. /. 
 
 
    Pascal Lamy 
  Director-General 
 
 
 
6 October 2011 
 
Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives, 
  This is my 8
th letter to Members on the Devel opment Assistance Aspects of the 
Cotton Dossier.  This version is in advance of the 8th Ministerial Confer ence of the WTO 
from 15 to 17 December 2011.     Yet again, I am pleased to share with Me mbers the updated results and current state-
of-play on the Development Assistance Aspects of the Cotton Dossier.  This track of the 
cotton dossier is one where Members have worked together eff ectively, with common 
purpose and positive results in support of LDCs.  There is a good story to tell.  The 
"deliverables" have been c onsistently "banked" through a transparent and collectively 
monitored process since the 6
th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2005 and the High Level 
Meeting on Cotton in 2007.  Developed and devel oping countries continue to work together, 
in partnership with relevant mu ltilateral institutions.  The work of the WTO in this area is a 
tribute to the Organization.  The contributions  of Members, in this area, have been 
acknowledged by all the "shareholders".  To the cr edit of all contributors, the Evolving Table 
on Cotton Development Assistance (ET) is now the "system-wide" reference in the "Cotton 
Network" beyond the WTO.     I am attaching to this letter, the Twelfth Version of the Evolving Table 
(WT/CFMC/6/Rev.11) for review by Members in advance of the next Round of the Director-
General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC).   
  Before a summary of the updated substan tive results, I would like to draw the 
attention of Members to a modification in the structure of the ET, last adjusted at the 2007 High Level Meeting on Cotton.  Ba sed on the understanding amongs t all participants, at the 
15
th Session of the DGCFMC, all the projects, programmes and activities in the "completed" 
(C) category, have been transfer red "out" of the activ e operational Table, and annexed to it.  
The rationale for this re-structuring was to mo re sharply focus attention on those activities 
categorized under: "Project Formulation St age (PFS); and, "In Progress" (IP).    
  In this modified structure, it is evident, from the attached table, and the new Annex, 
that Members have registered good progress, in coordination with Cotton Proponents and the 
WTO's partner multilateral institutions.     Following the last round of consultations  in July 2011, inputs re ceived have been 
processed and reflected in th e attached Twelfth version of the Evolving Table.   
 WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  - 2 - 
 
 In Part I, on Cotton Specific Development Assistance  (of active operational 
activities), the number of i ndividual beneficiaries stands at 25.   The total number 
of commitments is 64, and the total value of these commitments approximates US$332 million under the re-structured form at.  Disbursement flows amount to 
US$94 million.  In Annex 1, under "Completed " activities of Pa rt I, the total 
number of beneficiaries st ood at 33; the total number  of commitments was 106, 
and their total value approximated US $255 million. Disbursement flows amounted 
to US$244 million. 
 
 In Part II, on Agriculture and Infrastructure-R elated Development Assistance , 
(of active operational activities), the number of indi vidual beneficiaries is 26.  The 
total number of commitments is 56, and the total value of these commitments 
stands at US$4.72 billion.  The disburse ment flows stand at US$619 million in 
this new re-structured format.  In Annex 2, under "Completed" activ ities of Part II, 
the number of individual beneficiaries wa s 16; the total number of commitments 
was 62, and the total value of these commitments stood at US$207 million.  The disbursement flows reached US$207 million.  
  The update reflected in this version of  the Evolving Table was made possible by 
contributions from Australia, Canada, the EU (and several of its Member States), Japan, the 
US, and the CFC.  Of particular and continui ng significance is the support and contributions 
from Brazil, China and India, on the plat form of South-South Co-operation.   
  My biannual update of this Evolving Ta ble has previously been accompanied by an 
updated version of the Domestic Cotton Sector Re form Table. This table is being updated and 
will be circulated as soon as possible.     I have decided to convene 16
th Round of the DGCFMC for 3 November 2011.  
Deputy Director-General Harsha V. Singh will Chair the consultations on my behalf.  The 
updated 12th version of the Evolving Table will form the basis for this Round of 
consultations.     In conclusion, I seize this opportunity to remind the Membership of the importance of 
the two-track approach that has been pur sued on the cotton dossier: the development 
assistance track and the trade policy / nego tiating track.  The balanced and gradual 
implementation of both tracks would enable LDCs to use trade for growth and poverty 
reduction.  It would be a test of the WTO's ab ility to foster the development dimension of 
international trade, ensure that the rules-based trading system continues to be relevant, credible and meaningful in its purpose and results for th e most vulnerable members.