WT/GC/W/7 26 
 
23 November  2016 
(16-6423) Page: 1/11 
General Council  
7-8 December 2016    
 
 GENERAL COUNCIL  
DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT (2016)1 
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 report2, the General Council ha s held f our meetings, on 24  February, 
12 May, 27  July, and 3 October 2016.  The minutes of these meetings, which remain in the record 
of the General Council's work, are co ntained in documents WT/GC/M/161, WT/GC/M/162, 
WT/GC/M/163, and WT/GC/M/ 164. 
 
The fol lowing subjects are included in the report:  
 
1   TRADE NEGOTIATIONS C OMMITTEE – REPORTS  ................................ .........................  2 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E BALI AND NAIROBI O UTCOME S – STATEMENTS BY 
THE CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
3   WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE – REVIEW OF PROGRESS  ................  3 
4   WORK PROGRAMME ON S MALL ECONOMIES – REPORTS  ................................ .............  4 
5   AID FOR TRADE – REPORT  ................................ ................................ ..........................  4 
6   ACCESSION MATTERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 5 
6.1   WTO Accessions – Statement by Morocco on behalf of the African Group  ............................  5 
6.2   Algeria  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  5 
6.3   Working Party  on the Accession of the Islamic Republic of Iran – Statement by 
Oman  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
7   WAIVERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  5 
7.1   United States – Former Trust Territo ry of the Pacific Islands – Statement by the 
Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods  ................................ ................................ ............  5 
7.2   Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  ................................ .... 5 
8   ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONF ERENCE – DATE AND VENUE  .............  6 
9   ENHANCING THE PARTIC IPATION OF MICRO, SM ALL AND MEDIUM 
ENTERPRISES (MSMES) IN REGION AL AND GLOBAL MARKET S — STATEMENTS 
BY THE PHILIPPINES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
10   TRADE RESTRICTIONS B Y THE RUSSIAN FEDERA TION AND THE RUSSIAN  
FEDERATION'S TRADE M EASURES AFFECTING UK RAINIAN TRANSIT OF 
PRODUCTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  7 
10.1   Communication from Ukraine  ................................ ................................ ......................  7 
                                                
1 The final version of the report will also reflect any further meeting of the General Coun cil to be held in 
2016 and items will be renumbered as necessary.  
2 The annual report  of the General Council for 2015 was circulated in WT/GC/178 and 
WT/GC/178/Corr.1 . WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  10.2   Statement by Ukraine  ................................ ................................ ................................  7 
11   PROHIBITION OF TRANS PORTATION OF TRANSIT  GOODS ON RUSSIAN 
ROAD TRANSPORT BY UK RAINE – STATEMENT BY THE RUS SIAN FEDERATION  ...............  7 
12   COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  FINANCE AND ADMINIST RATION  ................................ ...... 7 
12.1   Reports and Recommendations ................................ ................................ ....................  7 
13   WTO PENSION PLAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
13.1   Reports ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  8 
13.2   Election of Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Management Board  ....................  8 
14   ADMINISTRATIVE MEASU RES FOR MEMBE RS IN ARREARS  ................................ ....... 8 
15   WORKSHOP ON E -COMMERCE – STATEMENT BY KOREA  ................................ ............  8 
16   WORKSHOP ON THE WTO AND AGENDA 2030 – STATEMENT BY AUSTR ALIA  .............  9 
17   APPOINTMENT OF DIREC TOR-GENERAL  ................................ ................................ .... 9 
18   APPOINTMENT OF OFFIC ERS TO WTO BODIES  ................................ ..........................  9 
19   ELECTION OF CHAIRPER SON ................................ ................................ ...................  11 
 
1  TRADE NEGOTIATIONS C OMMITTEE – REPORTS  (WT/GC/M/161; WT/GC/M /162; 
WT/GC/M/163; AND WT/GC/M/ 164)  
1.1.  Ministers at Doha established a Trade Negotiations Committee under t he 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 Committee at its 
first meeting in 2002 (TN/C/M/1), the TNC repor ts to each regular meeting of the General Council.  
1.2.  At the General Council meetings in February , May, July, and October , the Director -General 
reported on each occasion on relevant activities since his previous report to the General Council 
including on Inf ormal Heads of Delegation Meetings he convened on the matter .3  
1.3.  At the February  meeting, the representatives of Peru; Fiji (Pacific Group); Chile;  the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group) ; China; Nigeria; Chinese Taipei (Article XII Members); the Bolivaria n 
Republic of Venezuela; Lao PDR (ASEAN); Ecuador; Turkey; Nepal; Indonesia (G -33); the Republic 
of Korea; Paraguay; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Mor occo (African Group); Benin (LDCs ); Zimbabwe; 
Jamaica and Gabon spoke4. The General Council took note of the Dir ector-General's report and of 
the statements.  
1.4.  At the May meeting,  the representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group); the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Benin (LDCs); Cameroon; Uganda; Nigeria; Rwanda (ACP); the 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezue la; Ecuador; Kenya; Cuba; Mali (C -4); Qatar; Nepal; Turkey; 
Pakistan; Tunisia; Chile; Morocco (African Group); Australia (also on behalf of New Zealand) ; 
Sierra Leone; Lesotho and Tanzania spoke5. The General Council took note of the Director -
General's rep ort and of the statements.  
1.5.  At the July meeting,  the representatives of Turkey; Ukraine; Mexico; the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia (Arab Group); Malaysia (ASEAN);  the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Uganda; Nepal; 
                                                
3 The Director -General's reports at the General Council meeting and at the relevant Informal Meetings at 
the level of Heads of De legation were subsequently circulated as JOB/GC/ 91, JOB/GC/ 92, JOB/GC/ 102 and 
JOB/GC/ 105, respectively.  
4 At their request, the statements delivered at the 10 February Informal Meeting at the level of Heads of 
Delegation by the following delegations were incorporated in the minutes of the February  meeting  in 
WT/GC/M/161: Argentina; Bangladesh (for LDC Group – requested by Benin); Plurinational State of Bolivia; 
Brazil; Cuba; Guatemala (SVEs); India; Indonesia; Japan; Kenya; Mexico; Pakistan; Rwanda; South A frica; 
Uganda; United States  and Uruguay . 
5 At their request, the statements delivered at the 9 May Informal Meeting at the level of Heads of 
Delegatio n by the following delegations we re inc orporated in the minutes of the May meeting in WT/GC/M/162 : 
Brazil ; Canada; China; European Union; India; Indonesia; Japan; Mexico; Paragua y; South Africa; Chinese 
Taipei and  Uruguay.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  Colombia; Chile; China; Barbados; Liberia and Brazil spoke6. The General Council took note of the 
Director -General's report and of the statements.  
1.6.  At the October  meeting,  the representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group); 
Benin (LDCs); the Dominican Republic (IGDC) and Nepal spoke7. The G eneral Council took note of 
the Director -General's report and of the statements.  
2  IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E BALI AND NAIROBI O UTCOMES – STATEMENTS BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  (WT/GC/M/161; WT/GC/M /162; WT/GC/M/163; A ND WT/GC/M/ 164)  
2.1.  Since July 2014 , the item on implementati on 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 taking 
place in th e regular bodies which were directly working on the various Bali Decisions.  After the 
Tenth Ministe rial Conference, reports on the implementation of the Nairobi outcomes were also 
provided  under this item.  
2.2.  At the General Council meetings in February , May, July and October , the Chairman reported 
on the work taking place in WTO regular bodies to fulfil th e Bali  and Nairobi  Ministerial mandates.8 
2.3.  At the February  meeting, the representative of Sierra Leone spoke. The General Council took 
note of the Chairman's report and of the statement.  
2.4.  At the May meeting,  the representatives of the Republic of Moldova; Br azil; Montenegro; 
Paraguay; the United States; Benin (LDCs) ; New Zealand (also on behalf of Australia) ; Canada; 
Argentina; Japan 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 Benin (LDC s), Tan zania, Uganda and  the Russian 
Federation spoke. The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
2.6.  At the October  meeting,  the Director -General and the representative of Benin (LDCs) spok e. 
The General Council took note of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
3  WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE – REVIEW OF PROGRESS  
(WT/GC/M/163)  
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 MC10, 
Ministers adopted a Decision on the Work Programme on Electron ic Commerce  (WT/MIN(15)/42 – 
WT/L/97 7) which  instructed the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its sessions of July and 
December 2016 and July 20 17 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, Ambassador  Suescum (Panama), as the Friend of the Chair, provided an 
overview of the work taking place i n the work programme on e -commerce.  His report was 
                                                
6 At their request, the statements delivered at the 25 July Informal Meeting at the level of Heads of 
Delegatio n by the following delegati ons we re incorporated in the minutes of the July  meeting in WT/GC/M/163 : 
Argentina; Bangladesh; Benin (LDCs); Plurinational State of Bolivia; Brazil; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; 
Cuba; Ecuador; European Union; Guatemala (SVEs); Hong Kong, China; India; Ind onesia; Japan; Republic of 
Korea; Liberia; Mali (C -4); Montenegro; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; Russian Federation; 
Rwanda (ACP); Singapore; South Africa; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei (Arti cle XII Members); United States  and 
Uruguay.  
7 At their request, the statements delivered at the 30 September Informal Meeting at the level of Heads 
of Delegation by the following delegations were incorporated in the minutes of the October  meeting in 
WT/GC/M/164: Argentina; Plurinational State of Bolivia;  Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican 
Republic; Ecuador; European Union; Indonesia (G -33); Japan; Republic of Korea; Lesotho; Mali (C -4); Morocco 
(African Group); New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Peru; Russian Federation; Rwanda (ACP ); Senegal; 
South Africa; Chinese Taipei  (Article XII Members) ; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; Ukraine; United States; and 
Uruguay.  
8 The Chairman's statements were subsequently circulated as JOB/GC/90, JOB/GC/93, JOB/GC/103 and 
JOB/GC/ 106 respectively.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  subsequently circulated in WT/GC/W/721 . The Chairman also drew attention to the reports 
submitt ed by the Chairs of the CTS (S/C/49) and the  CTG (G/C/57) and welcomed several 
submissions from a number of delegations in this area. The representatives of the United States; 
Zimbabwe; Chile; Mexico; the European Union; Japan; the Republic of Korea;  the Russian 
Federation; Pakistan; and Brazil spoke9. The General Council took note of the reports by the 
Chairpersons of the Goods Council in G/C/57 and the Services Council in S/C/49, of Ambassador 
Suescum's report, and of the statements.  
4  WORK PROGRAMME ON SM ALL ECONOMIES – REPORTS  (WT/GC/M/161; 
WT/GC/M/162; WT/GC/M /163; AND WT/GC/M/ 164)  
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/MI N(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 2015, Ministers at MC10  adopted the Decision on 
the Work Progra mme on Small Economies (WT/MIN(15)/40 – WT/L/975)  which reaffirmed  their 
commitment to the Work Programme and instructed the CTD to c ontinue its work in Dedicated 
Sessions under the overall responsibility of the General Council.  
4.2.  At the February  meeting, t he CTD Chair man referred to the Nairobi Decision on the Work 
Programme on Small Economies and said that the CTD -DS would focus on the challenges small 
economies faced in the textiles and apparel sector, and in reducing trade costs, particularly in the 
area of trade facilitation, and on small economies' participation in services value chains. The 
representatives of Guatemala (SVEs) and th e United States spoke . The General Council took note 
of the report and of the statements.  
4.3.  At the May meeting, t he CTD Chair man reported that discussion s in the CTD -DS focused on 
accessing global value chains in the textiles and clothing sector. In fulfilli ng its Nairobi mandate, 
work on global value chains continued , and work on reducing trade costs would begin at its next 
meeting in July. The representatives of Guatemala (SVEs) and the United States spoke . The 
General Council took note of the report and of  the statements.  
4.4.  At the July meeting, t he CTD Chair man reported that  discussion s in the CTD -DS focused on 
accessing global value chains in the tourism sector. In fulfilling its Nairobi mandate, prel iminary 
work bega n with the Dedicated Session set to furth er advance its work at its next meeting in 
November. The representative of Honduras (SVEs) spoke . The General Council took note of the 
report and of the statement . 
4.5.  At the October  meeting , the CTD Chair man reported that the CTD -DS was preparing for its 
next Dedicated Session which  would  focus on "Information Technology" and "Business Process 
Outsourcing". In fulfilling its Nairobi mandate, he reiterated that preliminary work began with the 
CTD-DS set to further advance its work in November. The representativ e of Guatemala (SVEs) 
spoke. The General Council took note of the report and of the statement.  
5  AID FOR TRADE – REPORT  (WT/GC/M/161)  
5.1.  At the February  meeting, t he CTD Chairperson introduced the Aid -for-Trade Work Programme 
for 2016 -2017 in document WT/COMTD/ AFT/W/60 with the organizing theme of "Promoting 
Connectivity". The work programme would further deepen analysis of the supply -side capacity and 
trade -related infrastructure constraints faced by developing countries. The  representative of the  
United States  spoke.  The General Council took note of the new Aid for Trade Work Programme, of 
the statement of the Chairperson of the CTD and of the other statement.  
                                                
9 At Ukraine's request made to the Chairman at the meeting, its statement under this item was 
incorporated in the minutes of the July meeting and can be found in Annex 3 of  WT/GC/M/163.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  6  ACCESSION MATTERS  
6.1  WTO Accessions  – Statement by Morocco on behalf of the African Group  
(WT/GC/M/163)  
6.1.  At the July meeting, the representative of Morocco, on behalf of the African Group,  made a 
statement on WTO accession issues calling upon Members to help expedite the accession process 
and underlining the necessity of intensifying the provision of technical  assistance. The 
representatives of Oman (also on behalf of the ACP Group, Brazil, Cuba, the C -4, Japan, Oman, 
the Russian Federation, Turkey and Viet Nam) ; Benin (LDC s); Chinese Taipei; India; the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia (Arab Group); Chad; Qatar; the Republic of Korea; Yemen; China;  the Dominican 
Republic (IGDC) ; Bangladesh; Indonesia;  the Russia n Federation and  the European Union, and 
H.E. Dr Kamal Hassan Ali, Minister of International Cooperation of  the Republic of Sudan (as an 
Observer ) spoke10. The Cha irman informed Members that following consultations, there was a 
broad consensus on Mr Ryosuke Kuwawa (DPR of Japan) to serve as Chair person  of the Working 
Party on the Accession of Sudan.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
6.2  Algeria  (WT/GC/M/1 64) 
6.2.  At the October  meeting, the Chair man announced cons ensus on the appointment of 
Ambassador Gustavo  Vanerio (Uruguay) as Chair person  of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Algeria.  The representatives of Uruguay and Algeria (Observer) spoke. The Genera l Council took 
note of the statements.  
6.3  Working Party on the Accession of the Islamic Republic of Iran – Statement by 
Oman  (WT/GC/M/162)  
6.3.  At the May meeting, the representative of Oman, on behalf of Armenia, the Plurinational 
State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,  China, Cuba, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nicaragua, 
Oman, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uruguay, the Bolivarian Republic 
of Venezuela and Zimbabwe, made a statement on the working party process on the Accession of 
the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The representatives of Japan;  the European Union; Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia; Switzerland; Mexico; Qatar; Nigeria; China; Bahrain; Yemen; Sri Lanka; Montenegro; New 
Zealand; Norway;  the Republic of Korea; United Arab Emirates; Colombia; the State of Kuwait; 
Lesotho; Jordan; Benin and Uganda spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
7  WAIVERS  
7.1  United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands – Statement by the 
Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods  (WT/GC/M /163)  
7.1.  At the July meeting, t he Chairman, on behalf of the Goods Council Chair, in accordance with 
Article IX:3 of the WTO Agreement, reported that the Council for Trade in Goods had not 
completed the consideration of the United States' request on the exten sion of the waiver on the 
Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (G/C/W/721). The General Council agreed to allow the 
Goods Council to continue to consider this request.  
7.2  Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement  (WT/GC/M/163)  
7.2.  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 Conference not later than one year after it is granted, 
and thereafter annually until the waiver terminates ." 
7.3.  At the July meeting, the General Council considered the following waivers for review under 
Article IX:4:  
i. Canada – CARIBCAN , granted on 28 July 2015 until 31 December 2023 (WT/L/958, 
WT/L/987)  
                                                
10 At Japan's request made to the Chairman at the meeting, its statement unde r this item was 
incorporated in th e minutes of the July meeting and can be found in  Annex 4 of  WT/GC/M/163.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  ii. Preferential Treatment for Least -Developed Countries, granted on 27 May 2009  until 
30 June 2019 (WT/L/759)  
iii. United States – Former Territory of the Pacific Islands , granted on 27  July 2007 until 
31 December  2016 ( WT/L/694, WT/L/990 and WT/L/990/Corr.1)  
iv. United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery  Act, granted on 5 May 2015 
until 31 December 2019 (WT/L/950, WT/L/988)  
v. Philippines – Special Treatment for Rice, granted on 24 July 2014 until 30  June 2017 
(WT/L/932)  
7.4.  In doing so, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers in documents WT/L/987,  WT/L/988, WT/L/990  and WT/L/990/Corr.1 . The representatives 
of Jamaica, Benin (LDCs) and Senegal spoke. The General Council took note of the reports , and of 
the statements , and reverted to the review of multi -year waivers under Article IX.4 of the WTO 
Agreement at it s last regular meeting in 2016.  
8  ELEVENTH  SESSION OF THE  MINISTERIAL CONFEREN CE – DATE AND VENUE  
(WT/GC/M/162; WT/GC/ M/163; AND WT/GC/M/1 64) 
8.1.  Article IV of the Marrakesh Agreement provided that " There shall be a Ministerial Conference 
of represen tatives of all Members, which shall meet at least once every two years ." In Nairobi , 
under item 3 of the Agenda, Ministers instructed the General Council to hold consultations 
regarding  the date and venue of the Eleventh  Session of t he Ministerial Conferen ce – MC11 . 
8.2.  At the May meeting, the Chairman announced that consultations would start shortly, with a 
view to Members taking a decision collectively on the date and venue of the next Ministerial 
Conference at the July General Council meeting.  The General Co uncil took note of the statement.  
8.3.  At the July meeting,  the Chairman drew Members' attention to Argentina's offer to host MC11 
circulated in document WT/GC/180. Argentina introduced its communication in this regard. The 
Chairman and the Director -General tha nked Argentina for its offer. The Chairman said he would  
continue his consultations on this matter immediately after the summer break.  The General 
Council took note of the statements.  
8.4.  The Chairman  then drew Members' attention to Uruguay 's offer to host MC1 1 circul ated in 
document WT/GC/181. Uruguay  introduced its communication in this regard.  The Chairman and 
the Director -General thanked Uruguay for its offer.  The Chairman reiterated that he would 
continue his consultations after the summer break. The Gene ral Council took note of the 
statements.  
8.5.  At the October  meeting,  the Chairman reported that during the  consultations  the 
representatives of the two Members offering to host the Conference – Argentina and Uruguay – 
had been working in close contact. As a re sult of their excellent cooperation, Uruguay had 
announced at the 30  September Informal HODs meeting that its Government had decided to 
withdraw the offer to host MC11 in favour of Argentina . Given those developments, and in light of 
the high level of supp ort for Argentina's candidature that the Chairman  had been detecting during 
his consultations,  the General Council agreed that the Eleventh Session of  the Ministerial 
Conference would  be hosted by Argentina, in Buenos Aires. The Director -General and the 
representative of Argentina spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
9  ENHANCING THE  PARTICIPATION OF MIC RO, SMALL AND MEDIUM  ENTERPRISES 
(MSMES) IN REGIONAL  AND GLOBAL MARKETS — STATEMENTS BY THE PHILIPPINES 
(WT/GC/M/161; WT/GC/M /163; AND WT/GC /M/164)  
9.1.  At the February  meeting, t he representative of the Philippines, on behalf of the Philippines, 
Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Singapore, presented a  road map for 2016 to  address 
the matter of Fostering the Participation of Micro, Small and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 
Regional and Global Markets . The representatives of Turkey; the Russian Federation; New 
Zealand; the United States; Japan; India; the Republic of Korea; Switzerland; Pakistan; Benin WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  (LDCs); Mexico; the European Union; Nigeria ; Canada; Paraguay; Brazil; Colombia; Tanzania and 
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
9.2.  At the July meeting,  the representative of the Philippines,  also on behalf  of Brunei 
Darussalam, Lao PDR, Malays ia, Singapore and Thailand,  made a statement on the MSME s eminar, 
the summary of which could  be found in JOB/GC/95. The Director -General and the representative 
of Chinese Taipei  spoke . The General Council took note of the statements.  
9.3.  At the October  meeting , the representative of the Philippines made a statement on the 
MSMEs session at the 15th WTO Public Forum . The Philippines would come out with a summary of 
the Public Forum session and together with the co -sponsors, Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, 
Malaysia, S ingapore and Thailand, they would engage Members on how to pursue the initiative 
further. The General Coun cil took note of the statement.  
10  TRADE RESTRICTIONS B Y THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION A ND THE RUSSIAN 
FEDERATION'S TRADE M EASURES AFFECTING UK RAINIAN TRANSIT O F PRODUCTS  
10.1  Communication from Ukraine (WT/GC/M/161)  
10.1.   At the February  meeting, the representative of Ukraine made a statement on the Trade 
Restrictions by the Russian Federation following its communication to the Goods Council in 
document G/C/W/720. The  representatives of the  Russian Federation; Turkey; the European 
Union;  the United States  and Canada spoke . The General Council took note of the statements.  
10.2  Statement by  Ukraine (WT/GC/M/163)  
10.2.   At the July meeting, the representative of Ukraine made a statement o n the Russian 
Federation's trade measures affecting Ukrainian transit of products. The representatives of the 
United States;  the European Union; Japan; Canada; Georgia; Australia;  the Republic of Korea; 
Norway and the Russian Federation spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
11  PROHIBITION OF TRANS PORTATION OF TRANSIT  GOODS ON RUSSIAN ROA D 
TRANSPORT BY UKRAINE  – STATEMENT BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ( WT/GC/M/161)  
11.1.   At the February  meeting, the representative of the Russian Federation made a state ment on 
Ukraine's prohibition of transportation of transit goods by Russian road transport. The 
representatives of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova spoke . The General Council took note of 
the statements.  
12  COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  FINANCE AND ADMINIST RATION  
12.1  Reports and Recommendations ( WT/GC/M/162; WT/GC/M/163; and 
WT/GC/M/ 164)  
12.1.   At the May meeting, t he General Council considered reports by the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration on its meetings in March (WT/BFA/153)  and April (WT/BFA/154) . The 
Gener al Council took note of the statement of the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration, approved the Budget Committee's specific recommendation in 
paragraph 1.6 of the report in WT/BFA/153 and adopted both reports in WT/BFA/153 and  
WT/BFA/154.  
12.2.   At the July meeting, the General Council considered the report by the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration on its meeting in June (WT/BFA/155). The General Council 
took note of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific  recommendations in 
paragraph 2.13 of the report in WT/BFA/ 155 and adopted the report in WT/BFA/155.  
12.3.   At the October  meeting,  the General Council considered the report by the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration on its meeting in September (WT/BF A/156). The General 
Council took note of the statement, adopted the Report of the Budget Committee in WT/BFA/156 
and approved the specific recommendations in paragraphs 4.2, 5.2 and 8.2 of the report.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  13  WTO PENSION PLAN  
13.1  Reports (WT/GC/M/163)  
13.1.   At the July meeting, the Chairperson  of the Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan 
introduced the Annual Report of the Management Board for 2015 contained in document 
WT/L/985 , and the Report of the Independent External Auditor on the Audit of the Fina ncial 
Statements o f the WTOPP in document WT/L/984. The General Council took note of the Annual 
Report of the Management Board for 2015 , the Report of the Independent External Auditor on the 
Audit of the Financial Statements of the WTOPP , and the WTOPP Chairperson's stateme nt. 
13.2  Election of Chairperson, Members, and Alternates to the Management Board  
(WT/GC/M/162; WT/GC/M/163; and WT/GC/M/ 164)  
13.2.   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.  
13.3.   At the May meeting, the General Council agreed to revert to the item on the election of a 
member and of an alternate  at its July meeting.  
13.4.   At the July meeting, the Chairman proposed that the General Council elect  Mrs Alicia Goujon 
(Mexico), Mrs Eleni Patibouli (Greece), Mr Ian Medcalf (Canada) and Mr Rodolfo Rivas (Israel) to 
serve as members and alternates, respectively, until the remainder of the term s of their respective 
predecessors . The General Council so agreed.11 
13.5.   At the October  meeting, the Chairman reported on the ongoing consultations on the election 
of the Chairperson of the WTOPP Management Board.  He also recalled that the Management Board  
originated in Regulation 8.1 of the Staff Regulations and was responsible for the management and 
administration of the retirement, death, disability and related benefits for the WTO staff and 
retirees. The General Council took note of the Chairman's statement.  
14  ADMINISTRATIVE MEASU RES FOR MEMBERS IN A RREARS ( WT/GC/M/161; 
WT/GC/M/162; WT/GC/M /163; AND WT/GC/M/ 164)  
14.1.   In October 2012, the General Council approved a recommendation from the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration regarding revised Administrativ e Measures for Members in 
arrears, as contained in WT/BFA/132, Annex I. These new revised Measures entered into force on 
1 January 2013. These Measures required that at the end of each meeting of the General Council, 
the Chairman of the Committee on Budget , Finance and Administration should provide information 
with regard to which Members and Observers were under Administrative Measures; and, the 
General Council Chairperson would request Members and Observers in Categories II and III to 
inform the Secretari at as to when the payment of arrears might be expected.  
14.2.   At the General Council meetings in February , May, July, and October , 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 II and III. The General Council took note of the statements.  
15  WORKSHOP ON E -COMMERCE – STATEMENT BY KOREA ( WT/GC/M/162)  
15.1.   At the May meeting, the representa tive of the Republic of Korea, on behalf of Mexico, 
Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia (MIKTA), announced that MIKTA would host a one -day 
workshop on electronic commerce in the first week of July and invited Members to this event. The 
General Council t ook note of the statement.  
                                                
11 The decision can be found in document WT/L/991.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  16  WORKSHOP ON THE WTO AND AGENDA 2030 – STATEMENT BY AUSTRAL IA 
(WT/GC/M/164)  
16.1.   At the October  meeting, the representative of Australia invited Members to a workshop on 
the WTO and Agenda 2030 hosted by Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turke y and Australia (MIKTA) to 
be held at the WTO on 12 October. The General Coun cil took note of the statement.  
17  APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR -GENERAL  (WT/GC/M/164)  
17.1.   At the October  meeting, the Chairman  outlined12 the process for the  appoint ment of the  
Director -Genera l.  In particular, he noted that, in line with the agreed procedures (WT/L/509 ), the 
appointment process would  begin on 1 December this year and that he would  formally notify the 
opening of the process in a communication to all Members prior to that date .  He recalled the 
announcement made by the Director -General at the July meeting that he would be available for a 
second term if Members found it useful, and noted that the DG would submit a letter to him along 
these lines, in accordance with the procedures.13 He also  highlighted some of the time -lines for the 
process, which would be  conclude d by 31 May  2017 at the latest.  The General Council took note of 
the Chairman's statement.  
18  APPOINTMENT OF OFFIC ERS TO WTO BODIES  (WT/GC/M/161; WT/GC/M /162; 
WT/GC/M/163; AN D WT/GC/M/ 164)  
18.1.   At the February  meeting, the Chairman  recalled that i n accordance with the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies adopted  by the Gen eral Council in 2002 (WT/L/510)  and 
the related practical steps to improve their implementati on agreed  in 2012 (JOB/GC/22), he , 
together with the serving Chairperson of the Dispute Settleme nt Body, Ambassador Harald Neple  
(Norway ), and Ambassador Jonathan Fried  (Canada), former Chair man of the General Council, had  
conducted consultations on a slate of names for the appointment of Chai rpersons to WTO regular 
bodies listed in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the Guidelines. In addition, they had  also 
consulted on the appointment of a new Chairperson for the Dispute Settlement Body in Special 
Sessio n following the end of term of its Chair.   
18.2.   In line with the practical steps, they had met first with the coordinators of the four broad 
regional groupings (developed countries, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa). A 
time-period had also been provided in which they would be available to meet with all interested 
delegations. Consultations had taken place over some five weeks to provide a greater opportunity 
for all interested delegations to meet with them. They had consulted all delegations that  had come 
forward and had requested a meeting and had regularly met with the four Group coordinators and 
had informed them of developments. The process had included an informal open -ended Heads -of-
Delegation meeting which had been held on 23 February and i n which he had given a detailed 
overview of the process and made a statement in this respect14. 
18.3.   On the basis  of our consultations, it was their  understanding that the following slate of 
names could be acceptable to the M embership:  
General Council  
 H.E. Mr . Harald Neple (Norway)  
Dispute Settlement Body  
 H.E. Mr . Xavier Carim (South Africa)  
Trade Policy Review Body  
 Ms Irene B.K. Young (Hong Kong, China)  
Council for Trade in Goods  
 H.E. Mr . Hamish McCormick (Australia)  
                                                
12 The Chairman's statement on this matter can be found in JOB/GC/107.  
13 On 3 November 2016, the Ch airman circulated a communication to WTO Members on the process of 
Appointment of the next Director -General, containing a letter from the Director -General notifying the Chairman 
of his intention to seek re -appointment for a further term.  This was circulat ed in JOB/GC/109.  
14 The Chairman's statement at the HODs meeting on 23 February can be found in Annex 2 of 
WT/GC/M/161 . WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  Council for Trade in Services  
 H.E. M r. Gustavo Miguel Vanerio Balbela (Uruguay)  
 
Council for TRIPS  
 H.E. Mr . Modest Jonathan Mero (Tanzania)  
Committee on Trade and  
  Development  
 H.E. Mr . Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda)  
Committee on Balance -of- 
  Payments Restrictions  
 H.E. Mr . M. Sham eem Ahsan (Bangladesh)  
Committee on Budget, Finance  
  and  Administration  
 H.E. Mrs. Inga Ernstsone (Latvia)  
Committee on Trade and  
  Environment  
 H.E. Mr . Héctor Casanueva (Chile)  
Committee on Regional Trade  
  Agreements  
 H.E. Mr . Daniel Blockert (S weden)  
Working Group on Trade, Debt and  
  Finance  
 H.E. Mr. Atanas Atanassov Paparizov (Bulgaria)  
Working Group on Trade and  
  Transfer of Technology  H.E. Mr. Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia (Peru)  
Preparatory Committee on  
Trade Facilitation  
 H.E. Mr. Esteban Conejos (Philippines)  
18.4.   Appointments for  those bodies would  be for one year as usual and they would  be made 
formally by the WTO bodies concerned at their s ubsequent meetings in 2016. Regard ing the DSB 
in Special Session, following the end of term o f its Chairma n, Ambassador Ronald Saborio, 
consultat ions had been conducted on a new Chair. As a result of these consultations, it was their 
understanding that wa s therefore consensus on H.E. Mr . Mame Baba Cisse  (Senegal) to ch air the 
DSB in Special Sessio n15. He also noted that Ambassador Neple, as the future General Council 
Chairman, had discussed with Ambassador Alfredo Suescum so that he continued as Friend of the 
General Council Chair for the work programme on electronic commerce.  The General Council to ok 
note of the Chairman's statement and of the consensus on the slate of names for the appointment 
of officers in the WTO bodies that he had mentioned.  
18.5.   The representatives of Chinese Taipei; Costa Rica; Tanzania; Benin (LDCs); Lesotho16 and 
Sri Lanka spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
18.6.   In keeping with Paragraph 7.3 of the Guidelines for Appointment of Officers to WTO Bo dies 
– the outgoing Chairperson  of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) and the  Chairman on behalf of 
the outgoing Chairp erson of the  Council for Trade in Services (CTS) were to conduct consultations 
to select Chairpersons for the bodies established under their respective Councils. In relation to 
                                                
15 On 15 March, the Chairman sent a fax to all delegations informing them that Ambassador Mame Ba ba 
Cisse (Senegal) had withdrawn  his nom ination as Chair of the DSB -SS and that, in  his place the African Group 
had nominated Ambassador Stephen Karau (Kenya) for that position . After consulting with Members, on 
31 March, he sent a fax to all delegations which stated that since messages of suppo rt and no further 
comments had been received within the given period, it was his understanding that there was consensus 
among delegations on the appointment of Ambassador Stephen Karau (Kenya) as Chairman of the DSB -SS and 
that he would be formally elected  at the DSB-SS next meeting.  
16 At its request, the statement of Lesotho, on behalf of the African Group, at the HODs meeting on 
23 February  was incorporated in the minutes of the February  meeting and can be found in Annex 3  of 
WT/GC/M/161.  WT/GC/W/726  
 
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  this, both Chairpersons would be starting consultations for the appointment of Chairpersons of the 
subsidiary bodies of the CTG and the CTS. The General Council took note of the statements.  
18.7.   At the May meeting,  the Goods Council Chair made a statement on the appointment of 
officers in the subsidiary bodies of the Goods Council. The Ch airman and the representatives of 
Oman17; Chinese Taipei and the Republic of Korea spoke. The General Council took note of the 
statements.  
18.8.   At the July meeting,  the Chairman recalled the fax he sent on 28 June to all delegations 
informing them that he had be en consulting on the Chairmanships of the Negotiating Group on 
Market Access, the CTS -SS and the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation, following the 
departure of their respective Chairs – Ambassador Remigi Winzap (Switzerland), Ambassador 
Gabriel Du que (Colombia), and Ambassador Esteban Conejos (Philippines). He said that the 
process was still ongoing and consultations would resume after the summer break.  The 
representative of Switzerland spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
18.9.   At the  October  meeting , the Chairman announced that there was consensus on the 
appointments of Ambassador Chambovey (Switzerland) as Chairperson of the Negotiating Group 
on Market Access, Ambassador Cima (Argentina) as Chairperson of the CTS -SS and Ambassador 
MD Salleh (Malaysia) as Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation.  The 
representatives of  Barbados (GRULAC ) and Sri Lanka (Asia and the Pacific) spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements.  
19  ELECTION OF CHAIRPER SON (WT/GC/M/161 ) 
19.1.   At the February  meeting, the Chairman, as the outgoing presiding officer of the General 
Council, made a statement. The General Council then unanimously elected H.E. Mr Harald Neple 
(Norway) to the Chair.  
19.2.   The Director -General, the newly -elected Chairman,  and the representatives of Tanzania; 
Lesotho and Kenya spoke. The General Council took note of the statements.  
 
__________  
                                                
17 At its request , the statement of Oman at the Goods Council meeting on 11 Ma y was incorporated in 
the minutes of the May  meeting and can be found in Annex 2  of WT/GC/M/162.