RESTRICTED  
  
TN/CTD/M/55  
 
30 November  2020 
(20-8616) Page: 1/12 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Fifty-Fifth Special Session    
 
  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 23 SEPTEMBER  2020 
Chairperson :  Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan (Djibouti ) 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. WORK UNDERTAKEN IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS - STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRPERSON  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  1 
C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE G -90 ................................ ................................ ........  2 
(I) G-90 Agreement Specific Proposals on Special and Differential Treatment (JOB/DEV/60 – 
JOB/TNC/79)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  2 
(II) Consolidated Responses on Comments and Questions from Members on the  G-90 Submission  
(JOB/DEV/61)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  7 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 12 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairperson  welcomed delegations to the 55th Special Session of the Committee on Trade 
and Development (CTD SS), which allowed  for both in-person and virtual participation . She invited 
the Special Session to adopt the draft agenda, as contained in document WTO/AIR/TN/CTD/7/Rev.1 
of 9 September 2020 .  
2. The agenda was adopted . 
B. WORK UNDERTAKEN IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS - STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRPERSON  
3. The Chairperson  recalled that the 55th Special Session was originally scheduled to be held on 
20 March 2020. However , in light of the COVID -19 outbreak and the resulting suspension of all 
meetings at the WTO  earlier in the year , it was not possible to hold the 55th Special Session in March . 
She noted that the meeting that was planned for March h ad two purposes. It was firstly meant to 
serve as an opportunity to take stock of the work undertaken since the last formal meeting of the 
CTD SS, which was held in October 2019. In particular, she was intending to highlight the useful 
bilatera l one-on-one discussions that she had held with several delegations on the work of the CTD 
SS, as well as the inf ormal, open -ended meeting that she  had convened on 27  November  2019 to 
allow Members to discuss a submission by the G -90 circulated in room document RD/DEV /182. The 
second , and main, purpose of the meeting planned for March was to allow Members to consider and 
express themselves on a new submission by the G -90, which was  circulated earlier in the  year in 
document JOB/DEV/60 – JOB/TNC/79. This submission cont ained , inter alia , the G -90’s ten 
proposals on special and differential treatment ( S&D), as well as an introductory section with further 
explanations.  
4. She went on to say that, d espite the post ponement of the March meeting, she  had felt  that it 
would be  important for Members to continue to engage and attempt to take forward the work of the 
CTD SS. Accordingly, in mid -April, she initiated a process for a written exchange on the G -90 TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  submission. As a first step in the process, she invited Members to submit  any comments or questions 
they had on the submission. The comments and questions, once received, were compiled into a 
single document, which was then shared with all Members.  As the next step, she invited the G -90 
to provide written responses to these com ments and questions. The written responses were 
circulated by the G -90 in June in document JOB/DEV/61.  She had hoped to convene a meeting of 
the CTD SS in July, so as to allow Members to begin a more in -depth discussion on the su bmission 
circulated earlier  in the  year containing  the G -90’s proposals on S&D, as well as the more recent 
document containing the G -90’s responses to the comments and questions from Members. However, 
because of the lack of availability of a meeting room, it was not possible to hold  a meeting of the 
CTD SS before the summer break. The present meeting therefore provided  the opportunity to have 
a discussion on the two G-90 submissions, which were reflected under the next agenda item. In 
closing, she indicated that she would repeat what  she had said before, which was that she wished 
to have the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference ( MC12 ) as an objective in mind for the work of the 
CTD SS . It continued  to be her hope that Members would  be able to work towards at least some 
concrete delivera bles on  S&D for MC12. Whether that would  be possible would ultimately depend on 
Members. While recognizing  the challenges that would be faced in the process, she assure d Members 
of her full commitment to  try to make this a reality.  
5. The Special Session took note  of the statement by the Chairperson . 
C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE G -90 
(I) G-90 Agreement Spe cific Proposals on Special and Differential T reatment 
(JOB/DEV/60 – JOB/TNC/79)  
6. The representative of South Africa , on behalf of the G -90, said that, unde r the present 
sub-item, she would  introduce the G -90's proposals  contained in document 
JOB/DEV/60  - JOB/TNC/79 . Some further remarks would later be made under the second  sub-item 
on the G -90’s responses to the questions and comments from Members, as contained in document 
JOB/DEV/61. She went on to say that t he G-90 wished to once again emphasi ze that S&D for 
developing  countries and least developed countries (LDCs) wa s an integral part of the architecture 
of the multilateral trading system  (MTS) . Paragraph 44 o f the Doha Declaration instructed  Members  
to review all S&D provisions with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, 
effective and operational. The G -90 had  been at the vanguard of the efforts to fulfil this mandate , 
and ha d made a number of proposals with various clarifications and illustrations. It had  been 
emphasiz ed that the G -90 proposals did not seek blanket, permanent,  and unconditional carve -outs. 
On the contrary, they aim ed to seek the effective implementation of existing S&D provisions, 
including through the provision of targeted and made -to-measure technical assistance (TA) and 
capacity building, policy space, commercially meaningful export opportunities, and implementation 
timelines.  An important benchmark against which S&D should be assessed was in how far it had  
enabled social and economic transformation in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) , and to ensure that no c ountry wa s left behind. The current COVID -19 pandemic was  a clear 
indication of the importance of effective and inclusive global responses to common problems and 
areas of interest. In this regard, she referred to t argets under SDGs 1, 2, 8, 10, 16 and 17 , and also 
noted that Target 10.a specifically mandated  the implementation of  the principle of S&D for 
developing countries, and in particular LDCs, in accordance with WTO Agreements. The G -90 
proposals provide d a concrete means to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through the 
socio-economic, industrial and struct ural transformation of developing countries and LDCs, by 
operationalizing the existing S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements.  
7. She observed that COVID -19 threatened  to erase significant progress to wards poverty 
eradication and sustainable development, and thereby to further widen the gap between developed 
and developing economies in their resilience to the crisis . Developing countries would  be the hardest 
hit by the COVID -19 pandemic , and were facin g an unprecedented health and economic crisis  – with 
potentially extreme economic, social and sustainable development consequences that might  reverse 
decades of development progress and further jeopardize efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for  
Sustainable Development. The crisis would  aggravate existing development al challenges. While  
governments ha d started to respond, their capacity wa s tightly constrained. Over 100 million more 
people were expected to be acutely poor as a result of the crisis. The June 2 020 Global Economic 
Prospects Report forecast was for  a 5.2 % contraction in global GDP in 2020  – the deepest global 
recession  in decades , despite the extraordinary efforts of governments to counter the downturn with 
fiscal and monetary policy support . The International Labour Organization ( ILO) predicted  that TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  1.6 billion informal economy workers could suffer massive damage to their livelihoods. In the second 
quarter of 2020, COVID -19 could cost the equivalent of 305 million fulltime jobs. She n oted that, 
even before the COVID -19 crisis, levels and trends in domestic revenues and external flows to 
developing economies were already considered insufficient to support the SDGs. Many developing 
countries had  been grappling with structural vulnerabili ties. Developing countries urgently need ed 
support from the international community, and a supportive MTS that promoted  inclusive growth 
and development wa s all the more important. In order to put  developing countries on  a sustainable 
development path, the re was a need for m ultilateral cooperation that enabled  the preservation of 
critical productive capaci ties, supported  economic recovery and development , and fostered  an 
efficient response to the crisis. She said that the rules -based trading system was  threatened with 
irrelevance, and the inability of the WTO to play an active role in coordinating responses since  the 
outbreak of the crisis did  not help to address these concerns. Preserving coordination and being 
responsive to the needs of developing countrie s was more essential now than ever  before,  and 
should be the priority for any WTO policy response  to the crisis.  
8. She indicated  that trade rules needed to  serve as a lever , and not a n obstacle, to much 
required  and legitimate public policy objectives relating to health, and industrial and sustainable 
development  – including  in the context of  economic recovery. A rigid application of existing rules 
was unlikely to work, given their lack of effectiveness in promoting the broad and effective 
integration of developing countries in to the global economy. A coordinated response to common 
global challenges was needed , as was a  more pragmatic approach based on a substantive discussion 
of the G -90 proposals. The COVID -19 crisis had  reaffirmed that the economies of developing 
countries and LDCs continue d to be more vulnerable than those  of the advanced economies. There 
was a general consensus among all specialized agenc ies that the COVID -19 crisis would  hit 
developing countries harder. The economies of developing countries we re facing a lack of medical 
and food supplies, a sudden shock to the world economy,  and a worsening of global trade slowdown  
– including capital flight and a  significant drop in comm odity and oil prices , as well as remittances. 
The G -90 believed  that it was  necessary to act immediately towards ensuring that WTO rules 
effectively enable d developing countries and LDCs to minimize the COVID -19 crisis, and to build 
resilience by p ursuing policies of industrializ ation, structural transformation and diversification, as 
contained in the G -90 proposal s. She welcomed the opportunity to engage with Members  on the 
issues raise d in the G -90 submission. The expectation of the G -90 was that Members could  agree 
on a work plan encompassing the ten Agreement -specific proposals  (ASPs) . In this regard, she 
recall ed the suggestion by Singapore that the CTD  SS could focus on two ASPs per session, which 
seemed like a good starting point. The G -90 wa s of the opinion that effective and operational S&D 
provisions were important tool s to allow a  levelli ng of the playing field, and would  support the rightful 
development aspirations of the G -90 members. Effective and operational S&D was a lifeline for 
economies and societies, and was essential for survival and resilience in the present  and in the 
future. The G -90 was determined to continue to work  hard to find constructive ways to move 
forwar d. She also indicated in closing that she agreed with the Chairperson on the need to have a 
meaningful outcome on S&D at MC12.  
9. The representative of China  said that it was important to take stock of the work of CTD  SS, 
so as to get a better sense of the G-90 proposals , and to chart the  way forward. While  S&D was  an 
institutional right for all developing Members, the vagueness and non -binding nature of most S&D 
provisions impeded  developing Members from reaping the benefits  to realize industrialization and 
structural transform ation. China applauded  the continuous efforts made by the G -90 to explore the 
way forward to operationaliz e S&D provisions . It was believe d that the G -90 proposal s could serve 
as a valuable basis to advance Members’  work and lay the foundation for possible develop ment 
outcomes at MC12 . He agreed with the representative of South Africa that the COVID -19 crisis 
demonstrated  the capac ity constraints th at developing Members we re facing , as well as  the urgent 
need to make relevant S&D provisions more precise, effective and operational. He urged all Members 
to engage in the discussions wit h an open and constructive spirit . His delegation was ready to make 
its contribution to the  process.  
10. The representative of Cameroon , on behalf of the African Group, supported the intervention 
by South Africa . While  development  motivated many African countries in the WTO, they had from 
the onset faced challenges in implement ing the WTO Agreements , and thus  had experienced  limited 
integration and benefit s from the MTS. This formed the basis of the mandate in paragraph 44 of the 
Doha Declaration . However, challenges still remained . Furthermore, as g lobal trade had become  
more complex , so had the challenges. Referring to the key objectives of the Marrakes h Agreement, 
he indicated that African countries were striving  to raise the standards of living of their TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  people  -  while working towards full employment, and ensuring that developing countries and LDCs 
secure d a share in the growth of global trade.  The achievement of these objectives had  been 
compounded by the impact of COVID -19, which was threatening to reverse the progress made 
towards the achiev ement of the SDGs . He went on to say that the G -90 proposals addressed  the 
legitimate needs of developing countries and LDCs in dealing with  several pressing challenges . Many 
of these challenges were explained in document WT/GC/219 – TN/C/20 , circulated by the African 
Group. He also noted that S&D  was neces sary to help address the se challenges in the context of 
global crises. Furthermore,  it was important to recogni ze the extent to which developing countries 
and LDCs could  comprehensively address the multi -faceted challenges brought about by the 
pandemic , which depended on the availability of re sources to finance the recovery . The pandemic 
had therefore placed  a significant fiscal burden on African economies, which had  affected their fiscal 
positions and debt trajectori es. As a result, COVID -19 posed a serious threat to the  growth and 
development prospects  of African countries , thereby reversing  some of the hard -earned 
development gains in Africa.  The flexibilities being adv ocated  in the G -90 proposals were a 
sustainable way to use trade tools to address these challenges. In the context of WTO reform, 
making S&D provisions operational and effective needed to  be considered a priority. He also noted 
that an international tradin g system that le ft some countries behind wa s neither desirable, nor 
sustainable. He thanked those Members that had indicated their support for the G-90 proposals , and 
indicated willingness to pursue a constructive discussion in order to find  consensus -based solutions 
to the issues raised. He also expressed hope that, by MC12, Members would have found concrete 
solutions to some of these issues.  
11. The representative of Chad,  on behalf of the LDC Group, thanked th ose Members that had 
submitted comments and q uestions on the G -90 submission. This had made it possible to revive the 
discussion s and exc hanges  of views on the G -90 proposal s in the CTD SS . At this stage, Members 
were still furthering their understanding of t he various positions and their implications. The LDC 
Group, with the G -90, wished to see the negotiations conclude successfully.  While each  of the  parties 
involved would be able  to develop  defensible and sound reasoning for their positions, the final 
objec tive was  to reach an agreement. There were guidelines to help  with this, including those 
provided by Ministers , which set the course and provided  the basis for WTO negotiations. The 
objective  of integration into the MTS was established in the WTO texts. In particular, the aim was 
for countries  to secure an increasing share in international trade commensurate with the needs of 
their development. To this end, positive efforts were called for in respect of developing countries , 
and in particular LDCs. As for t he negotiating basis to m eet the set objective, it relied  on the 
introduction of S&D provisions in the WTO  regulatory texts. These provisions were meant to be 
effective and operational , so as to swiftly and specifically ensure an improved level of integration 
into international trade. The provisions had been established  in response to the development al, 
economic and social needs of some Members. If the S&D provisions proved  to be ineffective, the 
instruction from Ministers was to revisit and review them, with a view to making them more precise, 
effective and operational.   
12. This was  essentially the purpose of the G -90 proposal s. It was  believe d that several of the 
S&D provisions included in  the WTO Agreements we re not relevant in t heir current form, since they 
did not contribute to improv ing integration into international trade. The economic and social 
conditions in G-90 countries  remain ed insufficiently solid, and institutional and infrastr uctural 
constraints were still too severe , to allow multilateral trade integration and the standardization of 
trade rules. The ability to conform to high international trade standards was contingent upon having 
acquired an adequate level of development , and a sufficiently solid economic and institutional 
infrastructure. In order to reach that point, the G -90 members were in need of enough initial 
regulatory flexibilities  – along with exter nal support – to enable them to catch up economically, and 
to ensure sufficient infrastructura l and institutional solidity for further integration into the MTS. He 
went on to say that S&D exist ed because of the considerable differences in Members' levels o f 
development. The purpose of S&D was to allow a better balance, which would be to the benefit of 
all. The global economic crisis stemming  from the COVID -19 pandemic had demonstrated  that 
developing countries , and in particular  LDCs, did not have the econo mic stabilization mechanisms 
needed to offset significant fi nancial losses and protect  populations from increased  poverty levels. 
Poverty was already high, and there was a risk of the pandemic slipping out of control, due to 
extremely fragile health system s. Furthermore, the economic crisis had  brought about a significant 
risk of sovereign debt defaul t, which in turn could even more serio usly affect the situation of  partners 
in developed and developing countries. The economies of the G -90 members were not sufficiently 
robust or diversified, which contributed to  the worsening of  episodes of global instability . It was also 
for reasons involving the capacity to address global economic crises  that the G -90 proposal s made TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  sense, and therefore had  been brought to the n egotiating table . The aim of the proposals was  to 
encourage the s tructural transformation of economies, and the greater  diversification of  trade 
capacities, so as to develop the conditions for more solid, globally integrated societies  that could  
better contribute to global economic stability and sustainable development.  In closing, he reiter ated 
that the G -90 proposal s were legitimate. The proposals  needed to be viewed as a step towards 
finding  solution s to both national and glob al pro blems. He urged  Members to be constructive and to 
work towards  consensus. He also noted that the LDC Group was in favour of def ining a work 
programme that would  enable concrete progress to be made in the work of the CTD SS by MC12 . 
13. The representative of Egypt supported the intervention by South Africa, and thanked those 
Members that had constructive ly engaged on the G -90 proposals. He said that there was a consensus 
among international specialized agencies that the COVID -19 crisis would  hit the economies of most, 
if not all, countries more severely than the 2008 economic crisis. Members with better resources 
would be able to deal  with the severe economic consequences of the pandemic  more eff ectively , 
while developing countries and LDCs would  encounter more obstacles to reactivate their economies 
and address any potential new waves of COVID -19. The pandemic would  undoubtedly widen existing 
inequalities among Members . Global prosperity could not  be ach ieved if the inequality gap did  not 
cease to gro w. Reconstructing the global economy therefore required  greater collective efforts by 
the international community at large.  Against this background, S&D needed to provide developing 
countries and LDCs with better tools to overcome, through enhanced trade f lows, the paralysis of 
their economies as a result of COVID -19. He believed that the new realities created by the current 
crisis require d development partners to reconsider their position on the G -90 proposal s – bearing in 
mind that S&D was  a necessity, no t a compromise, to address the  challenges posed by the  global 
crisis.  
14. The representative of Jamaica,  on behalf of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific 
States (OACPS) expressed support for the intervention by South Africa. He also thanked Members 
for their observations and responses on the G -90 proposals. He noted that, as the international 
trading system had developed and grown more co mplex  over time , the importance of  S&D had  
increased for developing  countries. The purpose of S&D was  to give developing countries a greater 
priority in the p rocess of development, thus allowing them more flexibility to address their  needs. 
The original justification , reflected in the adop tion of Part IV of GATT 1947, was that developing 
countries were different , and should be treated as su ch. The needs of the poorest were  different 
from those of the richer and more advanced countries . The implicit bargain struck between 
developed and devel oping countries in the con text of the WTO found  expression in the Marrakesh 
Agreement , which envisaged  that trade and economic endeavour should be conducted with a view 
to raising living standards, ensuring full employment, and expanding  trade in goods and  services. 
Specifically, it recognized  that there wa s a need for positive efforts designed to ensure that 
developing countries, and especially LDCs, secured  a share in the growth in international trade 
commensurate with the needs of their economic developm ent. Paragra ph 44 of the Doha Declaration 
was a further call for action to make S&D provisions more effective and implementable.  
15. He went on to say  the G -90 submission needed to  also be seen in the context of the SDGs, 
which include d several Goals and Targets related to i nternational trade and the WTO. He pointed in 
particular to targets under SDGs  1, 2, 8, 10, 16 and 17. Furthermore, Target 10.a specifically 
mandated the implementation o f the principle of S&D for developing countries, in particular LDCs,  
in accordance with WTO Agreements . The G -90 proposals reflect ed the legitimate needs of 
developing countries and LDCs in terms of their development priorities and concerns, and especially  
in dealing with various financial crises and pandemics. Mor eover, the COVID -19 pandemic had  had 
a more severe economic impact than previous crises, including  the 2008 economic crisis. Extreme 
poverty levels were set to rise, thus eroding  any efforts made over the last  decades to bring these 
numbers down. The crisis  had shown that Members with better  resources would  be able to overcome 
the severe economic consequences, and address any social or economic impacts , sooner and more 
effectively . In contrast, developing countries  – and especially LDCs – would  encounter more 
obstacles to reactivate their economies and address any pot ential new waves of COVID -19, in 
particular since  many were already in crisis before the pandemic. The flexibilities being advocated  
would  enable these countries to bett er deal with the  economic and health crisis in a more sustainable 
manner. COVID -19 had shown the extent of interdependence between countries , and how vastly 
different were countries’ capacities to deal with t he fall -out. In closing , he said that the OACPS looked 
forward to  an honest discussion on the issues raised in the G -90 submission . The expectation was 
for the CTD SS to reach a n agreement on a work programme that  could aim to discuss the various TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  ASPs within a prescribed time frame. It was also believe d that the overall process could benefit from 
further  consultations convened by the Chairperson.  
16. The representative of India thanked South Africa for introducing the G -90 submission . She 
said that S&D  provisions were an integral part of the MTS. They continue d to be a critical aspect of 
the WTO’s framework , and were  a non -negotiable right of all developing countries, for which they 
had already paid . S&D provisions were not to be looke d at as exceptions to the general rules , but 
more importantly as an inherent objective of the MTS – which was  something that Ministers had 
agreed to in Doha. Given the concerns expressed by Members regarding the effectiveness of S&D 
provisions in the WTO A greements, paragraph  44 of the Doha Declaration  had given a mandate to 
review all these  provisions , with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, 
effective and op erational. Although Members had  been discussing these issues since 2002, it was a 
matter of deep concern that the CTD SS had  not been able to secure tangible progress in fulfilling a 
Ministerial mandate  that was two decades old . The ten ASPs in the G -90 submission were specific,  
and lucidly explained. Among other  things , the proposals aimed to address  liquidity constraints , 
infant industry development, flexibilities in trade-related investment measures (TRIMs)  and local 
content requirements, and flexibilities in trade -related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) 
for access to medicine and medical technology . If these clear, targeted proposals did not merit 
engagement by developed Members, she wondered what would. The G -90 had  clearly demonstrated 
the pressing need to agree to the ten ASPs , so as  to enable the social and economic transformation 
required by developing countries and LDCs, thereby  helping them to achieve the SDGs . Her 
delegation was firm in its conviction that S&D provisions should be part of any current and future 
negotiation in the WTO, and it could not  agree to a case -by-case approach. Furthermore, she 
believed it was time that developed Members consider ed foregoing flexibilities available to  them 
under various existing Agreements and Decisions, including the Aggregate Measurement of Support 
(AMS) and green -box subsidies, as well the flexibilities under the Nairobi Decision on Export 
Competition . These were examples of reverse S&D in favour of  developed countries, which  were 
generally not available to developing countries, and which badly hurt developing country exports. In 
conclusion, she said that the G -90 proposal s provided  a useful basis to advance the work in the 
CTD SS. Her delegation hoped for a meaningful outcome by MC12, and urged all Members to 
collectively engage and work towards a focused outcome.  
17. The representative of the United Kingdom  thanked the G-90 for its work in preparing the  
proposals. She said that  her delegation remained  committed to su pporting developing countries to 
seize the benefits of trade. Trade had  always been a key driver of economic growth – helping  to 
raise incomes, create jobs and  lift people out of poverty , thereby facilitating sustainable 
development . She noted that S&D had  also played a critical role in giving developing countries the  
assurance and support they  needed to sign and implement the WTO Agreement s. S&D provisions, 
combined  with Aid for Trade, ensure d that international trade promoted  econo mic growth and 
development. She indicated her delegation’s commitment to ensur e that S&D remained  a 
fundamental pillar of the WTO. The U nited Kingdom wanted S&D  to be as effective as possible in  
helping developing countries – and LDCs in particular – to integrate fully into the rules -based 
international trading system . These countries  needed to feel empowered to actively participate in 
negotiations , safe in the knowledge that they would  be able to shape agreements in order to ensure 
that they were inclusive  and ratifiable.  However, the United Kingdom was disappointed that the 
proposals put forward  by the G -90 had not changed in any substantive way since they were last 
submitted  in 2017. Although the United Kingdom wished to engage in substantive discussions to 
make S&D provisions as wor kable and effective as possible, it also wanted to ensure that such 
provisions we re targeted to meet specific needs of developing countries , with the aim of integrating 
them fully into the syst em – rather than carving out permanent exceptions. Without such a 
movement on the G-90 proposals , her delegation  did not see how substantive progress could  be 
made.  
18. The representative of The Gambia  supported the intervention by South Africa, as well as the  
interventions by the Group Coordinators. He expressed appreciation to the Chairperson for the 
informal consultations that she had held, which his delegation had found useful in deepening its 
understanding of Members’ positions. Although Members had not ma de as much progress as his 
delegation would have liked, he nevertheless welcome d the written comments and questions 
submitted  by some Members on the G -90 proposals . His delegation remain ed of the view that the 
G-90 had  sufficiently addressed many of the co ncerns raised by Members on the scope, applicability 
and duration of the ten ASPs. He noted that the G -90 proposals were meant to strengthen the 
implementation of existing S&D provisions in  the covered Agreements, which was in line with TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  parag raph 44 of the Doha Declaration. However,  Members had failed to implement this clear 
mandate from Ministers, which developing countrie s and LDCs attach ed great importance to in their 
quest not only to integrate into the MTS, but also to achieve the SDGs . He called on Members to 
engage with the G -90 in a constructive manner on the su bstance of the ten proposals. He also noted 
that, i n the  run-up to MC12, it would be important for Members to agree on a clear work  plan for 
the CTD  SS, which would allow  substantive  discus sions to take place on each of the proposals.  
19. The representative of Sri Lanka  expressed appreciation to South Africa for having introduced 
the G -90 submission, and for the continued efforts to take forward the discussions  on this matter . 
She said that development was  of paramount importance for the majority of Members, and S&D was 
a legitimate right of the se Members in their efforts to integrate into  global trade like the more 
advanced economies. Although d eveloping countries were in a difficult situation even before the 
COVID -19 outbreak, the situation had  been exacerbated  by the pandemic . The economic impact of 
COVID -19 had  been identified as more severe than the economic impact of the global financial crisis 
of 2008 -2009.  She noted that the G-90 did not seek a blanket carve -out from  the existing rules. 
Rather, targeted and result s-oriented proposals ha d been put forward  for consideration and 
negotiation . Her delegation called on all Members to  engage actively and constructively on the  G-90 
proposals , so as to help to bridge the development gap between  Members.  
20. The representative of Angola  supported the interventions by South Africa, Cameroon , Chad 
and Jamaica. He said that the existing WTO Agreements  were characterized by imbalance s in favo ur 
of developed countries, and had not been able to fully cope with the special needs of certain 
countrie s. Referring to the  mandate in paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration , he stressed the need 
for S&D provisions to be made effective in order to allow these countries to feel the benefits. He 
agree d with those Members that  had expressed the view that negotiations should remain guided by 
the mandates of Ministers , who had ma intained that S&D was  an integral part of all WTO 
Agreements . Furthermore , future multilateral outcomes needed to allow developing countries, and 
in particular LDCs, to respond to their development challenges. The framework for trade reforms 
had to  continue to support economic development needs, including through TA. He believed that an 
open, constructive, and pragmatic dialogue would be the best path forward to achieve positive 
results  in the context of S&D . 
21. The representative of Bangladesh  expressed support for the interventions by South Africa and 
Chad. It was noted that S&D was an  integral part of the Marrak esh Agreement , as well as an agreed 
right of developing countries and LDCs . S&D had the purpose of contributing to the  integrat ion of 
these countries  into world trade , while enhancing their standard of living.  It was  also noted that the 
COVID -19 pandemic had disproportionately affected the trade and standard of living of developing 
countries and LDCs, and these countries were therefore in need of more policy space than before. 
In this context, S&D had become the most needed policy instrument to recover from the present 
crisis, to integrate into the MTS  and to achiev e the SDGs. Bangladesh  wishe d to see a fruitful 
outcome at MC12 , and was willing to engage constructively with other Members  – especially the 
developed partners  – for this purpose .1 
22. The Special Session took note  of all interventions.  
(II) Consolidated Responses on Comments and Questions from Members on the  
G-90 Submission  (JOB/DEV/61)  
23. The representative of South Africa , on behalf of the G -90, thanked Members for submitting 
comments and questions on the G -90 submission contained in document JOB/DEV/60 – JOB/TNC/79 . 
The G -90's responses  to these comments and questions  had been circulated in document 
JOB/DEV/61 . She indicated that her intervention  would identify a few critical issues , which could  
form the  basis for further  discussion.  A first question that ha d come out prominently was whether 
the revised proposals from the G -90 were substantially different. In this regard, she said that the  
starting point of the proposals was the flexibilities that were present in existing agreements . The 
mandate in paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration was to strengthen the existing S&D provisions in 
order to make them more precise, effective  and operational . The needs and challenges of developing 
countries would remai n unless Members  respond ed in a constructive manner. The economic and 
 
1 Due to technical problems, the representative of Bangladesh was unable to deliver this intervention 
remotely, as was intended. The intervention is reflected in the minutes of this meeting at the request of the 
delegation of Bangladesh . TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  social impact of the COVID -19 pandemic  had raised a sense of urgency to address structural 
weaknesses, and to increase the r esilience and sustainability of the economies and the value chains 
of G-90 countries through more diverse production and trade structures. This demonstrated the 
relevance of the ten ASPs. At this critical time, trade and investment had to act as important engines 
of growth, productivity, innovation, job creation, development and poverty reduction . They needed 
to lay the foundation for a global economic recovery that le d to sustainable, bala nced and inclusive 
growth. The G -90 members saw their proposals in that context.  Collective action was required, more 
than ever, to ensure the achievement of the SDGs . The G-90 ha d shown the linkage between its 
proposals and the SDGs. In its 2020 Trade and  Development Report  (TDR) , the United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had warned that the global economy face d a lost 
decade. While the biggest fall in growth rates would be experienced by  developed countries, the 
greatest economic and  social change would be felt in poorer countries . Between 90 and 
120 million people in developing countries would be pushed into extreme poverty , and 
300 million people were expected to face food security challenges. The G -90 proposals were very 
relevant in these circumstances.  
24. She went on to say that the WTO ha d a legal and moral obligation to implement commitments 
that were made under para graph  44 of the Doha Declaration. The impact of the COVID -19 pandemic 
was going to be severe  – particularly for developing countries where fiscal space was limited by 
unsustainable debt, where  monetary policy was restricted by external pressures, and where the 
informal economy was unable t o lift itself out of the crisis. The prioritization of industrialization and 
structural transformation was all the more important. UNCTAD 's 2016 TDR show ed a correlation 
between stalled industrialization  – or premature deindustrialization  – and growing economic and 
social imbalances. Trade rules  could  play an important role in shaping industrial policy, and through 
its proposals , the G -90 ha d succinctly identified the constraints that the WTO need ed to respond to. 
The im plementation of the proposals w ould put developing countries on a sustainable development 
path, and should be an issue of interest to all Members in the context of reviving global demand.  
UNCTAD 's 2020 TDR further highlight ed the balance of payment s challe nges that would  be faced by 
developing countries. Countries that issue d international reserve currencies ha d by their nature more 
fiscal space than the rest of the world , because they were in a position to finance their government 
budget deficits in domest ic currency. The scale of financing required to achieve structural 
transformation and sustainable development within a meaningful timeframe, especially with the 
presence of  COVID -19, mean t that developing countries w ould still have to rely on external financing, 
including external debt. This could quickly worsen a country’s current account balance if the world 
economy was stagnant, and falling commodity prices would  result in a shortage of foreign exchange. 
Developing cou ntries therefore faced more stringent balance  of payments constraint s than 
developed countries, and  there was an urgent need for a multilateral regime that enable d a more 
efficient response to addressing these constraints.  
25. She noted that a  second question  that had  come up was whether the current G-90 proposals 
could form the  basis for a discussion. On this question, she referred Members to the Marrakesh 
Agreement , which  recognize d the need for positive efforts designed to ensure that developing 
countries, a nd especially LDCs, secure d a share of growth in international trade commensurate with 
the needs of their economic development. She said that, t o date, there was no integrated or 
systematic legal framework to accommodate developing countries’ needs in the WTO legal regime. 
Some of the S&D provisions were un implementable, while others were so vague so that they could 
not be  implement ed. Further more, the provisions that ha d some potential to address  the real 
difficulties that developing countries faced were  too onerous to invoke. It was on th is basis that 
Members had  resolved to strengthen S&D provisions and make them more precise, effective and 
operational.  While th ere were 155 S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements , the G -90 had identified 
the critical ones . The G -90 proposal s only tackle d ten provisions to increase the trade opportunities 
of developing countries  and LDCs. These were critical to ensuring that the flex ibility in commitments  
were commensurate with the needs of developing countries . They were also critic al in allowing 
developing countries to use policy instruments , and have access to effective transitional time  
periods , so as  to assist them in achieving their developmental goals. This was in line with the 
mandate in paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration. While the G -90 ha d identif ied a limited  and 
targeted number of S&D provisions that were critical to the integration of developing countr ies in to 
global trade , the full list  of S&D provisions could be brought back , if Members found it helpful . In 
terms of what was new in document JOB/DEV/60 – JOB/TNC/79, she explained that the submission 
introduce d critical linkages between the ten ASPs and the SDGs , and in particular clearly 
demonstrate d how the strengthening of S&D could  provide the impetus for the achievement of the 
SDGs.  TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  26. Another comment that had been made on the G -90 proposals was that the propos als were 
broad -based, and sought exten sive derogations and carve -outs from existing WTO Agreements and 
commitments. On this matter, she wished to emphasize that the updated G -90 proposals provide d 
the rationale for the requested flexibilities , and explained the  challenges being faced  by the 
proponents . The proposals  provide d clear linkages to the SDGs , and indicated the importance of the 
flexibilities sought in integrating developing countries into global trade. The proposals also provide d 
clarity on the procedures or criteria to be used to invoke the flexibilities. They were generally 
time-bound, and ensure d predictability in the application of S&D. She said that , in addition to the  
question of  S&D in on -going negotiations , the WTO also need ed to deliver on the mandate of 
strengthening existing S&D provisions. Many of the elements contained in the G-90 proposals  were 
based on the needs and experience s of the proponents  before and during the COVID -19 period , as 
well as  on the broad recognition – including of various developed Members – of the importance of 
policy space to address strategic autonomy concerns.  She noted that, in document JOB/DEV/61, the 
G-90 had also posed specific questions  in response  to the comments and questions submitted  on 
the G-90 proposals. The G -90 looked forward to receiving written responses to these questions  from 
the concerned Members, as this would help clarify the issues that ha d been raised . In closing, she 
thank ed Members for the ir questions  and constructive suggest ions, and for indicating that they 
remain ed open to further discussions in order to achieve a meaningful outcome on S&D at  MC12. 
She also stressed the importance  of the WTO respon ding to the needs of developing countries at 
this critical time. The G -90 welcomed the suggestion that one or two proposals per session of the 
CTD SS could be identified , so that Members could engage on the substance of these proposals. The 
intention was to submit a proposal for a work plan in this regard, so that Membe rs could  have a 
clear idea on how engage ment in substantive discussions  would take place .  
27. The representative of the European Union  said that her intervention related to both sub -items 
under the present agenda item . She indicated that her delegation had ta ken note of the G -90 
submissions, and wished to repeat the points that had been made several times in past discussions. 
On numerous occasions, the European Union had underlined its support for the differentiated 
treatment of Members  – in particular the LDCs, but also other Members with specific needs. It was 
a priority to ensure precise, effective and operational S&D in order to enable Members to apply the 
WTO Agreements. However, as  had been previously stated , the E uropean Union  was of the opinion 
that continuing the discussion on the basis of the ten proposals by the G -90 would neither lead to 
an outcome, nor  would it  provide the basis for increas ed understanding and cooperation between 
Members. She noted with disappointment that th e current proposals d id not deviate in their essence 
from those submitted in 2017 and 2015, which was rather unfortunate. H er delegation was 
concerned that a discussion on these proposals would  remain entrenched and divisive . She urged 
the G -90 to reconsider its approach , and said that her delegation stood  ready to engage with 
Members on the important issue of S&D.  
28. The representative of Switzerland  thanked the G -90 for the ir document , which  addresse d 
individual non -G-90 Members' questions  on a wi de range of issues. Switzerland ha d a long tradition 
of supporting the integration of developing countries, and in particular LDCs , into the  MTS. On 
numerous occasions, Switzerland had clearly underlined its support for the concept and practice of 
providing differentiated treatment for Members  – especially for the LDCs, but also for other Members , 
in accordance with their capacities to contribute to the MTS. In this regard, Switzerland ha d engaged 
actively on the concern s brought forward by the G -90. It was a priority to ensure precise, effective, 
and operational S&D in the WTO. However, Switzerland had also clearly stated its view that 
continuing discussions in the CTD  SS on the basis of the ten ASPs by the G -90 would neither lead to 
an outcome, nor provide the basis for increasing understanding and cooperation between  Members. 
His delegation  believe d that Members  had exhausted their questions and comments on the 
proposals, and was concerned that the discussions ha d been entrenched and divisive. He also note d 
that the Monitoring Mechanism  on S&D, which  was agreed to by Ministers at the Ninth WTO 
Ministerial Conference ( MC9), was established as a focal point within the WTO designed to analy se 
and review the implementation o f S&D provisions. The work in the Monitoring Mechanism could  lead 
to more productive and specific discussions on the challenges and opportunities of utilizing existing 
S&D provisions. He therefore urge d the G -90 to reconsider its approach. As always, his delegation 
stood  ready to engage with Members on S&D  – which was a common priority , and an essential and 
critical pillar of the WTO.  
29. The representative of the United States  expressed disappointment that the ten ASPs in the 
docume nt remain ed largely unchanged, with the exception of the following paragraphs: 9.6 and 9.7 
of the TRIPS Agreement where the words “developing countries” ha d been removed from the text; TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  and paragraphs 10.2 (a) and (b) on Accession. The position of the Unite d States on these ten ASPs 
was longstanding, well known, and unchanged. The United States  did not support them, and did not 
see any need to discuss them further. Her delegation had exhausted its questions and comments. 
Continuing discussion on these propos als w ould neither lead to an outcome , nor would it  bridge 
fundamental divergences on these issues. She repeat ed her delegation's view that trade rules 
developed to support integration into the global trading system were inherently positive building 
blocks for sustainable development. S&D provisions were intended to be applied narrowly, in order 
to help the poorest and least integrat ed Members to implement WTO rules and thereby integrate 
into the MTS. Her delegation  called on any Member having difficulty availing itself of an existing S&D 
provision in a WTO Agreement to bring its concerns to the Monitoring Mechanism  on S&D . The 
Monito ring Mechanism, as agreed by Ministers at MC9, was established as the focal point within the 
WTO designed to analyse and review the implementation of S&D provisions. She believe d that work 
in the Monitoring Mechanism would lead to a more productive and spe cific discussion on the 
challenges and opportunities of utilizing existing S&D provisions, rather than what ha d occurred to 
date in the CTD SS. 
30. The representative of Japan  said that  her delegation had exhausted its questions and 
comments on the G -90 propos als. This had been stated in Japan's responses  to the G -90 submission.  
Her delegation was  disappointed to see that the G -90 proposal s remained largely unchanged. 
Members had spent hours discussing these proposals in past years, and it was clear that they w ould 
not lead to any outcome. Her delegation  did not believe that  the proposals c ould be a basis for 
further discussion. Japan 's view was that S&D should be granted to Members that genuinely need ed 
such treatment , and to the extent necessary. It was appreciated that developing countries, especially 
the LDCs, face d constraints and difficulties in implement ing WTO obligations. Japan ha d accordingly 
been working together with the developing countries to better integrate t hem into the MTS, and 
would continue to do so. A pragmatic approach in which Members discuss ed individual and specific 
needs was believed to  be an effective way forward. In this context, she noted that the Monitoring 
Mechanism  on S&D was  a focal point wher e Members c ould pick up specific concerns and difficulties 
in implementing WTO Agreements.  
31. The representative of Canada  said that her delegation wa s committed to pursuing an inclusive 
approach to trade , in the recognition that trade policies and agreement s need ed to respond and 
contribute more meaningfully to broader economic, social and environmental policy priorities. Th is 
include d sustainable development. That said, Canada d id not believe that the conversation in the 
CTD SS was helping to reach these objectives. Her delegation had no further questions and 
comments on the ten ASPs,  or on document JOB/DEV/61. She expressed disappoint ment that the 
G-90 proposals , as well as the responses to Members' comments , remain ed mostly unchanged . They 
were not responsive to the discussions that had taken place since 2015, nor d id they address the 
fundamental aspects related to the need for differentiation. Members had engaged in extensive 
discussions on these issues, and the views of her delegation we re clear. Canada recognize d the 
significant economic impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, and remain ed concerned about particular 
challenges faced in this regard by developing Members, and especially the LDCs. However, her 
delegation's assessment of the proposals, especially in this light, remain ed the same. As had been 
previously stated by her delegation , any prospect for progress rest ed on the proponents' willingness 
to consider new approaches, which  recognize d the need to address the fundamental differences in 
positions. This require d the proponents to shift focus. Canada was not suggesting that there were 
no issues that need ed to be addressed , but it was believe d that a new conversation was needed. 
Her delegation would welcome a renewed dialogue on existing issues of capacity, and on maximizing  
the gains from trade for all. She also note d that the Monitoring Mechanism on S&D, agreed to by 
Ministers at MC9 , was est ablished as a focal point within the WTO  designed  to analyse and review 
the implementation of S&D provisions. Her delegation encourage d the proponents to consider 
alternative ways to achiev e their policy objectives  – including by using existing mechanism s in place, 
such as the Monitoring Mechanism. If the proponents were willing to consider th is, a path forward  
would begin to be seen .  
32. The representative of Australia  said that his delegation was  committed to supporting all 
countries’ integration in the global trading system . In this regard, he expressed his delegation's 
commitment  to finding approaches to S&D that reflect ed the challenges and opportunities of the 
modern economy, by assisting th e countries most in  need though  effective and targeted means . He 
indicated that he wished to repeat the view of his delegation that integration into the global trading 
system, including through  the operationalisation of existing S&D provisions, was best achi eved 
through processes of reform and capacity building  – rather  than from the provision of additional TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  flexibilities or exemptions to multilateral trade rules. Australia ha d on many occasions expressed its 
concerns with the G -90 proposals. His delegation ha d engaged in numerous small group discussions, 
informal CTD  SS sessions and other forums, to attempt to find new approaches to S&D  which were 
targeted, appropriate and assist ed the countries most in need. He expressed disappointment that 
the latest submiss ions from the G -90 contai ned no substantive revisions to the previous proposals. 
These proposals ha d been discussed at length, and the views of his delegation and other Members 
were very clear. Australia had  no additional comments, and was concerned that t he discussion ha d 
been entrenched and divisive. Members’ needs clearly differ ed, including on particular issues. 
Therefore, S&D needed to be tailored  and provided  on a needs  basis, thereby enabling Members to 
make commitments commensurate with their capacity to do so. In the absence of new or revised 
proposals from the G -90 which were substantially different in their scope or approach to previous 
proposals submitted, Australia consider ed it difficult to see any way forward in the CTD  SS.  
33. The represen tative of New Zealand  indicated  that he wished to echo some of the sentiments 
expressed by other Members. He said that his delegation support ed an inclusive approach to trade . 
He also expressed the willingness of his delegation to engage on proposals that were targeted and 
proportional , that respond ed to identified  needs , and did not undermine the fundamental principles 
of the MTS. He noted that some delegation s had expressed frustration that the G -90 proposals had 
failed to respond to the feedback that was previously provided . He encourage d further creative 
thinking  in order to address th ese sentiment s. He additionally suggested that exploring ways to 
increase the capacity  of LDCs  could  lead to some fruitful discussions in  the CTD SS . 
34. The representative of South Africa , on behalf of the G -90, said that the mandate in paragraph 
44 of the Doha Declaration had been given to the CTD SS to carry o ut. She was therefore puzzled 
by the suggestion from some delegations to move the discussions to the Monitoring Mechanism on 
S&D. She did not see what  would be monitored in the Monitoring Mechanism , if Members had as yet 
not completed the negotiations under paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration . She also noted that 
some delegations had p ointed to the need for differentiation, and for S&D to be provided on a 
case-by-case basis. In this regard, she said that t here was no mandate in paragraph 44 of the Doha 
Declaration for differentiation or the case-by-case. This was because S&D was an impo rtant principle 
that underpin ned the negotiations and the WTO Agreements . Furthermore, the mandate in 
paragraph 44 was agreed  to by consensus  after many concerns raised by developing countries on 
the challenges they were experiencing in integrating into global trade. She expressed 
disappointment that, in spite of the long history to th ese discussions, some Members  were now 
disregarding the mandate. Turning to the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, she said that it would 
take developing countries 20 or 25 years backwards in terms of developmental progress and in 
achieving the SDGs. The discussion on how to strengthen S&D provisions was therefore  timely,  and 
pointed to the need to respond in a coordinated and cooperative way to address an issue of concern.  
She emphasized the importance of Members engaging constructively to find a balance to the 
discussions, and a meaningful outcome.  Referring to the observation by some delegations that 
discussion s had been exhausted on the G -90 proposals, she  indicated that the G-90 ha d posed some 
specific questions in its submission . Responses to these questions would be critical in f inding  a way 
forward.  The G-90 proposals were meant to serve as a starting point for a discussion , and a way 
forward could then be determined  through th e discussion . She also indicated that there were some 
misunderstanding s on the G -90 proposals , and in this regard stressed that the G -90 was not looking 
for carve -outs. The proposals were time -bound , and were seeking to resolve specific constraints 
faced by developing countries.  In closing, she appealed to Members to engage in substantive 
discussions on the proposals, and indicated that t he G-90 would  put forward a proposal for a work 
plan to take the d iscussions forward .  
35. The representative of Cameroon  said that he agreed with the remarks made by South Africa 
with regard to  the Monitoring Mechanism on S&D.  He did not believe that the work of the Monitoring 
Mechanism and the CTD SS had to be conflictual . The CTD SS was working on the basis of the 
mandate in p aragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration, and his delegation therefore did not see wh y 
some Members wanted the concerns to be discussed in the Monitoring Mechanism  instead. He also 
indicated that, in discussions concerning WTO reform , there was not enough attention being paid to 
development issues. Given the importance of development issues, these needed to be a priority 
when talking about WTO reform. With regard to the work on S&D in  the CTD SS, he ur ged Members 
to engage in substantive discussions to find a solution . One possible way forward in this regard had 
been suggested by Singapore. In closing, he highlighted the importance of a strong MTS that did 
not leave any Member behind. For this to be ach ieved, a more proactive and constructive approach  
to discussions was needed . TN/CTD/M/55  
 
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  36. The representative of the European Union  repeated her delegation's disappointment that the 
G-90 proposals did  not deviate in their essence from those of 2017 and 2015 , which was rather 
unfortunate.  Her delegation was interested in having a detailed explanation of why the proponents 
had not taken into account the multiple comments, suggestions  and concerns that we re expressed 
during detailed and technical discussions on these same proposals, which took place in 2017 and in 
2015.  
37. The representative of the United States  said that she wished to  reiterate the position of her 
delegation on the ten ASPs. She said in par ticular that her delegation could  not agree to any further 
work on the proposals , including in the context of the preparation of a work plan.  
38. The representative of Norway  thanked the G -90 for the consolidated responses to comments 
and questions from Members.  Norway believed  that WTO rights and obligations constitute d a global 
common good. Implementing WTO commitments could  contribute to predictability and transparency, 
thus facilitating inv estments and economic growth. S&D wa s an integral part of the WTO , and 
different development needs had to be adequately addressed to ensure that all Members could reap 
the benefits of trade. This point was emphasized in the document that Norway , with sever al 
co-sponsors , presented to the General Council in May 2019. Norway  agree d with other delegations  
that the discussions in the CTD SS on the basis of the ten ASPs by the G -90 had been exhausted . 
Members needed to find another approach to find the common ground necessary for consensus 
building. T he importance of the development dimension was not be underestimated . The 
development dimension needed to be incorporated pragmatically and efficiently in negotiations of 
both new and improved rules. Although Norway’s priority w ould continue to be the LDCs, it was 
appreciate d that many other Members also ha d serious development challenges. T A and capacity  
building were important components of an enabling approach.  Like other  Members , Norway believe d 
that the Monitoring Mechanism on S&D should be used actively as a tool to explore the challenges 
and opportunities relating to  existing S&D provisions.2 
39. The Chairperson  said that she had taken note of the interventions made,  and of the sentiment s 
of disappointment that w ere expressed  in the intervention s. While  the issues being discussed were 
not new , they would not go away on their own. She therefore encouraged Members to  find pragmatic 
and creative ways to engage in order to find a way forward. Engagement could take place not only 
in meetings convened by the Chairperson, but also in bilateral and small -group meetings  among 
delegations . Even though it appeared that there was not much move ment on the matter, she 
nevertheless believed that  a useful exchange  had taken place . In closing, she said that she would 
need to consider what had been discussed before determining the next steps. She would be in touch 
with Members in that regard.  
40. The Spe cial Session took note  of all interventions.  
D. OTHER BUSINESS  
41. No matter was raised  under "Other Business" . 
42. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
 
__________  
 
2 Due to technical p roblems, the representative of Norway was unable to deliver this intervention remotely, 
as was intended. The intervention is reflected in the minutes of this meeting at the request of the delegation of 
Norway.