RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/383  
 
22 February 2016  
(16-1083)  Page: 1/8  
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration    
 
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS 
1  INTRODUCTION 1.1.  This memorandum summarizes the situatio n with respect to Members' and Observers' 
contributions as at 31 December 2015. It also provides information and recommendations 
regarding the situation of Members and Observ ers subject to Administrative Measures and 
Members following a payment plan as at 15 February 2016. 
2  MEMBERS CONTRIBUTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 
2.1.  The WTO received a total amount of 191.1 MCHF from Members in 2015.  Figure 1 Total annual receipt (in MCHF) 
182.5190.3 192.0196.4198.8 198.3
191.1
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
 
Table 1 Members' contributions received in 2015 
Receipt per contribution year MCHF 
2015 contributions representing 92% of assessed contributions 179.8 
2014 outstanding contributions 9.8 
Prior to 2014 contributions 1.5 
Total 191.1 
 
2.2.  The outstanding Members' contributions amo unt to 23.7 MCHF at the end of 2015; increasing 
by 23% compared to one year ago.  WT/BFA/W/383 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Figure 2 Members' outstanding cont ributions at year-end (in MCHF) 
26.8
24.631.5 31.3 31.0
27.6
25.3 25.4 25.9
23.725.925.1
22.0
19.323.7
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
 
 
 
 Two new Members acceded to WTO in 2015: Kazakhstan and Seychelles; 
 106 Members have no outstanding balance at 31 December 2015 (65% of Members); 
 56 Members have outstanding balances amounting to a total of 23.7 MCHF. 
 
3  OBSERVERS CONTRIBUTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 
3.1.  The WTO received a total amount of CHF 578,032 from Observers in 2015. 
Table 2 Observers' contributions received in 2015 
Receipt per contribution year CHF 
(in thousands) 
2015 contributions representing 69% of assessed contributions  487 
2014 outstanding contributions 91 
Prior to 2014 contributions 0 
Total 578 
 
3.2.  The outstanding Observers' contributions amount to CHF 590,452 at the end of 2015; an 
increase of 13% compared to one year ago. WT/BFA/W/383 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Figure 3 Observers' outstanding co ntributions at year-end (in MCHF) 
0.550.580.670.83 0.840.891.131.24
1.041.16
1.07
0.98
0.560.520.59
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 
 
 
 13 Observers have no outstanding balance at 31 December 2015 (59% of Observers); 
 Nine Observers have outstanding balances amounting to a total of CHF 590,452; 
 Sao Tomé and Principe is an Inactive Observer  since 2013, therefore its annual contribution 
was suspended. 
4  MEMBERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 4.1.  Twelve Members were subject to Administrative Measures as at 31 December 2015 for a total 
amount outstanding of 4.6 MCHF representing 19% of the total amount outstanding.  
Table 3 Members under Administrative  Measures as at 31 December 2015 
Cat. I (8) Cat. II (0) Cat. III (4) 
Grenada  Central African Republic* 
Malawi  Dominica 
Rwanda  Guinea-Bissau 
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  Mauritania 
Suriname   
The former Yugoslav Republic 
of Macedonia   
Vanuatu   
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic 
of    
* Members not compliant with payment plan terms as th eir part of their agreed 2015 contribution to their 
payment plan is still outstanding.  WT/BFA/W/383 
 
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  Figure 4 Evolution of Members subject to  Administrative Measures (1995-2015) 
9.512.3 12.2 12.513.412.814.313.817.1 16.8
14.2
12.813.3 13.6 13.4
7.5
5.6
3.52.33.34.62627
25 252423242830
28
20192122
19
11
9
610912
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total Outstanding  for Members  subject to Administrative  Measures  in MCHF
Number of Members  subject to Administrative  Measures
 
 
5  OBSERVERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 
5.1.  Four Observers were subject to Administrative Measures as at 31 December 2015 for a total 
amount outstanding of CHF 513,208 representing 87% of the total amount outstanding. 
Table 4 Observers under Administrative  Measures as at 31 December 2015 
Cat. I (3) Cat. II (0) Cat. III (1) 
Equatorial Guinea  Sao Tomé and Principe 
Libya   
Sudan    
 
6  MEMBERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 15 FEBRUARY 2016 
6.1.  At the start of every year, the list of Members subject to Administrative Measures is updated 
with the annual assessed contributions.  
6.2.  27 Members (17% of Members) are subject to Administrative Measures as at 
15 February 2016 with a total amount outstanding of 10.7 MCHF including 2016 contributions: 
 Two Members who acceded to WTO in the last five years (Yemen in Category I and 
Vanuatu in Category II); 
 One Member whose payment plan was cancelled (Central African Republic in 
Category III); 
 Five Members who did not comply with their payment plans as they have an outstanding 
amount due for 2015 and, are therefore ba ck to Category III (Chad, Djibouti, 
The Gambia, Niger and Sierra Leone). WT/BFA/W/383 
 
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  Table 5 Members under Administrative Measures as at 15 February 2016 
Cat. I (12) Cat. II (7) Cat. III (8) 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of Dominica Central African Republic 
Cabo Verde Grenada Chad* 
Cameroon Malawi Djibouti* 
Congo Rwanda The Gambia* 
Dominican Republic Suriname Guinea-Bissau 
Ecuador Vanuatu Mauritania 
Ghana Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic 
of Niger* 
Madagascar  Sierra Leone* 
Maldives   
Paraguay   
Yemen   
Zambia   
* Members not compliant with payment plan terms. 
 
6.3.  In February 2016, the Director-General wrote to Ministers of all Members subject to 
Administrative Measures. 
7  OBSERVERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 15 FEBRUARY 2016 
7.1.  At the start of every year, the list of Observ ers subject to Administrative Measures is updated 
with the annual assessed contributions. 
7.2.  Five Observers (23% of Observers) are subject to Administrative Measures as at 
15 February 2016 with a total amount outstanding of CHF 689,194 including 2016 contributions. 
Table 6 Observers under Administrative Measures as at 15 February 2016 
Cat. I (1) Cat. II (3) Cat. III (1) 
Afghanistan Equatorial Guinea Sao Tomé and Principe 
 Libya  
 Sudan  
 
7.3.  In February 2016, the Director-General wr ote to Ministers of all Observers subject to 
Administrative Measures. 
8  MEMBERS SUBJECT TO PAYMENT PLANS 
8.1.  The General Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Members in 
Category III which agree to, and abide by, a defined schedule of instalment payments aimed at liquidating all arrears. 
8.2.  The General Council had approved payment plans for 13 Members in the last seven years. 
Four Members settled their payment plans in anticipation in the last five years: Gabon (in 2012), Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo (in 2013) and, Togo (in 2015).  
8.3.  Central African Republic has not complied with the payment plan since 2013. As the terms 
were not complied with for a period of three years, its payment plan was cancelled as at 
1
st January 2016. 
8.4.  The seven remaining Members following a payment plan have total arrears amounting to 
3.5 MCHF at the end of 2015.  
 WT/BFA/W/383 
 
- 6 - 
 
  Figure 5 Evolution of Members subj ect to payment plans (2009-2015) 
4.76.97.4
5.2
3.83.5
171012
9
8
7
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Amount Outstanding  on Payment Plan in MCHF
Number of Members  on Payment Plan
 
 
9  RECOMMENDATIONS 
9.1.  The Committee invites the General Council to urge Members and Observers under 
Administrative Measures to liquidate their arrears.  
_______________ 
 
 WT/BFA/W/383 
 
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  ANNEX 1 
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS IN ARREARS 
 
Category Administrative Measures 
I After one but less than two full year's  assessed contributions remain outstanding at 
the end of the year: 
1. Representatives of Members will not be nominated to preside over WTO bodies  
2. Documentation will not be posted to delegations in Geneva nor to the Members' 
and Observers' capitals. 
3. At the beginning of each year, the Direct or-General will notify the Ministers of 
the Members and Observers responsible for the WTO of the applicable administrative measures. 
4. The Director-General will contact annually the Minister of the Members' and 
Observers' responsible for the WTO, or any other official at the appropriate 
level emphasizing the question of arrears. 
5. The Secretariat will report annually to the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration on the implementation of administrative measures. 
6. Members and Observers will be subject to specific reporting  at the General 
Council meetings.
1 
II After two but less than three full year's  assessed contributions remain outstanding 
at the end of the year, in addition to the measures of Category I: 
1. The access of the WTO Members' web site will be discontinued.2 
2. The ability of Members to act on the recommendations by the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration to the General Council on financial matters 
will be removed. 
3. Observers will be denied access to training or technical assistance. 
4. The Chairs of the accession working group of Observers will remind the 
delegation of Observers, during their wo rking group meeting, of their financial 
obligations. 
III After three full year's  assessed contributions remain outstanding at the end of the 
year, in addition to the measures of Categories I and II: 
1. Members and Observers will be designated as Inactive Members and Inactive 
Observers, respectively. 
2. Inactive Members will be denied access to  training or technical assistance other 
than that necessary to meet their WTO Article XIV-2 obligations. 
3. The accession working groups do not meet either formally or informally.  
WTO will suspend its request for annual contributions from Inactive Observers.  
Request for annual contributions will resume the year the Observers are not 
anymore designated as Inactive.3 
4. Inactive Members and Observers taking th e floor in the General Council will be 
identified as such. 
 
                                               
1 See General Council procedures.  
2 Applicable to Members and Observer s. Under current policy, Observer s have a differentiated access to 
documents posted on the Members' Website.  
3 To be enforced starting 1 January 2013.  WT/BFA/W/383 
 
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GENERAL COUNCIL PROCEDURES FOR MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS 
SUBJECT TO ADMINIST RATIVE MEASURES 
 
 
At the beginning of each calendar year,  the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration will notify to the General Council the list of Members and Observers under 
Administrative Measures, with a recommendation that these Members and Observers be urged to 
liquidate their arrears.  
At the end of each meeting of the General Council , the Chairman of the Committee 
on Budget, Finance and Administration will provide information with regard to which Members and 
Observers are under Administrative Measures. The Chairman of the General Council will request Members and Observers in Categories II and III to inform the Secretariat as to when the payment 
of arrears may be expected. 
 
Each year  the Director General will report on the results of his contacts with Members’ 
and Observers’ authorities on the issue of arrears. 
  
* * * * * * * 
 
 
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES  
FOR INACTIVE MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS
4 
 
 
The General Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Members 
in Category III which agree to, and abide by, a de fined schedule of instalment payments aimed at 
liquidating all arrears.5 
 
Those Members with pre-1988 arrears that were assessed at the minimum contribution 
may benefit from a reduction in those arrears to the level of the 1989 minimum contribution. For each full payment of an annual contribution between 1988 and 1994, any contracting party with 
pre-1988 arrears may cancel an equal number of assessments for 1987 and earlier years upon 
payment of the 1989 minimum contribution amou nting to CHF 19,137. The difference between a 
pre-1988 assessment and the payment of CHF 19, 137 would be funded by the Miscellaneous 
Income of the WTO.
6 
 
The General Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Observers 
that are in Category III on 1 January 2013, which agree to, and abide by, a defined schedule of 
installment payments aimed at liquidating all arrears.  
  
__________  
  
                                               
4 Notwithstanding the WTO Financial Regulations (WT/L/156/Rev 2). 
5 Amend earlier decisions of the General Council in 1988 (C/M/226) and 1994 (C/M/273) to reflect the 
reduced number of categories. 
6 As approved by the General Council in 1994 (C/M/273).