RESTRICTED  
  
TN/DS/M/37  
 
12 May 2017  
(17-2521) Page: 1/2 
Special Session of the Dispute Settlement Body  
Fortieth Special Session    
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETI NG 
HELD IN THE CENTRE W ILLIAM RAPPARD  
ON 4 MAY 2017  
1  ADOPTION OF THE AGEN DA 
1. Ambassador Dr Stephen Karau opened the meeting as the immediate  past Chairperson  of 
the Special Session of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB -SS). 
2. He noted that th e airgram for the meeting WTO/AIR/TN/DSB/2 contained one item for the 
agenda, namely the election of the new Chairperson. He asked whether the agenda was acceptable 
to delegations. There was no objection and the agenda of the meeting was adopted.  
2  PARTING R EMARKS  
3. Before the election, the immediate past Chairperson  made several remarks. First, he 
announced that he had circulated under his own responsibility a report to the Trade Negotiations 
Committee (TNC) on the work completed by the DSB -SS during his tenur e. He also indicated that 
proposals submitted in the course of the past work of the body had been circulated as Job 
documents.  
4. Second, he highlighted that his recent appointment as the new Chairperson of the Special 
Session of the Committee on Agriculture  was unforeseen and unexpected. He assured Members 
that he would serve in this new capacity with total dedication. He also remarked that that he would 
benefit from the lessons he had learned as the Chairperson of the DSB -SS in his new role.  
5. Lastly, he than ked Members for their commitment to and cooperation in the DSU 
negotiations. He encouraged Members to approach the negotiations with pragmatism and realism, 
with a view to paving the way for possible incremental outcomes.  
3  ELECTION OF THE CHAI RPERSON  
6. The immediate past Chairperson  recalled that, following consultations, the Chair of the 
General  Council, Ambassador Xavier Carim, informed Members on 7 April 2017 that he understood 
that there was consensus among Members to appoint Ambassador Coly Seck of Senega l as 
Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body in Special Session to succeed  him. Accordingly, the 
immediate past Chairperson  proposed that the DSB -SS elect Ambassador Coly Seck as its 
Chairperson. No delegation requested to take the floor.  
7. The immediate past Chairperson  noted the agreement of the DSB -SS to elect 
Ambassador  Coly Seck as its new Chairperson.  
8. The representatives of Argentina , Cameroon , Canada , China , India, Indonesia , Kenya , 
Mexico , the Republic of M oldova , Norway , the Russian  Federation , Senegal , and Uganda  thanked 
Ambassador  Karau for his work and congratulated Ambassador Seck on his election.  
9. The Chairperson  thanked Ambassador Karau for the time and effort he invested in the 
negotiations and for re -energizing and re -focusing the work of th e DSB -SS.   TN/DS/M/37  
 
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  10. The Chairperson  also thanked the delegations for the confidence placed in him, and for 
entrusting him with the Chairmanship. He said that it was a great privilege and honour  to have the 
support of the Membership for this position and he looked forward to playing his part in assisting 
them in advancing these negotiations.  
11. The Chairperson  stated that he intended to continue the focused and sequential work started 
by Ambassador Karau on the 12 issues under negotiation. He also indicated that he pla nned to 
work in the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness.  
12. As no delegation  had any additional matter to raise, the Chairperson  closed  the meeting.  
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