RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/176 
26 November 2010 
 (10-6393) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
DRAFT 
 
REPORT (2010) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
 I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The 2009 annual report of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) was circulated in 
documents WT/COMTD/70 of 5 November 2009 a nd WT/COMTD/70/Add.1 of 11 December 2009.  
The present report covers the work of the Committee si nce then, in particular the work of the CTD in 
Regular Session, the Dedicated Sessions on Regional Trade Agreements and Small Economies, the 
CTD's work on Aid for Trade, and the work of  the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries.
1  
II. REGULAR SESSION 
2. The CTD in Regular Session held three form al meetings on 18 March, 28 June and 
4 October 2010.  The minutes of these meetings  are contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/78 
through WT/COMTD/M/802, respectively.  At the 78th Session held on 18 March 2010, the 
Chairmanship was handed over from Ambassador Shr ee B.C. Servansing (Maur itius) to Ambassador 
Erwidodo (Indonesia). 
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 Afri caine de Développement. 
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 The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issue of special and differential treatment, has its 
own reporting requirements. 
2 To be issued.   WT/COMTD/W/176 
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. Decision on Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangements; 
E. Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs; 
F. Paragraph 51 of the Doha Declaration on identifying and debati ng developmental and 
environmental aspects of the negotiations, in  order to help achieve the objective of 
having sustainable development appropriately reflected. 
 A. 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
6. At its 79th Session, the Committee took note of the Annual Report on Technical Assistance 
and Training, 1 January to 31 December 2009 (WT/COMTD/W/173), and of the Technical 
Cooperation Audit Report for 2009 (WT/COMTD/W/174).  
B. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING MARKET  ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING AND LEAST -DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES  
7. In 2010, notifications of regional trade agre ements (RTAs) under the Enabling Clause were 
made concerning the India-MERCOSUR Agreemen t (WT/COMTD/N/31), the India-Afghanistan 
Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/32), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Korea 
Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/33), the India-Nepal Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/34), the ASEAN-India Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/35) and the India-Korea Agreement (WT/COMTD/N/36).  The Preferential Trade Agreement between Chile and  India (Goods), the notification of which (WT/COMTD/N/30) was made in 2009, was cons idered in a Dedicated Session of the CTD on 
28 June 2010, as per the provisions of the 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on a 
Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (WT/L/671) (see Section III).   
8. Members considered issues relating to the dual notification status of the Gulf Cooperation 
Council (GCC) Customs Union under the Enabling Clau se and GATT Article XXIV.  In this regard, a 
communication from China, Egypt and India (WT/COMTD/W/175) was introduced at the 80
th Session.  At the same meeting, the Chairman informed Members that the RTAs between ASEAN 
and Korea, and between India and Korea, also had a dual notification status.  The Chairman will be 
continuing his informal consultations on these issues.   
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 43rd Session from 14 to 15 December 2009.  The report on that meeting is contained in 
document ITC/AG/(XLIII)/232.  The Chairman of the JAG, when presenting the report at the 79
th Session, said that the Group had endorsed the Consolidated Programme Document for 2010 and 
the Strategic Plan for 2010 to 2 013.  Many delegations had stressed the importance of the ITC's work, 
and in particular the support for small and medi um-sized enterprises in developing countries.  
Delegations were particularly appreciative of the connection between the ITC's programmes and 
efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Go als.  In this regard, the ITC's activities in 
developing the capacity of poor communities to engage  in international export trade were highlighted.  
Delegations also emphasized the need to mainstream  gender concerns and to factor considerations  WT/COMTD/W/176 
 Page 3 
 
 
  related to climate change into ITC programmes.  The JAG further underlined the importance of the 
Aid-for-Trade Initiative, in the context of which the ITC focused on the private sector.  Appreciation 
was expressed for efforts undertaken to improve the performance and effectiveness of trade support 
institutions in developing countries, as well as  for a new initiative to assist LDCs in the WTO 
accession process.  The Committee took note of the repor t and forwarded it to the General Council for 
adoption. 
D. DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS  
10. The 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on Transparency for Preferential Trade 
Arrangements (WT/L/672) invited the CTD to consider transparency for preferential trade arrangements (PTAs) under paragraph 2 of the Enabling Clause (other than RTAs), and to report back 
for appropriate action by the General Council.  At the 80
th Session, the proponents of a Transparency 
Mechanism for PTAs – Brazil, China, India and th e United States – presented a revised version of 
their proposal (JOB(08)/103/Rev.3).  The Committee agreed to this version of the proposal, which 
was subsequently circulated in document WT/COM TD/71 and forwarded to the General Council for 
adoption.  
E. HONG KONG DECISION ON DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS FOR 
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
11. The Decision taken at the Hong Kong Minist erial Conference on duty-free and quota-free 
(DFQF) market access for LDCs remains a standi ng item on the CTD's agenda.  LDCs took the floor 
at each of the formal meetings of the CTD, calli ng for an expeditious and faithful implementation of 
the Decision.  A number of Members shared the step s they were taking to provide preferential market 
access to the LDCs.  Brazil confirmed its inten tion to implement a DFQF scheme for LDCs, the 
coverage of which would be expanded in successive instalments until 100 per cent of tariff lines were 
covered.  China indicated that, as of 1 July 2010,  it was granting zero-tariff treatment on 4,762 tariff 
lines for products imported from the 33 LDCs that ha d completed the exchange  of letters for that 
purpose. India provided updates on the implementa tion of its Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) 
Scheme for LDCs.  The European Union outlined th e approach being initiated by it with regard to 
rules of origin in its preferential arrangements. 
F. PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING 
DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO HELP 
ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUST AINABLE DEVELOPMEN T APPROPRIATELY 
REFLECTED  
12. At the 80th Session, the Committee considered an update d version of the Secretariat paper on 
the Developmental Aspects of the Doha Round of Negotiations (WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev.4).  The 
Chairman requested that any comments by Member s on the paper be submitted in writing, following 
which the Secretariat would prepare a revision to the paper.3  
III. DEDICATED SESSION ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
13. The CTD held its 4th Dedicated Session on RTAs on 28 June 2010, chaired by 
Ambassador Erwidodo.  The minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/4.  The Committee considered th e Preferential Trade Agreement between Chile 
and India (Goods) (WT/COMTD/N/30, WT /COMTD/RTA/4/1, WT/COMTD/RTA/4/2, 
WT/COMTD/RTA/4/3), as per the provisions of the 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on 
a Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (WT/L/671). 
                                        
3 The revision was subsequently circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev.5. WT/COMTD/W/176 
Page 4  
 
  IV. DEDICATED SESSION ON SMALL ECONOMIES 
14. Pursuant to paragraph 35 of th e Doha Ministerial Declaration
4, the General Council, at its 
meeting on 1 March 2002, took note of the framewo rk and procedures for the conduct of the Work 
Programme on Small Economies.5  The CTD was instructed to oversee this programme of work in 
dedicated sessions.  At the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, Ministers 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 the Dedica ted Session and to monitor progress of the small 
economies' proposals in the negotiating and other bodies.
6 
15. [In 2010, the Dedicated Session held one formal meeting on 8 December 2010 on the Work 
Programme on Small Economies, chai red by Ambassador Erwidodo.  The minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/217.  At the meeting, the Secretariat presented an updated 
version of the compilation paper to assist the Dedicated Session with its monitoring role.  The updated version of the Secretariat's paper was circulat ed as document WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.5.  The 
Dedicated Session took note of the paper and Member s' comments.  Barbados also made a statement 
on behalf of the small economies on the assessment of the Doha Round.]
8 
V. AID FOR TRADE 
16. The CTD held five sessions on Aid for Trade in 2010, on 17 March, 27 May, 19 July, 
26 October, and 7 December.  The March mee ting was exceptionally chaired by Ambassador 
Darlington Mwape of Zambia.  The other meet ings were chaired by Ambassador Erwidodo of 
Indonesia.  The minutes of the meetings are c ontained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/14 through 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/18, respectively.  Aid for Trade was also included as an agenda item for discussion at the General Council on 21 October 2010. 
17. The format of each CTD-Aid-for-Trade session fo llowed the five headings of the 2010-2011 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme
9, 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 Secretaria t was circulated in advance of each session.10   
18. Four dedicated thematic workshops were held  under the auspices of the Committee on Trade 
and Development in 2010 as follows:  Workshop  on Aid for Trade and Agriculture held on 
17 March 2010;  Workshop on Aid for Trade and Development Finance held on 27 May 2010;  
Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation of Aid fo r Trade held on 19 July 2010;  and Workshop on 
Aid for Trade and Mainstreaming held on 26 October 2010.  
                                        
4 WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1. 
5 WT/L/447. 
6 WT/MIN(05)/DEC. 
7 To be issued. 
8 As part of the process of finalizing the Annual Report, the square brackets in this paragraph will be 
removed, and the discussion that took place at the meeting will be appropriately reflected. 
9 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. 
10 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/18 and addenda.  WT/COMTD/W/176 
 Page 5 
 
 
  19. At the CTD's Fourteenth Session on Aid for Tr ade, the World Bank provided an overview of 
its multi-donor trust fund, the Trade Facilitation Facility, and reported on th e Bank's Aid-for-Trade 
operations, notably the Group-wide Trade Strategy th at it was developing.  The Islamic Development 
Bank gave a brief overview of its activities on agricu ltural development.  The Enhanced Integrated 
Framework (EIF) provided information on its Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects, its regional workshops, the 
work it was undertaking with respect to mainstreami ng, and on administrative issues relating to the 
new EIF Board and Executive Secretariat.  Japan, as co-chair of the Regional Technical Group (RTG) 
established by the Asian Development Bank, informed  on the status of the RTG report.  The African 
Development Bank (AfDB) informed about an ECOW AS Aid-for-Trade regional review meeting held 
in Abuja, Nigeria on 27-28 January 2010.  UNDP gave an update on an Aid-for-Trade Consultative 
Meeting for the UNESCWA region held in Beirut, Lebanon on 10-11 January 2010 and a Technical 
Workshop on the development of a regional Aid-for-Trade programme for the UN SPECA11 region 
held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 10-11 March 2010.  The EU gave a detailed statement on its 
Aid-for-Trade activities, noting that  it was finalizing its annual Aid-for-Trade review of the EU and 
member States, and the OECD and UNECA presente d overviews of their work programmes.  ITC 
provided information on its activities in support of the private sect or.  Reports were also given on the 
Workshop on Aid for Trade and Agriculture and on a Joint ITC/WTO Seminar on "Connecting West African Farmers to the Market" held pr ior to the CTD-Aid-for-Trade meeting. 
20. The Fifteenth Session included presentations by  the AfDB on its trade-related activities, 
Kenya on an informal Aid-for-Trade workshop he ld in Nairobi, Kenya on 6 April 2010, Japan, as 
co-Chair of the AsDB RTG, on the third meeting of the RTG held in Tokyo, Japan on 
10-11 May 2010, the EU on its Aid-for-Trade  2010 monitoring report, and the UNDP on its 
knowledge network proposal.  The EIF also provided an  overview of its activities, and ITC again gave 
a brief overview of its activities in support of the private sector.  A report was also given on the 
Workshop on Aid for Trade and Development Finance. 
21. The CTD's Sixteenth Session focused on the pr ocess and way forward with regard to the 
monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise leading to the Third Global Review in 2011.  The 
Director-General launched a call for case stories
12, and a timetable for the M&E process was 
discussed.  The AfDB reported on its capital resources increase and the World Bank on meetings related to the 16
th replenishment of its International Deve lopment Association.  UNECA, the AfDB 
and Tanzania informed about recently-held Aid-for-T rade related events.  These included an Expert 
Group Meeting and Workshop on Aid for Trade and Africa's Trading Capacity:  Supply, Demand and 
Performance held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 31 May-2 June, a Central African Aid-for-Trade 
Preparatory meeting held in Douala, Cameroon on 30 June and 1 July 2010, and a High-Level 
Workshop on Aid for Trade for EAC countries held in Dar es Salaam on 14 and 15 June.  Nigeria 
reported on its trade and capacity development re form programme, UNCTAD introduced its recent 
publication on South-South cooperation in Afri ca, and ITC reported on its export development 
strategies.  Japan, as co-Chair of the AsDB RTG, informed on the status of the RTG report.  A report 
was also given on the Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation. 
22. Aid for Trade was discussed at the General Council on 21 October 2010.  The 
Director-General introduced the joint WTO-OE CD monitoring and evaluation exercise which 
underpins the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade to be  held in July 2011.  He informed that a joint 
WTO/OECD letter had recently been circulated to Members and Observers outlining the focus of the 
Third Global Review – which would be on assessing the impact and outcome of Aid for Trade on the 
ground – as well as the M&E exercise – which would be based on three main elements, namely an 
analysis of trade flows by the OECD, self assessment questionnaires,  and case stories describing what 
                                        
11 The Special Programme for the Economies of Cent ral Asia (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). 
12 WT/COMTD/AFT/W/22. WT/COMTD/W/176 
Page 6  
 
  was working and where improvements were needed in  the area of Aid for Trade.  The deadline for 
submission of the self-assessment questionnaires and case stories had been fixed at 31 January 2011.  
Delegations supported the approach of case stori es showcasing the impact and outcome of Aid for 
Trade and stressed the importance th ey attached to Aid for Trade a nd the Third Global Review.  The 
report of the General Council debate is  contained in document WT/GC/M/128.
13 
23. At the CTD's Seventeenth Session, the Secretariat provided an overview of the 2010-2011 
M&E exercise and actions that were being taken to support Members in the process leading up to the 
Third Global Review.  The World Bank reported on th e annual meetings of th e Bank and International 
Monetary Fund, and the status on IDA replenishmen t and progress in the Bank's trade strategy.  The 
Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce, Cam bodia, reported on the activities of the Aid-for-Trade 
Regional Technical Group.  The Commonwealth Secretariat provided an overview of its 
Aid-for-Trade research activities, and UNDP re ported on its Aid-for-Trade activities (funded by 
Finland) in the Commonwealth of Independent St ates and on the SPECA Ministerial event planned in 
December.  Canada reported on its  new strategy for sustainable economic growth, and the OECD 
reported on an Expert Meeting on Indicators:  Measuring Aid-for-Trad e Results at the Country Level 
held on 22 October 2010 which reviewed the use of indicators for Aid-for-Trade monitoring and 
evaluation.  A brief report was also given on th e Workshop on Mainstreaming and a joint ITC-WTO 
Expert Roundtable meeting on the "Gender Dimens ion of Aid for Trade" held prior to the CTD-
Aid-for-Trade meeting.  
24. [The Eighteenth Session on Aid for Trade focused on the Aid-for-Trade M&E exercise, 
notably an overview of the ongoing work on the questionnaires and case stories.  Different 
organizations and countries reporte d on regional training events held to enhance understanding of how 
to complete the questionnaire and submit case stor ies.  Members were informed that some  
questionnaires and a number of case stories had already been received.  The case stories would be posted, in the original language in which they ha d been received (English, French, Spanish), on a 
dedicated website.
14]15 
VI. SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
25. During the period under review, the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (hereafter 
the Sub-Committee) held three formal meetings on 12 March, 30 June and 17 November 2010.  The 
minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/55 through WT/COMTD/LDC/M/57, respectively.
16  In addition, an informal dialogue on LDC accessions was 
held on 5 May 2010.  All the meetings were ch aired by Ambassador Jean Feyder (Luxembourg).  
26. The work of the Sub-Committee has mainly focused on the impl ementation of the WTO Work 
Programme for the LDCs adopted by Members on 12 February 2002.17  The subjects considered under 
the Work Programme during the reporting period 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.  The item on the Fourth United Nations Conf erence on LDCs (LDC-IV) was also considered.   
                                        
13 To be issued. 
14 http://www.oecd.org/dac/aft/casestories  
15 As part of the process of finalizing the Annual Repor t, the square brackets in this paragraph will be 
removed, and the discussion that took place at the meeting will be appropriately reflected. 
16 Document WT/COMTD/LDC/M/57 is to be issued. 
17 WT/COMTD/LDC/11.  WT/COMTD/W/176 
 Page 7 
 
 
  (i) Market Access for LDCs 
27. The item on market access for LDCs was considered at the 55th and 57th Sessions of the 
Sub-Committee.  The Secretariat is sued a revision of its annual mark et access review study (2009) 
entitled "Market Access Issues for Products and Se rvices of Export Interest to Least-developed 
Countries" contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC /W/46/Rev.1, which was considered at the 
55th Session of the Sub-Committee.  Members expressed appreciation for the depth of analysis and 
statistics provided in the Note as we ll as gave suggestions for future work in this area.  A corrigendum 
to the Note was also issued in  view of comments from Members 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/46/Rev.1/Corr.1).  
28. At its 57th Session, the Sub-Committee consider ed the 2010 market access review study 
contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/48.  The Note, which includes data for the period 
2001-2009 allows for an examination of the trade performance of LDCs during the time-span of the Brussels Programme of Action for the LDCs for th e Decade 2001-2010 (BPOA).  It is one of WTO's 
substantive contributions to the LDC-IV process.  Detailed comments and suggestions were made on 
the Note, based on which the Secretariat will issue a revision for Members' consideration at the 
58
th Session of the Sub-Committee. 
(ii) Trade-related Technical Assistance and Capacity-building Initiatives for LDCs 
29. The item on TRTA and capacity-building init iatives for LDCs was considered at the 55th and 
56th Sessions of the Sub-Committee.  At the 55th Session, the Secretariat gave an overview of its 
technical assistance and training activities to the LDCs, including in the area of the Doha Work 
Programme.  In 2009, LDCs had been associated w ith nearly 50 per cent of all TRTA activities 
undertaken by the WTO Secretariat.  The LDCs, whic h continue to remain the primary beneficiaries 
of the WTO's TRTA programme, reiterated their s upport for the Biennial Technical Assistance and 
Training Plan (2010-2011). 
30. At the 55th Session, the Standards and Trade Developm ent Facility (STDF) Secretariat made a 
presentation on the Facility, based on the Note contained in WT/COMTD/LDC/W/47.18  A s  o f  
November 2010, 29 project preparation grants ( PPGs) have been approved for LDCs, representing 
64 per cent of PPGs;  in addition, the LDCs were  beneficiaries of 16 projects which represented 
nearly 35 per cent of total projects being funded by the STDF.   
31. At the 56th 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/1.  The transition to the 
EIF full Board took place on 30 April 2010, which continues to be chaired by Ambassdor Mothae A. 
Maruping (Lesotho).  The Steering Committee, under the EIF, also held its first meeting on 30 April 
2010 under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Hannu Hi manen (Finland).  With the finalization of all 
key administrative instruments and approval of the guidelines for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects, the EIF is making continuous progress in its implementation.
19 
32. As of November 2010, 47 beneficiaries were at  different stages of their EIF process.  
Thirty-nine LDCs had completed their Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTISs), two have 
completed a DTIS update, and twelve are planning DT IS updates.  The LDCs have started to benefit 
from the resources available under the EIF Trust Fund , with 16 Tier 1 projects under implementation, 
with another 15 in the pipeline.  Additionally, pr e-DTIS projects have been approved for six LDCs.  
Tier 2 project proposals have started to roll in , and the EIF Executive Secretariat is currently 
                                        
18 Up to date information can be seen at  STDF website: www.standardsfacility.org 
19 As of 1 December 2010, information on the EIF will be available un der www.enhancedif.org WT/COMTD/W/176 
Page 8  
 
  reviewing eight draft Tier 2 projects.  The numbe r of donors has reached 23, and over US$100 million 
has been transferred to the EIF Trust Fund by the end of November 2010.   
(iii) Accession of LDCs to the WTO
20 
33. The Sub-Committee considered the item on Accession of LDCs to the WTO, at its 
56th Session where the Chairman made a detailed oral report on the informal dialogue on LDC 
accessions held on 5 May 2010.21  Members expressed support for the continuation of such dialogues, 
under the aegis of the Sub-Committee, which had been  found useful in deepening the engagement of 
Members with acceding LDCs, as well as in building a mutual understanding on issues arising in LDC accessions.
22   
34. At the informal dialogue, Members reiterate d their commitment to work within the 
parameters of the LDC accession guidelines to facilitate and accelerate LDC accessions.23  The LDCs 
urged Members to work towards speedy accessions of  LDCs, including conclusions of some advanced 
LDC accessions.  Suggestions were made to further facilitate the accession process, including 
discussion of accessions in the Sub-Committee.  The dialogue also heard presentations from the EIF 
Executive Secretariat as well as from some of the EI F core agencies (ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP) on their 
technical assistance in support of acceding LDCs.   
(iv) Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs to be held in 2011 
35. The item was considered at 56th and 57th Sessions of the Sub-Committee.  At the 56th Session, 
the representative of Turkey – the host country of LDC-IV Conference – made a comprehensive 
statement providing its background, the process, ac tivities being undertaken in the run up to the 
Conference to be held in May 2011, as well as possi ble deliverables that could be considered by the 
UN intergovernmental process for inclusion in th e LDC-IV outcome document.  The LDCs expressed 
appreciation to Turkey for hosting the Conferen ce and sought support from Members to make it 
successful.  At that session, the Chairman requested the Secretariat to prepare a paper, in line with 
WTO's areas of competence, for Members' consideration at the 57th Session of the Sub-Committee.   
36. At the 57th Session, the Secretariat introduced the report by the Director-General on the 
implementation of the BPOA, contained in document JOB/DEV/8.  Members expressed appreciation 
to the Director-General for his contribution to th e LDC-IV process, and made a few suggestions for 
reflection in the report.   
37. At the same Session, the representative of Nepal, the LDC Coordinator in the UN system, 
introduced the inputs submitted by the LDC Group in Ge neva to the LDC-IV process, in particular for 
inclusion into the Istanbul Programme of Action – the possible title of the outcome document of the 
LDC-IV – to be developed by the UN member States.  These inputs are contained in document 
JOB/DEV/9.  Members reiterated their support to work  with the LDCs in the run up to the Conference 
to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2011. 
                                        
20 As of November 2010, 12 LDCs were at various stages of the accession process, namely 
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Lao PDR, Liberia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, 
Sudan, Vanuatu and Yemen. 
21 Earlier at the 55th Session, under other business, the Chairman indicated that the dialogue would be 
organized around the "Geneva Week" event in May 2010, to allow the participation of non-resident acceding 
LDCs. 
22 The oral report is fully reflected in the minutes  of the meeting contained in WT/COMTD/LDC/M/56. 
23 The accession guidelines are contained in WT/L/508.  WT/COMTD/W/176 
 Page 9 
 
 
  (v) Other Matters raised under " Other Business" 
38. At the 55th Session, UNIDO made a statement concerning the LDC Ministerial Conference 
held in December 2009, which it had organized as one of UNIDO's main events in preparation for the 
LDC-IV.  It brought to the attention of the Sub- Committee the Ministerial Declaration and Plan of 
Action adopted at that Conference, followi ng which the UNIDO had commissioned four 
sector-specific studies covering cotton, fruits, vegetabl es, fisheries and dairy sectors in eight African 
and Asian LDCs.   
__________