WT/GC/200  
 
15 January 2019  
(19-0221) Page: 1/15 
   
 
GENERAL COUNCIL  
ANNUAL REPORT (2018)  
The present report has been prepared in pursuance of the Procedures for an Annual Overview of 
WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).  
 
Since its previous annual report1, the General Council ha s held five meetings, on 7  March, 8  May, 
26 July, 18 October and 12 December  2018.  The minutes of these meetings, which remain in the 
record of the General Council's work, are co ntained in documents WT/GC/M/17 1, WT/GC/M/172, 
WT/GC/M/173, WT/GC/M/ 174 and W T/GC/M/1752. 
 
The following subjects are included in the report:  
 
1   REPORTS BY THE C HAIRMAN OF THE TRADE  NEGOTIATIONS COMMIT TEE 
AND REPORTS BY THE D IRECTOR -GENERAL  ................................ ................................ . 3 
2   IMPLEMENTATION O F THE BALI, NAIROBI AND BUENOS AIRES OUT COMES – 
STATEMENTS BY THE CH AIRMAN   ................................ ................................ ................  4 
3   WORK PROGRAMME O N ELECTRONIC COMMERC E ................................ ...................  5 
3.1   Review of Progress  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 5 
3.2   Information Sharing – Request from China  ................................ ................................ .. 5 
3.3   Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions: Need for a re -think – 
Communication from India and South Africa  ................................ ................................ ........  5 
4   WORK PROGRAMME O N SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORTS   ................................ ........  5 
5   AID FOR TRADE – REPORT  ................................ ................................ ......................  6 
6   DEVELOPMENT ASSI STANCE ASPECTS OF CO TTON – STATEMENT BY THE 
DIRECTOR -GENERAL  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
7   ANNUAL REVIEW OF  THE SPECIAL COMPULS ORY LICENSING SYSTEM  – 
PARAGRAPH 7 OF THE A NNEX TO THE AMENDED TRIPS AGREEMENT AND 
PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE D ECISION ON THE IMPLE MENTATION OF PARAGRA PH 6 
OF THE DOHA DECLARAT ION ON THE TRIPS AGR EEMENT AND PUBLIC HE ALTH – 
REPORT OF THE COUNCI L FOR TRIPS ................................ ................................ ...........  7 
8   ACCESSION MATTER S ................................ ................................ ..............................  7 
8.1   Chairmanship of Accession Working Parties  ................................ ................................ .. 7 
9   WAIVERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  7 
9.1   Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds – Waiver Extension – 
Draft Decision  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  7 
9.2   Introduction of Harmonized S ystem 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions – Draft Decision  ................................ ................................ .. 8 
                                                
1 The annual report  of the General Council for 2017 was circulated in WT/GC/191 . 
2 To be issued.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  9.3   Review of Waivers Pursua nt to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  ................................ . 8 
10   TWELFTH SESSION  OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE – DATE AN D VENUE  ........  9 
10.1   Statement by the Chairman   ................................ ................................ ....................  9 
11   SELECTION OF NE W APPELLATE BODY MEM BERS – STATEMENT BY CHINA  ...........  9 
12   APPELLATE BODY APPOINTMENTS – AMEND MENTS OF THE DISPUTE  
SETTLEMENT UNDERSTAN DING  ................................ ................................ ...................  9 
12.1   Statement by the European Union, China, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, 
Switzerland, Australia, Republic of Korea, Iceland, Singapore, Mexico, Costa Rica and 
Montenegro  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  9 
12.2   Communication from the European Union, China, Canada, India, Norway, New 
Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Republic of Korea, Iceland, Singapore, Me xico, Costa 
Rica and Montenegro  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  9 
12.3   Communication from the European Union, China, India and Montenegro  .......................  9 
13   TARGETED DISCUS SIONS ON DISPUTE SET TLEMENT ISSUES – 
COMMUNICATION FROM A USTRALIA AND SINGAPO RE ................................ ..............  10 
14   UNITED STATES O F AMERICA – SECTION 232 INVESTIGATIONS A ND 
MEASURES ON STEEL AN D ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS  – STATEMENT BY CHINA  ............  10 
15   UNITED STATES O F AMERICA – INVESTIG ATIONS AND MEASURES UNDER 
SECTION  301 OF THE T RADE ACT OF 1974 – STATEMENT BY CHINA  .........................  10 
16   VIEWS ON CHINA' S TRADE -DISRUPTIVE E CONOMIC MODEL AND 
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE  WTO – SUBMISSIONS F ROM THE UNITED STATE S ..............  11 
17   MEASURES TO ALL OW GRADUATED LDCS, W ITH GNP BELOW US$100 0, 
BENEFITS PURSUANT TO  ANNEX VII(B) OF THE  AGREEMENT ON SUBSID IES AND 
COUNTERVAILING MEASU RES – COMMUNICATION FROM TH E CENTRAL AFRICAN 
REPUBLIC ON BEHALF O F THE LDC GROUP  ................................ ................................ . 11 
18   WORKSHOP ON GEN DER BASED ANALYSIS O N TRADE POLI CY – STATEMENT 
BY CANADA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  11 
19   STATEMENTS OF G ROUPS OF MEMBERS IN OFFICIAL WTO MEETING S – 
STATEMENT BY THE UNI TED STATES  ................................ ................................ ..........  11 
20   CREATION OF A N EW INFORMAL GROUP OF  MEMBERS TO DISCUSS TRADE 
AND ENVIRONMENT – STATEMENT BY COSTA RICA  ................................ ..................  11 
21   HIGH -LEVEL CONF ERENCE ON SUSTAINABL E BLUE ECONOMY AND A FRICA 
E-COMM ERCE WEEK – STATEMEN T BY KENYA  ................................ ...........................  11 
22   G20 WORK ON TRA DE AND INVESTMENT – STATEMENT BY ARGENTINA  ............  12 
23   COMMITTEE ON BU DGET, FINANCE AND AD MINISTRATION  ................................  12 
23.1   Reports and Recommendations ................................ ................................ ...............  12 
24   WTO PENSION PLA N ................................ ................................ ...........................  12 
24.1   Reports   ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  12 
24.2   Election of Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Management Board   ..............  12 
25   ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR MEMBERS  IN ARREARS  ................................ . 13 
26   INTERNATIONAL T RADE CENTRE UNCTAD/W TO – REPORT OF THE J OINT 
ADVISORY GROUP ON IT S 52ND SESSION   ................................ ................................  13 
27   REVIEW OF WTO A CTIVITIES  ................................ ................................ ..............  13 
28   APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS TO WTO BODI ES  ................................ ...................  13 
29   ELECTION OF CHA IRPERSON  ................................ ................................ ...............  15 
 WT/GC/200  
 
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  1  REPORTS  BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRADE NEGOTIATIO NS COMMITTEE AND REP ORTS 
BY THE DIRECTOR -GENE RAL (WT/GC/ M/171; WT/GC/M/172; WT/GC/M/173; 
WT/GC/M/ 174 AND WT/GC/M/175 ) 
1.1.  Ministers  at Doha established a Trade Negotiations Committee under the authority of the 
General Council to supervise the overall conduct of the negotiations (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1). In 
accordance with the Principles and Practices endorsed by the Trade Negotiations Commi ttee at its 
first meeting in 2002 (TN/C/M/1), the TNC reports to each regular meeting of the General Council.  
1.2.  At the General Council meetings in March , May, July, October , and December , the Director -
General reported on each occasion on relevant activities since his previous report to the General 
Council including on Informal TNC Meetings and Informal Heads of Delegation Meetings he convened 
on the matter.3  
1.3.  At the March  meeting, the representative of Burkina Faso (C -4) spoke. T he General Council 
took note of the report of the Chairman of the TNC and of the Director -General's report, and of the 
statements delivered at the March General Council  meeting and at the Informal TNC and Informal 
HODs meeting s on 5 March .4 
1.4.  At the May meeting, the representative of Za mbia spoke. T he General Council took note of the 
report of the Chairman of the TNC and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements 
delivered at the May General Council  meeting and at the Informal TNC and Informal HODs meeting s 
on 7 May .5 
1.5.  At the  July meeting, the representative s of Uganda, H aiti (CARICOM) and Malawi (ACP)  spoke. 
The General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the TNC and of the Director -General's 
report, and of the statements delivered at the July General Council  meeting and at the Informal TNC 
and Informal HODs meeting s on 24 July .6 
                                                
3 The Director -General's reports and those of the Negotiating Group Chairs at the March, May, July, 
October and December Informal TNC and Informal HODs Meetings were incorporated in the minutes of the 
respective General Council meetings and were also circulated as JOB/GC/172, JOB/GC/186, JOB/GC/195, 
JOB/TNC/71 and JOB/TNC/72 respectively.  
4 The statement s at the 5 March Informal TNC and HODs Meeting s by the following delegations are 
incorporated in the minutes of the March General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/171 : Switzerland; Nigeria; New 
Zealand; Rwanda (African Group); Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); European Union; Guyana 
(ACP); Turkey; Mexico; Colombia; Central African Republic (LDCs); China (FIFD); Uganda; Ecuador; Nepal; 
Japan; Singapore (ASEAN);  Australia; Thailand; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Peru; Cuba; Republic of Korea; 
Brazil; South Africa; Indonesia (G -33); Norway; Pakistan; Russian Federation; Hong Kong, China; Trinidad and 
Tobago; Canada; Panama (Article XII Members); India; Papua New  Guinea (Pacific Group); United States; 
Senegal; Zimbabwe; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Argentina (Informal Group on Investment Facilitation); 
Sri Lanka; Ghana; Philippines; Kenya and Paraguay.  
5 The statements at the 7 May  Informal TNC and HODs Meeti ngs by the following delegations are 
incorporated in the minutes of the May General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/172: Switzerland (on behalf of 
Argentina; Australia; Bangladesh; Benin; Brazil;  Burkina Faso;  Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte 
d'Ivoire;  Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic 
of Korea; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mali; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; 
Myanmar; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Pan ama; Paraguay; Peru; Qatar; Singapore; Switzerland; 
Thailand; the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Turkey; Ukraine; Uruguay and Viet Nam); South Africa 
(African Group); United States; Central African Republic (LDCs); Colombia (Informal Dialogue on In vestment 
Facilitation for Development); Malawi (ACP); Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on E -Commerce); Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia; Indonesia (G -33); China; Benin (C -4); Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); European 
Union; Honduras (IGDC except Isra el); Zimbabwe; Panama (Article XII Members); Singapore; Mexico; Trinidad 
and Tobago; Egypt; India; Ecuador; Norway; Russian Federation; Cuba; Canada; Brazil; Iceland; Hong Kong, 
China; Turkey; Peru; Ghana; Costa Rica; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Uganda ; Tonga (Pacific Group); Republic 
of Moldova; Paraguay; Chinese Taipei; Haiti (CARICOM); Tanzania; Thailand; Nepal; Dominica (OECS); Chile; 
Japan; Jamaica; Kenya; New Zealand; Cambodia; Pakistan; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Malaysia and 
Republic of Korea. 
6 The statements at the 24 July  Informal TNC and HODs Meeting s by the following delegations are 
incorporated in the minutes of the July General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/173: Republic of Korea; Panama 
(Article XII Members); South Africa (African Gro up); Canada; Malawi (ACP); Australia (Joint Statement Initiative 
on E -Commerce); European Union; Colombia (Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for 
Development); Costa Rica; China; Chad (LDCs); India; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs);  United 
States; Indonesia (G -33); Brazil; Pakistan; Argentina; New Zealand; Chile; Zimbabwe; Russian Federation; 
Switzerland; Egypt; Norway; Turkey; Bangladesh; Hong Kong, China; Sri Lanka; Ecuador; Peru; Singapore; WT/GC/200  
 
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  1.6.  At the October  meeting, the General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the 
TNC and of the Director -General's report, and of the statements delivered at the Informal TNC and 
Informal HODs meeti ngs on 16 October .7 
1.7.  At the December  meeting, the representatives of Paraguay, Barbados, the Republic of Moldova 
and El Salvador spoke. The General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the TNC and 
of the Director -General's report, and of the statements delivered at the December  General Council 
meeting and at the Informal TNC and Informal HODs meetings on 10 December.8 
2  IMPLEMENTATION  OF THE BALI, NAIROBI  AND BUENOS AIRES  OUTCOMES – 
STATEMENTS BY THE CH AIRMAN ( WT/GC/M/171; WT/GC/M /172; WT/GC/M/173 ; 
WT/GC/M/ 174 AND WT/GC/M/175 ) 
2.1.  Since July 2014 , the item on implementation of the Bali outcomes  has been included on the 
General Council's agenda at the request of the Chairman , to provide an update on  the work t aking 
place in th e regular bodies which were directly working on the various Bali Decisions.  After the Tenth  
and Eleventh  Sessions of the Ministerial Conference, reports on the implementation of the Nairobi  
and Buenos Aires  outcomes were also provided unde r this item.  
2.2.  At the General  Council meetings in March , May, July, October , and December , the Chairman 
reported on the work taking place in WTO regular bodies to fulfil the Bali , Nairobi  and Buenos Aires  
Ministerial mandates.9 
2.3.  At the March  meeting, the General Council took note of the Chairman's report.  
2.4.  At the May meeting,  the representatives of South Africa (African Group) and the European 
Union spoke. The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the statements.   
2.5.  At the July meeting, the representatives of Chad (LDCs), Sierra Leone and Tanzania spoke. 
The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
2.6.  At the October  meeting,  the representatives of t he Central African Republic (LDCs), Malawi 
(ACP) and Chad spoke . The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the 
statements.  
2.7.  At the December  meeting, the representatives of Vanuatu (ACP) and the Central African 
Republic (LDCs) spoke. The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the 
statements.  
                                                
Paraguay; Nepal; Trinidad and Tobago; Qa tar; Kenya; Mexico; Thailand; Vanuatu (Pacific Group); Japan; 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Dominica (OECS); Benin (C -4) and Cuba.  
7 The statements at the 16 October  Informal TNC and HODs Meeting s by the following delegations are 
incorporated in the mi nutes of the October General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/174: Canada; South Africa 
(African Group); Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Norway; Malawi (ACP); United States; Ghana; Mexico; Qatar; 
Brazil; Morocco; Cuba; Turkey; Colombia (Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development); 
New Zealand; China; Senegal; European Union; Zimbabwe; Australia (Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic 
Commerce); India; Republic of Moldova; Uruguay (Informal Working Group on MSMEs); Costa Rica; Republic o f 
Korea; Chinese Taipei; Indonesia (G -33); Switzerland; Benin (C -4); Argentina; Chad (LDCs); Paraguay; Vanuatu 
(Pacific Group); Jamaica; Russian Federation; Oman; Japan; Uganda; Angola; Nepal; Trinidad & Tobago; 
Cambodia; Hong Kong, China; Panama (Article XII Members); Kenya; Egypt; Plurinational State of Bolivia; 
Ecuador; Singapore; Pakistan; Haiti (CARICOM); Nigeria; Afghanistan; Cameroon and Sri Lanka.  
8 The statements at the 10 December  Informal TNC and HODs Meeting s by the following delegations are 
incorporated in the minutes of the December General Council meeting in WT/GC/M/175: Canada; Central African 
Republic (LDCs); Iceland (Trade Impact Working Group); Singapore (ASEAN); Colombia ( Structured Discussions 
on Investment Facilitation for Development ); South Africa (African Group); Australia ( Joint Statement Initiative 
on E-Commerce ); Vanuatu (ACP); European Union; Uruguay ( Informal Working Group on MSMEs ); China; Benin 
(C-4); Panama (Article XII Members); Switzerland; Brazil; Sri Lanka; Angola; Russian  Federation; Republic of 
Korea; Mexico; Japan; Indonesia (G -33); India; Argentina; Chinese Taipei; Uganda; Philippines; Jamaica; 
Senegal; Norway; Chile; Turkey; Peru; Kenya; Hong Kong, China; Nigeria; Cambodia; Thailand; Costa Rica; 
Pakistan; Trinidad and Tobago; Viet Nam; Haiti (CARICOM); Papua New Guinea (Pacific Group); St. Lucia (OECS) 
and Dominican Republic.  
9 The Chairman's statements were subsequently circulated in JOB/GC/173, JOB/GC/187, JOB/GC/196, 
JOB/GC/202 and JOB/GC/210 respectively.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  3  WORK PROGRAMME  ON ELECTRONIC COMME RCE 
3.1  Review  of Progress (WT/GC/M/173  and WT/GC/M/175 ) 
3.1.  In line with the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce adopted by Ministers at the second 
session of the Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(98)/DEC/2), in September 1998, the General Council 
adopted a Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WT/L/274). At MC11 , Ministers adopted a 
Decision on the Work Programme on Electron ic Commerce (WT/MIN(17)/65 – WT/L/1032 ) which 
instructed the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its se ssions of July and December 2018  
and July 20 19 based on the reports that could be  submitted by the WTO bodies entrusted with the 
implementation of the Work Programme.  
3.2.  At the July meeting , the Chairman drew attention to the reports submitted by the Chairs of the 
Counc il for Trade in Services (S/C/54) and of the Goods Council (G/C/60 ) to the General Council. 
The Chairs of the CTS, CTG, TRIPS Council and CTD then reported on developments under the work 
programme on e -commerce since the last periodic review in July 2017 . The General Council took 
note of the statements of the Chairs of the C TS, CTG, TRIPS Council and CTD , and of the reports in 
S/C/54  and G/C/60 . 
3.3.  At the December  meeting, the Chairman reported10 on developments under the work 
programme on e -commerce since the last periodic review in July – including on his consultations 
with Mem bers on how to move forward the discussion on the e -commerce moratorium, following the 
submission by South Africa and India, and on the informal open -ended meeting he convened on 27 
November in this regard. He also drew attention to the reports submitted to the General Council  by 
the Chairs of the Counc il for Trade in Services (S/C/56 ) and of the Goods Council (G/C/64). The 
representatives of the Central African Republic (LDCs), India, South Africa, Vanuatu (ACP), Nigeria 
and Japan spoke.  The General Counci l took note of the Chairman's statement, of the reports in 
S/C/56 and G/C/64 and of the statements.  
3.2  Information  Sharing – Request from China (WT/GC/M/173)  
3.4.  At the July meeting, the representative of China informed Members about the two -week e -
commerce workshop held in China and presented a video in this regard . The General Council took 
note of the statement.  
3.3  Moratorium  on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions: Need for a re -think – 
Communication from India and South Africa  (WT/GC/M/173)  
3.5.  At the July meeting, the representatives of India and South Africa presented their 
communication in WT/GC/W/747.  A discussion ensued afterwards under the three sub -items where 
the representatives of Benin (WAEMU); the United States; Cuba; Uganda; Tanzania; Chad; Chinese 
Taipei; Brazil; Pakistan; Costa Rica; Ecuador; the Russian Federation; Indonesia; Japan; Thailand ; 
the Republic of Korea; Australia; the European Union; Norway; Canada; Kazakhstan; Sri Lanka; 
Singapore; Switzerland; Hong Kong, China; Turkey; Mexico and Chile spoke. The General Council 
took note of the statements.  
4  WORK PROGRAMME  ON SMALL ECONOMIES – REPORTS ( WT/GC/M/171; 
WT/GC/M/172; WT/GC/M /173 ; WT/GC/M/ 174 AND WT/GC/M/175 ) 
4.1.  In 2002, the General Council took note of a framework and procedures for the conduct of the 
Work Programme on Small Economies, which had been agreed by Ministers at Doha 
(WT/MIN(01) /DEC/1, paragraph 35), under which this Work Programme would be a standing item 
on the General Council's agenda and which also provided that the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD) would report regularly to the General Council on the progress of work in its 
Dedicated Sessions on this subject.  In December 2017, Ministers at MC11  adopted the Decision on 
the Work Progra mme on Small Economies (WT/MIN(17 )/63 – WT/L/1030 ) which reaffirmed  their 
commitment to the Work Programme and instructed the CTD to conti nue its work in Dedicated 
Sessions under the overall responsibility of the General Council.  
                                                
10 The Chai rman's report was subsequently circulated in WT/GC/W/756.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  4.2.  At the March  meeting, the CTD Chairperson  recalled the Buenos Aires Ministerial Decision on 
this matter and informed Members that the CTD Dedicated Discussion would  continue to discuss how 
to take it forward. The representative of Guatemala (SVEs) and the Republic of Moldova spoke.  The 
General Council took note of the report and of the statement s.  
4.3.  At the May meeting, the CTD Chairperson  reported that preparations were under way to hold 
another meeting in early June to discuss the challenges of the fuller integration of SVEs in the 
multilateral trading system and the reduction of trade costs posed to SVEs.  The representative of 
Guatemala (SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took note of the report and of the statement.  
4.4.  At the July meeting, the CTD Chair person  reported that the Dedicated Session had met in June 
to continue  its mandated work. The discussion – which included present ations from t he Secretariat, 
Panama and Sri Lanka – focused on the specific challenges derived from trade costs that SVEs faced 
and the most important sources of merchandise and services trade costs reported by them. The 
representative of Guatemala (SVEs) spoke.  The Ge neral Council took note of the report and of the 
statement.  
4.5.  At the October  meeting, the CTD Chair person  reported that the 37th Dedicated Session on Small 
Economies would be held on 1 November focusing on best practices and policy approaches for 
addressing the challenges identified in its previous meeting. The representative of Guatemala (SVEs) 
spoke.  The General Council took note of the report and of the statement.  
4.6.  At the December  meeting, t he CTD Chair person  reported that the 37th Dedicated Session on  
Small Economies had focused on best practices and policy approaches for addressing the challenges 
identified in its previous session. The SVE Group was working on an outcome document based on 
the discussions held in 2018 in the Dedicated Session. The represent atives of Guatemala (SVEs) and 
Mauritius spoke.  The General Council took note of the report and of the statement s. 
5  AID FOR TRADE  – REPORT ( WT/GC/M/171 ) 
5.1.  At the March  meeting, the CTD C hairperson  reported that consultations on the latest work 
programme  on Aid for Trade had been ongoing since early January. Although progress had been 
made, the CTD would need more time to deliberat e on the matter and the General Council would 
again take up the item at a future meeting .11 The representative of Chad ( on beha lf of the Central 
African Republic, coordinator of the LDCs) spoke.  The General Cou ncil took note of the report and 
of the statement . 
6  DEVELOPMENT ASSISTAN CE ASPECTS OF COTTON  – STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR -
GENERAL (WT/GC/M/175 ) 
6.1.  In Paragraph 1.b of the 1 Augus t 2004 Decision on the Doha Work Programme (WT/L/579), 
the General Council, inter alia, took note of the bilateral, multilateral, and regional efforts to make 
progress on the development assistance aspects of the Cotton Initiative, and instructed the 
Secre tariat to continue to work with the development community and to provide the Council with 
periodic reports on relevant developments. The Council also instructed the Director -General to 
consult with relevant international organizations, including the Bretto n Woods Institutions, the Food 
and Agriculture Organization and the International Trade Centre, to direct effectively existing 
programmes and any additional resources towards development of the economies where cotton had 
vital importance. The Bali and Nair obi Decisions reaffirmed this mandate, and invited the Director -
General to continue to provide periodic reports . 
6.2.  At the December  meeting, Deputy Director -General Alan Wolff, on behalf of the Director -
General, reported that progress continued in that area a nd noted the increase in active cotton -
specific development assistance and that the work of the Mechanism had become more methodical. 
He thanked Members of the development community, those who significantly contributed to the 
South -South Cooperation for Co tton Development Assistance and several multilateral institutions. 
The representatives of the  Central African Republic (LDCs), the European Union, Mali (C -4) and 
                                                
11 At the May General Council meeting, the General Council Chairman  reported under the agenda item on 
"Implementation of t he Bali, Nairobi And Buenos Aires Outcomes " that , following intensive consult ations by the 
CTD Chair person , the 2018 -2019 work programme had been  agreed . WT/GC/200  
 
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  Turkey spoke.  The General Council took note of the Deputy Director -General's statement and of the 
other statements.  
7  ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE  SPECIAL COMPULSORY LICENSING SYSTEM – PARAGRAPH 7 
OF THE ANNEX TO THE AMENDED TRIPS AGREEM ENT AND PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE 
DECISION ON THE IMPL EMENTATION OF PARAGR APH 6 OF THE DOHA DE CLARATION ON 
THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH – REPORT OF THE COUNCIL F OR TRIPS  
(WT/GC/M/175)  
7.1.  In August 2003, the General Council adopted a Decision on the Implementation of Paragraph  6 
of the Doha Declaration on the TRIP S Agreement and Public Health. In addition, the General Council 
adopted in Dece mber 2005  a Protoc ol Amending the TRIPS Agreement  which was submitted to 
Members for acceptance. In accordance with Article X:3 of the WTO Agreement, the Protocol entered 
into force on 23 January 2017, upon acceptance by two -thirds of the WTO Members who had 
accepted it on or before that date. Both the amended TRIPS Agreement and the 2003 Decision 
provided that the TRIPS Council should review annually the functioning of the system and should 
also report on its operation to the General Council.  
7.2.  At the December  meeting, the Chairperson of the TRIPS Council introduced th e report of the 
Council (IP/C/82 ) on its annual review of the Special Compulsory Licensing System. The General 
Council took note of the report of the TRIPS Council.  
8  ACCESSION  MATTERS   
8.1  Chairmanship of Access ion Working Parties (WT/GC/M/172; WT/GC/M/173 and 
WT/GC/M/175)  
8.1.  At the May12 meeting, the Chairman said that consensus was reached in appointing 
Ambassador Luis Cancela (U ruguay) to serve as the Chairperson  of the Working Part y on the 
Accession of Algeria to the WTO and Mr. Andrew Staines (United Kingdom) to  serve as the 
Chairperson  of the Working Party on the Accession of the Bahamas to the WTO. The representatives 
of the Bahamas (as an Observer) and Algeria (as an Observer) s poke.  The General Council took note 
of the statements.  
8.2.  At the July13 meeting, the Chairman said that consensus was reached in appointing Ambassador 
Elisabeth Tichy -Fisslberger (Austria) to serve as the  Chairperson of the Working Party on the 
Accession of Bhutan to the WTO ; and Ambassador Paik Ji -ah (Republic of Korea)  to serve as the 
Chairperson  of the Working  Party on the A ccession of Uzbekistan to the WTO . The representative of 
Bhutan (as an Observer) spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
8.3.  At the December14 meeting, the Chairman said that consensus was reached in appointing 
Ambassador Morten Jespersen (Denmark) to serve as the Chairperson  of the Working P arty on the 
Accession of Ethiopia  to the W TO and Mr. Katsuro Nagai (Japan ) to serve as t he Chairperson  of the 
Working Party  on the Accession of Sudan  to the WTO. The representative of Sudan  (as an Observer) 
spoke.  The General Council took note of the statement.  
9  WAIVERS  
9.1  Kimberley  Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds  – Waiver Extension – 
Draft Decision ( WT/GC/M/173 ) 
9.1.  At the July meeting, the General Council considered a draft decision in document s G/C/W/753 , 
G/C/W/753/ Add.1 and G/C/W/753/Add.2  which concerned the request for  the extension of the 
waiver on the Kimberley  Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds . The Chairperson  of the 
Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of the draft decision by that Council.  The 
representative of Sierra Leone spoke. The General Council took note of the report a nd of the 
                                                
12 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the May meeting.  
13 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  
14 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the December meeting.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  statement  and, in accordance with the Decision -Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the 
WTO Agreement , adopted the draft decision which was subsequently circulated in WT/L/1039.  
9.2  Introduction of Harmonized System 2002, 2007, 2012 and 201 7 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions – Draft Decision (WT/GC/M/175)  
9.2.  At the December  meeting, the General Council considered four  draft waiver decisions, 
contained in G/C/W/ 756, G/C/W/757, G/C/W/758 and G/C/W /759/Rev.1  which concerned the 
Introduction of H armonized System 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions, respectively. The Chairperson of the  Council for Trade in Goods reported on the 
consideration of  this matter by that Council. The General Council took  note of the report and, in 
accordance with the Decision -Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the W TO Agreement 
agreed in November  1995 (WT/L/93), adop ted the four draft Decisions which were subsequently 
circulated in WT/L/ 1048, WT/L/ 1049, WT/L/ 1050 and WT/L/ 1051.  
9.3  Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  (WT/GC/M/ 173 
and WT/GC/M/175 ) 
9.3.  Under Article  IX:4 of the WTO Agreement, "[a]ny waiver granted for a period of more than one 
year shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Confere nce not later than one year after it is granted, and 
thereafter annually until the waiver terminates ." 
9.4.  At the July meeting, the General Council considered the following waivers for review under 
Article IX:4:  
i. Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations un der Article 70.8 and Article 70.9 
of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmac eutical Products, granted on 
30 November 2015 until 1 January 2033 (WT/L/971)  
ii. Preferential treatment for Least -developed Countries, granted on 27 May 2009 until 
30 June 2019 (W T/L/759)  
iii. Canada – CARIBCAN, granted on 28 July 2015 until 31 December 2023 (WT/L/958, 
WT/L/1036)  
iv. United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, granted on 5 May 2015 
until 31 December 2019 (WT/L/950, WT/L/1038)  
9.5.  In doing so, the General Council cons idered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers  in documents  WT/L/1 036 and WT/L/1038 . The representatives of Haiti (CARICOM); Jamaica; 
the United States and Canada spoke. T he General Council took note of the reports contained in 
documents WT/L/1 036 and WT/L/ 1038 and of the statements , and agreed to revert to the review of 
multi-year waivers under Article IX.4 of the WTO Agreement at its last regular meeting in 2018 . 
9.6.  At the December  meeting, the General Council considered the following waivers for  review 
under Article IX:4:  
i. Preferential treatment in favour of Services and Service Suppliers of Least Developed 
Countries, granted on 17 December 2011 until 31 December 2030 (WT/L/847, 
WT/L/982)  
ii. Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver, gran ted on 7 Dec ember 2016 until 
31 December 2021 (WT/L/1003, WT/L/104 3) 
iii. European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the Western 
Balkans, granted on 7 December 2016 until 31 Dec ember 2021 (WT/L/1002, 
WT/L/1044 ) 
iv. United States – African Growth and O pportunity Act, granted on 30 November 2015 
until 30 Sep tember 2025 (WT/L/970, WT/L/1045 and WT/L/1045/Corr.1 ) WT/GC/200  
 
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  v. United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, granted on 7 December 
2016 until 31 Dec ember 2026 (WT/L/1000, WT/L/1046 ) 
vi. United St ates – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal, granted on 7 December 2016 
until 31 December 2025 (WT/L/1001, WT/L/1047)  
9.7.  In doing so, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers  in documents  WT/L/1043, WT/L/1044, WT/L/1045 , WT/L/1045/Corr.1, WT/L/1046 and 
WT/L/1047 . The representatives of Montenegro spoke. T he General Council took note of the reports 
contained in documents WT/L/1043, WT/L/1044, WT/L/1045, WT/L/10 45/Corr.1, WT/L/1046 and 
WT/L/1047, and of the statement . 
10  TWEL FTH SESSION OF THE MINI STERIAL CONFERENCE  – DATE AND VENUE   
10.1  Statem ent by the Chairman (WT/GC/M/172; WT/GC/M/173 and WT/GC/M/174)  
10.1.   At the May15 meeting, the Chairman announced that he would begin consultations on the Date 
and Venue of the Twelfth Session of the Ministerial Conference . The General Council took note of 
the Chairman's statement.  
10.2.   At the July meeting, further to the process of consultations conducted by the Chairman, the 
General Council agreed that the Twelfth Session of the WTO Ministerial Confer ence would take place 
in Astana, K azakhstan in early June 2020  on the understanding that the 2019 deadline in the Buenos 
Aires D ecision on Fisheries Subsidies wa s upheld and that the 2019 dates relating to the two 
moratoria on Electronic Commerce and on TR IPS non -violation and situation complaints we re also 
maintained.  The Chairman, the Director -General and the representative of Kazakhstan spoke. The 
General Council took note of the statements.  
10.3.   At the October  meeting, t he General Council agreed that MC12 wo uld be held on 
8-11 June 2020.  The representative of  Kazakhstan spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statement.  
11  SELECTION OF NEW APP ELLATE BODY MEMBERS – STATEMENT BY CHINA 
(WT/GC/M/172)  
11.1.   At the May meeting, the representative of China made a stateme nt on the issues surrounding 
the selection of new Appellate Body members. The representatives of the European Union; Mexico; 
Cambodia; Zimbabwe; the Russian Federation; Honduras (IGDC except Israel); Uganda; Japan; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Tanza nia; Qatar; Benin; Guinea; Turkey; Norway; Hong Kong, China; 
Brazil; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Canada; Pakistan; the Maldives; Switzerland; Australia; 
Myanmar; Thailand; Liberia; Ecuador; Kazakhstan; India; Sri Lanka; Guatemala; the Republic of  
Korea ; Egypt and the United States spoke . The General Council took note of the statements.  
12  APPELLATE BODY APPOI NTMENTS – AMENDMENTS  OF THE DISPUTE SETT LEMENT 
UNDERSTANDING  (WT/GC/M/175)  
12.1  Statement by the European Union, China, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, 
Switzerland, Australia, Republic of Korea, Iceland, Singapore, Mexico, Costa Rica and 
Montenegro  
12.2  Communication from the European Union, China, Canada, India, Norway, New 
Zealand, Switzer land, Australia, Republic of Korea, Iceland, Singapore, Mexico, Costa Rica 
and Montenegro  
12.3  Communication from the European Union, China, India and Montenegro  
12.1.   At the December  meeting, the representative of the European Union introduced a statement16 
and the  communications circulated in documents WT/GC/W/752/Rev.2 and WT/GC/W/753/Rev.1 . 
                                                
15 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the May meeting.  
16 Subsequently issued as WT/GC/197.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  The representatives of the co -sponsors – China, Canada, India, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, 
Australia, the Republic of Korea, Iceland, Singapore, Mexico, Costa Rica and M ontenegro – took the 
floor in turns and referred to the relevant sub -items.  
12.2.   In the discussion that followed, the representatives of the Philippines; Antigua and Barbuda; 
the Russian Federation; Thailand; Argentina (on behalf of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, C olombia, Mexico, 
Paraguay and Uruguay); Vanuatu (ACP); Ukraine; Brazil; Cambodia; the United States; Hong Kong, 
China; Tanzania; Japan; Afghanistan; Pakistan; Chad (LDCs); Ecuador; South Africa; Guatemala; 
Indonesia; Peru; Turkey; Uruguay; Nigeria; Chile; Honduras and the Dominican Republic took the 
floor. The representatives of China; the United States and the European Union intervened again. The 
Chairman said that there was a general view among delegations that the matter needed to be 
addressed very urgen tly and that more focused discussion was necessary.  Therefore, he proposed 
that an informal process be set up under the auspices of the General Council to allow for focused 
discussions.  He would consult with Members on the way forward  and would then offer concrete 
suggestions about how to organize the informal process . The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
13  TARGETED DISCUSSIONS  ON DISPUTE SETTLEME NT ISSUES – COMMUNIC ATION 
FROM AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE (WT/GC/M/1 75) 
13.1.   At the December  meeting, the repr esentatives of Australia and the other co -sponsors – 
Singapore, Canada, Switzerland and Costa Rica – presented their communication circulated in 
WT/GC/W/754/Rev .2. The representatives of the United States, Brazil, Uganda and Japan spoke. 
The Chairman refer red to his concluding remarks under the item on Appellate Body Appointments17 
and reiterated that he would conduct consultations in this regard.  The General Council took note of 
the statements.   
14  UNITED  STATES OF AMERICA – SECTION 232 INVESTI GATIONS AND MEAS URES ON 
STEEL AND ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS – STATEMENT  BY CHINA (WT/GC/M/171 A ND 
WT/GC/M/172 ) 
14.1.   At the March18 meeting, the representative of China made a statement on the possible trade 
restrictive measures by a Member . The representatives of the European Union; C anada; Chinese 
Taipei; Turkey; the Russian Federation; Hong Kong, China; Australia; Norway; the Republic of 
Korea; Japan; Pakistan; Switzerland; Mexico; Uganda; India; Brazil and the Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela spoke . The General Council took note of the statements.  
14.2.   At the May meeting, the representative of China made a statement on Section 232 
Investigations and Measures on Steel and Aluminium P roducts  by the United States . The  
representative  of the  United States then  provided  a response. The representatives of  South Africa; 
the Russian Federation; Brazil; Uganda; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Cuba; the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Japan; Qatar; Pakistan; Cambodia; the European Union; Turkey; 
Switzerland; Hon g Kong, Ch ina; India and Norway  spoke. Thereafter, the representative of China 
again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
15  UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA – INVEST IGAT IONS AND MEASURES UN DER 
SECTION  301 OF THE TRADE ACT  OF 1974 – STATEMENT  BY CHINA (WT/GC/M/172)  
15.1.   At the May meeting, the representative of China made a statement on the Investigatio ns and 
Measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act o f 1974  of the United States.  The representative  of 
the United States then  provided a response. T he Russian Federation; the European Union; Japan; 
Pakistan; Tanzania; Cambodia; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Cuba; the Plurinational State 
of Bolivia and Brazil spoke. Thereafter, the representatives of China and the United States again 
took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
                                                
17 See para. 12.2.  
18 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the March m eeting.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  16  VIEWS ON CHINA'S TRA DE-DISRUPTIVE ECONOM IC MODEL AND IMPLICA TIONS FOR 
THE WTO – SUBMISSION S FROM THE UNITED ST ATES ( WT/GC/M/173 ) 
16.1.   At the July meeting, the representative of the United States made a statement on the US 
views o n China's trade-disruptive economic m odel and i mplications for the WTO  and presented the 
US submissions in WT/GC/W/745 and WT/GC/W/746. The representative of China then  provided a 
response and also referred t o China's  communication in WT/GC/W/749. The representatives of 
Morocco; Japan; Pakistan; the Russian Federation; the European Union; Cuba; Chinese Taipei; the 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Australia; Brazil and Mexico spoke. Thereafter, the  representat ives 
of the  United States and China again took the floor.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
17  MEASURES TO ALLOW GR ADUATED LDCS, WITH G NP BELOW US$1000, BE NEFITS 
PURSUANT TO ANNEX  VII(B) OF THE AGREE MENT ON SUBSIDIES AN D COUNTERVAILING 
MEASURES  – COMMUNICATION FRO M THE CENTRAL AFRICA N REPUBLIC ON B EHALF OF 
THE LDC GROUP (WT/GC /M/173 ) 
17.1.   At the July meeting, the representative of Chad (on behalf of the Central African Republic, 
coordinator of the LDCs ) presented the LDC's  communication in WT/GC/W /742 which was also 
previously discussed at the Goods Council . The representatives of Nepal; Bangladesh; the United 
States; Vanuatu; India; Benin; Japan; Malawi; the European Union; New Zealand and Brazil spoke. 
The General Council took note of the statements . 
18  WORKSHOP ON GENDER B ASED ANALYSIS ON TRA DE POLICY – STATEMEN T BY 
CANADA (WT/GC/M/171)  
18.1.   At the March19 meeting, the representative of Canada recalled the Buenos Aires Declaration 
on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment endorsed by 120 Members and Observer s and 
invited delegations to a workshop on Gender -Based Analysis of Trade Policy to be held on 16 March 
at the WTO. The representatives of Montenegro and the European Union spoke . The General Council 
took note of the statements.  
19  STATEMENTS OF GROUPS  OF MEMBERS IN OFFIC IAL WTO MEETINGS – STATEMENT BY 
THE UNITED  STATES (WT/GC/M/173 ) 
19.1.   At the July20 meeting, the United States recalled its request to the Informal Group of 
Developing Countries  to make the list of all of its members public ly avai lable for transparency 
purposes . The representatives of Argentina, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Cuba spoke 
on a different matter . The General Council took note of the statements.  
20  CREATION  OF A NEW INFORMAL G ROUP OF MEMBERS TO D ISCUSS TRADE AND 
ENVIRONMENT – STATEM ENT BY COSTA RICA  (WT/GC/M/173)  
20.1.   At the July21 meeting, the representative of Costa Rica announced the cre ation of a new 
informal group called " Friends Adva ncing Sustainable Trade ( FAST)" which  would discu ss trade and 
environment issues . The representative of Norway spoke. The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
21  HIGH -LEVEL CONFERENCE ON  SUSTAINABLE BLUE EC ONOMY AND AFRICA E -
COMMERCE WEEK – STAT EMENT BY KENYA (WT/GC/M/174)  
21.1.   At the October22 meeting, the representative of Kenya announced two events which would be 
taking place in Nairobi in the near future: a High -Level Conf erence on Blue Economy on 
26-28 November and the Africa E -Commerce Week on 10 -14 December.  The General Counc il took 
note of the statement.  
                                                
19 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the March meeting.  
20 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  
21 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the July meeting.  
22 This item was taken up under "Other Bu siness" at the October meeting.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  22  G20 WORK ON TRADE AN D INVESTMENT – STATE MENT BY ARGENTINA 
(WT/GC/M/175)  
22.1.   At the December23 meeting,  the representative of Argentina  inform ed Members  about the 
work of the Argentine Presidency of the G20 on Trade and Investment and referred to the Ministerial 
Statement at the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Mar del Plata and the G20 Leaders' 
Declaration in Buenos Aires circulated in WT/L/1052 and WT/L/1053, respectively. The General 
Council took note of the statem ent. 
23  COMMITTEE  ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION  
23.1  Reports and Recommendations ( WT/GC/M/172 ; WT/GC/M/173  and 
WT/GC/M/175 ) 
23.1.   At the May meeting, the Ge neral Council considered the report  by the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration on its meeting in March ( WT/BFA/171 ). The representative of the Central 
African Republic spoke. The General Council took note of the statements, approved the Budget 
Committee's specific recommendations in paragraphs 4.7 and 5.2 of WT/BFA/171, and adopted the 
report . 
23.2.   At the July meeting, upon the adoption of the agenda, the General Council agreed to amend 
the proposed agenda in relation to the item "Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration – 
Report on Meetings of April and June 2018". The General Council considered only paragraphs 1.1 to 
1.12 of WT/BFA/172 and attac hment WT/BFA/W/448 . The consideration of the full documents 
referred to in that item (WT/BFA/172 and WT/BFA/173) was deferred to a subsequent meeting.  The 
General Council approved the Budget Committee's sp ecific recommendatio n in paragraph 1.12 of 
WT/BFA/172 . 
23.3.   At the December  meeting, the General Council considered the reports by the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration on its meetings in July (WT/BFA/174), September (WT/BFA/175) 
and November (WT/BFA/176). The General Council took note of the statement, approved the  Budget 
Committee's specific recommendations in paragraphs 2.13, 3.14 to 3.16, and 4.18 of WT/BFA/176, 
and adopted the three reports.  
24  WTO PENSION PLAN  
24.1  Reports  (WT/GC/M/173 ) 
24.1.   At the July meeting, the Chairperson  of the Management Board of the WTO Pension Pla n 
introduced  the Annual Report of the Management Board for 2017 contained in document WT/L/1037 , 
and the Report of the Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the Fina ncial Statements of  the 
WTOPP in document WT/L/1035 . The General Council took note o f the Annual Report of the 
Management Board for 2017 , the Report of the Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the 
Financial Statements of the WTOPP , and the WTOPP Chairperson's statement.  
24.2  Election  of Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Manag ement Board  
(WT/GC/M/172 ) 
24.2.   Article  4(a) of the Regulations of the WTO Pension Plan provides, inter alia, for the election 
by the General Council of a Chairperson, four members and four alternates to the Management 
Board of the Pension Plan, each for a three -year term.  
24.3.   At the May meeting, the Chairman recalled the process of consultations that had been 
undertaken regarding the two vacancies in the WTOPP Management Board announced through a 
communication sent to delegations in early April .  On the basis of thi s process, he suggested that 
the candidates proposed in document WT/GC/W/743 be elected to the Manage ment Board: 
                                                
23 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the December meeting.  WT/GC/200  
 
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  Ms. Darija Sinjeri (Croatia) as a Member and Ms. Paula Chiung -Fang Hsu (Chinese Taipei) as an 
Alternate. The General Council so agreed .24 
25  ADMINI STRATIVE  MEASURES FOR MEMBER S IN ARREARS ( WT/GC/M/171; 
WT/GC/M/1 72; WT/GC/M/173 , WT/GC/M/ 174 AND WT/GC/M/175 ) 
25.1.   In October  2012, the General Council approved a recommendation from the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration regarding revised Administrative Measures for Members in 
arrears, as contained in WT/BFA/132, Annex I. These new revised Measures entered into for ce on 
1 January 2013. These Measures required that at the end of each meeting of t he General Council, 
the Chairperson  of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration should provide information 
with regard to which Members and Observers were under Ad ministrative Measures; and, the General 
Council Chairperson would request Members and Observers in Categories II and III to inform the 
Secretariat as to when the payment of arrears might be expected.  
25.2.   At the General Council meetings in March , May, July, October, and December25, the 
Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration provided information with 
regard to which Members were under Administrative Measures and the Chairman made the said 
request to Members and Observers in Categories I I and III. The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
26  INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/WTO – REPORT OF THE JOINT ADVISORY 
GROUP ON ITS 52ND SE SSION  (WT/GC/M/175)  
26.1.   At the December  meeting, the General Council considered a report of the Joint Advisory Group 
on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Fifty -Second Session (ITC/AG(LII)/272), 
which had been considered initially by the Committee on Trade and Development at its meeting on 
21 November where it had been presented by the Chairperson of the Joint Advisory Group, 
Ambassador Alvaro Cedeño Molinari (Costa Rica). The  CTD Chairperson made a statement on the 
Committee's consideration of the report.  The representative  of the International Trade Centre ( as 
an Observer) spoke.  The General Council took note of the CTD Chairperson's statement  and of the 
other statement , and adopted the report of the Joint Advisory Group.  
27  REVIEW OF WTO ACTIVI TIES  (WT/GC/M/175)  
27.1.   At the December  meeting, the General Council co nsidered Annual Reports for 2018  from WTO 
bodies that had been drawn up in pursuance of the Decision concerning procedures for an annual 
overview of WTO activities and for reporting under the WTO in document WT/L/105.  
27.2.   The General Council took note of the  Chairman's  statement, ado pted the report of the 
Committee on Trade and Development in document WT/COMTD/ 97 and  took note of the reports of 
other WTO bodies, including the reports of the bodies under the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, in 
documents WT/DSB/ 76, WT/TPR/ 426, G/L/ 1282, S/C/55, IP/C/ 81, G/L/1283, G/L/1284,  
WT/CTE/ 25, WT/BOP/R/ 116, WT/BFA/ 177, WT/REG/ 29, WT/WGTDF/ 17, WT/WGTTT/ 20, GPA/ AR/1, 
and WT/L/ 1041 – TCA/14.  
27.3.   The General Council then adopted the draft Annual Report for 2018  of the General Council 
(WT/GC/W/ 751), on the understanding that the Secretariat would make the  necessary adjustments 
to include matters considered at that meeti ng. 
28  APPOINTMENT  OF OFFICERS TO WTO BODIES ( WT/GC/M/171; WT/GC/M /173; 
WT/GC/M/174  AND WT/GC/M/175 ) 
28.1.   At the March  meeting, the Chairman recalled that in accordance with the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510), and the related practical steps to improve their 
implementation (JOB/GC/22), he, together with the serving Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement 
Body, Amb assador Ihara (Japan), and Ambassador Neple (Norway), former Chairman of the General 
                                                
24 The decision can be found in document WT/L/1034.  
25 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the March, May, July, October and December 
meetin gs. WT/GC/200  
 
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  Council, had conducted consultations on a slate of names for the appointment of Chairpersons to 
WTO regular bodies listed in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the Guide lines and on the 
appointment of new Chairpersons for the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, the Council 
for Trade in Services in Special Session and the Negotiating Group on Rules. In that regard, he had 
convened an Informal General Council meeti ng on 2 March where he had provided a detailed report 
on the consultations that they had undertaken and had shared the slate of names for the regular 
bodies and two negotiating bodies on which there appeared to be co nsensus.26 
28.2.   On the basis of the consultati ons, there was consensus on the following slate of names:  
General Council  
 
 H.E. Mr. Junichi Ihara (Japan ) 
 
 
Dispute Settlement Body  
 
 H.E. Ms Sunanta Kangvalkulkij (Thailand ) 
 
Trade Policy Review Body  
 
 H.E. Mr. Eloi Laouru  (Benin ) 
 
Council for Trade in Goods  
 
 H.E. Mr. Stephen De Boer  (Canada ) 
 
Council for Trade in Services  
 
 H.E. Mr. Alfredo Suescum (Panama ) 
 
Council for TRIPS  
 
 H.E. Dr. Walter Werner ( Germany ) 
 
Committee on Trade and Development  
 
 H.E. Mr. Diego Aulestia (Ecuador ) 
 
Committee on Balance -of-Payments 
Restrictions  
 H.E. Mr. Claudio de la Puente (Peru) 
 
Committee on Budget, Finance and  
Administration  
 H.E. Mr. Juan Aguirre (Paraguay ) 
 
Committee on Trade and Environment  
 
 H.E. Mrs. Sondang Angraini ( Indonesia ) 
 
Committee on Regional  Trade  
Agreements  
 H.E. Mr. Julian Braithwaite (United Kingdom ) 
 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and 
Finance  
 H.E. Mr. Mohammad Haqjo (Afghanistan ) 
 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of 
Technology  
 H.E. Mrs. Sabine Möller (Namibia ) 
 
28.3.   Concerning  the negotiating bodies, the  consultations show ed that there wa s consensus on the  
following  appointments : 
                                                
26 The Chairman's statement at the Informal General Council meeting at the level of Heads of Delegation 
can be found in Annex 3 of the March General Council Minutes in WT/GC/M/171 . WT/GC/200  
 
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  Council for Trade in Services in Special 
Session  
 H.E. Mrs. Zhanar Aitzhanova ( Kazakhstan ) 
Negotiating Group on Rules  
 H.E. Mr . Roberto Zapata ( Mexico ) 
28.4.   The Chairman recalled that  they had not finalized the process for the appointment of the 
Chairperson  of the CoA SS. Consultations would need to continue f or that particular appointment 
and h e trusted that they could have a decision on that matter without undue delay.27 He then recalled 
that a ppointm ents for the regular bodies would be for one year  in keeping with the general rule in 
the Guidelines.  All appointments would be made formally by the WTO bodies concerned at the ir 
subsequent meetings in 2018. The General Council took note of the consensus on the slate of names 
for the appointment of officers in the WTO bodies  and of the Chairman's statement.  
28.5.   The Chair person s of the CTG and CTS made statement s on the consultations on the 
Chairmanships of t heir respective subsidiary bodies in accordance with the relevant guidelines.  The 
representative  of Chile spoke. The General Council took note of the  statements.  
28.6.   At the July28 meeting,  the Chairman announced that he would begin consultations for the 
vacanci es on the Chairmanships of the CTE and CTE SS . The General Council took note of the 
Chairman's statement.  
28.7.   At the October29 meeting, the Chairman provided a brief update on the progress in his 
consultations for the vacancies on the Chairmanships of the CTE and CTE SS.  The General Council 
took note of the Chairman's statement.  
28.8.   At the December  meeting, the Chairman said that in accordance with the Guidelines for the 
Appointment of Officers to WTO bodies in document WT/L/510 and the practical steps to improve 
the implementation of the Guidelines (JOB/GC/22), he would be starting the selection process for 
the appointment of chairpersons to the WTO bodies in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Annex to the 
Guidelines.  He also said that the upcoming appointments cycle woul d include the vacancy in the 
Chairmanships of the CTE SS and of any other vacancy in the negotiating bodies that could arise 
and that it would take the vacancy in the Chairmanship of the CTE together with the Chairmanships 
of the rest of the regular bodies . In accordance with paragraph 7.1(b) of the Guidelines, he would 
be assisted in the selection  process by the serving Chairperson  of the Dispute Settlement Body, 
Ambas sador Sunanta Kangvalkulkij (Thailand) . The General Cou ncil took note of the statement 
which had been made pursuant to the Guidelines for the Appointment of Officers.  
29  ELEC TION OF CHAIRPERSON (WT/GC/ M/171 ) 
29.1.   At the March  meeting, the Chairman, as the outgoing presiding officer of the General Council, 
made a statement. The General Council then una nimously elected H.E. Ambassador Junichi Ihara 
(Japan)  to the Chair.  
29.2.   The Director -General, the newly -elected Chairman, and the representatives of Honduras 
(IGDC), Kenya and Rwanda (African Group) spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
 
__________  
 
                                                
27 As a result of the consultations, the Chairman, Ambassador Junichi Iha ra, subsequently sent a 
communication on 13 March to all Members informing them that it was his understanding that there was 
consensus among delegations on the appointment of Ambassador John Ronald Dipchandra Ford (Guyana) as CoA 
SS Chairperson, and had in vited them to submit comments, if any, by 15 March. Since he had received no 
objections, he confirmed on 16 March that Ambassador Ford would be appointed as the CoA SS Chairman at the 
Committee's next formal meeting.  
28 This item was taken up under "Other B usiness" at the July meeting.  
29 This item was taken up under "Other Business" at the October meeting.