JOB/GC/77  
 
5 May 2015  
(15-2402)  Page: 1/2  
General Council    
 
  AGENDA ITEM 2: REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE  
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE  
TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2015 
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1.1.  Since the General Council in February, the TNC held its 36
th formal meeting on 27 April. 
I also convened a Room W meeting on 18 March. At both of these meetings, Members reviewed their progress in developing a work program on the remaining DDA issues by July this year. 
1.2.  At last week's TNC, we had the opportunity to  hear directly from all the Chairs on their recent 
consultations. The full texts of their reports, together with my assessment were immediately made 
available to delegations in document JOB/TNC/47.  
1.3.  I said at the TNC that I thought we should seek to avoid a repetition today of last week's 
discussion. Therefore I think that it makes sense to  add all of the statements that were made at 
the TNC to the record of this meeting as a matte r of course. Unless anybody requests otherwise, 
that means my statement, statements from the Chairs, and statements from Members – all of 
them will be reflected in the minutes of the TN C which will be added to the record of today's 
General Council.  
1.4.  Members had the opportunity to express thei r views on the way forward at the TNC. Overall, 
I believe that we had a useful exchange of vi ews on the progress we are making and on the 
challenges we still face.  
1.5.  Mr Chairman, I drew three main conclusions from what I heard from Chairs at the TNC, but 
also from my own consultations. I would like to briefly reiterate my assessment, this morning. 
1.6.  My first conclusion was that a lot of good work has been done in the past few weeks, in 
particular in the three core areas. This positive engagement is essential, but we cannot escape the fact that there are "gateway" issues that we need to  tackle very quickly. However, also at the TNC, 
many delegations noted that, we have to be aware of the damaging consequences that any kind of 
de-facto sequencing may have. 
1.7.  My second conclusion was that development and LDC issues must continue to remain central 
to our work. I think this was a clear message from many delegations and groups at the TNC. The 
Global Review of Aid for Trade in June will provide an important focus to the development 
component of our work. The Global Review will also mark the re-launch of the Enhanced Integrated Framework for the LDCs. In addition, I will remain closely engaged with broader efforts 
such as the UN's work on Financing for Development and discussions on the post-2015 
development agenda. 
1.8.  On a related point, I would like to rais e the issue of the operationalization of the LDC 
Services Waiver. As you all know there was a very  successful high-level meeting on this issue in 
February. Over 25 Members indicated LDC services sectors and modes of supply to which they will give preferential treatment. However, so fa r, only one Member has followed through and 
submitted a notification. I think it is very important that we deliver on these commitments – 
keeping in mind the agreed indicative timeline of the end of July.  JOB/GC/77 
 
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  1.9.  My third conclusion was that, while progress has been difficult, this was clearly to be 
expected, and there are reasons to be positive. Engagement levels have been very high. Delegations have been constructive and have mo ved to a solution-finding mode. A number of new 
ideas and papers have emerged. I believe we now have a number of areas where potential 
outcomes exist that could be acceptable to everyone. What I believe is important now, is to begin 
to seek an overall balance. The key potential trade-offs between the different areas are not clearly on the table as yet.  
1.10.  This is why I announced at the TNC that I would increasingly look at ways to facilitate a 
discussion on the horizontal trade-offs, including through the wider Room W process. And the importance of this horizontal process underlines how vital it is that we make substantive movement in all areas to facilitate these trade-offs. 
1.11.  Mr Chairman, many Members and Groups emphasized at the TNC that we must not only 
bear in mind our mandate from Ministers, but crucially, we must deliver on it – and do so with an appropriate level of ambition. I wish to re-emphasi ze what I said at the TNC. Whatever the nature 
of the work program that Members will deliver in July, it has to be credible. 
1.12.  In my view, the work program must fulfil three criteria: 
 It must be substantive and meaningful. 
 It must provide clear guidance on how to conclude the negotiations. 
 And it must be a springboard to a successful MC10. 
1.13.  Following the realistic assessment of our prog ress at last week's meeting, I believe Members 
all share the same sense of urgency. Together with the negotiating group Chairs and the Chairman 
of the General Council, I will intensify my consulta tions in the coming weeks. But progress will be 
up to you. We can provide the pitch, the ball and the kit – but you are the players. So I urge you to redouble your efforts: to stay engaged, to keep being creative, to keep bringing fresh ideas to 
the table, and to stay focused on what is doable.  
1.14.  This concludes my report. 
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