WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62  
 
21 March 2016  
(16-1616)  Page: 1/9  
Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries    
 
FOLLOW-UP TO MINISTERIAL DECLARATIONS  AND DECISIONS TAKEN IN FAVOUR OF 
LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Contents 
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 1  
2   HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON INTEGRAT ED INITIATIVES FO R LEAST DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES' TRADE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................. 2  
3   UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES FO R THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ................ 2  
4   MAJOR DECLARATIONS AND DECISI ONS RELATING TO NEGOTIATIONS ..................... 3  
5   MAJOR DECLARATIONS AND DECISI ONS RELATING TO REGULAR WORK .................... 7  
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The WTO Work Programme for the LDCs (hereafter the "Work Programme"), initially adopted 
in 2002, and subsequently revised in 2013 (WT/COMT D/LDC/11/Rev.1), identifies the follow-up to 
WTO Ministerial Decisions/Declarations as one of the issues to be taken up in the Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the "Sub-Committee"). In particular, the Sub-Committee 
has been asked to establish an agenda item entitled: "Follow-up to Ministerial 
Decisions/Declarations" where Members would be invited to report on measures taken in fulfilment of these Decisions and Declarations. In this respect, the Work Programme specifically refers to measures taken at the 1997 High-Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives for Least Developed 
Countries' Trade Development, the two UN Conferen ces on the LDCs, i.e. the Brussels Conference 
in 2001 and the Istanbul Conference in 2011, as well as WTO Ministerial Declarations and Decisions.  
1.2.  At the Seventy-Sixth Session of the Sub-Committee held on 12 October 2015, Members 
asked the Secretariat to prepare a factual note pursuant to this item of the Work Programme. This Note responds to that request. It mainly tracks the major declarations and decisions taken in 
favour of the LDCs as well as related follow-up actions at the WTO. The Note does not purport to 
be exhaustive; nor does it attempt to make an assessment of the progress made in the implementation of commitments undertaken by WTO Members in favour of the LDCs. 
1.3.   This Note is structured around four sections. Following the Introduction, Section 2 touches 
on the High-Level Meeting held in 1997 and related follow-up activities. Section 3 highlights the 
developments in relation to the trade-related elements of the two Programmes of Action for the LDCs adopted at the UN Conferences in Brussels (2001) and Istanbul (2011) – as far as they 
relate to the work and mandate of the WTO. Fu rthermore, it mentions relevant LDC issues 
included in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  
1.4.  Sections 4 and 5 provide a chronological account - by theme - of major WTO declarations and 
decisions, taken in the context of the Doha negotiations and the ongoing regular WTO work, 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to thei r rights and obligations under the WTO. 
 WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  respectively. They also refer to follow-up work and actions taken by Members as well as relevant 
WTO bodies. 
2  HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON INTEGRAT ED INITIATIVES FOR LEAST DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES' TRADE DEVELOPMENT 
2.1.  At the WTO Singapore Ministerial Conference in 1996, Members agreed to organize a meeting 
along with other international agencies to foster an integrated approach for assisting LDCs in enhancing their trading opportunities. Accordingly, the High-Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives 
for Least Developed Countries' Trade Development was organized jointly by the WTO and other 
international organizations on 27-28 October 1997. One of the key outcomes of this meeting was 
the launching of the Integrated Framework (IF) as a collaborative programme to address the specific needs of LDCs. Since then, the IF has evolved into a flagship capacity-building, 
multi-donor programme supporting LDCs to use trade as a vehicle for economic growth and 
poverty reduction.  
2.2.  The IF transformed into the Enhanced Inte grated Framework (EIF) in 2009 – with additional 
financial resources, stronger national and global governance structures and greater coordination 
among all EIF partners. Following the first phase,  Phase Two of the EIF began on 1 January 2016 
and will last for seven years until 2022. The progress in this programme over the past 18 years is 
illustrative of the efforts made by the WTO, as well as other stakeholders in the EIF, to help LDCs 
mainstream trade into their national development strategies as well as to build trade capacity through leveraging donor support. Though the EI F has its own governing bodies, the Executive 
Secretariat of the EIF regularly updates the Sub-Committee on all aspects of developments of the 
EIF.   
2.3.  At the High-Level Meeting in 1997, in addi tion to endorsing the establishment of the IF, a 
large number of WTO Members reported on preferenti al market access initiatives that they either 
provided or were contemplating to provide to imports from LDCs. These reports by Members, 
which can be consulted in document WT/LDC/HL/M/ 1, were in response to the Comprehensive and 
Integrated WTO Plan of Action for the Least Developed Countries adopted at the Singapore 
Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(96)/14). The Plan of Action, inter alia , suggested that developed 
and developing country Members, on an autonomous basis, would explore possibilities of granting preferential duty-free access for LDC exports. It may be noted that the spirit and the momentum 
on providing preferential market access to LDCs , generated during the 1996 Singapore Ministerial 
Conference and the 1997 High-Level Meeting, were firmly embedded in the WTO agenda leading to 
enhanced market access opportunities for LDC products (see Section 4). 
3  UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
3.1.  Since 1981, the UN has been convening Co nferences on LDCs, once a decade, to garner 
international support for LDCs to overcome the challenges faced by them in being able to beneficially integrate into the world economy. Since the adoption of the Work Programme, two 
such Conferences have been held. The Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries 
(LDC-III), held in Brussels in 2001, adopted the Br ussels Programme of Action (BPoA) for the LDCs 
for the decade 2001-2010. The Fourth UN Confer ence on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV), 
held in Istanbul in 2011, adopted the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for the LDCs for the 
decade 2011-2020. These Programmes of Action articulate policies and measures to be taken by 
LDCs, as well as their development partners, for the sustainable development of the LDCs. Apart from UN members, a broad range of institutions and organizations are expected to contribute to 
achieving the goals and objectives set out through these programmes of actions.  
3.2.  The WTO shares the common goal of beneficially integrating the LDCs into the multilateral 
trading system (MTS). In both th e BPoA and IPoA, trade has been id entified as one of the priority 
areas of action for accelerating economic growth and development in LDCs. Most of the 
trade-related elements of these two Programmes of Ac tion have been an integral part of the Work 
Programme for the LDCs. Many issues of the trad e agenda that the LDCs follow in the WTO such 
as enhanced market access for goods and services, flexibility in the implementation of WTO 
Agreements, streamlining of the accession process of LDCs as well as the development of human 
and institutional capacity have also been identified  as priorities in both the BPoA and the IPoA. The 
WTO provided two substantive reports on the state of implementation on commitments made in WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  the BPoA by the international community, in particular, those falling within the work and mandate 
of the WTO (WT/COMTD/LDC/13 and WT/COMTD/LDC/17). 
3.3.  The IPoA is the most recent reference for international support in favour of LDCs. The IPoA 
identified trade as one of eight priority areas fo r action for ensuring LDCs' sustainable economic 
development. It contains a number of elements that are priorities in the WTO such as making 
progress towards providing duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market access for LDC products, including preferential rules of origin, facilitating and accelerating LDC accessions, implementing 
effective trade-related technical assistance, including through the strengthening of capacity in 
goods and services trade, and addressing non-tariff measures. There has been incremental progress in all these areas for the benefit of LDCs and they remain under continuous focus in the work of the WTO. The WTO continues to report on measures taken in favour of LDCs supporting 
the implementation of IPoA.  
3.4.  In September 2015, the international community adopted the UN 2030 Agenda for 
Sustainable Development, which recognizes trade as an engine for inclusive economic growth and 
poverty reduction, and its contribution to the promotion of sustainable development. As a means 
of implementation, trade plays a key role in ac hieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 
with Goal 17 specifically calling for a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and 
equitable MTS under the WTO. Regarding LDCs, the SDGs call for increasing Aid for Trade for 
LDCs, doubling the LDCs' share of global exports by 2020, implementing DFQF market access for all LDCs and ensuring transparent and simple prefer ential rules of origin. Once again, these issues 
are being pursued actively in the WTO. 
4  MAJOR DECLARATIONS AND DECISIONS RELATING TO NEGOTIATIONS  
4.1.  The Work Programme for the LDCs was adopted shortly after the Doha Round of negotiations 
had been launched, which, inter alia,  committed to address the marginalization of LDCs in 
international trade and to build effectively on  the commitments made by the international 
community, including at the Brussels Conference  in 2001. Despite the Doha Round not having 
been concluded, a number of key decisions have been  taken in favour of LDCs over the span of the 
past 15 years. This section provides a brief chronological account - by theme - of the major 
declarations and decisions taken in favour of LDCs in the context of negotiations.  
4.1  Duty-free and Quota-free Market Access 4.2.  The pursuit of DFQF market access for LDC products has been a shared goal of the WTO and 
UN membership. In the 2001 Doha Ministerial Declaration, Ministers committed themselves to the 
objective of providing DFQF market access to LDC products, as well as to consider taking 
additional measures for the progressive improvement in market access for LDCs. A concrete 
decision on DFQF was adopted at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in 2005, which sets out 
substantive provisions as well as a notification  procedure for the implementation of the schemes 
adopted in this regard (Annex F, WT/MIN(05)/DEC). At the Bali Ministerial Conference in 2013, 
Members adopted a decision that provided further impetus to provide DFQF market access for LDC 
products (WT/L/919). 
4.3.  Pursuant to these decisions, significant progress has been made in providing DFQF market 
access to LDC products. Both developed and developing country Members have either introduced 
or enhanced their DFQF schemes for LDCs and, in most cases, have also notified these initiatives 
to the WTO.  
4.4.  Since the Hong Kong DFQF Decision, the re view of steps taken by Members to provide DFQF 
market access has been a standing item on the agenda of the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD). An annual review also takes place during the last calendar meeting of the 
CTD every year. The Bali DFQF Decision asks Member s to continue with this review and mandates 
the Secretariat to aid this review with a report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs at the 
tariff line level based on their notifications. So far, two such Secretariat reports have been prepared, which show that continuous efforts are being made to advance DFQF market access for LDC products (WT/COMTD/W/206 and WT/COMTD/W/214).  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  4.5.  Progress in preferential market access for LDCs, including DFQF market access, is also 
registered in a periodic Secretariat Note, which is prepared to facilitate the Sub-Committee's annual review of market access for products origin ating from LDCs. The 2015 version of this Note 
is contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/60. 
4.6.  It may also be noted that in 2009, the Gene ral Council extended a waiver (first adopted in 
1999) allowing developing country Members to provid e preferential tariff treatment to products of 
LDCs until 30 June 2019 (WT/L/759). This waiver provides the legal basis for the developing 
country Members to offer preferential market access to the LDCs. The DFQF market access 
schemes undertaken by developing country Members are notified as per the transparency mechanism for Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs).  
4.2  Preferential Rules of Origin 
4.7.  Alongside DFQF market access, during th e last decade, concrete progress has been made 
with regard to preferential rules of origin associated with non-reciprocal schemes of Members. As part of the DFQF Decision contained in Annex F of the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, 
Members agreed to ensure that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from LDCs are 
transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access. This was followed up in the WTO, which subsequently led to the adoption of  the first ever multilateral guidelines on 
preferential rules of origin at the Bali Minist erial Conference in 2013 (WT/L/917), with a view to 
helping LDCs better utilize the preferences accorded to them. The decision also has provisions for enhanced transparency, and asks the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) to annually review developments in preferential rules of origin. 
4.8.  WTO Members have taken another step forward in helping LDCs comply with preferential 
rules of origin, by adopting another set of guidelines on preferential rules of origin at the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, which builds on the Bali Decision (WT/L/917/Add.1). It has more detailed 
suggestions for Members as they consider improvemen t of preferential rules of origin applicable to 
imports from LDCs.  
4.9.  The Bali and Nairobi Decisions are being fo llowed-up in the CRO. As per these decisions, 
regular exchanges are taking place in this Commi ttee. Annual reviews have also been undertaken. 
A report of the 2015 annual review to the General Council is contained in document G/RO/77. 
4.10.  The most recent Nairobi Decision on pref erential rules of origin asks each developed 
preference-granting Member, as well as each deve loping preference-granting Member in line with 
the flexibility provided in the Decision, to info rm the CRO by 31 December 2016 of the measures 
being taken to implement the provisions of the Decision. It also envisages to develop a template for the notification of preferential rules of orig in, to enhance transparency and promote a better 
understanding of the rules of origin applicable to imports from LDCs. Developments in the CRO will 
continue to be reported to the General Council. 
4.3  Services 
4.11.  Alongside developments to help LDCs improve their merchandise trade, the last decade has 
also witnessed important steps forward in the MTS to improve the participation of LDCs in services trade. In order to ensure flexibility for the LDCs in the Doha Round negotiations, and for achieving effective market access of LDCs' services and service suppliers, modalities for the special 
treatment for the LDCs were adopted in 2003 (TN/S/13). The modalities, inter alia , asked 
Members to develop appropriate mechanisms with a view to achieving the full implementation of 
Article IV:3 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and facilitating effective access 
of LDCs' services and service suppliers to foreign markets.  
4.12.  In the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, Members, inter alia , agreed to the full and 
effective implementation of these modalities, including by developing appropriate mechanisms for 
according special priority to LDCs as well as assisting LDCs with targeted technical assistance 
(Annex C: Services, WT/MIN(05)/DEC). The Minist erial Declaration also acknowledged that the 
LDCs are not expected to undertake new commitments in the services negotiations. WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  4.13.  Pursuant to the 2003 modalities and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, Members 
adopted a decision on the preferential treatment of  services and services suppliers of LDCs at the 
2011 Geneva Ministerial Conference (WT/L/847). The decision, often referred to as the LDC 
Services Waiver, allows Members to provide pr eferential treatment to services and service 
suppliers from LDCs. For the first time, this decision has allowed Members to deviate from their 
most-favoured nation (MFN) obligation under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS). The 2011 Decision provided for a 15 year waiver period until December 2026. 
4.14.  At the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, Members adopted a decision concerning the 
operationalization of the LDC Services Waiver (WT/ L/918). Pursuant to this decision, a high-level 
meeting of the Council for Trade in Services (C TS) took place on 5 February 2015 where a large 
number of Members indicated specific sectors and modes in which they would notify preferences to 
the benefit of LDC services and service suppliers. Members also agreed that they would endeavour 
to notify preferences by 31 July 2015. A report of the high-level meeting can be consulted in 
document S/C/M/121.  
4.15.  It is noteworthy to mention that the high-level meeting created further momentum to boost 
LDCs' services trade, and several notifications were submitted by Members during 2015. By the 
end of February 2016, 23 Members have notified preferences for LDCs to the CTS (JOB/GC/90). 
Actions by Members pursuant to the LDC Services Waiver are followed-up in the CTS, where the 
operationalization of the LDC Services Waiver is a standing item on the agenda of the CTS.  
4.16.  At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference in 2015, a Ministerial Decision was adopted for the 
implementation of preferential treatment in favour  of services and service suppliers of LDCs. The 
decision, among others, urges Members which have  not yet notified preferences to the CTS to 
promptly do so and sets up a review to moni tor the operation of the notified preferences 
(WT/L/982). With a view to increasing LDC partic ipation in services trade, the decision also 
encourages Members to undertake specific technica l assistance and capacity building to help LDC 
services suppliers utilize preferences granted. More over, the decision extended the life span of the 
LDC Services Waiver for an additional four years until 31 December 2030.  
4.4  Cotton 
4.17.  The issue of cotton received prominence in the course of the Doha Round negotiations in 
view of its vital importance to developing count ries and particularly the least developed among 
them. Cotton assumed a special place through th e 2004 July package, where the General Council 
agreed that the issue of cotton would be addres sed ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically 
within the agriculture negotiations (paragraph 4, Annex A, WT/L/579). A Sub-Committee on Cotton was established in November 2004 to deal wi th all trade-distorting policies affecting the 
sector.  
4.18.  In the 2004 July package, Members also highlighted the complementarity of the trade- and 
development-related aspects of cotton. As a result, the Director-General initiated a Consultative 
Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC) in 2004 fo r the mobilization of resources towards the 
development of cotton-dependent economies. In November 2005, the Evolving Table on Cotton 
(ET) was established to monitor both the specific assistance and infrastructure-related assistance to the cotton sector. The ET is periodically updated and the latest version is contained in document 
WT/CFMC/6/Rev.19. DGCFMC rounds are held on a biannual basis. By the end of February 2016, 
24 DGCFMC rounds have been held. A compilation of documentation references relating to the 
DGCFMC and dates of past rounds can be consulted in document WT/CFMC/W/24/Rev.19, which is 
revised on a periodic basis.  
4.19.  Two specific cotton decisions have been adopted by Members at the last two Ministerial 
Conferences. In the cotton decision of the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, Members committed to 
continued engagement in DGCFMC to strengthen the cotton sector in LDCs and also to make 
progress in trade-related negotiations on cotton (WT/L/916). With a view to enhancing transparency and monitoring, bi-annual dedicate d discussions have been taking place in the 
context of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, to examine relevant trade-related 
developments on market access, domestic support and export subsidies for cotton, particularly for 
LDCs' exports. The dedicated discussions are base d on factual information and data compiled by 
the WTO Secretariat from Members' notifications with, as appropriate, additional relevant WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  information provided by Members. In November 2015, the fourth dedicated discussion was held 
(TN/AG/SCC/5).  
4.20.  At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference in 2015, Members adopted a decision covering 
provisions with respect to the trade component as well as the development component of cotton 
(WT/L/981). The decision, inter alia , contains provisions relating to DFQF market access, to the 
furthering of efforts to reform domestic cotton policies as well as commitments to engage in the DGCFMC. The trade and development components will continue to be followed-up in bi-annual 
dedicated discussions and the DGCFMC, respectively.  
4.5  Agriculture 4.21.  During the course of the Doha Round negoti ations, LDCs also received special attention in 
the agriculture negotiations. The framework for establishing negotiating modalities in agriculture 
adopted as part of the July Package in 2004 accorded  flexibilities to LDCS in relation to the three 
negotiating pillars: domestic support, export competition and market access. For instance, it was stipulated that LDCs would not be required to undertake reduction commitments (paragraph 45, 
Annex A, WT/L/579). The framework modalities for agriculture were intended to develop detailed 
modalities for agricultural negotiations under the Doha Round.  
4.22.  At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference in 2015, Members adopted a decision on export 
competition, which includes several specific provisions in favour of LDCs in the field of export 
subsidies, export finance and international food aid (WT/L/980). In particular, paragraph 8 provides LDCs and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) with a transition period until the end of 2030, as compared to 2023 for other developing country Members, regarding 
subsidies for marketing exports of agricultural products and for internal transport and freight 
charges on export shipments under the provision of  Article 9.4 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
Regarding export finance, paragraph 17 allows LDCs and NFIDCs to benefit from export credits 
with longer repayment terms for the acquisition of basic foodstuffs during the four year phase-in 
period of the decision. On international food aid, paragraph 27 allows Members to monetize international food aid for LDCs and NFIDCs under mo re flexible conditions than for other Members. 
4.23.  Members agreed that the Committee on Agricu lture shall monitor the implementation of this 
decision. In particular, Members agreed that consistent with the Bali Ministerial Decision on Export Competition (WT/L/915), Members shall continue to provide information on export subsidies, export credit, export credit guarantees or in surance programmes, international food aid and 
agricultural exporting state trading enterprises, within the context of an annual examination 
process based on the structure contained in the Annex to the Nairobi Decision. 
4.6  Non-agricultural Market Access 
4.24.  Likewise, LDCs received special treatment in the framework modalities for non-agricultural 
market access (WT/L/579) which were adopted as part of the July Package of 2004. The decision, 
inter alia , stipulates that LDCs are neither required to apply the tariff reduction formula nor 
participate in the sectorial approach, but are expected to substantially increase their level of 
binding commitments (paragraph 9, Annex B, WT/L/579). The decision also calls upon 
developed country participants and other participants who so decide, to grant on an autonomous basis, DFQF market access for non-agricultural products originating from LDCs - which has 
subsequently been addressed through separate DFQF Decisions (see Section 4.1). Like the 
framework modalities for agriculture, the provisions of Annex B were intended to develop detailed modalities for NAMA negotiations under the Doha Round. 
4.7  Special and Differential Treatment 
4.25.  While there has been limited progress on the overall work programme on special and 
differential treatment (S&D), a number of Agreement-specific proposals have been adopted for 
LDCs, including at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference. In this regard, the five decisions that 
formed part of Annex F of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration represented one of the major outcomes of the S&D negotiations. These five decisions relate to three WTO legal instruments/Agreement: (i) Understanding in Resp ect of Waivers of Obligations under the GATT 
1994; (ii) the Agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures; and (iii) the Decision on WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  Measures in Favour of LDCs. The most significant decision among those has been the one on DFQF 
market access for LDCs where further results ha ve been achieved in subsequent Ministerial 
Conferences.  
4.26.  It may be noted that the Decision on Measures in Favour of LDCs adopted in 1993 during 
the Uruguay Round has served as an important reference point for reinforcing special treatment 
for LDCs with respect to market access, flexib ilities in the implementation of WTO rules and 
obligations as well as technical assistance. 
4.27.  The Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment (MM) adopted at the Bali 
Ministerial Conference (WT/L/920) allows Members, including LDCs, an opportunity to bring in matters that involve any aspect of implementation of S&D provisions. The MM marked an important step in the MTS's responsiveness to th e concerns of developing country Members. The 
efficacy of the Mechanism hinges  on the extent to which it is used by these Members.  
4.8  Trade Facilitation 4.28.  The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA),  adopted by Members at the Bali Ministerial 
Conference in 2013, recognizes the particular need s of LDCs and provides greater flexibility to 
LDCs in the implementation of the Agreement as  compared to other developing country Members 
(WT/L/931). This high degree of flexibility for LDCs was also in line with the modalities for 
negotiations on trade facilitation adopted by the General Council in 2004 (Annex D, WT/L/579), 
where Members agreed that LDCs would only be required to undertake commitments to the extent consistent with their individual development, financial and trade needs or their administrative and institutional capabilities. 
4.29.  The TFA also recognizes the special needs of LDCs to implement their commitments and the 
need for targeted assistance and support. The requirement for support and assistance to implement the commitments resulting from negotiations was also duly recognized in the modalities 
for negotiations on trade facilitation. While a host of organizations offer assistance to developing 
countries and LDCs in the area of trade facilitation, in order to support developing and least developed country Members with the implementation of the TFA, the WTO launched the TFA 
Facility (TFAF) in July 2014. The functions of the TFAF include supporting developing and least 
developed country Members to identify their technical assistance needs, providing information on technical assistance possibilities and helping them find donors, and, in certain circumstances, providing grants for project preparation or project implementation. 
5  MAJOR DECLARATIONS AND DECISIONS RELATING TO REGULAR WORK 
5.1.  Ever since the establishment of the WTO, Members have been responsive to the specific 
difficulties of LDCs and have taken decisions to help LDCs integrate into the MTS in a manner 
conducive to their situation. For instance, Member s have granted LDCs extensions of transition 
periods to implement the TRIPS Agreement following motivated requests from the LDCs. Special guidelines have been adopted to facilitate the accession of LDCs to the WTO. Special priority has 
also been accorded to LDCs to build their human and institutional capacity for effective 
negotiations and informed participation in the MTS. This section seeks to enumerate the major decisions and declarations taken by Members in th e regular work of the WTO, in particular in 
certain areas such as TRIPS and Accessions. Develo pments with regard to technical assistance and 
capacity-building support to LDCs are also briefly mentioned. 
5.1  Trade-related Aspects of Inte llectual Property Rights (TRIPS) 
5.2.  The Doha Ministerial Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, adopted in 
November 2001, inter alia , exempted LDCs from providing patent protection (under Sections 5 and 
7 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement) for pharmaceutical products until 1 January 2016 (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2). This was given legal effect through a decision of the TRIPS Council in 2002 
(IP/C/25), and a complementary decision of the General Council, waiving the exclusive marketing 
rights provisions of Article 70.9 with respect to pharmaceutical products (WT/L/478). In November 2015, the TRIPS Council extended this transition period for pharmaceutical products 
until 1 January 2033 (IP/C/73). A complementary decision of the General Council waived the WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  obligations to provide for the possibility of filing mailbox applications under Article 70.8 and to 
grant exclusive marketing rights under Article 70.9 (WT/L/971). 
5.3.  The Doha Ministerial Declaration on the TR IPS Agreement and Public Health also instructed 
the TRIPS Council to find a solution to the problem of countries, including LDCs, with insufficient or 
no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector in making effective use of compulsory 
licensing. In 2003, a decision by the General Council established a system, which, inter alia , allows 
LDCs and countries with insufficient manufacturing capacities to import medicines produced under 
compulsory licensing in another country (WT/L/540). The TRIPS Council annually reviews the 
functioning of this decision. In December 2005, WTO Members agreed to amend the TRIPS Agreement to make the 2003 decision permanen t (WT/L/641). The amendment will come into 
force once two thirds of Members have notified their acceptance. 
5.4.  In 2001, the Doha Ministerial Decision on  Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns 
instructed the TRIPS Council to put in place a mechanism for ensuring the monitoring and full 
implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Ag reement, which calls upon developed country 
Members to provide incentives for technology transfer to LDCs (WT/MIN(01)/17). In February 
2003, the TRIPS Council adopted a decision on "Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement", which requires developed country Members to submit annual reports on actions taken 
or planned in pursuance of their commitments under Article 66.2 (IP/C/28). Since the adoption of 
the Decision, the TRIPS Council has been conducting regular annual reviews, based on reports from developed country Members. 
5.5.  Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement original l y  p r o v i d e d  L D C s  w i t h  a n  1 1 - y e a r  t r a n s i t i o n  
period, allowing them to delay the implementation  of the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement other 
than those containing the core non-discrimination principles (Articles 3, 4 and 5). In 2005, the 
TRIPS Council extended this general transition period until 1 July 2013 (IP/C/40). As mandated by 
the decision, the TRIPS Council received submission s from LDCs on their individual priority needs 
for technical and financial cooperation. In 2013, the TRIPS Council adopted a second extension of this general transition period until 1 July 2021 (IP/C/64).  
5.2  Accessions 
5.6.  WTO Members have also attached special atte ntion to facilitate and accelerate the accession 
of LDCs to the WTO. Accession of LDCs has been recognized as one of the systemic issues under 
the Work Programme for the LDCs. The Sub-Committee regularly monitors the accession of LDCs 
and also serves as a forum where acceding LDCs and Members exchange views and share 
experiences. It may be noted that the WTO Director-General annually reports on LDC accessions to the WTO Membership. The 2015 annual report by the Director-General on WTO accessions is 
contained in document WT/ACC/25. 
5.7.  Special measures have been taken to ease the accession of LDCs. Members adopted a set of 
Guidelines on LDC Accession in December 2002 (WT/L/508).
 The Guidelines seek to simplify and 
streamline accession procedures with a view to concluding the negotiations as quickly as possible, 
and sets out provisions with respect to: (i) market access; (ii) WTO rules; (iii) the process; and (iv) TRTA and capacity building. 
5.8.  At the Geneva Ministerial Conference in 2011, Members instructed the Sub-Committee to 
further strengthen, streamline and operationalize the 2002 guidelines (WT/L/846). To this effect, 
work was carried out in the Sub-Committee resulting in a set of new guidelines (WT/L/508/Add.1), which introduced specific flexibilities for acceding LDCs, including by establishing benchmarks on 
market access negotiations on goods and services, and by including provisions relating to 
transparency in accession, S&D and transition periods, and technical assistance. The implementation of the LDC accession guidelines has been periodically reviewed in the 
Sub-Committee. 
5.9.  Since the establishment of the WTO, nine LDCs have successfully completed the accession 
process under Article XII of the WTO Agreement, including Nepal (2004), Cambodia (2004), Vanuatu (2012), Lao PDR (2013) and Yemen (2014). Cabo Verde (2008) and Samoa (2012) 
concluded their accession negotiations as LDCs and graduated from LDC status in 2007 and 2014, WT/COMTD/LDC/W/62 
 
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  respectively. Afghanistan and Liberia are expected to become WTO Members during the course of 
2016 following their respective domestic ratification processes.  
5.10.  There are currently six LDCs in the process of acceding to the WTO: Bhutan, Comoros, 
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sudan. In addition, Somalia and 
Timor-Leste have expressed their interest in application for WTO membership in April and 
December 2015, respectively; their applications w ill be circulated to Members once documentary 
requirements are met. 
5.3  Trade-related Technical A ssistance and Capacity Building 
5.11.  In light of specific challenges faced by LDCs, WTO Ministerial Conferences have repeatedly 
underlined the importance of technical assistance and capacity building to support and facilitate 
their integration into the MTS. At the first WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore in 1996, 
Ministers agreed on a Plan of Action for LDCs which envisaged closer cooperation between WTO 
and other institutions to help LDCs improve their trade capacity. The Doha Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed the need for targeted technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for LDCs. 
In the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, Me mbers reaffirmed their commitment to enhance 
effective trade-related technical assistance and capacity building to LDCs on a priority basis. Similar reiteration was made in the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration so as to help LDCs implement 
WTO Agreements as well as benefit from opportunities resulting from the MTS. All such emphasis 
by Members has been duly reflected in WTO's Tech nical Assistance and Training Plans. LDCs are 
accorded special priority in the delivery of WTO's TRTA activities. Every year, on average, LDCs are 
a s s o c i a t e d  w i t h  m o r e  t h a n  4 0 %  o f  T R T A  p r o v i d ed by the WTO. Special activities have been 
designed for the LDCs. The latest TA Plan can be consulted in document WT/COMTD/W/211.  
5.12.  At the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in 2005, Members also launched the Aid-for-Trade 
Initiative with the aim of helping developing countries, particularly LDCs, to build trade-related 
infrastructure and supply-side capacity so that they can implement and benefit from WTO 
Agreements and more broadly expand their trade.  The Nairobi Ministerial Declaration recognized 
the continuous need for this Initiative and asked Members to accord priority to LDCs' needs. Apart 
from regular Aid-for-Trade sessions in the WTO, biennial Global Reviews of Aid for Trade have 
been organized, which provide a platform for the trade and development communities to dialogue on Aid for Trade, to monitor its progress and to evaluate its impact on the ground. The LDCs have been a primary focus of these discussions. An over view of recent Aid-for- Trade flows to LDCs can 
be found in the OECD/WTO publication "Aid for Trade at a Glance 2015". The WTO has also been 
collaborating with other institutions and initiatives to help LDCs build trade capacity. While the EIF is considered as an Aid-for-Trade partnership in action for the LDCs, facilities such as the 
Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) an d the TFAF also attach special priority to the 
LDCs.  
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