JOB/GC/81  
 
29 July 2015  
(15-3908)  Page: 1/3  
General Council    
 
 AGENDA ITEM 2: REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE 
TUESDAY, 28 JULY 2015 
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1.1.  Since I last reported to the General Council on 5 May, there has been intense activity aimed 
at preparing the DDA work program. Our work has continued on the tracks that I outlined at the 
beginning of the year, specifically: 
 The work of the negotiating groups, supported by  the group Chairs. This is the main track – 
it feeds everything we do – and that is where the work program has to happen; 
 My own consultations with different configurations of the Membership on a variety of issues, 
including meetings in Room W; and 
 Meetings convened by Members themselves – s o m e  o f  w h i c h  I  h a v e  b e e n  i n v i t e d  t o  a n d  
have participated in.  
1.2.  I have also continued my consultations with Ministers and Leaders, including: 
 In May, at the APEC meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade;  
 In June, at the informal Ministerial meeting conv ened on the side-lines of the OECD in Paris 
and the G7 Summit in Germany; and 
 In July, at the 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade and the UN Financing for Development 
summit in Addis Ababa.  
1.3.  In addition, there was a meeting of African Trade Ministers in Nairobi last week, convened by 
the African Union. I was unable to attend due to my consultations here in Geneva, but I made sure 
that a WTO delegation did attend the meeting, led by DDG Shark. I was very pleased that this meeting was taking place as it signals again the high level of engagement among African Members 
and I think this is very important. Indeed, I am delighted to welcome Cabinet Secretary Amina 
Mohamed who joins us again today – and who will, I am sure, give us a more detailed update on that meeting in a few moments.  
1.4.  Since the May General Council, I also have  convened three Room W meetings – on 1 June, 
17 June and 8 July. At these meetings I reported to the Membership on all of my consultations and on the progress towards the preparation of the work program.  
1.5.  On each and every one of these occasions,  I expressed my concern that despite intense and 
active engagement, insufficient progress was being made on the substantive points – particularly 
on the gateway issues. Significant differences remained across many areas.  
1.6.  The reality is that despite willingness to explore different approaches and consider proposals 
or ideas, many Members have still not been willing to move towards convergence. Progress has 
remained very limited. JOB/GC/81 
 
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  1.7.  This is why at the last Room W meeting on 8 July, I was clear in my assessment that as 
things stood then, there was very little prospect of delivering the substantive and "clearly defined" work program by the end of the month. 
1.8.  I was also clear that this was not a question of the time available. Rather, it was about 
making the tough political decisions to unlock the situation. I urged Members to keep working, but 
also to start considering all possible scenarios, including how to move forward in the absence of a work program. 
1.9.  At that same meeting, I announced my intention to convene a TNC meeting on 24 July, and 
to provide a full report to this General Council about the situation. However, after talking to delegations and reflecting further, I decided that in order to allow the maximum possible amount of time to keep working before the deadline ex pires, we should postpone the TNC until the 31
st.  
1.10.  So let me give you my assessment today. I have discussed the situation widely – including 
with the Chairs – and I think that, despite our best efforts so far, my earlier view still remains valid.  
1.11.  As I have stated on several occasions, the process has to remain Member-driven. Members 
should not expect me, or the Chairs, to put forward a work program for Members to discuss. It has to come from you. 
1.12.  I have encouraged Members to come forward with new ideas and proposals to help build 
consensus. And you have done that. I sense a willingness to engage in a conversation that is more creative and open minded than before. This is coming not from one or two Members, but from a 
very, very large spectrum of the Membership – the majority in fact. It is very positive. 
I particularly welcome the initiatives that we have begun to see in recent days.  
1.13.  But, as things stand, we still do not have a work program. And, even within this more open-
minded exercise, there are still clear conceptual differences in expectations. For example, I see 
some large gaps between what some Members want  to put on the table and what they want in 
return. This is true for many, including among the major players. 
1.14.  So there is still a long, long way to go. We are just three days from our deadline and so, 
despite recent efforts by some groups, I find it hard to see how things can change sufficiently in 
the time we have available. But it is vital that we keep working and keep pushing.  
1.15.  Last week a number of negotiating groups met – specifically the groups on agriculture, 
NAMA and services. The Negotiating Group on Rules will meet tomorrow to discuss two new 
submissions. The TRIPS Special Session will also m eet on Thursday. The Chairs will fully report on 
these activities to the Membership at the TNC on Friday.  
1.16.  And I am continuing my consultations. I had a meeting with a group of delegations last 
Friday to discuss market access issues in agricult ure, NAMA and services in a horizontal manner. 
I will also hold sessions to take up some other agriculture issues – specifically domestic support and export competition – as well as the areas of Rules, development and LDC issues. I have also 
been invited to attend further consultations held by Members.  
1.17.  The Chairs and I will repo rt fully on all of these activities at the TNC meeting on Friday. 
1.18.  At the TNC meeting, we will have no alternative but to face the reality of what we will have 
been able to achieve by then. This will not mean making the final call on what we can achieve in 
Nairobi, or on the DDA more broadly – it is mainly about the work program.  
1.19.  In a scenario where there is no work prog ram by the Friday deadline – and this is not the 
only scenario, we all may be surprised – there will certainly be a sense of disappointment that 
we would have missed an opportunity to establish a clear roadmap to move forward. But 
we should not allow this to lead us to inaction. It cannot become an obstacle. We will need to redouble our efforts and work towards achieving substantive outcomes for Nairobi. JOB/GC/81 
 
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  1.20.  Indeed, whatever the outcome this week, it is vital that Members remain committed and 
focused on substantive outcomes. Come September, Members should be ready to hit the ground running on substance not process. 
1.21.  While we have not moved forward yet, thro ugh our extensive engagement we have built the 
vehicle which can take us forward. 
1.22.  If a common understanding materializes early in the second semester, then I think we still 
have an excellent chance of delivering meaningful outcomes in Nairobi. Whatever the outcome this 
week, when we return after the summer that must be our number one priority.  
1.23.  As the crow flies, Nairobi is about 6,000 kilometres away from Geneva. In September 
we will have to stop talking about how we ca n make the journey, and take our first step.  
1.24.  Thank you for listening. This concludes my report, Mr Chairman. 
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