RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W /418 
9 May 2017 
(17-2488) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administr ation   
 
  WTO BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORT – 1st QUARTER 201 7 
1  CONTRIBUTIONS FROM M EMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
1.1.  The receipts of contributions from Members as at the end of March 201 7 are slightly lower  
than the receipts in March 201 6. At the end of the first quarter of 2017, 35% of the Members have 
no outstanding balance. With respect to the assessed amount of CHF 195  million, 50% has been 
received.  
Figure 1 Total Annual Receipts in MCHF as at 31 March  2017 
 
 
1.2.  The receipts of contributions for the 1st quarter of 201 7 from Observers amounted to 
CHF 204,932 representing 32% of the assessed amount. Only 27% of the Observers have no 
outstanding balance.  
Table 1 Status of contributions as at 31 March  2017 (in CHF)  
CONTRIBUTIONS  
  164 M embers  22 Observers  
Total net assessment for 2017    195,500,000    645,150  
Payment received for 2017 (% of total assessment)  (50%)  96,966,612  (32%)  204,932  
Payment received for prior years    3,515,571    91,761  
No outstanding balance (% of total)  (35%)  58 (27%)  6 
 
2  CASH SITUATION  
2.1.  The cash situation at the end of March  2017 is satisfactory and slightly above  the level of 
March  2016. This is mainly due to  a high level of contributions received at the beginning of the 
year and a slightly lower expenditure r ate for the first three months of 2017 compared to  the first 
quarter of 2016.  WT/B FA/W/41 8  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Figure 2 Cash Situation as at 31 March  2017 
 
 
3  MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES  
3.1.  On 1st of January  2013, the new Administrative Measure s have been introduced, reducing the 
number of categories from four to three . Members in Category III (three or more full years of 
outstanding contributions) are since then  considered inactive . 
3.2.  At the end of the first quarter 201 7, nineteen  Members are sub ject to  Category I (more than 
one, but less than two years outstanding) of the new Administrative Measures, one Member is 
subject to Category II (more than two, but less than three years outstanding) and ten Members 
are subject to Category  III (from three  years outstanding = Inactive) .  
Table 2 Members under Administrative Measures as at 31 March  2017 
Cat. I (19)  Cat. II (1)  Cat. III (10)  
Afghanistan  Cameroon  Burundi*  
Antigua and Barbuda    Central African Republic  
Benin    Djibouti * 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of    Dominica  
Democratic Republic of the Congo    Guinea -Bissau  
El Salvador    Mauritania  
Grenada    Niger*  
Guinea    Sierra Leone*  
Lesotho    Suriname  
Malawi    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  
Mozambique      
Papua New G uinea      
Paraguay      
Rwanda      
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines      
Solomon Islands      
Swaziland      
Uganda      
Vanuatu      
*  Members not compliant with Payment Plan terms.  
 
3.3.  At the end of March 201 7, one Observer is subject to Category I of the Administrative 
Measures , and two Observer s are subject to Category III .  
 WT/BFA/W/41 8 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Table 3 Observers under Administrative Measures as at 31 March  2017 
Cat. I (1)  Cat. II (0)  Cat. III (2)  
Uzbekistan    Libya 
    Sao Tomé and Principe  
 
3.4.  As at the end of March  2017, three  Members are subject to a Payment Plan , as shown in the 
table below:  
Table 4 Members following a Payment Plan as at 31  March 201 7 (in CHF)  
Member  Plan 
duration  
in years  End of plan  Last payment  
receive d Amount 
Outstanding  
for 2017  Total 
Outstanding 
Contributions  
Chad 15 31/12/2026  31-May-16 122,516  820,479  
Côte d'Ivoire  10 31/12/2019  03-Feb-17 188,428  374,274  
The Gambia  10 31/12/2019  23-Mar-17 52,599  192,265  
Total        363,543  1,387,018  
 
3.5.  The four Members listed  in the table below are not compliant with their Payment Plan terms.   
Table 5 Members not compliant with Payment Plan  and therefore back to 
Category  III (Inactive)  as at 31 March  2017 (in CHF)  
Member  Plan 
duration  
in years End of 
plan Last 
payment  
received  Amount 
Outstan - 
ding 
for 2015  Amount 
Outstan - 
ding 
for 2016  Amount 
Outstan - 
ding 
for 2017  Total 
Outstanding 
Contributions  
Burundi  20 31/12/2030  18-Apr-13  -  40,367  65,785  580,139  
Djibouti  10 31/12/2019  09-Dec-15 31,070 76,217  76,217  277,293  
Niger  15 31/12/2024  10-Feb-15 55,065  76,315  76,315  536,575  
Sierra 
Leone  15 31/12/2025  30-Nov-16  -  29,324  93,866  639,521  
Total        86,135  222,223  312,183  2,033,528  
 
4  2017 BUDGETARY EXPENDITUR E 
Table 6 Consolidated Statement of Budgetary Expenditure  as at 31 March  2017  
(in kCHF)  
Part Section  Budget  Expenditure 
and 
Commitments  Balance  % of 
Expenditure  
A Staffing 
Resources  1. Staff Expenditure  131,415  28,757  102,659  22% 
  2. Temporary Assistance  17,28 9 7,546  9,743  44% 
A Staffing Resources Total  148,705  36,303  112,402  24%  
B Other 
Resources  3. General Services  15,330  12,419  2,911  81% 
  4. Travel & Hospitality  7,351  3,114  4,237  42% 
  5. Implementing Partners  213 127 86 59% 
  6. Capital Expenditure  2,350 586 1,764  25% 
  7. Financial Expenditure  1,280  77 1,203  6% 
B Other Resources Total  26,524  16,323  10,201  62%  
C Operating 
Funds and ITC  8. Contributions to ITC & 
Special Reserves  21,975  7,894  14,082  36% 
C Operating Funds and ITC Total  21,975  7,894  14,082 36%  
Grand Total    197,204  60,520  136,684  31%  
4.1.  The expenditure as at 31st March 2017 is on track with an overall expenditure rate of 31% or 
CHF 61 million.  WT/B FA/W/41 8  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Part A - Staffing Resources  
4.2.  Part A of the budget comprises expenditure for regular staff relat ed to salary, pension, health 
insurance, death and invalidity insurance, staff benefits and expenditure related to  travel, removal 
and installation. It also includes expenditure related to short term staff, consultants, panellists and 
Appellate Body Member  fees. 
4.3.  The slight underspending under Staff Expenditure is due to a high number of vacant posts. 
This saving is partly offset by over -expenditure under Temporary Assistance, which includes the 
replacement of staff on leave without pay or on long term sick leave, as well as the temporary 
staff working in the dispute settlement area  and other divisions of the Secretariat . 
Part B - Other Resources  
4.4.  Part B of the budget relates to expenditure for general services, travel and hospitality, 
activities jointly funde d by the WTO and third parties, as well as capital and financial expenditure.  
4.5.  Under General Services , the commitments for several annual contracts are included such as 
the outsourced security contract (CHF 3. 6 million), the cleaning contract (CHF 0.9 milli on), the 
International Computing Centre (CHF 2 million),  the IT Service Desk ( CHF 1  million),  as well as the 
annual commitments  for utilities such as heating, water and electricity.  
4.6.  Under the Section "Travel and Hospitality ", the funds for the major techni cal assistance 
related activities  have been committed until year -end. 
4.7.  The Section 'Capital Expenditure' includes the procurement of fixed assets such as computing 
hardware and software, office furniture and security equipment.  The expenditure is on track.  
4.8.  The Section "Financial Expenditure " includes the annual reimbursement of the 50 -year 
interest -free loan for the new premises , amounting to  CHF 1.2 million, which will be  paid at the 
beginning of June . This Section  also includes the bank charges for the WTO  bank operations  and 
the negative interest charged by the banks . 
Part C - Operating Funds and ITC  
4.9.  Part C of the budget relates to the contributions to the International Trade Centre (ITC) as 
well as the three  operating funds.  
4.10.   Under Part C, the Appellate Bo dy Operating Fund (CHF 2 million) , the Ministerial Operating 
Fund (CHF 0.6 million) and the Building Renovation Fund ( CHF 0.6 million ) have been replenished. 
The contribution for the ITC has been booked until the end of March . 
 
__________