WT/COMTD/97  
 
29 November 2018  
(18-7558) Page: 1/8 
   
 
 
REPORT (201 8) 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 8. 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 Preferential 
Trade Arrangements , Regional  Trade A greements,  and Small Eco nomies, 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 24 April (105th Session), 5 July  
(106th Session)  and 21 November 201 8 (107th Session). The minutes of these meetings are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/ 105, WT/COMTD/M/ 106 and WT/COMTD/M/10 72, 
respectively.  
2.2.  Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting -by-meeting basis.  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 Gr oupe de la Ban que Africaine 
de Développement.  
2.3.  At the 10 5th Session, the Committee re-elected Ambassador Monique T.G. V an Daalen 
(Netherlands) as the Chair person  of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries for 201 8. 
Ambassador Diego Aulestia (Ecuador)  was elected Chairman of the CTD.  
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;  
• market  access for developing and least developed countries ; 
• template for notifying changes to an existing regional trade agreement;  
• report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO;  
• trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's concluding 
statement fro m the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8);  
• Work Programme on Electronic Commerce;   
• duty-free and quota -free (DFQF)  market access for least developed countries  (LDCs).  
 
2.1  Technical Cooperation and Training  
2.5.  At the 106th Session , the Committee took note of  the 2017 Annual Performance Report on 
Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/235).  According to the report, significant progress 
was registered during 2017 in the implementation of the 28 recommendations formulated in the 
                                                
1 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/97  
 
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  external evaluation of the WTO' s technical assistance (TA). By the end of the year, to a large extent 
through the preparation of the TA Plan for 2018 -2019, half of the recommendations could be 
considered as already implemented, and the implementation of another 29% was in progress. A  
total of 18,200 participants were trained  in 2017 , representing a drop  of 2% compared to 2016, 
following seven years of uninterrupted growth.  Close to two -thirds of the participants in WTO TA 
activities were trained online. The volume of TA activities and re lated expenses remained stable for 
the sixth consecutive year . Work on the implementation of a TA management system based on 
results continued in 2017. Work also continued to improve and enrich the substantive content of the 
TA offer. With regard to the ev aluation of performance, the results shown in 2017 were positive 
overall. The proportion of targets met increased by five percentage points compared to 2016, 
reaching 62%. The rate of indicators for which data was not available decreased significantly.  
2.2  Market Access for Developing and Least Developed Countries  
2.6.  With respect to the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), the Committee continued 
discussion at the 105th Session of the notification  under the Enabling Clause submitted by  Argentina, 
Brazil, Chil e, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay, members of LAIA (WT/COMTD/N/53) . At the same 
meeting, the Committee also considered a submission containing questions by the United States 
(US) to the delegations of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay and Ur uguay regarding 
document WT/COMTD/N/53 (WT/COMTD/W/232 – WT/REG/W/126). These documents were also 
listed on the agenda of the 106th Session. Discussion on the matter continued at the 107th Session, 
at which the responses from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexi co, Paraguay and Uruguay to the questions 
by the US (WT/COMTD/W/238) were additionally considered.  The Chairman also informed the 
Committee that several new notifications by LAIA member countries had recently been received, 
which would be circulated as soo n as possible.  
2.7.  As concerns  other regional trade agreements (RTAs), notifications under the Enabling Clause 
were made concerning the Agreement between MERCOSUR  and Egypt  (WT/COMTD/N/5 6) and the 
Agreement between Ecuador and El Salvador ( WT/COMTD/N/5 7).  
2.8.   The RTA notifications concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council  (GCC)  Customs Union, the 
ASEAN -Korea Agreement and the India -Korea Agreement remained  on the agenda of the 
105th Session . The communication from China, Egypt and India titled "Systemic and Specific Issues 
arising out of the Dual Notification of the GCC 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.  Some of these points were reiterated 
at the 106th Session. Discussion also continued at the 107th Session.3 
2.3  Template for notifying changes to an exis ting regional trade agreement : Proposal by 
the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements to the Council for Trade in Goods, the 
Council for Trade in Services, and the Committee on Trade and Development   
2.9.  At the 106th Session, the Committee  considered a templat e for notifying changes to an existing 
RTA, which was proposed by the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements to the Council for Trade 
in Goods, the Council for Trade in Services and the CTD ( WT/REG/28 ). The Chairman noted that the 
CTD was not in a position  to adopt the template at that meeting.  The template was considered once 
again at the 107th Session , and was adopted by the Committee .            
2.4  Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
2.10.   The Joint Advisory Group (JAG)  on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held 
its 52nd Session on 10 July 201 8. The report on that meeting is contained in 
document  ITC/AG(LII)/272 . Ambassador Alvaro Cedeño Molinari (Costa Rica ), the Chair man of the 
JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 107th Session. The Committee took note of the report 
and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption . 
                                                
3 The notification concerning the ASEAN -Korea Agreement was not listed on the agenda of the 107th 
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  2.5  Trade and D evelopment - Work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's 
Concluding Statement  from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  
2.11.   At the Eighth Ministerial Conference (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 discussions at the 105th, 106th and 107th Sessions on 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 remaining proposal – by 
China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group – is for the CTD to make a recommendation to 
the parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information re quirements jointly. The Chairman 
encouraged continued engagement among Members in order to make progress on these proposals. 
In addition, an updated Secretariat paper on the implementation of special and differential treatment 
provisions in the WTO Agreeme nts and Decisions (WT/COMTD/W/239) was circulated in October 
2018. 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/Rev.1), which the 
Committee a greed to at its 97th Session.  
2.6  Work Programme on Electronic Commerce  
2.12.   At the 105th Session, the Chairman drew Members’ attention to the Ministerial Decision of 13 
December 2017 on the Work Programme on E -Commerce (WT/MIN(17)/65 – WT/L/1032). He noted 
that th e Decision called, inter alia , for a continuation of the wor k under the Work Programme on 
E-Commerce, based on the existing mandate. On the basis of the Decision, he invited Members to 
consider possible ways forward for the CTD in the e -commerce area. In t he ensuing discussion, some 
ideas were shared on possible work in the CTD relating to the Work Programme on E -Commerce. In 
addition, two submissions by Chinese Taipei (JOB/GC/170 – JOB/CTG/12 – JOB/SERV/277 – 
JOB/IP/29 – JOB/DEV/53 ; and JOB/GC/171 – JOB/CT G/13 – JOB/SERV/278 – JOB/IP/30 – 
JOB/DEV/5 4) were introduced. No Member took the floor under the agenda item concerning the 
Work Programme on E -Commerce at the 106th Session. The item was also on the agenda of the 
107th Session.  A number of delegations in dicated their interest in this area. It was agreed that the 
item would remain on the agenda for the next meeting.   
2.7  Duty -Free and Quota -Free Market Access for LDCs  
2.13.   An item concerning DFQF  market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 105th, 
106th and 107th Sessions. Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group , recalled  that the Group had submitted , 
in November 2016 , a proposal concerning the draft terms of reference for a Secretariat study on 
DFQF implementation (WT/COMTD/W/218/Rev.1). Members were called up on to agree to the 
proposal.  Members were also called upon to endeavour to implement the DFQF Ministerial Decisions 
and related Decisions. At the 107th Session, the Committee conducted its annual review o f the steps 
taken to provide DFQF market access to L DCs. It was once again not possible for the Secretariat to 
issue its report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs, as mandated in the Bali Ministerial 
Decision (WT/MIN(13)/44 – WT/L/919), because of divergent views among some Members on the 
scope and cov erage of the report.  
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON  THE MONITORING MECH ANISM ON SPECIAL AND  
DIFFERENTIAL TREATME NT 
3.1.  The Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment held 
two formal meetings during 201 8, on 5 July and on 21 Novem ber 2018, both chaired by Ambassador 
Diego Aulestia (Ecuador). The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents 
WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 9 and WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 104, respectively. At the Ju ly Session, the  
Chairman noted that, according to the Decision establishing the Monitoring Mechanism 
(WT/MIN(13)/45  - WT/L/920), the monitoring of special and differential provisions is to be 
undertaken on the basis of written inputs or submissions made by Members, as we ll as on the basis 
of reports from other WTO bodies to which submissions by Members could also be made. He 
observed in this regard that no written submissions had yet been made in the Monitoring Mechanism. 
He also brought to Members' attention paragraph 12  of the Decision  establishing the Monitoring 
                                                
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  Mechanism, which states that " The Mechanism shall be reviewed three years after its first formal 
meeting, and thereafter as necessary, taking into account its functio ning and evolving 
circumstances" . It was reca lled that the issue of the review had been previously raised with 
Members, and that delegations had expressed different perspectives on the matter. Some were of 
the view that Members should proceed with the review, while others felt that a review should on ly 
take place after concrete experience had been gained. The Chairman indicated his intention to hold 
informal consultations with Members, with a view to finding a way forward on the Monitoring 
Mechanism. Discussion on these issues continued at the Novembe r session.  The Chairman urged 
Members to come to a common understanding on the way forward for the Monitoring Mechanism.   
4  DEDICATED SESSION ON  PREFERENTIAL  TRADE A RRANGEMENTS  
4.1.  The 3rd Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade Arrangements was held on 24 April 2018, and 
was chaired by Amb assador  Taonga Mushayavanhu (Zimbabwe) . The minutes of the meeting  are 
contained in document  WT/COMTD/PTA/M/3 . The Committee considered the  United States' Trade 
Preferences for Nepal (WT/COMTD/N/52 , WT/COMTD/PTA/3/1, WT/COMTD/PTA/3/2 ), as per the 
provisions of the 14 December 2010 General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for 
Preferential Trade Arrangements  (WT/L/806).  
5  DEDICATED SESSION ON  REGIONAL TRADE A GREEMENTS  
5.1.  The 9th Dedicated Session on Regional Trad e Agreements was held on 21 November  2018, and 
was chaired by Amb assador  Diego Aulestia  (Ecuador ). The minutes of the meeting are contained in 
document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/9 .5 The Committee considered the Partial  Scope Agreement between 
Panama and the Dominican Republic (Goods)  (WT/COMTD/N/49 , WT/COMTD/RTA/10/1,  
WT/COMTD/ RTA/10/2) , and the Arab Mediterranean Free Trade Agreement (A gadir Agreement) 
between Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia ( Goods) (WT/COMTD/N/48 , WT/COMTD/RTA/11 /1, 
WT/COMTD/RTA/11/2), as per the provisions of the 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on 
a Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (WT/L/671).  
6  DEDICATED SESSION ON  SMALL ECONOMIES   
6.1.  In 2018, the CTD in Dedicated Session held two formal meetings on the Work Programme on 
Small Economies. The meetings were chaired by Ambassador Diego  Aulestia (Ecuador). The minutes 
of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COM TD/SE/M/36 and WT/COMTD/SE/M/37 .6 At 
the 36th Dedicated Session  on 7 June, Members continued their work  on the challenges and 
opportunities e xperienc ed by Small Economies in their efforts to reduce trade costs, particularly in 
the area of trade f acilitation, as mandated in the Ministerial Decision on the Work  Programme on 
Small Economies (WT/MIN(17)/63  – WT/L/1030).  Speakers from the WTO and the G overnments of 
Panama and Sri Lanka made presentations on global trends in trade costs and examined in detail 
factors that affe ct trade costs like transportation, remoteness, lack of export diversification and 
NTMs. Delegates from several small and vulnerable economies ( SVEs) also shared their countries' 
experiences in this field. At the 37th Dedicated Session  on 1 November, work focused on best 
practices and policy approaches for addressing the challenges identified in the previous meeting. 
Speakers from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) and the 
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)  made presentations o n the trends of digital connectivity in 
the SVEs and how improving it could contribute to reducing trade costs. The determinants of 
transport costs were discussed , stressing the relevance of maritime transport, its related 
infrastructure and shippers' mark et. A representative from the Government of Mongolia shared the 
views of a landlocked country and a representative from the Government of Mauritius talked about 
issues that were beyond the control of SVEs and asked for p olicy space to address them.  Delegat es 
from several SVEs took the floor to make comments and share their national experiences.  
7  AID FOR TRADE  
7.1.  The CTD held its 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Sessions on Aid for Trade in 2018, on 19 F ebruary 
(reconvened on 23 April), 3 July, and 6 November, respectively.  The 42nd Session was held to 
consider the draft 2018 -2019 Aid for Trade Work Programme and was reconvened on 23 April. After 
a number of informal consultations, the 2018 -2019 Aid for Trade Work Programme was noted  by 
                                                
5 To be issued.  
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  the General Council on 8 May with the theme "Supporting Economic Diversification and 
Empowerment for Inclusive, Sustainable Development through Aid for Trade" 
(WT/COMTD/AFT/W/75). The 42nd Session was chaired by Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu 
(Zimbabwe) and the 43rd and 44th Sessions by Ambass ador Diego Aulestia (Ecuador).  The minutes 
of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/42, WT/COMTD/AFT/M/43 and 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/447, respectively.  
7.2.  The General Council took note of the 2018 -2019 Aid -for-Trade Work Programme at its meeting 
on 24 February 201 8. The new Work Programme seeks to further develop analysis on how trade can 
contribute to economic diversification and empowerment, with a focus on eliminating extreme 
poverty, particularly through the effective participation of women and y outh, and how Aid for Trade 
can contribute to that objective by addressing supply -side capacity and trade -related infrastructure 
constraints, including for Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) notably for those 
MSMEs in rural areas. Other issu es to be developed during the Work Programme will include 
industrialization and structural transformation, digital connectivity and skills, as well as sustainable 
development and access to energy.  
7.3.  The 2018 Aid -for-Trade monitoring and evaluation exercise was launched by the CTD on 
6 November 2018 with a deadline for responses of 31 December 2018.  At the CTD Aid for Trade 
meeting of 6 November 2018, the CTD Chairman informed Members  that the 2019 Global Review 
would be held on 3 -5 July 2019 and would addres s the theme of the work programme: "Supporting 
Economic Diversification and Empowerment for Inclusive, Sustainable Development through Aid for 
Trade".  
7.4.  Under the CTD Aid for Trade agenda item on implementation and resource mobilization 
activities, the World  Bank Group (WBG), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African 
Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank, and the United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO) provided regular updates on their respective activities.  At the 
43rd Session, the Standards and Trade Development Facility ( STDF) noted that it ha d commissioned 
regional research work in South -East Asia and Southern Africa to identify and disseminate good 
practices on how to implement SPS controls in a way that facilitates  safe trade, while minimizing 
trade transaction costs. At the 44th Session , the US informed Members about the US International 
Development Finance Corporation,  and the World Bank Group updated on the 2019 World 
Development Report which would discuss trade.     
7.5.  On mainstreaming activities, Members gave updates on their Aid for Trade  activities within the 
context of their recent Trade Policy Reviews. At the 42nd Session, Cambodia noted its Aid-for-Trade  
activities through the EIF , including the 2014 -2018 Cambo dia Trade Integration Strategy and the 
2016-2020 Medium Term Plan. At the 43rd Session, Colombia, Guinea, Montenegro, Norway and the 
Philippines made statements pursuant to their Trade Policy Reviews. At the 44th Session , China, 
Vanuatu, Chinese Taipei and  Egypt reported on Aid for Trade pursuant to their recent Trade Policy 
Reviews.  Australia provided information in its national aid for trade targets and an on -going review 
of the effectiveness of programmes.  The US also provided an update on the activiti es of its 
Commercial Law Development  Program .  
7.6.  The EIF gave updates on its trade mainstreaming activities at successive meetings, notably as 
regards the revised draft of the EIF Strategic Plan 2019 -2022 presented to the EIF Board in 
November. The EIF organ ized its first Global Forum on Inclusive Trade exclusively dedicated to the 
LDCs on 13 -14 June. At that occasion, two new partnerships were formed with the Commonwealth 
Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat  (PIFS)  on trade -related technical  assistance for 
LDC graduation and regionalization . At the 44th Session,  the EIF announced its commitment of  over 
US$8 million with 15 new institutional, analytical, and productive capacity building projects . The EIF 
Strategic Plan 2019 – 2022 "Inclusive Trade for Better Lives" focuses on improving trade 
environment in LDCs and increasing their exports and market access.   
7.7.  On the regional dimension, the WTO Secretariat reported at the 42nd Session on the joint ADB, 
WTO, PIFS, Government of Australia and the  University of South Pacific regional even t on "Aid for 
Trade in Asia and the Pacific: Promoting Connectivity for Inclusive  Development" in Suva, Fiji on 
7 - 8 February 2018. At the 43rd Session, Japan shared with Members the outcome of the Eighth 
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM), held on  18-19 May in Fukushima , and the WTO Secretariat 
                                                
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  reported on the joint ADB -United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 
(UNESCAP )-WTO event on "Promoting connectivity for an inclusive Asia an d the Pacific" in Tashkent, 
Uzbekistan on 27 -28 June 2018 with a focus on WTO accession, e -commerce, trade facilitation and 
Aid for Trade. At the 44th Session , the ADB informed on its new corporate strategy to 2030 – a 
strategy that included women's econom ic empowerment as one of five key thematic areas.   
7.8.  On the Private Sector, the ITC reported on its work on SheTrades, Global Trade Helpdesk, 
Cotton Portal (jointly with the WTO), the ‘Eastern Partnership: Ready to Trade – EU4Business 
Initiative’ (jointly w ith the European Union (EU) ) and the EU -ITC Youth Empowerment Project at the 
42nd Session. At the 44th Session , the ITC further reported on the SheTrade s outlook , Global Trade 
Helpdesk , its Youth Empowerment programme in The Gambia, ITC At Hand app for iPh ones and their 
participation at the China International Import Expo 2018 .  Nigeria, Vanuatu, Afghanistan and 
Burkina Faso highlighted the utility of the ITC programmes which had benefitted them.  
7.9.  In relation to monitoring and evaluation activities, at the 43rd Session, the Organisation for 
Economic Cooperation and Development (O ECD) updated the Committee on the latest Aid for Trade 
flows. Aid for Trade disbursements in 2016 totalled US$38.3 billion and commitments totalled US$51 
billion. Aid for Trade  disbursements between 2006 and 2016 reached US$342 billion and 
commitments US$60 billion. Between 2015 and 2016, disbursements fell by US$1.5 billion and 
commitments by US$4.2 billion. These drops largely hit LDCs and lower -income countries. The OECD 
noted that official development assistance ( ODA) terms are hardening (with more loans provided 
than grants). In the OECD's view, this could lead to debt sustainability issues in the future. Overall, 
Aid for Trade has increased significantly since the start of the Aid -for-Trade Initiative in 2006. The 
OECD suggested there was an additional US$10 billion per year of Aid for Trade due to the 
Aid-for-Trade Initiative. At the 44th Session , the monitoring and evaluation exercise for 2018 -2019 
was agreed and launched by the CTD Chair.  A date of 31 December 2018 was agreed for the 
submission of responses.  One Member requested that the Secretariat exercise some flexibility and 
allow further submissions to be made in January 2019.  
7.10.   Two dedicated thematic workshops were h eld on 5 November under the auspices of the CTD 
Aid for Trade as follows: "Industrialization, Economic Diversification and Structural Transformation" , 
and "Economic Diversification and Empowerment with a Focus on Youth and Women (including in 
Rural Areas).  Reports on the workshops were given at the CTD Aid -for-Trade formal sessions.  
8  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEA ST DEVELOPED COUNTRI ES 
8.1.  In 2018,  the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the Sub -Committee) 
held t hree formal meetings on 25 April  (82nd Session), 14 September  (83rd Session)  and 30 October 
(84th Session) , chaired by Ambassador  Monique T.G. Van Daalen (Netherlands). The minutes of the 
meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/LDC /M/82, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/83 and 
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/848, 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; and (iii) accession 
of LDCs. The Sub -Committee further considered a briefing by the Secretariat of the UN Committee 
for Development Policy (CDP) on graduation of LDCs.9 The delegation of the Central African Republic 
acted as the Coordi nator of the LDC Group in 2018 . 
8.1  Market Access for LDCs  
8.2.  At the 82nd Session, the Secretariat provided an update on LDCs' goods and services trade, 
including recent trends in tourism . Members engaged in a rich discussion, with the LDCs stressing 
the need for broadening their export base, increasi ng their share in global exports, and address ing 
their chronic trade deficit. At the same session, the Secretariat provide d a report on the annual 
review (2017) of developments in preferential rules of origin for LDCs  in the Committee on Rules of 
Origin  (CRO). The LDC s called on Members to make further progress in the implemen tation of the 
Nairobi Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs ( WT/L/917 ). 
                                                
8 To be issued.  
9 The overarching goal of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs for the Decade 2011 -2020 is to 
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  8.3.  At the 83rd Session, the representative of the EU briefed Members on the state of 
implementation of the Registered Exporter (REX) system of certification of ori gin of goods relating 
to the EU's  Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)  scheme, which was introduced on 
1 January  2017. Attention was invited to LDCs that had not  fulfilled the prerequisites to apply the 
REX system. The LDC s acknowledged the need to follow -up with capitals in this respect.  
8.4.  At the 84th Session, the Sub -Committee considered the 2018 LDC market access report by the 
Secretariat (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/66). Members expressed appreciation for the report  and engaged 
in a substantive discussion. The LDC s called on preference -granting Members to improve their DFQF  
market access conditions for products from the LDCs.  At the same se ssion, the Secretariat provided 
a report on the annual review of developments in preferential rules of origin for LDCs, which had 
taken place in the CRO on 15 -16 October 2018 (G/RO/87). The LDCs welcomed the progress made, 
in particular on transparency, an d looked forward to continuing focused discussions in the CRO.  
8.2  Trade -related Technical Assistance and Capacity -building Initiatives for LDCs  
8.5.  At the 82nd Session, the Executive Secretariat of the EIF provided an update on EIF activities, 
highlighting progre ss in the mobilization of resources and the development of a new Medium Term 
Strategic Plan (2019 -2022). Both LDCs and donors welcomed the progress made by the EIF, and 
expressed appreciation for the work undertaken by the EIF Secretariat. The LDCs called on Members 
to support the EIF.  
8.6.  At the 83rd Session, t he Secretariat reported on WTO technical assistance and training provided 
to the  LDCs, noting that the WTO continued giving priority to the LDCs. In 2017, LDCs were 
associated with 60% of all technical a ssistance activities organized. The LDCs expressed appreciation 
for WTO's support to strengthen their human and institutional capacities, and requested the WTO to 
cover local costs associated with organizing national activities in LDCs. At the same meeting , the 
Secretariat of the STDF briefed the Sub -Committee on recent activities, highlighting that the LDCs 
were benefitting from close to 60% of project funds. The LDCs called on donors to increase their 
contributions to the STDF.  
8.3  Accession of LDCs  
8.7.  At the 83rd Session, the Secretariat made  a presentation on the progress of LDC accessions 
since 1995 , including on the status of eight ongoing LDC accessions  (Bhutan, Comoros, Ethiopia, 
Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor -Leste) . Key developm ents in 
2017-2018 included the establishment of a Working Party on the Accession of South Sudan at MC11 
and the expansion of outreach activit ies for sharing experiences among acceding and 
recently -acceded LDCs. The LDC s highlighted the importance of flexibilities  and technical assistance  
in LDC accessions  and called on Members to adhere to the LDC accession guidelines . Another Member  
commented on the accession process's important long -term contributions to sustainable 
development for Members at different stages of development, including for the LDCs, noting that 
countries joining the WTO became stronger and more resilient in view of the reforms they were 
undertaking as part of accession.  
8.4  LDC Graduation  
8.8.  At the 84th Session, the Secretariat of the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) briefed 
Members on LDC graduation , report ing that 12 LDCs were expected to graduate in the near future 
and support measures were being taken to ensure smooth transition. The LDC s requested assistance 
from the WTO to help graduating LDCs improve their understanding of the trade -related implications 
of graduation so that they would be better prepared to address graduation -related challenges and 
participate in  the multilateral trading sy stem.  
8.5  Other Matters Considered by the Sub -Committee  
8.9.  At the 82nd Session, UNIDO reported on the 7th UNIDO LDC Ministerial Conferenc e, held in 
Vienna, Austria, on  23-24 November 2017 , which called for global partnerships to mobilize resources 
for inclusive a nd sustainable  industrial development in LDCs . The LDCs highlighted that 
industrialization, structural transformation and diversification were priorities for the LDCs.  WT/COMTD/97  
 
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  8.10.   At the same session, the LDCs briefed Members on the priority issues contained in the LD C 
Ministerial Declaration  (WT/MIN(17)/40 ) adopted at MC11 , such as fisheries subsidies, agriculture, 
including domestic support to cotton, special and differential treatment, LDC accessions, non -tariff 
barriers, technology transfer and positive actions for  LDCs on graduation. The LDCs indicated their 
intention to prepare a concept note on the issue of LDC graduation for consideration in the 
Sub-Committee.  
8.11.   At the 84th Session,  the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) briefed Members on the support 
it provided to the LDCs in terms of free legal advice, training and WTO dispute settlement support. 
Members expressed appreciation for the services provided by the ACWL.   
8.12.   At the 82nd Session and the 84th Session, the representative of the EU updated Members on 
the ong oing review of the EU's GSP regulation (2014 -2023) under "Other Business". At the 84th 
Session, she informed Members that the European Commission had completed the midterm 
evaluation of the regulation in October 2018, and that her delegation intended to ha ve a discussion 
of the findings in 2019 . 
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