JOB/GC/196  
 
27 July 2018  
(18-4768) Page: 1/2 
General Council    
 
AGENDA ITEM 2: IMPLE MENTATION OF THE BAL I, NAIROBI AND BUENO S AIRES 
OUTCOMES – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
THURS DAY, 26 JULY  2018 
1.1.  This item remains on the agenda to follow up on the decisions adopted in Bali, Nairobi and 
Buenos Aires – and do so in an inclusive and transparent manner.  
1.2.  On Monday, 23 July, I held a meeting with the Chairs of Regular Bodies, where we heard 
updates on t he work taking place in these bodies, including with respect to the implementation of 
the Ministerial mandates. The discussions from that meeting are the basis of my statement today.  
1.3.  Let me also point out that matters related to the Work Programmes on Sma ll Economies and 
on Electronic Commerce will be taken up in the next two items of our agenda.  
1.4.  Regarding the Buenos Aires Decision on TRIPS Non Violation and Situation Complaints,  the 
TRIPS Council continued its work on this matter at its June meeting, wher e a number of 
delegations expressed readiness to engage in a substantive discussion of scope and modalities, 
should non -violation complaints become applicable to TRIPS. The TRIPS Council Chair will continue 
small group consultations ahead of the Council's next meeting in November.  
1.5.  Regarding some of the Decisions on Agriculture,  at its June meeting, the Committee on 
Agriculture continued its reviews of the Bali  Decision on TRQ Administration and the Nairobi 
Decision on Export Competition. The Chair of the Co mmittee on Agriculture suggested that the 
Committee conclude the triennial review of the Nairobi Decision at its September meeting, while 
the Review of the Bali TRQ Administration Decision is expected to conclude in 2019.  
1.6.  The third dedicated discussion pur suant to the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition also 
took place in June. The Secretariat subsequently circulated the document with the replies to the 
questions asked during the meeting as well as the revised Secretariat's background document on 
export competition.  
1.7.  Australia, Israel and Norway have their revised schedules certified while Canada, Colombia, 
the European Union, South Africa, Switzerland and Uruguay have circulated draft revised 
schedules pursuant to the Nairobi Decision. Other Members with scheduled export subsidies 
commitments updated the CoA on the steps taken to implement the Decision.  
1.8.  Let us move to Development and LDC matters, and begin with the Decision on Preferential 
Rules of Origin for LDCs. Only  6 preference -granting Members are ye t to submit their notification 
using the new template adopted in 2017, with Kazakhstan being the most recent Member to do so. 
In October, Members will conduct another annual review of developments in this area where they 
will consider a new note on prefere nce utilization and continue their examination of existing origin 
requirements.  
1.9.  Turning to the LDC Services Waiver, at  the May meeting of the Services Council, the LDC 
Group and Bangladesh put forward a number of specific ideas on technical assistance and capacity 
building measures in line with paragraphs 1.4 an d 1.5 of the Nairobi Decision. A number of 
delegations asked LDCs to provide greater detail  on their different proposals. The CTS Chair will 
further consult Members on how to advance the process. To date, 24 notifications have been 
received on the part of 51 Members.  JOB/GC/196  
 
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  1.10.   The LDCs also continue to highlight the importance they attach to DFQF market access as it 
remains a standing item on the CTD's agenda. At the July CTD meeting, the LDCs called  on 
Members  to agree to their 2016 proposal for the Secretariat to carry out a study on the "clinical 
examination" of DFQF implementation.  
1.11.   Regarding the Bali Decision on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential 
Treatment, a common understanding h as yet to  be reached on how to proceed with the 
Mechanism's review - which was mandated to take place three years after the first formal meeting. 
The CTD Chair intends to hold further consultations in this regard after the summer break.  
1.12.   Regarding Aid for Trade , its 2018-2019 work programme with the theme " Supporting 
economic diversification and empowerment for inclusive, sustainable development through Aid for 
Trade ", has now moved into the implementation phase, which includes meetings, workshops, and 
the 2019 Aid f or Trade Global Review. The CTD Chair intends to consult on the parameters of Aid 
for Trade achievements and the monitoring and evaluation exercise in preparation for the Review.  
1.13.   At a recent meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology,  discussions 
continued on the basis of a WIPO presentation on " Harnessing Public Research for Innovation and 
Knowledge/Technology Transfer – The Role of Intellectual Property ". The FAO has been invited to 
share its work in relevant areas at its next meetin g. 
1.14.   Lastly, on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 137 acceptance  
instruments have already been deposited – corresponding to 84 percent of the Membership.  
 
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