
Coordination Centre in Istanbul is that two-thirds  of Ukrainian grain have been exported to 
Developing countries. In this context, the EU would like to underline that the EU sanctions against 
Russia are not the cause of the food  insecurity situation in many parts of the world. Our sanctions 
do not cover agricultural products from Russia, or fertilisers or the payment systems of such goods. 
Russian flagged vessels transporting these foods have access to EU ports. The EU will conti nue to 
stand by Ukraine and provide support in all forms, together with other like -minded countries.  
7.100.   On the document that was presented by Ecuador and is cosponsored by a number of 
Members, the EU welcomes this submission and fully shares the view that gi ven the current food 
security context and the needs of many vulnerable countries there is a clear need to advance with 
the WTO reform also in the field of agriculture. Given the latest state of the discussions taking place 
in the framework of the Committee  on Agriculture in Special Session, the EU considers that MC13 
could provide the opportunity to adopt a food security package, which could include at least a 
minimum advancement on export restrictions work and improvements in transparency across all 
pillars. On transparency, the EU is in favour of pursuing ideas on streamlining and modernising the 
notification obligations in particular in the areas of export subsidies, export restrictions and food aid, 
which could positively contribute to responding to the food security challenges.  
7.101.   On export restrictions, now more than ever, the membership should look into a firm 
commitment to avoid their unjustified use. Clarification and streamlining of disciplines in Article 12 
of the Agreement on Agriculture (advance no tification of measures) are more urgent than ever now. 
At the same time, it is critical to make progress both on the issues of the trade distorting domestic 
support as well as the public stockholding policies. The goal for the membership should be to refor m 
policies towards less trade distortion as well as providing the right incentives in terms of food security 
and environmental sustainability targets. The EU remains fully engaged in the ongoing discussions 
in the Committee on Agriculture in Special Sessio n and encourages the Members to step up their 
engagement with a view to deliver on the agricultural reform in the current food security context.  
7.102.   The representative of Ecuador  delivered the following statement:  
7.103.   I am grateful for the positive reception to the communication submitted by my country and 
14 other Members. On behalf of Ecuador, from the interventions that we have heard, I believe that 
the matter presented is of the utmost importance for the work of our Organization, in particular 
because of the link between agricultural trade reform, food security and development. For this 
reason, I would like to propose that this issue should be made a priority at forthcoming meetings, 
with a view to achieving concrete outcomes at the Thirteenth Min isterial Conference. The 
communication conveys a transparent, open and comprehensive vision concerning Article 20. My 
country hopes that, along these lines, all Members will engage in a constructive and active manner. 
We can and must all contribute to the common objective of moving forward with a process of reform 
which, as recalled, we agreed during the Uruguay Round.  
7.104.   The General Council took note  of the statements made.  
8  PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE -RELATED 
ENVIRONMENTAL M EASURES – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP 
( WT/GC/W/894  ) 
8.1.  The Chairperson  invited Cameroon, on behalf of the African Group , to introduce the 
communication "Principles Guiding the Development and Implementation of Trade -Related 
Environmental Measures" (  WT/GC/W/89 4 ).  
8.2.  The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
8.3.  The African Group is concern ed by the growing trend of using unilateral trade measures to 
pursue environment and c limate goals, some of which go beyond national borders and have an 
extra-territorial  reach. These unilateral measures cover a wide range of globally traded goods and 
will have far reaching impacts on exports from developing and least developed countries (L DCs), WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  with a detrimental impact on Africa's competitiveness. The unilateral trade measures not only 
undermine the basic principle of common but differentiated responsibility and equity (CBDR) but can 
also have a distortive effect on international trade and  restrict the market access of developing 
countries and LDCs; which will have an adverse impact on the economic and social development in 
developing countries and LDCs, reducing any prospects for their development. Beyond trade, the 
unilateral measures cou ld have implications for investment, industrial development, and job 
creation. The distributional impact will be huge and the administrative and compliance burden and 
cost for exporting will require adequate systems, controls, and procedures and these will  be difficult 
and prohibitive for most developing countries. Some of these unilateral measures have implications 
on the composition and dynamics of entire value chains.  
8.4.  There will also be implications for millions of small farmers producing agricultural c ommodities 
as they will now face the challenge of assuring buyers that they have produced commodities legally. 
Environmental requirements are increasing frequently and affect predictability in international trade. 
To this extent, the African Group seeks to  ensure that the climate agenda and any environment and 
climate related trade measures do not constitute arbitrary or disguised restrictions or unjustifiable 
discrimination in international trade, thereby creating competitive disadvantages for developing 
countries and LDCs. In addition, the African Group seeks to ensure that Members are not shifting 
the responsibility of meeting their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to other 
Members. Developing countries lack the funds to cope with adaptation  needs, yet it is developing 
countries that are paying the price. Developing countries need predictable and accessible climate 
financing, climate mitigation ambitions must be supported by financial adaptation ambitions. 
Measures like capacity building, tec hnical assistance, environmental finance, and technology transfer 
should be strengthened, adequate, and fit for purpose to allow developing countries and LDCs to 
meet the incremental obligations and costs arising from global environmental issues and to bui ld 
resilient economies.  
8.5.  The African Group's priority is therefore to: (i) refocus discussions on trade and environment 
to ensure a better understanding of the relationship between trade, development and the 
environment so as to better understand the links  and the role international trade can play; 
(ii) address the harmful impacts of trade on the environment, while recognising the needs of 
developing countries; (iii) ensure that WTO discussions on sustainability respect the CBDR principle 
and that any envir onmental measures are subject to multilateral discussions and agreement and are 
not unilateral, arbitrary, or discriminatory; (iv) ensure predictable and accessible climate financing, 
and fit for purpose capacity building, technical assistance, and technol ogy transfer to allow 
developing countries and LDCs to meet the increasing environmental obligations and costs and to 
build resilient economies. Finally, given the importance of global environmental challenges, now is 
the time for the WTO to focus on these  difficult environmental issues and concerns; for the CTE 
improve its functioning to ensure that is better able to meet its mandate and work programme and 
to enhance the role of the CTE to promote a better understanding of the relationship between trade 
and environmental policies, rather than establishing binding environmental regulations.  
8.6.  The representative  of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
8.7.  The ACP commends the African Group for their communication in WT/GC/W/894  highlighting 
key areas that can be discussed in the CTE on this important area of trade -related environmental 
measures. We intervened recently in the informal consultations held by t he Chair last week. We 
commend the Chair of the CTE for initiating a process of thematic sessions and open discussions 
with all Members. We indicated it was important to maintain a holistic approach to our discussions. 
This Committee and the processes of t he thematic discussions should serve as an opportunity to 
encourage the participation of developing countries and least developed countries. Themes should 
include featuring the fact that many developing countries have already more climate friendly ways 
of life. We could advance our systems with important technologies. We are seeing that developed 
countries are looking back to us for "organic" or "bio" products. ACP countries and other developing 
countries reveal a range of examples on this front, with some being net exporters of bio trade goods. 
This is because we have maintained our traditional products and methods that are more environment 
compatible. What is happening to the climate is a danger to our planet. We must work together on 
the trade side and en sure everything we do in trade is environment and climate friendly. In addition, 
measures should not be disguised as barriers to trade. Standards must be considered taking into 
account developing countries and LDCs.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  8.8.  The representative of Antigua and Barbud a, on behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
8.9.  We share the concern of the African Group about the unilateral environmental measures being 
pursued by some countries. While these measures may have the noble objectives of promoting 
sustainable practices and reducing the impact of climate change, they may unintentionally hinder 
the development prospects of developing and least -developed Members, especially when they are 
applied in an arbitrary, opaque and discriminatory manner. Furthermore, the a doption of costly 
environmental standards and regulations may place an additional financial burden on developing 
countries. Compliance costs can be substantial, especially for micro small and medium -sized 
enterprises with limited resources, hindering their  ability to compete globally. We look favourably 
on the guiding principles set out by the African Group. We trust that these issues can form part of 
the work programme of the Committee on Trade and Environment. We also call on Members to give 
positive cons ideration to the capacity building and technical assistance needs of developing countries 
and LDCs, as envisioned in the African Group's proposal. Finally, in areas such as green financing, 
we see a significant opportunity for the WTO to collaborate with e xternal stakeholders which have 
the competence and expertise to engage on this issue. Here, we also wish to draw attention to the 
Bridgetown Initiative, being championed by the Prime Minister of Barbados and which calls for 
additional climate finance for d eveloping nations. We envision that the reform of the WTO's 
deliberative functions can provide a very meaningful opportunity to progress these kinds of issues, 
specifically on the WTO unique role in addressing them.  
8.10.   The representative of the European Unio n delivered the following statement:  
8.11.   We are faced with global environmental challenges. Just last week, the south of Europe 
experienced an unprecedented heatwave with record temperatures and devastating fires. Many 
countries in the room are facing even big ger consequences due to climate change. This requires all 
of us to step up efforts, internationally and through national policies, to put our commitments into 
action. Non -action is not an option. The WTO cannot stand on the side -lines and watch our planet 
being destroyed. I welcome the presentation of the paper by Cameroon and would like to make a 
few initial observations on the African Group paper. First, let me outline our support for the idea of 
having transparency and dialogue on trade -related environme ntal policies that Members are 
implementing to fulfil their international commitments. The European Union sees the CTE as a 
valuable forum for exchanges on trade -related environmental measures, both during the design 
stage and once the measures are in forc e. This includes identifying means to support developing 
countries in complying with such measures and facilitating trade. This is exactly what the European 
Union has done. We have ensured that our policies are consistent with Multilateral Environmental 
Agreements, including the UNFCCC, as well as in compliance with WTO rules. As many of our Green 
Deal policies are moving towards implementation, we continue to work together with our trading 
partners. We are facilitating implementation through various tools and mechanisms: providing 
guidelines to operators, recognizing efforts made by third countries (or companies).  
8.12.   We are also involving third -country stakeholders in the development of implementation tools, 
for example through the Deforestation Platform or t he CBAM methodologies expert group. This 
reflects our commitment to transparency and an enhanced role for the CTE on trade related 
environmental measures. Let me stress that the European Union has addressed most of the elements 
for engagement, without the need to change WTO the rules. We do not believe that prescriptive 
principles for engagement outlined in an African Group paper are necessary or indeed useful. Nor 
they would be enticing the WTO Members to engage. Probably rather the contrary. Moreover, the  
principles referred to in the paper belong to different legal regimes, and in some cases, they lack an 
international legal basis, nor do they necessarily apply to every environmental policy being 
implemented. Having said this, we fully agree that in natio nal policymaking, compliance with 
international commitments must be ensured, even if they stem from different legal regimes.  
8.13.   Second, let remind that the CTE has a very broad mandate asking to 'identify the relationship 
between trade measures and environme ntal measures, in order to promote sustainable 
development'. Every conversation we are having on the impact of trade and trade policies on the 
environment and vice versa is therefore relevant for our discussions, including the work that is being 
done by th e subgroup of Members in the plurilateral initiatives (TESSD, IDP and FFSR) and which is 
reported back to the CTE. In addition, please note, that all these initiatives give serious consideration WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to the sustainable development dimension for the trade and en vironmental intersection. Thirdly, we 
also agree with the proposal for back -to-back thematic discussions in the CTE, including topics of 
interest for developing countries. Additionally, we believe that each thematic discussion should 
address the developmen t dimension. To conclude, we agree that trade and environment issues 
present both challenges and opportunities for all Members, including developing countries. We look 
forward to working with all to ensure that the WTO plays a supportive role in addressing  the climate 
challenge and environmental degradation.  
8.14.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
8.15.   Today, nobody can deny climate change has become a pressing challenge for humankind. To 
address this challenge, the WTO cannot be left behi nd. In this regard, it is an opportune time to 
revitalize the CTE. Especially, China supports holding dedicated discussions on trade related 
environmental measures under the CTE, as such measures become increasingly intertwined, and 
could have significant impacts on international trade, supply chains, and development. Considering 
developing Members are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of trade related environmental 
measures compared to developed ones, it is necessary to take into account the interests  and benefits 
of developing Members when designing and implementing such measures. Regarding principles 
guiding the development and implementation of trade -related environmental measures, China 
agrees with those suggested in the proposal, such as Common Bu t Differentiated Responsibilities 
and Respective Capability, Historical Responsibility, and Environmental Impact Assessment. We look 
forward to more in -depth studies on the integration of such principles and WTO rules from African 
Group and more discussion s in the CTE. China encourages African countries to actively participate 
in discussions on various environmental issues with an open and forward -thinking mindset, to 
advance the UN 2030 Agenda and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  
8.16.   The repre sentative of Norway  delivered the following statement:  
8.17.   Finding solutions in the intersection between trade, development and the environment is a 
core challenge for the WTO and the international community at large. The document contains many 
elements, and is being studied in capital. Some preliminary comments: First, agree that Trade -
related Environment Measures (TrEMs) must be targeted and WTO consistent. At the same time, 
there is an urgent need to decrease carbon emissions, which requires an increasing p rice on carbon. 
This in turn raises the legitimate issue of preventing carbon leakage. Second, agree that Developed 
Members must take a greater share of the responsibility than Developing Members, and in particular 
LDCs. Special and Differential Treatment,  Capacity Building and Technical Assistance are core 
principles in this regard. However, individual Developing Members are at very different economic 
levels, and cannot expect the  exact same level of SDT or TA. A pragmatic approach is needed here.  
8.18.   The prin ciple of CBDR -RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective 
Capabilities) originates from the Rio Declaration of 1992, and subsequently the UNFCCC and the 
Paris Agreement. It is not part of the Marrakech Agreement. For Norway we are very sc eptical to 
make this part of WTO. We look forward to further discussions on this document as well as other 
contributions, on how to take appropriate regard to the interests of Developing Members, in 
particular LDCs, in our work on Trade and Environment, go ing forward.  
8.19.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
8.20.   Argentina welcomes the African Group's proposal as a good starting point for the issue 
regarding the implementation of trade ‑related environmental measures.  All Members have a duty to 
combat climate change. The actions that they take, and the instruments that they use, must be in 
compliance with their international commitments. They must neither be more trade ‑restrictive than 
necessary to fulfil legitimate objectives, nor consti tute a disguised restriction on international trade. 
As stated in the document, we are concerned about the proliferation of unilateral environmental 
measures by some Members without any proper legal basis or multilateral support, or the required 
scientific  basis. As mentioned in the African Group's paper, unilateral environmental measures can 
also have implications from an industrial development and investment perspective. They can affect 
the development of many Members, especially developing countries, and  exacerbate asymmetries 
between Members with varying levels of development.   WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  8.21.   Given this scenario, we are convinced that there is no single model for achieving 
environmental protection, and that environmental degradation, including climate change, must be 
addressed by respecting the core principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and 
respective capabilities. This principle must be considered in relation to the measures adopted by 
developing countries. Solutions should therefore be geared towards  local realities, and the proposed 
policies and initiatives for the legitimate purpose of environmental protection must be flexible, 
pragmatic, possible to implement and realistic, providing the most effective measures to achieve the 
objective sought, whil e being the least trade ‑restrictive to that end.  It is also crucial for developed 
countries to honour their commitments to provide means of implementation to developing countries 
so that they can develop adaptation and mitigation measures.  Argentina shares  the concerns about 
climate change and, above all, the objective of producing food sustainably, taking into account the 
current challenges of safeguarding food security in changing climatic conditions. At the same time, 
it should be borne in mind that ther e are regional and national differences in natural resources, 
environmental challenges, and the impacts of climate change, meaning that best practices in one 
region of the world may differ from those in another.  
8.22.   The representative of Canada  delivered the following statement:  
8.23.   Canada thanks the African Group for its active engagement in the environmental area. This 
is an important discussion that merits substantive engagement by technical experts. We look forward 
to discussion of this proposal  in the CTE.  
8.24.   The representative of Türkiye  delivered the following statement:  
8.25.   We support the main ideas underlying the arguments in this paper with regard to the need to 
respect the principles arising from both multilateral trade and environment agreement s. We also 
believe that development dimension has to be an integral part of such measures, together with 
consideration for access to financing and technology with the aim of levelling the playing field. With 
regard to improved functioning of the CTE, as we  shared during the informal meeting of this 
Committee last week, we support holding thematic discussions on issues of importance to developing 
countries, cooperation with other WTO Bodies on cross -cutting matters, and also collaboration with 
other environm entally focused international Organizations. We very much support multilateral 
discussions on the nexus of trade and environment, and we look forward to engage with other 
Members on these matters.  
8.26.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following sta tement:  
8.27.   We share the African Group's concern regarding measures being implemented unilaterally, 
for supposedly environmental purposes, by certain Members without regard for the impact of such 
measures on developing countries, the principles governing inter national environmental law, or the 
commitments and obligations assumed in this area. This concern is shared by various developing 
countries and has been expressed in other documents submitted to the Committee on Trade and 
Environment (CTE), including the c ommunications of India and South Africa (  JOB/TE/78/Rev.1  ) 
and Colombia (  RD/CTE/221  ). We also agree with the African Group on the importance of sustainable 
development, sustainability in all three dimensions and the principles set out in the commu nication, 
which overlap with those outlined by Colombia.  
8.28.   Environmental protection must not become an excuse for protectionism or "levelling the 
playing field". We believe that trade is a driver, rather than an enemy, of environmental conservation 
since it  optimizes and conserves resources through comparative advantage.  Nationally determined 
commitments to achieve our global objectives are in line with the needs of each Member and are 
based on the principles of international environmental law, including the  principle of common but 
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and historical responsibility for the 
environmental damage caused by advanced economies during their industrialization process.  
Drawing on the principles outlined by the African Group and the delegation of Colombia, the work of 
the CTE can be strengthened by creating an inclusive agenda focused on the needs of developing 
countries. We believe it is important to promote initiatives that allow for the sharing of experiences 
regarding the environmental outcomes of these measures (especially considering that the CTE is the 
only body responsible for the environment), establish question and answer mechanisms regarding WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Members' measures, analyse the potential adverse trade effects  of these measures on deve loping 
countries in greater depth and further study equivalence measures.  
8.29.   The representative of Chile delivered the following statement:  
8.30.   The environmental and sustainability crises are the major challenges of our time, to which 
international trade cannot remain oblivious. We can and it is our duty to use trade as a tool in our 
efforts to address those challenges.  Over the past year, we have noted with satisfaction and have 
actively participated in the growing number of acti vities and discussions at the WTO on the linkage 
between trade and environmental issues, both within the Committee on Trade and Environment 
(CTE) and as part of the informal initiatives in that area.  We welcome the consideration of these 
issues at the WTO and the renewal of discussions in the CTE, including the submission of a series of 
communications by various Members. We believe that the ongoing discussions in the Committee, 
under the able stewardship of Ambassador José Valencia of Ecuador, will be k ey to achieving 
consensus on how we will continue addressing these issues in the Organization.  In this context, we 
thank the African Group for its communication. We note that it has also been submitted to the 
Committee on Trade and Environment, and we will  make our remarks during the discussions in that 
Committee.  
8.31.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
8.32.   As green protectionism emerges as a threat to the integrity of both trade and environmental 
regimes, we agree that there is a need f or the CTE to play a more active role in promoting sustainable 
development and ensuring that environmental measures observe the principle of common but 
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and do not constitute disguised venues for 
restricting market access.  We look forward to engaging with the African Group in the many promising 
topics mentioned in this document, and particularly to examine how the WTO framework can be 
harnessed to support climate financing in developing countries.  
8.33.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
8.34.   We may not agree with all of them but thank you for bringing forward the paper which I think 
shows the importance of these issues to all of us right now. I think the African Group i s right to say 
that we need to look at these issues through a developmental prism, to ensure that we are taking 
the measures that we need to take in the face of the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. We 
need to do this in a way that does not disab le trade. What we should be looking at in the CTE is 
ways in which we can use trade policy positively to enable us all to reach the net zero targets, which 
are more essential than ever. I think that's the big task for this Organization. We agree that we 
should be looking at ways in which we have more thematic discussions as well as in the CTA. That 
is a feature of our own suggestions to the Committee as well. I think most important of all; inaction 
is not an option. We cannot just sit on our hands and say t his is all too difficult. Whether it is in the 
face of record heat waves in China, record flooding in India or now the forest fires that are raging 
across Europe - we cannot just sit here and not do anything. We need to understand how trade 
policy actually  help us deliver these real -world solutions to what is a real -world crisis.  
8.35.   The representative  of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
8.36.   We associate ourselves with the African Group statement.  We acknowledge the importance of 
the climate agenda but are equally concerned by the manner the accelerating transition to a lower 
carbon economy, now well under way, is being pursued. We increasingly see developed countries 
introducing measures that are punitive and will hamper the development efforts of d eveloping 
countries and in particular, Africa. Lack of evidence is of concern, that these measures will 
significantly reduce greenhouse emissions, while their impact will be detrimental to developing 
countries' ability to access key markets. Climate change  can only be addressed effectively through 
global cooperation rather than global competition. It requires a different model that enables all 
countries and regions to develop the necessary mitigation and adaptation capabilities. It means 
outlining elements of a global green deal that enables collective and inclusive action. The AG Paper 
outlines the key principles that should underpin such an approach and what should guide discussion 
on the interface between trade and environment. A study commissioned by the  African Climate 
Foundation measured the potential impact of some of the measures on the African economy and the WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  study reveals that Africa once more will be the worst affected than any of the other major economies 
analysed. We are concerned that unilateral ly designed measures give little consideration to the 
impact on developing countries. The irony in all of this is that Africa has contributed among the least 
to greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is expected to pay heavily for the transition to the lower car bon 
economy.  
8.37.   The African Group therefore believes that global rules should be negotiated and agreed 
multilaterally, rather than seeking punitive measures. Developing and developed countries should 
work toward a positive trade and environment agenda that f ocusses on building developing countries 
capacity to advance their development and climate goals. Such an agenda should recognize the 
principle of Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities 
(CBDR) as agreed in v arious WTO agreements and UNFCCC conferences. Developed countries that 
are mainly responsible for historical emissions have a responsibility to make good on their promises, 
made in Copenhagen (COP15). Technology transfer is going to be key to a just transi tion and as 
stipulated in the policy space paper for industrialization, this has to be part of the solution. We need 
to be aware that no number of measures will insulate any one region from the effects of climate 
change, what is needed is global and inclus ive action. South Africa expects that the WTO discusses 
these difficult environmental issues and concerns, in a manner that fits countries' needs and 
priorities, and this includes discussions taking place within the CTE mandate and work programme, 
and in a  sustainable development framework that better suits the long -term interests and needs of 
developing countries.  
8.38.   The representative of Mauritius  delivered the following statement:  
8.39.   We associate ourselves with the statement made by the African Group. As a Sma ll Island 
Developing State, Mauritius is among those that are most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of 
climate change. It is challenging to meet the commitments contained in our Nationally Determined 
Contribution in respect of mitigation and adaptation me asures due to the difficulties and complexities 
in accessing climate finance. While we acknowledge the important role that international trade can 
play in addressing the causes and consequences of climate change, we call on Members to refrain 
from implemen ting unilateral trade -related environmental and climate change measures that pose 
added challenges and further penalize us. Such measures should not become disguised barriers to 
trade that would worsen the already dire situations of developing Members, esp ecially the SIDS. 
We, in fact, need to focus our discussions to have a better understanding of the role of international 
trade in addressing climate change, including on access to climate finance, transfer of technology, 
technical assistance and capacity b uilding. The principle of common but differentiated responsibility 
should remain central in all such discussions.  
8.40.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
8.41.   Indonesia shares its similar concerns as elaborated in the key points on th e submission as it 
reflects developing countries' perspective in perceiving issues of trade -related environmental 
measures under WTO. We share the same concerns regarding the use of environment measures as 
non-tariff measures by certain Members. Environmen tal measures should not be used as a disguised 
protectionism measures that will bring detrimental impacts to developing country and LDCs. We 
should not turn blind eye to the importance of trade to these developing Members and LDCs in 
promoting economic gro wth and ensuring welfare to its people, especially for the small scale 
producers. Indonesia believes that development aspect should continue to be at the heart of our 
discussion, including trade -related environmental issues. Trade measures related to envir onment 
and climate change must not be counter -productive with the goals of achieving the SDGs in all of its 
three main pillars namely economic, environment, and social . We are also of the view that the works 
of the CTE should be strengthened and improved, especially to narrow the gaps of understanding 
on policies related to trade -related environmental measures. In line with the MC12 outcome, we 
would like to underline the important role of CTE as a standing forum dedicated to dialogue related 
to trade and e nvironment measures. Indonesia stands ready to further discuss on this matter.  
8.42.   The representative of Colombia  delivered the following statement:  
8.43.   Colombia proposed a similar discussion at the most recent meeting of the Committee on Trade 
and Environment. Al ong with international experts, we proposed discussing the necessary WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  interrelationship between two dimensions of multilateral rulemaking: trade and the environment. At 
a meeting that we believe produced excellent outcomes, we proposed that the WTO cannot a ct like 
a silo and must realize that our States have made clear and explicit progress on various agreements 
in other forums with a bearing on trade rules. It is not about "bringing" environmental principles to 
the WTO, but rather recognizing that our State s must implement a patchwork of international rules 
in synergy. The discussion introduced by the African Group today is needed to begin solving difficult 
problems, and it is very welcome. The challenge now is to realize these ideas: concrete 
advancements, such as those set out in the chief economist's study on a global framework for carbon 
pricing or the IMF's new method of measuring and assessing carbon content, are non -prescriptive 
examples of how these environmental principles should be interrelated with  trade principles. 
Examples and concrete initiatives of this type are key. They should be made public and discussed 
collectively so that this Organization can align itself with the multilateral efforts under way in other 
forums to address the triple climat e crisis. We deeply appreciate the inclusion of this item on the 
agenda and we encourage our colleagues to make a decisive contribution to this idea for the future.  
8.44.   The representative of Nigeria  delivered the following statement:  
8.45.   We wish to associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the African Group on this 
issue. Nigeria is mindful of the threat posed by Climate Change, and we are committed to climate 
actions as part of the UN SDGs. In  pursuant to Nigeria's commitments towards Climate Change 
Mitigation and adaptation, Government instituted an ambitious 2030 renewable energy target. In 
2021, our President signed into law the Climate Change Act that includes a net zero target for 2050 
to 2070. In this regard, we are intensifying efforts towards integrating of trade and climate policies. 
The UNFCCC requires developed countries to take the lead in addressing climate change and provide 
climate finance and technology to support green transitio n in developing countries in line with the 
principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR). There is also the "polluters pays" 
principle articulated in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992. These 
commitments are yet t o be fulfilled. Yet we are witnessing the increasing use of trade restrictive 
unilateral environmental measures by developed countries under the guise of environmental 
sustainability.  
8.46.   While WTO rules does not prevent countries from adopting environmental policies, it however 
requires Members to ensure that the measures do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. We 
remain unconvinced that measures such as the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) 
and the policy on Deforestation are such that are n ecessary to address climate change as research 
has shown that the gains in terms of reduction of carbon emissions is minimal. These policies are 
trade restrictive and would undermine the competitiveness of our exports in EU market. The policies 
also have e xtraterritorial effects as they would undermine our efforts towards industrialization, 
economic diversification, and job creation. We also must bear the huge cost associated with 
complying with the complex export procedures under these policies. Paraguay r ecent presentation 
on the environmental subsidies notified under paragraph 12 of Annex 2 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture shed light on the increasing use of agriculture trade distorting domestic support under 
the guise of sustainability by Developed Countr ies. While we are still trying to figure out how to level 
the playing field to foster a fair global agriculture market, Developed Countries are now taking 
advantage of paragraph 12 of the green box to engage in box shifting. They are also propagating 
the concept of "repurposing existing domestic support for the development and adoption of green 
innovations" which will further reinforce and expand current imbalances in the AoA as they would 
be able to justify unlimited Market Price Support in the name of env ironmental sustainability. This 
would further undermine the competitiveness of Developing Countries producers.  
8.47.   A number of joint initiatives have been launched in the WTO to validate the use of some of 
these trade restrictive environmental measures. What remains unclear is how discussions on non -
mandated issues under these initiatives became the central element of the agenda of the CTE which 
has a multilateral mandate. We believe, it's time for us to ensure the CTE focus on environmental 
issues based on th e CTE mandate and work programme in a manner that fits countries' needs and 
priorities. In conclusion, Nigeria wishes to call on Members to favourably consider the principles 
adduced in the African Group paper to guide the discussions towards the developme nt and 
implementation of Trade -related Environmental Measures (TREMs) while ensuring the achievement 
of trade related SDGs. We also call on Members to also consider the issues of interest to developing WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  countries highlighted in the paper as well as proposal s on how to improve the functioning of the CTE 
to ensure it is better able to meet its mandate and work programme.  
8.48.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
8.49.   We welcome the African Group effort to highlight the urgent need to ensure tha t the 
International Trade Law is not working at cross -purpose with the International Environment Law. 
Sustainable development includes environmental protection and, achieving this in a manner 
consistent with the respective needs and concerns of countries a t different levels of economic 
development, is critical. There are however serious concerns regarding the increasing use of 
unilateral measures impacting trade, which are sought to be justified as environmental measures. 
Such measures may not only violate the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), but also have 
systemic implications for international law as a whole, since any unilateral action undermines 
multilaterally negotiated rights and obligations of countries either in the WTO or UNFCCC. Reducin g 
greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, is a global effort. Most WTO Members are 
represented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 
participate in its negotiated outcomes. The principles of intergenerational  equity and Common But 
Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR -RC), in the light of different 
national circumstances, and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) made by the parties to 
the UNFCCC, are the foundational princ iples of the UNFCCC or international environmental law.  
8.50.   These principles recognize that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of 
greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per capita emissions in developing 
countri es are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing 
countries will grow to meet their social and development needs. It is also important to underscore 
that the principles of "respective capabilities" recognize the d ifferent socioeconomic status of 
countries. The Preamble to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO also recognizes this 
concept when it notes that the expansion of trade in goods and services in accordance with the 
objective of sustainable developmen t would require protection and preservation of the environment 
and the means of doing so, in a manner consistent with the respective needs and concerns of 
countries at different levels of economic development. Therefore, there is no question that the WTO 
enshrines the principles of CBDR -RC. 
8.51.   The representative of Tanzania  delivered the following statement:  
8.52.   I would like  to align our statement with the submission of the African Group as made by the 
delegation of Cameroon. While we appreciate the nexus between trade and the environment, trade -
related environment measures such as the green deal and carbon pricing are difficult for some of 
our countries to comprehend. Definitely they will distort international trade by affecting the ability 
of some developing coun tries and LDC's ability to meet set standards. Such measures if are not 
implemented cautiously, they will certainly become counteractive to the long -established WTO 
Multilateral trading system. We would like to insist that Members contemplating to instigat e any 
trade -related environmental measures, should properly assess the economic impact of such 
measures to developing countries and LDCs. Furthermore, the measures to be implemented should 
be in line with agreed principles under the United Nations Framewor k Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCC), such as the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities with Respective Capacities (CBDR -
RC) and the Polluter Pays principle. The differentiation of responsibilities is at the heart of WTO as 
it has been well recognis ed from the first preamble paragraph of the Marrakesh Agreement 
establishing WTO and speaking on very issue of protecting and preserving environment but calling 
Members to do so in a manner consistent with their respective needs and concerns at different l evels 
of economic development of Members. Therefore, it will be difficult for any WTO Member to slide 
away from this particular commitment.  
8.53.   Apparently, some Members are just waking up now and realized that they have ignored too 
long to preserve environmen t in their actions. However, we are doubting the kind of measures being 
taken or proposed if will real address climate change related environment challenges. For some of 
our countries, the concept of environmental conservation has been ever -since emphasize d since 
independence in 1961. For example, more than 40 per cent of the total land mass of Tanzania is 
protected or conserved. Unfortunately, such country individual efforts are not recognized or 
considered. It  is unacceptable that developing countries and  LDCs are expected to adhere to WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  stringent trade related environment measures requirements without being provided any support. 
Although those measures are being unilaterally instituted yet must be aligned to agreed international 
obligations. In our view, th e proposed measures should be taken back to their respective drawing 
boards for correction before are enforced. In conclusion, we welcome the growing interest and 
engagement in the Committee on Trade and Environment in search of a balanced multilateral 
framework for trade -related environment measures.  
8.54.   The representative  of Bangladesh  delivered the following statement:  
8.55.   Bangladesh aligns with the statement by the LDC Group. Our capital colleagues are  examining 
the paper. Here are some preliminary remarks: The  delegation of Bangladesh welcomes the 
principles guiding the development and implementation of trade related environmental measures, 
as proposed by the African Group. We also welcome the proposals of thematic sessions to informally 
discuss these issues in  detail. We support the overall objective of sustainable development; however, 
any environmental measure must be WTO consistent when we talk on trade and environment. 
Historically, developing countries and LDCs have had minimum or no contribution to climat e change. 
Developing countries and LDCs must be fully supported, with sufficient policy space and special and 
differential treatment including through transfer of effective technology and additional climate 
finance. Multilaterally agreed climate and enviro nment related principles including the call for CBDR 
must be followed to ensure redistributive justice in this regard. The delegation of Bangladesh 
believes that CTE should be able to work within its mandate. We also expect that relevant 
suggestions of the  African Group will contribute to our discussions at the CTE. Bangladesh looks 
forward to working constructively with the African Group and other interested Members.  
8.56.   The representative of the Republic of Korea  delivered the following statement:  
8.57.   As climate change is a high priority agenda for all Members, this paper has addressed the 
elephant in the room and draws out attention to it in face of the increasing interaction between trade 
and environment. While we are reviewing concepts and approaches  of the paper, we can share the 
view that the compatibility of measures with WTO rules should be respected, and unilateral trade 
measures and barriers should not be justified as environmental measures. We would like to have 
further deliberation on this pap er at the CTE. In this light, we are also pleased that an informal 
meeting of the CTE was held last week to seek Members' view on enhancing deliberation and holding 
dedicated sessions on key issues, which would revitalize the CTE as the core platform for t rade and 
environment.  
8.58.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
8.59.   We want to express our support for the document presented by the African Group, contained 
in WT/GC/W/894 . We are aware that the link between trade and the environment is gaini ng 
momentum due to the numerous global environmental challenges we face today and the need to 
mobilize all available tools to ensure sustainability and preserve the environment for the next 
generations. However, efforts to preserve the environment and achi eve sustainability should follow 
certain principles, such as: advancing multilateral solutions and avoiding unilateral ones; ensuring 
that solutions are inclusive and take into account the concerns and needs of other members, 
especially developing countrie s and LDCs; building synergies with other relevant international and 
multilateral environmental fora, so that solutions are coherent and in line with the ongoing 
negotiations and founding principles of these fora; and ensuring that solutions are compatible  with 
achieving sustainable development and economic growth. In this regard, the WTO, as a multilateral 
Organization, has a role in applying the abovementioned principles when dealing with trade and 
environmental issues.  
8.60.   Through the Trade and Environment Committee, the WTO should ensure that trade -related 
environmental measures align with WTO rules and principles and do not create unnecessary or 
disguised barriers to trade. It should ensure that these measures do not harm market access and 
trade flows, esp ecially from developing and least -developed countries. Furthermore, through the 
CTE, the WTO should provide a platform to discuss the complex interlinkages between trade, 
environment, and sustainable development and how these three issues could be mutually  
supportive. It should also discuss the interests and needs of developing countries and LDCs and how 
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  transfer to deal and cope with environmental requirements a nd concerns. It is important to note 
that advancing multilateralism and building trust is the only way to address global challenges and 
design solutions. Acting unilaterally will not solve the environmental crises. It is also important to 
note that the dis cussions should not be around being for or against protecting the environment. 
Instead, it should be around how to protect the environment in a manner that ensures the 
achievement of sustainable development and economic growth in developing countries and t hat 
takes into account the unintended consequences of environmental measures on their interests, in 
particular, and on the international trade and global economy, in general. Before closing, we would 
like to seize this opportunity to acknowledge the effort s made by Ambassador José Valencia of 
Ecuador, Chair of the CTE, to consult with Members on reinvigorating the committee's work.  
8.61.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
8.62.   As we all know, the whole planet is facing climate change,  pollution and biodiversity loss and 
some Members may face bigger consequences. These issues require international collaboration  and 
an approach  that includes  all policy  fields,  including  trade.  In other  words, trade has to contribute to 
the solution. Global issues need a global answer, which means  all hands on deck. In  our view, the 
African  Group  communication  requires  in-depth  discussions  in the CTE as the relevant body to 
conduct substantive discussions on trade and environment issues. In t his connection, we are pleased 
that Members agreed to thematic discussions that will start in  October  in the CTE. The  topics  brought 
up by the African Group  could  be addressed in context as well. We  remain  engaged  in revitalizing  
the CTE and its core deliberative  function.  
8.63.   The representative of Ecuador  delivered the following statement:  
8.64.   We thank the African Group for their communication, submitted to the General Council, the 
Committee on Trade and Environment, and the Committees on Trade in Goods, TRIP S and 
Agriculture.  The fight against the three major environmental crises – climate change, pollution and 
biodiversity loss – as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, are a top priority in my 
country's international agenda. These issues have  been on the global agenda for several decades, 
but progress in many cases has been too slow. We therefore feel a sense of urgency because of the 
challenges that remain. This is why the issue is pertinent for the WTO, as set out in the African 
Group's docu ment, which my delegation supports.  
8.65.   Although the document is under consideration by my authorities, I would like to note, on a 
preliminary basis, the following points: (i) we appreciate the inclusion of responsible business 
conduct principles, especially with regard to major polluters; (ii) we note that, in addition to the 
environmental impact, there are social, human health and economic impacts, for which international 
trade and its tools are very important, which we must expand and strengthen; (iii) we agree on the 
need to have a sense of urgency regarding the impact of climate change on agriculture in small and 
vulnerable countries, as well as on soil pollution, human health or biodiversity loss in sustainable 
tourism and fisheries; (iv) sustainable deve lopment must rely on trade as a pillar for its momentum 
and consolidation. Trade measures must contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable 
development and must be the result of global understandings that incorporate our will and have not 
arisen from unilateral decisions; (v) on these issues, a response from the perspective of the 
international trading system is more necessary than ever.  
8.66.   The representative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
8.67.   We share the same awareness of the issue as me ntioned in the African paper that, with 
growing concerns about environmental issues around the world, discussions on trade and 
environmental sustainability should be promoted in the WTO. The CTE is already engaged in and is 
moving forward through initiativ es such as informal thematic sessions. We appreciate that the 
African Paper is conducive to such discussions. The CTE should conduct discussions on common 
challenges and interests among all Members related to trade and the environment in an appropriate 
format. In order to do so, Japan supports the holding of thematic sessions and would like to continue 
to engage in the discussions.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  8.68.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
8.69.   In the interests  of brevity,  I will make  three  quick points.  First, this paper from African Group 
is, at its core, simply a call for coherence. That is, a call for coherence between the trade and 
environment regimes. Second, the responses that we all take in the pursuit of our climate and 
environment goals, need to avoid the risks of incoherence – incoherence that could undermine the 
core principle of openness on which this place is built. Third, many of the measures we are talking 
about focus on agriculture, and how we can address agriculture in a coherent w ay. We need to 
ensure any actions that we take are consistent with an open, fair, and equitable trading system. 
This is why the Cairns Group is working on a statement on sustainable agriculture for MC13. The 
statement covers a range of points, including th at Members should avoid arbitrary or unjustifiable 
barriers to trade, that such measures should be consistent with international standards and law, and 
be science - and evidence -based. We look forward to sharing that draft statement after the summer 
break. We will be keen to work with any of those Members in this house who wish to work with us 
on this important project.  
8.70.   The representative of Jamaica  delivered the following statement:  
8.71.   We believe the paper highlights important issues that must be borne in mind  in our work at 
the WTO, especially given the impact of unjustified environmental measures on the trade potential 
of developing countries.  The impact of climate change is a major challenge for Jamaica. Hence, 
Jamaica supports discussions on environmental i ssues, especially given the impact of climate change 
and natural disasters on our trade performance and capacity. At the same time, Jamaica is of the 
view that discussions on trade and the environment should not foster disguised restrictions on trade 
under  the rubric of climate considerations.  Our work in the WTO on trade and the environment must 
be multilaterally pursued, Member -driven, compliant with the principle of decision making by 
consensus, adherent to the principle of 'common but differentiated res ponsibility ', accommodating 
of carve -outs for small developing countries such as Jamaica, and facilitative of concrete actions to 
build capacity of developing countries to address the trade -related impact of climate change and 
natural disasters.  Finally, w e are of the view that engagements of the WTO on environmental issues 
should remain within the WTO 's mandate and should not unnecessarily duplicate the work of other 
international Organization s in this area. We see the CTE and the CTE -SS as the principal b odies and 
process to advance our work on environment at the WTO.  In this regard, we acknowledge the 
outstanding contribution of Ambassador Valencia as Chair of the CTE and pledge our support for his 
leadership.  
8.72.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
8.73.   Environmental protection is part of sustainable development and, achieving environmental 
protection in a manner which corresponds to the respective needs and concerns of countries and 
their varying levels of economic development, is cr ucial. The rising trend of the use of unilateral 
measures impacting trade, which are sought to be justified as environmental measures is 
threatening the sustainable development goals. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address 
climate change, is a global  effort with the principles of equity and common but differentiated 
responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR -RC), in the light of different national 
circumstances, and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) made by the parties to the 
UNFC CC, are the foundational principles of the UNFCCC. These principles recognize that the largest 
share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases have originated in developed 
countries. It also recognized that per capita emissions in deve loping countries are still low but might 
gradually grow to meet their social and development needs. The Preamble to the Marrakesh 
Agreement establishing the WTO also recognizes this concept when it notes that the expansion of 
trade in goods and services in  accordance with the objective of sustainable development would 
require protection and preservation of the environment and the means of doing so, in a manner 
consistent with the respective needs and concerns of countries at different levels of economic 
development. Pakistan therefore is supportive of the idea to invigorate the CTE as per its mandate 
and work programme within a sustainable development framework that better suits the long -term 
interests and needs of developing countries. We also believe that the principles enshrined in African 
Group's submission can be the basis for the work of the CTE for the implementation of Trade -related 
Environmental Measures.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  8.74.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
8.75.   The United States not es there are number of important issues raised by the African Group, 
and we encourage the group to engage on these issues in the CTE.  The CTE agenda is open to all 
Members, and we encourage Members to consider opportunities to utilize discussions within th e 
committee rather than establishing additional, ad -hoc, discussions. In this regard, we note the 
efforts of Ambassador Valencia to revitalize this Committee. We also note that the environment -
focused joint statement initiatives that are already underway a re open to all Members, and we 
encourage interested developing and least developed country Members to engage in these dialogues. 
We are troubled by continued attempts to bring principles from other international contexts in the 
WTO in particular CBDR. We e ncourage Members to articulate the concerns they have with certain 
measures on the basis of obligations and commitments under the WTO agreements.  
8.76.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
8.77.   We thank the A frican Group for its communication, which contains some interesting elements. 
We are studying it internally. We look forward to exploring them further with the African Group.  
8.78.   The representative of Barbados  delivered the following statement:  
8.79.   We thank the Af rican Group for this  critical paper , a large majority of which Barbados ascribes 
to. The WTO needs to deliver for the climate crisis. This is a top tier priority for every small island 
developing country in this Organization . In the WTO Barbados is not interested in determining who 
is to blame  - not only do we already know this, but discussing blame will not bring solutions. What 
we need to unlock is what are the existing and new trade rules and policies that can provide solutions 
for mitigation and adaptation.  We believe it is a dangerous path  if trade rules are used unilaterally 
in a manner that creates unnecessary barriers to trade and leads to a widening of the adaptation 
gap. We agree with Australia that what we need is coherence. We believe WTO can help bring clarity 
here in the CTE discus sions, through Secretariat analysis and research and in other avenues such 
as TESSD. Last week Barbados became the 75th Member of the TESSD because we want to have a 
seat at every table where issues of sustainability are being discussed .  
8.80.   I do not need to introduce the Bridgetown Initiative . We will have a meeting  at the public 
forum on this. But the Bridgetown initiative which was developed by Barbados but is being embraced 
by the world highlights the need to ensure access to climate finance especially for  those of us at the 
frontlines of the climate crisis.  We all have to contribute to the effort to reduce our carbon footprint 
and greenhouse gases but it needs to be done in a manner that recognises the importance of planet 
and people  - all people not just some people. We cannot enact sustainability rules that protect some 
people and some territories and possibly decimate whole MSME ecosystems in developing world who 
may either not recognise or be able to meet new rules and regulations - no matter how well be ing 
the regulations may be.  The discussions we have had in this house have been important, the fact 
we are having a trade day at cop is positive, but we need to do more to increase transparency, to 
look at real climate adaptation measures, to see whether s upply chains are indeed working to 
channel green technology to developing regions and whether the financing of Aid for sustainable 
production and trade is predictable and sufficient.  We really need to work together on this, and I 
want to see the positive e nvironment of willingness to engage continue including using key elements 
of this paper to drive discussions in CTE.  
8.81.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:   
8.82.   Like other Members , I would like to welcome the tabling of this paper by the Afric an Group. I 
think it does start that kind of deliberative discussion that we have been talking about when it comes 
to climate and trade . It just shows me , listening to the discussion , that there is a gap in trust  and 
understanding. I strongly want to echo what Australia and Barbados said about coherence. When 
you stand apart and look at some of what we are doing here, I just wanted to point out, that this 
coherence issue, or lack thereof, is beginning to show up in issues of global public goods. That 
means , for example,  the pandemic. We are busy negotiating something somewhere that is also quite 
different from what we are doing somewhere else. The same applies to climate and environment, 
and I think at some point this kind of discussion and exchange is very welcome. I do believe we 
need to take it further . If we could do it within the context of the CTE, that would be wonderful. But WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  as somebody just listening, the gap is obviously there , and I think that using this paper as a basis, 
or other papers, we need t o push forward on this kind of discussion , so that we can bring more 
coherence to what we do in environment and climate.  
8.83.   We cannot hang on to the principles of 30 years ago and 75 years ago when the world is 
changing visibly before our eyes. We need to ask ourselves whether those things still apply and how 
we need to change them to solve today's problems. So, I personally welcome this discussion and I 
hope we can continue it . As I said before, the UAE, with the work of UNCTAD, ITC, WTO and OECD , 
has come  up with a trade day, precisely to enable better understanding of the inter -relationship 
between trade and climate. I hope that all Members who are able to participate in COP28 will also 
see that as an avenue to help foster better understanding and better ability to formulate trade 
measures that are coherent to the environmental measures and work for all.  
8.84.   The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
8.85.   I agree with the Director -General. It could not have been expressed better. The African Group 
is satisfied by the welcome that our proposal has received. The impact of environmental measures 
linked to trade is of great concern and we should all pay attention to that. The impact of 
environmental  policies  on trade is therefore important. For the African Group this proposal is a 
response to what we can contribute to the climate crisis. The African Group has listened very closely 
to everyone's remarks, and we have also taken note of the interest shown so we are open and 
constructive and we look forward to the discussions at the CTE.  
8.86.   The General Council took note  of the statements made.  
9  POLICY SPACE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT - A CASE FOR REBALANCING TRADE 
RULES TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION AND TO ADDRESS EMER GING CHALLENGES 
SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, CONCENTRATION OF PRODUCTION AND DIGITAL 
INDUSTRIALISATION – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP ( WT/GC/W/868  ) 
A. A CASE FOR REBALANCING THE AGREEMENT ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING 
MEASURES (ASCM) – POLICY SPACE T O PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION IN DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES – COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP ( WT/GC/W/880  ) 
B. THE ROLE OF TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN RESILIENCE BUILDING: 
REINVIGORATING THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE WTO ON TRADE AND TRANSFER OF 
TECHNOLOGY – COMMUNIC ATIONS FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP ( WT/G C/W/883 , 
WT/GC/W/884 , WT/GC/W/885 , WT/GC/W/886 , WT/GC/W/887 , WT/GC/W/888 )  
C. A CASE FOR REBALANCING THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE -RELATED INVESTMENT 
MEASURES (TRIMS) – POLICY SPACE TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIALISATION AND 
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ( WT/GC/W/896  ) 
9.1.  The Chairperson  invited the African Group to present  the communication and the three sub-
items under the item "Policy Space for Industrial Development - A Case for Rebalancing Trade Rules 
to Promote Industrialization and to Address Emerging Challenges such as Climate Change, 
Concentration of P roduction and Digital Industrialization" ( WT/GC/W/868  ). 
9.2.  The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
9.3.  The African Group welcomes this opportunity to introduce the three supplementary submissions 
that f all under the umbrella paper title "Policy Space for Industrial Development" submission as per 
our commitment at the GC meeting in March. These sub -papers make up the specific or targeted 
technical proposals that must focus our work to rebalance trade rule s to facilitate industrial 
development of Africa n economies and developing countries in general. It is our hope and view that 
technical discussions on these sub -papers will be undertaken within the relevant technical 
Committees identified therein, includin g the CTD as a focal point on development issues with the GC 
providing oversight towards an outcome. The African Group has consistently advocated for WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  development -centred WTO reforms in terms of agenda -setting, process, and indeed the outcomes. 
The current polycrises makes it more urgent that developing countries are granted the necessary 
policy space to industrialize whilst also addressing contemporary challenges and building resilience. 
It is for this reason that we believe that structural transformation a nd industrial development must 
be an important area where concrete outcomes are registered at MC13, and not necessarily work 
programmes. Indeed, where there are outstanding technical areas of divergence on some of the 
issues we have identified, such issues  must be discussed for a conclusion by the GC prior to MC14. 
These papers take into account the rise in unilateralism through the deployment of some of the trade 
or industrial policy instruments within the ASCM and TRIM s Agreement s mainly by developed 
economies (though not exclusively).  
9.4.  Hence , the call by the African Group for a multilateral framework that, takes into account the 
interests of developing countries, particularly the African continent. The TRIPS Agreement is also 
identified as a key potential  enabler of technology transfer to support sustainable industrialization. 
The African Group believes that an honest multilateral discussion to adapt rules to current realities 
and needs such as climate change and to address industrial development needs of developing 
countries will strengthen, rather than weaken the multilateral trading system. This will also ensure 
equitable access to policy tools which at the moment are being unilaterally deployed to the benefit 
of the powerful and well -resourced, while de veloping countries are generally unable to use similar 
tools for fear of reprisal. Importantly, inclusive and meaningful integration of developing countries 
in global trade necessitates changing the composition of their exports away from basic commodities 
and raw materials . These  papers attempt to move us beyond a general debate and focus attention 
on specific constraints presented by trade rules to African industrialization. They seek to define in 
precise terms the rules that require recalibration or rebalancing and identify targ eted solutions 
towards the provision of the requisite policy space. A brief overview of these papers, some of which 
have already been tabled in the relevant subsidiary bodies is as follows:  
9.5.  TRIMs – This focuses on policy tools like local content that would  be germane to industrial 
policy. It makes the case for developing countries to have access to similar policy tools that 
developed economies, and indeed other newly industrialized economies used for their industrial 
development – tools which are no longer accessible. The TRIM s Agreement is also an important tool 
in the face of BoP challenges afflicting an increasing number of countries, particularly in Africa.  
9.6.  ASCM – The Paper recognizes the importance of subsidies as a tool for industrialisation, and 
econo mic development and calls, for example, for a revisiting of policy space that expired in the 
course of implementation of ASCM post -Uruguay Round, including a revision of certain thresholds 
such as definitions of actionable subsidies in the context of addre ssing contemporary challenges like 
climate change and the need for sustainable industrialization.  
9.7.  Transfer of Technology and TRIPS Agreement Papers – These papers explore the link between 
the TRIPS Agreement and technology transfer and its benefits to enha ncing productivity (whether 
agriculture or industry), to sustainable industrialization and confronting climate change. They also 
identify and clarify the role and mandates of both the WGTT and TRIPS Council in that regard. It 
must be clarified that this is  not an attack on IP rights. The African Group recognises the value of 
market -based approaches to Transfer of Technology, but where there are market failures (as we 
saw with the Covid -19 pandemic) we need to look at developing effective mechanisms to promo te 
technology transfer to resolve issues of the day such as climate change, public health, etc.  
9.8.  In conclusion, the African Group looks forward to constructive engagements on these set of 
papers, and trust that the High -Level Senior Officials meeting in Oct ober will also take time to 
consider this issue of priority to the African continent and developing countries more broadly. MC13 
must deliver a credible outcome on this.  
9.9.  The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
9.10.   We associate ourselves with the statement by the African Group. Our statement under this 
agenda item focusses on the ToT submissions. Those submissions are meant and designed to call 
on Members to engage constructively in the discussions. The need for technology transfer to 
developing countries is explicitly mentioned in several WTO Agreements. It is evident that technology 
transfer is essential for the overall development of our economies. Accordingly, it has become crucial WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to further explore the interrelationship between techno logy transfer and resilience building. In an 
increasingly interconnected and fast -changing world, building resilience has become of paramount 
importance for developing countries. Technology transfer can play a significant role in enhancing 
resilience by im proving productivity, promoting innovation, and enabling us to address the 
challenges we face effectively. Limited access to technology, high costs, and inadequate capacity -
building initiatives often hinder our ability to benefit fully from technology tran sfer. Therefore, it is 
incumbent upon us to identify and develop specific measures within the WTO framework to facilitate 
the flow of technology to developing countries including through the removal of barriers to 
technology transfer and diffusion. This wo uld require a comprehensive approach that encompasses 
implementing current flexibilities, building synergies with other international Organizations and 
stakeholders including the private sector, the academia and research centres to figuring out the 
extra p olicy space needed to advance industrialization and digitalization and green transformation 
including through agreeing new flexibilities when practicable. This is how these submissions relate 
and complement the Policy Space for industrialization document.  
9.11.   We emphasize the crucial role of the WTO in promoting and identifying the best ways to 
facilitate the transfer and diffusion of technology to address the challenges we are facing today 
including on food security, preparedness to pandemics, trade facilitati on, climate change, e -
commerce and others. Moreover, we cannot overlook the transformative potential of technology 
transfer and digitization in bridging the digital divide between developed and developing countries. 
As we progress towards the digital era, it is vital that technology transfer encompasses digital 
technologies and services. This Organization should explore ways to facilitate the transfer of digital 
technologies, foster digital skills development, and ensure affordable access to digital infrast ructure 
in developing countries. By doing so, we can promote inclusive growth, empower our populations, 
and bridge the digital divide. Egypt believes that the way forward until the Thirteenth Ministerial 
Conference in Abu Dhabi should be characterized by e nhanced dialogue, cooperation, and concrete 
action. We should be able to identify practical measures, promote policy coherence. We look forward 
to a productive discussion and the formulation of effective recommendations that will contribute to 
realizing th e potential of technology transfer in fostering sustainable development and bridging the 
technological divide between nations.  
9.12.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
9.13.   We would like to hear more about how the African Group  plans to take this work forward. We 
share the goal of industrialization for sustainable development. This objective is one of the 
foundations of the 2030 Agenda.  It is valuable to talk about how Members differ in their goals and 
policy approaches. By doin g so, we can better identify specific opportunities to address particular 
development needs, to address the impacts of unfair trade practices on development, and to avoid 
enabling Members with significant market shares take advantage of flexibilities they don't need. We 
must make clear that no discussion of additional flexibility is possible if that additional flexibility 
would uniformly apply to all self -declared developing country members. We can consider flexibility 
but it needs to be on case -by-case or needs -based.  
9.14.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
9.15.   I would echo a lot of what our Egyptian colleagues have said. We have had a lot of talk here 
and in the various retreats about policy space and what that actually loo ks like in practice. I think it 
is good that this is set out more clearly. We have had a lot of discussion about some of the issues 
such as considering state intervention, tech transfer and securing investment. We think that trade 
is a key driver of econom ic growth and development, has been, is, and should remain. We should 
be looking at how this Organization can best promote sustainable industrialization particularly in 
LDCs, as well as address some of those global challenges to which the DG just referred.  We believe 
the WTO rules have a particularly central role in enabling the global trading system and successful 
sustainable development. We also recognize that some Members, particularly LDCs face capacity 
constraints as they seek to exploit the opportunit ies. That's indeed why as a country we support 
developing countries, particularly the LDCs through the Air for Trade programme, technical 
assistance, capacity building, and indeed our new trade preferences scheme.  
9.16.   We are always very happy to listen to our  colleagues, particularly from LDCs to understand 
the challenges they face in in making the most of those opportunities. We have not spoken so much WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  about it this week but the success of the negotiations on the Investment Facilitation for Development 
is an example of how this Organization can indeed come together to provide practical support and 
find constructive solutions to Members seeking to achieve that sustainable development. One of the 
issues we talked about was tech transfer. We are very keen to have  more evidence -based discussions 
to better understand Members perspectives on tech transfer. We introduced our own paper on this 
issue last night in relation to voluntary licensing. We are very keen to hear questions and reactions 
to that non -paper. We are  very happy to engage on these papers that the African Group has put 
forward. We will need to take time to do so, and I think there is a process question about how exactly 
we do that to make the most of the expertise in the particular Committees. Whether t he CTD 
facilitation committee or elsewhere. We need to make sure we make the most of the expertise that 
lies within those Committees as we consider proposals set out today.  
9.17.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
9.18.   Brazil extends its gratitude to the African Group for their comprehensive inputs on policy 
space that lay the groundwork for in -depth discussions on a host of relevant subjects. We will now 
share our views on the three d ocuments covered by this agenda item. We note with concern the 
proliferation of subsidy programs in developed nations, often under the guise of environmental 
objectives. These measures can create market distortions disproportionately affecting developing 
and least developed countries. In the name of reducing carbon emissions in one jurisdiction, they 
often hamper the capacity of other countries to pursue similar goals. They also highlight how 
disparities in fiscal capacity, as well as asymmetries in WTO dis cipline, can severely impair the ability 
of developing countries to achieve industrial development, economic sophistication and a sustainable 
transition. Furthermore, careful consideration must be given to the interplay between domestic 
support in develope d countries and unilateral measures that impair market access to those same 
jurisdictions, such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms.  
9.19.   Part of the justification for those measures relies on the claim that corresponding obligations 
are being imposed both on domestic and foreign producers. However, it is essential to recognize 
that domestic producers in these jurisdictions are being heavily subsidized to comply with technical 
requirements that are often unique and complex. The result is a decidedly uneven p laying field - a 
regulatory fortress that insulates national producers from competition but fails to yield 
commensurate benefits in terms of emission reduction. In this connection, we agree that there is a 
need for a constructive and focused discussion wit hin specific Committees  on subsidies and 
countervailing measures.  As a developing country, Brazil is of the view that having the proper tools 
for achieving sustainable development, while preserving and strengthening the rules -based 
multilateral trading system, is of utmost importance. We also support a meaningful discuss ion on 
the TRIPS agreement and its relation to technology transfer, industrial policy, and development. A 
rapid and widespread deployment of low emission technologies is intrinsic to allow for a net -zero 
carbon transition that is effective precisely becaus e it leaves no one behind.  
9.20.   As a conduit for the transfer of knowledge regarding innovative technologies, the intellectual 
property regime must be part of the solution. Finally, we welcome discussions on how instruments 
within the TRIM s Agreement can be ha rnessed to help fostering investment in the developing world. 
It's clear that investment is pivotal for reinforcing supply chain resilience and addressing a spectrum 
of challenges - from development and industrialization to digital transformation and clima te change. 
We are looking forward to discussing these topics more deeply, and the African Group can count on 
Brazil's engagement.  
9.21.   The representative of Argentina  delivered the following statement:  
9.22.   Argentina thanks the African Group for this series of docum ents, which is being considered 
by the relevant authorities in our capital. As we said in our first statement at this meeting, Argentina 
believes that the development agenda should be at the heart of discussions on the ongoing WTO 
reform process. At the sa me time, we believe it is necessary to proceed with caution to ensure that 
the process does not exacerbate existing asymmetries between Members.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  9.23.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following statement:  
9.24.   My delegation is studying these proposals ca refully but let me make three preliminary 
suggestions that hopefully, could help us make progress in our deliberations. First, it is important to 
strike a fine balance between pursuing industrial policy and maintaining a rules -based multilateral 
trading sy stem. Unlike support for infrastructure development and R&D, policy tools such as 
subsidies, local content requirement and technology transfer can have anti -competitive effects and 
distort international trade. We understand the challenges highlighted by th e African Group in their 
pursuit of industrial development. However, it would be helpful if the African Group could provide 
greater clarity on why the current WTO rules, including existing special and differential treatment, 
are inadequate to address their  needs. As the existing WTO rules reflect a delicate balance of 
interests that had been painstakingly negotiated, we must avoid hasty actions that could precipitate 
unintended consequences.  
9.25.   More importantly, we must uphold the "needs -based" approach when considering any 
additional flexibilities. Second, given their wide -ranging implications, it would be appropriate for 
these proposals to be first examined carefully at the respective technical WTO bodies by the relevant 
experts. For instance, the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures which has a high 
participation rate from capital -based delegates would be an appropriate platform to discuss the 
proposal on SCM. In addition, engagement with international Organizations such as the World Bank 
and O ECD, which have conducted relevant studies in the area of subsidies and local content 
requirements, would be useful for Members to better understand these issues. Without adequate 
discussions at these bodies, it will be premature and unproductive to discus s these proposals here 
at the General Council and the Committee on Trade and Development, particularly with the heavy 
agenda in the lead up to MC13. Third, it would be useful to streamline the plethora of proposals that 
are on the table. For example, six p apers relating to technology transfer have been submitted to 
several WTO bodies in recent weeks. Given the limited bandwidth and resources of smaller Missions, 
streamlining these proposals would allow us to have a more focused and productive discussion. 
Singapore stands ready to contribute actively and constructively to these discussions.  
9.26.   The representative of Colombia  delivered the following statement:  
9.27.   These and other documents shared by the African Group echo, albeit in varying degrees of 
scope and depth,  several elements that Colombia has mentioned previously, not just in this Council, 
but also in several Committees. As the documents rightly point out, in recent years, there have been 
major economic challenges that have had an impact on trade and developm ent. We therefore believe 
that it is time to take strategic decisions on the new global production and trade situation. We agree 
that in order to progress toward opportunities that foster industrial development, such as those in 
which Colombia is also enga ged, certain degrees of freedom are necessary for the development of 
trade and reindustrialization policies, which some countries have already enjoyed in the past. It is 
precisely the absence of such degrees of freedom that has prevented more meaningful an d 
qualitative integration into global value and supply chains. In order to achieve this, the documents 
suggest the need for flexibilities in the TRIPS, TRIMs and SCM Agreements, so that developing 
countries have the tools to enable structural transformatio n, diversification and industrialization.  
9.28.   As Brazil mentioned, intellectual property is an essential part of the discussions on 
industrialization, as are discussions on subsidies, countervailing measures and investment 
measures. Therefore, as I mentioned at the beginning of the statement, we must urgently and 
strategically revisit the reality of current dynamics and take appropriate pragmatic measures. In our 
view, comprehensive discussions must take place in the run -up to MC13, without ruling out possible  
adjustments to rebalance the rules to promote national and regional production. We must be open 
to exploring balances  between multilateral interests and adequate room for manoeuvre in the pursuit 
of development and re -industrialization objectives.  
9.29.   The rep resentative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
9.30.   Concerning the policy space proposal from the African Group, it is our assessment that 
designation of an appropriate forum for cross -cutting discussions be necessary. A discussion should 
be carried ou t based on facts and evidence on where the challenges lie for the individual issues 
raised, in order to address concerns related to policy space in developing Members. And it is also WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  important that WTO is an Organization where we are expected to make incre mental liberalization of 
trade over time. In conjunction with this, we should also deepen our discussions on addressing the 
negative impacts of state intervention and the consistency of each measure with current trade rules 
in cross -cutting manner. There i s a need to look at the relationship between policy space concept 
and the emerging need for enhancing trade -related disciplines from horizontal perspective. As for 
the series of the proposals, we should first make a distinction between the items that are r elated to 
the WTO's core competences and those that are not. Those related to the mandates of existing 
subsidiary bodies of the WTO should be discussed in the relevant subsidiary bodies among experts 
and then they should be reported back to the GC as appro priate.  
9.31.   The representative of India delivered the following statemen t56: 
9.32.   The global trade architecture should ensure reliable and predictable supply of goods and 
services in the era of current poly -crisis and in the event of future repetitions of such crises. It is not 
just important to undertake coordinated crisis response mea sures to improve business continuity in 
the event of global disruptions. It is also important that we address the root cause – the 
diversification of manufacturing and enhanced agriculture production, which are absolutely 
necessary help in building global economic resiliency. There is a need to create regional clusters, 
which are able to act as first -responders for meeting food and critical goods demand in the event of 
a potential global crisis. Sustained technological collaboration, academic research and c apacity 
building are required to achieve these global value chain resiliency objectives. This will allow us to 
build interconnected food and industrial systems and easier services delivery, thus enabling trade to 
deliver better developmental outcomes. The key question then is how WTO help can achieve these 
objectives.  
9.33.   If the WTO has to remain a fit -for-purpose Organization, it has to respect the views of the 
developing countries and acknowledge their difficulties with the structure of the WTO Agreements. 
In this regard, we welcome the African Group effort to initiate this conversation. We share the 
concerns raised in the paper on unilateral measures being taken by different Members which will 
lead not just to the inevitable fragmentation of the multilateral  trading system but also have a deep 
negative impact on MSMEs, women and small and marginal farmers in the developing countries. We 
hope that this paper urges membership to reflects on the shortcomings in the various WTO 
agreements. On our part and as a co -sponsor of JOB/AG/229 , we have already highlighted these 
shortcomings with respect to the Agreement on Agriculture, where the legal basis for a permanent 
solution to Public Stockholding and revisiting the External Reference Prices, currently pegged to a 
1986-1988 reference are critical. We look forward to further movement on this paper and the ideas 
contained therein.  
9.34.   Concerning s ub-items A ( WT/GC/W/880  ) and C ( WT/GC/W/896  ), the poly -crisis and  
economic shocks impact developing countries adversely and the se Members grapple with enormous 
challenges - food insecurity, inflation, debt, unemployment, or declining economic activities, their 
survival would depend on economic diversification, industrialization with effective value addition. 
This necessitates supp orting domestic industries in their early period of growth. Most developed 
Members had used measures such as subsidies and other policy options to support new industries 
in their industrialization phase and at the same time resorting to unilateral measures  that are hurting 
the developing countries in the industrial trade. Even today, we see these support measures in 
developing countries in the area of new priority for them, e.g., green economy. However, 
international trade rules have effectively curtailed p olicy options and policy space for developing 
countries.  
9.35.   There is a basic fairness angle underpinning these two submissions. As regards rebalancing 
the ASCM, subsidies are mainly a rich economy's game, as most developing countries have neither 
the fiscal leverage nor the policy space to engage in a handout competition, leaving them at best in 
the role of simple bystanders. Hence, India believes that the constraints imposed by disciplines in 
the ASCM in terms of Article 3 and expiry of carve outs in Article  8 are hampering industrialisation 
and therefore, there is a need to have a review of the provisions identified by the Africa Group in 
their submission. Similarly, as pointed out by the African Group in their paper 896, there is a need 
 
56 As requested by the delegation, the  longer version of the statement, which was submitted after the 
meeting, has been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  of revisiting the TR IMs agreement to analyse the discipline in TRIM s agreement that constrain the 
ability of developing countries in applying investment measures, and creating flexibilities that 
provide necessary policy space for industrialisation. The paper has effectively b rought to the fore 
the issues related to TRIM s and domestic manufacturing activities and the relevance of TRIM s in the 
development, especially for the developing countries and LDC s, and how flexibilities in the TRIM s's 
local content requirements through up stream and downstream linkages can bolster industrialisation, 
in the developing countries. India looks forward to further engagement on this topic.  
9.36.   Concerning s ub-item B ( WT/GC/W/883 , WT/GC/W/884 , WT/GC/W/885 , WT/GC/W/886 , 
WT/GC/W/887 , WT/GC/W/888  ), the need for concrete action for technology transfer to developing 
countries including LDC s cannot be over emphasised. The widening technology deficit is discernible 
from indicators such as share  of GDP to the R&D expenditure or share of technology in the overall 
exports of a country. The climate action, the pandemic, expansion of e -commerce, and explosive 
ICT growth, industrial digitalisation, have all heightened the need of technology transfer a s the gap 
is widens rapidly. As UNCTAD estimates in its Technology and Innovation Report 23 that 17 Frontier 
technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D printing, robotics, big data, nano 
technology, green hydrogen, and electric ve hicles etc., already represented a $1.5 trillion market in 
2020. Thanks to their rapid growth, by 2030 their market value could reach over $9.5 trillion. 
However, technology transfer to developing countries faces hurdles that emanates for international 
trade Rules like Trips and the lack of resources and capacity in developing countries. Discussions in 
the WGTTT have not yielded anything despite sincere efforts by developing countries for many years 
after constitution of WGTTT as per the Ministerial mandate . We would like to welcome the 
submissions made by the African Group for yet another attempt to re -invigorate discussion on 
technology transfer to developing countries and agree specific and thematic five submission. We 
associate with these proposals and h ope that a constructive discussion would follow on a very crucial 
issue for developing countries including LDCs.  
9.37.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered the following statement:  
9.38.   The African Group raised many ideas that our gro up shares in the areas of development, 
technology transfer, industrialization, climate change and structural transformation, among others. 
We believe that communication WT/GC/W/868  deserves to be explored in depth. We are studying 
other communications. We w ill come back to this later.  
9.39.   The representative of the Republic of Korea  delivered the following statement:  
9.40.   Korea understands the need for policy space and the importance of access to technology as 
a potential instrument for economic development and growth, particularly for LDCs. However, 
rebalancing of the current WTO rules is not the only way for industrial development. Rather, 
strengthening existing rules and formulating new ones which reflect the current trade realities can 
be more powerful tools for industrial development. In this light, we should continue factual and 
evidence -based case studies, and only after careful examination and analysis at relevant Committees 
will we be able to identify what is needed for discussion at the GC level or merit s decision.  As for 
transfer of technology, I simply would like to remind you that it requires the joint effort of the host 
country and the private sector to foster a voluntary technology transfer environment. Looking at 
past experience, technology transfer  has not occurred in a vacuum, but in conjunction with foreign 
direct investment, so we urge developing Members and LDCs to join the Investment Facilitation for 
Development (IFD) in which developing countries and LDCs stand to benefit most from "better and  
more investment" flows.  
9.41.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
9.42.   On the proposal on rebalancing the agreement of ASCM, China is very much aware of the 
serious challenges that African countries are facing, such as food security, energ y crises, supply 
chain disruptions, climate change, etc. The development deficits are making the gaps between the 
developed and developing even wider. That's why we fully recognize the significance of providing 
policy space for developing Members to pursue  social and economic goals. We have all noticed the 
recent trend on subsidies. On the one hand, more and more WTO Members stress green development 
and adopt supportive policies, including subsidies, to promote the production and consumption of 
clean energy . On the other hand, some developed Members are granting huge amounts of subsidies WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  to protect and develop certain strategic sectors of their economy. Many of those subsidies are 
accompanied by protective and distortive measures. In light of these developme nts, we believe that 
it is imperative for developing Members to defend their policy space within the WTO to prevent 
further imbalances. If global trade is based on economic power rather than rules, developing 
Members, particularly African countries and LDC s would be the most vulnerable and suffer the most. 
China is open to discussions on industrial subsidies in the WTO. The proposal of the African Group 
is certainly a valuable contribution to this discussion. We would like to promote the development of 
the global governance system in a fair and reasonable direction and make concrete contribution to 
achieving the UN SDGs. Regarding the concerns raised in the proposal, China is ready to have further 
exchange of views with the African Group.  
9.43.   On the proposal on technology transfer, like many others, we recognize the important role of 
transfer of technologies in addressing global challenges and developing issues, especially for African 
members. Our capital is still studying the ideas and element s proposed in the papers. We are willing 
to enhance information exchange and practices sharing in this regard and engage in the following 
discussions in an active and constructive manner. On the proposal on re -balancing the agreement 
TRIMs, the proposal pr ovides us a new perspective on analysing the TRIM s agreement and will 
enhance Members' understanding and implementation on TRIM s agreement. We share the view of 
the proponents that developing Members are facing various challenges in the process of 
industri alization and structural transformation. We believe that WTO should focus more on 
development and promote more public goods to developing Members to address the challenges they 
face and achieve sustainable development. In this regard, the Investment Facili tation for 
Development is one of good examples. We urge all Members to actively support and join in the IFD 
Agreement. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review on this proposal, including its 6 
detailed suggestions. We look forward to the detaile d discussion and will constructively engage with 
the proponents on this matter.  
9.44.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following statement:  
9.45.   My intervention will address both agenda items 8 and 9. I would like to thank the African 
Group for all the p roposals that they have put on the table. These are very important policy papers, 
and we are still reviewing them carefully in capital and in Geneva. We would like to thank them for 
reaching out to us. We had useful bilateral discussions on their proposals  and hope that the dialogue 
will continue. Thailand shares and understands the concerns on having policies space on these 
important areas because we are also a developing country - a medium sized developing country 
which has maintained liberal trade. Thail and has benefited a lot from keeping the trade regime open 
and that is where we are coming from. We will engage on the discussions on this issue with any 
Members - developing, LDCs, or developed countries. But in our view, the WTO already has some 
flexibil ities and some policy tools that  could answer to the concerns.  
9.46.   We would like to invite either, Members or the Secretariat to come up with some analytical 
studies to show the use and the existing tools that would come up in the discussions on this issue, 
be they the subsidies, the use of TRIMs, and also technology transfer. Having said this, Thailand has 
no objection that some Members have proposed to discuss technical aspects in their respective 
bodies. Furthermore, my delegation takes note with some conce rns regarding a lot of requests or 
questions to discuss and address the emerging new global challenges are pointing towards seeing 
subsidies as the magic bullet. We think this is a dangerous trend. I would not say that Thailand is 
not supportive of revisin g and reviewing subsidies. We are and we will actively participate in that. 
But we do not want to see everybody think of subsidies as the only answer to all the ills in the world. 
That is not the case. My final message is that, likewise, I do not wish to s ee the revision of all these 
WTO rules pointing to grant more inward -looking trade policies. I think that would be a very 
dangerous trend.  
9.47.   The representative of Paraguay  delivered the following statement:  
9.48.   We will address the documents jointly here in a sin gle statement. We understand the 
challenges presented by the African Group regarding the context facing its members and we share 
several of them, such as an economy that is based on commodity and primary product export 
models. However, the proposed "rebala ncing" of trade rules presents difficulties and challenges, as 
it includes intended reforms to several Agreements that do not have a negotiating mandate, and the WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  magnitude of some of these changes would require a significant overhaul of the rules governing  
trade in many of these sectors. We are also concerned about the potential to use the fight against 
climate change as a pretext to implement measures that could lead to significant trade distortions. 
We will continue to evaluate the various proposals in ea ch area, in light of their merits, especially 
those on technology transfer and trade -related investment measures. However, we believe that the 
reforms that were established in the Uruguay Round, such as the Agreement on Agriculture, should 
be made an absol ute priority before we embark on new negotiations of existing Agreements. In 
conclusion, let me be very clear and emphasize that my delegation would not be in a position to 
move forward on discussions on industrial subsidies without concrete and comprehens ive results on 
the reforms on agricultural subsidies that have been outstanding for more than two decades.  
9.49.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the  following statement:  
9.50.   We thank the African Group  for their extremely valuable contributions through a ser ies of 
focused submissions. These are very timely proposals to find ways to address the challenges arising 
from the polycrisis that many of us developing and least developed countries continue to grapple 
with. While we are still in the process of detailed review of these submissions and guidance from our 
capital, we wish to make a couple of preliminary comments. The proposals are spot on in identifying 
the issues faced by most developing states. In the midst of the polycrisis, the transfer of technology 
is fundamental to build resilience to withstand, the food security emergencies, industrial 
development, trade  facilitation and climate adaptation. While in some parts of the world, 
technological developments have ushered into the fifth Industrial Revolution, with concepts such as 
sustainability, human -centeredness, and concern for the environment in addition to transformation 
of the industrial structure through the utilization of AI, IoT, big data take centre stage, there are 
parts of the world like ours where  hunger and poverty still remains the biggest challenge for our 
governments. With limited capacities and ever -increasing challenges leaving us into increased 
indebtedness and into a spiral cycle of balance of payment crisis. Technology transfer with strate gic 
state interventions including strong institutional frameworks and research programs to facilitate 
technology adaptation and adoption can prove to be a game changer to bridge the development 
divide. It has been pointed out earlier, and very correctly, t hat at the WTO, development should not 
be relegated to SDT and technical assistance alone but efforts need to be made to mainstream the 
development agenda in the spirit of the Marrakesh Agreement. We hope these proposals feed into 
our work going forward, e specially on development.  
9.51.   The representative of Antigua and Barbuda , on behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
9.52.   We thank the African Group for its submission. We are generally supportive of the thrust of 
their proposals. For the OECS, develo pment is not a one -off event, but an iterative process. It is 
against this backdrop that we see scope to strengthen the development dividend of the WTO. We 
note the close relationship between the proposals from the African Group and the ongoing work in 
the Committee on Trade and Development in Special Session on the G -90 Agreement Specific 
Proposals on Special and Differential Treatment. This underscores that there is clear demand by 
developing Members and LDCs to derive greater developmental outcomes from their participation in 
the multilateral trading system.  
9.53.   The representative of the European Union  delivered  the following statement:  
9.54.   As you know, the EU's communication on reinforcing the deliberative function has a clear 
development dimension and also fo cuses on the nexus between trade and subsidies and other forms 
of state support in industrial sectors policies as one of the areas where we would like to see enhanced 
deliberation at the WTO. As already indicated under the agenda item on WTO reform, we loo k forward 
to launching discussions on state support for industrial sectors in the retreat in September. The 
retreat should explore the challenges and opportunities of industrial subsidies and other policy tools 
in support of industrialisation in developing  countries based on factual evidence -based discussions. 
It is important that we deepen our understanding of industrial policies of Members, including on 
different types of subsidies and other forms of interventions, and of their effects on trade.  
9.55.   It is al so important that Members exchange views on how industrial policies can impact on 
and contribute to development objectives. The overall aim of this deliberation should be to reach a WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  consensus on what are the acceptable parameters for countries' interventio ns in support of industrial 
sectors and their impact on trade. In the context of that work programme, we will be ready to discuss 
the effectiveness of current WTO subsidy disciplines, detect gaps, and explore ways to address them, 
while also considering th e development dimension. On subsidies in industrial sectors, the European 
Union takes note of the African Group's views. We agree that there is a need to deliberate on such 
important issues taking into account the development angle of industrialisation and  helping 
developing countries to better integrate into global value chains - without prejudging the outcome 
as regards any specific proposals - as part of the work programme that we would like to see launched 
at MC13.  
9.56.   The European Union will further analy se the recently presented paper by the African Group 
on TRIMs and revert to it at a future meeting. Finally, on reinvigorating the discussions on trade and 
technology transfer, the European Union has already started engaging with the African Group in the 
relevant working group. We agree that it is important to share experiences on this issue, and to 
understand what works and what does not. The European Union is examining the African Group's 
submission and is open to discuss the individual papers in relevant  WTO bodies.  
9.57.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
9.58.   Due to the large number of communications circulated recently, we need more time to 
consider them more closely. That said, let me share a few thoughts. Some  of the elements  mentioned  
in the papers  fall within  the scope  of the WTO reform.  This is  certainly  the case for the concept  of 
rebalancing  trade  rules,  that will ultimately  modify  the balance between rights and obligations of all 
Members. From that perspective,  a dedicated  process  where  we deliberate  on cross-cutting  issues  
and modern trade concerns is a good option. This would be consistent with the communication of 
the African Group  "A Development Perspective on Institutional Reforms  of the World  Trade 
Organization " contained  in WT/G C/W/895 , that was introduced under the agenda item 3.A of this 
meeting.  At the same time, we are mindful of the fact that some proposals are very specific and 
targeted,  such that discussing  them in the relevant  bodies  should  be considered.  This would ensure 
to have the right experts in the room. This is certainly the case of the two communications  under  
sub-items  A and C on the rebalancing  of the SCM Agreement  and the TRIM s Agreement, respectively. 
We had the chance  last week to discuss  the communication  on the role of technology  transfer in the 
Working Group on Trade and Technology Transfer.  
9.59.   Let me reiterate  that to create  a real incentive  for technology  transfer  to happen,  many  factors 
are key – among  others  the right infrastructure,  a conducive  business  environment,  sufficient 
absorption capacity, and last but not least a reliable, safe and enforceable regulatory framework, 
including the protection of intellectual property rights. Ultimately, it is regularly the private sector 
which is the holder of technology, and th ey will decide on the basis of these and other factors whether 
and with whom to share their technology.  There  is still  a lot to be learnt  on how effective technology 
transfer  can take place,  and what kind of partnerships may promote it. Additional analysis , as well 
as exchanging views and sharing experience may be useful in order to gather and discuss evidence 
and get a better understanding on the relationship between trade and technology transfer.  
9.60.    Accordingly, we welcome the fact that the communication of  the African Group includes these 
elements. Again, it is key that the experience of the private sector can feed in. We believe the 
communications put forward by the African Group deserve careful consideration and genuine 
engagement by WTO Members. Like  several other  delegations,  we consider  that more fruitful  and in-
depth  discussions  should take  place in a dedicated  process  or in the relevant  specialized  WTO bodies.  
Switzerland  will engage constructively in the discussions. The outcome of such discussions would 
then inform any decision the GC may make on the issues at stake.  
9.61.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
9.62.   While Indonesia will need more time to further study and reflect on these papers, I would like 
to highligh t a couple of elements in the paper that strikes a chord with us, as a fellow developing 
member. First, the role and importance of transfer of technology. According to UNCTAD, the 
technology gap among developing countries is increasing, while many others e xperience 
technological poverty. It is argued that the more open trade, technology transfer will become less 
costly. However, technological innovation requires big capital, and many will want a return of WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  investment through limiting spread of their innovati ons in terms of rate and geographical reach. The 
WTO, in this regard, should examine ways to facilitate and improve technology transfer to developing 
Members and LDCs, including through the Working Group on Trade and Technology Transfer. 
Second, the role o f local content requirements to boost domestic production, particularly to a 
weakened or infant industrial base. Many, if not most, developing countries historically have been 
conditioned to engage in low value -added activities and in turn consume much of the higher valued 
products that are derived from raw materials. A true levelling of the playing field can only be 
achievable if developing Members and LDCs are given the opportunity to shift into creation of a local 
production platform focusing on higher v alue-added products at the domestic level. Indonesia is 
looking forward to engaging more with the African Group on this matter.  
9.63.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
9.64.   South Africa associates with the statement by the African Group. As clearly articulated by 
Cameroon, the papers submitted today follow our commitment in March to submit more specific 
proposals on the challenges regarding the key Agreements identified and propose specific and 
targeted solutions on how the rules ca n be rebalanced to address these. We thank the Members for 
taking the floor on this item and for those who availed themselves for engagements prior to the GC. 
We found these exchanges quite useful and we will continue them after the GC given the importance  
of this issue for an outcome at MC13. The African Group umbrella submission and the complementary 
submissions on ASCM, TRIM s and technology transfer and TRIPS therefore aim to safeguard the 
integrity of the multilateral trading system, and also protect th e weakest in it by providing them 
with the necessary policy space, legal clarity, and access to policy tools for industrialisation and 
economic development. The submissions on policy space have been carefully crafted to ensure that 
the agreements are fit f or purpose, and also draw on some of the policy tools that existed in the 
past and identify policy tools that Members have used and are using in their process of 
industrialisation that should be availed to developing countries to achieve their industrialis ation and 
structural transformation objectives.  
9.65.   Without a multilateral framework, the risk is that those with the means and power will 
unilaterally deploy policy tools they need to respond to the polycrisis while developing countries and 
LDCs have no such  options. The aim of these proposals is to provide a multilateral framework that 
levels the playing field and ensures that rules are fit for purpose but also avoid resort to unilateral 
measures. In relation to the ASCM, as entailed in Article 27 of the ASC M, Members recognise that 
subsidies play a role in economic development of developing country Members and agreed on SD T 
provisions for developing countries. However, some of these flexibilities had transitional periods and 
have since expired.  
9.66.   The world ec onomy is confronted with compounding global challenges today, it is important 
to consider flexibilities within the context of ASCM that can be availed to Members, not only in the 
context of Article 27. There is a need to level the playing field as governme nts, most notably in 
developed economies are implementing industrial policies as a viable option for accelerating 
sustainable economic growth as a means of advancing national economic priorities, including de -
risking supply chains, while the same tools are  not available to majority of developing Members. The 
expiry of the carve -outs contained in Article 8 of the ASCM which allowed for non -actionable 
subsidies for industrial research or adaptation to new environmental requirements or regulations, 
unfortunate ly stifles this ambition to industrialise, whilst also placing existing exports at risk of 
noncompliance with increasingly stringent sustainability standards.57 It is in fact also argued that the 
thresholds in the expired carve -outs are too conservative for the climate change response necessary 
to decarbonise.58  
9.67.   Proposals include making Article 27 more fit for purpose by updating the threshold of GNP per 
capita of $1,000 per annum, incorporating additional objectives, including the level of export 
 
57 Footnote reproduced as provided in the statement sent by the delegation for inclusion in the records: 
The expiry of these permissib le (or "green -light") subsidies toward research and development, regional 
development and environmental protection wiped out the policy space for Members to address technological, 
poverty and environmental challenges — all crucial issues for sustainable de velopment.  
58 Footnote reproduced as provided in the statement sent by the delegation for inclusion in the records: 
Kleimann, D. (2023) 'Climate versus trade? Reconciling international subsidy rules with industrial 
decarbonisation', Policy Contribution 03/2023, Bruegel.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  diversification, and the global share of exports. Address the LCR limitation in Article 3 based on the 
TRIMs threshold to be agreed. Address the limitation of the threshold for the termination of 
countervailing duty investigation for developing coun tries, as well as consider objective criteria for 
the negligibility standard for countervailing investigations. Reinstate Article 8 of the ASCM to enable 
developing countries to grant subsidies to achieve legitimate policy objectives.  
9.68.   In identifying the f lexibilities to be agreed we have confined ourselves to what is already 
provided for in the various agreements and the proposals are practical and targeted.  In relation to 
TRIMs, we recogni ze the TRIM s as policy tools that are crucial in efforts to advance  industrial 
development and the creation of backward and forward linkages. Such measures have been highly 
important for effective industrial policies and have been widely deployed by developed economies at 
some time in their industrialization process and h ave actually taken a renewed importance in the 
policy toolbox deployed by WTO Members even to this day as Members attempt to address emerging 
challenges such as supply -chain disruptions and reshoring or near shorin g.59 A study by UNCTAD 
states that TRIM s are particularly important for investment in manufacturing in countries at 
intermediate stages of industrialization. WTO jurisprudence also reveals use of TRIM s by both 
developed and developing countries which clearly d emonstrates the value Members across the board 
attach to these policy tools and the need for flexibility to use among others local content 
requirements to promote upstream and downstream linkages within the local economy and achieve 
industrialization and s tructural transformation.  
9.69.   The submission makes specific proposals to provide flexibility under the TRIM s Agreement to 
allow developing countries the policy space and tools in support of their developmental policies, 
including a threshold that can be appli ed to local content requirements to facilitate industrialisation 
and structural transformation, address climate change, avert balance of payment crisis and address 
other legitimate public policy objectives such as health emergencies, food -security related crises, 
and similar crises. The threshold aims to ensure a balance between advancing the trade and 
investment objectives.  
9.70.   Similarly, the role of technology transfer and related to that, the role of the TRIPS Agreement 
as a means of enhancing productivity and diffusion of technologies necessary to enter the green 
economy and climate change adaptation. As captured in the African Group  submissions, the benefits 
of such technologies also permeate other areas of economic activity, including enhancing agricultur al 
productivity and food security, facilitating the movement of goods (i.e. trade facilitation), and 
ensuring equitable gains of e -commerce. Effectively, we recognise the need to incentivize R&D but 
also recognize as provided for in the TRIPS Agreement, th e need for a balanced approach to IP 
protection to ensure IP protection contributes not only to the promotion of technology, but also to 
the transfer and dissemination of technology in a way that benefits both its producers and users. 
The submission furthe r recognizes the need to encourage market -based mechanisms for technology 
transfer (such as trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and technology licensing etc .) but also 
recognizes the existence of market failure and the need to incentivise tech transfer , especially in 
emergencies. The submission calls for a need to identify avenues to promote effective transfer of 
technology to complement the market -based approaches.  
9.71.   The representative of Norway  delivered the following statement:  
9.72.   We note all nine papers , that deserve more discussion, and are cross -cutting topics. We 
expect that the coming retreat will discuss many of the themes covered by the papers. Norway will 
engage on the substance as the papers get on the agendas of the respective WTO bodies who sho uld 
discuss first, before the GC.  
 
59 Footnote reproduced as provided in the statement sent by the delegation for inclusion in the records: 
Kumar, N. and Gallagher, K., 2007.  ‘Relevance of Policy Space for Development: Implications for Multilateral 
Trade Negoti ations’. New Delhi: Research and Information System for Developing Countries.  See also: Kumar, 
N., 2005. Performance requirements as tools of development policy: Lessons from developed and developing 
countries.  Putting Development First. Putting Developmen t First: The Importance of Policy Space in the WTO and 
International Financial Institutions edited by Kevin P. Gallagher , Chapter  9 (2005): 89 -91. WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  9.73.   The representative of Namibia  delivered the following statement:  
9.74.   We make this intervention in support of the statement by the African Group. Policy space in 
trade is essential for industrialization, and the World Trade Org anization (WTO) plays a crucial role 
in ensuring that developing countries and the least developed countries (LDCs) have the necessary 
flexibilities to promote economic growth and development. Namibia, as a Member  of the African 
Group, views policy space t o advance its developmental agenda to fully integrate into the global 
economy. Having such flexibilities would allow us to design and implement trade policies that support 
countries industrialization efforts, foster job creation, and promote economic diver sification. By 
having policy space, Namibia can address its unique development challenges and shape its trade 
policies in line with its long -term goals, contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth. For 
members of our group (African Group), policy spac e would allow us to protect domestic industries, 
promote agricultural productivity, and foster regional integration, all of which are crucial for 
sustainable development. It also enables African countries to effectively address issues of food 
security, pub lic health, and environmental sustainability through trade -related measures.  
9.75.   By having policy space, African countries can shape their own trade policies in line with their 
development goals, ensuring that their interests are represented and protected at the global level. 
We support the additional three submissions, which fall under the umbrella paper title "Policy Space 
for Industrial Development submission as per our commitment at the GC meeting in March. My 
delegation looks forward to future engagements  in the CTD on these important topics which are a 
priority of the African Group as broadly captured in communication WT/COMTD/W/270  – on Policy 
Space for Industrial Development. As indicated earlier in the African Group Statement by Cameroon, 
these submissions on transfer of technology together form the second of the three key pillars upon 
which the case for more policy space for indu strial development is based, following our presentation 
of the submission focused on rebalancing of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures. It is our sincere hope and view that technical discussions on these sub -papers will be 
undertaken wi thin the relevant technical Committees identified therein, including the CTD as a focal 
point on development issues with the GC providing oversight towards an outcome. We are open to 
engaging with Members and eager to hear your thoughts on any relevant top ics or concerns among 
the three pillars.  
9.76.   The Director -General delivered the following statement:  
9.77.   Not really reflections, but just a few thoughts on the technology transfer aspect only. Again, 
I do want to congratulate the African Group for the series of th oughtful papers that they put out. 
Just on the issue of technology transfer, I want to emphasize what a couple of you have said and I 
think it was Egypt in particular, maybe Japan, that talked about the cross -cutting nature of this 
technology transfer issu e. As you stand back, it cuts across industrialisation, climate change and 
environment, health, food security. So, it looks like one of those topics that is ripe for perhaps a 
deliberative discussion. I think this deliberative function is fast taking wings  because a lot of issues 
are appearing just from the submissions, but this is definitely one of them. I think for developed 
countries, it would be good to really think through, and emerging  markets, those who are creating 
or have lots of new technology and  IP being created, to think ahead of how one might tackle this 
issue, short of the kinds of pressures which we saw during the pandemic. In this regard, I think the 
UK paper on voluntary technology transfer might be something worth looking at . For developin g 
countries, it is also very important that their legislative and regulatory eco -system, within which 
such transfers would take place, should be looked at. As someone else said, I do not think if you are 
asking for the transfer but the eco -system to receiv e is not there, then it would not do you much 
good. So, I think this regulatory framework, this investment friendly  environment, public, private 
partnership, regulatory and legislative environment, all these things are needed and I think in the 
course of d iscussions, some of these can be teased out so that when the debate takes place or the 
discussion, it really is meaningful, rather than different sides repeating statements that do not really 
lead anywhere.  
9.78.   The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
9.79.   Once again, the African Group would like to thank all the delegations who have spoken on 
this important topic which is of great importance to us. The African Group believes that this is a very WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  important pro posal to face the major challenge Africa has. The WTO has a key role to play so that 
the WTO can agree on policy space for industrial policy. I think that this is a proposal which can 
change the physiognomy of our continent. A continent which mainly produc es raw materials. I think 
this role should change and the WTO has a role to play to change that image of Africa so that Africa 
can unleash its full potential for the global economy. The three strands we have worked on, that is 
to rebalance the agreement on  subsidies and countervailing measures, the role of transfer of 
technology and rebalancing the agreement on TRIM s. These three strands are necessary and there 
are others. I would like to underscore that this proposal arrives at a timely moment at the time of 
the 2030 agenda. When you talk about industrialising Africa, it's fighting against poverty and it's 
fighting for Africa's development. Many of you have heard about agenda 2063, which for the African 
continent looks towards the future. In 1963, the Afric an Union was set up. One hundred years later 
Africa has to change and has to be able to develop like other countries to contribute to the global 
economy. We think that we have to reflect on this very important element for Africa and that is why 
we are open  to continuing our discussions on that point.  
9.80.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
10  STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE AND STABILITY OF GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL AND 
SUPPLY CHAINS – COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ( WT/GC/W/891  ) 
10.1.   The Chairperson  invited China to present the communication "Strengthening the Resilience 
and Stability of Global Industrial and Supply Chains" ( WT/GC/W/891  ).  
10.2.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
10.3.   Firstly, please allow me to present you a figure. Before the meeting,  we searched on a widely 
used searching engine for two keywords, namely, "supply chain connectivity" and "supply chain 
disruption". The result was startling. "Supply chain connectivity" took up nearly 3.5 million searches, 
while "supply chain disruption" t ook up 5.7 million searches. This highlighted the significance and 
urgency of initiating discussions on industrial and supply chain issues. Now I would like to introduce 
the purpose of this communication. As is noted by all, the global industrial and suppl y chains have 
been severely impacted in the recent years. As a result, many WTO Members have been 
encountering difficulties in their economic growth and trade development. Developing Members, 
especially the least developed country Members are the most severely inflicted due to financial, 
technological and information constraints, and MSMEs bore the hardest hit. What's even worse, we 
have no sign of positive reverse to that trend. The business sectors have even depicted supply chain 
disruptions with wordings like "perpetual storm" "new reality" and so on and so forth. The disruptions 
on industrial and supply chains have aroused widespread concern among WTO Members. The 
Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the Covid -19 Pandemi c and Preparedness for Future 
Pandemics adopted at MC12, has repeatedly called upon trade measures not to create unnecessary 
disruptions on supply chains.  
10.4.   Leaders and Ministers have consistently stated the merit of strengthening supply chain 
resilience an d avoiding trade disruptions at G20, APEC, BRICS and other international fora. China 
believes that, maintaining the stability of the global industrial and supply chains, has become an 
urgent concern for the vast majority of WTO Members. Only by working tog ether through multilateral 
cooperation we can restore the stability of global industrial and supply chains and better promote 
post-pandemic economic recovery and social development. Our collective effort would also 
contribute to the objectives enshrined in  the preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing, 
which includes: "expanding the production of and trade in goods and services" and "allowing for the 
optimal use of the world's resources". To this end, China calls on Members to issue a joint statement  
at MC13 to send a political signal to the outside world that, WTO firmly supports the resilient and 
stable running of the global industrial and supply chains and advocates cooperation in 12 potential 
action areas.  
10.5.   Among the 12 areas, some focus on genera l principles such as Articles  1 and 2 on which 
Members have expressed similar views in several occasions. Some propose more specific cooperation 
covering trade facilitation, services, technological innovation and cooperation, green and low -carbon 
developme nt and digital economy. During the drafting of the proposal, China fully takes into account 
the concerns of developing members and MSMEs. We encourage Members to carry out capacity WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  building and information sharing to help developing members and MSMEs bette r integrate into the 
global and regional industrial and supply chains. In this regard, we commend DG for her outreach 
effort in establishing the Business and Civil Society Advisory Groups. We encourage the Secretariat 
to strengthen communication with busin esses, academia and other international Organizations to 
formulate recommendations on this issue. China looks forward to the valuable comments and 
suggestions from all Members. With our collective efforts, China believes that the WTO would play 
an importan t role in contributing to the stability and resilience of industrial and supply chains.  
10.6.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
10.7.   The United States is committed to building more secure, sustainable, and resilient supply 
chains that honour international law, are free and fair, and foster mutually beneficial economic and 
trade relationships. The C ovid-19 pandemic and Russia 's war of aggression against Ukraine has laid 
bare vulnerabilities in supply chains in countries around t he world. The devastating impacts that 
supply chain disruptions have had on developing, emerging, and advanced economies alike has 
shown that the status quo is not acceptable. Further, recent incidents of weaponizing energy and 
other economic dependencies have further highlighted the need to build and strengthen resilient 
supply chain networks. We are concerned that some of the proposed activities would divert 
significant secretariat time and resources from existing work related to supply chains.  
10.8.   The repres entative of Japan  delivered the following statement:  
10.9.   Our commitment to the Multilateral Trading System and working for a better functioning of 
the global supply chain, for one thing; Members making efforts for diversifying, enhancing resilience 
in and de -risking of their respective supply chains, for the other; we believe that these two efforts 
are not mutually exclusive, but can be done in parallel exercises. Further, as a background, we 
cannot but acknowledge that; we still have exposure to the risks of p andemic and geopolitical crises, 
to the risk of excessive state intervention overshooting supply capacities, to other non -market 
economic practices, or to a lack of transparency and predictability involved in measures, among 
others, and that there exist sy stemic gaps in the incumbent norms of the Multilateral Trading 
System, in dealing with those challenges. We think these are important factual viewpoints in 
addressing the issue of supply chain, which is indeed a key element in the management of the global 
economic system.  
10.10.   The representative of Antigua and Barbuda , on behalf of the OECS , delivered the following 
statement:  
10.11.   Broadly speaking, we support the direction of China's proposal. As a collection of small 
islands developing states (SIDS) which are dispro portionately reliant on international trade, 
particularly imports, the resilience and stability of global supply chains take on added significance 
for the OECS. Global supply chains play a crucial role in the economic development and sustainability 
of SIDS . For many SIDS, local markets alone are insufficient to sustain economic growth. Therefore, 
participating in global supply chains enables them to access larger markets and diversify their export 
base, thereby reducing dependence on a limited range of prod ucts or industries. Furthermore, 
engaging in global supply chains spreads risks, thus ensuring a continuous flow of goods even during 
local challenges or global crises such as climate change or geopolitical risks. In a global polycrisis 
environment, which poses multiple challenges to SIDS, including with respect to global industrial 
and supply chains, strengthening their resilience becomes even more important. In this connection, 
we support many of the tenets of China's proposal.  
10.12.   The representative of India delivered the following statement60: 
10.13.   While our capital is analysing the contents of this submission , allow me to make few 
preliminary comments. First, we would like to understand the credibility of the report referred to in 
paper that was released by the WTO in February 2023, showing that the opportunity costs of 
decoupling into two rival blocs relative to more liberalization are estimated at 8.7 per cent of real 
income at the global level, varying between 6.4 per cent for develo ped countries, 10.1 per cent for 
 
60 As requested by the delegation, the longer version of the statement, which was submitted after the 
meeting,  has been reflected in the Minutes of the meeting.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  developing countries, and more than 11.3 per cent for least developed countries. We would like to 
know the assumptions taken in this report as these numbers intrigue us. Second, we would like the 
proponent to throw more lig ht on each of the high -level points, as contained in paragraph 2.2 of the 
proposal, to appreciate the intention and objectives in more detail for engaging further discussion 
constructively. Third, we believe that we should not overload the agenda of MC13, where several 
negotiations are already going on. Adding a new declaration to the MC13 agenda will open another 
negotiating front and the time from mid -September to December – the realistic window for text -
based negotiation – will be too short to reach an o utcome. We will also take away bandwidth from 
other negotiations and put additional burden on small delegations. In this perspective, we would be 
of the view to not include this agenda for MC13.  
10.14.   Fourth, on the substance of this paper. China has highlighte d important concerns on how 
global supply chains have evolved over the years and how they have come under stress in the recent 
times. We are however concerned about the idea of global trade fragmentation explained in 
paragraph 1.5. The WTO report which tal ks about the opportunity costs of global trade decoupling 
into two rival blocs is based on very sketchy and completely impractical assumptions. The report 
demonstrates no political understanding of the world and makes basic conceptual errors even when 
it comes to making assumptions on the global trade flows themselves. Making this forecast a basis 
for a ministerial declaration unfortunately puts the idea itself on thin ice. Fifth, we believe that there 
should be three main pillars of resilient supply chains : Trust, Transparency and Timeliness. Any work 
that we undertake in the WTO after MC13 on this subject must address all these three features. 
Else, we run the risk of adding additional commitments to a supply chain framework, which has not 
proven to be ant ifragile in face of serious global crises.  
10.15.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
10.16.   I was interested in what Ambassador Navnit had to say about the fragmentation paper. We 
look forward to receiving your detailed comments, so that the team c an sit with you and go through 
the assumptions. This has been one of the most commented on pieces of work, replicated by the 
IMF and other organizations, so it is one of those pieces of work that the Organization is proud that 
the team at ERSD has done. We  are willing to sit with you. If there are aspects of the assumptions 
that you would like to go through, I think we should do that. But I would separate the pieces of work 
done from what is being proposed in the paper. We are willing to talk to you, as I m entioned.  
10.17.   The representative of Barbados  delivered the following statement:  
10.18.   We take note of China's paper which underlines the importance of resilient industrial and 
supply chains. In general, we consider the proposal to be very wide -ranging so today we wi ll not get 
into the details at this stage, but we really want to highlight the importance of well organised, and 
well-oiled supply chains for Barbados.  As with many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 
we are confronted with the inherent challenges associated with small size and high economic and 
environmental vulnerability, including a high dependence on trade, particularly for food, finished 
goods and inputs into production. Add this to high costs of domestic production, limited air and 
maritime tr ansport, and the fact that we are also in effect price takers, and you will see why we 
place so much attention on minimizing supply chain disruption.  We have had a history of such 
disruptions in supply chains. We all experienced it with medical supplies du ring the pandemic and 
we are facing it today with inputs into our planned green transition. Disruptions can have immediate 
and significant impacts on our tourism services - our main source of income and employment; and 
to maintain our food and nutrition se curity.   
10.19.   The link between supply chains, international transport, port connectivity, trade facilitation; 
our economic development and our health and food and nutrition security is absolute. Hence any 
discussion on supply chains must reflect the interest of  the most vulnerable.  Barbados has 
recognised that industrial and supply chains is an issue that not only disproportionately affects SIDS 
but is germane to all WTO and UNCTAD Members. It is for this reason that our capital is currently 
engaging with UNCTAD to host the Global Supply Chain Forum in Barbados  from 21 – 24 May 2024 . 
This is an occasion to discuss all elements of supply chain matters from trade facilitation to financing 
to impact of climate change and the green transition to NTBs. So come t o Barbados  - in May next 
year to discuss supply chain resilience where I am sure some elements on this paper will feature.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  10.20.   The representative of Switzerland  delivered the following statement:  
10.21.   Switzerland supports efforts to promote international cooperatio n aiming at improving the 
resilience of global value chains. Indeed, the Covid -19 pandemic, the unjustified Russian military  
aggression  that Switzerland  firmly  condemns  as well as the current trade  tensions have affected 
global value chains. This state of affairs calls for enhanced international cooperation.  We welcome  
many  of the proposed  areas  for cooperation,  such as promoting  openness and inclusiveness, 
upholding the multilateral trading system, and promoting trade liberalization and facilitation. That  
said, in our view, some  other  areas  go beyond  the prerogatives  of the WTO. These include for 
example some issues listed in paragraphs 6 to 9. Switzerland  stands  ready  to engage  constructively  
on the matter.  While conducting our discussions, we will have to stay mindful of the respective work 
carried  out in other  international  fora, in order  to ensure  coherence  between  global  efforts to improve 
the resilience of GVC.  
10.22.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
10.23.   Trade openness and international partnerships help secure more diversified supply chains. 
In turn, open supply chains are key to help ensure the global long -term competitiveness and 
prosperity, notably by allowing to access critical supplies, which are necessary for the green and 
digital transitions. The European Union is still in the process of analysing the submission, but we 
would be interested in knowing more from China about its expectations for this work going fo rward.  
10.24.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
10.25.   We share the proposal's view that renewing our commitment to an open, non -discriminatory, 
transparent and predictable system of multilateral rules is a vital message for MC13, in the fa ce of 
protectionism and looming fragmentation. It is a shared responsibility of all WTO Members to ensure 
that the benefits of globalization are widely spread and not just limited to a few developed nations. 
As such, we look forward to engaging with China in this proposal and shaping a positive WTO 
contribution for stable, resilient and inclusive supply chains that work as a catalyst for development.  
10.26.   The representative of Thailand  delivered the following statement:  
10.27.   The supply chain issue is one of the thing s that the private sector in Thailand is very 
intereste d regarding what the WTO is doing on ensuring the smooth supply chain because we were 
affected a lot during C ovid time. So, I think this is this proposal is valid. However, having seen this 
paper just recently, Thailand would like to ask some opportunity to have a bilateral engagement 
with China to explain more in detail on this proposal so that we can have a better understanding on 
the concept, scope, and the proposed ideas in the paper. Please be assu red that Thailand would like 
to continue and engage on this important issue.  
10.28.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
10.29.   The draft joint Ministerial Statement contains useful elements as well as some that we would 
like to engage further on. For example, the statement seems to envisage a Decision on extension of 
the MC12 TRIPS Decision being taken at MC13 or after the conference. For us, the Decision is long 
overdue and must in any event be taken well before MC13. My delegation sta nds ready to engage 
with the delegation of China on its proposal.  
10.30.   The representative of Norway  delivered the following statement:  
10.31.   The importance on having frank and constructive discussions on resilience in trade cannot 
be understated and the WTO should b e the organization where this should  take place. Fostering 
openness and transparency is a vital element, as well as the needs for developing new and additional 
rules. Would also remind Members that other international organizations have done substantial wo rk 
on supply chains which should be used to avoid duplications of work.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  10.32.   The representative of the Russian Federation  delivered the following statement:  
10.33.   The document and the topic are quite valuable, especially in the current global situation. We 
believe th at it is of paramount importance to consider this proposal positively. The document is 
balanced and meets the preferences and requests of the entire membership, therefore it should be 
supported as a blueprint for a future Ministerial declaration, which in its turn, should be implemented 
in an appropriate and effective manner.  
10.34.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
10.35.   We acknowledge the significance of this issue in promoting international trade and 
investment, particularly for developin g countries and MSMEs. We believe that it is essential to 
cooperate in the areas outlined in this submission to ensure the smooth operation of industrial and 
supply chains. These chains represent vital global public goods and play a crucial role in the eco nomic 
growth and development. We also wish to underscore the importance of addressing the specific 
needs and challenges faced by developing countries in this context. We are willing to engage with 
China and the Members to see how to move those ideas on. In  this regard we invite all Members to 
consider addressing the following points in the context of the deliberations on the ideas in the 
document: What are the Specific concrete Measures which could go beyond technical assistance, 
capacity building, and fina ncial aid that the WTO could adopt to support developing countries in 
integrating into global industrial and supply chains? What are the initiatives that we could develop 
based on the current WTO provision, which could facilitate and promote equitable acce ss to 
technology, knowledge sharing and promote innovation. We see that point 6 in the Chinese 
document is relevant and close to the ideas contained in the African Group's submission on the role 
of ToT in resilience building contained in document s WT/GC/W/883, WT/GC/W/884, WT/GC/W/885, 
WT/GC/W/886, WT/GC/W/887, WT/GC/W/888 . We echo the call for inclusive dialogue and 
engagement with developing country Members throughout the decision -making process. By 
understanding their unique challenges and needs, we can collectively work towards more effective 
solutions. We express our gratitude to China for initiating this important discussion, and we look 
forward to fruitful deliberations during this meeting.  
10.36.   The representative of the United Kingdom  delivered the following statement:  
10.37.   We agree that this is a helpful lens in which to view the challenges in the global tra ding 
system. We also agree that supply chain resilience is important. Supply chains are clearly affected 
by the tensions in the world economy. Looking at this paper, we should consider how to move beyond 
broad statements of WTO principals and expose some o f the underlying tensions so that we can 
address them openly. We could usefully discuss how we will create a transparent, predictable, 
diverse market environment, and how to avoid the overconcentration of productivity in any one 
geography. As others have n oted, this paper includes a broad set of proposals which need to be 
considered alongside existing work underway in many areas and other proposals. Clearly, the United 
Kingdom will need time to review these papers closely. As we take these discussions forwa rd, we 
wanted to emphasize that any dialogue on such a horizontal issue such as supply chains, needs to 
be balanced and comprehensive so it needs to include discussions on market distorting practices. 
We look forward to engaging with Members on what more t he WTO can do on this very important 
area. 
10.38.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following statement:  
10.39.   First, Singapore would like to thank China for its communication which turns the spotlight 
on a very important issue, namely strengthening the resilience and stability of global industrial and 
supply chains. Second, this is an issue that the WTO must and s hould address especially in the 
context of the policy crisis and the potential of a global economic fragmentation. Third, Singapore 
looks forward to working closely with China and other Members to fine -tune this important proposal.  
10.40.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
10.41.   I think Singapore captured some of the things I wanted to say on this. First, I agree with 
the United States that there is no doubt that the polycrisis we have been through has exposed really 
deeply the vulnerabilities in s upply chains. We cannot get away from that. I think the question is WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  how do we build resilience  and in that context, I welcome the debate and hope that Members will 
use the opportunity of some of the intellectual work being done here, which has laid the bas is for a 
lot of the thinking about fragmentation and what that would mean and decoupling. As a matter of 
fact, I would be so bold to say that the concept of de-risking that  came up arose from part of this 
debate and the information that was put forward fro m this Organization on what the cost of 
fragmentation would be. So, I think this is a good place to look at it. Obviously, it is something that 
is very difficult for the multilateral trading system and that is why we need to reflect on what a 
decoupled wor ld or fragmented trading system would mean. It is very gratifying to see top policy 
makers articulate that this is not really what they want but there is obviously a need to manage the 
risks that have arisen out of the vulnerabilities that we have seen in these supply chains. To that 
extent, any deliberation on what we can do to strengthen resilience including diversification of supply 
chains, this is something that we have been talking about, and de -concentration of certain supply 
chains where it is obviou s that they are too concentrated to serve the world. These are areas in 
which we should be reflecting.  
10.42.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
10.43.   We highly appreciate Members valuable views and suggestions which we will bring back and 
fully digest. Here I would just like to give some very brief responses. Firstly, this proposal is for the 
common interest of all WTO Members. As stated in the communication, the causes of supply -chain 
disruption are multi -faceted. We hope  all Members could  stand together to address current and 
future challenges, rather than to blame or target any member. Second, China firmly believes that 
our Ministers should send a strong political signal to the International Community on industrial and 
supply -chain cooper ation. If everybody is talking about supply chain resilience they must stipulate 
bilaterally and individually. We believe that the WTO should not stand aside. It is about the relevance 
of this organisation. Third, that this proposal is neither started from  scratch, nor to distract us from 
the preparations of MC13. Instead, most of the suggestions in the proposal are based on the current 
work in WTO. The value -added lies in better aligning these efforts with the dimension on stabilising 
global supply chain a nd creating synergies. China will keep in close touch with interested Members 
to further exchange our views intersessionally and revise the communication as necessary. We count 
on your continued support and welcome your co -sponsorship.  
10.44.   The representative o f Argentina  provided the following statement61:  
10.45.   Argentina thanks China for submitting this paper, which is being considered by the relevant 
authorities. We hope to have specific comments on the proposal soon.  
10.46.   The General Council took note  of the statement s made.  
11  BRIEFING ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ACCESSION OF COMOROS - 
REQUEST FROM MOROCCO  
12  BRIEFING ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ACCESSION OF TIMOR -LESTE – 
REQUEST FROM PORTUGAL  
12.1.   The Chairperson  noted that items 11 and 12 both relate d to the work on WTO accessions. In 
the interest of time and efficiency, she proposed to take up both items together. Item 11 "Briefing 
on the Latest Development of the Accession of Comoros" ha d been included in the a genda at the 
request of the delegation of Morocco. Item 12 "Briefing on the Latest Developments of the Accession 
of Timor -Leste" ha d been included in the agenda at the request of the delegation of Portugal. She 
invited the Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Comoros to take the floor, followed 
by the Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Timor -Lester.  
12.2.   Ambassador Omar Z niber (Morocco), Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Comoros , delivered the following state ment62:  
 
61 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  
62 The statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/ACC/COM/15 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  12.3.   I would like to brief the General Council on the latest developments in the Accession of 
Comoros in my capacity as Chair of the Working Party of the Accession of the Union of the Comoros.63 
Members will recall that the Working Party was establishe d in 2007. The Working Party held its 1 st 
Meeting in 2016 and seven more meetings since then. I chaired the three most recent meetings 
since 2021, when I took over the Chairmanship from Ambassador Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia of 
Peru. During my time as C hairman, I have been consistently impressed by the determination, 
commitment, and hard work by the Government of Comoros to join the WTO.  
12.4.   At the most recent 8th Working Party Meeting, held on 19 January of this year, WTO Members 
noted the substantial prog ress made by Comoros towards concluding WTO accession - with many 
delegations expressing support for the completion of the accession process at MC13. The Delegation 
of Comoros, led by Minister Ahmed Ali Bazi - who was supposed to be with us during this ses sion of 
the General Council, but unfortunately is not, due to agenda issues - conveyed Comoros' aspiration 
to conclude the negotiations in 2023. Members were very supportive, although it was understood 
that substantive work remained in certain areas. Less than 4 months later, on the 4th of May, the 
Working Party reached a significant milestone. The draft Goods and Services Schedules, which 
contain Comoros' future market access concessions and specific commitments, were verified by the 
Members which had conc luded bilateral market access negotiations with Comoros. These Schedules 
have now been "cleared" for formal adoption by the Working Party.64 This is a very significant 
development as two of the three key elements constituting Comoros' draft Accession Packa ge are 
now ready. I would like to thank the Members involved, Comoros, and the Secretariat - which 
consolidated the bilateral agreements - for this important achievement.     
12.5.   In parallel, work has progressed well on the third element of the Accession Packag e, which is 
the draft Report of the Working Party. While the Report is at a fairly advanced stage of technical 
maturity, a handful of issues remain relating to the conformity of Comoros' foreign trade regime 
with WTO rules. Work has been taking place bilat erally between Comoros and interested Members, 
focusing on the elaboration of specific legally -binding commitments and the integration of issue -
specific action plans in the Report. This important technical work is ongoing and is set to continue 
throughout the summer.  I understand that the bilateral engagement has been constructive and that 
delegations are now in a problem -solving mode, particularly these past few weeks. This is very 
encouraging. I hope that flexibility and pragmatism will continue to prevai l. Here, I would also like 
to remind Comoros that some of the pending items will only be resolved through legislative 
amendments. In particular, Comoros still has work to do on its existing copyright legislation and on 
filling gaps in its legislative frame work on customs valuation. Mr. Bazi promised that all work in these 
fields will be achieved as soon as possible, in any case before the end of the summer.  
12.6.   It is important to recognize that, if we are to have this accession ready in time for MC13, 
all subst antive work would need to be wrapped up very soon - bearing in mind that there are certain 
procedural steps for the Working Party to take before formally concluding its mandate. With this in 
mind, following consultations, I have determined that the Working  Party should hold its 9th Meeting 
as soon as possible after the summer break, no later than in the week of 25 September.65 To the 
extent possible, the goal of the 9th Meeting should be to complete all technical work, in  particular 
with respect to commitment language for the draft Report. Comoros has already submitted several 
documents66 requested by the Working Party and more will be issued in the co ming weeks, as I 
underlined before. In particular, before the September meeting, the Secretariat will circulate an 
updated draft Report, together with Comoros' replies to questions. Thereafter, it is my hope to hold 
the final meeting of the Working Party b efore the end of the year to conclude its mandate. I hope, 
of course, before the last General Council meeting of the year. The draft Accession Package will then 
be transmitted to the 13th Ministerial Conference for formal adoption. I believe that this goal  is 
attainable, as long as Members and Comoros maintain their focus, as they promised.  
 
63 A Chair progress report on the accession of Comoros was circulated in preparation for MC12 in document 
WT/MIN(22)/1 . 
64 Documents WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/6/Rev.1  and WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/7/Rev.1 . 
65 Chair communication to the Working Party of 10 July 2023. The week of 17 July had been initially 
proposed in the Chair communication to the Working Party of 24 May 2023.  
66 A revised legislative action plan ( WT/ACC/COM/9/Rev.8  ), revised action plans in specific is sue areas 
( WT/ACC/C OM/23/Rev.6  ), legislation and consultation documents ( WT/ACC/COM/39   and 40 ), and updated 
supporting tables on agriculture domestic support ( WT/ACC/SPEC/3/Rev.1  ). WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  12.7.   It is important to remember that, from the perspective of acceding governments, 
WTO membership holds the promise of greater economic growth, higher living standards, be tter 
jobs, and ultimately the promise of long -term stability and peace.  This is particularly relevant for 
acceding LDCs. It is important that, for our part, as Members, we support the ambitions of vulnerable 
economies, such as Comoros, which have shown com mitment to the values of the WTO and have 
clearly demonstrated willingness to adapt to its rules and principles. I  therefore call on Members to 
continue to engage constructively in this LDC accession and to support Comoros in its efforts to 
achieve its obj ectives - in line with the promise made by WTO Ministers in paragraph 6 of the MC12 
Outcome Document. I would like also to underline the very strong commitment and engagement of 
our Director -General in this process. She spared no effort in trying to help u s catch our goal in the 
weeks ahead. The Director -General is in contact with the highest level of leadership in Comoros. The 
President of Comoros is also personally involved. Likewise, here in Geneva we are doing our best to 
inform in detail all interested  delegations.  
12.8.   To conclude, I have no doubt that Comoros, currently holding the Presidency of the African 
Union, will add a valuable voice to the multilateral trading system as a new Member - knowing that 
WTO accessions are pending now for many years. It is  for us time to take the right decision to give 
clearance. As Chairperson, I remain committed to doing all necessary work to finalise the mandate 
of the Working Party by the end of this year - 16 years after its establishment. I remain available to 
respond  to any questions Members may have on my report.   
12.9.   Ambassador Rui Macieira (Portugal), Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Timor -Leste , delivered the following statement67: 
12.10.   Thank you, Chairperson, for the opportunity to report, as Chair of the Working Party, on the 
latest developments in the Accession of Timor -Leste, another LDC which is making impressive efforts 
to accede to the WTO, along with Comoros. The Working Party on the Accession of Timor -Leste was 
established in December 2016. Since March 2019 I have chaired five meetings, most recently on 20 
April. It is one of the fastest -moving accessions, driven by the strong determination of one of the 
youngest states in the wor ld, having gained independence just 21 years ago. Like in the case of 
Comoros, Timor -Leste has registered solid progress, making it a good candidate for an MC13 
deliverable. To date, Timor -Leste has concluded bilateral market access negotiations with eight  
Members; and with seven of them, the agreements have already been signed and deposited with 
the Secretariat. It remains to conclude negotiations with two Members – although I understand that 
with one, the negotiations are very close to the conclusion.  
12.11.   To complete the picture on the market access front, let me add that Timor -Leste has agreed 
to join the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and the ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA -II). 
Indeed, it will be the first LDC to join both Agreements upon accession. T he Government is about to 
approve the draft schedules, which I hope will be submitted to the ITA Committee and the ITA 
Expansion Group shortly, for verification and approval. On the multilateral front, the work is at an 
advanced stage. At our last meeting in April, the Working Party unbracketed 28 out of 30 accession -
specific commitments in the draft Report, leaving only a handful of issues for resolution which I 
expect will be completed at our next meeting. I am pleased to report to you that today, Timor -Leste 
has circulated several documents in preparation for the next meeting. These include: the "questions 
and replies" document and the revised legislative action plan, together with 11 pieces of legislation.68 
I expect that the next revision of the draft R eport of the Working Party will be circulated in the 
coming weeks, once a few elements are confirmed with the Secretariat. This version of the draft 
Report shall be close to final, nearly completing one of the three elements of the draft Accession 
Package.  
12.12.   Let me now lay out what needs to be done to bring this accession to the finishing line. On 
the Members' side, I would like to request the Members who are yet to conclude bilateral market 
access negotiations with Timor -Leste to do so as soon as possible. T his will mandate the Secretariat 
to consolidate all the ten agreements and the ITA/ITA -II schedules, once approved, into draft Goods 
and Services Schedules, which constitute two remaining elements of the draft Accession Package. It 
is my hope that this con solidation work by the Secretariat and the subsequent verification of the 
 
67 The statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/ACC/TLS/11 . 
68 WTO documents WT/ACC/TLS/31 , WT/ACC/TLS/6/Rev.7  and WT/ACC/TLS/30 , respectively.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  draft Schedules by signatory Members, could be completed by no later than in the late fall. On the 
side of Timor -Leste, I have urged the new Government, which has been installed earl ier this month, 
to do their part of the homework, starting with the approval of the draft ITA/ITA -II schedules this 
week and concluding the remaining bilateral market access negotiations. Dili's homework also 
includes the adoption of 11 pieces of legislati on before the end of this year, as requested by the 
Working Party.  
12.13.   In terms of the calendar, it is my hope to hold the next meeting of the Working Party 
immediately after the approval by the ITA Committee of Timor -Leste's draft schedules, to be followed 
by a final Working Party meeting in December. The Working Party will conclude its mandate by 
adopting the draft Accession Package of Timor -Leste, ad referendum, and transmitting it to the 13th 
Ministerial Conference for formal approval. I trust that we are on track to reach this goal. I believe 
that, together with Comoros, Timor -Leste will make an excellent addition to the WTO family, bringing 
a real benefit to the multilateral trading system. I  should note that in addition to joining both the 
ITA and ITA -II upon accession, Timor -Leste already announced at MC12 its intention to join the Joint 
Initiative on Domestic Services Regulation, again as the first LDC to do so. On both accounts, Timor -
Leste is setting a new standard for LDCs, not only for other LDC acc essions, but also for existing 
LDC Members.  
12.14.   Let me add that despite being an observer, Timor -Leste has demonstrated a leadership role 
in promoting Trade for Peace for fragile and conflict -affected states through the joint coordination 
of the g7+ WTO Acces sions Group with Liberia. This is another example of the values that 
Timor -Leste will bring to the rules -based multilateral trading system. I look forward to working 
closely with all Members and Timor -Leste to bring this accession to the finishing line by MC13. Let 
me also end by thanking the Director -General for her strong engagement in the enlargement process 
and also in Timor -Leste. I am ready to respond to questions Members may have.  
12.15.   The representative of Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group , delivered  the following 
statement:  
12.16.   The LCD Group would like to take the floor since the two items on the agenda are taken 
together and both, Timor -Leste and Comoros are LDC s. First, the LDC Group thanks Morocco for 
including this item on the accession of Comoros on  the agenda of our meeting and Ambassador 
Zniber for its report. Comoros is a Member of the LDC Group. They have been engaged in the process 
of accession to the WTO since 2007. This process is at the final stage. Last January, the Comorian 
authorities made  a commitment to carry out the final legislative and technical work necessary to 
finalize accession to the WTO by MC13. We welcome the latest developments in the accession of 
Comoros and therefore call on Members to fully implement the 2002 Guidelines for the Accession of 
LDCs as well as the 2012 General Council Decision "Addendum I", as instruments of accession for 
LDCs. A Working Group is working on the needs of Comoros after their accession to the WTO. We 
call on the WTO Secretariat and all Comoros' deve lopment partners to provide them with adequate 
assistance to meet the needs identified by the Comorian authorities in order to enable this new 
country to respect its commitments within the framework of the Multilateral Trading System and to 
use trade as an  engine for development.  
12.17.   Turning to  the accession of Timor -Leste on the agenda of our meeting and also Ambassador 
Macieira 's report , Timor -Leste is a Member of the LDC Group, which has been in the process of 
accession to the WTO since 2016. The Timorese au thorities show an unwavering desire to join the 
WTO. The group commends Timor -Leste for its efforts to conclude negotiations for its accession to 
the WTO by MC13 in February 2024. We applaud the latest developments in Timor -Leste's the 
accession and theref ore call on Members to fully implement the 2002 LDC Accession Guidelines and 
the 2012 General Council Decision "Addendum I", as accession instruments for LDCs. We urge the 
WTO Secretariat and development partners, including Members in a position to do so, to provide 
assistance to Timor -Leste to ensure that its post -accession needs are met in a timely and adequate 
manner, in order to help this Member meet its commitments and derive maximum benefit from its 
participation in international trade. LDC Members wi sh to join the WTO. It's a positive message and 
is a testimony of their conviction that WTO will contribute to their development.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  12.18.   The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
12.19.   The African Group would like to inform WTO Members that the Heads of State and 
Government of the African Union (AU) elected His Excellency Azali Assoumani, President of the Union 
of Comoros, as the Chairperson of the A frican Union for the year 2023. This is strong evidence of 
the political commitment and dedication of Comoros to integrate the regional and multilateral 
systems despite the difficulties and constraints the country encounters. We applaud the tireless 
effort s of Ambassador Omar Zniber of Morocco, as Chair of the Working Party (WP) on the Accession 
of the Union of the Comoros, and we are encouraged by the continued progress and efforts by 
Members facilitate the Union of Comoros' accession to the WTO. We would like to take this 
opportunity to also express our thanks to the Secretariat for the commendable efforts they have 
made in injecting technical inputs to the accession process, as well as in playing the coordinating 
role. Having said this, like many of our c ountries, the economy of the Comoros is mainly based on 
subsistence agriculture and fishing. While its agriculture sector is the main economic driver, fisheries 
and tourism are under exploited however due to a lack of adequate infrastructure.  
12.20.   Comoros was hit by the effects of the Covid -19 pandemic and rising global food and fuel 
prices negatively affected Comoros' economy. Comoros is highly dependent on imports of goods and 
services, highlighting its vulnerability to external shocks. Over the years, Presid ent Assoumani's 
government has introduced a series of fiscal and structural reforms. So, although economic growth 
in Comoros has remained below potential in recent years, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 
an estimated 2.9 per cent in 2022, up from 2.2  per cent in 2021. According to the African 
Development Bank, the medium -term economic outlook of Comoros is favourable, though fragile, 
with GDP projected to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2023 and 4.0 per cent in 2024. In the face of multiple 
challenges with vu lnerability to economic shocks, natural disasters, and climate change, Comoros 
has continued all its efforts to finalize its accession to the WTO and it has repeatedly reiterated its 
commitment to finalize respective accession processes in 2023. There is n o doubt that remarkable 
progress has been made, but we must be cognizant that in the face of the great efforts made by 
Comoros, objective constraints arising from its LDC status still persist. In this regard, the African 
Group stresses that Members can hel p to expedite the process and post -accession support to 
maximize the benefits of its WTO membership is fundamental. Therefore, in closing, the African 
Group believes that Comoros' accession to the WTO is an important step in integrating the Comoros 
economy  into the global economy.  
12.21.   It is our sincere hope that the accession of Comoros would carve a path to success, economic 
growth and usher in an era of development, stability and peace on the continent and in line with the 
African Union's Agenda 2063 – The A frica We Want. We, therefore, call on all WTO Members to 
facilitate the accession of Comoros to the WTO and to ensure that accession is concluded by the 13th 
Ministerial Conference in February 2024. This will certainly be a highlight of the Ministerial 
Conference in Abu Dhabi since Comoros is a member of the Arab League.  
12.22.   The representative of Kenya , on behalf of the ACP Group , delivered the following statement:  
12.23.   We support the inclusion of agenda items 11 and 12 on the accessions of Comoro and Timor -
Leste, a s both are members of the ACP family. We wish to make our intervention with respect to 
both items. We commend the delegations for their excellent work to advance the necessary reforms 
and adjustments in the regimes to enable their membership to the WTO. Th e delegations have 
endured major advancements in their accession process and should become Members of the WTO 
by MC13. Both countries are LDCs and as such are entitled to the benefits of the 2002 Guidelines 
for the Accession of LDCs as well as the 2012 Gen eral Council Decision "Addendum I", as instruments 
of accession for LDCs. We urge WTO Members engaged in negotiations with Comoros and Timor -
Leste in their accession to fully implement those guidelines.  
12.24.   The representative of Saudi Arabia , on behalf of the  Arab Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
12.25.   The Arab Group would like to express its sincere gratitude to H.E. Mr. Omar Z niber 
Ambassador of Morocco for his insightful briefing and for his continuing able leadership as the 
Chairman of the Working Party  on the Accession of Comoros. Special thanks go to the Working Party WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  Members as well as the WTO Secretariat especially the DG and the Accession Division for their 
collective efforts in bringing this accession to a very close end. We congratulate Comoros fo r 
concluding all its bilateral market access negotiations by signing 12 bilateral market access 
agreements in Goods and Services with WTO Members. We also Congratulate Comoros for answering 
over 700 questions raised by Members at the multilateral front in line with its economic reform. We 
are glad to hear today that the accession of Comoros is in final drafting stage. And we can say, with 
confidence that Comoros has made significant substantial improvements that should put its 
accession a priority to WTO Members by MC13. The accession of Comoros will be a motive not only 
for Comoros and the Arab region, but also for the WTO in celebrating its first accession to this house 
since 2016. In conclusion, the Arab Group remains committed to bring this process to an  end and 
urges all WTO Members to support rapid and accelerated Comoros' accession by MC13.  
12.26.   The representative of Samoa , on behalf of the Pacific Group , delivered the following 
statement:  
12.27.   The Pacific Group thanks both Portugal and Morocco for their briefings and welcomes the 
progress in Comoros and Timor -Leste's accession process. The Pacific Group fully anticipate s and 
support s the early conclusion of these processes. We call on Members and the Working Party to 
provide the required assistance to adv ance the accession processes towards completion. In addition, 
being Least Developed Countries, we enjoin all Members to afford the flexibility needed to enable 
Timor -Leste and Comoros to integrate gradually and successfully into the multilateral trading sy stem 
of the WTO. We should welcome and celebrate the WTO membership of Timor -Leste and Comoros 
at MC13 in Abu Dhabi next year.  
12.28.   The representative of the United States  delivered the following statement:  
12.29.   The United States strongly supports the accession of b oth Comoros and Timor -Leste. We 
commend the Comoros team for its constructive and sustained efforts in recent months to undertake 
domestic reforms.  For several weeks, the United States and Comoros have been actively engaging 
technical experts from capital,  and in Geneva, to address outstanding issues across other technical 
areas of the multilateral rules track. Steady progress is being made. We will continue to collaborate 
and work closely with the Comoros team through the summer to advance its accession pr ocess.  We 
saw positive engagement from Timor -Leste in its accession processes this year. Timor -Leste is 
making significant progress, and we commend their constructive approach.  We will continue to 
collaborate with Timor -Leste as it undertakes domestic refo rms to advance and complete its 
accessions.  
12.30.   The representative of Australia  delivered the following statement:  
12.31.   As a close friend and a close neighbour of Timor -Leste, we will make a few comments on 
Timor -Leste's accession. Timor -Leste is one of the smalles t economies and one of the youngest 
nations on this earth. It is a statement of faith in this place and a statement of confidence that 
Timor -Leste has chosen to make joining the WTO a national priority. And it has put its faith in the 
global trading system  as a core part of its development mission. It deserves our support and its 
statement of faith in this place deserves our attention. Australia's Foreign Minister Wong announced 
an additional two million dollars in support for this accession process just tw o weeks ago, taking our 
support to around nine million dollars. Ambassador Macieira's report highlights the impressive 
progress that Timor -Leste has made over several years in its accession and we commend that 
progress. Through its engagement in the Workin g Party, Timor -Leste has demonstrated its 
commitment to achieving WTO membership at every turn. Timor -Leste has now also made 
impressive progress bilaterally, with seven out of nine bilateral market access negotiations 
concluded. This achievement is within  our reach. Timor -Leste could and should join the WTO family 
at MC13. That will be important for Timor -Leste, but it will be at least as important for all of us that 
we can make it happen in Abu Dhabi. Timor -Leste may be one of the youngest Members of the 
international community, but here at the WTO we are confident that they will be one of the most 
formidable.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  12.32.   The representative of Mauritius  delivered the following statement:  
12.33.   We thank the Chairs of the Working Parties on the Accession of Comoros and Timor -Leste 
for their respective updates on the accession negotiations. We are pleased to note that substantive 
progress has been made in both working parties and hope that we will be able to welcome Comoros 
and Timor -Leste as full -fledged Members of the WTO by MC13. It is worth noting that both countries 
are LDCs and small island developing states. The interest and commitment of these two countries 
reflect the fact that small and vulnerable economies see value in a rule based multilateral trading 
system and the WTO which can be a vehicle for their socio -economic development through 
international trade. In this context, we call for the full implementation of 2002 Guidelines and 2012 
GC decision on the accession of LDCs in respect of both Comoros and Timor -Leste.  
12.34.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
12.35.   We thank  Ambassador Rui M acieira  as the Chairperson  of the Working Party, for providing 
us with the latest developments on Timor -Leste's accession. Indonesia remains supportive towards 
Timor -Leste's accession to the WTO. As Timor -Leste's neighbour, Indonesia believes that Timor -
Leste's integration into the  multilateral global trading system will bring economic growth and 
prosperity to its people and the region. As such, we will continue our close communication with 
Timor -Leste to ensure further progress on our bilateral market access negotiation and endeavo ur to 
conclude all of outstanding issues at the earliest time possible.  
12.36.   The representative of Panama , on behalf of Article XII Members , delivered the following 
statement:  
12.37.   I thank the Chairperson s of the Working Parties of Comoros and Timor -Leste for their 
reports. I wish to congratulate the delegations of Comoros and Timor -Leste and the Members for 
the major steps forward. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for its strong support and excellent 
work. The group attaches great imp ortance to the accession process. It has been many years since 
we welcomed a new Member. These processes hold significant promise, and each accession brings 
us closer to the ideal of universal membership. Each accession also marks an achievement in 
multila teral negotiations and shows that the Organization is still vibrant and growing. We urge 
everyone to redouble their efforts, in recognition of the particularities of these least developed 
countries, to enable them to complete the final steps so that we can  announce new Members at 
MC13. We wish everyone success in the Working Party meetings after the summer and we look 
forward to further news at the next General Council meeting.  
12.38.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
12.39.   China joins other s in thanking Ambassador Omar Zniber and Ambassador Rui Macieira for 
their comprehensive and informative report on the accession of Comoros and Timor -Leste 
respectively, as well as their outstanding leadership and efforts on advancing the accession 
negotia tions. We highly appreciate and are deeply encouraged by the substantial progress achieved 
on the accessions of Comoros and Timor -Leste, especially that both of them have reached the final 
stage and could be finalized in MC13. Today's meeting reminds me th at the latest Member acceded 
to the WTO dates back to 29 July 2016, 7 years ago. While we enjoy mutual benefit and joint 
development here in the WTO, we should not neglect that there are 24 acceding governments 
isolated from multilateral trading system and  pursuing their WTO membership arduously for many 
years, most of them are waiting more than two decades, and the majority of them are LDCs. China 
is always committed to supporting the WTO accession and providing necessary assistance to 
acceding governments . In particular, we highly appreciate WTO Secretariat's persistent efforts in 
performing China program and organizing the China Round Table on WTO Accessions since 2011. 
Looking ahead on the road to MC13, China hopes both Comoros and Timor -Leste could brea k the 
ice and inject new vitality to the WTO. We believe the 12th China Round Table to be held on the 
margins of MC13 could play a constructive role in supporting and facilitating more accessions.  
12.40.   The representative of Mozambique  delivered the following s tatement:  
12.41.   We address  our intervention  with respect  to items  11 and 12. My Delegation associates with 
the statement by the LDC Group,  African  Group and ACP Group. We would like to thank the Chairs WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  of the Working Party for their briefings on the progress of the two countries' accessions.  We welcome 
the outstanding work of the delegations in advancing the necessary reforms and adjustments to the 
systems to enable Timor -Leste and Comoros membership of the WTO. We appreciated the recent 
developments in the acces sion of Timor -Leste.  The process  of the Comoros  is the most advanced  and 
we hope that it will be adopted by the MC13. Both countries are LDCs, and we call on Members to 
fully implement  the 2002 Guidelines  for the Accession  of LDCs also the 2012 General Council Decision 
"Addendum I", as instruments of accessions for LDCs. Mozambique  supports  the accession  of Timor -
Leste  and Comoros to the WTO.  
12.42.   The representative of the European Union  delivered the following statement:  
12.43.   The European Union fully supp orts the accession of both countries to the WTO. I would like 
to congratulate both countries for the advancement of the work on the accessions. We welcome 
further progress this autumn in order for both countries to join at MC13.  
12.44.   The representative of Angol a delivered the following statement:  
12.45.   Angola welcomes the update by the Chair person s of the Working Parties on the Accession s 
of Timor -Leste and Comoros to the WTO. Angola, as a long -term friend and Partner of Timor -Leste, 
not only at the bilateral level bu t also through the Community of Portuguese Language Countries 
(CPLP) is pleased to witness in the last two years of negotiations, a firm commitment of the Timor -
Leste government at all official and administration levels to match, through legal and organic 
reforms, the requirements of this Organization on goods and services trade commitments. Angola 
has also testified the government of Timor -Leste's decisive efforts to revise domestic export subsidy 
policies to fully cope with the WTO's specific norms in the se areas. We acknowledge that Timor -
Leste now clearly follows the WTO rules in law, regulations, and organization for trade in services. 
We have noticed that the government of Timor -Leste has already taken all necessary measures to 
adopt the sanitary and p hytosanitary exactions demanded by WTO, namely regarding agricultural 
food production.  Consequently, the delegation of Angola proudly congratulates the government of 
Timor -Leste for these last two years of hard work, to positively conclude WTO accession ne gotiations, 
by incorporating the Organization's leading international trade rules into the national legislation and 
commercial and administrative practices, including customs rules and measures. Angola favours to 
a fast conclusion of the present accession process until the end of 2023, thus allowing Timor -Leste 
to participate in the MC13 as a full Member. We will be glad to welcome Timor -Leste as a WTO full 
Member since the country will undoubtedly enhance our Organization's cultural diversity and 
transcont inental linkages. In conclusion, Angola strongly recommends that the General Council send 
a clear message of approval to the full accession of Timor -Leste to the WTO.  
12.46.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
12.47.   We express our gratitude to the Accession Working Group Chairs for their informative reports 
and we commend Comoros and Timor -Leste for their progress towards joining the WTO. We are 
confident that these nations will enrich the multilateral trading system both as trade partners bu t 
also by bringing their own perspectives on the WTO debate. And finally, while aligning ourselves to 
the previous comments made by Angola, we wish to convey our particular appreciation for the 
upcoming accession of Timor -Leste, a valued Member of the comm unity of Portuguese speaking 
countries, soon to join our ranks, hopefully before MC13.  
12.48.   The representative of Singapore  delivered the following statement:  
12.49.   First, the momentum and progress of the respective accessions of Comoros and Timor -Leste 
is a demonstration of the commitment made by our Ministers at MC12 to facilitate this process. We 
thank Ambassadors Zniber and Macieira for their reports. We also comm end their hard work in 
shepherding these two accession processes, and the excellent support rendered by the Accessions 
Division. Second, Singapore commends Comoros and Timor -Leste for the hard work and strong 
political will to conclude bilateral negotiatio ns and secure the necessary domestic reforms to 
modernise their economies and align their policies with international norms. For example, we note 
that Timor -Leste has introduced laws on Customs Valuation, SPS, copyright while an IP Code and a 
new Tax Law a re in the pipeline. These reforms represent a step in the right direction and will 
facilitate Timor -Leste's economic development. Third, the accession of Comoros and Timor -Leste will WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  be a significant deliverable for MC13. More importantly, the pipeline of 24 governments seeking 
accession underlines the continued relevance of the WTO. In closing, Singapore looks forward to 
welcoming Comoros and Timor -Leste to the WTO family, and their contributions in upholding the 
rules-based multilateral trading system. Th ank you.  
12.50.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
12.51.   South Africa associates itself with the Statement of the African Group with regards the 
progress in the accession's negotiations of the Union of the Comoros. We are pleased that  the 
negotiations with other Members and domestic actions necessary within Comoros are progressing 
smoothly and speedily. It would be apposite that the Accession process is concluded in this year 
when Comoros is currently chairing the African Union. We als o take note of the progress in the 
accession negotiations of Timor -Leste. We are confident that the WTO membership will ensure that 
we break the long drought of accessions as mandated by Ministers at MC12 and welcome both 
Comoros and Timor -Leste as Members  of the WTO at MC13 in Abu Dhabi.  
12.52.   The representative of Cabo Verde  delivered the following statement:  
12.53.   Cabo Verde congratulates Timor -Leste on the signing and depositing of the seven bilateral 
negotiating agreements and for concluding bilateral negotiations  with Thailand. We also congratulate 
Timor -Leste for its progress in internal reforms, which reflects the Government 's dedication to 
integration into the regional and global trade system and, particularly, its engagement with the WTO, 
justifying its formal  accession already at the Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi.  We therefore align 
with the statement made by Ambassador Rui Macieira that Timor -Leste is highly engaged and a 
strong candidate to join the WTO family and we urge the WTO Member engaged in nego tiations with 
Timor -Leste in their accession to fully support and expedite the conclusion of the remaining 
negotiations.  
12.54.   The representative of Cambodia  delivered the following statement:  
12.55.   My delegation aligns with the LDC's statement delivered by Djibouti. We appreciate the 
progressive reports of the two Chairs of the Working Party of the Accession. We also highly 
appreciate the tireless efforts made by all Members on this progression. Cambodia always attaches 
great importance to the rule -based multilateral trading system. Building upon our accession in 2004, 
Cambodia has steadily integrated ourselves into the world economy culminating in a steady 
economic growth with an average of 7 per cent for the past 2 decades prior to the Covid -19 
pandemic. Under this c ontext and with the understanding of the benefits provided by the multilateral 
trading system to smaller economies, especially the LDCs, we have made it our priority to support 
the accession of more LDCs to the WTO. With respect to the Accession of Timor -Leste to the WTO, 
we are pleased to inform that Cambodia had concluded bilateral negotiations with Timor -Leste at 
the 5th Working Party. For Timor -Leste, Cambodia's support extended to the highest level with full 
political commitment made by the Prime Minis ter of Cambodia, to support Timor -Leste's effort in 
integrating into multilateral and regional contexts including Timor -Leste's accession to the WTO, as 
well as its accession to ASEAN. We also applause the recent development of the Accession of Timor -
Leste  and Comoros. We wish to see the big celebration of the official accession announcement of 
Timor -Leste vis-à-vis Comoros at MC13. To realize this, we urge WTO Secretariat, dialogue partners, 
and Members to provide their full support and exercise fullest fl exibilities to bring these accessions 
to the conclusion as soon as possible.  
12.56.   The representative of Kazakhstan  delivered the following statement:  
12.57.   Kazakhstan thanks the Ambassadors of Morocco and Portugal for their update on the 
accession process of Comoros and Timor -Leste. We also would like to express our gratitude to the 
WTO Secretariat, namely to the Director -General and Accession Division for their hard work to make 
these accessions happen at MC13. We look forward to welcoming both Comoros and Timor -Leste as 
new Members in Abu Dhabi. Exactly 8 years ago in this hall in the CR and at the July General Council 
meeting my country became the 164th Member of the WTO. And one of the most painful decisions 
that Kazakhstan made in order to become a WTO Member was to phase out TRIM s inconsistence 
local content provisions in the national laws  governing extracting industry sector and investment 
contracts in oil and gas sectors. This was one of the most effective tools that my government was WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  applying in order to diversify the national economy and to reduce its dependence on the experts of 
primar y commodities and oil and gas to the global markets.  
12.58.   Therefore, I would like to thank the African Group for its submission under the agenda item  9 
and I would like to say that we hear the concerns which are expressed and we hear the 
recommendations which have been contained in this paper. Regarding the submission of the TRIM s 
measures under the item 8, I also would like to say that Kazakhstan shares the concerns expressed 
in this submission and as loudly thinking maybe we should start also working on the T RIMs annexe 
with the list of TRIM s inconsistent measures, just like similarly to the TRIM s agreement and we 
understand that we cannot revisit those agreements where provisions are already established but 
this could also give to developing countries, whose exports are facing barriers, to some advanced 
economies markets, some consolation.  
12.59.   The representative of Comoros , speaking as an Observer , delivered the following 
statement69: 
12.60.   After so many years of hard, rigorous and challenging work, the Union of the Com oros hopes 
to see its efforts recognized and rewarded by its accession to the WTO at MC13. To that end, the 
Comoros is ready to do its utmost to overcome the last obstacles identified, with the support of the 
country's highest authorities, starting with Pr esident Azali Assoumani, who is currently serving as 
Chairperson of the African Union.  The Union of the Comoros takes confidence from the fact that the 
WTO actors involved in the accession process, including the Director -General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo -
Iweala, an d the Accessions Division, continue to support the country with their encouragement and 
expertise.  In this vein, I must also mention the meticulous support provided by the United States.  
12.61.   The strong leadership shown by the Chairperson of the Working Party, Ambassador Zniber, 
has led to the major steps forward that he has just mentioned in handling this matter, to which he 
has dedicated his full time and energy. We sincerely thank him for his efforts. We also thank the 
United States, the European Union  and various groups of States, particularly the African Union, the 
League of Arab States and the LDCs, who continue to support us. Special thanks must go to the 
People's Republic of China and the Sultanate of Oman, who have supported us throughout the 
process.  
12.62.   The representative of Timor -Leste , speaking as an Observer , delivered the following 
statement70: 
12.63.   On behalf of the Government of Timor -Leste, I would like to commence by expressing our 
heartfelt appreciation to our Working Party Chairperson, Ambassado r Rui Macieira, and team, for 
the continued tremendous support and for the comprehensive briefing provided today. Timor -Leste 
remains committed to concluding its accession to the World Trade Organization without delay, and 
we count on the support and guida nce of the WTO membership. As indicated by Ambassador Rui 
Macieira, Timor -Leste has already signed and deposited to the Secretariat the bilateral protocols 
with 7 countries and the European Union, whom we thank. We have also concluded our bilateral 
negotia tions with Thailand and expect to sign the protocol shortly. Moreover, we are consistently 
advancing on our bilateral negotiations with the United States and Indonesia, and we are committed 
to reaching an agreement at the earliest possible.  
12.64.   On the multilat eral track, I am pleased to highlight my Government's remarkable progress 
in the reform of our domestic legislation for adoption in the accession and post -accession periods in 
different areas. If any Member has any question related to the accession, we are  ready to engage 
and discuss, including during the summer break, to finalize all remaining issues expeditiously before 
the next Working Party meeting. Both our President of the Republic, H.E. Dr José Ramos -Horta, and 
our Prime -Minister, H.E. Mr Kay Rala Xa nana Gusmão, who are well known to this Organization, 
have publicly declared their strong and unwavering support to Timor -Leste's accession to the WTO, 
highlighting the importance of this membership in the development of a strong economic foundation 
that i s essential for our country's sustainable and inclusive development. As highlighted, I wish to 
 
69 The statement was subsequently circulated in document was JOB/ACC/COM/14 . 
70 The statement was subsequently circulated in document JOB/ACC/TLS/11 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  outline that accession to the WTO is a matter of national strategic priority for Timor -Leste, together 
with integration to ASEAN.  
12.65.   I seize this opportunity to ann ounce the appointment of H.E Mr Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice 
Prime Minister, Coordinator Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment 
as our new Chief Negotiator to lead Timor -Leste's accession to WTO, and Mr Jorge Martins as the 
New Team Coordinator to lead the technical work. Timor -Leste remains committed to acceding to 
the WTO at the 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, in February 2024, and, in this respect, we 
ask for your unshaken support. I wish to conclude by taking thi s opportunity to deeply thank 
Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala, Director Maika Oshikawa, Ms Anna Varyanik, and all the 
colleagues of the Accessions Division, as well as all the Members of this Organization who actively 
engage in our accession process, for their most appreciated dedication and support.  
12.66.   The Director -General  delivered the following statement:  
12.67.   The prospect of Comoros and Timor -Leste acceding at MC13 is an exciting one and this is 
an MC13 deliverable. I want to thank and commend the two intending Members for their hard work 
and the persistence with which they have pursued things. Even with a gap in years sometimes. I 
want to than k the Working Party Chairs, Ambassador Omar Zniber and Ambassador Rui Macieira. I 
have never seen such enthusiasm, persistence and hard work in leading this accession process and 
leading the Working Parties, so I want to thank Working Party Members and all  Members for the way 
that they have put their faith in trying to get these two intending Members to the table by MC13. I 
really hope and wish we can get it done. I feel very positive that we will get there. Let me also use 
the opportunity to thank the acce ssions team of the WTO, the staff, for the hard work that they have 
been doing in pursuing this and also DDG Zhang who is here, under his leadership, they have been 
working really hard to get us there. Acceding two countries will show that, as someone else  said, 
the interest in the WTO is firm. We actually have several more countries who are working really hard 
to become Members and I hope we will be able, even at the next or before the next MC, to admit 
many more, so thank you all. I am excited and we look  forward to this deliverable.  
12.68.   The representative of Japan  provided the following statement71:  
12.69.   Japan supports the accession of Comoros to the WTO. Japan and Comoros concluded 
bilateral market access negotiations in 2017, and conducted a signing ceremony fo r a confirmation 
of bilateral negotiations on trade in goods and services between Japan and Comoros. I am pleased 
to report that Japan has confirmed ad -ref agreement on Goods concession schedule and Service 
Offers, which were sent by the WTO Secretariat on  the occasion of the conclusion of bilateral 
negotiations between Comoros and other countries. Japan supports Timor -Leste 's accession to the 
WTO. We would like to report that the bilateral market access negotiations with Japan were 
successfully concluded a nd a signing ceremony was conducted.  
12.70.   The General Council took note  of the statements by the accession Working Party 
Chairpersons and of the other statements made.  
12.71.   The Chairperson  referred  to a communication  that she had sent to all Members on  29 June, 
in which she informed Members that, following the consultations that Deputy Director -General 
Xiangchen Zhang had carried out on her behalf, there was broad consensus on the appointment of 
H.E. Mr. Sa qer Abdullah Almoqbel, Ambassador, Permanent Representative o f the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia to the WTO. She expressed her  sincere gratitude to Deputy Director -General Zhang for 
undertaking these consultations. On behalf of the General Council, she thank ed H.E. Mr. Saqer 
Abdullah A lmoqbel  for his readiness and commitm ent in taking on this additional role as accession 
Working Party Chairperson.  
12.72.   The General Council took note  of the statement of the Chairperson.  
 
71 The statement was not delivered at the meeting but subsequently sent to the Secretariat for inclusion 
in the record.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  13  WAIVERS UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT72 
A. REVIEW OF WAIVERS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE IX:4 OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  
(i) Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement ( WT/MIN(22)/30  – WT/L/1141 )  
(ii) Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 and Article  70.9 
of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products, granted o n 
30 November 2015 until 1 January 2033 ( WT/L/971  ) 
(iii) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 
26 July 2018 through 31 December 2024 ( WT/L/1039  ) 
(iv) European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the Western 
Balkans – granted on 28 July 2021 until 31 December 2026 ( WT/L/1114 , WT/L/1169 )  
13.1.   The Chairperson  drew the GC's attention to  the review of waivers . In accordance with 
paragraph 4 of Article  IX of the WTO Agreement, "any waiver granted for a period of more than one 
year shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Conference not later than one year after it is granted, and 
thereafter annually until the waiver terminates" . The Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement 
and three waivers were before the General Council for review, as listed in the proposed agenda. The 
Chairperson recalled that t hey have been already agreed by the General Council and the Ministerial 
Conference and  were in force. She said that t he General Council was not expected to take any new 
decision on their renewal or otherwise. The Chairperson noted that o ne of the waivers under review 
provide d that an annual report should be submitted by the Members concerned. The relevant report 
from the European Union ha d been circulated in document WT/L/1169 . She also recall ed that the 
review of the Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement, ha d already been taken up under 
item 3.C. 
13.2.   The General Council took note  of the  statement and of the  report contained in WT/L/1169 . 
14  WTO PENSION PLAN  
A. ELECTION OF MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES (  WT/GC/W/890  ) 
14.1.   The Chairperson  referred to  three sub -items under the item WTO Pension Plan and  suggested 
to take them up in turn . The first sub -item relate d to the Election of Members and Alternates 
( WT/GC/W/890  ). She referred to  her communication circulated to delegations in WT/GC/W/890 . 
The Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Jean -Marc Van Dril (Switzerland), had undertaken  consultations 
in May and June to ident ify Members and alternates to fill positions that had become vacant. 
According to her communication, and as a result of this process of consultations, she proposed one 
representative that had been identified for election as member, and two representatives that had 
been identified for election as alternates  – as well as  to renew the term of the other representatives 
who were able to continue (Chair person , members and alternates). She had invited delegations to 
submit any comments regarding the proposed nomin ations by 14  July. No comments ha d been 
received. Based on this process, she therefore proposed the General Council to elect the three 
representatives identified in her communication and renew the terms of the other representatives 
that were able to contin ue serving on the Board.  
14.2.   The General Council so agreed . 
 
72 In connection with this item, the attention of Members is drawn to the Decision -Making Procedures 
under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed by the General Council on 15 November 1995 
( WT/L/93  ). WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  B. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 
31 DECEMBER  2022 ( WT/BFA/W/636  - WT/L/1167 )  
C. REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR ON THE AUDIT OF THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION PENSION PLAN 
(WTOPP) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 ( WT/BFA/W/637  - WT/L/1168 )  
14.3.   The Chairperson  turned to  the tw o remaining sub -items relating to the Annual Report and 
Financial Statements for the year 2022 (  WT/BFA/W/636  - WT/L/1167 )  and the Report of the 
Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the Financial Statements of the WTOPP 
( WT/BFA/W/637  - WT/L/1168 ) .  
14.4.   Ms. Brigitte Lueth (Austria),  on behalf of Mr. Jean -Marc Van Dril, Chairperson of the 
Management Board, delivered the following statement:  
14.5.   I am pleased to present to the General Council the 2022 Annual Report of the WTO Pension 
Plan and the 2022 Report of the External Auditor,  which h ave been circulated on 12 June and bear 
the document numbers WT/L/1167  and WT/L/1168 . These reports, covering the period from 
1 January to 31 December 2022, have been prepared in accordance with Article 5 of the Regulations 
of the Plan for presentation to the Gener al Council and to the Pension Plan participants.  
14.6.   On the report of the external auditor: as part of their 2022 audit of the Pension Plan's 
accounts, I am pleased to say that the external auditor gave an unqualified opinion and decided not 
issuing any new re commendation.  On the follow -up of the two last recommendations related to the 
2021 audit, they are in the process of being addressed by the Management Board and we expect 
them to be considered closed at the next audit.  
14.7.   Turning to the 2022 Annual report: th e Pension Plan 's investment strategy delivered a nominal 
rate of return of -12.9 per cent  at end -2022, which is well below the 3.5  per cent  long term target 
rate of return used in the actuarial assumptions. However, this negative return was not entirely 
unexpected and is consistent with a reversion to more normal market valuations. Despite the difficult 
2022 in terms of market performance, marked by inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, it can be 
noted that the Plan's portfolio has generated an annual nom inal return of +4.1  per cent over the 
last ten years, which is above the Plan 's target of Swiss Inflation +3.5  per cent . Nevertheless, and 
to give a positive note, markets have been favourable since the beginning of 2023, with strong 
market performance mai nly driven by equities. Finally, let me remind that the WTO Pension Plan is 
a long -term investor whose strategy is also designed to make use of the opportunities provided by 
market downturns, and to focus on investment decisions with significant impact on returns over the 
long-term.  
14.8.   Turning to actuarial matters, the completion of the last full actuarial valuation revealed an 
important actuarial deficit at year -end 2020, and the interim actuarial valuation at end -2022 has 
confirmed the seriousness of the  deficit with the need to address this situation urgently. Indeed, the 
combination of demographic factors, marked by the pursue of the increases in longevity, and the 
economic situation keep jeopardizing the long -term balance of the Plan. Since receiving the r eport 
of the actuarial deficit, the Management Board has worked with care and diligence in consultation 
with all stakeholders to develop a reform proposal that addresses the actuarial deficit and aims to 
bring the Plan back to a sustainable position. At th is stage, the CBFA is considering the Management 
Board has submitted a reform proposal that seeks to balance the interests of all stakeholders, and 
this will be considered along with the WTO's 2024 -25 budget proposal.  
14.9.   On governance, 2023 requires renewal of the Management Board terms. And the process of 
appointments by the DG is also well under way and we look forward to welcoming the new 
participants to the Management Board at our first meeting after the summer break. Let me underline 
that the Management Board remains committed to full engagement in ensuring the continued good 
governance of the WTO Pension Plan and its long -term sustainability.  
14.10.   The General Council took note  of the reports in document WT/L/1167  and WT/L/1168 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  15  OTHER BUSINESS  
15.1  WTO Action to Assist Developing Countries and LDCs in Crisis Response  
15.1.   The representative of Pakistan  delivered the following statement:  
15.2.   I would take this opportunity to introduce Pakistan's proposal titled 'WTO Action to Assist 
Developing and LDCs in Crisis Response' Jo b/GC/347, circulated on 18 July 2023. Ever since Covid, 
there has been some talk about trigger ready mechanisms. Even in this General Council meeting 
some Members mentioned the need to have such mechanisms in place. WTO, though not a first 
responder in a c risis, being the global Organization that makes trade rules and ensures adherence 
to them, may consider the fact that changing times raise the need to evolve these rules. This 
proposal aims to develop a toolbox that is readily deployable by Members that ar e more prone to 
disasters and crises and do not have the necessary resources, including financial, and thereby have 
a compromised response capability. Timely response to crises is key, lest the problems compound 
and a potentially containable crisis spirals  out of control. Such mechanisms are the more important 
to be in place considering the lack of operationalization or inadequacy of SDTs and timeliness of 
availing any waivers that might be required, once the crisis sets in and escalates rapidly.  
15.3.   The nexus  of polycrisis and trade is evident to us all. While promotion of trade for economic 
prosperity is important, there is a need to secure whatever gains have been made by economies hit 
badly by the polycrisis and those especially faced with extreme weather p atterns – cycles of droughts 
and floods - due to climate change. We stand warned that UN's SDGs will not only be not met by 
2030, but there is a risk of backsliding on multiple indicators by many countries. Here, I would like 
to recall the preamble of Marr akesh Agreement, which 30 years back set itself the target of improving 
living standards, ensuring decent employment generation & increasing real incomes. Pakistan's 
paper calls for a decision which would provide Members with a much -needed toolbox to 
opera tionalize once a criterion of being hit by a disaster or crisis is met. The intent is not an opt out. 
It is to update rules after recognition of increasing difficulties faced by many countries like Pakistan 
that have been taken away from their usual econom ic trajectories due to multiple external shocks. 
We are open to explore the proposal with the membership. We are grateful for the interest in this 
proposal and have taken note of the comments and questions. We will be taking these up with the 
respective Me mbers and socialising the proposal further.  
15.4.   The representative of India delivered the following statement:  
15.5.   I just want to thank Pakistan for the paper , as well as for what we have done together for the 
common cause of developing countries at the WTO.   
15.6.   The representative of Argentina  deliver ed the following statement:  
15.7.   Argentina thanks Pakistan for the recently circulated document JOB/GC/347 , on a crisis 
response mechanism. It is being considered in our capital. Argentina welcomes the discussion on 
the creation of mechanisms to provide developing countries with more tools to respond to  with 
various crises.  
15.8.   The representative of Sri Lanka  delivered the following statement:  
15.9.   This proposal emphasizes the urgent need for proactive measures within the WTO framework 
to enable developing countries and LDCs to respond effectively to crises while complying with 
international trade rules. By enhanci ng crisis response capabilities and promoting resilience, we can 
support developing and LDCs in safeguarding their economies, protecting livelihoods, and achieving 
sustainable development. Through collaboration, inclusivity, and timely decision -making, we can 
create a more equitable and responsive global trading system within the WTO. Without prejudice to 
the activities undertaken by the WTO Members in pursuant to the MC12 Paragraph 24 of the 
Ministerial Declaration, Sri Lanka believes additional actions ar e needed from WTO to support 
developing and least developing countries for effective crisis management.  
15.10.   Sri Lanka, a country encountered with many crises within a very short period of time, 
including the Covid pandemic, has ended -up with many challenges i ncluding BoP crisis. We had to WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  undertake many trade measures to mitigate the impact of these challenges while taking many efforts 
to comply with the WTO rules and regulations, yet the crisis is still at large. As indicated in the 
proposal of the delegation  of Pakistan, developing countries and LDCs lack fiscal and monetary space 
to mitigate such crises. Escalating these crises has resulted in multifaceted issues in the developing 
countries, which caused a greater burden for the most disadvantaged segment of  the society. My 
delegation also believes that WTO may not be in a position to create much needed fiscal or monetary 
space to respond to the crisis situations of developing and LDCs, but it can play a proactive role in 
examining the areas where it can supp ort those countries as indicated in the proposal of  the 
delegation of Pakistan.  
15.11.   The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela  delivered the following statement:  
15.12.   The proposal by Pakistan, in addition to being innovative, it is well founded and in line with 
the position that Venezuela has been defending at the WTO about the need to pay greater attention 
to the development dimension in the reform process. In this regard, we support Pakistan's proposal, 
which would allow developing coun tries and LDCs facing a crisis to have access to a toolbox of policy 
options for a temporary period.  
15.13.   The representative of Egypt  delivered the following statement:  
15.14.   The proposal is being studied in Cairo. We are ready to engage constructively in the 
discuss ion of this proposal given the need to have adequate flexibilities and actions to be taken or 
adopted by those who need them, for a temporary period, during crisis and emergency situations. 
These tools or measures are not permanent, instead would be recour se to only when the situations 
necessitating their use arise. The objective here should be to enable developing countries and LDCs 
to face those crises effectively at least to reduce the negative impacts therein on their countries. 
Covid -19 and the food in security we are currently facing are examples of the kind of difficult situation 
where rules exist with no flexibilities to deal with emergencies. We are of the view that a trigger 
mechanism, with criteria to be agreed, is imperative for the WTO to better respond to future 
challenges.  
15.15.   The representative of China  delivered the following statement:  
15.16.   We believe with the multi -crises encountered by developing Members, there is a strong need 
of developing countries to make better use of policy tools in crisis re sponse to tackle the crisis and 
achieve economic and trade development. We look forward to having further discussion on this topic 
and achieving tangible outcomes.  
15.17.   The representative of South Africa  delivered the following statement:  
15.18.   We thank Pakistan for the paper,  and we agree that there is a need for a trade related 
mechanism that can be implemented in cases of crises . We applaud Pakistan for the initiative,  and 
we look forward to engaging with its content and we will definitely engage constructively.  
15.19.   The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia  delivered the following statement:  
15.20.   We have sent the proposal to our competent authorities in the capital for consideration. 
Although we do not have specific comments, we generally look favourably upon the discussion of 
initiatives that help countries to successfully manage health emergencies and respond to the 
subsequent effects. During the Covid -19 pandemic, developing and least developed countries have 
been affected primarily by a lack of access to me dicine, equipment and diagnostics, dealing with the 
high cost of essential medical supplies and major challenges in overcoming the health emergency. 
At the same time, they have faced other adverse effects, including economic and social effects, 
triggered b y the pandemic. As a result, we believe in the importance of having a broader discussion, 
taking into account the discussions being held in various multilateral forums, with a view to providing 
developing countries with the appropriate tools and sufficient  resources to improve their capacity to 
respond to global crises.  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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  15.21.   The representative of Nepal  delivered the following statement:  
15.22.   My delegation would like to thank Pakistan for this important submission, the proposal is 
being reviewed at the capital and wi ll come in detail later. We welcome this proposal and wish to 
engage constructively with the Members at the WTO bodies.  
15.23.   The representative of Indonesia  delivered the following statement:  
15.24.   Indonesia would like to provide our preliminary response toward Paki stan's proposal. In this 
regard, we can share Pakistan's main idea on the importance of a more effective crises -response 
mechanism, that could help developing countries and least developed countries (LDC) in tackling 
pressing and unprecedented challenges. On this note, we see the merit of having further discussion 
regarding the feasibility of balancing between WTO rules compliance and having the necessary 
flexibility to address the crisis in a manner that are tailored to our specific needs. This will also a llow 
us to examine the possibilities of more effective crises -response measures that can be taken at the 
WTO, especially related to those that could further prevent the adverse impacts of crises to our 
economy and society. As Indonesia continues to coordin ate with Capital, we look forward to actively 
engaging in constructive discussions to refine and further improve the proposal.  
15.25.   The representative of Brazil  delivered the following statement:  
15.26.   Just to thank Pakistan for their proposal that has been submitte d and to say that we are 
looking forward to work in dialogue and in a constructive manner with them on this proposal.  
15.27.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
15.2  Statement by the Chair person  in connection with Administrative Measures for 
Members in Arrears  
15.28.   The Chairperson , gave the floor to the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, Finance 
and Administration to provide information with regard to which Members and Observers are under 
Admini strative Measures ( WT/BFA/132  ).  
15.29.   Ambassador Bettina Waldmann (Germany), Chairperson  of the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration , delivered the following statement73: 
15.30.   The Administrative Measures applicable to Members and Observers in arrears have been in 
place since 1 March 2013.  
15.31.   In accordance with a decision previously taken by the General Council, I shall state all 
Members and Observers under all categories of administrative measures.  
15.32.   However, before doing so, I would like to acknowledge that payments have been received 
from two  Members and four Observers since my last report to you on 8 May. As a result of these 
payments, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq and Uganda are no longer subject 
to administrative measures. I would like to express my thanks to thes e Members for the payments 
received. I would also like to thank Comoros for the payment received. In addition, I would like to 
encourage Members under Category III to make use of the possibility of initiating consultations 
towards the establishment of a pa yment plan, if that is helpful to them in meeting their obligations.  
15.33.   Having said that, as of today, 25 July 2023, there are a total of 15 Members and 6 Observers 
subject to Administrative Measures.  
15.34.   The following 4 Members are currently in Category I: Afg hanistan; Congo; Ghana; and 
Suriname.  
 
73 The statement by the CBFA Chair person  was subsequently circulated in JOB/GC/354 . WT/GC/M/205  
 
- 166 - 
 
 
  15.35.   The following 3 Members are in Category II: Cuba; Dominica and El Salvador.  
15.36.   The following 8 Members are in Category III: Antigua and Barbuda; Central African Republic; 
Chad; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Papua New Guinea; B olivarian Republic of Venezuela and Yemen. 
Central African Republic and Chad are not compliant with payment plan terms.  
15.37.   There is only one Observer in Category I: Comoros.  
15.38.   The following 2 Observers are in Category II: Lebanese Republic and South Sudan.  
15.39.   There are also 3 Observers in Category III: Sao Tomé and Principe; Somalia and Syria.  
15.40.   This concludes my report.  
15.41.   As required by the General Council Procedures, the Chairperson  requested Members and 
Observers in Categories II and III of the Measures to infor m the Secretariat as to when their payment 
of arrears may be expected. The statement by the CBFA Chairperson would  be made available in 
the JOB/GC -series  after the meeting.  
15.42.   The General Council took note  of the statement.  
  WT/GC/M/205  
 
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ANNEX  1 
STATEMENT BY DJIBOUTI, ON BEHALF OF THE LDC GROUP, AT THE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE 
CHAIRPERSON OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL ON 13 JULY 2023  
 
- Djibouti , on behalf of the LDC Group  
 
Notes – LDC Group Coordinator: GC Chair person  Consultations , 13 July 2023  
 
Reform by Doing - support for or improving capacity and opportunity for deliberation in 
WTO bodies.  
 
• As you know, the LDC Group led on so -called reform by doing through our submission in 
April 2022 JOB/GC/223/Rev.1 . We were proactive,  without any instigation, becau se as the 
LDC Group has been doing for several years we sat together to look into how we can 
contribute to these discussions, and our practical needs on the functioning of the Committees  
as well as tools the Secretariat could implement now, within their ex isting mandate.  We met 
with the key divisions,  and we put forward our submission.  These are elements that would 
not need any decision of the GC or other bodies and we could work with the secretariat on 
responding to those practical needs to improve the functioning of the work before 
Committees  and assist LDCs. We note that a few delegat ions have stepped up to incorporate 
some of the elements from the LDC Group submission into their own submissions such as 
the UK, India,  the U.S., and others.  We particularly appreciate the specific recognition by 
the UK of the LDC Group submission, and co llaborative work on the functioning of the 
meetings, taking into account LDC proactive submissions.  
 
• Chair you asked us to prepare today and review your remarks in JOB/GC/346  and the state 
of play on committee reform by doing JOB/GC/345 .  
 
• The table in JOB/GC/345 , recording the recent improvements by the Committees  is welcome.  
We commend the various bodies for stepping up and taking on board our suggestions.  We 
agree with you Chair, in JOB/GC/346 , paragraph 2.16(b)  that this is evolving work that will 
continue to be  updated.   
 
• JOB/GC/346 , paragraphs  3.5 and 3.7  have captured some of the elements the LDC Group 
raised proactively.  On 3.7 mention of the point in our submission that administrative 
penalties should not be used on LDCs.  Many LDCs are in situations of conflict  or other 
difficulties.  One of the measures is that a delegation does not have access to documents to 
keep up with the meetings and deliberative work of the regular bodies and negotiations. This 
means that once problems are alleviated, LDC delegations are behind and struggle to catch 
up with the deliberations.   
 
• LDCs should also, as other Members, be able to continue their internal support that has for 
several years assisted LDCs in their proactive, as well as defensive interests very well.  This 
has enhance d LDC participation in the multilateral trade rules process.  This support is 
complementary to the work of the Secretariat and the Secretariat should not replace this 
support.   
 
• In addition to the elements raised by LDCs in  JOB/GC/223/Rev.1  we would like to add to 
these elements from our submission  two other issues.   
 
__________