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WT/COMTD/W/ 231 
 
8 November 2017  
(17-6075) Page:  1/8 
Committee on Trade and Development    
 
 DRAFT  
 
REPORT ( 2017) OF THE COMMITTEE O N TRADE AND DEVELOPM ENT 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 201 7. An 
overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session, the Dedicated Session on the  
Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment, the Dedicated Sessions on Regional  
Trade A greements  and Small Economies, the CTD's work on Aid for Trade, and the wor k of the 
Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries.1 
2  REGULAR SESSION  
2.1.  The CTD in Regular Session held four formal meetings on 27 January  and 14 March  
(101st Session), 17 May  (102nd Session) , 21 June (103rd Session)  [and 15 November 201 7 
(104th Session).] The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/ 101, 
WT/COM TD/M/ 102, WT/COMTD/M/ 103 [and WT/COMTD/M/ 1042], respectively.  
2.2.  Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting -by-meeting basis.  A full list of intergovernmental organizations with observer 
status in th e Committee is contained in document WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev. 8. The CTD continues to 
have outstanding requests for observer status from the League of Arab States, the Organization of 
the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), 
the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the 
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Ban que 
Africaine de Développement.  
2.3.  At the 10 2nd Session, the C ommittee elected Ambassador Monique Van Daalen (Netherlands) 
as the Chair person  of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries for 2017. Ambassador 
Taonga Mushayavanhu (Zimbabwe) was elected Chairman of the CTD.  
2.4.  The principal areas addressed by the CTD  in Regular Session during the period covered in this 
report included the following:   
 technical cooperation and training;  
 market  access for developing and least developed countries;  
 report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCT AD/WTO;  
 trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's concluding 
statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8);  
 Work Programme on E lectronic Commerce;   
 duty-free and quota -free (DFQF)  market access for least develope d countries  (LDCs); 
 participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system . 
 
                                                
1 There were no meetings in 2017 of the CTD's Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade Arrangements. 
The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issu e of special and differential treatment  (S&D) , has its own 
reporting channel . 
2 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/23 1 
 
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  2.1  Technical Cooperation and Training  
2.5.  At the 101st Session , the Committee consider ed the final report of the evaluation of the 
WTO's technical assistance (TA) , prepared by Saana Consulting  (WT/COMTD/89) , along with  the 
WTO management response to th e evaluation  (WT/COMTD/90) . In the report, having assessed the 
Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability and Impact of the various WTO TA activities 
during the 2 010-15 period,  Saana Consulting formulated 28 recommendations directed to WTO 
Members and senior management, as well as to the Institute for Training and Technical 
Cooperation (ITTC) and other WTO divisions. The Director -General emphasized the usefulness o f 
the report, and welcomed its finding that the WTO’s TA was relevant , and aligned to the needs and 
priorities of beneficiaries. Members were invited to ensure that the discussion on the evaluation 
would feed into the process of preparation of the Biennial  Technical Assistance and Training Plan 
for 2018 and 2019.  [At the 104th Session, the Committee took note of  the 2016 Annual 
Performance Report on Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/225) . According to the 
report, a total of 18,600 participants were trained during the year, representing an increase of 
25% compared to 2015. The volume of activities and related expenses remained stable. Progress 
continued to be recorded towards the full implementation of a TA management system based on 
results. Wor k also continued to improve the substantive content of the TA offer.  With regard to the 
evaluation of performance in 2016, the proportion of targets met increased by four percentage 
points relative to 2015, reaching 57%. A significant qualitative improveme nt in the results -based 
manag ement approach was noted . Also a t the 104th Session, the Committee adopted  the Biennial 
Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2018 and 2019  (WT/COMTD/W/227 /Rev.1).] 
2.2  Market Access for Developing and Least Developed Countrie s 
2.6.  With respect to the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), the Committee considered 
at its 101st Session a submission (WT/COMTD/93) by LAIA member countries , as well as a 
communication from the Chairman of the CTD to LAIA (WT/COMTD/W/223). During  the 103rd 
Session, discussion took place on the basis of a further communication from LAIA 
(WT/COMTD/W/224). The Chairman encouraged Members to continue to discuss the issues 
relating to the LAIA agreements with a view to finding a way forward. Also at th e 103rd Session, 
the delegation of Uruguay introduced , under "Other Business" , a notification under the Enabling 
Clause (WT/COMTD/N/53) circulated on behalf of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay and 
Uruguay, members of LAIA .  
2.7.  As concerns  other regional trade agreements (RTAs), notifications under the Enabling Clause 
were made concerning Egypt's accession to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa 
(COMESA ) (WT/COMTD/N/51 ), the Agreement between India and Thailand  (WT/COMTD/N/54 ) and 
the Agreement between MERCOSUR and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)  
(WT/COMTD/N/55 ). 
2.8.   The RTA notifications concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council  (GCC)  Customs Union, the 
ASEAN -Korea Agreement and the India -Korea Agreement remained  on the CTD's agenda during 
2017. The communication from China, Egypt and India titled " Systemic and Specific Issues arising 
out of the Dual Notification of the GCC Customs Union" (WT/COMTD/W/175) also remained on the 
agenda. A number of interventions were made on both substan ce and procedure. Divergent views 
were expressed on how to deal with the issues relating to the RTAs notified under both the 
Enabling Clause and GATT Article XXIV and their implications.  
2.9.  With regard to  preferential trade arrangements  (PTAs), the United Sta tes made a notification 
of its trade preference scheme for Nepal (WT/COMTD/N/52).  
2.3  Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
2.10.   The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held 
its 51st Session on 10 July 201 7. The report on that meeting is contained in 
document  ITC/AG(LI)/268 . [Ambassador Frances Mary Lisson  (Australia ), the Chair person  of the 
JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 104th Session. The Committee took note of the re port 
and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.]  WT/COMTD/W/231  
 
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  2.4  Trade and D evelopment - Work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's 
Concluding Statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  
2.11.   At the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8), Ministers, inter alia, reaffirmed the positive link 
between trade and development and called for focused work in the CTD. Ministers called on 
Members to fully operationalize the mandate of the CTD as a focal point for development work. 
The Committee continued its discuss ions at the 101st, 103rd [and 10 4th] Sessions on the two 
outstanding proposals for work under the MC8 mandate. One proposal – by Barbados, Belize, 
China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group (WT/COMTD/W/208) – is for the CTD to report 
on development -related activities and development issues raised in other WTO bodies. The other  
remaining  proposal – by China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group – is for the CTD to 
make a recommendation to the parties to RTAs to submit their notification and info rmation 
requirements jointly.  The Chairman encouraged continued engagement among Members in order 
to make progress on these proposals.  
2.5  Work Programme on Electronic Commerce  
2.12.   Four communications relating to the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce were 
considered at the 101st Session . The first communication  (JOB/DEV/39/Rev.1 ) was circulated by 
China and Pakistan ; the second communication (JOB/DEV/41 ) was from Argentina, Brazil and 
Paraguay ; the co -sponsors of the third communication ( JOB/DEV/42 ) were Canada , Chile, 
Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Montenegro, 
Paraguay, Singapore and Turkey.  The fourth  communication (JOB/DEV/43 ) was  submitted by 
Brunei Darussa lam; Colombia; Costa Rica; Hong  Kong, China; Israel; Malay sia; Mexico; Nigeria; 
Pakistan; Panama; Qatar; Seychelles; Singapore and Turkey. Discussion under this agenda item 
continued at the 103rd [and 104th] Sessions. [A communication from China (JOB/DEV/49) was 
considered at the 104th Session. ]    
2.6  Duty -Free and Quota -Free Market Access for LDCs  
2.13.   An item concerning DFQF  market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 101st, 
103rd [and 104th] Sessions. The Committee was informed of s ome updates with respect to the 
provision of DFQF market access to LDCs. Cambodia – the Coordinator of the LDC Group  – recalled  
that the Group had submitted , in November 2016 , a revised proposal concerning the draft terms of 
reference for a Secretariat study on DFQF implementation  (WT/COMTD/W/218/Rev.1) . A number 
of delegations r ecalled  their concerns with the proposal . [At the 10 4th Session, the Committee 
conducted its annual review o f the steps taken to provide DFQF market access to LDCs.  The 
Secretariat has so far not been able to issue its report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs, 
as mandated in the Bali Ministerial Decision (WT/MIN(13)/44 – WT/L/919), because of divergent 
views about the scope and coverage  of the report .]  
2.7  Participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system  
2.14.   In order to assist the Comm ittee with its requirement to keep under continuous review the 
participation of developing country Members in the multilateral trading system, the Secretariat 
prepared a report (WT/COMTD/W/ 230) highlighting salient features concerning the participation of 
developing economies in the global trading system. [The findings of the report were presented to 
the Committee at its 104th Session. The Committee took note of the report. ]   
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON  THE MONITORING MECHA NISM ON SPECIAL AND 
DIFFERENTIAL TREATME NT 
3.1.  The Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment 
held two formal meetings during 201 7, on 21 June  [and on 1 5 November 201 7], both chaired by 
Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu  (Zimbabwe ). The minutes of these meetings are contained in 
documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 7 and WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/ 83, respectively. At the 
June Session, the Chairman brought to Members’ attention paragraph 12 of the Bali Ministerial 
Decision establish ing the Monitoring Mechanism (WT/MIN(13)/45  - WT/L/9 20), which states that 
“The Mechanism shall be reviewed three years after its first formal meeting, and thereafter as 
                                                
3 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/23 1 
 
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  necessary, taking into account its functioning and evolving circumstances”. He also pointed out 
that, according to the Decision, the monit oring of special and differential provisions is to be 
undertaken on the basis of written inputs or submissions made by Members, as well as on the 
basis of reports from other WTO bodies to which submissions by Members could also be made. 
Since no written su bmissions had been received  in the Monitoring Mechanism , he raised the 
question of how Members would wish to proceed with the mandated review  under the 
circumstances . In the ensuing discussion, delegations  expressed differing views on the matter. 
Some were  of the view that Members should proceed with the review, while others felt that a 
review should only take place after concrete experience ha d been gained. [Discussion on this 
matter continued at the November Session.]   
4  DEDICATED SESSION ON  REGIONAL  TRADE  AGREEMENTS   
4.1.  The 8th Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements was held on 14 March  2017, and 
chaired by Amb assador  Christopher  Onyanga  Aparr (Uganda) . The minutes of the meeting  are 
contained in document  WT/COMTD/RTA/M/ 8. The Committee considered the Free Trade 
Agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian N ations (ASEAN) and India (Goods) 
(WT/COMTD/N/35, WT/COMTD/N/35/Add.1, WT/COMTD/RTA/8/1, WT/COMTD/RTA/8/2) , as per 
the provisions of the 14 December 20 06 General Council Decision on a Transpa rency Mechanism 
for Regional Trade A greements (WT/L/ 671). 
5  DEDICATED SESSION ON  SMALL ECONOMIES   
5.1.   In 2017, the CTD in Dedicated Session held two formal meetings on the Work Programme on 
Small Economies. The meetings, on 17 May and 7 November were chaired by  Ambassador  Taonga 
Mushayavanhu (Zimbabwe). The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents 
WT/COMTD/SE/M/34 and WT/COMTD/SE/M/354. At the 34th Dedicated Session, The Small and 
Vulnerable Economies (SVE) Group introduced document WT/COMTD/SE/W/35,  which presented a 
summary of the conclusions of the discussions held by the Dedicated Session in 2015 and 2016 
based on document WT/COMTD/SE/W/31 "Challenges and Opportunities Experienced by Small 
Economies when Linking into Global Value Chains in Trade i n Goods and Services" prepared by the 
Secretariat. Also, following the Ministerial Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies 
(WT/MIN(15)/40 – WT/L/975) made in Nairobi in 2015, the Secretariat introduced document 
WT/COMTD/SE/W/34, "Challenges and O pportunities Experienced by Small Economies in their 
Efforts to Reduce Trade Costs, Particularly in the Area of Trade Facilitation". This paper drew on 
the Aid -for-Trade Monitoring Evaluation (M&E) exercise of 2015 to analyse best practices and 
policy appr oaches to enhance productive capacity and export competitiveness. Members were also 
briefed by a representative of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) on the matter 
of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and trade facilitation. Severa l SVEs shared their 
experiences in the area of trade facilitation. At this meeting, the Secretariat also introduced 
document WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.8, which kept a record of all matters concerning the Small 
Economies' Work Programme and included key proposal s made in the negotiating groups and 
other WTO bodies. It a lso listed all decisions which had been taken concerning the Work 
Programme until MC10. At the 35th Dedicated Session, on 7 November, the Dedicated Session 
agreed to  a proposal (WT/COMTD/SE/W/36/Re v.1) submitted by the SVE Group for a draft 
Ministerial Decision regarding the Work Programme on Small Economies. [Also, Members adopted 
the Report to the General Council (WT/COMTD/SE/ 10) and agreed to forward it to the General 
Council for proposed action by Ministers at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference. ] 
6  AID FOR TRADE  
6.1.  The CTD held its 39th, 40th, and 41st sessions on Aid for Trade in 2017, on 10 February, 
31 May, and 07 November, respectively. At each session, Members reviewed the implementation 
of the 2016-2017 biennial work programme – a work programme that was finalized at the 
36th Session of the CTD Aid for Trade on 15 February 2016.5 Ambassador Christopher Onyanga 
Aparr (Uganda) chaired the February meeting, and Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu 
(Zimba bwe) chaired the meetings in May and November. The minutes of the meetings are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/39, WT/COMTD/AFT/M/40 and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/416, 
                                                
4 To be issued.  
5 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/60.  
6 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/231  
 
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  respectively. The 2017 Global Review of Aid for Trade was held on 11 – 13 July 2017. Aid for Trade 
was also included as an agenda item for discussion at the General Council on 26 July 2017.  
6.2.  Two dedicated thematic workshops were held under the auspices of the CTD as follows: "Aid 
for Trade, Trade Costs Indices and Design and Implementation of Polic ies to Reduce Trade Costs" 
on 10 February 2017, which served to review new and existing trade cost indices and examined 
how they are being integrated into Aid -for-Trade programming; and "Results of the 2017 Aid for 
Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise"  on 30 May 2017 which previewed the draft Aid for Trade 
at a Glance publication, titled "Promoting Trade, Inclusiveness and Connectivity for Sustainable 
Development". Reports on the workshops were given at the CTD Aid -for-Trade formal sessions.  
6.3.  At the 39th Session, Botswana reported on a new Aid -for-Trade strategy (developed in 
collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat) to drive its national export growth and to 
improve its international competitiveness. Ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya, 
Under -Secretar y-General of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least 
Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN -
OHRLLS) discussed implementation of the Vienna and Istanbul Programmes of Action, ga ve a 
statement highlighting the constraints by LDCs, landlocked countries and small economies in 
relation to energy infrastructure, sustainable agricultural development, transit infrastructure and 
private sector development. Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Korea, an d the United States updated the CTD, 
pursuant to their recent Trade Policy Reviews. The United Nations Industrial Development 
Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), ITC, Afric an Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank Group 
(WBG) provided updates on their activities and the EIF announced its plans to hold a 
replenishment conference in 2018. The WTO Secretariat gave an overview of responses to the 
Aid-for-Trade M&E Exercise. One-hundred and eleven responses to the self -assessment 
questionnaire and 158 case stories had been received at that time. The structure and planning 
process for the Global Review was discussed. India (supported by Bangladesh and Cameroon) 
expressed concerns abou t declining engagement in the M&E exercise, the additionality of 
Aid-for Trade finance, and suggested a holistic review of the Aid -for-Trade M&E exercise to be 
undertaken by the General Council and the CTD that would also examine the periodicity of Global 
Reviews.  
6.4.  At the 40th Session, the WTO Secretariat discussed preparations for the Aid for Trade Global 
Review 2017 noting that the closing plenary session would be an opportunity for Members to 
express views on the future direction of the Aid -for-Trade Init iative. The WBG announced its 
Umbrella Facility for Trade; a new vehicle for supporting the Bank's advisory work on global and 
regional trade issues. Japan, Mexico and Switzerland made statements pursuant to their recent 
Trade Policy Reviews and the WTO Se cretariat reported on three regional activities on Aid for 
Trade held in Dakar, Senegal for Africa; Incheon, Korea for Asia and the Pacific; and Miami, USA 
for the Caribbean. The US provided an update on the work of the Standards Alliance, a public -
private  partnership between USAID and the American National Standards Institute, designed to 
provide capacity -building assistance to developing countries, specifically related to implementation 
of the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. Benin and Cameroon requ ested donors to take into 
account concerns regarding the regional balance of Aid -for-Trade flows, alignment of support to 
partner country needs, focusing on closing the digital divide and addressing rural -urban 
connectivity issues. Cameroon requested a wor kshop on industrial policy and the sharing of 
experiences/best practices on the type of policies countries could utilize to benefit from the 
growing digital economy.  
6.5.  The Aid for Trade Global Review 2007 took place from 11 -13 July 2017, and featured a total  
of 55 sessions. The Vice -President of The Gambia, 24 ministers and 11 heads of international 
organizations attended the Global Review, together with a number of deputy ministers and 
vice-presidents of international organizations. Various reports were laun ch at the Aid for Trade 
Global Review 2017, including the joint OECD -WTO publication "Promoting Trade, Connectivity and 
Inclusiveness for Sustainable Development". The opening session featured a keynote intervention 
by WTO Director -General Roberto Azevêdo,  the Heads of the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation 
(ITFC), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UNCTAD and ITC, the 
involvement of Vice Presidents of multilateral development banks (AfDB, Asian Development Bank 
(AsDB), European De velopment Bank (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the 
participation of senior officials from WBG, IADB and Germany (in its capacity as G20 chair). In his WT/COMTD/W/23 1 
 
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  keynote remarks, Director -General Azevêdo reiterated the central role that trade play s in 
delivering growth, reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  
6.6.  At a thematic level, the Review was diverse – reflecting the broad range of topics that the 
Initiative seeks to address. Statements reflected this variety feat uring issues such as digital and 
physical infrastructure, e -commerce, investment, inclusiveness (including women's economic 
empowerment), Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs), public -private partnership, 
supply -side capacity, trade facilitatio n, trade finance and achieving the SDGs. Sessions dedicated 
to Trade Facilitation topped the list of themes discussed with nine sessions in total. Digital 
Connectivity was also a prominent theme, featuring as the main topic of seven sessions and in the 
discussion of many other sessions. Financing needed to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development 
Goals was the topic of a high -level panel on 11 July that featured a keynote speech from European 
Union Development Commissioner, Neven Mimica. Another topic that gen erated a lot of interest at 
the Global Review was women's economic empowerment. A joint UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) -WTO publication on "Trade and Food Standards" was launched by WTO 
Director -General Roberto Azevêdo and FAO Director -General J ose Graziano da Silva. The UN World 
Tourism Organization's year of Sustainable Tourism was marked by two sessions that highlighted 
the economic importance of the sector, in particular for LDCs.  
6.7.  Ideas of where to focus the Aid -for-Trade Initiative in future  were profiled in two plenary 
sessions on the final day of the Aid for Trade Global Review 2017. The suggestion of focusing 
future work on the theme of "Economic Empowerment" emerged during the penultimate plenary 
session.  This theme was also picked up in  statements by delegations at the closing session, 
together with some other suggestions. Cameroon suggested that prior to the launch of the next 
Global Review there should be an appraisal of the M&E exercise.  This point was echoed by Benin 
and further ela borated by India, arguing that the periodicity of global reviews should also be 
examined. A summary report of the Aid for Trade Global Review 2017 has been issued in 
document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/74.  
6.8.  Aid for Trade was discussed at the General Council on 26 July 2017. In his report of the Aid 
for Trade Global Review 2017, the Director -General noted since the start of the Initiative in 2006, 
almost 300 billion dollars has been disbursed in Aid for Trade support to 146 developing countries. 
He stressed the need to m aintain focus on LDCs and for the Aid for Trade initiative to continue to 
go from strength to strength. Bearing in mind Members' views on future work, he noted the CTD 
Aid for Trade's role in facilitating discussions on a new biennial work programme and cr ystallizing 
the different themes that could be taken forward. The report of the July General Council debate is 
contained in document WT/GC/M/168. In his statement to the General Council on 8 October 2015, 
the General Council Chairman recalled the Director -General's report at the July General Council 
and announced the date of the next CTD Aid for Trade scheduled for 07 November 2017. The 
report of the October General Co uncil is contained in document WT/GC/M/169 .7 
6.9.  At the 41st Session, the As DB and the AfDB  updated on their recent Aid -for-Trade 
programmes. The World Bank updated on the main messages for the IMF/World Bank Group 
annual meetings and highlighted initiatives launched to research and close the gender divide. The 
EIF noted new partnerships to help mo bilize resources and highlighted their work in LDCs. Nigeria, 
EU, Brazil, Jamaica and Senegal on behalf of the West African Economic and Monetary Union 
(WAEMU) made statements pursuant to their recent Trade Policy Reviews.  
6.10.   Under the agenda item on Monitori ng and Evaluation of Implementation and Development 
Effectiveness, the Chair provided initial thoughts on how to take forward the Aid -for-Trade 
Initiative.  He suggested that a new work programme be elaborated on the basis of discussions 
with Members in in formal and formal sessions, as necessary, with the aim of submitting a work 
programme, under his own responsibility, to the General Council early in 2018. He further 
elaborated that the review of Aid for Trade achievements foreseen in the 2016 -2017 cycle w ould 
be carried forward into the new work programme.  The Chairman also recalled that Aid for Trade 
had been cited in Members' submissions for MC11. He encouraged Members to maintain the 
political visibility of the initiative.  
                                                
7 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/W/231  
 
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  7  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELO PED COUNTRIES  
7.1.  In 2017, the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the Sub -Committee) 
held two formal meetings on 19 May (80th Session) and 3 October (81st Session), chaired by 
Ambassador Monique Van Daalen (Netherlands). The minutes of the m eetings are contained in 
documents WT/COMTD/LDC /M/80 and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/81 , respectively. The Sub Committee 
took up the following subjects pursuant to the WTO Work Programme for the LDCs 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1): (i) market access for LDCs; (ii) trade -related technical assistance 
and capacity -building initiatives for LDCs; and (iii) accession of LDCs. The Sub -Committee further 
considered a briefing by the Secretariat on arrangements to facilitate the participation of LDCs in 
the Eleventh Ministerial Conferen ce (MC11). The delegation of Cambodia acted as the Coordinator 
of the LDC Group in 2017.  
7.1  Market Access for LDCs  
7.2.  At the 80th Session, the Secretariat provided an update on recent trends in LDC trade, 
building on the information and analysis provided in the 2016 LDC market access Note 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/64 and  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/64/Add.1 ). The LDCs took the opportunity to call 
on Members to increase efforts to implement Ministerial Decisions taken in favour of LDCs on 
preferential market access in goods and services . A Corrigendum (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/64/Corr.1) 
was issued in May  2017 to correctly reflect a header in Annex Table 6.  
7.3.  At the 81st Session, Members considered the 2017 LDC market access Note by the 
Secretariat (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/65). Members expressed appreciation  for the information and 
analysis contained in the report, including on LDC trade in goods and particularly services. 
Subsequent to the meeting, the Secretariat issued a Revision (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/65/Rev.1) of 
the Note to take into account updated statistics  on market access.  
7.2  Trade -related Technical Assistance and Capacity -building Initiatives for LDCs  
7.4.  At the 80th Session, the Executive Secretariat of the EIF provided an update on recent 
progress in the EIF, including the finalization of the EIF Medium Term S trategic Plan 2016 -2018 
and on steps taken to mobilize further resources. The LDCs highlighted the importance of the EIF 
for the LDCs to sustainably develop through trade, and called on donors to contribute to the 
funding of Phase Two of the EIF.  
7.5.  At the sa me meeting, the Secretariat of the SSTDF briefed the Sub -Committee on the 
Facility's recent activities relating to LDCs, highlighting that the LDCs were benefitting from 65% of 
STDF project funds. The LDCs highlighted the importance of the STDF to build th e capacity of the 
LDCs in implementing international SPS standards, and expressed appreciation to donors for their 
contributions to the STDF.  
7.6.  At the 81st Session, the Secretariat reported on WTO technical assistance and training 
provided to the LDCs, notin g that the WTO continued giving priority to the LDCs. In 2016, the 
LDCs were invited to 72% of all technical -assistance activities organized by the Secretariat. The 
LDCs acknowledged the usefulness of these activities, in particular of the reference centre  and 
internship programmes.  
7.3  Accession of LDCs  
7.7.  At the 81st Session, the Secretariat made a presentation on the evolution of LDC accessions, 
the state of play in the accession working parties of the LDCs, assistance provided to acceding 
governments as well a s post -accession support. The Secetariat  also briefed Members on 
LDC-related accession events held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in March 2017 (WT/COMTD/LDC/25) 
and in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2017 (WT/COMTD/LDC/26). Seven LDCs are currently in the 
process of a ccession (Bhutan, Comoros, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, Timor -
Leste). A number of acceding LDCs expressed appreciation for the support provided by the 
Secretariat as well as development partners, and called on Members to adhere to the L DC 
accession guidelines agreed to by Members.  WT/COMTD/W/23 1 
 
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  7.4  Arrangements to Facilitate the Participation of LDCs in the Eleventh WTO Ministerial 
Conference  
7.8.  At the 80th Session, the Secretariat provided a briefing on the administrative and logistical 
arrangements by the Secretariat to facilitate the participation of LDCs in MC11. As per past 
practice, a dedicated Trust Fund had been set up which would fund the participation of three 
officials from eligible LDCs. The LDCs called on Members to contribute to the Trust Fund i n order to 
facilitate the participation of the LDCs in MC11.  
7.5  Other Matters Considered by the Sub -Committee  
7.9.  At the 80th Session, UNIDO briefed the Sub -Committee on UNIDO's role in implementing the 
UN General Assembly resolution (A/RES/70/293, 25 July 2016) on the Third Industrial 
Development Decade for Africa (2016 -2025).  
7.10.   At the 81st Session, UNIDO informed the Sub -Committee that the next UNIDO LDC 
Ministerial Conference  would be held in Vienna , Austria,  from 23 to 24 November 2017.  The theme 
of the Confere nce would be "Building Global Partnerships: Enhancing Growth and Inclusiveness in 
LDCs".  
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