JOB/GC/187  
 
9 May 2018  
(18-2825) Page: 1/3 
General Council    
 
AGENDA ITEM 2: IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E BALI, NAIROBI AND BUENOS AIRES 
OUTCOMES – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
TUESDAY, 8 MAY 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.  Last week, on 1 May, I held a meeting with the Chairs of Regular Bodies, where we updated 
each other on the work taking place in our respective bodies, including – but not only – with 
respect to the imple mentation of the Ministerial mandates. As in the past, the discussions and 
inputs from that meeting are the basis of my statement today.  
1.3.  Let me start by providing a report on the consultations that I myself held with respect to the 
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. As you all know, at MC11, Ministers agreed to continue 
and reinvigorate work based on the 1998 mandate. In that regard, following my invitation to all 
Members, twenty three delegations came to consult with me on the way forward. I had also 
previously met with the Chairs of the bodies responsible for the implementation of the Work 
Programme. In my consultations, I sought delegations' views on how the General Council should 
implement the Buenos Aires Ministerial Decision and on whether there w as interest in discussing 
cross cutting issues and in what format.  
1.4.  Generally, I sensed willingness to engage under the Work Programme, although some 
delegations were sceptical about the possibility of achieving concrete outcomes. Some delegations 
indicated  their readiness to submit papers to advance the discussions. Others considered that the 
Work Programme could build further understanding of e -commerce issues, through seminars, the 
exchange of experiences, and cooperation with other international organiza tions. Some specific 
issues for consideration were also suggested, including development -related concerns and the 
moratorium.  
1.5.  With regard to the approach, some delegations reiterated their view that discussions should 
first take place in the relevant bodi es – including the identification of cross -cutting issues. Others 
preferred to start addressing cross -cutting issues in a horizontal manner, but I did not sense any 
appetite to reconvene the Dedicated Discussion. Generally, delegations indicated a preferen ce for 
informal open -ended discussions led by me in my capacity as GC chair. Many delegations also 
made reference to the work under the Joint Statement on E -commerce and some hoped that the 
two processes could be mutually supportive.  
1.6.  Overall I am encourag ed by the general willingness to engage, but we need more concrete 
ideas to initiate a dialogue. I hope that by the time the General Council review s progress in July, 
we will have a clearer idea of how to advance our conversation on e -commerce. In the mean time 
my door remains open to any delegation that may wish to discuss this issue further with me.  
1.7.  Regarding the other Buenos Aires Decision on TRIPS non -violation and situation complaints, 
this issue will be on the agenda of the TRIPS Council's next meeting  in early June and I understand 
that the incoming TRIPS Council Chair, Ambassador Werner, is planning to address this matter in 
his contacts with delegations.  
1.8.  Let me now move to Trade Facilitation, where we now stand at 136 Members having 
deposited their i nstruments of acceptance, which means 83% of the membership – and I 
understand that a few more may be in the pipeline. We have also seen a marked increase in JOB/GC/187  
 
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  notifications submitted, with 112 notifications under Category A, 62 under Category B, and 52 
under Category C.  
1.9.  Moving now to Agriculture and with respect to the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition,  
the next dedicated discussion will take place in the June meeting of the Committee on Agriculture. 
For this discussion, the Secretariat circulated a bac kground document1 on 24 April, which compiles 
information from Members' relevant notifications along with responses to an export competition 
questionnaire circulated by the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture. Members are also 
expected to continue the triennial review of the Nairobi decision at the June CoA meeting.  
1.10.   Still on export competition, three Members, namely Australia, Norway and Israel, have now 
had their revised export subsidies schedules certified, in line with the provisions of the Nairo bi 
Decision.  
1.11.   This year, the Bali Decision on TRQ administration  needs to be reviewed as well, in line with 
its provisions. According to the timetable for this review, the CoA will meet in informal mode in 
June to discuss any issues raised by Members since the last meeting.  
1.12.   Let us move to Development and LDC matters, and start with the Decision on Preferential 
Rules of Origin for LDCs. Following the adoption of a new template for the notification of 
preferential rules of origin, almost all preference -grantin g Members have notified their 
requirements, and the Committee on Rules of Origin has started to examine these notifications in 
a more detailed manner and to make comparisons to identify best practices. The Committee also 
initiated an examination of prefere ntial utilization rates on the basis of calculations made by the 
Secretariat – and this is an area of work where the Committee can also undertake focused 
discussions. I also understand that a number of preference -granting Members informed the 
Committee abo ut the measures they are taking to implement the Bali and Nairobi Decisions and 
that there has been an encouraging number of reforms to simplify origin requirements.  
1.13.   Regarding the Monitoring Mechanism, the fact that no written submissions have as yet been  
received has led to different views among the membership as to how, and whether, to proceed 
with a review of the Mechanism – which according to the Bali Decision was supposed to take place 
three years after the first formal meeting. Some delegations belie ve that Members should proceed 
with the review, while others feel that a review should only take place after concrete experience 
has been gained. The CTD Chairman will be holding informal consultations before the next meeting 
of the Monitoring Mechanism, w hich will be held in July, to see whether a shared understanding 
can be reached on how to proceed with the review.  
1.14.   DFQF market access for LDCs remains a standing item on the CTD's agenda, and at the CTD 
meeting in April, the LDCs once again highlighted the  importance they attach to DFQF market 
access. Members were called upon to faithfully implement the DFQF and related decisions.  
1.15.   Let me also give a brief update on Trade and Transfer of Technology, which w as part of the 
Bali Decisions. At the meeting in Apr il, discussion continued on the relationship between trade and 
transfer of technology and some Members underlined the importance of the Sustainable 
Development Goals, especially SDG 17, in guiding the work of the Group.  
1.16.   And finally, a few words on Aid for  Trade.  
1.17.   Members will recall that at our last meeting, the CTD Chair, Ambassador Mushayavanhu, 
stated that further time was needed to reach an agreement on the Aid for Trade work programme 
for 2018 -2019. Subsequent to that meeting, he held extensive consul tations in different formats to 
advance work on this topic, and I understand that substantial progress and convergence of views 
has taken place. The Committee on Trade and Development concluded its adjourned 42nd Session  
on Aid for Trade on 23 April. Subse quent to that meeting, I understand that the final outstanding 
question has been addressed.  
1.18.   As such, the final Aid for Trade work programme was issued yesterday in document 
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/75. As per past practice, the 2018 -2019 work programme is circulate d under 
                                                
1 G/AG/W/125/Rev.8 and addenda . JOB/GC/187  
 
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  the responsibility of the CTD Chair, Ambassador Aulestia. I would also like to take this opportunity 
to express my appreciation for the efforts that the outgoi ng Chair of the CTD, 
Ambassador  Mushayavanhu, made in securing a positive outcome.  
 
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