JOB/TNC/39  
 
25 June 2014 
(14-3672) Page: 1/13 
Trade Negotiations Committee    
 
 INFORMAL TNC MEETING  
AT THE LEVEL OF HEAD  OF DELEGATION  
WEDNESDAY , 25 JUNE 2014 
Chairman's statement and Oral Reports by the Chairs of the Bodies established by the TNC  
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  Good morning everybody.  
1.2.  As I outlined at the meeting of the TNC in Ap ril and the General Council in May, we are now 
in the second phase of our discussions on the DDA work programme.  
1.3.  This second phase is focused on resolving the problems that we have been outlining, testing 
what went wrong and putting forward potential solu tions.  
1.4.  The work is taking place at three levels:  
 First, through the negotiating group chairs  
 Second, in conversations between Members, which I hear are beginning to develop and 
deepen – and this is very welcome.  
 And third, through my own consultations.  
1.5.  In a moment I will give you my overview of how I see this work progressing. But I will start 
by asking the Negotiating Group C hairs to give their reports on how the discussions have 
developed in their respective areas.  
[The TNC Chair gave the floor to the Chairs of the Bodies established by the TNC – 
Statements are reflected in the Annexes.]  
1.6.  Before I turn to the main focus of my remarks, I would like to raise something which is not 
an immediate part of our TNC work – but which could be of great relevance to our chances of 
making progress here. This relates to the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
1.7.  I am aware that there are concerns about actions on the part of some delegations which 
could compromise what was negotiated in Bali last December.  As Chair of the Trade Negotiations 
Committee, I have no doubt that you are all very much aware of the implications of revisiting 
what was agreed in Bali. It would not only compromise the Trade Facilitation Agreement – 
including the technical assistance ele ment. All of the Bali decisions – every single one of them – 
would be compromised. Everything we worked together to achieve in Bali would potentially be 
lost. 
1.8.  On Section 2 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement I know from my consultations that there 
are conc erns among developing and least -developed Members about accessing the necessary 
support.  So we have been working very hard to address these concerns and ensure the provision 
of technical assistance to everyone, without exceptions.  JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  1.9.  My team and I have been i ntensely talking to donors and consulting with the Coordinators 
of the ACP, African and LDC Groups to try to find a solution that would allow the WTO to assist 
those seeking technical assistance and capacity building support. Such a solution should:  
 create  the best possible conditions for the flow of information between donors and 
recipients on their needs and options;  
 assist Members in preparing and updating their needs assessments;  
 help Members to develop technical assistance projects;  
 identify possible development partners for countries that might have had difficulties 
doing so by themselves;  
 and ensure that resources are available for all those seeking technical assistance.  
1.10.  We expect to be able to set out a new WTO facility along these lines before th e summer 
break.  
1.11.  I need not point out that most likely all of this would be lost if we compromise what was 
negotiated in Bali.  And I  am afraid a similar outcome could be expected for the work programme 
on the DDA. Revisiting the Bali agreements would not i mprove our chances of getting the DDA 
done. In fact it would have precisely the opposite effect. This is a serious issue for our work here. 
While I have stressed that this is not strictly a TNC issue, it does have implications for our work.  
1.12.  However, not le ast because the consequences would be so significant, I am confident that 
we will find a way forward which allows us to honour what was agreed in Bali and deal with any 
specific concerns.  Clearly this is something which we will need to watch very closely.  
1.13.  Turning back to the focus of this meeting, from the chairs ' reports and from what I hear in 
my own consultations with individual delegations, it seems to me that we are now firmly into the 
second phase of discussions on the DDA work programme.  
1.14.  Members ar e engaging at a more substantive and strategic level.  You have begun to talk 
about substance. In the first phase we were talking more about process and how to reengage, 
and we agreed on some broad principles.  
 To keep development at the heart of our effort s 
 To balance realism and ambition by focusing on what is doable  
 To be creative and open -minded  
 To recognise that the big issues are interconnected so must be tackled together  
 To be inclusive and transparent   
 And to maintain our sense of urgency  
1.15.  These pri nciples have been widely adopted by Members, and they should continue to guide 
discussions in this second phase. I think we heard this in the chairs' reports today.  
1.16.  But, it seems to me that while Members are observing the principles, we are still not at a 
point where the conversations actively and resolutely seek potential solutions. We a re still in a 
different type of conversation that is more concerned about pointing to the problems that we find 
in each other's positions. Members are ready to point finger s at insufficiencies in other Members’ 
positions.  Members are also quick to say that they cannot do this and that, and to mark out their 
red lines. But I am not hearing – not from anyone – about what they can do. I am not hearing 
what they can put on the t able that would make trade -offs possible.  JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  1.17.  On the positive side, all of you have indicated that you are ready to contribute. But our 
dialogue is falling short of determining more precisely where and how that contribution would 
take shape.  This is the next s tep we will need to take if we are to look at what the solutions 
might be and find where the balance between the different positions may lie.  So this is what we 
are now beginning to explore.  It is hard work. And it means that Members will need to ask 
thems elves some tough questions. But there is no other way of doing this.  
1.18.  I believe it is useful to dispel certain rumours that I have heard in the corridors. One of 
them concerns a paper that is supposedly going to come from me, or from someone else, which 
would provide a magical path forward. Let me clear yet: this is not going to happen. I don’t know 
how much more clear I can get! This will be a bottom -up process. Any roadmaps will have to 
come from Members – they will have to come from you.  There are no magi c solutions or short -
cuts here.  
1.19.  Another rumour is that I have been holding meetings with a small group of countries.  And 
so, again, I want be clear – I am not holding meetings with small groups of delegations. Indeed, 
there have been no group meetings wha tsoever with me.  I am talking to delegations individually 
– this is no secret. And not just to a small number of specific delegations, but to many different 
delegations on many different issues. If and when I hold meetings with some delegations, it will 
be in a transparent fashion and you will be the first to know.  I will try to help and facilitate the 
conversation and I am willing to intensify my consultations if it is helpful. But this is your process 
– it has to be led by you.  That is why it  is so import ant that you continue to deepen your 
conversations with each other in this second phase.  
1.20.  Clearly we are in a very different scenario from when we were preparing for Bali with 
open-ended meetings in Room W – all-nighters – you remember how it was. We will get to that 
stage in due course – you will get your sleepless nights! But we are not there yet – we have 
some way to go. As I see it, we are still at the stage of laying the foundations.  
1.21.  A lot of work needs to be done in setting the terrain and preparing t he ground before we 
can begin to build. People may not see concrete things happening at the moment – you cannot 
yet see the edifice rising. Some may find it frustrating, and it may well be. But this is essential 
work.  If we do  not do it right then the buil ding will never go up – or it will fall before it is 
complete. But, if we prepare the ground correctly and construct solid foundations then, when we 
are ready, I think the building will go up fairly quickly. So I believe that this kind of work is 
critical.  The conversations you are having with each other to test positions and test ideas are 
critical; as is the work of the negotiating group chairs – and as, I hope, are my own 
consultations. So we need to continue this work and to redouble our efforts.  
1.22.  What i s important to remember is that work is being done, we have genuine engagement, 
and we are talking substance. We are sowing the seeds. They need time to germinate.  
1.23.  I am sure that we all feel the presence of the December deadline, just beyond the horizon. 
But I think there are reasons for a positive attitude.  In recent weeks we have moved from talking 
about process, to talking about substance – with a focus on the three pivotal and interlinked 
areas of agriculture, NAMA and services. And let  us remember  that this is something that hasn't 
happened for 6 years. Moreover, we have defined a set of clear principles for the conversations 
ahead.  
1.24.  And Members have been very open and constructive. We are not throwing away the work 
that was done before. This is extrem ely important – it must be emphasized. But we are being 
open-minded about how to close the existing negotiating gaps.  
1.25.  So let us continue developing our work at each of the three levels – with a renewed focus 
on what Members can do. And let  us keep preparin g the ground.  If we do this properly, we will 
be able to construct the clearly defined  work programme that we were tasked to deliver by the 
Bali declaration.  Thank you very much for listening.  
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  ANNEX I  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE COMMIT TEE ON AGRICU LTURE IN SPECIAL SESS ION  
AMBASSADOR JOHN ADANK (NEW ZEALAND)  
Some additional comments on the state of play in the agriculture discussions:  
 
As Members will be aware since the beginning of the year I have pursued informal consultations to 
follow up the Ministerial direction in Bali to prepare by the end of this year a clearly defined work 
programme on the remaining DDA issues, of which agriculture con tinues to be seen as central. 
I have done this in a variety of configurations with individual d elegations, groups and group 
representatives.  
 
In early May I had an informal meeting with a range of interested Members and updated them on 
what the consultations had revealed at that point.  
 
I am also convening a further open -ended meeting of the Specia l Session next Thursday afternoon 
3 July to allow for a wider exchange of views among Members and for further transparency 
purposes.   
 
Overall, I would say that the discussions so far this year have helped to better define at least what 
the issues are that  various Members consider need to be solved.  We know more about the so -
called challenges in the way of an overall agreement.  But we still have a considerable way to go in 
identifying potential solutions to any of these challenges.   
 
Regarding the three pil lars of the agriculture negotiations. Export Competition  remains an area 
where we have a very well -developed idea of the potential landing zone. We notably have agreed 
direction for ongoing work from Ministers at Bali.  My consultations have not shown any q uestioning 
of the political commitment that Ministers have repeatedly reiterated to the “parallel elimination of 
all forms of export subsidies and disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect”.  This 
does not mean it is easy to actually deliver  outcomes in this area as it remains closely linked to 
agreements that need to be reached in the other two pillars which are clearly more challenging.  
 
On Domestic Support , points that have come up in the consultations include: (i) the relationship 
of an o verall agreement on domestic support to the work for a permanent solution to the public 
stockholding for food security issue which was mandated at Bali; (ii) the changing patterns of 
domestic support and subsidisation in the years since the negotiations we re last active, and 
particularly the increased role that domestic support now plays in some emerging economies; and 
(iii) questions that continue to be raised regarding the implications that policy developments in 
some member countries may have for the neg otiations.  These last two points relate to the broader 
question of the respective contributions  that various Members can and should make in this area to 
arrive at an agreement which remains the key theme in all of our discussions.   
 
Concerning Market Acces s, some Members have indicated that they do not see the framework 
discussed in the past – in terms of the results arising from the formula and flexibilities provided 
under it – as delivering an acceptable landing zone in terms of improved and predictable m arket 
access outcomes.  Some Members have indicated interest in exploring a less complex approach, 
with broader flexibilities in place of the specific ones earlier elaborated.  Some other Members 
maintain that, no matter the approach, it has to deliver real and significant improvements in 
market access.  And finally, some other Members have indicated a concern to keep any focus on 
market access issues on the resolution of the “outstanding issues” identified in this area back in 
the Chair’s 2011 Easter report i ncluding the unresolved issues around sensitive/special products 
and the SSM.  So in summary, there are a wide range of views about how the issues in this area 
should be addressed, all of which relate to the respective levels of ambition and the contributio ns 
that Members want to set for themselves and for others.   
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  My more general comment would be to underline that to further progress any of the issues under 
the various pillars Members will need to engage at a much more specific level to test ideas on what 
works and what won’t work.   
 
And engaging with each other means that Members need not only to come to discussions seeking 
something from others. Determining or confirming what you want from others is clearly the easy 
part. But Members  must also be prepared  to indicate what they will contribute to make potential 
solutions politically saleable, not only in  their capitals but  in those of other Members who may 
have quite different priorities across the negotiations.  Only in this way are we likely to create the 
necessary negotiating environment and momentum that will allow us to identify compromise 
solutions. Therein lies the key challenge.  
 
On Cotton, we had the first dedicated discussion on 20 June. That discussion was assisted by a 
background paper put forwar d by the Secretariat. This first session allowed Members to have an 
initial exchange of views on policy developments in this area. We will take up this work again 
before the end of the year as mandated by Ministers at Bali. My intention is to convene the n ext 
session back -to-back with the next session of Director General's consultations on the development 
aspects of cotton.  
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  ANNEX II  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE COUNCIL FO R TRADE IN SERVICES IN SPECIAL SESSION  
AMBASSADOR GABRIEL DUQUE (COLOMBIA)  
Chairman  and colleagues,  
 
I am pleased to report on the state of discussions on the services component of the post -Bali Work 
Programme.  
 
Since the last TNC meeting, I have continued my informal consultations, and this has culminated 
in a formal meeting of the Spe cial Session of the Council for Trade in Services, held last 19 June.   
In my consultations, I have repeatedly heard about the need for balance with other DDA market 
access areas, as well as balance within services, including between market access and rule s 
negotiations. Delegations also underscored the importance of development issues, and the need 
for procedural transparency, inclusiveness and 'doability'.  
 
Much of what I had heard from delegations in my consultations was at the level of general 
principl es. 
 
More specifically, however, most members consider that one of the next milestones in the services 
negotiations could be the presentation of revised offers.  The existing offers are 9 years old and, 
we can all expect that in many cases they no longer r eflect current priorities or patterns of trade. 
If that were the case, it would seem important that the Work Programme takes account of these 
changes, in order to facilitate the submission of revised offers.  
 
At the meeting of the Special Session, I sugge sted that Members might also wish to update other 
Members on their expectations from offers. For example, would Members wish to have a round of 
requests, either bilateral or collective? In this regard, it is interesting to note that, in the lead -up 
to the Hong Kong Ministerial, the Report of the Chairman to the TNC (TN/S/23) annexed a detailed 
listing of "sectoral and modal objectives as identified by Members", a listing that cast a useful light 
on the negotiating priorities of Members.  
 
I stressed to Membe rs that we were now half way through the year and that there will be little 
time after the August break to begin putting together an effective Work Programme. It was vital to 
move the discussion from principles to detailed proposals that illuminate the way  ahead, and can 
lead us to an exchange of revised offers or other concrete deliverables.  
 
Last week's meeting of the Special Session showed some signs of moving forward in that regard. 
Indeed, for the first time, delegations attempted to go beyond generali ties.  
 
One delegation came forward with more developed ideas on how to take the negotiations forward 
by focusing on selected themes capturing a range of sectors and issues relating to: trade 
facilitation in services, e -commerce, and services relate to tra de in goods. The ideas were 
preliminary in nature, but there were indications that concrete proposals would follow in the not 
too distant future.  
 
Several delegations stressed the importance of resuming market access negotiations with repeated 
references to work previously done and negotiating methods developed in the DDA, including 
revised offers, Annex C of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, and the Signalling Conference of 
July 2008. Various delegations also stressed the importance of giving equal a ttention to the rule -
making negotiations.  
 
Members continued to recognize that the overall level of ambition in services will have to be linked 
with that in Agriculture and NAMA. Some Members went further to stress that Agriculture would be 
the determinan t of the overall level of ambition.  
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  While the specific ideas put forward, as well as reactions to them, were preliminary, this 
represents a step in the right direction. I have urged delegations to follow -up with specific 
proposals. Once we receive any spe cific proposal or after the summer break, I will be intensifying 
my consultations in different formats. In that context, I will be convening meetings of the Special 
Session as frequently as required.  
 
Thank you.  JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  ANNEX III  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE NE GOTIATING GROUP ON M ARKET ACCESS  
AMBASSADOR REMIGI WINZAP (SWITZERLAND)  
I have continued to meet regularly with Members. During my consultations, the focus has been 
mainly on those Members that were described in the latest draft modalities as the "formula 
applying Members".  I sense that Members falling within this group have started to discuss - in 
different configurations - how to deal again, and in a more specific manner, with the outstanding 
NAMA issues.  In the context of those consultations, several M embers have underlined the 
negotiating objective of increasing predictability and improving real market access.   
 
In addition, some Members have highlighted the need to reduce the disparities which currently 
exist across the different schedules of concess ions.  Members are, however, aware that such 
interests cannot be pursued in a vacuum.  Many of them have continued to reiterate that success 
in the agriculture negotiations would be a key parameter to be considered for any final outcome in 
NAMA.  
 
I would,  finally, like to inform you that I intend to convene an informal open -ended meeting in the 
coming week.  JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  ANNEX IV  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE COUNCIL FO R TRIPS IN SPECIAL S ESSION  
AMBASSADOR DACIO CASTILLO  (HONDURAS)  
Thank you, Chair.  
 
Since the last con sultations by my predecessor Amb. Suescum – and his report to the TNC – there 
have been no new developments in the Special Session of the Council for TRIPS. I wish to inform 
you that I have kept myself available for consultations in case Members wanted to share new 
thinking on how to take the negotiations forward . Currently , Members  have shown limited appetite 
to engage in the substance of this issue.  In view of the year -end deadline for the post -Bali work 
programme , I would like to encourage Members to step up their efforts in this area . I reiterate that 
my door remains open for all Members to bring forward any ideas or initiatives they may have with 
respect to the negotiations on the GI Register for wines and spirits in the TRIPS Special Session.  
 
Thank you. 
 JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  ANNEX V  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE NEGOTIATIN G GROUP ON RULES  
AMBASSADOR  WAYNE Mc COOK  (JAMAICA)  
With respect to Rules, I held open -ended consultations on 16 May to report on my consultations 
regarding the possible role of Rules in the Work Progra mme.    
 
I reported that the prevailing view emerging from my consultations was that the general approach 
and level of ambition on the so -called "core" issues of agriculture, NAMA and Services needed to 
be defined before a serious discussion on the role of Rules could be engaged.    
 
I indicated that I remained open to consultations with delegations, and that I would be watching 
for any indication that a new phase in the work was warranted.  JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  ANNEX VI  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRP ERSON OF THE COMMITT EE ON TRADE AND ENV IRONMENT  
IN SPECIAL SESSION  
AMBASSADOR WIBOONLASANA RUAMRAKSA  (THAILAND)  
Mr Chairman,  
 
Since the last TNC meeting, I have engaged in an open -ended and transparent dialogue with a 
wide number of Members and country groups. The main objective of this first series of 
consultations was to contribute to the collective efforts to define the post -Bali work.  
 
Delegations demonstrated a high -level of engagement in these consultations. They also made it 
abundantly clear to me that they attach great importance to th e environment chapter of the Doha 
negotiations. At the same time, it is clear from the consultations that the attention of delegations, 
at the moment, is on other areas of the Doha Development Agenda.  
 
As the contours of the Post -Bali work plan will becom e clearer in the coming period, I believe it 
would be useful for delegations to reassemble and examine the extent to which the environment 
chapter can be advanced. For instance, a number of delegations have expressed interest in an 
informative session on w here we stand with respect to the two items of our mandate related to the 
relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements and the WTO. If delegations so wish, 
I believe such a session could be usefully held. On environmental goods, delegations a re still 
reflecting on ways to move forward on this part of the agenda and this will need to be further 
explored in the coming months. Such reflection will have to take into account the new situation 
created by the announcement earlier this year of a liber alization initiative among some of the WTO 
Members outside the CTESS.  
 
I remain of course at the disposal of delegations that would like to explore further any avenue of 
work for the CTESS.  
 JOB/TNC/39  
 
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  ANNEX VII  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
IN SPECIAL SESSION  
AMBASSADOR HARALD NEPLE  (NORWAY)  
Mr. Chairman,  
 
Since my assumption as the Chair of the Special Session of the CTD, I  have been impressing upon 
Members the importance of a credible outcome from the Special Session. I must s ay that overall 
Members have responded positively and have time and again expressed their desire to work with 
an open mind.   
 
At the April TNC meeting, I had informed Members that the proponents were undertaking an 
overall assessment of all the Agreement -Specific Proposals with a view to identifying those where 
they had concerns and then to consider how to take this work forward.  
 
Since then I have remained in contact with the key proponents, namely the African, the LDC and 
the ACP Groups.  In my most rece nt informal meeting with the proponents, I was informed that 
they are working within their groups and continuing their internal consultations on the Agreement -
specific S&D proposals.  
 
The objective of this exercise is to undertake a focused and a realisti c review of all Agreement -
specific S&D provisions and to identify those that the proponents can bring forward to the CTD SS. 
Clearly this is not an easy task but I am happy to state that they are working with a sense of 
purpose and realism.  
 
In terms of t he timeline, I am told that the proponents are hoping to complete the identification 
process by the summer break. I am hoping that this is the case so that I can then start working 
with Members on the way forward, thereby leading to a more focused and inte nsive work in the 
Special Session in the autumn  
 
I have planned an informal open -ended meeting of the CTD SS on 21st July, that is before the 
General Council meeting, to get a sense on where we are in our work.  
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  ANNEX VIII  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE DI SPUTE SETTLEMENT BOD Y  
IN SPECIAL SESSION  
AMBASSADOR SABORÍO SOTO (COSTA RICA)  
 
In the DSU negotiations, work has continued on the basis of the "horizontal process", with the goal 
of building convergence around approaches that would have the broadest possi ble base of support, 
in all areas.  
 
Since my last report in early May, the work has continued at a sustained and intense pace among 
participants, and two further meetings were held, on 27 May and yesterday to take stock of that 
work. In May, elements of a possible outcome were presented on panel composition. Yesterday, 
elements of possible solutions to review the DSU were presented in three further areas, namely 
timeframes, effective compliance and developing country issues.  
 
Altogether, elements of possibl e outcomes have now been presented in relation to 10 of the 12 
issues under discussion.  We expect the presentation of comparable documents on the last two 
issues (transparency and amicus curiae , and Member -control and flexibility) to take place next 
month , as announced by the concerned Members. These documents do not at this stage reflect 
agreed outcomes. Rather, they identify possible solutions that could provide a basis for an agreed 
outcome. The guiding principle behind this effort has been to look for realistic achievable solutions, 
taking into account the interests of all participants.  
 
I have been very encouraged to see that the ongoing efforts of participants and the recent 
progress show a high level of engagement and a genuine effort to move beyond  
demandeurs/proponents'  positions. This is a very important step forward in our work, and I 
believe it potentially gives us a strong basis for its successful conclusion. As I said in yesterday's 
meeting, we have a collective duty now to seize this opportu nity.  
 
As always, further progress will now require willingness to continue to be flexible across -the-board, 
to confirm what may be achievable outcomes reflecting the interests of all participants.  So I will 
be counting on the continued cooperation and c ommitment of all participants as we move forward 
in the coming months.  
 
As we are reaching the end of this phase of our work, I intend to hold an open -ended meeting of 
the Special Session before the summer break, to share with the broader membership the r ecent 
work and current state -of-play.  
 
 
__________