G/SPS/GEN/2183  
 
21 November 2023 
(23-7850) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ( G/SPS/GEN/181/ADD.16 ) 
SUBMISSION BY THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA  
The following submission, received on 20 November 2023, is the statement made by the 
United  States of America at the 15-17 November  2023 WTO SPS Committee, and is being circula ted 
at the request of the Delegation of the United States of America . 
 
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1.  The United States is pleased to inform the Committee of our submission G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.16 . 
This submission provides summary information regarding over $14 million in US -sponsored technical 
assistance provided between October 2020 and September 2021 aimed to support Members in their 
efforts to enhance their im plementation of the SPS Agreement.  
2.  The United States values the continued work of the SPS Committee to strengthen implementation 
of the SPS Agreement and notes that this is a timely topic as the Committee prepares to report on 
the SPS Declaration Work Programme and to launch the Sixth Review of the SPS Agreement.  
3.  This reporting period, during which programming was heavily affected by the COVID -19 
pandemic, demonstrates the continued US commitment to meet the evolving technical assistance 
needs of developing  and least developed countries. We have invested resources and adapted 
activities to support new challenges to the application of the SPS Agreement, including moving to 
virtual and hybrid formats for trainings on topics ranging from transboundary animal di sease and 
system -based approaches to audit to pesticide registration for food safety.  
4.  We also shared freely accessible online resources, including a suite of SPS distance learning 
courses at www.SPScourses.com . We promote these modules through our programs, but also 
through public outreach, including a side event held on the margins of the July 2021 SPS Committee 
meeting. Global usership has expanded significantly since 2020 and now  has reached more than 
15,000 individuals in more than 240 countries.  
5.  The United States values partnerships in technical assistance. During the period covered by this 
addendum, the United States partnered with the Standards and Trade Development Facility ( STDF) 
and other collaborators on: 1) three complementary regional biopesticide program mes that apply 
innovative, science -based approaches that will help combat rising pest and disease pressures due 
to climate change; 2) the implementation of the ePhyto sol ution electronic certification program me; 
and 3) the application of the Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access (P -IMA) tool, which 
offers an evidence -based approach to inform and improve SPS planning and decision -making 
processes.  
6.  We look forward t o continuing our cooperation with STDF, the international standard setting 
bodies, and international intergovernmental organizations on cross -cutting SPS program mes. 
In addition to providing financial support to partners like the STDF and Codex trust funds , 
we recognize the value of leveraging the skills and experience of these strategic, forward -looking 
partners.  
7.  The United States welcomes collaboration with Members and observers in how best to facilitate 
impactful capacity building activities. We also wel come input on the types of capacity building G/SPS/GEN/2183  
 
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  projects that would be of interest to Members, including those to be identified in the upcoming 
Sixth Review.  
8.  We remain committed to providing technical assistance on SPS issues to implement the 
SPS Agreement, to support Members in meeting their international obligations, and to facilitate safe 
trade in agricultural products.  
 
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