WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/GC/117 
19 January 2009 
 (09-0203) 
  
  
 
GENERAL COUNCIL 
 
Annual Report (2008
) 
  
 The present report has been prepared in pursu ance of the Procedures for an Annual Overview 
of WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WT O (WT/L/105), and sets out the actions taken by 
the General Council in the period since its previous annual report.
1 
  In carrying out its tasks, the General Council has held 5 meetings since the period covered by 
the previous report.  The minutes of these meetings , which remain the record of the General Council's 
work, are contained in documents WT/GC/M/113 - 117
2. 
  The following subjects are included in the report:  
1.
 Work under the Doha Work Programme...............................................................................2  
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports...................................................................................2  
(b) Work Programme on Small Economies – Reports .....................................................................5  
(c) Work Programme on Special and Differential Tr eatment - Report by the Chairman of the 
Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development ..................................................6  
(d) Review under Paragraph 8 of the Decision on the Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the 
Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement a nd Public Health – Report of the Council for 
TRIPS.......................................................................................................................... ................7  
(e) Follow-up to the 1 August 2004 General Counc il Decision and the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration on the Doha Work Programme – Statement by the Director-General on the Development Assistance Aspects of Cotton ...............................................................................7
 
2. China – Transitional review under Section 18.2 of the Protocol of Accession to the 
WTO Agreement.................................................................................................................. .....8 
3. Non-recognition of rights under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 – 
Communications from Honduras and Guatemala.................................................................8  
4. Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrang ements – Statement by the Chairman of 
the Committee on Trad e and Development..........................................................................10  
5. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administ ration – Reports and recommendations...10  
6. Accession matters.............................................................................................................. ......11  
(a) Equatorial Guinea .............................................................................................................. .......11  
(b) Kazakhstan..................................................................................................................... ...........12  
                                                      
1 The annual report of the General Council for 2007 was circulated in WT/GC/114. 
2 To be issued. WT/GC/117 
Page 2  
 
  (c)
 Serbia ......................................................................................................................... ...............12  
(d) Ukraine........................................................................................................................ ..............12  
(e) Uzbekistan ..................................................................................................................... ...........13  
7. Waivers ........................................................................................................................ ............14  
(a) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Argentina and Panama ......................................................................................14  
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions .................................................................................................................... ..........14  
(c) Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions .................................................................................................................... ..........14  
(d) European Communities – Application of aut onomous preferential treatment to Moldova ......15  
(e) Senegal – Customs Valuation Agreement ................................................................................15  
(f) Review of Waivers Pursuant to Artic le IX:4 of the WTO Agreement .....................................15  
8. ACP-EC Economic Partn ership Agreements ......................................................................16  
9. EC – Suspension of fresh b eef imports from Brazil.............................................................16  
10. Statement by Sri Lanka on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries........17  
11. Administrative Measures fo r Members in Arrears .............................................................17  
12. WTO Pension Plan............................................................................................................... ...18 
(a) Election of Chairman, Members and Alte rnates to the Management Board ............................18  
(b) Annual Report.................................................................................................................. .........18  
(c) Actuarial Position of the Pension Plan – Statement by the Chairman of the Management 
Board.......................................................................................................................... ...............19  
13. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO.......................................................................19  
14. Appointment of the ne xt Director-General ..........................................................................19  
15. Appointment of offi cers to WTO bodies...............................................................................19  
16. Review of WT O activities....................................................................................................... 21 
17. Election of Chairperson........................................................................................................ ..22 
 
 
1. Work under the Doha Work Programme 
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports (WT/GC/M/113, 114, 115, 116, 117) 
 Ministers at Doha established a Trade Negotiations Committee under the authority of the 
General Council to supervise th e overall conduct of the negotiati ons (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1).  In 
accordance with the Principles and Practices endor sed by the Trade Negotiations Committee at its 
first meeting on 28 January and 1 February 20 02 (TN/C/M/1), the TNC reports to each regular 
meeting of the General Council.  
 At the General Council meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the Director-General, as Chairman of 
the Trade Negotiations Committee, reporting on th e TNC's activities, recalled his statement to an 
informal TNC on 31 January (JOB(08)/2) and said inter alia  that political conditions for reaching a  WT/GC/117 
 Page 3 
 
 
  deal on modalities in Agriculture and NAMA were clear ly improved, and that all were clearer about 
the process ahead.  The decisive step in the process of establishing modalities would involve a 
cross-cutting discussion which would start at Senior O fficial level, with any Ministerial involvement 
that might be needed taking place later.  While there was strong support for proceeding step by step 
and making the transition from one phase to another in the light of progress on substance, there was 
less clarity on the scope of the horizontal process, on which further consulta tions would be needed. 
  The representatives of Panama, Sri Lanka (on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing 
Countries), Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), Barbados (on behalf of  the small, vulnerable 
economies), Lesotho (on behalf of the LDCs), Benin (on behalf of the co-sponsors of the 
Sectoral Initiative on Cotton), Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the African Group), Cuba, Bangladesh, 
Bolivia, European Communities, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, Pakistan, Argentina, Korea, 
Mexico, United States, India, Brazil, Norway and China spoke.  
The General Council took note of the Directo r-General's report and of the statements.
3 
At the General Council meeting on 7 May 2008 , the Director-General, as Chairman of the 
Trade Negotiations Committee, reported on the TNC's activities since February, noting inter alia  that 
discussions in the TNC had focused principally on  the process for the finalization of modalities in 
Agriculture and NAMA.4   
The representatives of Singapore (on behalf of the ASEAN Members), Argentina, Lesotho 
(on behalf of LDCs), Brazil (also on behalf of the G20), Côte d'I voire (on behalf of the African 
Group), Uruguay, Mexico, India, European Commun ities, China, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP 
Group), Costa Rica, Paraguay, Chinese Taipei, Turk ey, United States, Honduras, Bolivarian Republic 
of Venezuela, Japan, Barbados (on behalf of th e small, vulnerable econo mies), Cuba, Switzerland, 
Ecuador, Korea and El Salvador spoke. 
The General Council took note of the Directo r-General's report and of the statements.5 
At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008 , the Director-General, as Chairman of the 
Trade Negotiations Committee, reporting on the TNC's activities, drew on his report to the 30 July TNC (JOB(08)/94) and said inter alia  that despite the recent setback to the goal of concluding the 
Round in 2008, much had been achieved during the r ecent intensive negotiations.  At the TNC, there 
had been multiple strong calls for preserving the p ackage that had been negotiated, and Members now 
had to reflect seriously on the next steps, and new ideas and solutions had to be found and tested 
where there had been deadlock.    
 The Chairman of the Negotiating Group on NAM A, and the representatives of Cameroon (on 
behalf of the ACP banana-producing countries), Boliv ia, Cuba, Pakistan (also on behalf of Chile, 
Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong China, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore and 
                                                     
 
3 At their request, statements by the following dele gations at the 31 January informal TNC were also 
included in the records of this meeting: Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados (on behalf of the small, vulnerable 
economies), Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the African Group), Cuba, Ecuador, India, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), Korea, Lesotho (on behalf of the LDCs), Mexico, Norway, Turkey and 
the United States. 
4 The full text of the DG's statem ent was circulated as JOB(08)/37. 
5 At their request, statements by the following de legations at the 17 April informal TNC were also 
included in the records of this meeting:  Barbados (on behalf of the small, vulnerable economies), Chinese 
Taipei (on behalf of the Recently  Acceded Members), Ecuador, El Salv ador; Hong Kong, China; Honduras, 
Mauritius (on behalf of the ACP Group), Singapore ( on behalf of the ASEAN Me mbers), Switzerland and 
Uganda (on behalf of the LDCs). WT/GC/117 
Page 4  
 
  Thailand), Bangladesh, Jamaica, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Argentina and Costa Rica, and 
the Chairman spoke. 
The General Council took note of the Directo r-General's report and of the statements.
6 
At the General Council meeting on 14 October 2008 , the Director-General, as Chairman of 
the Trade Negotiations Committee, reporting on th e TNC's activities, recalled his statement to an 
informal TNC on 10 October (JOB(08)/100) and said inter alia  that work in negotiating groups had 
resumed and the focus now was on the multilateral pr ocess, which would conti nue in all areas of the 
negotiations.  In view of the deterioration in th e financial landscape, he had also reconvened major 
providers of trade finance to a meeting on 12 Novemb er to examine the issue of trade financing, and 
had constituted a Task Force within the Secretariat to  follow up on the effects of the financial crisis on 
different areas of WTO work.   
The representatives of India (also on behalf of the G20), Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the 
African Group), Mauritius (on behalf of the ACP Group), Argentina, European Communities, 
Bangladesh, China, Switzerland, Turkey, United States,  Chinese Taipei, Brazil, Senegal, Japan, Peru, 
Costa Rica, Pakistan, Indonesia (on behalf of the G33), Mexico and Bolivia spoke.  
The General Council took note of the Directo r-General's report and of the statements.7 
 At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008 , the Director-General, as Chairman of 
the Trade Negotiations Committee, reporting on the TNC's activities, drew on his report to the 
17 December TNC (JOB(08)/134) and said inter alia that Members had not been far from achieving 
their goal of agreeing on modalities in Agriculture  and NAMA, but had had to recognize that calling 
Ministers to try to finalize modalities by the end of the year would have run too much of a risk of 
failure that could damage not only the Round but th e system as a whole.  The TNC discussion had 
shown a collective will to advance the negotiations on all fronts in 2009, and the recognition that the 
WTO was more than the Doha Round and that all need ed to ensure that the WTO remained relevant 
and attuned to the wider trading scene.  Members at the TNC had also discussed a number of areas 
where the WTO could work in 2009 in addition to  the regular work in the various committees and 
councils.  Many had also urged that the next regular  Ministerial meeting be held in 2009 to take a 
strategic look at the future and steps to advance the goals of the organization.  
The representatives of India, Nigeria, Bangl adesh, Peru, Bolivia, Norway, China and Sri 
Lanka spoke. 
On the basis of the discussion, the Chairm an announced his readiness to consult with 
delegations in January on the broader issues that had been raised. 
 The General Council took note of the Directo r-General's report and of the statements.
8 
                                                      
6 At their request, statements by Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Lesotho (on behalf of the 
LDCs), Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay at the 30 July formal TNC, reflected in 
the records of that meeting  in TN/C/M/28, were incorp orated by reference into th e records of this meeting. 
7 At their request, statements by the following delega tions at the 10 October informal TNC were also 
included in the records of this meeting:  Bangladesh,  Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Costa 
Rica, Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the African Group); Hong Kong, China;  Indonesia (on behalf of the G33), Lesotho (on behalf of the LDCs), Mexico and Thailand. 
8 At their request, statements by Argentina, Bolivia , Brazil (on behalf of the G20), Cambodia, Ecuador, 
Ghana, Honduras, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group ), Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines,  Rwanda, 
Tanzania (on behalf of the LDCs), Thailand and Vietna m at the 17 December formal TNC, reflected in the 
records of that meeting in TN/C/M/ 29, were incorporated by reference into the records of this meeting.  WT/GC/117 
 Page 5 
 
 
  (b) Work Programme on Small Economies – Reports (WT/GC/M/113, 114, 115, 116, 117) 
 Ministers at Doha agreed to a work programme , under the auspices of the General Council, to 
examine issues relating to the trade of small econom ies, with a mandate to frame responses to the 
trade-related issues identified for the fuller inte gration of small, vulnerable economies into the 
multilateral trading system and not to create a sub-category of WTO Members (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 
paragraph 35).  At its meeting in February and March 2002, the General Council took note of a 
framework and procedures for the conduct of th e Work Programme on Small Economies, under which 
this Work Programme would be a standing item on the General Council's agenda.  The framework 
and procedures also provided that the Committee on  Trade and Development would report regularly 
to the General Council on the progress of work in its Dedicated Sessions on this subject.  Ministers at 
Hong Kong instructed the CTD, under the overall res ponsibility of the General Council, to continue 
the work in the Dedicated Session and to monito r progress of the small economies' proposals in the 
negotiating and other bodies, with the aim of providi ng responses to the trade-related issues of small 
economies as soon as possible but no later than 31 D ecember 2006.  In December 2006, on the basis 
of a report by the Chair of the CTD in Dedicated Session the General Council took note that Members 
would be pursuing the substantive work under this work programme. 
  At the General Council m eeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the Chairman of the Dedicated 
Session of the CTD reported inter alia  that proponents of the work programme had met several times 
informally and had been actively following work in the various negotiating groups, particularly in 
NAMA, Agriculture, Services and Rules. 
 
 The representatives of Barbados (on behalf of  the small, vulnerable economies) and Cuba 
spoke.   The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD and of the statements. 
  At the General Council meeting on 7 May 2008
, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD, reporting on developments in this area since the February Council, said inter alia  that 
proponents of the work programme had continued to  actively follow work in the various negotiating 
groups, and had made further contri butions in the areas of trade facilitation, fisheries subsidies and 
NAMA.   
  The representative of Barbados (on behalf of the SVEs) spoke.   The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
Committee on Trade and Development and of the statement. 
  At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008
, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of 
the CTD, reporting on developments in this area since the May Council, said inter alia  that 
proponents of the work programme had been activel y pursuing their issues of interest and had 
participated fully in the recent intensive negotiations on modalities and other issues.  The Secretariat 
had been requested to revise and update the compila tion paper monitoring the SVEs' proposals in the 
negotiating groups and other WTO bodies.   The representative of Barbados (on behalf of the SVEs) spoke.  
 The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD and of the statement.  WT/GC/117 
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   At the General Council meeting on 14 October 2008
, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session 
of the CTD, reporting on developments in  this area since the July Council, said inter alia  that 
proponents of the work programme had been ac tively following developments in the resumed 
negotiations on Agriculture and NAMA, and stood read y to engage in other areas of importance to 
them in the Round such as such as Services and fish eries subsidies.  Proponents had also met recently 
to discuss possible next steps in  the Work Programme and possibl e new issues that the Dedicated 
Session could address.     The representatives of Barbados (on be half of the SVEs) and Tonga spoke. 
 
 The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD and of the statements.   At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, in the absence of the Chairman of the 
Dedicated Session of the CTD and on the latter's requ est and behalf, the previous Chair of the CTD 
reported inter alia  that at a meeting on 3 December the Dedicated Session had considered an updated 
version of a Secretariat compilation of all propo sals made by the small, vulnerable economies in the 
various WTO bodies.  The Secretariat had been request ed to keep updating the pa per to reflect latest 
developments, including the latest modifications ma de in the 6 December texts on draft modalities in 
Agriculture and NAMA.  The Dedicated Session had also  requested the Secretariat to consult with the 
financial crisis task force on the impact of the crisis on key industrial and service sectors of SVEs and 
report back to its next meeting. 
  The representative of Barbados (on behalf of the SVEs) spoke.   The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD and of the statement. 
 (c) Work Programme on Special and Differential Tr eatment - Report by the Chairman of the 
Special Session of the Committee on Trad e and Development (WT/GC/M/115, 117) 
 Ministers at Hong Kong instructed the Co mmittee on Trade and Deve lopment in Special 
Session to expeditiously complete the review of all the outstanding Agreement-specific proposals and 
report to the General Council, with clear recomm endations for a decision, by December 2006.  
Regarding the Category II proposals that had b een referred to other WTO bodies and negotiating 
groups, Ministers instructed these bodies to exped itiously complete the consideration of these 
proposals and report periodically to the General Counc il, with the objective of ensuring that clear 
recommendations for a decision were made no later than December 2006.  They also instructed the 
Special Session to continue to coordinate its effo rts with these bodies to ensure that this work was 
completed on time.  Ministers further instructed th e Special Session, within the parameters of the 
Doha mandate, to resume work on all other outstanding issues – including cross-cutting issues, the monitoring mechanism, and the incorporation of S& D treatment into the architecture of WTO rules – 
and to report on a regular basis to the General C ouncil.  In December 2006, the General Council took 
note that Members would be pursuing their consid eration of the outstanding Agreement-specific 
proposals both in the Special Session and in the ot her WTO bodies to whom such proposals had been 
referred.   At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008
, the Chairman of the Special Session of the 
CTD, reporting on the status of work in the Special Session since December 2007, highlighted key 
points of a report he had circulated in TN/CTD/22,  and noted that work in the Special Session had 
been focusing on two main areas: Agreement-specific proposals and elements of a monitoring mechanism, on both of which more work would be needed before Members could reach agreement.   WT/GC/117 
 Page 7 
 
 
  He also reported on updates provided to the Speci al Session by the Chairpersons concerned on the 
Category II proposals.   The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the CTD in Special Session. 
 
 At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, the Chairman of the Special Session 
of the CTD, reporting on the status of work in th e Special Session since July, drew attention to his 
written report in document TN/CTD/23 and briefly hi ghlighted the key points therein, noting that 
work in the Special Session would continue in line with the Hong Kong mandate, focussing on the 
Agreement-specific proposals and the Monitoring Mech anism with the aim of concluding it as soon as 
possible and certainly no later than the conclusion of the Doha Round.  On the Category II proposals, 
he would continue to coor dinate efforts with the relevant Chairs  to ensure that progress was expedited 
on these as well.   The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the CTD in Special Session. 
 
(d) Review under Paragraph 8 of the Decision on the Implementation of Para graph 6 of the Doha 
Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public  Health – Report of the Council for TRIPS 
(WT/GC/M/117) 
 In August 2003, the General Council adopt ed a Decision on the Implementation of 
Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TR IPS Agreement and Public Health (WT/L/540 and 
Corr.1).  Paragraph 8 of that Decision provides that the TRIPS Council shall review annually the 
functioning of the system set out in the Decision w ith a view to ensuring its effective operation, and 
shall annually report on its operation to the Gene ral Council.  In keeping with the August 2003 
Decision, the General Council in December 2005 adopted a Protocol Amending the TRIPS 
Agreement, which was submitted to Members for accep tance and which, in keeping with Article X:3 
of the WTO Agreement, would enter into for ce upon acceptance by two thirds of the Members 
(WT/L/641).  In December 2007, the General Council  extended the time period for acceptance of the 
Protocol to 31 December 2009 (WT/L/711).   At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council considered a report by the TRIPS 
Council on its fifth annual review  under paragraph 8 of the Gene ral Council Decision (IP/C/49 and 
Corr.1). 
  The Chairman of the TRIPS Council introduced the report.   The General Council took note of the report of the TRIPS Council. 
 
(e) Follow-up to the 1 August 2004 General Counc il Decision and the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration on the Doha Work Programme – Statement by the Director-General on the Development Assistance Aspects of Cotton (WT/GC/M/117) 
 In Paragraph 1.b of the 1 August 2004 Deci sion on the Doha Work Programme (WT/L/579), 
the General Council , inter alia , instructed the Secretariat to con tinue to work with the development 
community and to provide the Council with periodi c reports on relevant de velopments.  The Council 
also instructed the Director-General to consult w ith relevant international organizations, including the 
Bretton Woods Institutions, the Food and Agricultu re Organization and the International Trade 
Centre, to direct effectively existing programmes and any additional resources towards development 
of the economies where cotton has vital importan ce.  Ministers at Hong Kong reaffirmed the 
2004 mandate, deepening and extending it in several respects.  In inviting the Director-General to 
furnish them with a Third Periodic Report at their next Session, Ministers asked the Director-General WT/GC/117 
Page 8  
 
  to provide updates, at appropriate intervals in th e meantime, to the General Council, while keeping the 
Sub-Committee on Cotton fully informed of progress.    At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, the Director-General, reporting on the 
state-of-play of cotton development assistance since his last report in December 2007, said inter alia  
that the 5th edition of the Evolving Table showed improvements in the amount of development 
assistance committed to the cotton sector, as well as impr ovements in the actual disbursements.  There 
was a need for continued engagement on the deve lopment assistance aspects by the donor community, 
as also continued domestic cotton sector reform.  Th e Director-General noted that cotton development 
assistance was only one aspect of the cotton dossier, th e other being the trade-related aspects that were 
part of the Doha negotiations, and progr ess must continue to be made on both. 
  The representative of Burkina Faso spoke.   The General Council took note of the statements. 
 
2. China – Transitional review under Section 18.2 of the Protocol of Accession to the WTO 
Agreement (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council conducte d its seventh review of 
China's implementation of the WTO Agreement and th e provisions of the Protocol of Accession.  In 
so doing, the General Council considered a comm unication from China (WT/GC/116) which provided 
information required under Sections I and III of Annex 1A of the Prot ocol of Accession, as well as 
reports from subsidiary bodies on their resp ective reviews (G/L/875, S/C/31, IP/C/50, 
WT/BOP/R/89).   The representatives of China, Nigeria, United States, Japan and the European Communities, 
and the Chairman spoke. 
  The General Council took note of the statem ents and of the reports submitted by the 
subsidiary bodies on the conduct of their respective revi ews, and agreed that the seventh review by the 
General Council of China's implemen tation of the WTO Agreement and the provisions of its Protocol 
of Accession had been concluded. 
 
3. Non-recognition of rights under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 – 
Communications from Honduras and Guatem ala (WT/GC/M/113, 114, 115, 116, 117) 
 In December 2004, at the request of Honduras and Guatemala, the General Council 
considered the question of non-recognition of rights for the processes under Articles XXIV:6 and 
XXVIII of GATT 1994 in connection with the enlarg ement of the EC from 15 to 25 members and its 
move to a tariff-only regime on bananas from 1 January 2006.  This matter was subsequently 
considered by the General Council at each regular meeting since then without resolution, and in 
December 2007 the Council agreed to revert to it at its next meeting.   At the General Council meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the Chairman, reporting on his recent 
consultations, said that they had been frank and very useful in clarifying both the current state-of-play 
and the steps that were planned to be taken in th e coming weeks by the EC to wards a resolution to the 
concerns that had been raised.  The constructiv e and good faith nature of the discussion gave him 
hope that the parties concerned would be able to reach  a negotiated settlement in the very near future.   
 
 The representatives of Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, European Communities and 
Mexico spoke.   WT/GC/117 
 Page 9 
 
 
  The General Council took note of the statements. 
At its meeting on 7 May 2008 , the General Council again considered this matter and heard a 
report from the Chairman on his consultations in which he noted inter alia  that, while these had been 
useful, the lack of a negotiated settlement as yet wa s very clearly not satisfactory from the point of 
view of the Members that had brought this matter to the Council's attention, and that Members would 
therefore have to work a lot harder co llectively to find some way forward.  
The representatives of Honduras, Guatemala, St. Lucia (on behalf of CARICOM), Paraguay, 
Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cameroon, Argen tina and the European Communities spoke.  
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next 
meeting. 
 At its meeting on 31 July 2008 , the General Council heard a report from the Chairman on his 
consultations in which he noted inter alia  that while there had been developments in consultations 
among the parties since the May Council, there was clearly much frustration and disappointment that these had not as yet led to a resolution of the matter.  The status quo continued to be unsatisfactory from the point of view of Honduras and Guatemala, and he had encouraged the parties to continue 
consultations and to work harder towards an early resolution.   
 
The representatives of Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, European Communities, 
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, and the Chairman spoke. 
 The General Council took note of the statements a nd agreed to revert to this matter at its next 
meeting. 
 
 At its meeting on 14 October 2008
, the General Council heard a report from the Chairman on 
his consultations in which he noted inter alia  that the situation remained unresolved and clearly 
continued to be unsatisfactory from the point of vi ew of the delegations who had brought this matter 
to the Council's attention.  He had therefore again urged the parties to continue consultations with a 
view to finalizing this matter at the earliest oppor tunity – an objective that all Members shared.  
  The representatives of  Honduras, Guatemala, Cameroon, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, 
Panama, European Communities and Colombia spoke.   The General Council took note of the statements a nd agreed to revert to this matter at its next 
meeting. 
  At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, the Chairman, reporting on his 
consultations on this matter, said that there was as yet no resolution to this matter and this situation 
clearly continued to be quite unsatisfactory to th e delegations who had brought the matter to the 
Council.  He stood ready to continue to offer his goo d offices in this process as, he was certain, would 
his successor in 2009.  He emphasized however that consultations at the level of the General Council 
could not be allowed to become just a routine matter without any discernible progress over such a 
long period of time, and strongly exhorted the delega tions primarily concerned to reconsider positions 
and reinvigorate their discussions with a view to  finalizing this matter at the earliest opportunity. 
 
 The representatives of Honduras, Guatemala,  Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, 
Paraguay, Argentina, European Communities and the Dominican Republic spoke.   The General Council took note of the statements a nd agreed to revert to this matter at its next 
meeting. WT/GC/117 
Page 10  
 
   
4. Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangem ents – Statement by the Chairman of the 
Committee on Trade and Development (WT/GC/M/115, 117) 
 In December 2006, the General Council adopted a Decision on Transparency for Preferential 
Trade Arrangements (WT/L/672) inviting the Co mmittee on Trade and Development to consider 
transparency for preferential trade arrangements under paragraph 2 of the Enabling Clause – other 
than RTAs – and to report back within six months  for appropriate action by the General Council.  
Subsequently, in July and December 2007, on the b asis of reports from the Chairman of the CTD, the 
General Council agreed to extend the deadline for the CTD to consider this matter and to report back 
for appropriate action by successive si x-month periods, i.e. until July 2008. 
 
 At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008
, the Chairman of the Committee on Trade 
and Development, reporting on its cons ideration of this matter, said inter alia  that while there had 
been considerable work on the proponents' draft text , it was clear that more time and work was needed 
before the CTD could come to a decision.  The CTD had therefore agreed to request that the General 
Council allow it until December 2008 to consider the matter further and report back for appropriate 
action.   The Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the CTD, and agreed that the deadline for the CTD to consider this matter and to re port back for appropriate action be extended to 
December 2008. 
 
 At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, in the absence of the Chairman of the 
Committee on Trade and Development and on the latter's request and behalf, the previous Chair of the 
CTD reported that while important progress had been made since the July Council, a number of issues remained to be settled and further discussion was n eeded.  The CTD had therefore agreed to request 
that the General Council allow it until July 2009 to consider the matter further and report back for 
appropriate action.     The representative of Brazil spoke. 
 The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the CTD and of the 
statement, and agreed that the d eadline for the CTD to consider this matter and to report back for 
appropriate action be extended to July 2009. 
5. Committee on Budget, Finance and Admini stration – Reports and recommendations 
(WT/GC/M/114, 115, 117) 
 At its meeting on 7 May 2008
, the General Council considered a report by the Budget 
Committee on its meeting of February (WT/BFA/102). 
 
 The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.   The General Council took note of the statem ent, approved the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendation in paragraph 20 of its repor t in WT/BFA/102, and adopted the report. 
 
 At its meeting on 31 July 2008
, the General Council considered a report by the Budget 
Committee on its meeting of May 2008 (WT/BFA/103).   The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.     WT/GC/117 
 Page 11 
 
 
   The Director-General and the representative of Switzerland spoke  with regard to the draft 
Memorandum of Understanding between the WTO a nd the Swiss Confederation on the long-term 
housing needs of the WTO referred to in paragraph 18 of the Committee's report. 
  The General Council took note of the statem ents, approved the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendations in paragraphs 18,  25 and 27 of its report in WT/BFA/103 – including that the 
Director-General be authorized to sign the Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the WTO 
on the long-term housing needs of the WTO as cont ained in document WT/BFA/W/170 – and adopted 
the Committee's report in WT/BFA/103.  
 The General Council then considered a repor t by the Budget Committee on its meeting of 
July 2008 (WT/BFA/104).   The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.  
 The General Council took note of the statem ent, approved the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendation in paragraph 28 of its repor t in WT/BFA/104, and adopted the report. 
  At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council considered a report by the Budget 
Committee on its meeting of 9 October (WT/BFA/105).  
 The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.   
  The General Council took note of the stat ement, approved the Committee's specific 
recommendations in paragraph 23 of its repor t in WT/BFA/105, and adopted the report. 
 
 The General Council then considered a repor t by the Budget Committee on its meeting of 
23 October (WT/BFA/106).   The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.     The General Council took note of the statem ent and adopted the Committee's report in 
WT/BFA/106. 
  The General Council then considered a repor t by the Budget Committee on its meetings of 
November and December (WT/BFA/107).  
 The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.   
  The General Council took note of the statem ent, and approved the Committee's specific 
recommendations in paragraphs 13, 18, 21 and 22 of its report, including the draft Resolution referred 
to in paragraph 18.  The General Council then  adopted the draft Resolution on the Revised 
Expenditure of the WTO in 2009, and the Ways and Means to Meet Such Expenditure, contained in 
paragraph 18 of its report.  Th e General Council then adopted th e Committee's report in WT/BFA/107 
as a whole.  
6. Accession matters 
(a) Equatorial Guinea (WT/GC/M/113) 
 At its meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the General Council considered a communication from 
Equatorial Guinea requesting accession to th e WTO Agreement pursuant to Article XII 
(WT/ACC/GNQ/1). WT/GC/117 
Page 12  
 
   
 The Chairman proposed that the General Counc il agree to establish a Working Party with 
standard terms of reference and membership, which he read out. 
  The representatives of Côte d'Ivoire (on beha lf of the African Group), Cuba, Sri Lanka (on 
behalf of the Informal Group of Developing C ountries), Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), 
Angola, Lesotho (on behalf of the LDCs), Chin a, Brazil, Costa Rica (on behalf of GRULAC), 
Bangladesh, Mexico, United States, Viet Nam, Uruguay, Ecuador and Equatorial Guinea (as an observer) spoke.  
 The General Council agreed to establish a work ing party with the terms of reference and 
composition as read out earlier by the Chairman.   The Chairman then invited the representativ e of Equatorial Guinea to consult with the 
Accessions Division of the Secretariat as to further pr ocedures, in particular with regard to the basic 
documentation to be considered by the Working Party. 
  The Director-General spoke.   The General Council took note of the statem ents and of the expressions of welcome and 
support. 
 
(b) Kazakhstan (WT/GC/M/116) 
 In February 1996, the General Council establis hed a Working Party to examine the request by 
Kazakhstan for accession to the WTO Agreement.  
 At its meeting on 14 October 2008
, the Chairman informed the General Council that 
following informal consultations, and in keeping with  usual WTO practice, it had been agreed that 
Mr Hannu Himanen (Finland) would serve as Chairm an of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Kazakhstan, replacing Mr Vesa Himanen (Finland) who was no longer available to serve in this 
capacity.  
 The General Council took note of the statement. 
 (c) Serbia (WT/GC/M/116) 
 In February 2005, the General Council establishe d a Working Party to examine the request of 
Serbia for accession to the WTO Agreement. 
 
 At its meeting on 14 October 2008
, the Chairman informed the General Council that 
following informal consultations, and in keeping with  usual WTO practice, it had been agreed that 
Mrs Capra (Sweden) would serve as Chairperson of  the Working Party on the Accession of Serbia, 
replacing Mr Nielsen (Denmark) who was no l onger available to serve in this capacity. 
 
 The General Council took note of the statement. 
 (d) Ukraine (WT/GC/M/113) 
 In December 1993, the GATT 1947 Council established a Working Party to examine 
Ukraine's request for accession to the General Agreem ent on Tariffs and Trade.  Subsequently, in line  WT/GC/117 
 Page 13 
 
 
  with the General Council Decision of 31 January 19959, the GATT 1947 Working Party had been 
transformed into a WTO Accession Working Party.   At its meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the General Council considered the Report of the 
Working Party on the Accession of Ukraine (WT/ACC/UKR/152 and Add.1 and 2). 
 
 The Chairman of the Working Party spoke.   The General Council approved the text of the Protocol of Accession of Ukraine (WT/L/718) 
and, in accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO 
Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), ad opted the Decision on the Accession of Ukraine 
(WT/L/718).  The General Council then adopted the Report of the Working Party as a whole (WT/ACC/UKR/152 and Add.1 and Add.2).  
The Chairman, the President of Ukraine and the Director-General spoke, following which the 
representatives of the European Co mmunities, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), United States, 
Costa Rica (on behalf of GRULAC), Japan, Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the African Group), Canada, 
Singapore (on behalf of the ASEAN Members), Chin a, India, Brazil (also on behalf of the G20), 
Turkey, Indonesia (on behalf of the G33), Lesoth o (on behalf of the LDCs), Kyrgyz Republic, Sri 
Lanka (on behalf of the Informal Group of Deve loping Countries), Switzerland, Georgia, Barbados 
(on behalf of the small, vulnerable economies), Is rael, Norway, Chinese Taipei and Korea spoke.   
In keeping with a procedural suggestion made by the Chairman at the outset, the 
representatives of Argentina, Viet Nam and th e Russian Federation (as an observer) submitted 
statements for inclusion in the records of the mee ting.  The representatives of Australia (on behalf of 
the Cairns Group), Paraguay and Hong Kong, China wi shed to be placed on record as also welcoming 
and supporting the accession of Ukraine. 
The General Council took note of the statemen ts and of the expressions of welcome and 
support. 
(e) Uzbekistan (WT/GC/M/114) 
In December 1994, the Prepar atory Committee to the WTO ag reed to establish a Working 
Party to examine Uzbekistan's request  for accession to the WTO Agreement. 
 
 At its meeting on 7 May 2008
, the Chairman informed the General Council that following 
informal consultations, and in keeping with usua l WTO practice, it had been agreed that Mr Lee 
(Korea) would serve as Chairman of this Work ing Party, replacing Mr Choi (Korea) who was no 
longer available to serve in this capacity.  
 The representative of Nigeria (on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries) 
spoke.   The General Council  took note of the statements.  
                                                     
 
9 See WT/GC/M/1, Item 4(g). WT/GC/117 
Page 14  
 
  7. Waivers 
(a) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Argentina and Panama (WT/GC/M/115) 
 At its meeting on 31 July 2008
, the General Council considered draft decisions in documents 
G/C/W/595 and 596 providing for waivers from the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 until 
30 April 2009 for Argentina and Panama respectiv ely to enable them to implement the HS 1996 
changes into their Schedules of Concessions.   The Chairman of the Council for Trade in G oods reported on the consid eration of the draft 
decisions by that Council. 
 
 The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decisions (WT/L/733 – Argentina and WT/L/734 – Panama).  
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council considered a draft Decision to 
waive obligations under Article II of GATT 1994 fo r a number of Members with regard to the 
introduction of HS2002 changes into WTO schedul es of tariff concessions (G/C/W/601/Rev.1). 
 
 The Chairman of the Council for Trade in G oods reported on the consid eration of the draft 
Decision by that Council.   The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decision (WT/L/744). 
 (c) Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council considered a draft Decision to 
waive obligations under Article II of GATT 1994 fo r a number of Members with regard to the 
introduction of HS2007 changes into WTO sch edules of tariff concessions (G/C/W/602). 
  The Chairman of the Council for Trade in G oods reported on the consid eration of the draft 
Decision by that Council.  
 In the light of the report by the Chair of th e Goods Council, the Chairman proposed that the 
General Council consider the draft Decision for a doption with the addition of the Dominican Republic 
and Israel to the Annex thereto.   The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decision as amended (WT/L/745). 
  WT/GC/117 
 Page 15 
 
 
  (d) European Communities – Application of aut onomous preferential treatment to Moldova 
(WT/GC/M/114) 
 At its meeting on 7 May 2008 , the General Council considered a request from the European 
Communities (G/C/W/592) for a waiver from the provi sions of Article I:1 and Article XIII of GATT 
1994 to permit the EC to afford duty-free or preferen tial treatment to products originating in Moldova, 
and a related draft decision (G/C/W/597). 
  The Chairman of the Council for Trade in G oods reported on the consid eration of the draft 
decision by that Council.  
 The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decision (WT/L/722).  (e) Senegal – Customs Valuation Agreement 
 At its meeting on 31 July 2008
, the General Council considered a draft decision in document 
G/C/W/594 providing for a waiver for Senegal fr om the provisions on minimum values of the 
Customs Valuation Agreement until 30 June 2009.   The Chairman of the Council for Trade in G oods reported on the consid eration of the draft 
decision by that Council. 
 
 The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decision (WT/L/735).  
(f) Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX :4 of the WTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/115, 117) 
 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 Conf erence not later than one year after it is granted, 
and thereafter annually until the waiver terminates."   At its meeting on 31 July 2008
, the General Council considered the following waivers for 
review under Article IX:4: 
  (i) Preferential tariff treatment for least-developed countries (WT/L/304)  (ii) LDCs – Article 70.9 of the TRIPS Agre ement with respect to pharmaceutical products 
(WT/L/478) 
 (iii) Albania - Implementation of specific concessions (WT/L/610) 
 (iv) European Communities - Preferences fo r Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, 
Serbia and Montenegro, and the Fo rmer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
(WT/L/654, WT/L/731/Rev.1) 
 (v) United States - Former Territory of the Pacific Islands (WT/L/694, WT/L/730)  (vi) Mongolia - Export duties on raw cashmere (WT/L/695) 
 
 In so doing, the General Council considered reports on the implementation of the respective 
waivers submitted by the European Communiti es (WT/L/731/Rev.1) and the United States 
(WT/L/730).  
 The Chairman recalled, with regard to the wa iver in sub-item (ii) for LDCs under the TRIPS 
Agreement, that in connection with the approval of  this draft waiver at the meeting of the TRIPS WT/GC/117 
Page 16  
 
  Council in June 2002, the Chairman of the TRIPS C ouncil had noted that it was understood, in regard 
to the review foreseen in paragraph 2 of that waiv er, that the exceptional circumstances justifying the 
waiver would continue to exist for least-devel oped country Members until its expiry date of 
1 January 2016.  
 The representative of Lesotho (on behalf of the LDCs) spoke. 
  The General Council took note of the statements  and of the reports in documents WT/L/730 
and 731/Rev.1, and agreed to revert to the revi ew of multi-year waivers under Article IX:4 at its 
meeting in December. 
 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council considered the following waivers 
for review under Article IX:4:   (i) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds (WT/L/676); 
 (ii) Canada – CARIBCAN (WT/L/677, WT/L/741); 
 (iii) Cuba - Article XV:6 of GATT 1994 (WT/L/742)   In so doing, the General Council considered reports on the implementation of the respective 
waivers submitted by Canada (W T/L/741) and Cuba (WT/L/742). 
 
 The General Council took note of the reports contained in documents WT/L/741 and 742. 
 
8. ACP-EC Economic Partnership Ag reements  (WT/GC/M/113, 114) 
 At its meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the General Council considered a communication from 
Brazil (WT/GC/W/585) expressing concern that th e ACP-EC Economic Partnership Agreements 
might include clauses requiring the extension to the EC of any preferences, on a line-by-line basis, 
made to other parties under regional agreements or under arrangements ma de between developing 
countries, which it believed would be  contrary to the Enabling Clause and have systemic implications. 
  The representatives of Brazil, Argentina, Ec uador, India, Paraguay, Honduras, Pakistan, 
China, Panama, South Africa, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), Uruguay, European 
Communities and the Dominican Republic spoke. 
  The General Council took note of the statements.   At its meeting on 7 May 2008
, the General Council again considered this matter. 
 
 The representatives of Brazil, China, India, Ecuador, Jamaica (on behalf of the ACP Group), 
Argentina, South Africa, Paraguay, St. Lucia, Urug uay, Lesotho, Pakistan, Côte d'Ivoire, European 
Communities, Mauritius, Haiti, Cameroon and Chile spoke.    The General Council took note of the statements.  
 
9. EC – Suspension of fresh beef imports from Brazil (WT/GC/M/113) 
  At the General Council m eeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the representative of Brazil expressed 
concern at the EC's decision to temporarily susp end imports of Brazilian beef into the European 
market. 
 
 The representative of the European Communities spoke.   WT/GC/117 
 Page 17 
 
 
  The General Council took note of the statements. 
10. Statement by Sri Lanka on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries 
(WT/GC/M/115) 
 At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008 , the representative of Sri Lanka (on behalf of 
the Informal Group of Developing Countries) made a statement reiterating concerns of the Informal 
Group regarding the process of accessi on of developing countries. 
   The General Council took note of the statement.  
11. Administrative Measures for Members in Arrears (WT/GC/M/113, 114, 115, 116, 117) 
 At its meeting in May 2006, the Genera l Council approved a recommendation from the 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration w ith regard to revised Administrative Measures 
for Members in Arrears (WT/BFA/86) under which, inter alia , at each meeting of the General Council 
the Chairman of the Budget Committee would provide information with regard to which Members were under Administrative Measures in Categories II through IV, and the General Council Chairman 
would request Members in Categories III and IV to inform him before the next Council meeting as to 
when the payment of arrears might be expected a nd report on Members' replies at each subsequent 
meeting.   At the General Council m eeting on 5-6 February 2008
, in pursuance of the revised 
Administrative Measures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration 
provided information with rega rd to which Members were under Administrative Measures in 
Categories II through IV.  Also in pursuance of  the revised Administrative Measures, the Council 
Chairman requested Members in Categories III and IV  to inform him before the next meeting of the 
Council as to when their payment of arrears might be  expected.  He informed the Council that since 
its December meeting he had not received any replies from the Members concerned. 
 
 The General Council took note of the statements.   At the General Council meeting on 7 May 2008
, in pursuance of the revised Administrative 
Measures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration provided 
information with regard to which Members were  under Administrative Measures in Categories II 
through IV.  Also in pursuance of the revised  Administrative Measures, the Council Chairman 
requested Members in Categories III and IV to inform  him before the next meeting of the Council as 
to when their payment of arrears might be expected .  He informed the Council that since its February 
meeting he had not received any replies from the Members concerned.  
 The General Council took note of the statements. 
  At the General Council meeting on 31 July 2008
, in pursuance of the revised Administrative 
Measures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration provided 
information with regard to which Members were  under Administrative Measures in Categories II 
through IV.  Also in pursuance of the revised  Administrative Measures, the Council Chairman 
requested Members in Categories III and IV to inform  him before the next meeting of the Council as 
to when their payment of arrears might be expect ed.  He informed the Council that since its May 
meeting he had not received any replies from the Members concerned.   The General Council took note of the statements. 
 WT/GC/117 
Page 18  
 
   At the General Council meeting on 14 October 2008
, in pursuance of the revised 
Administrative Measures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration 
provided information with rega rd to which Members were under Administrative Measures in 
Categories II through IV.  Also in pursuance of  the revised Administrative Measures, the Council 
Chairman requested Members in Categories III and IV  to inform him before the next meeting of the 
Council as to when their payment of arrears might be  expected.  He informed the Council that since 
its July meeting he had not received any replies from the Members concerned.   The General Council took note of the statements.  
 At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, in pursuance of the revised 
Administrative Measures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration 
provided information with rega rd to which Members were under Administrative Measures in 
Categories II through IV.  Also in pursuance of  the revised Administrative Measures, the Council 
Chairman requested Members in Categories III and IV  to inform him before the next meeting of the 
Council as to when their payment of arrears might be  expected.  He informed the Council that since 
its October meeting he had not received any replies from the Members concerned. 
  The General Council took note of the statements.  
12. WTO Pension Plan 
(a) Election of Chairman, Members and Alternat es to the Management Board (WT/GC/M/114) 
 Article 4 of the Regulations of th e WTO Pension Plan (WT/L/282) provides inter alia  for the 
election by the General Council of a Chairman, f our members and four alternates to serve on the 
Management Board, each for a three-year term.  
 At the General Council meeting on 7 May 2008
, the Chairman drew attention to a proposal 
circulated by him in document WT/GC/W/588 on the basis of which he proposed that the General 
Council agree to the election of the following candi dates to serve on the Pension Plan Management 
Board for a three-year term:  Chairperson – Mr  Niggli (Switzerland);  Members – Mr Johnston 
(United Kingdom), Mr Tagliani (United States), Mr Trindade (Australia ), Ms Yan (Hong Kong, 
China);  Alternates – Mr Francke (Chile), Ms Gr ant (Canada), Mr Mignon (France), Mr Parola 
(Brazil). 
 
The General Council agreed  to the election of the above individuals to the Management 
Board of the WTO Pension Plan for a three-year term. 10 
(b) Annual Report (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008 , the General Council consid ered an Annual Report of 
the Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan for 2007 (WT/L/736).   The Chairman of the WTO Pension Plan Management Board introduced the report. 
   The General Council took note of the statem ent and of the Annual Report in WT/L/736. 
 
                                                     
 
10 WT/L/723.  WT/GC/117 
 Page 19 
 
 
  (c) Actuarial Position of the Pension Plan – Stat ement by the Chairman of the Management 
Board (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008 , the Chairman of the Pension Plan 
Management Board said that the Pension Plan was currently in an actuarial deficit and that the 
Management Board had in response drawn up a balan ced approach for its correction with the support 
of both sets of Plan stakeholders, i.e. Members and participants.  The Management Board's proposals 
had been submitted to the Budget Committee, which would revert to this matter early in 2009. 
  The General Council took note of the statement.  13. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (WT/GC/M/115) 
 At its meeting on 31 July 2008
, the General Council considered a report of the Joint Advisory 
Group of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Forty-first Session (ITC/AG(XLI)/216).  
 The Chairman recalled that, in keeping with  customary practice, this report had been 
considered initially by the Committee on Trade and Development at its meeting on 15 July.   The Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Development reported on the Committee's 
consideration of the report of the Joint Advisory Group.    
 The representative of Uruguay spoke. 
  The General Council took note of the statements  and adopted the report of the Joint Advisory 
Group in document ITC/AG(XLI)/216.   14. Appointment of the next Director-General (WT/GC/M/116) 
 At the General Council meeting on 14 October 2008
, the Chairman informed Members that 
under the Procedures for the Appointment of Di rectors-General (WT/L/509), the process for the 
appointment of the next Director-General would begin on 1 December 2008 and that in line with the 
agreed Procedures he would formally notify the opening of the process in a communication to all 
Members at that time.11  He then recalled some of the time-lines for the appointment process as set out 
in the Procedures, noting also that if the serving Director-General decided to seek reappointment, he 
should so notify the General Council Chair before the start of the process, and would thereby be 
considered to be a candidate.  In keeping with  the Procedures, the Council Chair would inform 
Members of the candidature of the incumbent Directo r-General in order that they may take this into 
consideration in submitting their nominations. 
 
 The General Council took note of the statement.  
15. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies (WT/GC/M/113, 115, 117) 
At the General Council meeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the Chairman said that in accordance 
with the Guidelines for Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510), he and his colleagues, 
Mr. Gosper (Australia), the serving Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, and Mr. Glenne (Norway), 
the former Chair of the General Council, had conduct ed consultations with delegations on a slate of 
                                                      
11 The communication from the Chair to Members was circulated on 4 November as letter reference 
8473. WT/GC/117 
Page 20  
 
  names for the appointment of Chairs to the bodies lis ted in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the 
Guidelines.   
 On the basis of these consultations, he consider ed that there was a consensus on the following 
slate of names:  
General Council Mr Bruce GOSPER (Australia) 
Dispute Settlement Body Mr Mario MATUS (Chile) Trade Policy Review Body Mr Yonov Frederick AGAH (Nigeria) Council for Trade in Goods Ms Karen TAN (Singapore) Council for Trade in Services Mr Alex VAN MEEUWEN (Belgium) 
Council for TRIPS Ms Gail Ma rie MATHURIN (Jamaica) 
Committee on Trade and  
Development Mr Shree Baboo Chekitan SERVANSING 
(Mauritius) 
Committee on Balance-of- Payments 
Restrictions Mr Arsene M. BALIHUTA (Uganda) 
Committee on Budget, Finance and  
Administration Mr Tony LYNCH (New Zealand) 
Committee on Trade and  
Environment Dr Wieslaw KARSZ (Poland) 
Committee on Regional Trade  
Agreements Mr Detlev BRAUNS (Germany) 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and  
Finance Mr Martin GLASS (Hong Kong, China) 
Working Group on Trade and  
Transfer of Technology Mr Kwabena BAAH-DUODU (Ghana) 
 
 Since the proposal to appoint Mr Matus (Chile ) as Chairman of the DSB had resulted in a 
vacancy in the chairmanship of  the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Environment – 
and in keeping with the provisions of the structure adopted by the TNC at its first meeting, namely 
that the General Council Chair should consult on the chairmanships of the individual negotiating 
bodies under the TNC – his colleagues and he had used  this opportunity also to consult delegations 
regarding this appointment.  On the basis of these consultations, ther e was a consensus on the 
appointment of Mr Teehankee (Philippines) to this  post.  With regard to the duration of this 
appointment, he proposed that in keeping with th e terms of office for appointments to the other 
negotiating groups agreed by the General Council in February 2006 , Mr Teehankee be invited to serve 
until the next Session of the Ministerial Conference.  
 The General Council took note of the statement a nd of the consensus on the slate of names for 
the appointment of officers.   The Chairman then spoke, and made a statement on the request and behalf of the Chairs of the 
Council for Trade in Goods and the Council for Trade in Services in their absence. 
  
 The General Council took note of the statements. 
  WT/GC/117 
 Page 21 
 
 
   At its meeting on 31 July 2008 , the Chairman informed the Ge neral Council, on the basis of 
consultations, that there was a consensus on the appoi ntment of Mr Francis (Trinidad and Tobago) as 
Chair of the TRIPS Council to replace Ms Mathur in (Jamaica), who would shortly be leaving her 
post.    
 He also informed the General Council that, in  keeping with the agreement reached by the 
TNC at its first meeting in January and February 2002 regarding the appointment of Chairs of the 
TNC and of the bodies established by it – that the General Council Chair should consult on the 
chairmanships of the individual negotiating bodies under the TNC – he would be starting 
consultations regarding the appointment of succe ssors to Mr. Stephenson (Canada), Chair of the 
Negotiating Group on NAMA, and Mr Ahmad (Pakistan), Chair of the Special Session of the Council 
for TRIPS, who would also shortly be leaving their posts.     The representative of Trinidad and Tobago spoke.  
 The General Council  took note of the statements. 
  At the General Council meeting on 18 December 2008
, the Chairman announced, pursuant to 
paragraph 7.1(a) of the Guidelines for Appointment  of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510), that he 
would be starting the selection process for the appoint ment of chairpersons to the bodies outlined in 
Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Annex to the Guidelin es.  In accordance with paragraph 7.1(b) of the 
Guidelines, he would be assisted in the selection process by the serving Chair of the DSB, Mr Matus 
(Chile), and by the former General Council Chai r, Mr Noor (Malaysia).  In keeping with 
paragraph 7.1(d), he and his colleagues would comm unicate, as early as possible, a specified time-
period in which they would be available to hear the views and suggestions of Members, individually 
and/or in groups.  He recalled that, in accord ance with paragraph 2.1 of the Guidelines, 
representatives of Members in financial arrears for over one full year could not be considered for 
appointment.     The General Council took note of the statement.  
16. Review of WTO activities (WT/GC/M/117) 
 At its meeting on 18 December 2008
, the General Council consider ed annual reports for 2008 
from WTO bodies that had been drawn up in pursuan ce of the Decision concerning procedures for an 
annual overview of WTO activities and for reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).   
  The Chairman of the Committee on Governme nt Procurement, the Chairman and the 
representative of Chinese Taipei spoke. 
  The General Council took note of the statements, adopted the report of the Committee on Trade and Development (WT/COMTD/69), and took note of the reports of the other WTO bodies, 
including the reports of the bodies under the Pl urilateral Trade Agreements, in documents 
WT/DSB/47 and Add.1, WT/TPR/232, G/L/876, S/C/30, IP/C/51, WT/CTE/15, WT/BOP/R/90, 
WT/BFA/108, WT/REG/19, WT/WGTDF/7, WT/WGTTT/10, GPA/95 and WT/L/743. 
  The General Council then adopted the draft annual report for 2008 of the General Council 
(WT/GC/W/595), on the understanding that the Secret ariat would make the necessary adjustments to 
it so as to include matters considered at that meeting. 
 WT/GC/117 
Page 22  
 
  17. Election of Chairperson (WT/GC/M/113) 
 At the General Council m eeting on 5-6 February 2008
, the Chairman, as the outgoing 
presiding officer of the General Council, made a brief statement.   The General Council then unanimously elected Mr Bruce Gosper (Australia) to the Chair. 
 
 The representatives of Côte d'Ivoire (on behalf of the African Group), Costa Rica (on behalf of GRULAC), Sri Lanka (on behalf of the Info rmal Group of Developing Countries), United States 
Japan, Singapore (on behalf of the ASEAN Member s), China, European Communities, Jamaica (on 
behalf of the ACP Group) and Chinese Taipei, an d the Director-General and the newly-elected 
Chairman spoke. 
 
The General Council took note of the statements. 
 
__________