RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/M/64 
2 August 2007 
 
 (07-3294) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Sixty-Fourth Session  
 
  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 10 JULY 2007  
 
Chairman:  H.E. Mr. Shree B. C. Servansing (Mauritius)  
  
 
A.
 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA .........................................................................................................2  
B. OBSERVERS ............................................................................................................................... ...2 
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers ...............................................................................2  
(ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab 
States, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf 
Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the Common Fund for Co mmodities, the Organization of Arab 
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de 
Développement.................................................................................................................. ..........3
 
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE .........................................................................3  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ON THE AGREEMENT ON 
TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREE MENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC 
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN ) 
AND THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.2) ................................................3  
- COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES ON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA , THE PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA , AND THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK 
AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND 
THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.3 AND WT /COMTD /51/ ADD.5) .............3  
- COMMUNICATION FROM JAPAN ON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK 
AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE
'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.4) ........................................................3  
- COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD //57/ ADD.1) ...................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.2) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT//COMTD /57/ ADD.3) ...................4  WT/COMTD/M/64 
Page 2  
 
  -
 COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.4) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS  
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.5)................................................................................................................4  
D. DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO 
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES ........................5  
- STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN ..................................................................................................5  
E. DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672) ...........6  
F. PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING 
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO HELP ACHIEVE THE 
OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATELY REFLECTED 
(WT/COMTD /W/143/ REV.3)..........................................................................................................6  
G. REVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS 
TO LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES .............................................................................................7  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CANADA (WT/COMTD /W/159) ..............................................................7  
H. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING ..................................................................................9  
- PREPARATIONS FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN FOR 2008:   
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARIAT ..............................................................................................9  
I. OTHER BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................10  
 
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairman  said that the draft agenda for the 64th Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD) was contained in document WTO/ AIR/3035 issued on 15 June 2007.  He said 
that he wished to raise a matter under "Other Busi ness" concerning the CTD's mandate to keep under 
continuous review the participati on of developing country Members in  the multilateral trading system. 
2. The agenda was adopted  as amended. 
B. OBSERVERS  
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers 
3. The Chairman  recalled that at previous sessions of  the CTD, Members agreed to invite a 
number of intergovernmental organizations on an ad hoc, meeting-by-meeting basis.  These included 
the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), th e Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the 
Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the African Union (AU), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the South Centre, the Pacific Islands Forum, the United Nations Environment Progra mme (UNEP), the West African Economic and 
Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  He said that, 
following the decision taken at the previous meeti ng of the Committee, the organizations had been 
invited to the present meeting.  He proposed that the organizations be invited to the next formal 
meeting of the CTD.  WT/COMTD/M/64 
 Page 3 
 
 
  4. It was so agreed . 
(ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab States, the 
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for 
Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the Common 
Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) 
and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement 
5. The Chairman  said that at previous meetings, the Committee had had before it a number of 
requests for observer status.  He said that if there was no change in positions to extend observer status 
to any of those applicants, then the Committee would take note and would revert to those requests at 
the next meeting.   
6. It was so agreed . 
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ON THE AGREEMENT ON 
TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC 
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN ) 
AND THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.2) 
- COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES ON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA , THE PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA , AND THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK 
AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE
'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.3 AND WT /COMTD /51/ ADD.5) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM JAPAN ON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON 
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE 'S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN GOODS OF THE FRAMEWORK 
AGREEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND 
THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (WT/COMTD /51/ ADD.4) 
7. The Chairman  recalled that communications from the European Communities (EC), the 
United States (US) and Japan raising questions on the notifications made by ASEAN and China were 
circulated in 2006 as documents WT/COMTD/51/Add.2, Add.3 and Add.4, respectively.  His 
predecessor in the Chair had informed the Committee at its 58th Session on 6 July 2006 that the 
responses from ASEAN and China had been submitted bilaterally to each of the three Members that 
had raised questions.  A number of delegations had then indicated their wish to see all the responses, 
and were of the view that the responses should be circulated as a CTD document.  He also recalled 
that a new communication from the US, contained in document WT/COMTD/51/Add.5, had been on 
the CTD's agenda since the last meeting.  It had been agreed at the last meeting that he would consult 
informally with the concerned delegations , and would report back to the CTD. 
8. He was now pleased to report a significant po sitive outcome to his informal consultations.  
The responses by ASEAN and China to the questio ns raised by the EC, the US and Japan in 
documents WT/COMTD/51/Add.2, Add.3 and Add.4, re spectively would shortly be circulated to the 
membership as a CTD document.  As for th e points raised by the US in document 
WT/COMTD/51/Add.5, he said that they were re ceiving due attention by ASEAN and China, and WT/COMTD/M/64 
Page 4  
 
  responses would be provided to the membership in a transparent manner.  In view of these 
developments, he believed that the item could be taken off the CTD's agenda.  
9. The representative of the United States
 thanked ASEAN and China for their efforts to resolve 
the issue.  She also expressed her appreciation to th e Chairman and to the Secretariat.  She said that 
her delegation accepted the way forward outlined by the Chairman, with the understanding that 
ASEAN and China would provide responsive answers in a reasonable amount of time, and that the 
word "transparent" as used by the Chairman meant "multilateral".  
10. The representative of China , on behalf of ASEAN and China,  thanked the Chairman and his 
predecessor for their efforts in trying to bring the ma tter to a successful conclusion.  He said that the 
remaining points would be properly dealt with by  ASEAN and China in a transparent manner in the 
future.   
11. The Chairman  thanked those Members that had taken pa rt in the informal consultations he 
had organized.  On the basis of the way forward th at he had outlined, he proposed that the item be 
taken off the CTD's agenda.   
12. It was so agreed . 
- COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD //57/ ADD.1) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.2) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT//COMTD /57/ ADD.3) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.4) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS  
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.5) 
13. The Chairman  recalled that the EC had notified its re vised Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) scheme at the 57th Session of the CTD on 11 May 2006.  Communications raising questions on 
the EC's revised GSP scheme had been received fr om Brazil, China, India and Pakistan and were 
circulated in documents WT/COMTD/57/Add.1 to Add.4, respectively.  The EC's responses to the 
questions were circulated in document WT/COMTD/57/Add.5.  It had been agreed at the last CTD 
meeting that the item would remain on the agenda for the present meeting, as there were some 
outstanding issues that needed to be dealt with.  It had also been agreed that he would consult 
informally with the concerned delegations and would report back on the status of his consultations.  In 
this regard, he reported that his consultations had allowed some progress to be made on the matter, but 
it also appeared that more consultations, and more time, would be required before this item could be 
taken off the CTD's agenda.  He inquired whether any Member wished to take the floor.  
14. The representative of Brazil  said that Brazil had very recently presented to the EC, on a 
bilateral basis, a new request for information on certain matters concerning the EC's GSP scheme, 
including a request for trade statistics concerning th e year 2006.  He also said that his delegation 
wanted this item to remain on the agenda for the next CTD meeting.  WT/COMTD/M/64 
 Page 5 
 
 
  15. The representative of Pakistan  said that her delegation had been questioning the compatibility 
of the EC's special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance with 
Article 1:1 of the GATT 1994, as we ll as with the Enabling Clause.  Pa kistan considered that the tariff 
preferences accorded to products originating in th e beneficiary countries under the special incentive 
arrangement were not granted "immediately and un conditionally" to the like products originating in 
all other Member countries and were, therefore, no t consistent with Article 1:1 of the GATT 1994.  
Pakistan also considered that the special incentiv e arrangement did not comply with the requirements 
set out in paragraphs 2(a), 3(a) and 3(c) of the Enabling Clause.  In particular, GSP schemes were 
required to be generalized, non-reci procal, non-discriminatory and need ed to be designed to facilitate 
and promote the trade of developing  countries and not to raise barriers or to create undue difficulties 
for the trade of any other Member.  She indicated that the CTD's review of the scheme was slow, and that the responses provided by the EC were unsat isfactory.  She added that Pakistan had still not 
received responses to the second set of questions that had been posed to the EC.  Pakistan wished to 
continue with this agenda item at  the next meeting of the CTD, and called on the CTD to consider 
whether some Members were stepping beyond the ma ndate envisaged in the design of the Enabling 
Clause.   
16. The representative of the European Communities
 said that the CTD had reached the limit of 
what it could do in considering this matter.  While he looked forward to seeing the request for 
information that had recently been submitted by Brazil, he emphasized that the EC had provided 
responses to the questions that had been raised by  Members, and had addressed their concerns.  With 
regard to transparency issues, he believed that th ese should be treated in the context of the CTD's 
consideration of transparency for preferential trade arrangements.  He said th at the EC believed its 
GSP scheme was compatible with WTO rules.  He added that there were avenues within the WTO 
system open to Members that might have concerns in this regard.  He expr essed the willingness of his 
delegation to work with Members to find a quick and effective solution to the matter.  
17. The Chairman  proposed that he continue his inform al consultations on this matter, with a 
view to reporting at the next CTD meeting.  The item would, therefore, remain on the agenda for the next CTD meeting.   
18. It was so agreed
.  
D. DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO TRADE 
AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES  
- STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN  
19. The Chairman  said that it had been agreed at the last meeting that the World Bank would be 
invited to make a presentation on its commodities  work.  Unfortunately, commodities experts from 
the Bank were unavailable to par ticipate in the present meeting.  The Secretariat was, however, in 
contact with Bank staff, and it was likely that a Bank representative would be available to make a 
presentation at the next CTD meeting.  He also su ggested that the CTD move forward in listening to 
presentations by other relevant institutions.  In this regard, he recalled that one suggestion that had 
been put forward a number of times, and which was repeated at the last CTD meeting by Kenya, was 
to hear from private sector organizations working on commodity issues.  He, therefore, proposed that 
the Secretariat explore the possibility of inviting a private sector organization to a future meeting of 
the CTD. 
20. It was so agreed . WT/COMTD/M/64 
Page 6  
 
  E. 
DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672) 
21. The Chairman  recalled that he had informed the CTD at  its last meeting that his consultations 
on the General Council's Decision on Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangements – contained 
in document WT/L/672 – had brought out the point th at there was a need to identify in more detail the 
parameters within which Members wished to work in considering transparency for preferential trade 
arrangements notified under the Enabling Clause.  He  had also mentioned that the proponents – Brazil 
and India – were working on a paper which would contain the elements of what they believed should 
be contained in Members' notifications of preferentia l trade arrangements.  He had said that, once the 
paper was ready, he would continue to work informally with Members on the basis of this text, and 
would eventually have the matter discussed in an open-ended format.  He now informed the 
Committee that he had been told by  Brazil and India that their paper was in final form, or near-final 
form.  He would, therefore, continue his info rmal consultations on the basis of this text.  
22. He also recalled that he had mentioned at the la st CTD meeting that a report on the status of 
the CTD's consideration of this matter would have  to be provided to the General Council at its 
July 2007 meeting.  In this regard, he said that he would inform the General Council of progress that 
had been made on this matter, in the context of hi s informal consultations, and in terms of the paper 
by Brazil and India.  However, he did not believe that there would be enough time for the CTD to 
come to an agreement before the July 2007 Gene ral Council meeting on the Brazil/India text.  He 
proposed, therefore, that in his report to the General Council he also request an extension until 
December 2007 for the CTD to come to a decision on  this matter.  He said that the item would appear 
on the agenda of the next CTD meeting. 
23. It was so agreed . 
F. PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING 
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO HELP ACHIEVE THE 
OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATELY REFLECTED 
(WT/COMTD /W/143/ REV.3) 
24. The Chairman  said that, under this agenda item, the Committee had since its 54th Session been 
undertaking a review of the developmental aspects of the negotiations based on a periodically updated 
background paper prepared by the Secretariat.  The third revision of the Secretariat paper – 
WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev.3 – was considered for the firs t time by Members at the last CTD meeting.  
It had been agreed that discussion based on this most recent revision would continue at the present 
meeting.  He also informed the Committee that Canada and the United States had submitted 
comments to the Secretariat on the revised paper, which had been forwarded to the respective 
Divisions.  He then opened the floor to allo w the Committee to continue its review of the 
developmental aspects of the negotiations. 
25. The representative of the United States  said that she would present to the Committee the 
comments that had been submitted by her delegation  to the Secretariat.  Her delegation firstly 
expressed appreciation to the Secretariat for having presented the state of play in the negotiations and 
the various positions of Members in a succinct and balanced manner.  The revised Secretariat paper 
was useful in showing the degree to which developm ent considerations permea ted all aspects of the 
negotiations.  The paper rightly put the benefits of  substantial tariff redu ctions and liberalization 
foremost in its discussions of the possible gains to  developing countries.  Her delegation believed that 
the core contribution to development in the Doha Development Agenda would come through global 
market opening and the creation of new trade flows.  The paper did a particularly commendable job in 
strongly conveying this message in the section on services, where both the gains from improved 
access to others' markets and the dynamic productivity gains from opening one's own market in key 
services sectors – including the productivity ga ins to downstream manufacturing and agricultural  WT/COMTD/M/64 
 Page 7 
 
 
  production – were clearly explained. Her delegati on agreed that trade liberalization and domestic 
reforms went hand in hand.  Pace, content and sequencing were vital elements to consider in 
developing and implementing growth strategies, whic h was why the US strongly supported work on 
Aid for Trade and the Integrated Framework. 
26. She also noted a few caveats in the services se ction.  First, her delegation did not fully 
understand the point made in paragraph 51 of the paper on the absence of universal service 
requirements creating new unsustainable burdens on vulnerable groups.  Second, the reference to a 
"mandate" to re-negotiate MFN exemptions in paragraph 40 did not accurately reflect the text of the 
Annex on Article II, and should be clarified.  On ag riculture, the goal of the US was to achieve real 
reforms across all three pillars.  Her delegation agreed with the paper's assessment that the market 
access pillar was the most complex, but also the most important, since market access had the greatest 
potential to deliver real economic benefits to Me mbers.  Though the NAMA section clearly noted the 
gains from increased access to others' markets – including developing country markets – her 
delegation felt that it did not fully explain the dy namic efficiency gains from opening one's own 
markets.  These gains would account for most of the benefits from trade liberalization.  This, plus the 
NAMA section's list of defensive interests and policy c oncepts, resulted in a less balanced portrayal of 
the important gains which could be achieved in this area.  Finally, her delegation believed that the 
paper's description of the benefits to both econom ic development and the multilateral trading system 
from comprehensive regional trade agreements (RTA s), and the distortive, harmful effects of RTAs 
that were "limited in scope, po orly implemented and employed as an import substitution strategy" was 
particularly relevant to the CTD as it embarked on  efforts to implement the General Council Decision 
on the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs.  
27. The representative of the European Communities  said that his delegation saw the paper as a 
good reflection of the developmental aspects of the negotiations.  While there might be specific 
comments by delegations on certain areas of the pa per, it was overall a usef ul paper for Members in 
their work.     
28. The Chairman  proposed that the Committee take note of  all interventions, and that discussion 
under this agenda item continue at the next CTD meeting.  
29. It was so agreed . 
G. REVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS TO 
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CANADA (WT/COMTD /W/159) 
30. The Chairman  recalled that a communication from  Canada – circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/W/159 – was introduced at the last meeti ng.  It had not been reflected in the formal 
agenda of the last meeting, as it was only received the day before that meeting.  The communication 
was, however, on the agenda for the present meeti ng.  He invited the representative of Canada to 
introduce the communication. 
31. The representative of Canada  said that the communication aimed to introduce Canada's 
Least-Developed Countries' Tari ff (LDCT) programme, which prov ided duty-free and quota-free 
(DFQF) market access for all but a small number of products from LDCs.  The communication also 
provided some information on how to utilize the sche me, as well as information on the scheme's rules 
of origin.  
32. The representative of Lesotho , on behalf of the LDC Group, expressed appreciation to Canada 
for providing valuable information on its market ac cess initiative for LDCs, and in particular the WT/COMTD/M/64 
Page 8  
 
  enhanced DFQF market access implemented since 1 January 2003 under the LDCT programme.  The 
LDC Group noted with gratification Canada's commitment to eliminating tariffs and quotas on 
99 per cent of its tariff lines.  The Group was, however, looking forward to Canada phasing in the 
remaining products in order to reach 100 per cent
 of product lines before the end of the 
implementation period.  The Group recognized th at Canada's imports from LDCs had increased 
significantly since the improvements in the LDCT programme.  However, the Group also noted that 
the bulk of those imports were made up of mineral fuels and oils, which were in most cases wholly 
obtained.  The Group wished to see increased imports into Canada of LDCs' industrial products as 
well.  This would be beneficial to LDCs as it would facilitate industrial development and foster 
diversification, which would rend er the economies of LDCs more resilient to external shocks. 
33. He went on to say that c omplementary to extending product coverage was a need to fulfil 
the Hong Kong mandate on transparent and simple rules of origin.  As indicated in the Canadian 
communication, at the same time that Canada expanded its scheme for LDCs to cover almost all 
products except dairy and poultry, it also introduced more liberal rules of origin.  By 
accommodating value added in other LDCs, Canada's rules of origin encouraged trade between LDCs.  Overall, they stood as a good example of wh at could be done to promote LDC trade.  He 
recalled that in 2006 the LDC Group had presented a concrete proposal on rules of origin at the 
CTD in Special Session.  He said that the LDC proposal was precise, and set out in eight articles 
how simple and transparent preferential rules of origin for LDCs could be developed.  While 
some believed that there was no such thing as perfect rules of origin, he emphasized that rules of 
origin could be made simple, flexible an d transparent under a DFQF arrangement.  
34. He said that the LDC Group thanked Cana da for all forms of support accorded to 
exporters in LDCs.  The availability of market  information and advice was valuable to LDCs, 
and the importance of trade- and investment-related technical assistance to exporters could not 
be overstated.  The Group also thanked Canada for encouraging other Members to disclose 
information on progress made with respect to  implementation of the Hong Kong Decision on 
DFQF market access for LDCs and to adopt simplified rules of origin .  The Group assured 
Members that it was ready to join them in wo rking towards a successful outcome to the Doha 
Development Agenda.  
35. The representative of Bangladesh  said that his delegation fully endorsed the statement made 
by Lesotho on behalf of the LDC Group.  He than ked Canada for the steps that had been taken to 
provide DFQF market access to LDCs, and observed  that the submission by Canada enhanced the 
transparency of the Canadian scheme.  He also ex pressed appreciation for Ca nada's initiative to report 
to the CTD on steps taken to fulfil the commitments made by Members in the Hong Kong Decision 
on DFQF market access for LDCs.  He said that th e LDCs would continue to negotiate in relevant 
negotiating bodies on the basis of this decision.  He noted that in 2004 Canada had renewed its LDCT 
programme for a ten-year period until 2014.  Although his delegation had no doubt that DFQF access to the Canadian market would be extended beyond this period, a request was nonetheless made to the Government of Canada to accord DFQF market access to LDCs without a time limit.  This would go a 
long way in ensuring the predictability of market  access, which was crucial to LDC exporters.  
36. He also noted that preferential market access was inextricably linked to the issue of rules of 
origin, and that the impact of even full DFQF mark et access could be nullified by stringent rules of 
origin.  In this regard, he expressed appreciation to Canada for having introduced more liberal rules of 
origin with respect to products from LDCs, ther eby allowing LDCs to significantly increase their 
exports to the Canadian market  – from US$403 million in 2002 to US$1.6 billion in 2006.  He 
informed the Committee that Bangladesh's exports to Canada had increased significantly since the 
introduction of the improved Canadian scheme, in particular in Chapters 61, 62 and 63 of the 
Harmonized System.  He also observed that Cana da's rules of origin were not only designed to 
increase exports to Canada, but also to increase S outh-South trade.  At the same time, his delegation  WT/COMTD/M/64 
 Page 9 
 
 
  called on Canada to further improve its scheme in terms of coverage and in terms of flexibility and 
simplicity in rules of origin.  His delegation also ho ped that Canada's initiatives would be emulated by 
other developed country Members and developing  country Members declaring themselves in a 
position to do so.  Bangladesh requested them to  provide information on  the domestic processes 
involved to implement DFQF market access to LDCs, or to provide information on existing DFQF 
schemes.    
37. The Committee took note  of all interventions. 
H. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
- PREPARATIONS FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN FOR 2008:  
 STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARIAT  
38. The Chairman  invited the Secretariat to brief the Committee on steps being taken to prepare 
the next Technical Assistance and Training Plan.   
39. The Director of the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC)  recalled that 
informal consultations with Members were held on 14 June 2007 to discuss three matters, namely the 
financial situation and the state of play in th e implementation of the Technical Assistance and 
Training Plan (TA Plan) for 2007, issues relating to more predictable funding through the Doha 
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) and preparations for the next TA Plan.  He 
informed the Committee that he wished to report at the present meeting on the outcome of those 
discussions as they related to preparations for the next TA Plan.   
40. He said that at the informal consultations, the Secretariat had raised th e possibility of moving 
towards a biennial TA Plan, covering all trade-rela ted technical assistance (TRTA) activities for the 
years 2008 and 2009.  The idea found strong overall support among those present at the consultations.  It was felt that a biennial TA Plan would have se veral advantages, including the enhancement of more 
stable and predictable funding, which was one of the challenges Members and the Secretariat had 
been facing in recent years.  It would also encourage more coherence between the CTD and the 
budget and finance community.  At the same time, it was felt that such an approach would need to 
have sufficient flexibility in order to take into  account the dynamics of the Doha Round of 
negotiations, as well as the changing priorities an d needs of beneficiaries.   Members requested the 
Secretariat to prepare an informal discussion paper, or "issues paper", focusing on ways to secure 
more predictable and stable funding.  This would cover not only the idea of biennial planning but also 
the possibility of transferring some of the activities from the DDAGTF to the regular budget – on 
which views were more divided – as well as any ot her suggestions.  The Secretariat was working on 
the paper and hoped to present it at an informal consultation in September 2007.  
41. Given the positive outcome of the informal di scussions on the suggestion to prepare a 
biennial TA Plan for the years 2008 and 2009, the Secretariat proposed to start preparations for a new 
TA Plan based on that concept.  In terms of process, the aim was to undertake a first reading of the 
draft TA Plan at the informal consultation scheduled for September 2007, when the issues paper 
would also be considered.  A formal discussion would then take place at the CTD meeting scheduled 
for October 2007.  He explained that part of the idea behind moving to biennial planning was to allow 
better advance planning than was possible at present.  For the donors, it was believed that there might 
be some advantage in terms of preparing domestic budgetary and other processes.  It was not, 
however, the idea that Members would be required to make two-year contributions at one time.  
While Members would have that option available, it was not central to the concept of biennial 
planning. WT/COMTD/M/64 
Page 10  
 
  42. He also reported that at the June 2007 info rmal consultations, Members had welcomed 
initiatives to give more visibility to donor cont ributions and to enhance transparency.  It was 
recognized that this would also strengthen coherence between the various in-house trade capacity 
building programmes.  In this connection, he drew Me mbers' attention to the fact that a trade capacity 
building webpage had been developed, and would be launched in the coming weeks.  The webpage 
would not only highlight the TA Plan per se , but all activities contained therein, and would also give 
more visibility to donors' contributions to the DDAGTF.  
43. The Committee took note
 of the information provided by the Secretariat.   
I. OTHER BUSINESS  
44. The Chairman  said that he wished to raise a matter under "Other Business" concerning the 
CTD's mandate to keep under continuous review th e participation of developing country Members in 
the multilateral trading system.  He recalled that at the 62nd Session of the CTD on 6 March 2007, 
Members had adopted the Committee's 2007 work programme, contained in document 
WT/COMTD/61.  The work programme included an item concerning the participation of developing 
countries in the multilateral trading system , scheduled to be discussed at the 65th Session.  He 
reminded Members that on previous occasions when this item was placed on the CTD's agenda, the 
Secretariat had prepared a background paper to assist Members in their discussion.  He, therefore, 
proposed that the Secretariat once again prep are a background paper for the CTD's upcoming 
discussion under this agenda item. 
45. It was so agreed . 
46. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
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