JOB/GC/134  
 
27 July 2017  
(17-4123) Page: 1/2 
General Council    
 
AGENDA ITEM 4: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BALI AND NAIROBI  OUTCOMES - 
STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
WEDNES DAY, 26 JULY  2017 
1.1.  This item remains on the agenda to allow us to continue to follow up on the decisions 
adopted in Bali and Nairobi – and do so in an inclusive  and transparent manner.  
1.2.  On 20 July, I met with the Chairs of Regular Bodies to discuss implementation issues and to 
review our collective agenda this year. We had a useful exchange, and I would like to thank the 
chairpersons for their cooperation and for the work they are taking forward in their respective 
bodies. As in the past, the discussions and inputs from that meeting are the basis of my statement 
today.  
1.3.  Regarding the Decisions on "regular work", we have separate agenda items for three: the 
Work Prog rammes on Small Economies and on E -commerce, which we will deal with later under 
separate items in the agenda.  We have already addressed Aid for Trade under the previous 
agenda item.  
1.4.  Concerning TRIPS non -violation and situation complaints,  the TRIPS Counc il has discussed 
the matter at each of its meetings since MC10, including at its most recent meeting in June when 
Members again reiterated their well -known positions. Since then, the Chair has been in touch with 
a number of delegations to explore possible ways forward to fulfil the Ministerial mandate, and to 
prepare a recommendation for MC11 that would need to be adopted at the TRIPS Council's 
meeting in October.  
1.5.  Moving to Agriculture,  with respect to the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition,  the second 
dedicated discussion on export competition took place during the June 2017 meeting of the 
Committee on Agriculture. It is worth noting that Australia was the first and so far the only 
Member among the 16 WTO Members with export subsidy entitlements in thei r schedules of 
commitments to modify its schedule pursuant to the Nairobi Decision. During the dedicated 
discussion, other Members with scheduled export subsidy reduction commitments provided 
updates on the steps taken to implement the Decision. The Commit tee on Agriculture should begin 
a review of the disciplines contained in the Decision next year.  
1.6.  Regarding the implementation of the Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security 
Purposes, no Member has sought to use the interim solution, and therefore  the Committee on 
Agriculture has not been called upon to take action. No information has been provided by Members 
in the context of the foreseen monitoring.  
1.7.  With respect to implementation of the Bali Decision on TRQ Administration,  to date no 
Member has a ctivated the TRQ underfill mechanism. According to this Decision, a review of its 
operation should begin no later than the end of 2017. The Committee on Agriculture will begin this 
review in its October 2017 meeting.  
1.8.  Moving to the Operationalization of the  LDC Services Waiver,  at its June meeting the Services 
Council took note of an additional notification of preferences. LDCs shared with the Council their 
appraisal of the notified preferential measures and encouraged other Members in a position to do 
so to notify preferences. The Group then urged notifying Members to undertake specific technical 
assistance and capacity -building measures to enable LDC service suppliers to utilise the 
preferences granted.  The CTS has received a total of 24 notifications of p references in favour of JOB/GC/13 4 
 
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  LDC services and service suppliers. As a standing item on its agenda, the Services Council will take 
this matter up again at its meeting in September.  
1.9.  As regards the Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs,  the Secretariat is revising  a draft report 
on the recently adopted modality for the calculation of utilization rates underscoring obligations 
related to the notification of preferential trade statistics. Following the adoption of a new template 
for the notification of preferential r ules of origin for LDCs in March, all preference -granting 
Members agreed to submit their rules using the new template. Some Members have informed the 
Committee on Rules of Origin about improvements being made to their rules of origin as a result of 
an exam ination of their rules in light of the relevant Ministerial Decisions. The CRO will hold a 
dedicated discussion on the substantive provisions of the Decision in its meeting in October.  
1.10.   Concerning the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatme nt, the CTD's 
Dedicated Session has held seven meetings since the Bali Ministerial Conference - but no written 
submissions have thus far been received. At the last meeting of the CTD in June, Members shared 
their thoughts on why the Monitoring Mechanism ha d not yet been tested and whether or not there 
should be a review of the Mechanism at this stage. The discussion showed that Members had 
different views on how the review should proceed in the absence of any experience about the 
functioning of the mechanis m. The CTD Chair intends to hold informal consultations on this issue 
prior to the November 2017 meeting of the CTD.  
1.11.   Regarding the Bali Decision on DFQF market access for LDCs,  this remains a standing item 
on the CTD's agenda. At the upcoming November meet ing of the CTD, the Committee will 
undertake its annual DFQF review on the basis of a Secretariat report, in line with the Bali 
Decision.  
1.12.   And finally, a brief update on Trade Facilitation.  Three additional Members have deposited 
their instrument of accepta nce of the Trade Facilitation Agreement - which as you know entered 
into force on 22 February this year - bringing the overall number to 121. T he Committee has also 
received new notifications concerning Category A, B and C.  
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