WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG/19 
28 November 2008 
 (08-5861) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
  
 
REPORT (2008) OF THE COMMITTEE ON  REGIONAL TRADE  AGREEMENTS  
TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL 
 
Chairman:  Mr. Detlev Brauns (Germany
) 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. At its first meeting in April 2008, the Comm ittee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) 
elected Mr. Detlev Brauns (Germany) as Chairman of the CRTA. 
2. During 2008, the Committee held three sessions (i n April, September and November).  The 
minutes of those meetings are listed in Attachment 1.  Three sessions are foreseen in 2009.   
II. OBSERVER STATUS 
3. The Committee agreed to continue the granti ng of observer status in the CRTA to the 
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), on an ad hoc  basis.  No decision was taken with 
respect to the requests for observer status lis ted in document WT/REG/W/11/Add.3, pending the 
definition of guidelines by the General Council. 
III. CONSIDERATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS 
4. As of 1 November 2008, 418 regional trade agre ements (RTAs) have been notified to the 
GATT/WTO, 227 of which are currently in force.1  Of the agreements in force, 143 were notified 
under GATT Article XXIV;  27 under the Enabling Clause2,  and 57 under GATS Article V. 
5. During 2008, the Secretariat distributed factua l presentations of 23 RTAs (counting goods and 
services separately), 21 of which were used as th e basis for RTAs' consideration in the CRTA during 
2008.3  A total of 33 RTAs have been considered  under the Transparency Mechanism since its 
adoption in December 2006.4  There is a remaining backlog of 91 RTAs, comprised of 46 RTAs for 
which the factual presentation is under preparation a nd 45 RTAs for which the factual presentation is 
on hold (see Attachment 2). 
6. According to paragraph 22 of the TM, the Secretar iat is to prepare a factual abstract for those 
RTAs for which the CRTA had concluded the fact ual examination by 31 December 2006 and for 
RTAs notified to the WTO under the Enabling Clause.  Nineteen factual abstracts have been prepared 
and placed on the WTO website ;  32 are still awaiting comments from the parties, and  the remaining 
24 are under preparation (see Attachment 3). 
                                                      
1 These figures correspond to notifications of ne w RTAs, as well as accessions to existing RTAs.   
2 Differential and More Favourable Treatment, Reci procity and Fuller Partic ipation of Developing 
Countries , Decision of the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES of 28 November 1979. 
3 The FTA between Egypt and Turkey was consider ed in the Committee on Trade and Development.  
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) will be considered in the next Session of the CRTA.   
4 32 have been considered in the CRTA and one in the CTD. WT/REG/19 
Page 2  
 
  IV. EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT 
7. Paragraph 1 of the TM provides for Members par ticipating in new negotiations and parties to 
a newly signed RTA to provide information to the S ecretariat, to be posted on the WTO website.  In 
2008, a total of 4 early announcements have been received from Members, 3 for RTAs under negotiation and one for newly signed RTAs (see Attachment 4). 
V. SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING  
8. Paragraph 14 of the TM provides for changes affe cting the implementation of an RTA, or the 
operation of an already implemented RTA to be notif ied as soon as possible after such changes occur.  
Such communications are to be made availabl e on the WTO website.  As of 1 November 2008, 
three notifications made during 2008 have been received and posted on the WTO website.
5  
9. Paragraph 15 of the TM provides for parties to  an RTA to submit a short written report on the 
realization of the liberalization commitments in the RTA as originally notified at the end of the RTA's 
implementation period.  No such re ports were submitted during 2008. 
VI. DATABASE ON RTAS 
10. Paragraph 21 of the TM provides for the Secr etariat to establish and maintain an updated 
electronic database on individual RTAs.  At the Committee's 50th Session, a representative of the 
Secretariat made a presentation on the current phase of the database.  Members have been given access to the database via the Members' website to enable them to test it and provide comments before 
it is made available to the public.  At its 51
st Session, the Committee agreed to make the database 
available to the public. 
VII. PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE AND FACILITATE THE EXAMINATION PROCESS 
11. No discussion took place on this item. 
VIII. SYSTEMIC IMPLICATIONS OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND 
INITIATIVES FOR THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM 
12. During the course of 2008 the Chairman held informal consultations on the issue of RTAs 
involving non-Members.  Further consultations are ongoing. 
IX. FINAL REMARKS 
13. Although considerable progress has been made in the preparation of factual presentations, the 
Committee continues to experience so me difficulties in adhering to its work programme.  This is due 
to a number of factors:  delays in the receipt of statistical data from parties, data discrepancies in Members' submissions, and delays in the receipt of comments from parties.  The Secretariat is 
working actively with the parties concerned in an effort to overcome these difficulties. 
                                                     
 
5 Japan-Singapore , EFTA-Singapore and EFTA-Turkey FTAs.  WT/REG/19 
 Page 3 
 
 
  ATTACHMENT 1 
 
Minutes of the Meetings held in 2008  
  
Forty-Ninth Session – 21-22 April 2008
 
  WT/REG/M/49   WT/REG208/M/1 United States – Morocco, Goods and Services 
 WT/REG227/M/1 Panama – Singapore, Goods and Services 
 WT/REG226/M/1 European Communities – Albania, Goods   Fiftieth Session – 18-19 September 2008
 
 
 WT/REG/M/50   WT/REG228/M/1 India – Singapore, Goods and Services  WT/REG229/M/1 + Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement between 
 WT/REG229/M/1/Rev.1 Brunei Darussalam, Ch ile, New Zealand and Singapore, Goods 
  and Services 
 WT/REG230/M/1 Chile – China, Goods  WT/REG196/M/1 El Salvador – Panama, Goods and Services  WT/REG238/M/1 Protocol of Montevideo on Trade in Services in the MERCOSUR  
Fifty-First Session – 27-28 November 2008 (to be issued)
 
  WT/REG/M/51   WT/REG198/M/1 Japan – Mexico, Goods and Services  WT/REG234/M/1 Japan – Chile, Goods and Services 
 WT/REG215/M/1 Jordan – Singapore, Goods and Services 
 WT/REG201/M/1 EFTA States – Tunisia, Goods  WT/REG232/M/1 EFTA States – Egypt, Goods   WT/REG/19 
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  ATTACHMENT 2 
 
A.
 RTAs in force for which the "factual examin ation" was completed prior to the adoption 
of the TM Decision (66): 
ANZCERTA (S) EC-FYROM (G ) Japan-Singapore (G&S) 
Canada-Chile (G&S) EC-Israel (G) Kyrgyz Rep.-Armenia (G) 
Canada-Costa Rica (G) EC-Jorda n (G) Kyrgyz Rep.-Moldova (G) 
Canada-Israel (G) EC-M exico (G) MERCOSUR (G) 
CARICOM (S) EC-Morocco (G) Mexico-Israel (G) 
Chile-Costa Rica (G&S) EC -Tunisia (G) NAFTA (G&S) 
Chile-El Salvador (G&S) EC-Turke y (G) New Zealand-Singapore (G&S) 
Chile-Mexico (G&S) EFTA (S ) Norway-Faroe Isl. (G) 
Chile- Korea (G&S) EFTA-Croatia  (G) Singapore-Australia (G&S) 
China-Hong Kong, China (G&S) EFTA-FYR OM (G) Switzerland-Faroe Isl. (G) 
China-Macao, China (G&S) EFTA-Is rael (G) Turkey-Croatia (G) 
EC (Treaty of Rome) (S)  EFTA-Jordan (G) Turkey-FYROM (G) 
EC-P. of Andorra (G) EFTA-Mex ico (G)  Turkey-Israel (G) 
EC-Chile (G) EFTA-Morocco (G ) United States-Chile (G&S) 
EC-Croatia (G) EFTA-Singapore (G &S) United States-Jordan (G&S) 
EC Enlargement (15) (G&S) European Econo mic Area (S) United States-Singapore (G&S) 
EC Enlargement (25) (G)1 Georgia-Armenia (G)  
B. RTAs for which a factual presentation has been distributed (35): 
Armenia-Moldova (G) EFTA-Egypt  (G) Panama-Singapore (G&S) 
Australia-Thailand (G&S) EF TA-Tunisia (G) SACU (G) 
Chile-China (G) Egypt-Turkey (G) * SADC (G) 
Chile-Japan (G&S) India-Singapore (G&S) Thailand-New Zealand (G) 
Chile-Korea (G) Japan-Mexico (G&S) Trans-Pacific SEP (G&S) 
EC-Albania (G) Jordan-Singapore (G&S) Turkey-Morocco (G) 
EC-Chile (S) MERCOSUR (S ) US-Australia (G&S) 
EFTA-Chile (G&S) Panama-El Salv ador (G&S) US-Morocco (G&S) 
C. RTAs for which a factual presentation is under preparation (46): 
Armenia-Ukraine (G) EFTA-SACU (G ) Kyrgyz Republic-Ukraine (G) 
Brunei Darussalam-Japan (G&S ) El Salvador-Mexico (G&S ) Mexico-Nicaragua (G&S) 
Chile-Panama (G&S) GCC (G ) * Pakistan-China (G) 
Costa Rica-Mexico (G&S) Georgia-Ukra ine (G) Pakistan-Malaysia (G&S) * 
Dominican Rep.-Central America-
United States (CAFTA-DR) (G&S) Guatemala-Mexico (G&S) Pakistan-Sri Lanka (G) * 
EC 25 (S) Honduras-Mexico (G &S) Turkey-Albania (G) 
EC 27 (G&S) Japan-Indonesia (G&S) Turkey-Tunisia (G) 
EC-Egypt (G) Japan-Malaysia  (G&S) Ukraine-FYROM (G) 
EC-South Africa (G) Japan-Thailand (G&S) Ukraine-Moldova (G) 
EFTA-Korea (G&S) Korea-Singapore (G &S) United States-Bahrain (G&S) 
 
D. RTAs for which the factual presentation is on hold (45)2: 
Armenia-Kazakhstan (G) EC-Palestinian Aut hority (G) Pan-Arab Free Trade Area (G) 
Armenia-Russian Federation (G) EFTA-Lebanon (G) PICTA (G) * 
Armenia-Turkmenistan (G) EFTA-Mexico (S) SAFTA (G) * 
ASEAN-China (S) EFTA-Palestinian Aut hority (G) Thailand-New Zealand (S) 
CEFTA Enlargement  (G) Georgia- Azerbaija n (G) Turkey-Bosnia and Herzegovina (G) 
CEFTA-Accession of Croatia (G) Georgia-Kazakh stan (G) Turkey-Palestinian Authority (G) 
CIS (G) Georgia-Russian Federation (G) Turkey-Syria (G)  Common Economic Zone (G) Georgia-Turkme nistan (G) Ukraine-Azerbaijan (G) 
EAEC (G) Iceland-Faroe Islands  (G&S) Ukraine-Belarus (G) 
                                                      
1 Once a satisfactory resolution of outstanding issues  is  reached, the factual examination of this 
agreement will be deemed concluded. 
2 Includes RTAs with non-Members and RTAs covering trade in services for which specific 
commitments have yet to be agreed between the parties.  WT/REG/19 
 Page 5 
 
 
  EC-Algeria (G) India-Bhutan (G) * Ukraine-Kazakhstan (G) 
EC-Bosnia (G) Kyrgyz Republic-Kazakhsta n (G) Ukraine-Russian Federation (G) 
EC-CARIFORUM (G&S) EC-Monteneg ro (G) Ukraine-Tajikistan (G) 
EC-Faroe Islands (G) Kyrgyz Republic-Russian 
Federation (G) Ukraine-Turkmenistan (G) 
EC-Lebanon (G) Kyrgyz Republic-Uzbekistan (G) Ukraine-Uzbekistan (G) 
EC-Mexico (S)   
 
*  The Committee on Trade and Development, convening in dedicated session, is the responsible body for these 
RTAs. WT/REG/19 
Page 6  
 
  ATTACHMENT 3 
A.
 RTAs for which a factual abstract has been completed (19): 
Canada-Costa Rica (G) EC-Jorda n (G) New Zealand-Singapore (G) 
Canada-Israel (G) EC-Mexico (G) Singapore-Australia (G) 
Chile-Costa Rica (G) EC-Turkey (G) Switzerland-Faroe Islands (G) 
Chile-Mexico (G) Faroe Islands-N orway (G) Turkey-Croatia (G) 
China-Macao, China (G) Japan-Singa pore (G) United States-Singapore (G) 
EC-FYROM (G) Kyrgyz Republic-Mol dova (G) United States-Jordan (G) 
EC-Israel (G)   
B. RTAs for which a factual abstract  has been sent for comments (32): 
APTA-Accession of China(G) EC-Morocco (G) Israel-Mexico (G) 
ASEAN-China (G) EC-Tunisia (G) India-Sri Lanka (G) 
Canada-Chile (G) ECOWAS (G) Kyrgyz Republic-Armenia (G) 
Chile-El Salvador (G) EFTA -Croatia (G) MERCOSUR (G) 
China-Hong Kong, China (G) EFTA-FYROM (G) MSG (G) 
COMESA (G) EFTA-Isr ael (G) NAFTA (G) 
EAC (G) EFTA-Jordan (G)  SAPTA (G) 
EC 15 (G) EFTA-Mexico (G) Turkey-FYROM (G) 
EC-Andorra (G) EFTA- Morocco (G) Turkey- Israel (G) 
EC-Chile (G) EFTA-Singapore (G) United States-Chile (G) 
EC-Croatia (G) Georgia-Armenia (G)  
C. RTAs for which a factual abstract is in preparation (24): 
Canada-Chile (S) China-Macao,  China (S) Korea-Chile (S) 
CARICOM (S) EC (Treaty of Rome) (S) NAFTA(S) 
CEMAC (G) EC 15 (S) New Zealand-Singapore (S) 
ANZCERTA (S) EC 25 (G) Singapore-Australia (S) 
Chile-Costa Rica (S) EEA (S ) United States-Chile (S) 
Chile-El Salvador (S) EFTA (S) United States-Jordan (S) 
Chile-Mexico (S) EFTA-Singapore (S) United States-Singapore (S) 
China-Hong Kong, China (S) Japa n-Singapore (S) WAEMU/UEMOA (G) 
 
    WT/REG/19 
 Page 7 
 
 
  ATTACHMENT 4 
Early Announcements 
 
Agreement Neg/Sign 
Date Website Date 
announced 
by Parties 
Signed  
Australia - Chile 30-Jul-08 http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo /chile/fta/index.html  
http://www.direcon.cl/pdf/Nov19_TLC %20Australia% 20para%20Web_.pdf  13-Nov-08 
http://www.efta.int/content/free- trade/fta-countries/canada  Canada - EFTA 26-Jan-08 
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade- agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-
acc/efta-agr-acc.aspx?lang=en   29-Jul-08 
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/B ilateral/Peru_TPA/Final_Texts/Sectio
n_Index.html  United States - Peru 
Trade Promotion 
Agreement 12-Apr-06 
http://www.tlcperu- eeuu.gob.pe/index.php  16-Nov-07 
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/B ilateral/Panama_FTA/Draft_Text/Sect
ion_Index.html   United States - Panama 28-Jun-07 
http://www.mici.gob.pa/Tpc /Texto%20del%20tlc.php  11-Sep-07 
United States - Oman 19-Jan-06  http://www.ustr.gov/Trad e_Agreements/Bilateral/Oman_FTA/Final_Text/Secti
on_Index.html  11-Sep-07 
http://www.mofat.go.kr/mofa t/fta/eng_0707/eng_list.htm  Rep. of Korea - United 
States 30-Jun-07 
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements /Bilateral/Republic_of_Korea_FTA/Dra
ft_Text/Section_Index.html  10-Jul-07 
Japan - Philippines  09-Sep-06 http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-p aci/philippine/epa0609/index.html  02-Jul-07 
Japan – Thailand * 03-Apr-07 http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia -paci/thailand/epa0704/index.html  02-Jul-07 
Japan – Chile * 27-Mar-07 http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/fta/chile.html  02-Jul-07 
Japan - Brunei 
Darussalam * 18-Jun-07 http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/as ia-paci/brunei/e pa0706/index.html  
02-Jul-07 
EFTA – Egypt * 27-Jan-07 http://secretariat.efta.int/Web/Exter nalRelations/PartnerCountries/EG  11-Apr-07 
Under Negotiation  
Canada - Jordan 20-Feb-08  30-Jun-08 
Australia - Malaysia 19-May-05 http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/m alaysia/fta/index.html  25-Feb-08 
Austalia - GCC 30-Jul-07 http://www.dfat.gov.au/trad e/fta/gcc/index.html  22-Jan-08 
Australia - China 23-May-05 http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo /china/fta/index.html  10-Dec-07 
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/b ilateral/countries/india/index_en.htm  
http://commerce.nic.in  European Communities 
- India 28-Jun-07 
EU-India Joint Statement  25-Sep-07 
Canada - EFTA 07-Jun-07  23-Aug-07 
Canada - CARICOM 19-Jul-07  23-Aug-07 
Canada - Dominican 
Republic 07-Jun-07  
23-Aug-07 
Canada - Colombia - 
Peru 07-Jun-07  
23-Aug-07 
Canada - El Salvador -
Guatemala - Honduras -Nicaragua 21-Nov-01  
23-Aug-07 
Canada - Singapore 21-Oct-01  23-Aug-07 
Rep. of Korea - 
Mexico 07-Feb-06   
10-Jul-07 
Rep. of Korea - India 07-Feb-06   10-Jul-07 
http://www.fta.go.kr/user/fta _korea/info.asp?country_idx=21  Rep. of Korea - 
European Communities 06-May-07 
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/b ilateral/countries/korea/index_en.htm  10-Jul-07 
Rep. of Korea - Canada 15-Jul-05  10-Jul-07 
Rep. of Korea - 
ASEAN 30-Nov-04   
10-Jul-07 
Japan - Vietnam  01-Jan-07   02-Jul-07 
Japan - Rep. of Korea 01-Dec-03   02-Jul-07 
Japan - Indonesia * 01-Jul-05   02-Jul-07 
Japan - India  01-Jan-07   02-Jul-07 
Japan  - GCC  01-Sep-06   02-Jul-07 
Japan - Australia  01-Apr-07   02-Jul-07 
Japan - ASEAN  01-Apr-05   02-Jul-07 
EFTA - Colombia 04-Jun-07   14-Jun-07 
EFTA - Peru 04-Jun-07   06-Jun-07 
Japan - Switzerland  14-May-07   08-Jun-07 
* These RTAs have been subsequently notified. 
__________