WT/COMTD/W/276  
 
30 June 2023  
(23-4460) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Trade and Development  Original: English  
 
IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM  
The following communication, dated 29 June 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United  Kingdom.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  Trade plays a central role in driving development. That is why supporting developing countries 
to trade more is at the heart of the UK’s approach to economic development as set out in the 
UK Government’s Stra tegy for International Development. With the WTO at the heart of the 
multilateral trading system, it is in all of our interests that it operates as an inclusive, participatory 
and stable institution to help promote free, fair and open trade for all. In thi s context, we welcome 
discussions on improving the functioning of the Committee on Trade and Development, and all its 
subsidiary bodies, and support pragmatic changes that would make it easier for all 
Members  - especially those with capacity constraints - to fully participate in the work of the 
Committee.  
1.2.  Taking good note of the various ideas put forward by the Membership (including by the 
LDC Group in JOB/GC/223/Rev.1 , India in WT/GC/W/865 , a group of Latin countries in 
WT/GC/W/871 , input from the UK and over fifty co -sponsors in WT/GC/W/877 , as well as the cross 
cutting principles in the UK paper JOB/CTG/26/Rev.1), the UK provides the following suggestions on 
improving ways of working in the CTD.  
1.3.  The ideas suggested in this paper are not meant to be exhaustive and we welcome suggestions 
from Members on further measures to support our delegates, especially those with capacity 
constraints.  
2  BEST PRACTICE IN THE CTD  
2.1.  The CTD has already taken welcome s teps to improve its functioning, and there is good work 
already underway across the Organization, as outlined in the Matrix presented at the last 
General  Council. The process for collecting statements from Members, the hyperlinking of meeting 
documents in the WTO calendar, and the upload of previous Minutes and Summaries are such 
examples. We welcome that Convening Notices for formal meetings are also issued well in advance 
of the meeting dates.  
3  CONSIDERATIONS ON THE WAYS OF WORKING IN CTD  
3.1.  The UK presents the following suggested improvements:  
a) In advance of the next calendar year, the CTD (as with all other Bodies) could agree 
and publish the dates of formal meetings for the following year, as is the case in other 
Institutions. We look forward to the common meetings calendar recently announced at 
the General Council.  
 WT/COMTD/W/276  
 
- 2 - 
 
  b) We would welcome the circulation of a written notice explaining the reason for any 
cancellations or postponements of formal meetings, as provided for in Paragraphs 4 
and 7 of the "Guidelines on the Arrangements for Scheduling of Meetings of 
WTO Bodies" ( WT/L/106 ). 
 
c) We would welcome the use of detailed and hyperlinked annotated agendas for upcomi ng 
formal and informal meetings, providing neutral contextual information. In terms of 
existing best practice, the annotated agendas of the SPS Committee are one such 
example.  
 
d) Including information in convening notices about the deadlines and processes f or 
submitting agenda items would further support transparency and inclusion in agenda 
setting.  
 
e) The advanced organisation of any thematic sessions as early as possible would enable 
Members to be better prepared for constructive engagement.  
 
f) The closing o f the agenda 15 days before formal meetings could enable circulation of 
the final Airgram 14 days before the meeting, thus enabling more preparation time for 
Delegations.  
 
g) The circulation and upload to the Interactive Meetings Calendar – a minimum of 
14 working days in advance of formal meetings – of any WTO Secretariat reports 
(and,  to the extent possible, all presentations by the Chair or others) would assist 
Delegations’ preparation.  
 
h) The circulation of Minutes is critical to inclusion and transparency. The UK supports 
broader efforts by the Secretariat to circulate Minutes within the three -week deadline 
set out in FN3 of WT/L/452 . 
 
i) Following formal meetings, we would welcome the circulation of a concise and neutral 
Chair's status report within two working days, following the structure of the annotated 
agenda (on the basis that there would thereafter be a window for Member comments). 
On regular agenda items, this could indicate whether the Committee took note 
of/adopted/agreed to revert back on an item. Ahead of circulation of the Minutes, this 
document could provide clarity on next steps, including upcoming relevant informal and 
forma l meetings, and the dates on which the subsequent agendas and Airgrams will be 
issued.  
 
j) Following informal meetings, we would welcome the circulation of a concise and neutral 
Chair's informal status report within two working days (on the basis that there w ould 
thereafter be a window for Member comments). This could aid transparency for 
Delegations unable to attend and thus improve preparation for following formal 
meetings. Such reports should not include views expressed by specific Members during 
discussion s, but could highlight next steps, including key dates. In terms of examples 
of current practice, the CMA is one such example.  
 
k) The use of the e -Agenda can support the optimisation of Member and Secretariat time, 
as a cost -neutral existing digital tool. As  well as streamlining agenda preparation, 
crucially this tool can facilitate the transparency of statements after the meetings and 
thus support the Secretariat with the preparation of Minutes. In terms of examples of 
how the eAgenda is already used, includ ing to informally share statements, the CMA is 
one such example.  
 
l) The continued use of hybrid working (i.e. in person and virtual participation) can support 
inclusion and facilitate more interactions from capital leads as appropriate.  
 WT/COMTD/W/276  
 
- 3 - 
 
  m) Induction training s essions to new Delegates in Geneva and Capital could be provided 
more than once a year. These training sessions could be recorded and easily accessible 
to new Delegates throughout the year.  
 
4  PROMOTING SUBSTANTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES  
4.1.  Reviewing the way in which more helpful exchanges could be encouraged in the CTD could 
consider how the Committee could add more value, reduce duplication, improve understanding of 
trade and development issues, and better facilitate experience sharing on best practices and 
solutions to development issues.  
4.2.  We would particularly welcome more evidence -based discussions to inform the trade and 
development issues of interest to Members on the formal agenda. These could better inform 
Members’ deliberations of to pical and emerging issues. In addition to stimulating more information 
exchange in formal Committees, the UK encourages holding more thematic and informal sessions to 
provide a forum for experience sharing and information exchange and encourage more free f lowing 
conversations. Both formal and informal information sharing initiatives could facilitate the exchange 
of best practices and shared expertise on specific trade and development issues. In particular, this 
could assist the Committee’s identification of  shared challenges, and support the delivery of precise 
and more rapid responses to development challenges and opportunities, ideally helping to foster 
more support for vulnerable Members. We would also welcome informal sessions as regards to the 
longstand ing formal agenda items in the CTD, to promote a more constructive dialogue.  
4.3.  To further harness relevant expertise, the CTD could consider whether holding cross -cutting or 
joint sessions with other WTO bodies could be beneficial. As appropriate, such sess ions could assist 
with the exploration of cross -cutting issues, while ensuring the Committee on Trade and 
Development remains a focal point on development -related issues.  
4.4.  We welcome the analytical capacity of the Secretariat, including the Economic Researc h and 
Statistics Division, who already facilitate and enhance Members’ understanding of trade and 
development and Special and Differential Treatment. Where the work of the Secretariat should 
continue to be Member driven and neutral, Members can encourage t he Secretariat to inform them 
about relevant analysis done by the Secretariat or compiled from other institutions.  
4.5.  We welcome engagement with stakeholders, including intergovernmental organisations, third 
sector organisations, business stakeholders (inclu ding small and women -owned businesses), 
academia, non -governmental organizations, and expert individuals. Such input can provide helpful 
information that is more evidence -based, data -driven, and grounded in the ‘real world’ practical 
challenges faced in tr ade. Informal and/or facilitated sessions could work particularly well for 
bringing in external engagement. Input of intergovernmental organizations is particularly valuable 
when they share concrete experience and good practices, including success stories in developing 
countries, including LDCs, as well as contributing to assessing the impacts and implications of trade 
policy measures and policies.  
5  CONCLUSION  
5.1.  The role trade plays in development is  critical, so it is imperative we engage on this properly 
at the WTO. Ahead of MC13, the UK calls on all members to consider creative, inclusive, and practical 
ways, that we can promote greater coherence on the trade and development agenda. We welcome 
views on the above suggestions, and other ideas supporting development outcomes and 
mainstreaming development across the WTO.  
 
__________