JOB/TNC/61  
 
28 July 2017  
(17-4149) Page: 1/2 
 Trade Negotiations Committee    
 
 REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE TRADE NEGO TIATIONS COMMITTEE  
TUESDAY, 25 JULY 201 7 
1.1.  Let me start with a report on my own activities and consultations.   
1.2.  Over the past few mont hs, I have visited a number of C apitals where I met with a broad 
range of stakeholders including leaders, government officials and the private sector.  I was also 
invited to attend a number of Ministerial gatherings.  I will give a fuller report on these activities in 
the HoDs meeting.  
1.3.  Throughout these exchanges, I stressed to mi nisters and leaders the importance of making 
progress on Doha issues – including at the forthcoming Ministerial Conference. I also highlighted 
the need for continued engagement at the ministerial level in order to ensure that we keep moving 
forward  
1.4.  I have also been pursuing consultations here in Geneva.  
1.5.  In June I met individually with the Chairs of the Negotiating Groups on Agriculture, Rules, 
Services, Development and NAMA to discuss their specific areas in greater detail. And yesterday 
Minister Malcorra and I – together with the Chair of the General Council – heard from all of the 
Chairs. This was a follow -up to the meeting we held on 24 April, in the same configuration. Again, 
the purpose was to collectively review the overall state of play in the negoti ations and assess 
progress in each area.  
1.6.  I also met with the coordinato rs of the LDC, African and ACP G roups in June to discuss their 
priorities and concerns in light of MC11.  
1.7.  In addition, I was invited by the G -33 to participate in their workshop on 'De livering 
Development in the 11th Ministerial Conference', with a focus on Public Stockholding for Food 
Security and the Special Safeguard Mechanism.  
1.8.  I think the session helped to further Members ' understanding of their different positions and 
concerns. We  clearly need keep work with greater urgency if we want to advance these issues, 
especially in view of the mandated timeline for public stockholding.  
1.9.  Indeed, I think greater urgency is required across the board, if we are to see progress. 
Nevertheless, we  have seen a welcome increase in activity on the Doha issues in recent months.  
1.10.   Agriculture, Services and R ules have continued to be major areas where Members ' attention 
has been focused – although I have been please d to see increased activity in D evelopme nt 
conversations as well in recent days.  
1.11.   In Agriculture, a total of 18 submissions have been tabled by Members  since we last met, 
covering a range of agriculture issues.  Last week alone, 8 submissions were tabled – mainly in the 
areas of domestic support,  public stockholding and SSM.  
1.12.   This is a very impressive level of engagement.  JOB/TNC/61  
 
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  1.13.   We have also seen additional papers tabled in other areas, including on fisheries subsidies, 
anti-dumping and horizontal subsidies. And, more recently, papers have been put forwa rd in areas 
where there had been less activity, such as NAMA and S&D.  
1.14.   The revised S&D proposal from the ACP, African and LDC G roups was introduced in the 
CTD SS last week.  I am informed that this has already allowed discussions in the CTD SS to restart 
for the first time since Nairobi.  
1.15.   It is very positive that Members  have started to move to more detailed, text -based 
submissions and discussions. My hope is that this enhanced level of activity paves the way for a 
more focused process in the autumn. Wherever  issues have reached the right level of maturity and 
specificity, Members  should be moving in to negotiating mode.  
1.16.   But, let me underline again that while this growing engagement is very welcome, the 
approaches and level of ambition amongst delegations vary widely. A great deal remains to be 
done before Buenos Aires.  
1.17.   When delegations return to Geneva in September, we will have just 14 weeks until the 
Ministerial C onference.  
1.18.   We need to increase the intensity of our work markedly if we are to make the progres s that 
I think most Members  want to see – including, crucially, steps on development and in support of 
LDCs.  
1.19.   The Chairs and I will continue in our roles of facilitating convergence, but proponents bear 
the responsibility of building momentum behind their i deas. So I encourage you to reflect about 
how you can achieve this.  
1.20.   And I encourage all delegations t o use August to work with your C apitals to increase their 
engagement, and to see what may be possible.  
1.21.   We also need to be realistic in assessing what can  be done by Buenos Aires and what could 
be further developed in the longer term. We must ensure that MC11 is a step forward for the 
multilateral trading system, in the interests of growth, development, job creation and living 
standards around the world.   
1.22.   As with Bali and Nairobi, it is essential that we do all we can to make Buenos Aires a 
success – and to ensure that it represents a strong platform for future work.  
1.23.   This concludes my report as TNC Chair.  
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