WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CFMC/15* 
26 May 2008   
 (08-2423)  
  
  
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASPECTS OF THE 
COTTON-RELATED DECISIONS IN  THE 2004 JULY PACKAGE AND 
PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE HONG KONG MINISTERIAL 
DECLARATION 
 
Item 2C:  Coherence Between Trade and Development Aspects:
 
Update on the Development Aspects of Cotton  
 
Secretariat Progress Report 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This is the Fifth Progress Report to the Sub-Committee on Cotton (SCC) on the development 
assistance aspects of cotton, pursuant to paragra ph 12 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.
1  
Since the last report to the SCC, there have been four specific developments.  First, the Director-
General addressed a letter to WTO Members, under c over of which he circulated the fourth updated 
version of the "Evolving Table on Cotton De velopment Assistance" (WT/L/702), dated 
19 November 2007.  Second, the Secretariat or ganized a Seminar on South-South Cooperation for 
Cotton Sector Development, on 22 November 2007.  Third, the 9th Round of the Director-General's 
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, took place on 22 November 2007.  Finally, the 
Director-General appointed Deputy Director-General  Harsha Vardhana Singh, to succeed Mr. Stuart 
Harbinson, in the task of  assisting him as Chairman pro tem  at regular sessions of the "Director-
General's Consultative Framewor k Mechanism on Cotton".     
II. UPDATED VERSION OF EVOLVING TABLE ON COTTON DEVELOPMENT 
ASSISTANCE 
2. The Director-General addressed a letter to all WTO Members under cover of which was 
circulated the fourth updated version of the Evol ving Table on Cotton Development Assistance.  As 
indicated in the letter by the Director-General, th e total number of commitments for the development 
of the cotton sector has risen.  In Part I of the Table (cotton-specific development assistance), the 
number of commitments rose from 82 to 93.  In Part II (assistance provided within the broader 
                                                      
* This document has previously been issued under the symbol TN/AG/SCC/W/9. 
1 "We invite the Director-General to  furnish a third Periodic Report to our next Session, with updates at 
appropriate intervals in the meantime, to the General Council, while keeping the Sub-Committee on Cotton fully 
informed of progress".  (WT/MIN(05)/DEC):  paragraph 12. This document has been prepa red under the Secretariat's own 
responsibility and without prejudice to the positions of Members 
and to their rights and obligations under the WTO. WT/CFMC/15 
Page 2  
 
  framework of agriculture and infrastructure-re lated projects and benefiting the cotton sector), 
commitments increased from 60 to 64. 
3. Numbers in the Table indicate that levels of disbursements for various activities have risen.  
In the current updated fourth vers ion, disbursements under Part I st and at US$38 million (compared to 
US$7.7 million in the third version in June 2007) , and at US$65 million under Part II (compared to 
US$17.5 million in the third version in June 2007).   
4. In his letter, the Director-General stressed that operational implementation and project 
completion rates needed to rise further and that improvements in these areas were required.  The figures show that project completion rates have either  been at a standstill, or have only risen slightly 
in relation to the previous June version of the Evol ving Table.  In the current fourth version, project 
completion rates fall in the range of 30 per cent to 45 per cent in Parts I and II of the Table, 
respectively.   
5. Part III of the Table reflects "Available" res ources, not allocated to the cotton sector, but 
accessible to eligible cotton proponents.  These accessible resources could be allocated to cotton, 
should beneficiary countries identify their cotton sector s as priority either in their strategies for 
poverty reduction, or national development plans.   
6. The Director-General drew the attention of Me mbers to the newly created Part IV.  This 
section contains the coordinates for National Cotton S ector Focal Points in the proponent countries.  
The purpose of Part IV is to provide another platfo rm to encourage direct and sustained engagement 
between providers and recipients of cotton development assistance in  operational implementation of 
commitments on the Table.   
7. The Director-General invited all Members, donors and recipients alike, to keep the Table and 
its contents under careful scrutiny.  The Table serve s to ensure accuracy, functions as a monitoring 
and tracking instrument, and acts as a successful guide  to the allocation of resources in the continued 
implementation of the mandate on cotton development assistance.   
III. SEMINAR ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION FOR COTTON SECTOR 
DEVELOPMENT  
8. The Secretariat organized a Seminar on S outh-South Cooperation for Cotton Sector 
Development on 22 November 2007.  (The Seminar Programme is attached as Annex I).  The 
Seminar was productive with results.   
9. This first-ever South-South Seminar on Cott on was based on the initiative by Brazil, China 
and India, as a means to give further effect to the relevant mandate in paragr aph 12 of the Hong Kong 
Ministerial Declaration.  Key presentations at the Seminar were made by Brazil, China, Egypt and 
India, and the International Trade Centre (ITC).  The presentations by Brazil, China and India built on 
earlier contributions, in this regard, at the High Level Session on Cotton in March 2007.  UNIDO 
made a presentation that updated its project commitments already underway.   
10. The presentations by Brazil, China, Egypt, India and the ITC indicated the range of 
opportunities available in South-South Cooperati on for Cotton Sector Development.  These 
essentially included, but were not limited to:  
• Research, development and technology adapted to local conditions.   
 
• Modernization of ginning technology.   
  WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 3 
 
 
  • Training and capacity building.   
 
• Capacity-building for institutional mediation support.  
 
• Market knowledge and Trade Advisory Services, knowledge transfer and best practices.    
 
• Development of a wide range of hybrid , high-yield cotton seed varieties.    
 
• Leveraging investments into the cotton sector for value addition and diversification to 
downstream products:  textiles and clothing;  cotton seed oil;  protein extraction.   
 
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrat ed Pest Management (IPM) for improved 
productivity and yield.   
 
• Information Technology (IT) in agriculture for e-governance of agricultural systems.   
 
• Increased cotton market access for accelerat ed development assistance for Africa.   
 
• Banking and agricultural sector reforms and reform of professional cotton sector associations 
for improving productivity.   
 
• Organic cotton production.   
 
• Establishment of Cotton Stock Exchanges.   
 
11. Statements were made by Benin, Burkina Faso, Lesotho (on behalf of the Least Developed 
Countries), Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania , Uganda, and Zambia,.  They actively engaged in 
an exchange of views with Brazil, China, Egypt,  India and the ITC.  Cotton proponents expressed a 
strong wish for the reinforcement of South-Sout h Cooperation in the cotton sector.  Cotton proponents 
were strongly encouraged to identify their precise priority areas of need for the rapid advance and 
implementation of the South-South Framework.  
12. The presentations and exchange of views r esulted in an "Emergent Framework" for 
South-South Cooperation in the Cotton Sector:   
• Brazil undertook to prepare a "General Fr amework Concept Paper for South-South 
Cooperation in the Cotton Sector".   
 
• Support was given to the suggestion that the Secr etariat, in consultation with participants, 
prepares an "Emergent Framework Table on South-South Cooperation for Cotton Sector 
Development".     
 
IV. DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK MECHANISM ON 
COTTON 
13. The 9th Round of the Director-General's Consu ltative Framework Mechanism on Cotton took 
place on 22 November 2007.2  (The agenda for the consultati ons is attached as Annex II).  The 
consultations focused on three broad areas:  follo w-up to several specific items arising from the HLS 
                                                      
2 DDG Harsha Vardhana Singh chaired the 9th Round of Consultations on behalf of the Director-
General. WT/CFMC/15 
Page 4  
 
  on Cotton;  exchange rate movements and cotton trad e;  and, lessons and best practices from private 
sector contributions to cott on development assistance.   
A. TRADE
 POLICY  ASPECTS 
14. In accordance with the coherence mandate on the trade policy and development assistance 
aspects of cotton, Ambassador Crawford Falcone r, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture 
Special Session / Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Cotton, briefed participants on the trade policy 
aspects of cotton.  Reasonable progress was being made in the agriculture negotiations; progress of 
the type that had not been seen in the past two years.  Engagement was energetic.  The Room E 
process would re-engage in the week of 26 No vember for another two-week cycle (ending 
7 December).  In this cycle, cotton would again be addressed.  An effort would be made to circulate a 
revised draft by the end of January 2008.  On the substance, two Members had material reservations 
on cotton.  One Member had a methodological reserva tion on the current Blue Box draft in relation to 
cotton; and, the other Member had reservations in respect of the section on domestic support for 
cotton.  However, the situation was clear:  Memb ers were obliged to adhere to the Hong Kong 
mandate on cotton, and an agreement on agricult ure modalities would not be possible without an 
agreement on cotton.   
15. A statement was made by Brazil on behalf of the G20.  Brazil stated that C4 cotton proposals 
and the G20 position were aligned.  Resolving the cotton problem must involve ambitious reductions 
in trade distorting domestic support, with effec tive product-specific disciplines on the AMS and Blue 
Box for cotton.  South-South Development Cooperati on for Cotton was vital, but was not a substitute 
for real reform of trade distortions.  Benin made a statement on behalf of the C4.  The statement fully 
associated with that of the G20.  Benin recalled the C4 June 2006 proposals and requested the US and 
the EC to submit their proposals in writing.   
16. Statements were made by the EC and the US.  In response to the delegation of Benin, the EC 
indicated that it would shortly respond to C4 propo sals.  It recalled the important steps taken by the 
EC to reform the cotton sector from January 2006, such as the abolition of the Amber Box.  The US 
stated that it would only respond after general commitments for agriculture as a whole were clear.  
The US delegation reiterated its full commitment to  the successful conclusion of the Doha Round and 
its commitment to upholding the Hong Kong Minister ial mandate on cotton.  The US expressed the 
hope that technical work over the next few weeks would enable Members to agree to general commitments in agriculture as a whole.  Statemen ts were made by Argentina, China, India and 
Nigeria in line with the G20 statement.  Cuba ma de a statement stressing the necessity for the urgent 
treatment of the trade policy aspects of cotton.   
B. DEVELOPMENT
 ASSISTANCE  ASPECTS 
17. Five specific items for follow-up from the March 2007 HLS on Cotton were considered.   
i) Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistance  
18. The Secretariat introduced the current updated fourth version of the Evolving Table on Cotton 
Development Assistance (WT/L/702).    
19. Statements were made by several recipients of cotton development assistance namely, Benin, 
Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.  Overall, they commended the Director-General 
for his efforts and commitment.  They considered that the Table made an important contribution and 
continued to head in the right direction.  Questions  were raised and clarifications sought on several 
specific entries.  Nigeria stressed urgency of implementation and the importance of widening 
development assistance for cotton to include all 36 A frican producers and traders of cotton.  Burkina  WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Faso requested the World Bank to distinguish clear ly between grants and concessional loans in its 
commitments reflected in Parts I and II of the Table.  Kenya recalled that the United States had noted that, under the West African Cotton Improvement  Programme (WACIP), they had assisted the 
establishment of National Advisory Committees in the C4.  Kenya requested the US to do so in all 
36 African countries.   
20. Statements were made by the EU, France, the US and the World Bank.  They intervened to 
update their commitments.  In addition, the US seized the opportunity to welcome the earlier decision in the Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cott on to establish a Table to track the "Emergent 
Framework on South-South Cooperation for Cotton Sect or Development".  The World Bank clarified 
its commitments, distinguishing between concessional loans and grants.   
ii) Fonds de Lissage /Smoothing Mechanism
 
21. A presentation on the Fonds de Lissage  (smoothing mechanism) was  made by a 
representative of Burkina Faso.  The representative identified the latest developments in the ongoing 
pilot project to implement the fonds de lissage  in Burkina Faso.  Participan ts were informed that the 
mechanism was initiated by the In ter-Professional Cotton Association of Burkina Faso (AICB) and 
developed by Mr. Louis Goreux.  
22. The representative explained the context in wh ich Burkina Faso introduced the smoothing 
mechanism.  The mechanism had been established to respond to strong demands from producers.  It 
was a response to the after-effects of the liberali zation of the cotton sector and the cessation of the 
classical stabilization and support mechanisms under the old system.  The smoothing fund mechanism was being developed to assist the adaptation by produ cers and other stakeholders, to market changes.  
It was designed to respond to the challenge of price fluctuations and spread the effects (both 
beneficial and adverse) across all stakeholders (producers and cotton companies).   
23. The smoothing fund project was part of "an ove rall risk management plan" of which there 
were three main parts:  (i) controllable/managed risk  in response to fluctuating prices;  (ii) a regional 
facility component;  and, (iii) insurable risk.  Th e overall objective was to protect against short-term 
price volatility and the risk of mark et failure as in 2004 and 2005.   
24. The broad design of the smoothing fund was explained.  The fund worked on the basis of 
external market references to which all player s had access in a fully transparent process.  The 
smoothing fund sought to overcome so me of the flaws of the old stabilization and support funds.  The 
flaws of the past were to be overcome through:  (i ) price transparency for all stakeholders in the 
sector;  and, (ii) anchoring the smoothing fund to an  institution, which would be the custodian of the 
mechanism.  There was assurance th at the State (government) would no t be involved in the operations 
of the institution.   
25. The representative of Burkina Faso explained th e detailed workings of the smoothing fund.  
The mechanism functioned on the basis of medium-term price trends.  An average price was calculated based on a five-year moving average.  On  the basis of the trend, average purchase prices 
were calculated with a ceiling  which is 1 per cent ab ove trend prices, and a floor , which is 5 per cent 
below the trend.  This approach to floor price ma de it possible to pay prices that were not necessarily 
the trend price, but which could be corrected in a crisis.  Caution was exercised so as not to pay purchase prices to producers that were higher than th e market price.  The existing trend was in the 
range of about CFA 575 to CFA 606 per kg.  The cu rrent model design required the specification of 
how much producers, cotton companies and others w ould receive.  On current terms, producers would 
receive 60 per cent of market price, with 40 per cent for the cotton companies and other stakeholders 
obtaining a fair share.  The floor price for th e producers had been set at between CFA 136 and 
CFA 145 per kilo.  The price has been approved by a ll the stakeholders for the current crop year.  It WT/CFMC/15 
Page 6  
 
  was essential not to set prices that would be too low (as this would be a disincentive) and would entail 
a fall in production.   
26. The presentation reviewed the results of simula tions for funding, based on different purchase 
price scenarios.  In terms of funding, the represen tative of Burkina Faso s uggested that there were 
expectations of a grant of about CFA 2 billion for the smoothing fund.  In the current outlook, he 
noted that France had indicated that there were loan  and grant possibilities.  In this regard, there was 
also an understanding between the national cotton producers and the Agence Française de 
Développement  (AfD) which would contribute to the smoothing fund.  Hopefully, these resources 
would be fully available in 2008 for the operation of the smoothing fund.   
27. A joint World Bank/AfD mission would shortly visit Burkina Faso to discuss the smoothing 
fund.  The World Bank had suggested a review that  would involve floor and ceiling prices.  Resources 
were also expected from the World Bank for the mana gement of market risk.  Burkina Faso expected 
other funding flows.  The support of development pa rtners was indispensable for the replenishment of 
the smoothing fund.  There would be a regional f acility component which, when established, would 
complement the national facility.  Transparency was ke y.  All the elements were not entirely clear at 
this moment, but it was work in progress and Burkina Faso would continue to exchange its experience 
with other African countries.   
28. The delegation of Benin recalled that Burkina Faso and Senegal had been identified as pilot 
cases for the smoothing fund.  Benin considered that the smoothing fund was a useful mechanism.  If 
all the conditions existed, it should assist the African  cotton sector to survive.  Benin was hopeful that 
development partners could assist Burkina Faso so th at its model could be emulated by other African 
countries.  This could prevent the disappearance of the African cotton sector.  Benin expressed the 
hope that it could take advantage of Burkina Faso's experience.   
29. The Chairman concluded the item by noting the presentation by the representative of Burkina 
Faso and the comments by Benin.  The Chairman noted, in particular, that the ongoing smoothing fund operation in Burkina Faso was an autonomous na tional initiative, which could be considered by 
the development community for funding.   
iii) South-South Cooperation
 
30. The Secretariat reported on the results of the Seminar on South-South Cooperation for Cotton 
Sector Development.3  
iv) Cotton Proponents Domestic Co tton Sector and Other Reforms  
31. The Chairman recalled the importance of the item on domestic cotton sector and other 
reforms at successive rounds of consultations.  Be nin and Burkina Faso ha d provided comprehensive 
reports on their domestic cotton sector reforms.  Côte d'Ivoire and Mali had referred and drawn 
attention to several aspects of their domestic co tton sector reform process.  Chad had made a 
preliminary oral presentation.  The Chairman noted  that the item permitted constructive engagement 
between providers and recipients.  There had been a three way focus under the item:  information by 
cotton proponents on conti nuing domestic cotton sector and other reforms;  cotton projects submitted 
for funding;  and, active coordination mechanisms  amongst proponents to enable a more efficient 
resource use.  Furthermore, at the 8th Round of Consultations, the delegation of the United States 
suggested an improved presentational format for greater  rigour and clarity so as to better track reports 
provided by recipients on their domestic cotton sector reforms.  The Secretariat had been involved in 
                                                      
3 See paragraphs 8 to 12 of this Secretariat Progress Report.    WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 7 
 
 
  preliminary, exploratory consultations on such a presentational format that should be helpful in 
further advancing work on such a format.   
32. Under the item, statements were made by the de legations of the United States and Mali.  The 
US delegation stated that a formalized approach  to reporting would be useful.  A strong domestic 
reform outcome would be a useful complement to  the outcomes from the DDA and enhance the use of 
development assistance.  The Secretariat was requested  to continue with the discussions it had already 
initiated with providers and recipients alike, towa rds the design of a tabular-type format for reporting 
by the cotton proponents.   
33. The delegation of Mali made a statement.  It cl arified the situation of the reforms undertaken 
by Mali.  Since the March 2007 High Level Session on Cotton, the delegation of Mali had 
communicated documents concerning reforms in th e cotton sector.  These documents had now been 
updated.  Mali was committed to these domestic cotton sector reforms.  Trade was important and needed to be complemented by domestic measures.   
34. To conclude the item, at the suggestion by the Chairman, participants:   
• noted that the Secretariat would continue with c onsultations in order to prepare an appropriate 
Tabular format for reporting and tracking dom estic cotton sector reforms in the cotton 
proponent countries;   
 
• noted that the Secretariat would endeavour to ci rculate this Tabular format in advance of the 
next round of consultations;  and   
 
• reiterated the importance of continued domest ic cotton sector and related reforms.   
 
35. Furthermore, under this item, participants not ed the number of National Cotton Sector Focal 
Points, already notified by cotton proponents in Part  IV of the Table.  Burkina Faso and Mali (who 
have already notified cotton sector focal points) in formed participants that they would submit 
additional National Cotton Sector Focal Points.  Pa rticipants noted the information provided.   
36. Participants also noted the feedback by the cotton proponents, via the Secretariat, that 
although the development community had requested  the establishment of designated focal points, 
these had not been contacted by any development community representatives.   
v) Exchange Rate Movements and Cotton Trade
   
37. The Chairman noted that concerns had been expressed recently about the revenue effects of 
the declining dollar on cotton trade, particularly in respect of the effects on exporters from Least 
Developed Countries in Africa.    
38. The Executive Director of the Internationa l Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) made a 
chart-based presentation on "Exchange Ra te Movements and Cotton Trade".   
39. The presentation began with a brief review of th e long-run evolution of average cotton prices 
(from 1975/76 to the current season).  Currently, average cotton price stood at about US¢69 per pound.  Over the long run, between 1975 and the mid 1990s, the Cotlook A-Index indicated average cotton price at about US¢74 per pound.   During the most recent season, the average stood at about 
US¢55 per pound.  However, during the last season (August 2006 to July 2007), the average had 
climbed to US¢59 per pound.  For the current season, cotton price had been forecast at US¢69 per pound  because consumption continued to exceed production.  As a consequence, prices were rising.   WT/CFMC/15 
Page 8  
 
  40. On exchange rates, the currency of Francophone  Africa (the CFA) continued to strengthen.  
This had been the pattern since the early 1980s in light of the CFA peg to the euro, which had 
significantly appreciated in relation to the dollar.     
41. The calculation of the rate between the Euro (€ ) and the US dollar ($),  and conversion to the 
CFA (as of 21 November 2007), indicated that US$1 would exchange for (purchase) CFA 443.   
42. In relation to cotton trade, at the beginning of the 1980s, 1 kg of cotton lint, delivered to East 
Asia, sold for approximately CFA 500.  The further evolution of prices in the 1980s showed that 1 kg 
of cotton lint was delivered at about CFA 400.  W ith CFA devaluation at the beginning of 1994 and 
with stronger prices in US dollars, 1 kg of cotton lint delivered to East Asia increased to about 
CFA 1,200.  Since the mid 1990s, this has been trending downwards.  During the 2006/07 season, 
ending last July, the average price of cotton lint de livered to East Asia was CFA 648 per kilogramme.  
At the exchange rate of 21 November, if the av erage price this season remained at about US¢69 per 
pound (which translated into CFA 674 per kg of lint), this would be an increase of about 4 per cent.  
However, even though the price in US dollars had risen by 18 per cent approximately, the price in CFA had risen by only 4 per cent.   
43. The International Cotton Advisory Committee ga ve two further examples with Egypt and 
Tanzania.  Egypt is a large cotton trader (exporter and importer) of cotton.  In the early 1980s, the 
price of cotton was about Egyptian LE 1 per kg of lint de livered to East Asia.   Last season, the price 
stood at Egyptian LE 7 per kg of cotton lint.  This season, the price had risen to Egyptian LE 8 per kg of cotton lint delivered to East Asia.   
44. Finally, there was the example from Tanzania, which is also a large exporter.  Prices in 
Tanzanian shillings per kg of cotton have trended up  sharply from last season,  when it was Tanzanian 
shillings 615 per kg of cotton lint delivered to East Asia.  This season, based on forecasts in exchange 
rates, the price is forecast at Tanzanian shillings 1, 700 per kg of cotton lint delivered to East Asia.   
45. Participants took note of the presentation.   
C. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION:  LESSONS AND BEST PRACTICES  
46. Presentations on lessons and best practices were made by the invited private sector.  It was 
noted that approximately 500 companies were active in  international cotton trade.  The presentations 
made evident the opportunities for governments in  working with the private sector, in critical 
partnerships, to achieve key policy objectives of improving performance, increasing productivity and 
enhancing quality.  The presentations suggested that  there were valuable lessons from the private 
sector companies involved in the cotton sector in Africa.  Mutual benefits could accrue through 
government/private sector partnerships.  Se veral of the key areas indicated include:  
• investment attraction:  
 
- well staffed and informed investment centres, 
 
- creation of concession areas, 
 
- cotton production targets, 
 
- contract enforcement, 
 
- property ownership rules; 
  WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 9 
 
 
  • value-addition for diversification to the dow nstream textiles and clothing industry;   
 
• sourcing of inputs;   
 
• research and development;   
 
• quality improvement;   
 
• creation of concession areas and targets for cotton production;   
 
• capacity building and training programmes; and   
 
• modernized ginning technology and the creative use of ginners as a conduit for channelling 
assistance to rural households.   
 47. The Consultative Framework Mechanism will furt her reflect on how best to draw on the 
strengths of the private sector.   
V. ANY OTHER BUSINESS  
48. The Chairman underlined that the subsequent  rounds of consultations would focus on 
implementation.   
49. Participants would be consulted on the dates of the next rounds of consultations in 2008.   WT/CFMC/15 
Page 10  
 
  ANNEX I
 
 
 
  
 
    
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
SEMINAR ON SOUTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION 
FOR COTTON SECTOR DEVELOPMENT 
 
22 NOVEMBER 2007 (9.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.) 
 
PROGRAMME   
 
 
I. SEMINAR OBJECTIVES  
- Provide a forum for diagnostic presentations by Least-developed Countries of cotton 
sector priorities in a South-South cooperation framework. 
- Provide a forum for presentations by developing countries to elaborate their 
framework of development assistance for cotton sector support in LDCs/cotton proponents.    
- Provide a forum for identification of best practices and lessons in the entire cotton 
value chain amongst developing countries,  including from developing countries' 
private sector. 
• In accordance with the Hong Kong Ministerial mandate and beneficiary Members priorities, 
this South-South seminar will engage policy makers and  the private sector from developing 
countries to inject, inter alia , a business orientation , including technology transfer, into cotton 
development assistance provided to other de veloping countries, particularly the Least-
developed Country producers and traders of cotton.  Presentations will address issues in 
relation to business orientations, increasing e fficiency, enhancing productivity, technology 
transfer and use, and value addition.   
 
• Presentations will be made by developing countries' institutions, including the private sector 
that have established successful business models  in the cotton sector and transformation into 
downstream products.   
 
• Participants will explore possible steps to take  the process forward, based on the discussions.  
The Seminar will be open to all participants  in the Director-General's Consultative 
Framework Mechanism on Cotton and to all WTO Members.  WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 11 
 
 
   
II. DEVELOPING COUNTRY EXPERIENCE AND MODELS  
09.00 – 09.20  Presentation by BRAZIL 
 
09.20 – 09.35  - Exchange of Views  
09.35 – 09.55  Presentation by INDIA 
 
09.55 – 10.10  - Exchange of Views  
10.10 – 10.30  Presentation by CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP. OF) 
 
10.30 – 10.45  - Exchange of Views  
10.45 – 11.05  Presentation by EGYPT  
 
11.05 – 11.20  - Exchange of Views  
11.20 – 11.40  Presentation by the INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) 
 
11.40 – 11.55  - Exchange of Views  
11.55 – 12.15    Coffee break 
III. LDCs/COTTON PROPONENTS – SOUTH-SOUTH PRIORITIES 
 
 12.15 – 12.35  Presentations 
 
 12.35 – 12.50  - Exchange of Views  
IV. CONCLUSION  
 WT/CFMC/15 
Page 12  
 
  ANNEX II
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
9
TH ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS ON COTTON DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
 
22 NOVEMBER 2007 (2.30 p.m.) 
 
PROVISIONAL AGENDA  
  1. Introductory Remarks – Chairman    
2. 2007 High Level Session on Cotton:  Follow-Up:   
(a) Trade Policy Aspects:   
- Briefing by Chairman CoA Special Session/Chairman SCC  
- Exchange of Views  
(b) Evolving Table – Updated Table  
- Secretariat Remarks  
- Exchange of Views   
(c) Evolving Table:  Operational Impl ementation/Disbursements of Notified 
Commitments:  
- Bilateral Development Community – Status Report   
- Multilateral Development Community - Status Report  
(d) Fonds de Lissage /Smoothing Mechanism:  
- Updates and exchange of views   
(e) South-South Cotton Co-operation:  
- Secretariat Report on Seminar on South-South Cooperation   WT/CFMC/15 
 Page 13 
 
 
  (f) Domestic Cotton Sector and Other Reforms/National Cotton Focal Points:   
- Update by Cotton Proponents   
- Exchange of Views   
(g) Exchange Rate Movements and Cotton Trade 
3. Private Sector Participation: Lessons and Best Practices  
4. Any Other Business  
__________