RESTRICTED  
  
WT/WGTTT/M/55  
 
6 October  2017 
(17-5391) Page: 1/2 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology  
Fifty-Fifth Session    
 
 NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 21 JULY  2017  
Chairperson: H.E. Ms Zorica Marić -Djordjević  (Montenegro)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGEN DA ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TR ANSFER OF 
TECHNOLOGY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
C. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMME NDATIONS ON STEPS TH AT MIGHT BE TAKEN 
WITHIN THE MANDATE O F THE WTO TO INCREAS E FLOWS OF TECHNOLOG Y TO 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 2 
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGEN DA  
1. The agenda contained in Airgram WTO/AIR/WGTTT/8  of 7 July  2017 was adopted . 
B. ANALYSIS OF THE RE LATIONSHIP BETWEEN T RADE AND TRANSFER OF  
TECHNOLOGY  
2. Under  this agenda item , the Working Group  continued its discussion on the relationship 
between trade and transfer of technology .  
3. The representative  of Pakistan  took the floor to make a statement. He said that the 
fundamental goal of t echnology transfer was to help build technological capacities  in countries 
which were at the lower rung of innovation and technical know -how. In this context, t ransfer of 
technology , among others, involved successful l earning of inform ation by one party from another  
and the effective application of that information in generating marketable products and services. A 
key component of any technology -transfer process was the effective transfer of the skills and 
intangible kn ow-how that ensure d enhancement  of production capability , securing economies of 
scale and achieving improvement in  product quality.  Transfer of technology  was a long-term 
dynamic proces s and not a one -off transaction. I t required co nstant adaptation by all  actors in the 
process.  
4. He went on to s ay that, over time, national policies had evolved through deregulation of the 
economies and liberalization, including pri vatization of the public sector , with greater emphasis, 
generally, on attracting  foreign dire ct investment  (FDI) and technology. Some current challenges 
facing t he developing countries include d: (i) the continuing technology gap between countries, 
evident in the low share of many developing countries in technology exports;  (ii) the digital divide 
and consequent shortfalls in learning indicators;  (iii) the need for effective participation of all 
countries in the setting of standards and technical regulations ; and (iv) the need for flexibility in 
the implementation of existing agreements to allow ade quate policy space for national measures 
for technology transfer and diffusion . 
5. He recalled  that the Working G roup on Trade and Transfer of Technology was established at 
Doha in 2001 since it was felt that there was a need to identify means to facilitat e transfer of 
technology to the technology -poor developing countries. The main objectives were , among others , 
to: (i) assess the technology and innovation needs of developing countries  and the least developed 
countries ; (ii) identify constraints faced by d eveloping countries in gaining access to appropriate WT/WGTTT/M/55  
 
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  technologies ; (iii) identify,  examine and assess the implem entation of technology transfer -related 
provisions in th e WTO Agreements and see  if they hinder ed technology t ransfer to developing 
countries , with a view to identifying the needs for appropriate changes/strengthening of these 
provisions; and (iv) study the design  of instruments and incentives,  that developed countries could 
grant to enterprises and institutions in their own territories in order t o disseminate and encourage 
transfer technology to developing countries , as well as  examine other channels including FDI for 
transfer of technology.  
6. Though there had been  a number of  submissions  made by Members resulting in  some useful 
thematic discussi ons, country presentations and sharing of experiences , nothing substantial could 
be achieved thus  far despite  many years of work in the Working Group. The representative  of 
Pakistan urged that Members engage constructively  in the work of the Group so as to  make 
meaningful progress towards fulfilment of the Ministerial mandate.  
7. No other delegation took the floor.  
C. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMME NDATIONS ON STEPS TH AT MIGHT BE TAKEN WI THIN 
THE MANDATE OF THE W TO TO INCREASE FLOWS  OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEV ELOPING 
COUNTRIES  
8. Under the agenda item on possible recommendations that the Working Group could make in 
the future,  the proponents informed  the Working Group  that they continued to work on a formal 
submission which they hoped to table in the Wor king Group in the near fu ture. 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  
9. No matter w as raised under "O ther Business ". 
10. The meeting was adjourned . 
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