. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/RL/W/249 
24 January 2011 
 
 (11-0385) 
Negotiating Group on Rules Original:   Spanish 
  
 
REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS 
 
Communication from Ecuador
 
  
The following communication, dated 20 January 2011 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ecuador. 
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Proposal for Procedural Adjustment s to the Transparency Mechanism
 
for Regional Trade Agreements (WT/L/671 ) 
 1. At the meeting of 13 December 2010, the Ne gotiating Group on Rules agreed to initiate 
negotiations to review the Transparency Mechan ism for Regional Trade Agreements (TM) with a 
view to replacing it by a permanent mechanism. 
2. It seemed appropriate, among other things, th at in the framework of these negotiations 
thought should be given to introducing a number of pu rely procedural adjustments to the TM in order 
to ensure that during the multilate ral consideration process there was a concurrence of wills and that 
all Members parties to a notified RTA were in agre ement.  This could be crucial in ensuring the 
successful outcome of the consideration process and promoting the smooth operation of the TM. 
3. These adjustments could be grouped as follows: 
(a) Notification
:  that is, the steps currently provided for in paragraphs 1 (early 
announcement of participation in new negotia tions and of newly signed RTAs), 3 and 
4 (notification of RTAs), 14 (notification of changes to an RTA), and 15 (notification at the end of the implementation period); 
(b) Provision of information
:  that is, the steps currently provided for in paragraphs 7(a) 
(specified data) and 12 (additional information); 
(c) Consultations under the responsibility of WTO Secretariat :  that is, the steps currently 
provided for in paragraphs 6 (establishment of a timetable), 7(b) (preparation of a 
factual presentation), and 9 (general views). 
4. Specifically, consideration should be given,  as appropriate, to inserting the following 
paragraphs in section G ( Other Provisions ) before the current paragraph 20: 
(a) Communications submitted under paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 14 and 15 shall take the form of 
joint notes signed by all of the Members pa rticipating in new negotiations or by all 
Members parties to the RTA in question, as appropriate. TN/RL/W/249 
Page 2  
 
  (b) The information needed to assist Members in  their consideration of a notified RTA, 
including the information referred to in pa ragraphs 7(a) and 12 and in the Annex, 
shall be transmitted to the WTO Secretariat through the party entrusted with submitting it on behalf of all of the Members parties to the RTA in question. 
(c) When the WTO Secretariat holds consultations concerning a notified RTA, including 
the cases referred to in paragraphs 6, 7(b) and 9, it shall approach the party tasked 
with conducting the consultations on behalf of the Members parties to the ACR in question. 
(d) When Members parties to an RTA submit successive communications on the same 
subject matter following the procedures est ablished under paragraph (4a), the bodies 
entrusted with the implementation of the Mechanism as well as the WTO Secretariat 
shall act pursuant to the latest of t hose communications, unless the said Members 
provide otherwise. 
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