. /.  
  
 
    
         
16 November 2007  
 
 
  
Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,  
  An updated version of the Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistance , that 
was circulated in June 2007, has been prepar ed with the assistance of the donor and 
beneficiary communities alike, and is attached to this note.
1  The Evolving Table, as you 
know, is the WTO's basic wo rking instrument for implementing the mandate on the 
development assistance aspects of cotton, and ensuring its transparent execution. It is the 
Membership's common tool for tracking, monito ring, and clarifying the assistance provided 
to the cotton sector.  However, as its name indicates, the Table continues to "evolve" and 
must therefore be looked at as work in progress.   It is in that spir it that I would draw the 
attention of the Membership not only to the positive developments in this updated version, 
but also to the areas in need of further improvement.    First, the total number of activities has ind eed risen.  In Part I of the table, on cotton-
specific development assistance, the number of  commitments has risen from 82 to 93.  In 
Part II, on the assistance provided within the broader framework of agriculture and 
infrastructure-related projects, commitments ha ve risen from 60 to 64. While these increases 
are modest, they nevertheless constitute progress.     Second, levels of disbursements for these various activities have  also risen and, in 
some instances, appear to have done so substan tially.  In this new version of the Evolving 
Table,  disbursements under Part I now sta nd at US$ 38 million, and under Part II at 
US$ 65 million.     However, the operational implementa tion and completion rates of projects need to 
rise further, and improvement in this sphere is re quired.  Project completion rates have either 
been at a standstill, or have only slightly rise n, in relation to the previous version of the 
Evolving Table.  They fall in the range of 30% to 45% for Parts I and II of the Table, 
respectively.   
  
   
WTO Members / Ambassadors / Permanent Representatives 
                                                      
1 The previous version of the Evolving Table is contained in document WT/L/684.  The new version 
which is attached to this note is contained in document WT/L/702. - 2 - 
  
 
   
 
As agreed by all participants at the High Level Session on Cotton  held in March this 
year, Part III of the Evolving Table reflects "Available" resources that are not specifically 
allocated to the cotton sector.  They have been  registered only to indicate the resources which 
are accessible and which could be  allocated to the cotton sector , should beneficiary countries 
designate their cotton sectors as a national developmental priority.  
   In light of the above, I would urge all Me mbers, donors and recipients alike, as well 
as international and regional institutions involve d in cotton sector development assistance, to 
use the 9
th Round of Consultations on 22 November to  review very carefully the attached 
document.  The need for accuracy in this exerci se is paramount if th e Evolving Table is to 
continue to act as a successful guide to the allocation of resources.   I would also urge 
continued interaction between donors and beneficiaries to enhance the overall effectiveness 
of all developmental acti vities under this mandate . 
 
 Finally, I would like to take this oppor tunity to thank Ambassador Samuel Amehou, 
who will be leaving us soon, for his personal engagement on this issue as well as on the 
broader agenda of Least Devel oped Countries in the WTO.  
 
    Yours sincerely, 
    
    P a s c a l  L a m y