WT/COMTD/101  
 
11 November  2021 
(21-8569) Page: 1/8 
   
 
 
REPORT (20 21) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 20 21. An 
overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session, the Dedicated Session on the 
Monitoring Mechanism  (MM) on Special and Differential Treatment  (S&D) , the Dedicated Sessions 
on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs) and Small 
Economies, the  CTD's work on Aid  for Trade, and the  work of the Sub -Committee on Least 
Developed Countries.1 
2  REGULAR SESSION  
2.1.  The CTD in Regular Session held three formal meetings in 2021, on 29 March  (114th Session), 
28 June (115th Session)  and 10 November ( 116th Session). The minutes of these meetings are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/ 114, WT/COMTD/M/ 115 and WT/COMTD/M/1 162, 
respectively.  
2.2.  Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting -by-meeting basis.  A full list of intergovernmental  organizations with observer status 
in the Committee is contained in document WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.8.  The CTD continues to have 
outstanding requests for observer status from the League of Arab States, the Organization of the 
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPE C), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), 
the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), 
the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Ban que 
Africaine de D éveloppement.  
2.3.  At the 114th Session, Ambassador Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakist an) was elected 
Chairman of the CTD  for 2021 . He indicated his intention to hold informal consultations in small 
groups on expectations for the CTD in the current year.3 At the  same meeting, a briefing was 
provided by the Chairperson of Sub -Committee on Least  Developed 
Countries - Ambassador  Monique T.G. Van Daalen (Netherlands) – on the work of the 
Sub-Committee. The Committee re -elected Ambassador Van Daalen as the Chairperson of the 
Sub-Committee for 2021.  At the 116th Session, in view of  Ambassador Van Daalen's departure from 
Geneva, the item concerning the election of the Chairperson of the Sub -Committee was reflected on 
the agenda.  Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi (Finla nd) was elected Chairperson of the Sub -Committee.  
2.4.  The Director -General addressed the Committee at its 116th Session. She indicated that 
development was a priority for the WTO, and that the CTD therefore played a key role in the 
multilateral trading system.  In highlighting various areas of the CTD's work, she noted that 
agreement had been reached in the CTD's Dedicated Session on Small Economies on the text for a 
Ministerial Decision  on the Work Programme on Small Economies to be adopted at the 
Twelfth  WTO Ministerial Conference ( MC12 ). She highlighted the importance of technical assistance 
and encouraged developing countries, and in particular LDCs, to take maximum advantage of the 
 
1 The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issue of special and differential treatment, has its 
own reporting channel . 
2 To be issued.  
3 Subsequently, at the 115th Session, the Chairman briefed the Committee , under "Other Business" , on 
the informal consultations that he had held.  He indicated at the 116th Session that he would be continuing his 
informal consultations with Members, and hoped to report on some concrete outcomes at the next formal CTD 
meeting.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  range of technical assistance offered by the WTO.  She also spoke about the WT O Chairs Programme. 
She, inter alia , informed the Committee that 17 new Chairs would be joining the Programme soon, 
and that by admitting a smaller number of candidates, more frequently and on a rolling basis in the 
future, the Programme would become even more beneficial and representational.  
2.5.  The principal areas addressed by the CTD in Regular Session during the period covered in this 
report included the following:   
• Technical cooperation and training;  
• Market access for developing and least developed countries;  
• Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO;  
• Trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's concluding 
statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8);  
• Special and differential treatment provisions in WT O Agreements and Decisions – note by 
the Secretariat:  
• Work Programme on Electronic Commerce;   
• Duty-free and quota -free (DFQF)  market access for least developed countries  (LDCs).  
• Participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system.  
 
2.1  Technical Cooperation and Training  
2.6.  At the 114th Session, the Secretariat  made a presentation on facilitating 
beneficiaries ' application to WTO technical assistance (TA) activities. At the 115th Session, the 
Committee was briefed on ongoing preparations for the Secretariat Biennial Technical Assistance 
and Training Plan (TA Plan) for 2022 -2023. At the same meeting, the Committee took note of the 
TA Annual Report for 2020 (WT/COMTD/W/259). The rep ort was entirely revamped compared to 
previous years to better communicate TA results and avoid repeating the data now available in real 
time through the online TA Dashboards, which were also presented to the Committee.   The report 
notes , inter alia , that while many activities transitioned to the virtual space in 2020 due to the 
COVID -19 pandemic, the transition was progressive and partial. Thus, despite a 22% increase in the 
e-Learning offer and the rolling out of virtual activities in the latter part of t he year, the number of 
WTO TA events in 2020 decreased by 22% compared to 2019. Overall participation in TA activities 
remained stable though, as virtual TA activities tended to attract larger audiences.   In terms of 
performance, WTO TA reached 65% of its agreed targets (53% fully and 12% partially). 
At the 116th Session, the Committee adopted the Secretariat TA Plan for 2022 -2023 
(WT/COMTD/W/260, WT/COMTD/W/260/Corr.1, WT/COMTD/W/260/Corr.2), and took note of the 
TA Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan for  2022-2023. The Committee also received a briefing on 
Phase III of the WTO Chairs Programme.  
2.2  Market Access for Developing and Least Developed Countries  
2.7.  With regard to RTAs, a notification under the Enabling Clause w as made concerning the 
agreement between India and Mauritius (WT/COMTD/RTA1 9/N/1) .4 In addition , the member  States  
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made a notification informing the Committee 
that the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade 
Area (CEPT -AFTA)  was superseded by the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA)  
(WT/COMTD/RTA21/N/1 , WT/COMTD/RTA21/N/1/Add.1) .5 
2.8.   A reference to the RTA notification concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs 
Union remained on th e agenda. The communication from China, Egypt and India titled "Systemic 
and Specific Issues arising out of the Dual Notification of the GCC Customs Union" 
(WT/COMTD/W/175) also remained on the agenda.   
 
4 This notification was refle cted on the agenda of the CTD's 14th Dedicated Session on RTAs, which was 
held on 28 June 2021.  
5 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD's 15th Dedicated Session on RTAs, which was 
held on 10 November 2021 . WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  2.9.  As regards PTAs, notifications were made under the En abling Clause concerning the 
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) schemes of the United Kingdom (WT/COMTD/PTA4/N/1)6, 
Japan (WT/COMTD/N/2/ Add.17)7, and Kazakhstan (WT/COMTD/PTA3/N/1/ Add.1)8. 
2.3  Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
2.10.  The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held 
its 54th Session on 25 November 2020. The report on that meeting is contained in 
document  ITC/AG(LIV)/280. Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme (Botswana), the Chairperson 
of the JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 114th Session. The Committee took note of  the 
report and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.  
2.4  Trade and D evelopment - Work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's 
concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  
2.11.  At the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8), Ministers , inter alia , reaffirmed the positive link 
between trade and development and called for focused work in the CTD. Ministers called on Members 
to fully operationalize the mandate of the CTD as a focal point for development work. The Committee 
continued its d iscussions in the course of 20 21 on the outstanding proposals for work under the 
MC8 mandate. One proposal – by Barbados, Belize, China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African 
Group (WT/COMTD/W/208) – is for the CTD to report on development -related activitie s and 
development issues raised in other WTO bodies. The other remaining proposal – by China, Cuba, 
Ecuador, India and the African Group , and contained in document WT/COMTD/W/192  – is for the 
CTD to make a recommendation for the parties to RTAs to submit t heir notification and information 
requirements jointly. The Chairman encouraged continued engagement among Members in order to 
make progress on these proposals.  
2.5  Special and Differential Treatment Provisions in WTO Agreements and Decisions – 
Note by the Secretariat  
2.12.  An updated Secretariat report on S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements and Decisions 
(WT/COMTD/W/258)  was reflected on the agenda of the 114th Session . The Chairman noted in his 
introductor y remarks that the update had the same structure as the previous version of the 
document, which was circulated in 2018. In addition to containing updated information on the 
implementation of S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements, the report  contained a sect ion which 
listed various relevant Ministerial and other Decisions, along with any updated information available 
on their implementation in the S&D context. The Committee took note of the updated Secretariat 
report.  
2.6  Work Programme on Electronic Commerce  
2.13.  Under the item concerning the Work Programme on E -Commerce , Members ' attention was 
drawn to the Ministerial Decision of 13 December 2017 on the Work Programme on E -Commerce 
(WT/MIN(17)/65 – WT/L/1032). The Chairman informed Members that, although there were n o 
proposals from Members to consider in the CTD, a number of delegations had indicated their interest 
in this area.  The importance of discussing the development -related aspects of e -commerce in the 
Committee  was highlighted  by several  Members . Develop ing digital infrastructure and skills and 
making products competitive in the digital world were among the issues highlighted as priorities for 
developing countries  and LDCs . At the 116th Session, India and South Africa introduced their new 
communicat ion, titled "Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development" 
(WT/COMTD/W/264).   
 
6 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD’s 5th Dedicated Session on PTAs, which was 
held on 29 March 2021.  
7 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD’s 6th Dedicated Session on PTAs, which was 
held on 28 June 2021.  
8 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD’s 6th Dedicated Session on PTAs, which was 
held on 28 June 2021.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  2.7  Duty -free and quota-free market access for LDCs  
2.14.  An item concerning DFQF  market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 114th, 
115th and 116th Sessions. The Committee was informed of some updates with respect to the provision 
of DFQF market access for LDCs. The LDCs stressed the importance of DFQF market access, as well 
as the need for analysis of how  to make the best possible use of the preferen ces granted. At the 
116th Session, the Committee conducted its annual review o f the steps taken to provide DFQF market 
access to LDCs. It was not possible for the Secretariat to issue its report on Members'  DFQF market 
access for LDCs, as mandated in the B ali Ministerial Decision (WT/MIN(13)/44 – WT/L/919), because 
of divergent views among some Members on the scope and coverage of the report.  
2.8  Participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system  
2.15.  In order to assist the Committee with its r equirement to keep under continuous review the 
participation of developing country Members in the multilateral trading system, the Secretariat 
prepared a report (WT/COMTD/W/ 262) highlighting salient features concerning the participation of 
developing econo mies in the global trading system. The findings of the report were presented to the 
Committee at its 116th Session. The Committee took note of the report.  
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON THE MONITORING MECHANISM ON SPECIAL AND 
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT  
3.1.  The Dedicated Session on the MM on S&D held two formal meetings during 2021, on 28 June  
and on 10 November , both chaired by Ambassador  Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan ). The 
minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 14 and 
WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 159, respectively. At the June Session, the  Chairman noted that, according 
to the Decision establishing the MM (WT/MIN(13)/45  - WT/L/920), the monitoring of special and 
differential provisions is to be undertaken on the basis of written inpu ts or submissions made by 
Members, as well as on the basis of reports from other WTO bodies to which submissions by Members 
could also be made. He observed in this regard that there were still no written submissions in the 
MM. He also referred to paragraph  12 of the Decision  establishing the MM, which states that 
"The Mechanism shall be reviewed three years after its first formal meeting, and thereafter as 
necessary, taking into account its functio ning and evolving circumstances" . It was recalled  in this 
regard  that delegations had expressed different perspectives on the question of the review . He 
indicated  his intention to work with Members in informal settings in order to explore what could be 
done to make the MM operational.  Discussion on these  issues continued at the November session.  
The Chairman urged Members to come to a common understanding on how to move  forward with 
the MM.   
4  DEDICATED SESSION ON REGIONAL TRADE A GREEMENTS  
4.1.   Three meetings of the CTD’s Dedicated Session on RTAs were held in 2021, all chaired by 
Ambassador Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan). The 13th Dedicated Session on RTAs was held 
on 29 March 2021. The general minutes of this meeting are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA/M/13. At the meeting, the Committee took note of t he Chairman's report on the 
status of the preparation of factual presentations of RTAs (WT/COMTD/RTA/W/6). The Committee 
then considered the Revised Treaty of Trade between India and Nepal (Goods) 
(WT/COMTD/RTA18/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA18/1)10,  as per the provisions of the 14 December 2006 
General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (RTA TM).11  
4.2.  The 14th Dedicated Session on RTAs was held on 28 June 2021. The general minutes of this 
meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/14. At the meeting, the Committee took note 
of a notification concerning the agreement between India and Mauritius (WT/COMTD/R TA19/N/1), 
and of the Chairman's report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations of RTAs 
(WT/COMTD/RTA/W/7). The Committee then considered four agreements, as per the provisions of 
the RTA TM. The four agreements considered were: the Parti al Scope Agreement between Mexico 
 
9 To be issued.  
10 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA18/M/1.  
11 WT/L/671.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  and Paraguay (SACU) (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA4/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA4/1, WT/COMTD/RTA4/2)12; 
the Economic Complementarity Agreement between Mexico and Brazil (Goods) 
(WT/COMTD/RTA7/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA7/1/ Rev.1)13; the Preferential T rade Agreement between 
Indonesia and Pakistan (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA12/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA12/1, 
WT/COMTD/RTA12/1/C orr.1, WT/COMTD/RTA12/2)14; and the Partial Scope Agreement between 
El Salvador and Cuba (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA20/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA20/1, 
WT/COMTD/ RTA20/2).15 
4.3.  The 15th Dedicated Session on RTAs was held on 10 November 2021. The general minutes of 
this meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/1516. At the meeting, note was taken o f 
a notification by the ASEAN member States , informing  the Commi ttee that the Agreement on the  
CEPT-AFTA was superseded by the ATIGA (WT/COMTD/ RTA21/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA21/N/1/Add.1 ). 
The Committee also took note  of the Chairman's report on the status of the preparation of factual 
presentations of RTAs (WT/COMTD/RTA/W/8) . The Committee then considered the Partial Scope 
Agreement between Mexico and Ecuador (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA3/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA3/1, 
WT/COMTD/RTA3/2)17, as per the provisions of the RTA TM.  
5  DEDICATED SESSION ON PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEME NTS 
5.1.  Three meetings of the CTD’s Dedicated Session on PTAs were held in 2021, all chaired by 
Ambassador  Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan). The 5th Dedicated Session on PTAs was held 
on 29 March 2021. The minutes of this meeting are contained in document W T/COMTD/PTA/M/5. 
At the meeting, the Committee took note of a notification by the United Kingdom concerning its 
GSP scheme (WT/COMTD/PTA4/N/1), and of the Chairman's report on the status of the preparation 
of factual presentations of PTAs (WT/COMTD/PTA/W/3 ).  
5.2.  The 6th Dedicated Session on PTAs was held on 28 June 2021. The minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/6. The Committee took note of notifications concerning 
the GSP schemes of Japan (WT/COMTD/N/2/A dd.17) and Kazakhstan 
(WT/CO MTD/PTA3/N/1/ Add.1). The Committee also took note of the Chairman's report on the status 
of the preparation of factual presentations of PTAs (WT/COMTD/PTA/W/4).  
5.3.  The 7th Dedicated Session on PTAs was held on 10 November 2021. The general minutes of 
this meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/7.18 The Committee took note of the 
Chairman's report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations of PTAs 
(WT/COMTD/PTA/W/5). It then considered Thailand's DFQF scheme for LDCs 
(WT/COMTD/PTA5/N/1, WT/COMTD/PTA5/1, WT/COMTD/PTA5/2)19, as per the provisions of the 
14 December 2010 General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for PTAs.20 
6  DEDICATED SESSION O N SMALL ECONOMIES   
6.1.  In 20 21, the CTD 's Dedicated Session on Small Economies held two  formal meetings , which 
were chaired by Ambassador Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan ). The minutes of these meetings 
are contained in documents WT/COM TD/SE/M/ 41 and WT/COMT D/SE/M/ 42.21 At the 41st Dedicated 
Session  on 6 July , a discussion was held on the economic and trade impact of natural disasters on 
 
12 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA4/M/1.  
13 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA7/M/1.  
14 The minutes relating to the co nsideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA12/M/1.  
15 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA20/M/1.  
16 To be issued.  
17 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA3/M/1 (to be issued ). 
18 To be issued.  
19 The minutes relating to the consideration of this PTA are contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA5/M/1 
(to be issued).  
20 WT/L/806.  
21 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  small economies.22 Presentations on this topic were made by representatives of the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the ITC, the United Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) and the WTO. Presentations were also made by Ecuador, a nd 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – members of the Group of Small, Vulnerable Economies 
(SVE Group ). There were calls from a number of members of the SVE Group  for further discussions 
on ways to address the difficulties faced by small economies arising f rom natural disasters.  At the 
42nd Dedicated Session on 19 October, the Dedicated Session took note of an updated compilation 
paper on the Work Programme on Small Economies, prepared by the Secretariat 
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.10). The Dedicated Session then considered  and agreed to  a proposal by 
the SVE Group for a Ministerial Decision at  MC12 on the Work Programme on Small Economies 
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/42) . It subsequently adopted its report to the General Council, which was 
circulated in document WT/COMTD/SE/11.  
7  AID FOR TRADE  
7.1.  The CTD held its 51st, 52nd and 53rd sessions on Aid for Trade in 2021, on 16 February, 11  June 
and 8 October. The latter session was reconvened on 27 October. At each session, Members reviewed 
the implementation of the  2020-2022 Work Programme on "Empowering Connected Sustainable 
Trade" (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/81/Rev.1). The meetings were chaired by Ambassador Chad Blackman 
(Barbados) in February and October, and  by Ambassador  Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan). 
The minutes of the meetings ar e contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/51, 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/52 and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/5323, respectively. In addition to formal meetings, on 
16 February 2021, the CTD organized an Aid -for-Trade Webinar on "Implications of LDC Graduation 
for Aid for Trade". Then , on 23 -25 March 2021, an Aid -for-Trade Stocktaking event 
(WT/COMTD/AFT/W/86) was organized to reflect the economic impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic 
on the ongoing Aid -for-Trade Work Programme. Lastly, on 10 June, the CTD organized a dedicated 
thematic Aid -for-Trade workshop on "Circular economy, economic diversification and Aid for Trade". 
A report of the workshop was presented the following day at the corresponding CTD Aid -for-Trade 
meeting.  
7.2.  At the CTD Aid for Trade 51st Session, the Chairman announced th e agenda for the Stocktaking 
Event. The Asian Development Bank (AsDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG) outlined their global 
response to the COVID -19 pandemic. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization 
(UNIDO) updated on the progress of its Prog ramme for Country Partnerships (PCPs). 
The European  Union introduced 'Team Europe'. Japan said it contributed USD 2.1 million to ITC to 
help with digital literacy. China  indicated that it provided duty -free treatment to LDCs and had 
contributed USD 0.5 mil lion to help them with WTO accession. The United Kingdom saw Aid for Trade 
as important for resilience building. The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) reported progress in 
mainstreaming trade in LDCs. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) h ad managed 
to reflect impacts of the pandemic on its strategy. UNCTAD presented prospects for global 
investment flows and global value chain (GVC) transformation, and provided an update on the 
"e-Trade for all" initiative. The Organisation for Economic Coo peration and Development (OECD) 
reiterated its support to Aid for Trade. The Russian Federation said it promoted global production 
and distribution of medical goods. ITC highlighted its USD 92 million Aid -for-Trade action of 2020. 
The Secretariat summarize d the webinar "Implications of LDC Graduation for Aid for Trade" held on 
16 February. It then launched the "Sustainable Trade, Circular Economy and Aid for Trade" issues 
paper (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/8 7). 
7.3.  At the CTD Aid for Trade 52nd Session, the Chairman introdu ced plans for the Aid for Trade 
M&E exercise that will underpin  the 2022 Global Review for Members ' consideration. The 
International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) updated on  the Aid -for-Trade Initiative for 
the Arab States (AfTIAS) 2.0 Program w hich was deemed relevant by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
The AsDB updated on its COVID -19 response. The WBG presented its World Development Report 
2021: "Data for Better Lives" and another publication on "The Distributional Impacts of Trade". The 
African D evelopment Bank (AfDB) presented its operations and interventions which supported Aid  for 
Trade. UNIDO recalled its action in developing countries within the framework of the PCPs. 
The European Union said that it was launching the Neighbourhood, Developmen t and International 
Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), or Global Europe. Viet Nam updated the Committee on its recently 
 
22 This discussion was organized o n the basis of a proposal by the SVE Group contained in document 
WT/COMTD/SE/W/41.  
23 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
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  completed Trade Policy Review (TPR). China recalled its COVID -19 support to the global community. 
India outlined its support to LDCs in ter ms of technical assistance, capacity building and preferential 
market access. Korea indicated that it had increased its official development assistance (ODA) 
budget by 8.3% to USD 3.5 billion. The United States highlighted its initiatives to address 
enviro nmental and sustainability challenges. Australia indicated that its Aid -for-Trade investments 
would continue with a particular focus on the Indo -Pacific region. The Russian Federation noted its 
global supply of vaccines and 2014 revised Concept of the Stat e Policy of the Russian Federation in 
the field of International Development Assistance. The EIF described its USD 5.79 million project 
pipeline. The STDF announced the release of  its 2020 Annual Report. The ITC commented on the 
challenges in 2021 which co ntinued to impact micro, small and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs). 
It then announced the launch of its new Small and Medium -Size Enterprise (SME) Competitiveness 
Outlook publication. The Secretariat summarized the workshop held the day prior on  "Circular  
Economy, Economic Diversification and Aid for Trade".  
7.4.  At the CTD Aid for Trade 53rd Session  on 8 October , Members approved the Aid -for-Trade M& E 
exercise , subsequently launched in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/W/88 and addenda 1 -4 and 
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/90. At the reconvened session, the United States updated the Committee on its 
trade capacity building support, including its USD 500 million Prosper Africa programme and support 
for virtual matchmaking and trade facilitation provided to five  Central Asian economies. 
The European Union provided an overview of its fourth Aid for Trade Progress Report, and recalled 
that Aid -for-Trade financing provided by the European Union and its member States had reached 
EUR 17.9 billion in 2018. Future finan cing would focus on inclusive and green economy in the new 
seven -year multiannual financial framework period. The Republic of Korea noted that its 
Aid-for-Trade financing had exceeded USD 10 billion in the period since 2006, and included support 
to the Glo bal Trust Fund and to the ITC. China spoke to its market access benefits for 42 LDCs, and 
on-going support provided to the WTO China capacity -building programme and policy roundtables. 
China also updated Members on its COVID -19 vaccine deliveries that will  reach more than 2 billion 
doses by the end of 2021. The WBG outlined research on the trade and climate nexus, on services -led 
development and on its Digital Economy for Africa initiative. The AsDB updated on its COVID -19 
response, notably the Asia -Pacific  Vaccine Access Facility and COVID -19 Pandemic Response 
package. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reported on operations 
conducted through its trade finance programme, which totalled USD 3.3 billion in 2020. 
The Inter-American De velopment Bank (IADB) spoke to the impact of COVID -19 and climate change 
on the region's economy and projects to strengthen regional value chains, block chain development  
and investment facilitation. UNIDO discussed COVID -19 recovery activities, notably a high-level 
event on building pharmaceutical capacities in Africa at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, 
and its circular economy projects. The EIF discussed its on -going programme evaluation, as well as 
various planned events and projects, including with regard to investment promotion, tourism 
recovery and support for the African Continental Free Trade Area  (AfCFTA) . Cambodia provided an 
overview of the more than USD 10 million support received from the EIF for a number of potential 
value chains, as w ell as on -going EIF support for e-commerce development. The STDF informed on 
the launch of a new Guide on Good Regulatory Practices, the adoption of new work plan and budget, 
as well an event on climate change and an in -depth gender assessment of its works treams. UNCTAD 
informed the Committee of a decision taken at the UNCTAD15 Ministerial Conference to strengthen 
work on digital trade for development, and summarized recent progress within the framework of the 
"e-Trade for All" initiative. The ITC gave upda tes on various areas of its work, including the 
"ecomConnect" programme and it s agrifood value chain addition projects.  
8  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
8.1.  Two formal meetings of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the 
Sub-Comm ittee) were held in 2021. These meetings took place on 19  April (90th Session) and 2  July 
(91st Session). The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/90 and 
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/9124, respectively. Both meetings were chaired by 
Ambassador  Monique  T.G. Van Daalen (Netherlands). The delegation of Chad has been the 
Coordinator of the LDC Group in 2021.  
8.2.  The Sub -Committee took up the following subjects pursuant to the WTO Work Programme for 
the LDCs (WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1): (i) market  access for LDCs and (ii) accession of LDCs to the 
WTO. Furthermore, the Sub -Committee considered the following topics: (i) the Fifth UN Conference 
 
24 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/101  
 
- 8 - 
 
  on the LDCs (LDC5); (ii) the presentation by UNCTAD of its Least Developed Country Report 2020; 
(iii) a pres entation by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on the impact of COVID -19 on 
tourism and (iv) the LDC Group Retreat, held on 14 -16 June 2021.  
8.1  Market Access for LDCs  
8.3.  At the 90th Session, the Secretariat provided an update on LDC trade in goods and se rvices in 
2020, which showed that the decline in exports had been steeper for LDCs than for the rest of the 
world. The LDCs expressed concerns with the sharp downturn in trade in 2020 and highlighted the 
importance of continued and improved preferential ma rket access for LDC products.  
8.4.  At the 91st Session, the Secretariat provided a report on the annual review of developments in 
preferential rules of origin for LDCs conducted in the Committee on Rules of Origin in 2020.25 The 
LDCs underlined the usefulness o f the examination of preference utilization by the Secretariat and 
called for strengthening this work as well as addressing data gaps to better understand the impact 
of origin requirements.   
8.2  Accession of LDCs to the WTO  
8.5.  At the 91st Session, the Secretariat  provided an overview of completed LDC accessions as well 
as of progress being made in the ongoing LDC accession processes (Bhutan, Comoros, Ethiopia, 
Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Timor -Leste). The LDCs called on 
Members to exped ite the conclusion of ongoing accessions and to adhere to LDC accession 
guidelines. Members underlined the value of the accession process to make necessary domestic 
reforms with a view to integrating WTO rules and disciplines.  
8.3  Fifth UN Conference on the LD Cs (LDC5)  
8.6.  At the 90th Session, United Nations Under -Secretary -General and High Representative for the 
Least Developed Countries , Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States 
(UN-OHRLLS), Ms Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu, provided a briefing on the preparatory process 
for LDC5 , to be held in Doha, Qatar, on 23-27 January 2022. International trade is expected to 
remain a central theme of the Programme of Action for the LDCs to be adopted at LDC5.  
8.4  Presentation by UNCTAD  
8.7.  At the 90th Session, UNCTAD presented its "Least Developed Country Report 2020: Productive 
Capacities for the New Decade" and its Productive Capacities Index (PCI), which formed the 
analytical basis for the Report. The LDCs called on development partners to s upport them in 
strengthening their productive capacities and diversifying their economies.  
8.5  Presentation by the UNWTO  
8.8.  At the 91st Session, the UNWTO made a presentation on the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic 
on the tourism sector as well as initiatives and  priorities to foster recovery and build resilience in 
this sector. The LDCs underlined the importance of tourism, accounting for nearly 50% of their 
services exports, and called on the international community to provide enhanced support to 
tourism -depende nt LDCs.  
8.6  LDC Group retreat  
8.9.  At the 91st Session, the Coordinator of the LDC Group provided a report on the LDC Group 
Retreat, held in virtual format on 14-16 June 2021, which provided an opportunity for the LDC Group 
to deliberate on its priorities for its work in the WTO and towards MC12.  
 
__________  
 
25 The report of the CRO to the General Council of the 2020 annual review is contain ed in document 
G/RO/91.