WT/COMTD/83
8 November 2013
(13-6233)  Page: 1/8
  
 
 REPORT (2013) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  This report covers the work of the Co mmittee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 2013. An 
overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session, the Dedicated Sessions on Regional 
Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Small Economies, the CTD's work on Aid for Trade, and the work of 
the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries.1 
2  REGULAR SESSION 2.1.  The CTD in Regular Session held three formal meetings on 4 March (87
th Session), 17 July 
(88th Session) and 24 October 2013 (89th Session). The minutes of these meetings are contained 
in documents WT/COMTD/M/87, WT /COMTD/M/88 and WT/COMTD/M/892, respectively. At the 
87th Session, Ambassador Marion Williams (Barbados) was elected Chairperson of the CTD. 
2.2.  Members agreed to continue to invite a num ber of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) on 
an ad hoc meeting-by-meeting basis. At the 87th Session, the Committee agreed to grant ad hoc 
observer status to the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). A full list of 
intergovernmental organizations with observer stat us in the Committee is contained in document 
WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.7. The CTD continues to have outstanding requests for observer status from 
the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, 
the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries 
(OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement. 
2.3.  The Ministerial Communiqué from the 12
th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 
Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), which took place in New York on 30 September 2013, 
was reflected on the agenda of the CTD's 89th Session at the request of Paraguay, the Coordinator 
of the LLDC Group. The Committee t ook note of the Communiqué.  
2.4.  The principal areas addressed by the CTD in Regular Session during the period covered in this 
report included the following:   
• technical cooperation and training; 
• notifications regarding market access for developing and least-developed countries (LDCs); 
• report of the Joint Advisory Group on th e International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO; 
• trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's concluding 
statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8);  
• electronic commerce; 
• Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and qu ota-free (DFQF) market access for LDCs. 
• participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system. 
                                               
1 There were no meetings in 2013 of the CTD's Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade Arrangements. 
The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issue of special and differential treatment, has its own 
reporting channel. 
2 To be issued. WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  2.1  Technical cooperation and training 
2.5.  At the 87th Session, the Secretariat briefed the Committee on the operationalization of the 
results-based management (RBM) monitoring and evaluation system (JOB/TC/5). Members were 
informed that the intention was for the system to be fully implemented online by the end of 2013 
as the Secretariat's tool for achieving targeted results and outcomes relating to technical 
assistance. At the 88th Session, the Director-General shared his views with the Committee on the 
status of the WTO's delivery of technical assistance. He indicated that the organization was in a 
structurally sounder place in this regard, with the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
reorganized to reflect a focus on results. Also at the 88th Session, the Committee took note of the 
2012 Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/197) and of the 2012 Annual Report on Monitoring and Evaluation of Technical Assistance and Training 
(WT/COMTD/W/199). In the course of 2013, the Committee was kept updated on the 
implementation of technical-assistance activities and on the preparation of the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2014 and 2015. The Plan, circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/W/200, was adopted by the Committee at its 89
th Session.  
2.2  Notifications regarding market access fo r developing and least-developed countries 
2.6.  In 2013, notifications under the Enabling Clause concerning Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) schemes were made by the European Union (WT/COMTD/N/4/Add.6), Norway 
(WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.5) and the Russian Federation (WT/COMTD/N/42). In addition, the European Union notified to the CTD the trade pr eferences granted to Pakistan (WT/COMTD/N/41).  
2.7.  The RTA notifications concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union, the 
ASEAN-Korea Agreement and the India-Korea Agre ement remained on the CTD's agenda during 
2013. The communication from China, Egypt and India titled "Systemic and specific issues arising out of the dual notification of the Gulf Coop eration Council Customs Union" (WT/COMTD/W/175) 
also remained on the agenda. A number of interventions were made on both substance and 
procedure. Divergent views were expressed on how to deal with the issues relating to the RTAs notified under both the Enabling Clause and GATT Article XXIV and their implications. 
2.3  Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO 
2.8.  The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held 
its 47
th Session on 6 and 7 May 2013. The report  on that meeting is contained in 
document ITC/AG/(XLVII)/251. Ambassador Karen Pierce (United Kingdom), the Chairperson of 
the JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 88th Session. She said that the Group had 
encouraged the ITC to continue building the export  capacity of the private sector in developing 
countries and to support the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in global 
and regional value chains. The ITC was recognized as a model of good practice in RBM. 
Delegations took note of the ITC’s endeavour to  progress on impact measurement methodologies 
for the next biennium and expressed support for the new processes that were being developed to 
improve needs assessments and to better integrate products and services across the organization. 
Support was also expressed for the ITC’s efforts to promote regional integration and intraregional trade, and for the organization's strong emphasis on non-tariff measures (NTMs) and on trade intelligence for LDCs. The ITC's Women and Trade focus was appreciated, as were efforts to 
further expand mainstreaming activities to promote an inclusive and sustainable model of 
development, focusing on poor communities, trad e and the environment, and the empowerment of 
youth. The Committee took note of the report and forwarded it to the General Council for 
adoption. 
2.4  Trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's 
concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference 
2.9.  At MC8, Ministers, inter alia, reaffirmed the positive link between trade and development and 
called for focused work in the CTD. Ministers called on Members to fully operationalize the mandate of the CTD as a focal point for development work. 
2.10.  At the 87
th and 88th Sessions, the Committee considered three submissions by Members 
containing proposals in this regard. One submi ssion - by China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  African Group - was circulated in document WT/C OMTD/W/192. Another submission - by Australia, 
Chile, Colombia and Singapore - was circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/191. The third submission - by Barbados, on behalf of the Grou p of Small, Vulnerable Economies - was initially 
circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/195 and was later revised in document 
WT/COMTD/W/195/Rev.1. At the 87
th Session, the Committee agreed to one of the proposals 
contained in the submission by China, Cuba, Ecua dor, India and the African Group, which was for 
the Secretariat to prepare an update to its do cument on the implementation of special and 
differential treatment provisions in the WTO Agreements and Decisions. The updated Secretariat 
paper (WT/COMTD/W/196) was reflected on the agenda of the 88th Session.  A further discussion 
on the updated Secretariat paper took place at the 89th Session. Discussion additionally continued 
on the outstanding proposals in documents WT /COMTD/W/192 and WT/COMTD/W/195/Rev.1. Also 
at the 89th Session, the Committee considered a proposal by Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, 
Kenya, Lesotho and Mauritius (WT/COMTD/W/202).    
2.5  Electronic commerce 
2.11.  The CTD's discussion on electronic commerce (e-commerce) in 2013 continued to take place 
in the context of the 17 December 2011 Decision on the Work Programme on E-Commerce (WT/L/843). A Workshop on "E-Commerce, Development and SMEs" was held at the WTO on 
8 and 9 April 2013 under the auspices of the CTD. In introducing the report on that workshop 
(WT/COMTD/W/198) at the 88
th Session, the Chairperson highlighted some of the main points that 
emerged from the discussions. She said, inter alia , that infrastructure problems were a major 
hurdle for developing countries and that much time was spent during the Workshop discussing the 
need to upgrade power grids to counter the lack of  regular electricity supply, difficulties with the 
physical distribution of products bought online an d a general lack of electronic payment systems in 
developing countries. Another key handicap in many  developing countries was the lack of a reliable 
access to broadband, high speed cables. It was clear that a main focus of current and future work 
had to be on assisting the "least-connected countries". She believed that the outcomes of the Workshop provided some interesting possibilities for future work in the CTD, which Members would 
need to define.   
2.6  Hong Kong Decision on duty-fr ee and quota-free market access for LDCs 
2.12.  The Decision taken at the Hong Kong Mi nisterial Conference on DFQF market access for 
LDCs remains a standing item on the CTD's agenda. At the 87
th Session, Members considered a 
communication from Nepal, on behalf of th e LDC Group (WT/COMTD/W/194), titled "Better 
utilization of the market access provided to LDCs  under duty-free and quota-free". At the request 
of Nepal, the communication was retained on the agenda for the CTD's 88th Session, at which 
Nepal indicated that DFQF market access for LDCs was being considered in the context of 
deliverables for the Ninth Ministerial Conference (MC9). Also at the 88th Session, presentations on 
existing market information and analysis tools were made by the Secretariat and the ITC. The 
Secretariat's presentation focused on the information available in the WTO's Database on 
Preferential Trade Arrangements ( http://ptadb.wto.org ) while the ITC's presentation dealt with the 
Market Access Map tool ( http://www.macmap.org ). At the 89th Session, the CTD conducted its 
annual review of the implementation of the Hong Kong Decision, as mandated in Annex F of the 
Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.  
2.7  Participation of developing countri es in the multilateral trading system 
2.13.  In order to assist the Committee with its requirement to keep under continuous review the 
participation of developing country Members in the multilateral trading system, the Secretariat 
prepared a report (WT/COMTD/W/201) highlighting salient features concerning the participation of developing economies in the global trading system . The findings of the report were presented to 
the Committee at its 89
th Session. The Committee took note of the report. 
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS 3.1.  The 5
th Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements was held on 16 September 2013 
and was chaired by Ambassador Marion Williams  (Barbados). The minutes of the meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/5. The Committee considered the Free Trade 
Agreement between India and Malaysia (Goods) (WT/COMTD/N/37, WT/COMTD/RTA/5/1, WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  WT/COMTD/RTA/5/2, WT/COMTD/RTA/5/3), as per the provisions of the 14 December 2006 
General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (WT/L/671).  
4  DEDICATED SESSION ON SMALL ECONOMIES 4.1.  Pursuant to paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the General Council, at its 
meeting on 1 March 2002, took note of the framew ork and procedures for the conduct of the Work 
Programme on Small Economies. The CTD was instructed to oversee this programme of work in dedicated sessions. At the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, Ministers reaffirmed their 
commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies and urged the adoption of specific 
measures that would facilitate the fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system, without creating a sub-category of WTO Members. At Ministerial 
Conferences held in 2009 and 2011, Ministers instructed the CTD to continue the work in dedicated 
session and to monitor progress of the small economies' proposals in the negotiating groups and 
other bodies.  
4.2.  In 2013, the CTD in Dedicated Session held two formal meetings on the Work Programme on 
Small Economies, on 3 April (25
th Dedicated Session) and on 23 October and 7 November 
(26th Dedicated Session). The meetings were chaire d by Ambassador Marion Williams (Barbados). 
The minutes of the meetings are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/25 and 
WT/COMTD/SE/M/26.3 At the 25th Dedicated Session on 3 April, Members discussed a proposal by 
Barbados on behalf of small economies (WT/COMTD/SE/W/27) requesting the Secretariat to undertake more analysis on the effects of NTMs on the exports of small economies, as requested by Ministers in their 2011 Decision on the Work  Programme on Small Economies (WT/L/844). The 
proposal was further revised (WT/COMTD/W/27/Rev.2) and agreement was reached in July 2013 
for the Secretariat to conduct further research on the effects of NTMs on the exports of small economies and to hold a workshop during which this topic would be discussed in greater detail. It 
was agreed that the workshop would be part of the 26
th Dedicated Session on the Work 
Programme on Small Economies. A Secretariat background paper for both the 26th Session and the 
workshop was circulated in WT/COMTD/SE/W/28. During the workshop, Members heard 
presentations on recent research conducted on NTMs by representatives from the ITC and the 
United Nations Conference on Trade an d Development (UNCTAD). Also at the 26th Dedicated 
Session, Members adopted the Dedicated Se ssion's report to the General Council  
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/29/Rev.1), in line with the procedures under the Work Programme on Small 
Economies.   
5  AID FOR TRADE 5.1.  The CTD held three sessions on Aid for Trade in 2013, on 13 March, 19 June, and 15 October. 
The meetings were chaired by Ambassador Mari on Williams (Barbados). The minutes of the 
meetings are contained in documents WT/C OMTD/AFT/M/27, WT/C OMTD/AFT/M/28, and 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/29
4, respectively. The 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade was held on 
8-10 July 2013. Aid for Trade was also included as an agenda item for discussion at the 
General Council on 24 July 2013. 
5.2.  The format of each CTD Aid-for-Trade session followed the headings of the 2012-2013 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme5 based on the overarching them e of "deepening coherence". The 
Work Programme headings include resource mobilization (including implementation activities); 
mainstreaming; regional integration; the private sector; and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The 
sessions provided Members, Observers and Obse rver Organizations the opportunity to discuss 
their Aid-for-Trade activities.   
5.3.  A joint WTO-OECD workshop on the 2013 Aid-for-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise 
was held under the auspices of the CTD on 18 June 2013 at which the Director-General highlighted 
some of the key messages from the M&E exercise and presentations were made on preliminary 
results of the monitoring exercise.  
                                               
3 To be issued. 
4 To be issued. 
5 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/30.  WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  5.4.  At the CTD's 27th Session on Aid for Trade, the Director -General and the Secretariat provided 
information on the preparations for the 4th Global Review, and explained the initial findings from 
the monitoring exercise. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provided a preliminary overview of the 2011 Aid-fo r-Trade flows. Iceland, Nicaragua, the US and 
Japan updated the Committee on their Aid-for-Trade related activities based on information 
reported in their Trade Policy Reviews, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat provided information on the support it was providing to Pacific countries to develop trade policy frameworks. 
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) reported  on its Mid-Term Review, and the African Union 
(AU) provided an update on the Joint Conference of African Ministers entitled "Boosting Intra-African Trade: A Key to Agricultural Transformation" held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 7 December 2012. Trinidad and Tobago gave an u pdate on the Caribbean Aid-for-Trade strategy, 
and the ITC reported on its private sector support ac tivities in the area of export strategy design 
and management. 
5.5.  At the CTD's 28
th Session, the Asian Development Bank (AsDB) and Japan provided an 
overview of the second joint Cambodia-Japan-AsDB report prepared for the 4th Global Review 
under the auspices of the Asia/Pacific Regional Technical Group. Switzerland provided information on its 2013-2016 Message on International Cooperation pursuant to its Trade Policy Review, and 
China and India reported on their South-South cooperation assistance activities. The 
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) noted its work in Central Asia under the UN Development Action Framework, UNCTAD provided information on its support to LDCs in the area of global value chains (GVCs) and noted th e soon-to-be released World Investment Report 
2013, and ITC provided an update of its activities in relation to promoting public/private dialogue. 
Reports and updates were provided on a number of regional Aid-for-Trade Strategies. These included by Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of CA RICOM on the Regional Aid-for-Trade Strategy for 
the Caribbean
6, by Cameroon on behalf of ECCAS on the 2013-2016 Aid-for-Trade Strategy for 
Central Africa, and by the Secretariat on behalf of  the Economic Community Of West African States 
(ECOWAS) on the ECOWAS Aid-for-Trade Strategy. Th e Secretariat provided information on behalf 
of the AU and the United Nations Economic Commi ssion for Africa (UNECA) on the results of the 
AU/UNECA-led monitoring exercise, gave an overview of a joint WTO Development Division/Statistics Group report on Connecting LDCs  to Value Chains being prepared at the request 
of LDCs, and also provided a brief report on the joint WTO-OECD Workshop on the 2013 
Aid-for-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise  held prior to the CTD Aid-for-Trade meeting. 
5.6.  The 4
th Global Review of Aid for Trade took place on 8-10 July 2013. It provided an 
opportunity to examine Aid for Trade in the cont ext of a global trading system increasingly 
characterized by national, regional and global supply chains and to discuss the challenges that 
developing countries, and in particular LDCs, face in integrating and moving up value chains. The 24 plenary sessions were structured around thr ee broad themes: trade, development goals and 
value chains; understanding value chains and deve lopment; and future perspectives on Aid for 
Trade. A total of 30 side events were also organized by WTO Members, IGOs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Australia, together with 26 governments and IGOs, issued a joint statement on trade facilitation. The Heads of the EIF core agencies issued a 
statement recommitting to the EIF, and a cooperation agreement was signed by the 
Director-General with the UNECA. Key themes th at emerged from the Review included: the need 
to engage the private sector; the importance of se rvices for adding value; the key role played by 
skills; the role that Aid for Trade could play in reducing investor risk; how Aid-for-Trade resources 
should leverage investment; the critical role of border management and transport services; and the importance of access to trade finance. In the closing plenary session, a total of 42 Members 
took the floor to make individual or group statements. A number of delegations noted the 
timeliness of the GVC focus of the 4
th Global Review and spoke in support of the future direction of 
Aid for Trade as suggested by the Director-General, namely for sustaining progress in the context of the post-2015 development agenda and focusi ng on driving down the trading costs of 
developing country firms and adding value for deve loping countries. They also stressed the need 
to renew the Director-General's Aid-for-Trade mandate at MC9. 
5.7.  In his closing remarks, the Director-General underlined the value of Aid for Trade as a 
partnership, convergence on the challenges an d opportunities offered by Aid for Trade, its 
achievements to date, and the need to sustain pr ogress, notably by focusing on driving trading 
costs down. Various reports were prepared for the 4
th Global Review, including the joint 
                                               
6 http://www.caricom.org/Caribbean_Community_AfT_Strategy_final.pdf  WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  OECD-WTO publication "Aid for Trade at a Glance: Connecting to Value Chains". Other publications 
issued included five sector-specific reports7; a joint WTO/Fung Institute/Temasek Foundation 
report on "Global Value Chains in a Changing Wo rld"; a report by UNECA entitled "Building Trade 
Capacities for Africa's Transformation"; a report on "Skills and Export Competitiveness for Small 
and Medium-Sized Enterprises", and a report by the Islamic Development Bank entitled 
"Connecting to Global Value Chains and Aid for Trade". China used the 4th Global Review to issue a 
report on its Aid-for-Trade activities, and a joint Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-WTO report 
"India-Africa: South-South Trade and Investment for Development" was also tabled. A summary 
report of the 4th Global Review is reproduced in document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/46. 
5.8.  Aid for Trade was discussed at the General Council on 24 July 2013. In his report of the 
4th Global Review, the Director-General noted that the Review had greatly contributed to the 
debate on the connections between Aid for Trade and GVCs, and had examined the implications of 
a world that was built on trade in tasks. He re called that Members had highlighted the need to 
maintain Aid-for-Trade financing, the importance of improving monitoring, supporting the EIF, and 
focusing on LDC priorities, and repeated his suggestion that the focus for Aid for Trade in the 
future should be on driving down trading costs of developing countries, especially LDCs. The General Council discussion highlighted that the Aid-for-Trade Initiative had succeeded in raising 
awareness about trade's role as an engine of  growth, mainstreaming trade into development 
policy, mobilizing resources, delivering results, and measuring Aid-for-Trade flows. The timeliness 
of the focus of the 4
th Global Review was again noted, as was the fact that the Review had 
provided a better understanding of how firms in de veloping countries perceived the challenges in 
connecting to GVCs which would assist donors in better targeting Aid for Trade. The report of the 
General Council debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/146.8 
5.9.  At the CTD's 29th Session on Aid for Trade, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo made a 
statement to the Committee. In his remarks, he recognized the results achieved by the 
Aid-for-Trade Initiative and confirmed his commitment to taking the Initiative forward. He recalled the value of Aid for Trade as a complement  to decisions emanating from MC9. The 
Director-General suggested that at MC9: Ministers welcome progress on Aid for Trade; take note 
of the deliberations and outcomes of the 4
th Global Review of Aid for Trade held on 
8-10 July 2013; recognize the continuing need of Aid for Trade for developing countries, and in particular of LDCs; reaffirm their commitment to Aid for Trade and reiterate the mandate given to 
the Director-General to pursue actions in support  of Aid for Trade. The Director-General also 
suggested that the new Aid-for-Trade Work Programme should be framed by the post-2015 development agenda. Members expressed support for the process for the way forward as outlined 
in the Director-General's statement.  
5.10.  Brazil, Costa Rica, Viet Nam, the Central Af rican Republic on behalf of the Central African 
Economic and Monetary Community, and the EU updated the Committee on their Aid-for-Trade 
related activities pursuant to their Trade Policy Reviews. The EIF reported on its recent 
Aid-for-Trade related activities and work, including its collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and the World Bank provid ed information on the outcome of the October 
World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, particularly with regard to a new World Bank Group Strategy, 
expected completion in December 2013 of th e current cycle of International Development 
Association (IDA) replenishment, and the joint statement on trade facilitation issued by multilateral development banks.
9 Paraguay, as Coordinator of the Group of LLDCs, reported on the 
12th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Grou p of LLDCs held on 30 September 201310, Japan 
informed of the completion of the second report of the Regional Technical Group on Aid for Trade 
in Asia and the Pacific11, and China and India provided an upda te of their respective South-South 
related support. The OECD updated the Committee on its work on management for development 
results and its other Aid-for-Trade related activities. 
                                               
7 "Aid for Trade and Value Chains in Agrifood"; "A id for Trade and Value Chains in Information and 
Communication Technology"; "Aid for Trade and Value Chains in Textiles and Apparel"; "Aid for Trade and Value Chains in Tourism"; and "Aid for Trade an d Value Chains in Transport and Logistics". See 
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/a4t_e/global_review13_e.htm   
8 To be issued. 
9 http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2013/pr13403.htm   
10http://www.unohrlls.org/UserFiles/File/LLDC% 20Documents/12th%20Minis terial%20meeting%20of%
20LLDCs/Ministerial%20COMMUNIQUE.pdf  
11 http://www.adb.org/public ations/aid-trade-asia-and-pacific-driving-private-sector-participation-
global-value-chains   WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  6  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAS T-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
6.1.  In 2013, the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (hereafter the Sub-Committee) 
held three formal meetings on 12 April, 28 June and 10 October 2013. The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/C OMTD/LDC/M/68; WT/COMTD/LDC/M/69; and 
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/70.
12 The Sub-Committee took up the following subjects: (i) market access for 
LDCs; (ii) trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives for LDCs; and (iii) update of the WTO Work Programme for the LDCs. The other subjects considered include a 
communication from the LDCs on the LDC Group's Retreat held in October 2012. The 
Sub-Committee also heard a briefing from the Secretariat on the arrangements for LDCs' participation at MC9. In all meetings, the delegati on of Nepal acted as the Coordinator of the LDC 
Group. 
6.1  Market access for LDCs 
6.2.  At its 68
th Session, the Sub-Committee resumed its consideration of the LDC market access 
review Note by the Secretariat prepared for the year 2012, entitled "Market Access for Products 
and Services of Export Interest to Least-Developed Countries" (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/56/Rev.1). The 
Secretariat provided Members with an update on trends in LDC trade observed during 2012. Some suggestions were made for possible inclusion in the next review note by the Secretariat. 
6.3.  At its 70
th Session, the Sub-Committee considered the 2013 edition of the LDC market access 
review Note by the Secretariat, entitled "Mar ket Access for Products and Services of Export 
Interest to Least-Developed countries" (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/58). Members expressed appreciation for the Note, which they considered as useful and informative in examining the situation of LDCs in 
world trade. Some observations made by Members on the document were noted. 
6.2  Trade-related technical assistance an d capacity-building initiatives for LDCs 
6.4.  At its 68
th Session, the Secretariat provided an overview of the technical assistance and 
training provided by the WTO Secretariat to the LDCs. The LDCs, on average, had been associated 
with some 48% of all trade-related technical assist ance provided by the Secretariat over the past 
few years. The LDCs expressed appreciation to the Secretariat for attaching continued priority to 
the LDCs in the delivery of WTO's technical assistance-activities. 
6.5.  At its 70th Session, the EIF Executive Secretariat provided the Sub-Committee with an update 
on the EIF. It was noted that all 49 LDCs had come under the aegis of the EIF. The Sub-Committee expressed appreciation to the outgoing Executive Director, Ms. Dorothy Tembo, 
for her contribution to the programme. At the same time, the new Executive Director, Dr. Ratnakar 
Adhikari, was welcomed. The Coordinator of the LDC Group underlined the importance of the EIF 
and called for an extension of the programme beyond 2015. 
6.3  WTO Work Programme for the LDCs  
6.6.  At its 68
th Session, the Sub-Committee resumed its discussion concerning the update of the 
LDC Work Programme (WT/COMTD/LDC/11) . The Coordinator of the LDC Group drew the attention 
of Members to the Group's suggested changes to  the Work Programme. The Chairman informed 
Members that he would undertake informal consultations to finalize the work as soon as possible.13  
6.7.  At its 69th Session, the Sub-Committee adopted the draft revised WTO Work Programme for 
the LDCs contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W /57. Following the adoption of the document, 
the revised WTO Work Programme for the LDCs was circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1. In line with the procedure followed at the time of the Work Programme's establishment in 2002, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee made a report on this 
agreed revised Work Programme at the July meeting of the General Council.  
                                               
12 To be issued. 
13 Two informal consultations were held: 24 April and 6 June 2013. WT/COMTD/83 
 
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  6.4  Arrangements to facilitate the particip ation of LDCs at the Ninth WTO Ministerial 
Conference  
6.8.  At the 69th Session, the Secretariat briefed the Sub-Committee on the arrangements being 
made to facilitate the participation of LDCs at MC9. Members were informed that the WTO would 
cover travel and accommodation costs for three participants, including one Minister, from each 
eligible LDC. The Coordinator of the LDC Group thanked Members for their contributions to the 
trust fund established to facilitate the participation of LDCs at MC9. 
6.5  Retreat of the LDCs, Montreux, Switzerland, 18-20 October 2012: Communication 
from Nepal on behalf of th e LDC Group (WT/COMTD/LDC/22) 
6.9.  At its 68th Session, the Coordinator of the LDC Group introduced the outcome document of 
the LDC Group resulting from the Retreat organized in October 2012 (WT/COMTD/LDC/22).  Some 
priority areas for LDCs with respect to the work  of regular WTO bodies and the current phase of 
the DDA negotiations were highlighted. The LDCs, in particular, invited Members' attention to the issues of interest to them in the run up to MC9.  
6.6  Other Business 
6.10.  At its 68
th Session, Members welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Steffen Smidt 
(Denmark) as the Facilitator to the TNC Chairman  for the LDC issues for MC9. Ambassador Smidt 
began his consultations on 13 June 2013 to advance the work on LDC deliverables for MC9.  
 
 
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