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WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
17 November 201 6 
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Committee on Trade and Development    
 
 DRAFT  
 
REPORT (201 6) OF THE COMMITTEE O N TRADE AND DEVELOPM ENT 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 201 6. An 
overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session, the Dedicated Session on the  
Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment, the Dedicated Sessions on Regional  
Trade A greements  and Small Economies, the CTD's work on Aid for Trade, and the wor k of the 
Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries.1 
2  REGULAR SESSION  
2.1.  The CTD in Regular Session held three  formal meetings on 16 March  (98th Session), 8 July  
(99th Session)  [and 24 November 201 6 (100th Session).] The minutes of these meetings are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/9 8, WT/COMTD/M/99 [and WT/COMTD/M/ 1002], 
respectivel y.  
2.2.  At the 98th Session, the Committee re-elected Ambassador Roderick van Schreven 
(Netherlands) as the Chairman of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries for 201 6. 
Ambassador  Christopher Onyanga Aparr  (Uganda ) was elected Chairman of the CTD .  
2.3.  Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting -by-meeting basis.  At the 98th Session, the  Committee agreed to grant observer 
status  to the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS) . A full list of 
intergovernmental organizations with observer status in the Committee is contained in document 
WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev. 8. 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 Ban que Africaine de Développement.  
2.4.  The outcome document from the Fifth Meeting of Trade Ministers of Landlocked Developing 
Countries (LLDCS), held in Geneva on 23 and 24 June 2016, was reflected on the agenda of the 
CTD's 99th Session at the request of  Paraguay, the Coordinator of the LLDC Group. The Committee 
took note of the outcome document.  
2.5.  Also at the 99th Session, the Secretariat presented recent improvements to the Database on 
Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs)  (http://ptadb.wto.org ). The Chairman emphasized the 
usefulness of the database, and invited Members implementing PTAs to provide all necessary 
updated information and data to the Secretariat, so that the database could achieve its full 
potential.    
2.6.   [A commemorative event to mark the 100th Session of the CTD was held on 
24 November  2016, under the auspices of the CTD. The event, which had the theme "Current and 
                                                
1 There were no meetings in 201 6 of the CTD's Dedicated Session on Preferential  Trade A rrangeme nts. 
The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issue of sp ecial and differential treatment  (S&D) , has its own 
reporting channel . 
2 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  Future Perspectives on Trade and Development", was inaugurated by the WTO Director -General . 
Two substantive sessions were held as part of the event. The first session examined evolutions in 
the area of trade and development from the time that the CTD held its first meeting in 1995, and 
in this light also address ed current perspectives on the su bject. The second session look ed forward 
and explore d the challenges which remain, and what needs to be done to ensure that trade works 
even better as a tool for development.  The report on the event, by the Chairman, is contained in 
document WT/COMTD/ 91.3]    
2.7.  The principal areas addressed by the CTD in Regular Session during the period covered in this 
report included the following:   
 technical cooperation and training;  
 market  access for developing and least developed countries (LDCs);  
 report of the Joint Ad visory Group on the 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;   
 duty-free and quota -free (DFQF)  market access for LDCs.  
 
2.1  Technical cooperation and training  
2.8.  At the 99th Session, the Committee took note of the 2015 Annual Performance Report on 
Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/216). According t o the report, a total of 
15,000  participants w ere trained during the year, representing an increase of 2% compared to 
2014. The volume of activities and related expenses remained stable during the year . Progress 
continued towards the full implementation of a technical assistance results -based manageme nt 
system. Work also continued to improve the substantive content of the technical assistance offer. 
With regard to the evaluation of performance in 2015, the target initially assigned to the 
Secretariat was fully met for 62% of the indicators chosen  at the output level. The report also 
provides some initial figures  concerning results at the outcome level . In the course of the year, t he 
Committee was kept regularly updated on progress in the externa l evaluation of the WTO's 
trade -related technical assistanc e. These updates were provided by Norway, on behalf of the 
Steering Committee of the evaluation. At the 98th Session , the Committee was informed that 
Saana Consulting had been selected to conduct the evaluation. Additional  details on the status of 
the eval uation were provided at the 99th Session, including with respect to the  countries that 
would be visited by the evaluators, and the time -frame for the finalization of the evaluation report.  
[At the 100th Session, the Chairman indicated that a CTD meeting w ould be convened in 
January  2017 to allow the Committee to consider the final evaluation report and the WTO 
management response.  A further update on the status of the evaluation was also provided by 
Norway, on behalf of the Steering Committee of the evaluat ion.]  
2.2  Market access for developing and least developed countries  
2.9.  In 201 6, notification s under the Enabling Clause were made concerning the G eneralized 
System of Preferences (G SP) scheme s of the United States (WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.9) and Norway 
(WT/COMTD/N/6/A dd.5/Corr.1 and WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.6). [A notification  was circulated by China 
providing updated information on its DFQF scheme for LDCs.]  
2.10.   As concerns  regional trade agreements (RTAs), notifications under the Enabling Clause were 
made concerning the  Arab Me diterranean Free Trade Agreement (Agadir Agreement) between 
Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia (WT/COMTD/N/48) , the Agreement between the Dominican 
Republic and Panama (WT/COMTD/N/49)  and the accession of Afghanistan to the South Asian Free 
Trade Agreement  (SAFTA)  (WT/COMTD/N/50) . 
2.11.    The RTA notifications concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union, the 
ASEAN -Korea Agreement and the India -Korea Agreement remained  on the CTD's agenda during 
2016. The communication from China, Egypt and India titled " Systemic and specific issues arising 
out of the dual notification of the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union" (WT/COMTD/W/175) 
also remained on the agenda. A number of interventions were made on both substance and 
                                                
3 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  procedure. Divergent views were express ed on how to deal with the issues relating to the RTAs 
notified under both the Enabling Clause and GATT Article XXIV and their implications.  
2.12.   With respect to the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), the Committee took note  
at its 98th Session of a report to the WTO on instruments concluded under the 1980 Treaty of 
Montevideo during the year 2014 (WT/COMTD/88). At the 99th Session, a communication from 
LAIA (WT/COMTD/W/217 -WT/REG/W/105) was considered . Some clarifications were sought  on 
elements of this communication . The Chairman encouraged Members to continue to discuss the 
issues relating to the LAIA agreements with a view to finding a solution. [A further communication 
from LAIA (WT/COMTD/W/220) was considered at the 100th Session .] 
2.3  Report of the  Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
2.13.   The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held 
its 50th Session on 4 July 2016 . The report on that meeting is contained in 
document  ITC/AG(L)/264 . [Ambassador Negash Kebret Botora (Ethiopia ), the Chair man of the 
JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 100th Session. The Committee took note of the report 
and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.]  
2.4  Trade and D evelopment - work in the Commi ttee on the basis of the Chairman's 
concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  
2.14.   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. The Committee continued its 
consideration at the 98th, 99th [and 100th] Sessions of the two outstanding proposals for work 
under the MC8 mandate. One proposal – by Barbados , Belize, China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the 
African Group (WT/COMTD/W/208) – is for the CTD to report on development -related activities 
and development issues raised in other WTO bodies. The other proposal – by China, Cuba, 
Ecuador, India and the African  Group , and contained in document WT/COMTD/W/192  – is for the 
CTD to make a recommendation for the parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information 
requirements jointly. In addition, a n updated Secretariat paper on the implementation of S&D 
provisions in the WTO Agreements and Decisions (WT/COMTD/W/219) was circulated in 
September 2016.  The updated paper was prepared in the context of the proposal from Ecuador for 
the Secretariat to periodically update its paper on this subject (WT/COMTD/W/204/R ev.1), which 
the Committee agreed to at its 97th Session.      
2.5  Electronic Commerce  
2.15.   At the 98th Session, t he Chairman drew Members' attention to the Ministerial Decision of 
19 December 2015  on the Work Programme on E -Commerce (WT/MIN(15)/42 –WT/L/977). He 
noted that the Decision called, inter alia , for a continuation of the work under the Work 
Programme, based on the existing mandate and guidelines, and on the basis of proposals 
submitted by Members in the relevant WTO bodies. He encouraged Members wishing to  suggest 
ways to take forward the e -commerce work in the CTD to consider submitting written proposals. At 
the same meeting, the United Nations  Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provided 
updates on its work on e -commerce, and China shared some  of its experiences in the e -commerce 
area. At the 99th Session, Japan provided information under "Other Business" on a proposal  
concerning e -commerce  that was to be submitted to the General Council. [At the 100th Session, 
the Committee considered a communica tion from China (JOB/GC/110 –JOB/CTG/2 –
JOB/SERV/243 -JOB/DEV/39).]       
2.6  Duty -free and quota -free market access for LDCs  
2.16.   An item concerning DFQF market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 98th, 99th 
[and 100th] Sessions. A number of Members prov ided updates on the implementation of their 
DFQF schemes. At the 98th Session, the Committee was informed by Benin, the Coordinator of the 
LDC Group, that the Group would be submit ting a proposal concerning the draft terms of reference 
for a Secretariat st udy on DFQF implementation. Th e proposal  – circulated  by Benin on behalf of 
the LDC Group  in June 2016  (WT/COMTD/W/218 ) – was considered by the Committee at its 
99th Session. Comments were made on the submission  by some Members , and the delegation of WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  Benin  indicated that the LDC Group would discuss the matter with the se Members,  so that 
progress could be made. [At the 100th Session , the Committee conducted its annual DFQF review 
on the basis of the Secretariat report circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/ 222, which was 
prepared in the context of the mandate given in the Bali Ministerial Decision on DFQF market 
access for LDCs (WT/MIN(13)/44 - WT/L/919 ). In addition , the Committee considered  a revised 
submission by Benin, on behalf of the LDC Group, concerning th e draft terms of reference for a 
Secretariat study on DFQF implementation  (WT/COMTD/W/218/Rev.1) .]  
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON  THE MONITORING MECHA NISM ON SPECIAL AND 
DIFFERENTIAL TREATME NT 
3.1.  The Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differe ntial Treatment 
held two formal meetings during 2016 , on 8 July  and on 1 5 November 201 6, both chaired by 
Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda).  The minutes of these meetings are contained in 
documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 5 and WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 64, res pectively. At the 
July Session, the Chairman made a statement which recalled key elements of the Bali Ministerial 
Decision which established the Monitoring Mechanism (WT/MIN(13)/45 -WT/L/920). At the 
November Session, the Chairman reminded Members that , acc ording to the Decision  which 
established the Monitoring Mechanism , the monitoring of special and differential provisions is to be 
undertaken on the basis of written inputs or submissions made by them, as well as on the basis of 
reports received from other WTO bodies, to which submissions by Members could also be made.  At 
these meetings, a  number of Members shared their thoughts and perspectives on why the 
Monitoring Mechanism was not being tested , and also what they saw as possible way s forward.  
4  DEDICATED S ESSION ON REGIONAL  TRADE A GREEMENTS   
4.1.  The 6th and 7th Dedicated Session s on Regional  Trade Agreements  were held, respectively , on 
16 March  and 15 November  2016. The March Session was chaired by Amb assador Juan Esteban 
Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay)  and the Nov ember Session by Ambassador Christopher Onyanga 
Aparr (Uganda) . The minutes of the se meeting s are contained in document s WT/COMTD/RTA/M/6 
and WT/COMTD/RTA/M/7 .5 The Committee considered the Preferential Trade A greement between 
MERCOSUR and India (Goods) (W T/COMTD/N/31, WT/COMTD/RTA/6/1, WT/COMTD/RTA/6/2) , and 
the Preferential Trade Agreement between Mauritius and Pakistan (Goods) (WT/COMTD/N/47, 
WT/COMTD/RTA/7/1), as per the provisions of the 14 December 20 06 General Council Decision on 
a Transparency Mecha nism for Regional Trade A greements (WT/L/ 671). 
5  DEDICATED SESSION ON  SMALL ECONOMIES   
5.1.   In 2016, the CTD in Dedicated Session held three formal meetings on the Work Programme 
on Smal l Economies . The meeting of 9  March  was chaired by Ambassador  Juan Esteban A guirre 
Martínez (Paraguay) , while the meeting of 12 July was chaired by Ambassador  Christopher 
Onyanga Aparr (Uganda) . The meeting of 4 November  was exceptionally chaired by 
Ambassador  Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay) . The minutes of these meetings  are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/SE/M/31, WT/COMTD/SE/M/32 and WT/COMTD/SE/M /33.6 At 
the 31st Dedicated Session, Members further examined a research paper by the Secretariat on 
"Challenges and Opportunities experienced by Small Economies when linking i nto Global Value 
Chains in Trade in Goods and Services" (WT/COMTD/SE/W/31). Members discussed the paper's 
chapters on global value chains in the textiles and clothing sector and listened to experts who 
present ed recent findings and trends. At the 32nd Dedicated Session, Members addressed value 
chains in the tourism sector. Presentations were made by the ITC, the UNWorld Tourism 
Organization, USAID, the Guatemalan Institute for Tourism and the South Pacific Tourism 
Organization. Members discussed the challen ges and opportunities related to building a sustainable 
tourism sector a nd shared national experiences.  At the 33rd Session, Members focused on how 
small economies can benefit from integrating into services value chains, especially in the area of 
informati on technology and business process outsourcing and logistic and maritime transport 
services. Presentations were made by UNCTAD and the ITC as well as by representatives from 
Panama, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Guatemala. Also at the 33rd Session, Members agreed  to a 
proposal by the Group of Small and Vulnerable Economies (WT/COMTD/SE/W/33 /Rev.1 ), to have 
                                                
4 To be issued.  
5 To be issued.  
6 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  the Secretariat conduct research on the challenges Small Economies experience in their efforts to 
reduce trade costs, particularly in the area of trade facilita tion, as mandated in the Ministerial 
Decision of 19 December 2015  (WT/MIN(15)/40 -WT/L/975).   
6  AID FOR TRADE  
6.1.  The CTD held its 36th, 37th, and 38th sessions on Aid for Tr ade in 2016, on 15 February, 
25 May, and 17 October , respectively. At each session, Membe rs reviewed the implementation of 
the 2016 -2017 biennial work programme – a work programme that was finalized at the 
36th Session of the CTD Aid for Trade on 15 February.7 Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martinez 
(Paraguay) chaired the February meeting, an d Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda) 
chaired the meetings in May and October. The m inutes of the meeting s are contained in 
documents WT/CO MTD/AFT/M/36, WT/COMTD/AFT/M/37  and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/388, respectively. 
Two informal sessions were also held to consider the 2016 -2017 Aid for Trade work programme.  
6.2.  The General Council to ok note of the 2016 -2017 Aid-for-Trade Work Programme at its 
meeting on 24  February 2016.  The Work Programme continues the previous focus on reducing 
trade costs, and extends it to the areas of e -commerce, services, and infrastructure. WTO 
Director -General Roberto Azevêdo and OECD Secretary -General Angel Gurría launched the 2016 
Aid-for-Trade monitoring and evaluation exercise on 27 July 2016. At the CTD Aid for Trade's 
38th Session, the deadline for responses was extended to 30 November 2016.9 At the General 
Council meeting of  3 October 2016, the Chair man of the General Council announced that the Sixth 
Global Review would be held on 11 -13 July 2017, and the Director -General outlin ed the purpose 
and theme of "Promoting Connectivity".  
6.3.  Under the CTD A id for Trade (AfT)  agenda item on implementation and resource mobilization 
activities, the World Bank Group (WBG), the Asian Development Bank  (ADB), the African 
Development Bank (AfDB), a nd the United Nations Industrial Development Organization ( UNIDO ) 
provided regular updates on their respective activities.  At the 38th Session, Benin – on behalf of 
the LDC Group  - and China reported on the outcomes of the South -South Dialogue on LDCs and  
Development, held on 19 and 20 September 2016 in Annecy, France.  
6.4.  On mainstreaming activities, Members gave updates on their AfT activities within the context 
of their recent Trade Po licy Reviews.  At the 36th Session, Chinese Taipei informed Members on the  
activities of its Cooperation Fund. Turkey informed the 37th CTD Session that it  would be hosting 
the Midterm R eview of the Istanbul Program me of Action (IPoA) for LDCs for the decade 
2011-2020 and reported on Turkey's official development assistance. Mal awi highlighted priorities 
found in its Growth and Development Strategy, and the accompanying Development Assistance 
Strategy  and National Export Strategy. Albania updated Members on the establishment of different 
government bodies to oversee Albania's tra de and investment policies. Honduras updated 
Members on the Honduras Programme 20 -20: Our Development Vision, and a number of 
infrastructural development projects.  
6.5.  Updates on mainstreaming activities were given at the 38th CTD session by China, 
El Salvador , Singapore, Tunisia, and Zambia. China profiled its 13th Five-Year Plan and how it 
would optimiz e its foreign aid regime, together with information on the establishment of an 
Institute for South -South Cooperation  at the University of Beijing. The Ch ina-WTO MOU regarding 
the Fifth  China -LDC Acces sion Programme was also cited. El Salvador gave updates on ongoing 
policy reforms. Singapore reported on trade -related trainings funded by the Singapore Cooperation 
Programme. Tunisia informed Members on its infrast ructure -related projects and, Zambia reported 
on the mainstreaming of trade priorities within its national development plans and its sugar sector 
reforms.  
6.6.  The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) gave updates on its trade mainstreaming 
activities at success ive CTD AfT meetings, notably as regards the completion of 44 Diagnostic 
Trade Integration Studies and the release of the Phase 1 im pact report. The EIF Phase Two 
Pledging C onference, which was held in the margins  of MC10, was also referenced. Benin, on 
behalf of the LDC Group, and LDC Members encouraged financial contributions to the EIF.  
                                                
7 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/60 . 
8 To be issued.  
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  6.7.  On the regional dimension, the representative of UNCTAD reported at the 36th Session on a 
Transparency -in-Trade Initiative that it was operating in collaboration with the  WBG, the ITC and 
the AfDB. At the 37th Session , the Secretary -General of the Secretariat of the General Treaty on 
Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) reported on SIECA's initiatives for regional 
economic integration in Central America which incl uded the creation of a Central American 
Strategy for Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness and the development of a Central American 
Aid-for-Trade Strategy. Finally, at the 38th Session , the United States (US)  updated Members on 
AfT related activities und er the US Trade Africa initiative.  
6.8.  In relation to monitoring and evaluation activities, Norway highlighted , at the 36th Session, 
the importance of AfT alignment  with beneficiaries' needs . At the 37th Session, the Secretariat 
outlined the process envisa ged for the 2016 Monitoring and Evaluation  exercise. The WTO Institute 
for Training and Technical Cooperation  reported on an outline for a forthcoming publication on 
trade costs and inclusive growth drafted in collaboration with the WTO Chairs Programme. 
Additionally, the OECD  presented data on 2014 AfT flows. The OECD report ed a 2% fall in total 
commitments to US$ 54.8 billion , but an increase in total disbursements  of 5.6% to 
US$42.7 billion. The OECD reported a  fall of 21% in overall LDC c ommitments to US$ 14.4 billion. 
Both commitments and disbursements  to regional and global programmes  grew in 2014 .10 Under 
the agenda item on the private sector, the ITC provided updates on its activities at the 36th, 37th, 
and 38th meetings.  
6.9.  Two thematic dedicated workshops we re organized on 2 6 May and 17 October respectively . 
The first worksho p was a J oint W BG and WTO  Trade and Poverty Forum,  with the theme 
"Connecting to t rade: policies and programmes for maximi zing poverty reduction impact".11 The 
second workshop w as on "Prom oting Connectivity: Exploring t he Services Dimension".12 Informal 
reports of both workshops were provided at the 37th and 38th sessions of the Committee.  
7  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
7.1.  In 2016, the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries (her eafter the Sub -Committee) 
held three formal meetings on 13 April (77th Session), 24 June (78th Session) and 19 October 
(79th Session), chaired by Ambassador Roderick van Schreven (Netherlands). The minutes of the 
meetings are contained in documents WT/COMT D/LDC/M/77, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/78 and 
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/7 9, respectively. The Sub -Committee took up the following subjects pursuant 
to the WTO Work Programme for the LDCs (WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1): (i) market access for 
LDCs; (ii) trade -related technical assistance  and capacity -building initiatives for LDCs; 
(iii) accession of LDCs; and (iv) follow up to Ministerial Decisions/Declarations. The other subjects 
considered included reports by the LDC Coordinator on the Midterm Review of the IPoA for the 
LDCs; the LDC Gr oup Retreat; and the Fourteenth Session of the United Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIV). The delegation of Benin acted as the Coordinator of the 
LDC Group in 2016.  
7.1  Market access for LDCs  
7.2.  At the 77th Session, the Secretariat provided an update on recent trends in LDC trade, 
building on the information and analysis provided in the 2015 LDC market access Note 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/60). The LDCs showed a keen interest in the various factors influencing their 
trade performance, and underlined th e importance of implementing preferential market access in 
goods and services. At the same s ession, the Secretariat provided the Sub -Committee with a 
report on the 2015 annual review of developments in preferential rules of origin. The LDCs called 
on Membe rs to develop their preferential rules of origin in accordance with the provisions of the 
Nairobi Decision.  
                                                
10 Further details a re contained in a communicat ion from the OECD circulated to Members as 
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/61, dated 10 June 2016.  
11 Information on speakers and presentations can be found at : 
https://www.wto.org/english/ tratop_e/devel_e/a4t_e/jointwtowb16_e.htm  
12 Further information on speakers and presentations, along with an Informal Report can be found at : 
https://www.wto.org/engl ish/tratop_e/devel_e/a4t_e/a4tworshop171016_e.htm  
 WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  7.3.  At the 79th Session, Members considered the 2016 LDC market access Note by the  
Secretariat (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/64 and  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/64/Add.1). The LDC s suggested some 
elements for possible inclusion in future editions of the Note. At the same Session, the Secretariat 
provided a report on the 2016 annual review of developments in preferential rules of origin 
conducted by the Committee on Rules of Origin on 22 September 2016. The LDCs urged Members 
to notify measures, in accordance with the provisions of the Nairobi Decision.  
7.2  Trade -related technical assistance and capacity -building initiatives for LDCs  
7.4.  At the 77th Session, the Secretariats of the EIF and t he Standards and Trade Development 
Facility ( STDF) jointly presented the key findings of a study on the coverage of sanitary and 
phytosanitary (S PS) issues in Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies  (DTIS) . The LDCs indicated 
constraints in their human as wel l as infrastructure capacities as the main challenges for 
implementing SPS policies.  
7.5.  At the 78th Session, the Secretariat provided an update on WTO technical assistance and 
training provided to the LDCs in 2015. The LDCs benefitted from over 50%  of the Se cretariat's 
technical -assistance activities in 2015. The LDCs acknowledged th e usefulness of WTO's 
technical -assistance programmes, in particular of the internship programmes. At the same 
Session, the EIF Executive Secretariat updated the Sub -Committee on the main elements of Phase 
Two of the EIF Programme and the respective work being carried out. The LDCs thanked the 
donors of the EIF Programme and called upon Members to continue to support the EIF and to 
replenish the EIF Trust Fund.  
7.3  Accession of LDCs  
7.6.  At the 79th Session, the Secretariat made a presentation on the state of play in the accession 
working parties of the LDCs as well as activities carried out in the  context of WTO post -accession 
support. Six LDCs are currently in the process of accession (Bhu tan, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, 
Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sudan). Three more LDCs (East  Timor, Somalia and 
South  Sudan) have submitted their applications to accede to the WTO.  
7.4  Follow -up to Ministerial Decisions/Declarations  
7.7.  At the 77th Session,  the Sub -Committee considered a Secretariat Note entitled "Follow -up to 
Ministerial Declarations and Decisions Taken in Favour of Least Developed Countries" 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62). At the 78th and the 79th Session, the Sub -Committee resumed 
considera tion of t he Note. In all these s essions, the LDCs reiterated their interest in further 
analytical work and in identifying the difficulties faced by the LDCs to fully benefit from decisions 
taken in their favour. While consultations on the elements of further work w ere inconclusive, the 
Chairman encouraged delegations to remain engaged with one another on the possibility of further 
work on this topic.  
7.5  Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs  
7.8.  At the 78th Session, the LDC Coordinator provided a report on the Midterm Review of the 
IPoA for the LDCs for the Decade 2011 -2020, held in Antalya, Turkey, from 27 to 29 May 2016. 
Members were called upon to give particular attention to the implementation of the IPoA in the 
remaining five years of the Prog ramme.  
7.6  LDC Group Retreat  
7.9.  At the 78th Session, the LDC Coordinator briefed Members on the LDC Group Retreat, held in 
Montreux, Switzerland, on 18 April 2016, and introduced a submi ssion by the LDCs on their 
post-Nairobi priorities (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/63 and WT/COMTD/LDC/W/63/Corr.1 ). 
7.7  Fourteenth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD XIV)  
7.10.   At the 79th Session, the Coordinator of the LDCs in the UN System (Bangladesh) gave a 
report on the UNCTAD XIV Conference, held in Nairobi, Ke nya, from 17 to 22 July 2016. The LDCs WT/COMTD/W/221  
 
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  called for coordinated efforts in all fora, including the WTO and UNCTAD, to help achieve the 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  
7.8  Other matters considered by the Sub -Committee  
7.11.   At the 77th Session, UNIDO briefed the  Sub-Committee on the outcome of the 6th UNIDO 
LDC Ministerial Conference, held in Vienna, Austria, from 26 to 27 November 2015.  At the 
78th Session, the EU invited Members' attention to the new system of self -certification of origin of 
goods under its GSP  scheme , to be applicable as of 1 January 2017. At the 79th Session, the WTO 
LDC Coordinator reported on the outcome of the South -South Dialogue on LDCs and Development, 
which had been organi zed as part of China's LDCs and Accessions Programme in Annecy, F rance, 
from 19 to 20 September 2016. At the same meeting, the Chairman indicated that the Mission of 
the Netherlands would organize a workshop on a subject of importance for the LDCs. The 
workshop , entitled "Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs from LDCs to Participate in 
International Value Chains" , was scheduled for 15 November 2016.  
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