WT/WGTTT/23  
 
5 November 202 1 
(21-8419) Page: 1/3 
   
 
  
REPORT (202 1) OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TRADE AND TRANSFER  
OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  Ministers agreed, at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001, to "an 
examination, in a Working Group under the auspices of the General Council, of the relationship 
between trade and transfer of technology, and of any possible recommendations on steps that might 
be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries".1 
The Wo rking Group has reported on its work at each WTO Ministerial Meeting, at which the Ministers 
had reaffirmed their commitment to advance the work of the Working Group on Trade and Transfer 
of Technology and instructed the General Council to further report t o the Ministerial Sessions.  
1.2.  Since the 201 7 Report made to the Ministers at Buenos Aires , the Working Group has held 
10 sessions during the period 201 8 to 2021. The reports of the meetings are contained in documents 
WT/WGTTT/M/5 7, WT/WGTTT/M/58 /Rev.1 , WT/WG TTT/M/59, WT/WGTTT/M/60, 
WT/WGTTT/M/61 /Rev.1 , WT/WGTTT/M/62, WT/WGTTT/M/63 , WT/WGTTT/M/64 , WT/WGTTT/M/65 
and WT/WGTTT/M/66 . At these meetings, Members continued the analysis of the relationship 
between trade and transfer of technology, as well as considere d any possible recommendations on 
steps that might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to 
developing countries.  
2  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY  
2.1.  During the year 2018 , work on the analysis of the relat ionship between trade and transfer of 
technology proceeded on the basis of presentations made by the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, wherein 
they shared their work in the area  of trade and transfer of technology. The discussion highlighted 
that technology and technical know -how were essential for improving productivity, promoting 
growth , and attaining the development aspirations of less developed Members ; and, that t echnology 
transfer can be an important tool to narrow the technological gap between developed and developing 
countries , and for integrating developing countries into the multilateral trading system.  
2.2.  The discussion also underlined the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, 
especially SDG 17 , in guiding the work of the Group. Emphasis was laid on the need for enhancing 
North -South, South -South, triangular regional and international cooperation on access to science, 
technology, innovation and kno wledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through 
improved coordination among existing mechanisms, and through a global technology facilitation 
mechanism.  
2.3.  During the year 2019 , work continued on the analysis of the relationship between trade and 
transfer of technology  on the basis of a domestic experience Panama shared with the Working Group  
on initiatives and programs it undertook to promote the generation, management and transfer of 
technology. The project presented consisted in the use of Inform ation and Communications 
Technology (ICT) to provide an effective tool for agricultural producers to monitor agroclimatic 
variables in greenhouses, in order to improve production, development and crop quality.  
2.4.  The Delegation of Chad, on behalf of the least  developed countries (LDC) Group, underscored 
the critical role technology played in increasing productivity and output, and to diversify economies 
to better integrate into the regional and global value chains. The LDC Group  called on Members to 
 
1 Paragraph 37 of document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1.  WT/WGTTT/23  
 
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  continue t he work within the Working Group's mandate and requested that an evaluation be 
undertaken to determine what had been accomplished by the Working Group since its establishment , 
as well as what remained to be done.   
2.5.  During the year 2020 , work on the analysis  of the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology  proceeded on the basis of three presentations made by El Salvador, Saint  Lucia and 
South  Africa.  Two of these presentations provided  the Working Group with a description of initiatives 
and programs undert aken to promote the generation, management and transfer of technology. The 
third presentation provided an academic perspective on the relationship between trade and transfer 
of technology.   
2.6.  The Delegati on of Chad, on behalf of the least developed countries (LDC) Group, reiterated  the 
critical role technology played in increasing productivity and output, and to diversify economies to 
better integrate into the regional and global value chains . The LDC  Group also noted that, in the 
context of the COVID -19 pandemic, countries that were technologically equipped were best prepared 
to deal with its related challenges. Against this background, the LDC Group called for an effective 
implementation of Article  66.2 o f the Agreement on TRIPS and urged Members to engage on this 
issue which it had consider ed of priority interest to the LDCs.  In reply, a Member noted that the 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology provided a forum to discuss technology transfer  
issues  that were consistent with the Working Group's mandate . The same Member also noted that 
issues relating to the implementation of Article 66.2 of the Agreement on TRIPS were matters for 
the TRIPS Council.  
2.7.  During the year 2021 , work on the analysis of the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology continued on the basis of two presentations , made by  Japan and Viet Nam , on their 
national experience s with technology transfer and how they contributed to economic development. 
Members found the se presentations useful and sought ways to replicate the projects presented.  
2.8.  The Chairperson gave a report  on the informal consultations she had held with some of the 
Working Group Members. The objective of these consultations was to seek views on how to take 
forward the two standing agenda items, namely on the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology, and possible recommendations that the Working Group  could make in the future. She 
assessed that there was cause for optimism as to taking forward the work in the  Working Group as 
demanders expressed an interest to engage with the proponents and explore ways to update the  
latter's  proposal and revive the Wo rking Group's activities.  
3  ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STEPS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN 
THE MANDATE OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES  
3.1.  During the year 2018 , work on possible recommendations that the Working Group coul d make 
in the future proceeded on the basis of a submission made by India, Pakistan and the Philippines 
entitled, "Facilitating Access to Information on Appropriate Technology Sourcing – A Step to Increase 
Flows of Technology to Developing Countries". The proponents informed the Group that they were 
in the process of revising their submission and that they intended to circulate  it in the near future.   
3.2.  The African Group suggested possible recommendations that the Working Group could make 
related to the estab lishment of a dedicated WTO webpage on technology transfer. The proposed 
webpage could serve as a one -stop-shop on technology -related issues and could, among others, 
include information on (i) description of all technology and its transfer -related provisio ns in the 
WTO Agreements; (ii) reports on the nature of incentives provided by the governments to firms 
under Article 66.2 of the Agreement on TRIPS; and (iii) links to IP information databases, technology 
transfer offices, and technology and innovation re search institutions across the globe.  A Member 
requested the African Group to make a written submission in this regard.  
3.3.  During the year 2019 , work continued on the basis of a presentation made by the 
United  Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (hereafter, the Bank). The Bank, 
which was granted ad hoc  observer status, highlighted in its presentation its mandate, terms of 
reference and activities. The presentation underscored that the mandate o f the Bank was to work 
towards achieving the 2030 Agenda in the LDCs, through building capacities in science, technology 
and innovation and assessing their technology needs.  WT/WGTTT/23  
 
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  3.4.  Members found the presentation by the Bank for LDCs useful and relevant to the wor k of the 
Working Group. The Group decided to continue  providing the Bank with observer status in the 
Working Group  on an ad hoc  basis.  
3.5.  During the year 2020 , no substantive discussion took place  under the agenda item on possible 
recommendations that the Wor king Group could make in the future . The Chairperson reiterated  the 
importance of a formal submission by the proponents of a submission made in 2008 by India, 
Pakistan and the Philippines entitled "Facilitating Access to Information on Appropriate Technolo gy 
Sourcing – A Step to Increase Flows of Technology to Developing Countries". The proponents had 
informed the Chair that they were still in the process of revising their submission and that they 
intended to complete  it in the near future.  
3.6.  During the year 2021, the proponents informed the Group that they were still in the process 
of revising their submission and that they intended to table it soon. The Chair encouraged the 
proponents to do so at the earliest so as to enable the Working Group to engage in a productive 
discussion on the recommendations with a view to fulfilling its mandate.   
4  FUTURE WORK  
4.1.  Members have continued their examination of the relationship between trade and transfer of 
technology , and possible recommendations that might be made within the mandate of the WTO to 
increase flows of technology to developing countries. The ongoing work has covered a number of 
issues and has helped to enhance Members' understanding of the nexus between tr ade and transfer 
of technology. Although progress has been made, more work remains to be done. In view of this, 
Members recommend that the Ministers direct the Working Group to continue its work in line with 
its mandate .   
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