RESTRICTED  
  
WT/WGTTT/M/56  
 
8 November 2017 
(17-6052) Page: 1/2 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology  
Fifty-Sixth Session    
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 16 OCTOBER  2017  
Chairperson: H.E. Ms Zorica Marić -Djordjević  (Montenegro)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGEN DA ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. ANALYS IS OF THE RELATIONSH IP BETWEEN TRADE AND  TRANSFER OF 
TECHNOLOGY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
C. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMME NDATIONS ON STEPS TH AT MIGHT BE TAKEN 
WITHIN THE MANDATE O F THE WTO TO INCREAS E FLOWS OF TECHNOLOG Y TO 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  ................................ ................................ ................................  1 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 2 
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGEN DA  
1. The agenda contained in Airgram WTO/AIR/WGTTT/9  of 6 October  2017 was adopted . 
B. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BET WEEN TRADE AND TRANS FER OF 
TECHNOLOGY  
2. Under  this agenda item , the Working Group  continued its discussion on the relationship 
between trade and transfer of technology . The discussion  underscored the role that technology can 
play as a  driver of trade and economic development. Both the representatives of Pakistan  and 
Hong Kong , China  made brief statements highlighting the importance of innovation and technology  
and its crucial role in steering economies on the path to  development and in dustrialization as well 
as in creating wealth, jobs and improving  standards of living. In reiterating the importance of and 
the need for strong science, technology, and innovation (STI) capacity as a key to addressing 
many of the persistent and emerging tr ade and development challenges that developing countries 
faced, references were made to the 2017 World Trade Report that looked at the impact of 
technology and trade on labour markets in developed and developing countries.  
3. The discussion pointed out tha t rapid technological advanc es and increasing 
information -driven global economy are impacting on the competitiveness and market opportunities 
of specific groups and regions – a problem which a number of countries are currently struggling to 
address. Both t he statements emphasized that c onstructive and meaningful work in the Working 
Group could help address some of these challenges. It was argued that the discussions in the 
Working Group needed to focus on specific and practical ways to address the needs and  challenges 
faced by developing countries, in particular the least developed countrie s. In this context , it was 
very important to  share experiences and c oncrete examples on how Members  had made  rapid 
advances on technology frontier , and overc ame similar di fficulties. The crucial role of technology 
transfer in preserving the eco -system was also underlined.  
 
C. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMME NDATIONS ON STEPS TH AT MIGHT BE TAKEN WI THIN 
THE MANDATE OF THE W TO TO INCREASE FLOWS  OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEV ELOPING 
COUNTRIES  
4. Under the agenda item on possible recommendations that the Working Group could make in 
the future, no Member took the floor.  WT/WGTTT/M/56  
 
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  D. OTHER BUSINESS  
5. Under "Other Business," the Chair briefed Members on the Annual Report of the Working 
Group that it is mandated to make  to the General Council for adoption and onward transmission to 
the Ministers at MC11 . 
6. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
 
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