RESTRICTED  
  
WT/INF/223  
 
20 January 2020  
(20-0526) Page: 1/6 
    
 
 
DISCLOSURE CIRCULAR NO. 1 
RECORDS PROPOSED FOR  PUBLIC ACCESS  
In accordance with the procedures adopted by the General Council1, the records listed below are 
proposed for public access.  
 
Members will have three  months as of the publication date of this disclosure circular to request the 
removal of an item from the Disclosure Circular.  Items so removed will be labelled confidential for a 
period of three years.  Thereafter , they will be included in a new Disclosure Circula r for consideration 
by Members, following the same procedure.  This procedure may be repeated indefinitely until no 
Member objects to the disclosure of the records  in question.  
 
During the three -month review period, Members who wish to consult records propo sed for public 
access should contact the Records and Archives Management Section ( central.repository@wto.org ) 
who will arrange consultation in the Secretariat.  
 
Following disclosure, th is Disclosure Circula r and the annexed list of records agreed for public access 
by Members  will be made available on the WTO website . 
 
Disclosed GATT non -official materials  will be available for consultation  in the Secretariat, by 
appointment only, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00  to 17:00 . Requests for 
consultation and other enquiries should be addressed to the Records and Archives Management 
Section ( central.repos itory@wto.org ).
                                                
1 WT/GC/200  "General Council – Annual Report (2018)"; WT/BFA/176 "Report of the meeting held on 
13 November 2018"; and WT/BFA/W/463  "GATT Archive Materials – Proposal for public access".   
  WT/INF/223  
 
- 2 - ANNEX 1 – RECORDS PR OPOSED FOR PUBLIC AC CESS1 
Reference code  Level  Title Creation 
dates  Information on context and content  
WTOA.UNCTE  Fonds  United Nations 
Conference On Trade 
And Employment 
(Havana)  1945-1949 The Preparatory Committee for an International Conference on Trade and Employment was 
created by a resolution in the First Session of the Economic and Social Council on 18  February 
1946. It held three main preparatory sessions: the First Session in London,  from October 1946 
to November 1946, an interim Session of its Drafting Committee for the Havana Charter and 
the GATT in Lake Success, from 20  January to 25  February 1947, and the Second Session in 
Geneva, from April to November 1947, in which the GATT was  finalized. It consisted of a 
General Committee, a Drafting Committee and the following principal sub -committees: the 
First Committee on Employment and Economic Activity, the Second Committee on Economic 
Development, the Third Committee on Commercial Polic y, the Fourth Committee on Restrictive 
Business Practices, the Fifth Committee on Intern -Governmental Commodity Arrangements, 
the Sixth Committee on Organization and the Coordinating Committee. The Preparatory 
Committee was dissolved after Havana.  
This fon ds is composed of five sub -fonds: (1) International Trade Secretariat; (2) First Session 
of the Preparatory Committee; (3) Session of the Drafting Committee for the Draft Agreement 
on Tariffs and Trade (Lake Success); (4) Second Session of the Preparatory Committee 
(Geneva) ; and (5) International Conference on Trade and Employment (Havana).  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -1 Sub-fonds  First Session of the 
Preparatory Committee 
(London)  1945-1947 The First Session of the Preparatory Committee was held in London on 15 October 1946 and 
lasted until 26 November 1946. In this First Session, the first ideas and problems posed by an 
international trade organization charter are found. The central issue in London was the United 
States' proposal to outlaw quantitative restricti ons, allowing them only in exceptional cases. 
The principle was generally accepted. Further issues discussed were full employment, 
restrictions on imports, foreign investment and balance of payments. On commodities, the 
main issue was the effort of the FAO  to separate agricultural from other commodities.  
This sub -fonds is composed of two series: (1) Substantive files ; and (2) Administration files.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -1.1 Series  Substantive files  1945-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General Pre -Conference; (2) General during 
Session; (3) Cabled reports; (4) Committee I – Employment; (5) Committee III – Cartels; 
(6) Commodities – Rubber; (7) Commodities – Sugar; (8) Commodities – Tea; 
(9) Commodities – Tin; (10) Commodities – Wool; (11) Governmental observers; 
(12) Specialized agencies and non -governmental observers; (13) International Chamber of 
Commerce; (14) Rules of procedure – Agenda ; and (15) Press Clippings.  
                                                
1 As per WT/BFA/W/463  "GATT Archive Materials - Proposal for public access", rec ords comprised within this list that include staff records, financial records and files, such as 
inter alia  certain accession, dispute settlement and negotiating records as well as legal instruments , that if divulged might injure reputation, affect privacy  or endanger safety will 
remain classified indefinitely.   
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- 3 - Reference code  Level  Title Creation 
dates  Information on context and content  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -1.2 Series  Administration files  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General Pre -Conference arrangements; 
(2) Invitations and lists of delegates; (3) General Administration during Session; (4) Budget; 
(5) Documents Service ; and (6) Personnel – Travel and overtime during Session . 
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -2 Sub-fonds  Session of the Drafting 
Committee for the Draft 
Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade 
(Lake  Success)  1946-1947 This sub -fonds is composed of two series: (1) Substantive files ; and (2) Administration files.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -2.1 Series  Substantive files  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) Substantive; (2) Secretariat draft of 
Final Report; (3) Working papers and drafts ; and (4) Specialized agencies, International Court, 
other organizations and observers.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -2.2 Series  Administration files  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General Administration arrangements; 
(2) Invitations and lists of delegates; (3) Document  reproduction and distribution ; and 
(4) Commodities.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3 Sub-fonds  Second Session of the 
Preparatory Committee 
(Geneva)  1946-1947 The Second Session of the Preparatory Committee took place in Geneva from April to November 
1947. During this Session, members of the Preparatory Committee had two tasks before them: 
(1) to work out a draft charter for consideration and decision by the Hav ana Conference ; and 
(2) to organize the tariff negotiations and to revise the Draft  Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. 
The Tariff negotiations started in April 1947 and on 30  October of the same year, the 
GATT  1947 was signed by the contracting parties of 23  countries. In view of the 
rearrangements to be made, if and when the Havana Charter was ratified, the signatories 
applied the Agreement under a special Protocol of Provisional Application.  
This sub -fonds is composed of three series: (1) Charter ; (2) Tariff s; and (3) Administration 
files. 
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.1 Series  Charter  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General substantive matters; (2) Agenda, 
rules of procedure; (3) Chapters I, II, VIII – Organization; (4) Chapter III – Emplo yment; 
(5) Chapter IV – Economic Development; (6) Chapter V – General Commercial Policy; 
(7) Chapter VI – Restrictive Business Practices; (8) Chapter VII – Commodities ; and 
(9) Statistical Services.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.2 Series  Tariffs  1947-1947 This series is composed of the following sub -series and files: (1) General substantive matters; 
(2) GATT 1947; (3) Tariff Agreement Committee; (4) Tariff Negotiations Working Party; 
(5) Interim Trade Committee; (6) Statistical Services tariffs ; and (7) Distribution of tariffs 
documentation.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.2 Series  GATT 1947  1947-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) General; (2) Signature and entry into 
force; (3) Effects on pre -existing bilateral treaties ; and (4) Amendments.   
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- 4 - Reference code  Level  Title Creation 
dates  Information on context and content  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.2 Series  Tariff Negotiations 
Working Party  1947-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) General ; (2) Working papers, drafts, 
reports 1 ; and (3) Working papers, drafts, reports 2.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.3 Series  Administration files  1946-1948 This series is composed of the following sub -series: (1) General arrangements; (2) Press 
releases ; and (3) Technical conference arrangements.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.3 Series  General arrangements  1947-1948 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) GATT 1947 - General arrangements; 
(2) GATT 1947 – Printing arrangements and others for signing in New York ; and (3) GATT 1947 
– Public information.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.3 Series  Press releases  1946-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) Public Information – General 
arrangements; (2) Press Releases 1; (3) Press Releases 2; (4) Press Releases 3; 
(5) Department of Public Information ; and (6) Press cables and releases – Geneva Conference.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -3.3 Series  Technical conference 
arrangements  1946-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) Consultative Committee with 
non-governmental organizations; (2) Document distribution from New York – (a) First Session 
(b) Second Session (c) Drafting Committee (d) Spanish; (3) Document distribution to 
delegations; (4) Document Service; (5) General Pre -conference arrangements; (6) Invitations 
and lists of delegates; (7) Accommodation, hotel; (8) Budget; (9) General; (10) Geneva office 
arrangements; (11) Hospitality; (12) Office space for delegations; (13) Salary, per diem, other 
financial matters of the Secretariat; (14) Secretariat arrangements; (15) Technical Confere nce 
arrangements; (16) Non -United Nations and other organizations; (17) Observers of members 
of United Nations; (18) Observers of non -governmental organizations; (19) Observers of 
specialized agencies; (20) Requests for documents and reports other than del egations ; and 
(21) Technical Pre -conference arrangements.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4 Sub-fonds  International 
Conference on Trade 
and Employment 
(Havana)  1947-1949 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment was held in Havana from 
21 November 1947 to 24 March 1948. The preparations for the Conference lasted 
approximately two years. The purpose was to create a Charter that would lead to the creation 
of an I nternational Trade Organization. A resolution at the Economic and Social Council in 
February 1946 created the Preparatory Committee for the Conference, consisting of multiple 
committees and sub -committees, dealing with the administrative, technical and sub stantive 
aspects of the Conference's organization. Before Havana, the Preparatory Committee held 
three preparatory sessions: the First Session in London in October –November 1946, an interim 
Session of its Drafting Committee for the preparation of the GATT text in Lake Success in 
January – February 1947, and the Second Session in Geneva in April -November 1947, where 
the GATT was finalized. In January 1948, the Nations participating in the preparations signed 
the GATT.  
This sub -fonds is composed of three seri es: (1) Charter ; (2) Public information ; and 
(3) Administration files.   
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- 5 - Reference code  Level  Title Creation 
dates  Information on context and content  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.1 Series  Charter  1947-1949 This series is composed of the following files: (1) Substance; (2) Preparation of text and 
Final Act for signature; (3) Statistical Service s; (4) Agenda items; (5) Rules of procedure; 
(6) Chapters I, VII, VIII, IX – Organization; (7) Chapter II – Employment; (8) Chapter III – 
Economic Development; (9) Chapter IV – General Commercial Policy; (10) Chapter V – 
Restrictive Business Practices; (11) Chapter VI – Commodities; (12) Central Drafting 
Committee; (13) General Committee and Coordinating Committee ; and (14) Economic and 
Social Council matters (during World Conference).  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.2 Series  Public information  1947-1948 This series is composed of the following files: (1) Press arrangements ; and (2) Press releases.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.3 Series  Administration files  1947-1948 This series is composed of the following sub -series: (1) Administrative arrangements; 
(2) Delegates and observers; (3) Documents ; and (4) Invitations.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.3 Series  Administrative 
arrangements  1947-1948 This sub -series is composed of the foll owing files: (1) Budget; (2) Hotel accommodation; 
(3) Office space; (4) Pre -Conference; (5) Staff ; and (6) Staff – Secretariat arrangements.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.3 Series  Delegates and observers  1947-1948 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) Nations; (2) Non -governmental 
organizations; (3) Non -United Nations and other organizations ; and (4) Specialized Agencies.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.3 Series  Documents  1947-1948 This sub -series is composed o f the following files: (1) General; (2) Arrangements for printing 
Charter ; and (3) Requests for reports of Havana Conference.  
WTOA.UNCTE.CONF -4.3 Series  Invitations  1947-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) Arrangements; (2) Replies from 
non-governmental organizations; (3) Replies from non -members; (4) Replies from the 
members of the United Nations ; and (5) Texts.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS  Sub-fonds  International Trade 
Secretariat  1946-1948 The constitution of GATT was incidental and resulted from the failure of the establishment of 
the ITO. During the two World Wars , world leaders reached  a consensus that international 
economic cooperation was fundamental to the peace and prosperity of the world. For this 
reason, the establishment of three international organizations was envisaged. These were the 
ITO, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for Reconstruction and 
Development. The creation of the ITO drew enthusiasm from the major world trading nations. 
The plan for the establishment of the ITO can be traced back to the creation of the 
United  Nations Economic and Social Council  (ECOSOC) in February 1946. At its first meeting, 
the ECOSOC adopted a resolution calling for a conference to draft a charter for an international 
trade organization. A  preparatory committee was formed. It met three times between 1946 
and 1948.  
This sub -fonds is composed of eight series: (1) Administration files; (2) Commodities; 
(3) Commercial policy; (4) Economic and Social Council; (5) Economic Department matters; 
(6) Economic Development; (7) Employment ; and (8) Restrictive Business Practices.   
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- 6 - Reference code  Level  Title Creation 
dates  Information on context and content  
WTOA.UNCT E.ITS.1  Series  Administration files  1946-1948 This series is composed of the following sub -series and files: (1) Organizational structure of 
Division; (2) Progress report on work of Division; (3) Annual leave; (4) Time sheets of 
personnel; (5) Travel arrangements; (6) Personnel – Travel – Shipments; (7) Budget, manning 
table of division ; and (8) General administrative matters.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.1.1  Series  Time sheets of 
personnel  1947-1948 This sub -series is compos ed of the following files: (1) Attendance of New York staff and 
overtime; and ( 2) Attendance of Geneva staff and overtime.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.2  Series  Commercial policy  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following sub -series and files: (1) Arbitration; (2) Patents; 
(3) Peace Treaties; (4) Anglo -Argentine Trade Agreement; (5) British loan; (6) Chile-Argentine 
Customs Union Agreement ; and (7) Swedish -Russian Trade Agreement.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.2.1  Series  Peace Treaties  1946-1947 This sub -series is composed of the following files: (1) Provisions relating to economic affairs 
and international trade ; and (2) Clippings.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.3  Series  Commodities  1947-1947 This series is composed of the following file: Interim Coordinating Committee for International 
Commodity arrangements.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.4  Series  Economic and Social 
Council  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General; (2) International Trade Organization 
matters; (3) Verbatim reports of 7th, 8th, 9th and 13th meeting, February  1946; (4) Resolutions ; 
and (5) United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.5  Series  Economic Department 
matters  1947-1948 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General; (2) Economic Commission for 
Europe; (3) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ; and (4) Economic 
Commission for Latin America.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.6  Series  Economic Development  1946-1946 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General ; and (2) Sub -Commission on 
Reconstruction of Devastated Areas.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.7  Series  Employment  1947-1947 This series is composed of the following files: (1) General ; and (2) Economic and Employment 
Commission.  
WTOA.UNCTE.ITS.8  Series  Restrictive Business 
Practices  1946-1947 This series is composed of the following file: General – Cartels.  
 
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