WT/GC/W/808  
27 November 2020  
(20-8590) Page: 1/2 
General Council  
16-17 December 2020  Original: English/French  
 
  
DRAFT GENERAL COUNCIL DECLARATION  
ACTION PLAN TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR COTTON BY -PRODUCT  
DEVELOPMENT IN LDCS  
Communication from Burkina Faso on behalf of the C -4 and Côte d'Ivoire  
The following communication, dated 26 November 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation  of Burkina Faso on behalf of the C -4 and Côte d'Ivoire.  
 
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The General Council,  
Recalling the Ministerial Decisions of Nairobi in 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/46 of 21  December  2015) and 
Bali in 2013 (W T/MIN(13)/41 of 11  December  2013) on cotton development assistance;  
Reaffirming the importance of enhanced investments and technology transfer enabling the 
development of sustainable cotton by -product industries that contribute to poverty alleviation 
throu gh value addition, better integration into national, regional and international value chains, and 
ensuing income generation in cotton -producing  developing countries, especially the  least-developed 
countries (LDCs) ; 
Taking into account the commitment of the  Secretariats of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Centre 
(ITC), within the framework of the joint initiative on cotton by -product development, approved by 
WTO Me mbers at the meeting of the WTO Director -General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on 
Cotton (DGCFMC) of 21  November  2018;  
Taking into account  the support and cooperation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the 
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the United Nations Industrial Development 
Programme (UNIDO)  and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO);  
With a view to enhancing the impact of action taken by the co -sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in 
Favour of Cotton (C4) in collaboration with development partners;  
Declares that:  
We, WTO Members, share the goal of achieving increased revenues from cotton for stakeholders, 
especially smallholder and women farmers, by developing and adding value to cotton by -products.  
We consider that additional income earning opportunities from cotton by -products could also 
increase resilience against market shocks as witne ssed during the presently experienced COVID -19 
pandemic.  
We highlight the important contribution that , among other tools to achieve sustainable development, 
the circular economy and the utilization of wastes and residues in the value chain, followed by the ir WT/GC/W/808  
 
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  processing and commercialization as cotton by -products can make  to the transition towards 
sustainable agricultural practices , as appropriate and in accordance with national circumstances . 
We further note the significance of food/feed -related cotton by -products for increased food security.  
We recognize the opportunities and challenges faced in  developing countries and especially the LDCs, 
in particular by micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, in relation to the production, local 
processing and commer cialization of cotton and its by -products.  
We also recognize the important role of the WTO in promoting an open, transparent, non -
discriminatory and predictable trade regulatory environment that facilitate s the production, local 
processing and commercializ ation of cotton and its by -products.  
We shall encourage public and private sector stakeholders to support enhanced investments and 
technology transfer to achieve the above -mentioned goals through the development of viable cotton 
by-product industries in LD Cs. 
By the same token, we endeavour  to support technical assistance and capacity building activities to 
enable and accompany enhanced investments and technology transfer for cotton by -products in 
LDCs, with priority to activities aimed at:  
(1) Increased en gagement of public and private sector stakeholders in commercial 
initiatives to add value to cotton by -products . 
(2) Enhanced capacity of cotton farmers, including women farmers, to collectively engage 
in value addition activities for cotton and its by -products  (SDG  5). 
(3) Strengthened capacities of farmer representative groups to negotiate appropriate 
remuneration for produced fibres and by -products . 
(4) Enhanced capacity of cottonseed processors to improve oil recovery rates and market 
by-products effect ively, including through modern, cost -competitive production 
techniques and technologies . 
(5) Improved capacity of policy makers to formulate evidence -based policies and ensure 
policy coherence in support of the development of cotton by -products . 
(6) Ident ifying the means to contribute to increas ed revenues for cotton producers and 
processors as well as for poverty reduction (SDGs 1, 8 and 10) , including through the 
creation of  sustainable and resilient industrial and trade -related infrastructure to the 
benefit of cotton producers and processors (SDGs 9 and 12).  
(7) Promoting consideration of ways in which economic operators in cotton value chains can 
be supported through appropriate assistance . 
(8) Engagement with existing mechanisms and programs for promoting transfer of 
technology and building capacity to add value to cotton by -products through technology 
transfer measures and technical and financial cooperation under Article 66.2 and 
Article  67 respectively of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (TRIPS).  
We undertake to continue to conduct in the Consultative Framework a dedicated and focused 
discussion on these elements.  
We encourage other partners from the development community to join us and to support and 
enhanc e the development of cotton by -products in  developing countries and especially the LDCs.  
We shall receive report s about progress on the implementation of this Joint -Action Plan at future 
WTO Ministerial Conferences and, on a regular basis, at DGCFMC meetin gs. 
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