WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/70/Add.1 
11 December 2009 
 (09-6418) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2009) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
Addendum
 
  I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The 2009 annual report of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) was circulated in 
document WT/COMTD/70 of 5 November 2009.  This  addendum reflects the work of the Committee 
since then.  
II. REGULAR SESSION 
2. The CTD held its 77
th Regular Session on 8 December 2009, the minutes of which are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/M/77.1  The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Shree 
B. C. Servansing (Mauritius).  The principal th emes addressed by the CTD at this meeting included 
the following: 
A. Technical cooperation and training; 
B. Notifications regarding market access for developing and least-developed countries 
 (LDCs); 
C. Decision on Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangements; 
D. Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs; 
E. Participation of developing countri es in the multilateral trading system. 
 
A. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
3. The Secretariat provided information on prepara tions for the implementation of the Technical 
Assistance and Training Plan for 2010.  Members we re informed that priority would be given to 
national requests in the first quarter of the year .  Four Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs) would 
be held, and regions not yet c overed by the RTPCs would benefit from Short Regional Trade Policy 
Courses (SRTPCs).  The Secretariat would also be  approaching Members regarding the hosting of 
other regional activities.  Attention would be given during the year to the updating of  WTO 
Reference Centres, especially in LDCs, and to  the strengthening of internship programmes.  
Constraints relating to internet access would be  addressed through the development of CD-ROMs.  
The number of beneficiary institutions under the WT O Chairs Programme (WCP ) had been increased 
from 12 to 14 in order to better respond to the demand from Members. 
                                                      
1 To be issued. WT/COMTD/70/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
  B. 
NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING MARKET  ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES  
4. Notifications concerning Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) schemes were made by 
Switzerland (WT/COMTD/N/7/Add.3) and the United States (WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.7).  The Committee considered a way forward on the matte r concerning the GCC Customs Union notification.
2 
C. DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS  
5. The Chairman said that the proponents of a Tr ansparency Mechanism for Preferential Trade 
Arrangements – Brazil, China, India and the United States – had circulated a revision to their draft proposal, which was contained in document JOB(08)/ 103/Rev.1.  He indicated that the revision was 
the outcome of a long process of informal consulta tions, through which efforts had been made to 
incorporate the comments and concerns raised by delegations.  The revised proposal was introduced 
by the proponents and subsequently considered by  the Committee.  Members indicated their interest 
in continuing their consideration of the revised proposal, and it was agreed that the Chairman would 
request the General Council to grant the Committee a further extension until July 2010 to report back 
for appropriate action.  
D. 
HONG KONG DECISION ON DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS FOR 
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
6. The CTD conducted its fourth annual review  of the implementation of the Hong Kong 
Decision, as mandated in Annex F of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration. 
E. PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM  
7. In order to assist the Committee with its requi rement to keep under continuous review the 
participation of developing country Members in the multilateral trading system, the Secretariat 
prepared a report (WT/COMTD/W/172 and Corr.1) highlighting salient features concerning the 
participation of developing economies in the gl obal trading system, including recent developments 
during the financial and economic crisis.  The finding s of the report were pres ented to the Committee.  
The Committee took note of the report.  In light of  certain specific comments that were made, it was 
agreed that a revision  to the report would be issued. 
III. AID FOR TRADE 
8. The CTD's Thirteenth Session on Aid for Trade, chaired by 
Ambassador Shree B. C. Servansing, took place on 25 November.  The minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/AFT/M/13.
3  The session focused on a revised draft 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme as contained in JO B(09)/100/Rev.2.  At the meeting, the Chairman 
appreciated the active engagement of Members in the finalization of the Aid-for-Trade Work 
Programme.  He underlined that the Aid-for-Trade  initiative had matured into a partnership and 
underscored the commitment of all Members to this partnership.  Noting that the Work Programme 
was a reflection of the broad convergence of the Memb ers, he stated that he would issue the Work 
Programme under his own responsibility, as docum ent WT/COMTD/AFT/W/16, and that this would 
be communicated to the General Council as a part of the addendum to the CTD's report.  A number of  
delegations said that their preference would have b een to seek a formal adoption of the document, but 
noted their readiness to proceed in th e manner outlined by the Chairman.  
                                                      
2 See WT/COMTD/70 for the relevant document references. 
3 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/70/Add.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  IV. SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
9. The Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countri es (hereafter the Sub-Committee) held its 
54th Session on 5 November 2009.  The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Jean Feyder 
(Luxembourg).  The minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/M/54.4  
The subjects considered at the meeting, un der the WTO Work Programme for the LDCs 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/11), were:  (i) accession of LDCs to the WTO;  and (ii) market access for LDCs.  
In addition, a few items were considered at the meeting, including under "Other Business". 
(i) Accession of LDCs to the WTO 
10. The Sub-Committee considered th e report by the Secretariat on the Dialogue with acceding 
LDCs held on 28 May 2009 (WT/COMTD/LDC/15) , which the Members found factual.  The 
Coordinator of the LDCs (Tanzania) requested to co ntinue the Dialogue early next year within the 
framework of the Sub-Committee, which received support from Members.  Members reiterated their 
commitment for an early conclusion of the accession processes of LDCs.   
11. The representative of Cambodia introduced the Statement from the Round Table on LDCs' 
Accessions held in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, from 28 to 29 September 2009 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/16).  The LDCs urged Members to  engage with acceding LDCs in line with the 
proposals contained in the Round Table Statement, wh ich has also been issued as a document of the 
General Council (WT/L/769) and the Seventh WT O Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(09)/1).  
Cambodia's intervention at the General Council meet ing on 20 October 2009 was also brought to the 
attention of the Sub-Committee (WT/COMTD/LDC/16/Add.1).   
(ii) Market Access for LDCs 
12. The Sub-Committee considered the Secretariat Note entitled "Market Access for Products and 
Services of Export Interest to Least-developed Countries" (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/46), following a presentation by the Secretariat.  The Note, prepared  on an annual basis, provides information on the 
trends in LDC trade and market access conditions  for LDC exports including a specific section on the 
impact of the global crisis on the LDCs.  Member s made detailed comments on the data as well as 
substance provided in the Note, based on which the Secretariat will issue a revised version for 
consideration by Members at the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.   
(iii) Sixth LDC Trade Ministers' meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 14 to 
16 October 2009  
13. The Coordinator of the LDCs made a report on the LDC Trade Ministers' meeting held in 
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 14 to 16 October 2009.  The LDCs urged Members to give due 
attention their proposals contained in the Dar es Salaam Declaration (WT/L/772), including the 
proposals on an early harvest.  The Declaration has also been issued as a document of the Seventh 
WTO Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(09)/2).   
(iv) Matters raised under "Other Business" 
14. The Chairman informed Members that the fourth UN Conference on LDCs would be held in 
2011.  The preparatory process of that Conference had been launched.  In line with its areas of 
expertise, WTO would make substantive contributi ons to the Conference.  The Sub-Committee would 
be kept informed of WTO's contribution in this regard. 
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4 To be issued.