WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/COMTD/W/183 
3 November 2011  
 
(11-5603) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
DRAFT 
 
REPORT (2011) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
 I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 2011.  An 
overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session and Dedicated Session on Small Economies, the CTD's work on Aid for Trad e, and the work of the Sub-Committee on 
Least-Developed Countries.
1  
II. REGULAR SESSION 
2. The CTD in Regular Session held three formal meetings on 31 March (81st Session), 21 June 
and 5 July (82nd Session) [and 14 November 2011 (83rd Session)].  The minutes of these meetings are 
contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/ 81, WT/COMTD/M/82 and WT/COMTD/M/832, 
respectively.  At the 81st Session, the Chairmanship was handed over from Ambassador Erwidodo 
(Indonesia) to Ambassador Mothae Anthony Maruping (Lesotho). 
3. The CTD continues to have outstanding requests for observer status from the League of Arab 
States, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), the Organisation inte rnationale de la Francophonie, the Common Fund 
for Commodities (CFC), the Organization of Arab  Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the 
Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement.  At the 82
nd Session, Egypt called for an early 
resolution to the issues surrounding requests for obser ver status by intergovernmental organizations.  
4. Members agreed to continue to invite a num ber of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting-by-meeting basis.  These include  the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), 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 Intellect ual Property Organization (WIPO).  A full list of 
intergovernmental organizations with observer st atus in the Committee is contained in document 
WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.6. 
                                                      
1 There were no meetings in 2011  of the CTD's Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements or 
the CTD's Dedicated Session on Prefer ential Trade Arrangements.  The Sp ecial Session of the CTD, dealing 
with the issue of special and differential tr eatment, has its own reporting requirements. 
2 To be issued.   WT/COMTD/W/183 
Page 2  
 
  5. The principal themes addressed by the CTD in  Regular Session during the period covered in 
this report included the following:   
A. Technical cooperation and training; 
B. Notifications regarding market access for developing and least-developed countries 
(LDCs); 
C. Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre 
UNCTAD/WTO; 
D. Modalities to implement the Transparency  for Preferential Trade Arrangements 
(PTAs); 
E. Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs; 
F. Electronic commerce; 
G. Consolidating and mainstre aming development in the World Trade Organization; 
H. Participation of developing countri es in the multilateral trading system. 
 
A. 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
6. At its 82nd Session, the Committee took note of the Annual Report on Technical Assistance 
and Training, 1 January to 31 December 2010 (WT/COMTD/W/178), and of the Technical 
Cooperation Audit Report for 2010 (WT/CO MTD/W/177 and WT/COMTD/W/177/Corr.13).  [The 
Biennial Technical Assistan ce and Training Plan for 2012 and 2013 (WT/COMTD/W/180) was 
adopted at the 83rd Session.]  
B. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING MARK ET ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES (LDC S) 
7. In 2011, notifications under the Enabling Clause concerning Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) schemes were made by the European Union (WT/COMTD/N/4/Add.5), Japan 
(WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.15) and Switzerland (WT/COMT D/N/7/Add.4).  Notifications were also 
made to the CTD concerning India's Duty Fr ee Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for LDCs 
(WT/COMTD/N/38), China's duty-free treatment for LDCs (WT/COMTD/N/39 and 
WT/COMTD/N/39/Add.1) and Chinese Taipei's dut y-free treatment for LDCs (WT/COMTD/N/40).4 
8. With regard to regional trade agreements (R TAs), a notification under the Enabling Clause 
was made concerning the India-Malaysia Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/37).5  The Committee also took 
note of a biennial report to the WTO (for the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009) by the Latin American Integration Association (WT/CO MTD/72). A communication from China, Egypt and 
India titled "Systemic and specific issues arising out of the dual notification of the Gulf Cooperation 
Council Customs Union" (WT/COMTD/W/175) was discussed. Members expressed diverging views on how to address the issues relating to the notifi cation of this Agreement under the Enabling Clause 
and GATT Article XXIV. Diverging views were expressed as well on issues relating to the ASEAN-Korea Agreement and the India-Korea Agreement, which have also been notified under the Enabling 
Clause and GATT Article XXIV.  The Chairman held consultations with Members. 
                                                      
3 The corrigendum is in English and Spanish only. 
4 The preferential trade arrangem ents (PTAs) notified by India, China and Chinese Taipei will be 
considered in the CTD's Dedicated Session on PTAs, as per the provisions of the Transparency Mechanism for 
PTAs (WT/L/806).  Notifications concerning the PTAs being implemented by India and China were also made 
to the Council for Trade in Goods (see G/C/W/651 and G/C/W/656). 
5 The goods aspects of this Agreement will be cons idered in the CTD's Dedi cated Session on RTAs, as 
per the provisions of the Transparen cy Mechanism for RTAs (WT/L/671).  WT/COMTD/W/183 
 Page 3 
 
 
  C. REPORT OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE 
UNCTAD /WTO 
9. The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the Inte rnational Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) 
held its 44th Session from 16 to 17 December 2010.  The report on that meeting is contained in 
document ITC/AG/(XLIV)/238).  The Executive Director of the ITC, when presenting the report at the 
82nd Session, said that the JAG had provided the IT C with useful guidance on its annual programme of 
work and had acknowledged the impact of the ITC' s capacity building work.  The Group appreciated 
the ITC's growing emphasis on regionally structured  solutions, while stressing the importance of the 
country ownership of projects.  The ITC was enco uraged to ensure that multi-country programmes 
contributed to regional integration.  The Group had expressed satisfaction at the progress made in 
embedding results-based management into the ITC's work, and had encouraged  the organization to 
work further in this direction.  The Group had a dditionally taken note of the Consolidated Programme 
Document for 2010 and of the draft 2011 Operational Plan, and had endorsed the proposal to move the JAG meeting from December of each year to the second quarter of the year.  The CTD took note 
of the JAG report and forwarded it to  the General Council for adoption. 
D. 
MODALITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE TRANSPARENC Y MECHANISM FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE 
ARRANGEMENTS (PTA S) 
10. At the 82nd Session, the Committee agreed to a nu mber of modalities to implement the 
Transparency Mechanism for PTAs (WT/L/806).  As pa rt of these modalities, a standard format for 
the notification of PTAs to the CTD was adopted (WT/COMTD/73).  
E. HONG KONG DECISION ON DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS FOR LDC S 
11. The Decision taken at the Hong Kong Minister ial Conference on DFQF market access for 
LDCs remains a standing item on the CTD's agenda.  A number of Members shared information on the steps they are taking to provide DFQF market access to LDCs' products, including in respect of 
preferential rules of origin.  In this regard, interv entions were made by China, the European Union, 
India, Switzerland and the United States.  The LDCs t ook the floor at each of the formal meetings of 
the CTD, calling for an expeditious and faithful implementation of the Decision.   
F. 
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE  
12. [At the 83rd Session, the Committee considered a communication from Cuba, Ecuador, 
Nicaragua, the Plurinational  State of Bolivia  and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela titled 
"Effective participation of developing countries in electronic commerce as  a means to combat 
poverty" (WT/GC/W/635-G/C/W/650-WT/COMTD/W/179, and its addendum).] 
G. CONSOLIDATING AND MAINSTREAMING DEVELO PMENT IN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
13. [At the 83rd Session, the Committee considered a co mmunication from the African and Arab 
Groups titled "Consolidating and mainstreaming development in the World Trade Organization" (WT/COMTD/W/182).] 
H. 
PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM  
14. 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/181) highlighting sa lient features concerning the participation of 
developing economies in the global trading system.  [The findings of the report were presented to the 
Committee at its 83rd Session.  The Committee took note of the report.] WT/COMTD/W/183 
Page 4  
 
  III. DEDICATED SESSION ON SMALL ECONOMIES 
15. Pursuant to paragraph 35 of the Doha Minister ial Declaration, the General Council, at its 
meeting on 1 March 2002, took note of the framework  and procedures for the conduct of the Work 
Programme on Small Economies.  The CTD was inst ructed to oversee this programme of work in 
dedicated sessions.  At the Hong Kong Minister ial Conference, Minist ers reaffirmed their 
commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies and urged the adoption of specific 
measures that would facilitate the fuller integr ation of small, vulnerable economies into the 
multilateral trading system, without creating a sub-category of WTO Members.  The CTD was mandated to continue the work in dedicated sessi on and to monitor progress of the small economies' 
proposals in the negotiating groups and other bodies.  
16. In 2011, the CTD in Dedicated Session held one  formal meeting on 10 and 13 October on the 
Work Programme on Small Economies.  It was chaired by Ambassador Mothae Anthony Maruping (Lesotho) and the minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/22.
6  At the 
meeting, the Secretariat presented and Members t ook note of an updated version of the compilation 
paper (WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.6) containing all the proposals made to date by the proponents of 
small and vulnerable economies in the negotiati ng groups and other WTO bodies.  Members then 
proceeded to finalize the Dedicated Session's repor t to the General Council contained in document 
WT/COMTD/SE/7. 
IV. AID FOR TRADE 
17. The CTD held four sessions on Aid for Trade in  2011, on 16 February, 12 April, 24 June [and 
10 November].  The February meeting was chai red by Ambassador Erwidodo (Indonesia).  The April 
meeting was exceptionally chaired by Ambassador Shree B.C. Servansing (Mauritius).  The other 
meetings were chaired by Ambassador Mothae An thony Maruping (Lesotho).  The minutes of the 
meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/19, WT/COMTD/AFT/M/20, 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/21 and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/227, respectively.  The Third Global Review of 
Aid for Trade was held on 18 and 19 July 2011.  Aid for Trade was also included as an agenda item 
for discussion at the General Council on 26 July 2011. 
18. The format of each CTD Aid-for-Trade session followed the five headings of the 2010-2011 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme8, namely resource mobilization, mainstreaming, implementation, 
monitoring and evaluation, and the private sector.  The sessions provided Members with an opportunity to consider and discuss progress in im plementation of the Work Programme and for 
different partners and organizations to report on  their respective Aid-for-Trade related work.  A 
background document prepared by the Secretariat was circulated in advance of the February and June 
sessions.
9   
19. Two dedicated thematic workshops were held  under the auspices of the CTD in 2011 as 
follows:  Workshop on Small, Vulnerable Economies (S VEs) and Aid for Trade held on 16 February;  
and Workshop on Aid-for-Trade Ca se Stories held on 23 June.  
20. At the CTD's 19th Session on Aid for Trade, the World Bank reported on the replenishment of 
the International Development Association-16 and provided information on the Bank's Aid-for-Trade 
                                                      
6 To be issued. 
7 To be issued. 
8 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/16.  The Work Programme was issued under the responsibility of the Chair of 
the CTD on 27 November 2009.  The General Council took note of the Work Programme at its meeting in December 2009. 
9 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/18/Add.4 and WT/COMTD/AFT/W/18/Add.5, respectively.  WT/COMTD/W/183 
 Page 5 
 
 
  operations, namely, its Group-wide Trade Strate gy, two new regional strategies on the Bank's 
partnership with Africa ("Africa's Future and Worl d Bank Support to it") and the Arab world ("Arab 
World Initiative"), and its private sector outreach  activities on Aid for Trade.  The Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF) provided information on its activities.  Dominica provided an overview 
of a conceptual proposal the SVEs were developi ng.  UNECE provided information on events relating 
to the Aid-for-Trade Roadmap for UN Special Pr ogramme for the Economies of Central Asia 
(SPECA)10 which included a review meeting held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 1 and 2 December 2010.  
The ITC announced plans to extend its impact assessme nts of private sector mainstreaming efforts on 
demand and utilization of Aid-for-Trade funds.  The Secretariat provided an overview of the events 
held to support Members in the M&E process lead ing up to the Third Global Review of Aid for 
Trade.  These included:  a training event for the Pacific Island Countries held in Nadi, Fiji on 9 and 
10 December 2010;  a regional training event and forum for the Caribbean held in Barbados on 
25-27 January 2011;  and a meeting for the West  African region held in Abuja, Nigeria on 
19-21 January 2011.  The Secretariat provided a br ief report on the Workshop on SVEs and Aid for 
Trade held prior to the CTD Aid-for-Trade meeting a nd also gave a preliminary overview of the status 
of submissions of completed Aid-for-Trade questionnaires and case stories. 
21. At the CTD's 20th Session, the Director-General provided information on the preparations for 
the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade.  The OECD provided an overview of the 2009 Aid-for-Trade flows and informed that detailed in formation on the flows would be reported fully in 
the joint OECD-WTO Aid for Tr ade at a Glance 2011 publication being prepared for the Global 
Review.  The European Union announced the immine nt release of its 2011 Aid for Trade Monitoring 
Report and Canada provided info rmation on its multilateral 2009-2014 Aid for Trade initiative aimed 
at the Americas and Africa.  UNCTAD reported on its efforts in support of the Aid-for-Trade 
Initiative.  The AfDB informed about its Regional In tegration Strategy Papers  for Southern, Central, 
South, and North Africa and the IaDB gave an overview of decisions taken at the Bank's Annual 
Meeting and the focus and results of its Aid-for- Trade related projects and interventions in Latin 
America.  UNECE provided an update of its Aid-for-T rade related work, including in respect of the 
SPECA Initiative, and UNDP informed on the status of its publication on trade mainstreaming in national development strategies.  The World Bank provi ded details of its work with the private sector, 
which included a complementary Aid-for-Trade cas e story exercise, announced the completion of its 
Group-wide Trade Strategy, and reported on a recently-held Expert Group Meeting on Trade 
Facilitation.  The OECD reported on the Experts Workshop on Implementation of Aid for Trade 
organized on 29 March and the ITC reported on it s private sector case studies which were being 
prepared as a contribution to measuring the effectiven ess of Aid for Trade.  The Secretariat gave an 
update on the preparations for the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade.   
22. The CTD's 21
st Session focused on the preparations for the Third Global Review and the 
preparation of the joint OECD-WTO Aid for Trade at a Glance 2011 publication.  The 
Director-General provided an update on the M&E work and noted the succes s of the Aid-for-Trade 
case story exercise.  The World Bank introduced the key elements of the final version of its Group-wide Trade Strategy, profiled two Bank trade initiatives (the Transparency in Trade Initiative and the Central Africa Trade Facilitation Project), a nd informed of its soon-to-be released study on 
impact evaluations of Aid for Trade and the joint WB/WTO call for case stories to the private sector.  
The European Union presented an overview of the findings of its 2011 Aid-for-Trade Monitoring 
Report and the United States provided information on its African Competitiveness and Trade 
Expansion Initiative.  Gabon, Indonesia, Dominica,  the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, UNECA 
and UNCTAD reported on recently-held Aid-for-Trade  related events.  These included preparatory 
meetings for a Regional Review of Aid for Trad e for Central Africa held in Libreville, Gabon on 
25 and 26 May, the Regional Review Meeting on Aid for Trade held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 June, 
                                                      
10 The Special Programme for the Ec onomies of Central Asia (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). WT/COMTD/W/183 
Page 6  
 
  the ACP High Level Meeting on Aid for Trade he ld on 22 June and the Third Aid-for-Trade 
Roundtable Meeting held in Nadi, Fiji on 28 Ap ril.  UNESCAP informed about its range of 
Aid-for-Trade related programmes aimed at im proving developing countries' business environment 
and productive capacity.  The Secretariat al so provided a brief report on the Workshop on 
Aid-for-Trade Case Stories held prio r to the CTD Aid-for-Trade meeting. 
23. The Third Global Review of Aid for Trade took place on 18 and 19 July 2011.  It provided an 
opportunity to evaluate progress since the Second Global Review and highlighted that concrete 
positive results had been achieved.  Sessions focu sed on the key objectives of the Review, namely 
showing outcomes and impacts of Aid for Trade, and included discussions on the role of Aid for 
Trade in consolidating recovery and stimulating grow th;  from project results to development impact;  
promoting food security through enhanced trade ca pacity;  delivering on trade facilitation gains;  
accessing global private sector value chains; overcom ing obstacles to regional trade integration in 
Africa;  Aid for Trade in Latin America and th e Caribbean, the Pacific and Asia;  South-South 
cooperation;  and taking monitoring and evaluation forward.  A report of the Third Global Review is 
reproduced in document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/28. 
24. Aid for Trade was discussed at the General C ouncil on 27 July 2011.  The Director-General 
reported on the Third Global Review and reiterate d his suggestion made at the Review that 
"Deepening Coherence" should be the focus of the new 2012-2013 work programme.  A number of 
delegations spoke in support of the orientation of the future work programme as outlined by the 
Director-General.  The report of the General Counc il debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/132. 
25. [The CTD's 22
nd Session on Aid for Trade focused on a draft Aid-for-Trade Work Programme 
as contained in JOB/DEV/12/Rev.1.  The proposed  work programme covers the period 2012-2013 
and is focused around five main h eadings:  resource mobilization, ma instreaming, regional dimension, 
private sector, and monitoring and evaluation of im plementation and development effectiveness.  The 
aim of the work programme is to  promote deeper coherence and an on-going focus on Aid for Trade, 
notably on showing results, which will generate c ontinued impetus to the implementation process.  
The work programme, which is complemented by an  annex setting out an indicative list of activities 
planned to implement the programme, will be  submitted to the General Council for onward 
transmission to the Eighth Ministerial Conference.] 
V. SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
26. During the period under review, the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (hereafter 
the Sub-Committee) held five formal meetings  on 18 March, 5 May, 7 July, 19 October [and 
8 November 2011].  The minutes of the m eetings are contained in documents 
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/58, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/59, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/60, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/61 and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/62, respectively.
11  The first meeting of the year 
was chaired by Ambassador Jean Feyder (Luxembourg).  All other meetings were chaired by Ambassador Steffen Smidt (Denmark), who was elected Chairman at the 81
st Session of the CTD on 
31 March 2011.  The delegation of Bangladesh acte d as the Coordinator of the LDCs in all the 
meetings of the Sub-Committee in 2011. 
27. The work of the Sub-Committee has mainly focused on the implementation of the WTO 
Work Programme for the LDCs adopted by Members on 12 February 2002.12  The subjects considered 
under the Work Programme during the reporting pe riod were:  (i) market access for LDCs;  
(ii) trade-related technical assistance and capacity -building initiatives for LDCs;  and (iii) accession of 
LDCs to the WTO.  In addition, an exchange of  views on the possible update of the Work Programme 
                                                      
11 Documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/61 and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/62 are to be issued. 
12 WT/COMTD/LDC/11.  WT/COMTD/W/183 
 Page 7 
 
 
  took place at the 61st Session.  The other issues considered were:  (i) the Fourth United Nations 
Conference on the LDCs (LDC-IV);  (ii) a proposal of the LDC Group concerning the establishment of a Work Programme on Post-Accession for the recen tly acceded LDCs;  and (iii)  preparations for 
the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the WTO. 
(i) Market Access for LDCs 
28. The item on market access for LDCs was considered at the 58
th and 61st Sessions of the 
Sub-Committee.  The Secretariat is sued a revision of its annual mark et access review study (2010) 
titled "Market Access Issues for Products and Serv ices of Export Interest to Least-Developed 
Countries" contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC /W/48/Rev.1, which was considered at the 
58th Session of the Sub-Committee.  At the same Se ssion, the European Union provided a briefing on 
its revised GSP rules of origin, which became operational as of 1 January 2011.13  The LDCs 
expressed appreciation for this positive step to fu rther facilitate their exports, and urged other 
Members to follow suit. 
29. At its 61st Session, the Sub-Committee considered th e market access review study (2011) by 
the Secretariat contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/51.  Members considered the Note 
comprehensive and useful.  Recent market access no tifications by India and China were welcomed.14  
Comments and suggestions were made on the Note , based on which the Secretariat will issue a 
revision.  The Sub-Committee agreed to revert to this item at its future meeting. 
(ii) Trade-related Technical Assistance and Capacity-building Initiatives for LDCs 
30. The item on TRTA and capacity-building init iatives for LDCs was considered at the 58th and 
60th Sessions of the Sub-Committee.  At the 58th Session, the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF) Secretariat made a presentation on the Facility, based on the Note contained in 
WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49.15  The LDCs underscored the importa nce of the STDF in developing their 
capacity to meet international sanitary and phyto-san itary requirements.  The STDF has continued to 
meet the target of devoting at least 40 per cent of  the Facility project resources to LDCs and other 
low-income countries. 
31. At the 60th Session, the Executive Director of the EIF Secretariat presented a report on the 
implementation of the EIF, based on the document contained in JOB/DEV/11.  Members expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in the im plementation of the EIF.  As of October 2011, 
45 LDCs were at different stages of the EIF process.  Thirty-nine LDCs had completed their Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTISs), and two have completed a DTIS update.  The number 
of donors has reached 23, and US$142 million had been transferred to the EIF Trust Fund by 
mid-October 2011.  Twenty-five Tier 1 projects are under implementation.
 16  Tier 2 projects have 
started to roll in, and during the reporting pe riod, one Tier 2 project has been approved. 17  
32. At the 60th Session, the Secretariat gave an overview of the technical assistance and training 
provided to the LDCs.  The LDCs had been associated  with 43 per cent of al l trade-related technical 
                                                      
13 The rules of origin were subsequently notifie d to the CTD in document WT/COMTD/N/4/Add.5. 
14 India's notification was circulated to the Coun cil for Trade in Goods and to the CTD (G/C/W/651 
and WT/COMTD/N/38).  China's notification to the CTD is contained in document WT/COMTD/N/39.  At the 
61st Session of the Sub-Committee, an advance copy of the tariff lines under China's DFQF Scheme was made 
available.  This was subsequently formally submitted to the Council for Trade in Goods and to the CTD (G/C/W/656 and WT/COMTD/N/39/Add.1).  
15 Up-to-date information can be seen on the STDF website: www.standardsfacility.org 
16 Projects that involve support to national implemen tation arrangements.  In addition, the LDCs are 
also benefitting from Pre-DTIS projects.   
17 Up-to-date information can be seen on the EIF website: www.enhancedif.org WT/COMTD/W/183 
Page 8  
 
  assistance (TRTA) activities undertaken by the Secretar iat in 2010.  The LDCs were invited to fully 
avail of their entitlements to three national activities per year.   
(iii) Accession of LDCs to the WTO 
33. The Sub-Committee considered the item on Accession of LDCs to the WTO, at its 
59
th Session based on the state-of-play Note on LDC accessions contained in document JOB/ACC/21.  
The LDC Group urged Members to contribute to accel erating the accession of LDCs to the WTO.  
Members reiterated their commitment to con tinue to engage actively and advance the LDC 
accessions.  The conclusion of Vanuatu's  accession negotiations was welcome.18  The other acceding 
LDCs were:  Afghanistan, Bhutan, Comoros, Equatori al Guinea, Ethiopia, Lao PDR, Liberia, Samoa, 
Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, and Yemen.19 
34. [At its 62nd Session, the Sub-Committee considered a proposal from the LDC Group 
concerning a decision on the accession of least-developed countries to the WTO (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/52).] 
(iv) Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs (LDC-IV), 9-13 May 2011 
35. The item was considered at the 58
th, 59th and 60th Sessions of the Sub-Committee.  At the 
58th and 59th Sessions, the Sub-Committee discussed the preparations for the LDC-IV Conference 
which was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 9 to 13 May 2011.  The host country of the LDC-IV 
Conference - Turkey - made comprehensive briefings  on the substantive and other aspects relating to 
the Conference in both these Sessions.  The LDCs e xpressed appreciation to Turkey for hosting the 
Conference and sought support from Members to make it successful.20  Members reiterated their 
commitment to work towards a successful outcome at the LDC-IV Conference.   
36. At the 60th Session, the Coordinator of the LDCs made a report to the Sub-Committee on the 
outcome of the LDC-IV Conference.  The LDCs called upon Members to mainstream the 
trade-related elements of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), within the competence of the 
WTO, adopted at the LDC-IV Conference as well as to  contribute to achieving the goals set out in the 
IPoA. 
(v) Proposal for the establishment of a Work Pr ogramme on Post-Accession for the Recently 
Acceded LDCs 
37. At the 59th Session, the Coordinator of the LDCs introduced a proposal by the LDC Group for 
the establishment of a Work Programme on Post-Accession for Recently Acceded LDCs 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/50).  Under the proposed Work Programme, two broad clusters of technical 
assistance have been sought:  (i) technical assist ance and training focusing on the implementation of 
commitments under the accession package;  (ii) techni cal assistance for strengthening the capacity of 
recently acceded LDCs to participate in the wo rk of the WTO.  Members sought a number of 
clarifications from the LDC Group.  The Sub-Committee will revert to this issue at a future meeting. 
(vi) Exchange of views on the possible update of  the WTO Work Programme for the LDCs 
38. The Sub-Committee considered this item at its 61st Session.  The Coordinator of the LDCs 
outlined a few elements for incorporation into the updated Work Programme.  Some Members 
                                                      
18 The accession package of Vanuatu was form ally adopted by the General Council on 
26 October 2011. 
19 The final Working Party meeting on the acce ssion of Samoa took pl ace on 28 October 2011. 
20 Nepal acted as the Coordinator of the LDCs in the UN system.  WT/COMTD/W/183 
 Page 9 
 
 
  reiterated that the current Work Programme pr ovided necessary flexibility to accommodate various 
needs of the LDCs.  The Chairman  requested the LDCs and other Members to submit proposals they 
would like to see reflected into the current Work Programme to the Secr etariat.  Thereafter, he will 
undertake consultations with Members, including ascer taining the possibility of an outcome on this 
issue, prior to the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the WTO. 
(vii) Preparations for the Eighth Ministerial Conferen ce of the WTO (MC8) to be held from 15 to 
17 December 2011 
39. At the 61st Session of the Sub-Committee, the Secretariat briefed the Sub-Committee on the 
arrangements being made to facilitate the partic ipation of LDCs during the Eighth Ministerial 
Conference.  Both travel and accommodation arrangem ents were explained at the meeting.  The WTO 
will be financing travel expenses for three par ticipants from each LDC.  Under this item, the 
Coordinator of the LDCs informed Members that a half-day LDC Ministerial meeting was being planned on 14 December 2011, a day prior to the start of the Eighth Ministerial Conference. 
 
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