. /. RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/WGTTT/M/27 
18 May 2009 
 (09-2403) 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology 
Twenty-Seventh Session  
 
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 10 MARCH 2009 
 
Chairperson:  H.E. Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu (Ghana)  
  
A.
 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA .........................................................................................................1  
B. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY ..............1  
C. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON STEPS T HAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN THE 
MANDATE OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES ............................................................................................................................... ...2 
D. OTHER BUSINESS .........................................................................................................................2  
 
 A. 
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The agenda contained in Airgram WTO/ AIR/3325 of 26 February 2009 was adopted . 
2. At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman  briefed Members on the small-group 
consultations that he had held  on 16 February 2009.  He stated that the objective of those 
consultations was to solicit Members' views on how best to plan and structure the work of the 
Working Group so as to make meaningful progress in 2009.  He informed Members that China, India, 
Pakistan and the Philippines had indicated that they  would make country presentations and share their 
national experience on innovation, t echnology generation and its transfer in 2009.  In addition, other 
intergovernmental organizations had also been cont acted to brief the Working Group on their work in 
the field of innovation and technology transfer.  In that context, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) had expressed its inability to do  so in the near future as it was going through a 
transition and realignment phase.  However, WIPO  did not rule out the possibility of making a 
presentation on work related to technology transf er and the technology-related website under the 
WIPO Development Agenda.  Members were al so informed that the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) would make a presentation on ''Technology Transfer and Productivity Gains in 
Agriculture'' at the next meeting of the Working Group. 
B. 
ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY  
3. In continuing their consideration of the relati onship between trade and transfer of technology 
on the basis of a World Bank study entitled " Global Economic Prospects:  Technology Diffusion in 
the Developing World " that had been  introduced at an earlier meeting of the Working Group, 
Members had a shared understanding that in the t echnology-transfer process a number of factors and 
the intricate nexus amongst them played an important role.  Members felt that the study contributed to an enhanced understanding of some of those comp lex issues.  In addition, while welcoming the 
prospective sharing of national experiences a nd presentations by other intergovernmental 
organizations during 2009, Members also underlined the importance of that exercise in clarifying WT/WGTTT/M/27 
Page 2  
 
  some of the basic concepts in the technology-transf er process.  In that context, the importance and 
need for national presentations from countries that had made rapid advancements was particularly 
emphasized.  However, it was noted that for those presentations to be optimally useful, it was important that copies of the presentation or executiv e summary be made available well in advance of 
the meeting.  One Member pointed to the usefuln ess of linking the discussions in the Working Group 
to the work being undertaken in the TRIPS Co uncil on provisions rela ting to strengthening 
technological base in developing and least-developed countries.   
C. 
ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON  STEPS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN THE MANDATE 
OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
4. Under the agenda item relating to the consider ation of possible recommendations on steps that 
might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing 
countries, Members continued their discussion on the new room document entitled "Facilitating 
Access to Information on Appropriate Technology S ourcing – A step to increase flows of technology 
to developing countries", introduced at the previous m eeting, by India, Pakistan and the Philippines.  
The proponents recapitulated the salient points raised  in the submission.  Members felt that the 
submission was a positive contribution to the di scussions on the relationship between trade and 
transfer of technology.  In addition, the submission  highlighted the important role that transfer of 
technology could play for the development of countri es and for promoting their participation in global 
trade. During the discussion, Members' attention was also drawn to the fact that technology transfer 
had been a part of several international agreements.  In that context, the Montreal Protocol established 
a financing mechanism for effective technology transfer  in relation to the depletion of the ozone layer 
and hence could be presented as a good model for th e work on technology transfer in the Working 
Group.   
D. OTHER BUSINESS  
5. No issue was raised under "Other Business".  Ho wever, the Chairman informed Members that 
the current session would be his last meeting as th e Chairman of the Working Group as he was being 
recalled back to his capital.  He stated that he was, accordingly, informing the Chairman of the 
General Council, who would initia te consultations for electing the new Chairperson of the Working 
Group.  He thanked Members for their support in carrying on the work of the Working Group.  He also expressed hope that under the new Chair Memb ers would continue their work with dedication 
and commitment to fulfil the mandate under paragra ph 37 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.   
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