G/IT/30  
 
4 May  2021 
(21-3820) Page: 1/2 
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in 
Information Technology Products    
 
 
ITA WORKSHOP  –AGREED  PROGRAMME1 
THURSDAY, 16  SEPTEMBER  2021 
The 2021  ITA Workshop will provide an opportunity for the Participants to the ITA  Committee to 
meet with the private sector and ICT  industry representatives in order:  
 
(i) to examine trade liberalization under the ITA and the latest developments in the 
ICT sector (e.g.  new technologies and global supply chains) and how trade in 
ITA products has contributed to governments' efforts to combat the 
COVID -19 pandemic;  
 
(ii) to share experiences and examine how ICT, as a development tool, has brought about 
socio-economic benefits, opportunities, and challenges, including the relationship to the 
digitalization of the global economy;  
 
(iii) to discuss the future of the ITA, including pro spects and challenges for further expansion 
of trade in ICT  products and participation in the agreement and possible future work on 
non-tariff barriers (NTBs).  
 
The views expressed during the Workshop shall be without prejudice to ITA  Participants' positio ns 
on any WTO -related matters.  
 
Note: The following list of presentation topics is tentative and indicative , although it was drawn 
up based upon the suggestions made by Participants thus far. Any further comments or 
suggestions on this programme are welcomed.  
 
_______________  
 
 
OPENING OF THE WORKSHOP  
 
10:00   Opening Remarks  
 
SESSION  I: Overview of the ITA and latest developments in the ICT  sector  
 
10:15 – 
11:30  Three or four  presentations (10 -15 minutes each) followed by a Q&A  session 
(15 minutes)  
 
• Examples of presentation topics that could be discussed in this session:  
 
➢ The role played by trade in ITA  products, and ICT and digital solutions in 
governments' efforts to combat the COVID -19 pandemic;  
➢ Trade liberalization under the ITA and the evolution of global trade in 
ICT products;  
➢ Latest advances in technologies and ICT  products;  
➢ Regional trends in ICT  trade and best practices.  
 
1 The programme was agreed by the Committee at its meeting of 15  April 2021. This current document, 
issued for the purposes of a wider circulation, replicates document  JOB/IT/27, dated 7  April 2021.  G/IT/30  
 
- 2 - 
 
   
SESSION  II: The role of ICT as an economic development tool  
 
11:30 – 
13:00  Three or four  presentations (10 to 15  minutes ea ch) followed by a Q&A  session 
(15 minutes)  
 
• Examples of presentation topics that could be discussed in this session:  
 
➢ Benefits and challenges of ITA  membership across the domestic economy, 
which can include quantitative analysis;  
➢ How ICT can contribute to development and the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs), including empowerment of MSMEs;  
➢ ICT challenges, solutions, and opportunities in the digitalization of the 
global economy;  
➢ How ITA  participation can support integration into the digital economy.  
 
==================== LUNCH BREAK =====================  
 
SESSION  III: The future of the ITA  
 
15:00 –  
17:00   Four to five  presentations (10 to 15  minutes each) followed by a panel discussion 
including a Q&A  session (about 45 to 60  minutes in total). Examples of presentations 
and topics for discussion include:  
 
➢ Prospects for, and challenges to, a further expansion of trade in 
ICT products;  
➢ Prospects for, and challenges to, a further expansion of participants of the 
agreement;  
➢ Non-tariff barriers (NTBs)  and opportunities for identification of regulatory 
best practices in the area of ICT  products, including in the (possible) areas 
of product safety, energy efficiency, cybersecurity and e -labelling;  
➢ Regional initiatives to facilitate trade in ICT  products;  
➢ Conformity assessment procedures for ICT  products and the role of the 
international system in the recognition of test results/mutual recognition.  
 
CLOSING SESSION  
 
The facilitator(s) will provide a summary of the Workshop. Participants will then have an opportunity 
for final discussion and to provide any last comments and feedback.  
 
17:30             =================== END OF WORKSHOP  ==================  
 
Operational Details of the Workshop : To be announced.  
 
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