RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/M/65 
23 November 2007 
 
 (07-5158) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Sixty-Fifth Session  
 
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 8 OCTOBER 2007 
 
Chairman:  H.E. Mr. Shree B.C. Servansing (Mauritius) 
 
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA .........................................................................................................2  
B. OBSERVERS ............................................................................................................................... ...2 
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers ...............................................................................2  
(ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab 
States, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Internationale de la 
Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and th e Groupe de la Banque Africaine de 
Développement.................................................................................................................. ..........3
 
C. REPORT OF THE 40TH SESSION OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD /WTO (ITC/AG(XL)/214) .............................................3  
D. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE .........................................................................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.1) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.2) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.3) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.4) ....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.5)................................................................................................................4  
- AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AGREEMENT ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AMONG 
DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES OF TH E ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR 
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (BANGKOK AGREEMENT ) – NOTIFICATION BY CHINA 
(WT/COMTD /N/22 – WT/COMTD /62).............................................................................................6  
E. DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO 
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES ........................7  
- STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN ..................................................................................................7  WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 2  
 
  F.
 DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672) ...........7  
G. PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING 
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO HELP ACHIEVE THE 
OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE DEV ELOPMENT APPROPRIATELY REFLECTED 
(WT/COMTD /W/143/ REV.3)........................................................................................................10  
H. REVIEW OF STEPS T AKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS 
TO LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ...........................................................................................10  
I. PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM ..........11  
- STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN ................................................................................................11  
J. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING ................................................................................11  
- BIENNIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN – 2008-2009   
(WT/COMTD /W/160  – TO BE ISSUED ):  INFORMATION BY THE SECRETARIAT ............................11  
- SEMI -ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES 
(1 JANUARY  - 30 JUNE  2007)  (WT/COMTD /W/161)....................................................................11  
K. OTHER BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................14  
 
  A. 
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairman  said that the draft agenda for the 65th Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD) was contained in document  WTO/AIR/3065/Rev.1 issued on 3 October 2007.  
2. The agenda was adopted . 
B. OBSERVERS  
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers 
3. The Chairman  recalled that at previous sessions of the CTD, Members agreed to invite a 
number of intergovernmental organizations on an ad  hoc, meeting-by-meeting basis.  These included 
the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), th e Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the 
Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation, th e 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 Intellectua l Property Organization (WIPO).  He said that, 
following the decision taken at the previous meeti ng of the Committee, the organizations had been 
invited to the present meeting.  He proposed that the organizations be invited to the next formal 
meeting of the CTD. 
4. It was so agreed
.  WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 3 
 
 
  (ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab States, the 
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Int ernationale de la Francophonie, the Common 
Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement 
5. The Chairman
 said that at previous meetings, the Committee had had before it a number of 
requests for observer status.  He said that if there was no change in positions to extend observer status 
to any of those applicants, then the Committee would take note and would revert to those requests at 
the next meeting.   
6. It was so agreed . 
C. REPORT OF THE 40TH SESSION OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
CENTRE UNCTAD /WTO (ITC/AG(XL)/214) 
7. The Chairman  invited Ms. Patricia Francis, Executiv e Director of the International Trade 
Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC), to present the report of the 40th Session of the Joint Advisory Group 
(JAG). 
8. The Executive Director of the ITC  said that the JAG had held its fortieth session from 25 to 
27 April 2007.  The report of the meeting was contained in ITC document ITC/AG/(XL)/214.  She had the pleasure of submitting the report to the CTD – with a few remarks on the proceedings of the 
JAG meeting – on behalf of the JAG Chair, Amba ssador Balihuta of Uganda.  She informed the 
Committee that the JAG meeting had a new interactiv e format, with panel sessions to consider issues 
of importance to each region.  In their opening statements, the Secretary General of the 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Developmen t (UNCTAD) and the Director-General of the 
WTO had indicated that the ITC had their full suppor t and continued to be a partner, given its focus 
on the business community.  In her own opening rema rks, she had informed the JAG that the ITC had 
just embarked on an internal reform process.  Th e organization would firstl y move from having strong 
products to delivering strategic solutions for its clie nts.  It would also work towards more holistic 
delivery, based on it's comparative and competitive adva ntage.  Finally, it would work with a range of 
partners, including UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the 
WTO, the World Bank and others, to develop an architecture for export development.  
9. She said that the JAG had had before it the ITC's Annual Report, the ITC Programme 
Document and a Draft Strategic Framework for 2008 and 2009.  The Group had encouraged the ITC to proceed with its reform process and expressed wide  support for the organization's efforts to have a 
more consolidated and strategic approach to its programme of work.  The ITC Programme Document 
was considered a good basis for the development of fu rther strategic priorities for the organization.  
Efforts to build strategic partnerships with othe r trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) providers 
were appreciated and the ITC's key role in im plementing projects under the Enhanced Integrated 
Framework and Aid for Trade was recognized.  On strengthening governance and accountability, the 
Group had endorsed the suggestion to have a single tr ust fund for greater transparency, and had noted 
that the ITC would present a refined governance structure and a revised Programme Document at the next JAG meeting in December 2007.  Finally, sh e thanked the Governments of Canada, China, 
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India,  Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and 
Switzerland for their announcements of voluntary contributions to the ITC. 
10. The Committee took note
 of the report of the 40th Session of the JAG and forwarded  it to the 
General Council for adoption. WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 4  
 
  D. 
NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE  
- COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.1) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.2) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.3) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON TH E REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.4) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD /57/ ADD.5) 
11. The Chairman  recalled that the European Communities had notified its revised Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP) scheme at the 57th Session of the CTD on 11 May 2006.  
Communications raising questions on the EC's revised GSP scheme had been received from Brazil, 
China, India and Pakistan and were circulated  in documents WT/COMTD/57/Add.1 to Add.4, 
respectively.  The EC's responses to the questions were circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/57/Add.5.  It had been agreed at the la st CTD meeting that he would continue with his 
informal consultations on this matter and would re port back to the Committee.  In this regard, he 
reported that his consultations had allowed some  progress to be made on the matter, but it also 
appeared that more consultations, and more time, would be required before this item could be taken 
off the CTD's agenda.  He inquired whether any Member wished to take the floor.  
12. The representative of Pakistan  said that she wished to reiterate what her delegation had 
indicated at earlier meetings, namely that the EC 's special incentive arrangement for sustainable 
development and good governance did not comply with  the requirements set out  in paragraphs 2(a), 
3(a) and 3(c) of the Enabling Clause.  She said that GSP schemes were required to be generalized, 
non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory.  They also ne eded to be designed to facilitate and promote the 
trade of developing countries and not raise barrier s or create undue difficulties for the trade of any 
other Member.  The EC's scheme clearly did not fit under the umbrella of the Enabling Clause as 
envisaged by the membership.  She added that her delegation had as yet not received responses to the second set of questions that had been posed to the EC.  She also observed that the EC's scheme was 
supposed to undergo a review in 2007, and her dele gation had expectations that the scheme would be 
rectified to take other eligible countries on board.  The year was, however, in to its last quarter and 
nothing had yet been heard about the review or its outcome.  She said that the continued implementation of the scheme in its original form  was against the business interests of countries like 
Pakistan, not only because of the market access being denied, but also in terms of the consequent 
damage to production chains and the ensuing unemp loyment.  As a low-income, developing country 
with a limited choice of forums to have its grieva nces addressed, Pakistan wished to maintain this 
item on the CTD's agenda, and requested the EC to re view its GSP scheme in a fair and trade-friendly 
manner. 
13. The representative of Brazil
 said that his delegation supported the intervention by Pakistan.  
He informed the Committee that Brazil had sent  a communication to the EC on 7 July 2007, 
requesting more detailed and update d information on the EC's revised GSP scheme, including trade 
data for 2006.  A first reply from the EC wa s received by Brazil on 3 August 2007, with  WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 5 
 
 
  supplementary information received on 14 Septem ber 2007.  While the competent authorities in 
Brazil were still in the process of analyzing the info rmation, he said as a preliminary comment that it 
appeared that no information had been provided on  graduation criteria and their application.  In 
addition, he observed that the EC's database app eared to provide information on preferential trade 
flows as a whole, without separating trade flows by preferential scheme.  This made it difficult to 
identify which trade flows could be attributed to th e GSP, in particular for countries which benefited 
from other preferential schemes.  His delegation, therefore, suggested that the EC endeavour to 
present a database which would allow for the separati on of trade flows by preferential scheme.  His 
delegation also looked forward to receiving trade data for 2006, as had been requested. 
14. The representative of the European Communities  said that the EC, through its various 
preferential schemes, offered significant preferential market access to a large number of developing 
countries.  Monitoring trade flows from all th ese countries implied the maintenance of a huge 
database.  The basic database that the EC maintain ed was available to the public via the Eurostat 
website, and it was possible to make calculations fro m this database on the share of any beneficiary 
country in the EC's GSP-covered imports.  The EC, however, preferred to provide more specific 
requests for data on a bilateral basis.  This allowe d the opportunity to explain aspects of the database 
in more detail and therefore avoid misinterpreta tion.  His delegation was always willing to hold 
informal consultations on such matte rs on a bilateral basis.  On the issue of graduation, he said that 
the basic principle of graduation occurring when certain sectors became competitive was an inherent 
feature of any GSP scheme.  Questioning the criteria u sed by the EC in this regard was an issue of 
policy appreciation, and there were other avenues av ailable in the WTO for such a discussion.  On the 
matter of the provision of data to Brazil, he be lieved that the information that his delegation had 
transmitted included data for 2006. 
15. He went on to say that the EC's GSP scheme w ould soon be subject to its regular update.  In 
terms of procedure, the EC would submit a draft proposal to member States, which would be made public.  Consultations with member States would th en take place on the basis of the proposal, and it 
was expected that a new regulation would be publis hed in early 2008.  The regulation would lay out, 
inter alia , the arrangements for implementing a special incentive scheme, which would require 
applications from eligible and interested governments.   It was expected that the final list of countries 
incorporated in the special incentive scheme woul d be published towards the end of 2008.  He 
believed that the procedure he had just laid out w ould provide for ample transparency.  In addition, 
the updated GSP scheme, once finalized, would pr ovide predictability and stability for three 
consecutive years.  He believed that the CTD had reached the limit of its consideration of the EC's 
existing GSP scheme, in particular since informa tion on the updated scheme would be available soon.  
He suggested that the CTD's consideration of the 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on 
Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangements would provide a better context for Members to 
discuss issues concerning transparency in the no tification of preferential trade arrangements. 
16. The representative of Brazil
 said that his delegation recognized the openness of the EC 
market.  However, he believed that an appropria te level of transparency was as important as the 
provision of preferential market access.  In this rega rd, the level of transparency the EC was currently 
providing with regard to its GSP scheme was unsatisf actory.  He requested that the item concerning 
the EC's revised GSP scheme remain on the CTD's ag enda, and asked the Chairman to continue with 
his informal consultations to find an appropriate solution to this matter. 
17. The Chairman  said that he encouraged the concer ned delegations to pursue bilateral 
consultations to help clarify certain issues.  At th e same time, he would con tinue with his informal 
consultations, and would report back to the CTD.  The item would, therefore, remain on the CTD's 
agenda.   
18. It was so agreed . WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 6  
 
  - 
AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AGREEMEN T ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AMONG 
DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 
(BANGKOK AGREEMENT ) – NOTIFICATION BY CHINA 
(WT/COMTD /N/22 – WT/COMTD /62) 
19. The Chairman  said that the notification by China, concerning an amendment to an existing 
regional trade agreement (RTA), had been circul ated in document WT/COMTD/N/22.  The amended 
text of the agreement had been circulated in do cument WT/COMTD/62.  He invited the representative 
of China to introduce the notification. 
20. The representative of China  said that the present notification was being made on behalf of 
Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka.  Her delegation had the 
honour to notify WTO Members that the First Ag reement on Trade Negotiations among Developing 
Member Countries of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific – the Bangkok Agreement – had been amended as the Asia-P acific Trade Agreement (APTA), pursuant to 
Paragraph 4(a) of the Enabling Clause.  She in formed the Committee th at the Bangkok Agreement 
was notified to the GATT on 2 November 1976.  On 2 November 2005, delegates from all 
participating States of the Bangkok Agreement adop ted certain amendments to the Agreement and 
agreed to rename the Bangkok Agreement as the Asia -Pacific Trade Agreement.  She explained that 
APTA was an amendment to an existing RTA.  The amendment reflected chang es in the international 
trading system that had taken place since the Agreem ent was first established.  The revised text had a 
preamble, eight chapters consisting of 40 Articles and two Annexes.  Annex I contained the national 
lists of concessions, on the basis of which she info rmed the Committee that th e third round of tariff 
concessions – which entered into force on 1 Sept ember 2006 – covered 4,270  products (plus 587 for 
LDCs), with an average margin of preference of 26.8 per cent (58.8 per cent for LDCs).  The common 
rules of origin were provided in Annex II. 
21. The representative of the United States
 said that her delegation welcomed the notification and 
the opportunity to discuss the amendments to the Bangkok Agreement.  The supporting 
documentation had been found to be easily accessible.  The format used by the parties to notify the 
amendments was, however, an important reminder th at there was work to do in the CTD to make 
arrangements to implement an appr opriate process to consider notif ications of RTAs in a manner 
consistent with the relevant Ge neral Council Decision.  Her dele gation looked forward to working 
with Members to ensure that the process enabled solid improvements in the transparency of these 
agreements.  The present notification in particular raised the issue of how the process would provide 
for the transparency of significant amendments and expansions of previously  notified agreements.  
Given the trend towards significant expansions in RTAs, her delegation believed that this was an 
important question.  For example, according to the information provided on the website, the Bangkok 
Agreement collectively covered only 104 products wh en it was originally negotiated in 1975.  The 
present notification, however, concerned a product coverage of 4,270, which represented a major 
expansion.  The material provided on the website i ndicated that the parties had recognized that in 
order for the Bangkok Agreement to realize its full po tential, trade between Members must be further 
liberalized, and that the goal w as to deepen and widen concessions  so as to increase intra-member 
trade flows to significantly higher levels than was currently the case.  Her delegation was pleased with 
the recognition that liberalization would lead to  the greatest developments for development.  
Comprehensive liberalization was also the most compatible with advancing the goals of the 
multilateral trading system.  She informed th e Committee that her delegation sought some 
clarifications on the notification, and would be submitting written questions in the coming weeks.  
She, therefore, requested that this  item remain on the CTD's agenda.  
22. The Chairman  proposed that the Committee take note of  the interventions made.  He said that 
this item would remain on the CTD's agenda.    WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 7 
 
 
  23. It was so agreed .  
E. DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO TRADE 
AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES  
 - STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN  
24. The Chairman  said that it had been agreed at the last CTD meeting that the World Bank 
would be invited to the present meeting to make a presentation on its commodities work.  
Unfortunately, in spite of best efforts, it had not been possible to secure the participation of 
commodities experts from the Bank.  He recalled that it had also been agreed at the last meeting that 
the Secretariat would explore the possibility of i nviting a private sector organization to a future 
meeting of the CTD.  In this regard, he informed  the Committee that the Secr etariat had entered into 
contact with a number of organizations, including Cargill, Nestlé and Archer Daniels Midland.  
Interest had been expressed by some of these organi zations to participate in a CTD meeting, perhaps 
even later this year.  He proposed that the Secretar iat continue in its efforts to find a suitable private 
sector organization to make a presentation to the CTD. 
25. It was so agreed . 
F. DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672) 
26. The Chairman  recalled that in his report to the Genera l Council in July 2007, he had informed 
Members of the progress that had been made wi th regard to the Decision on Transparency for 
Preferential Trade Arrangements, which was containe d in document WT/L/672.  In particular, he had 
outlined the outcome of his informal consultations up to that point, and had informed the Council that 
the proponents – Brazil and India – were preparing a draft paper which would contain the elements of 
what they believe should be contained in Members'  notifications of preferential trade arrangements 
(PTAs).  He had reported that he would continue to work informally with Members once the 
Brazil/India draft paper was ready, and that he w ould eventually have the matter discussed in an 
open-ended format.  The Council ha d approved the request he had ma de on behalf of the CTD to 
allow the Committee until December 2007 to consid er the matter and report back for appropriate 
action.  He was now pleased to inform Member s that a non-paper by Brazil and India had been 
circulated to the membership in document JOB(07) /142.  He said that he had consulted informally 
with some Members on the basis of this non-paper, a nd now wanted the CTD to consider it.  In this 
regard, he invited the proponents to introduce the non-paper.  
27. The representative of India  recalled that on 14 December  2006, the General Council had 
decided to set up a procedural package to improve transparency for a subset of Members' PTAs, in 
particular RTAs falling under Article  XXIV of GATT 1994, paragra ph 2(c) of the Enabling Clause 
and Article V of the GATS.  On that same date , the General Council had also invited the CTD to 
consider transparency for other preferential tr ade arrangements falling u nder paragraph 2 of the 
Enabling Clause but not considered RTAs – essentia lly arrangements under GSP programmes.  It was 
these latter preferential trade arrangements which we re the focus of the non-paper which had been 
jointly prepared by Brazil and India.  The non-pape r discussed the main elements that Brazil and India 
believed should be incorporated in a procedural framework aimed at enhancing transparency for non-
RTA preferential trade arrangements.  The propo sed framework would provide the WTO membership 
with a clear, reliable and consistent source of information on PTAs.  
28. He said that transparency procedures for PTAs should be adequate, feasible and parallel to 
those contained in the Transpar ency Mechanism for RTAs.  The procedures should not prejudge the 
substance of the relevant provisions of the En abling Clause, nor affect Members' rights and 
obligations under the WTO Agreements in any way.  They should also not overburden the WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 8  
 
  administrations of the notifying Members.  Th e procedures should additionally aim at increased 
transparency for future PTAs – new or extended – as well as those which might be under application 
at the time of adoption of the procedures.  Brazil and India requested Members' consideration of the 
proposal, which would go a long way in fulfilling the Doha mandate on clarifying and improving 
disciplines and procedures for RTAs. 
29. The representative of Brazil
 said that his delegation associated itself with the intervention by 
India.  He explained that the objective of the proposed mechanism outlined in the non-paper was to 
increase the amount of information available to Me mbers on particular PTAs, without overburdening 
the administrations of notifying Members.  It was hoped that the non-paper would be the starting point 
for negotiations on this issue.   
30. The representative of Pakistan  said that Brazil and India had considered the issue of 
transparency for PTAs in a comprehensive manner.   The elements outlined encompassed what a 
potential mechanism to consider PTAs should have, a nd what it should not have, as well as its scope.  
Her delegation looked forward to further discussion on the basis of the non-paper, and on the basis of any other appropriate elements.  Her delegation in particular sought consideration of how the 
information provided by notifying Members would include details on graduation criteria and their 
application, as well as the coverage of countries that  were eligible.  She explained that non-reciprocal 
schemes were specific types of PTAs, and special care should be taken in devising procedures for 
their transparency, in particular  because several Members could be eligible for such schemes. 
31. The representative of Malaysia
 said that the non-paper provided a good starting point for 
discussion in the CTD on the issue of transparency fo r PTAs, and for eventually allowing the CTD to 
fulfil its mandate.  He informed the Committee that  the non-paper had been transmitted to his capital, 
and that he would share any comments with Members. 
32. The representative of th e European Communities  said that the non-paper was a good starting 
point for discussion in the CTD.  His delegation hope d that negotiations on this matter would allow 
the membership to clarify what should be the appr opriate level of transparency for PTAs, and what 
information should be provided as part of a notification – and in what format.  He suggested that the 
proponents could elaborate on some of the procedures that they had laid out in a preliminary fashion 
in the non-paper.  For example, only a brief refere nce without explanation was made in several parts 
of the non-paper to the procedures being simila r, though not identical, to the Transparency 
Mechanism for RTAs.  It was also not clear whethe r notifying Members would be required to provide 
data to the Secretariat, or whether it would suffice to  disclose the relevant internet links.  The role of 
the Secretariat had additionally not been sufficiently  clarified.  In this regard, he indicated as a 
preliminary comment that his delegation was of the view that the role of the Secretariat should be 
limited to facilitating the exchange  of information, and should not include any interpretational or 
analytical work.  He also noted the caution in the non-paper that the provisions should not prejudge the substance of the relevant provisions of the En abling Clause, but some clarification was needed as 
to how this caution would be linked to the pro cedures that would eventually be put in place. 
33. The representative of Barbados
 agreed that the non-paper w as a useful starting point for 
discussion in the CTD.  At the same time, there were a number of areas that needed to be clarified.  
As a preliminary comment, he sought some clarifi cation on the relationship between the fifth bullet 
point on page 1, the second bullet point under section 3 on page 2, and section 5 on page 3.  The fifth 
bullet point on page 1 stated that the procedures should aim at increased transparency for new or 
extended PTAs and those which may be under app lication.  The second bullet point under section 3 
on page 2 indicated that the role of the Secretar iat would be one of orga nization, and would not 
involve any analysis.  However, in section 5 on page 3 the role of the Secretariat was not specified.  
He believed that there was a need for clarification as to whether the role of the Secretariat in the  WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 9 
 
 
  context of PTAs being currently applied would also be limited to organizing meetings and 
information, and would therefore not be analytical in nature. 
34. The representative of Brazil  said that he would try to offer some preliminary reactions to the 
comments and questions that had been raised by Memb ers.  He clarified that the aim of the proposed 
mechanism was to cover PTAs notified under the En abling Clause that were not covered by the 
Transparency Mechanism for RTAs .  While the specific scope of the mechanism for PTAs would be 
subject to negotiations, he said that the way in which the proponents envisaged the obligations of 
notifying Members was very similar to the notifi cation requirements of the Transparency Mechanism 
for RTAs.  In cases where information was already available in WTO databases or in other publicly 
available databases, there might not be a need to provide this information again in a notification, 
which could be a way of not ove rburdening notifying Members.  The procedures to ensure an 
appropriate level of transparency for a PTA would include notification, the preparation of a factual 
presentation by the Secretariat, and the considerati on of the PTA in a meeting.  He emphasized that 
the role of the Secretariat should be one of gath ering and organizing information to make it easily 
accessible to the membership, but should  not include any analytical work.  
35. As for the mention in the non-paper of the envisaged procedures being in many respects 
similar but not identical to those established in th e Transparency Mechanism for RTAs, he explained 
that the proponents had made this reference th inking about the similari ties in the need for 
transparency in various PTAs.  At the same time , certain differences in procedures would exist in 
view of the different nature of th e arrangements considered in the proposed mechanism.  For example, 
the notifications would be made by the Member s sponsoring the scheme, and not by beneficiary 
countries.  He said that the proponents were willing to  provide any other clarifications that Members 
might require. 
36. The representative of El Salvador  said that his delegation's comments were of a preliminary 
nature.  He said that his delegation was still not  clear when the proposed mechanism would be 
applied.  He also asked to wh at extent the procedures in the proposed mechanism would have a 
relation to the various stages set out in the Tr ansparency Mechanism for RTAs, including the 
preparation of a factual presentation by the Secretariat. 
37. The representative of Brazil  said that the CTD had a mandate to report back to the General 
Council in December 2007, by which time the propo nents hoped that the negotiations on the proposed 
mechanism would have been completed.  Member s could then begin their consideration of PTAs 
under the new procedures in 2008.  The timing of th e consideration of specific PTAs would partly be 
an organizational issue, and could be discussed by Members in the context of the negotiations.  He 
said that the proponents were willing to hold b ilateral discussions with any Member on how the 
proposed mechanism would compare to th e Transparency Mechanism for RTAs. 
38. The Chairman  said that he encouraged the proponents to reflect on the comments that had 
been made by Members, and to start thinking about revising and updating the non-paper.  He said that 
this item would appear on the agenda of the last CTD meeting of the year, and invited Members to 
prepare themselves for a more focused discussion at th at meeting.  In the meantime, he proposed to 
continue his informal consultations with some Members.  
39. It was so agreed . WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 10  
 
  G. 
PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON IDENTIFYING AND DEBATING 
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS , IN ORDER TO HELP ACHIEVE THE 
OBJECTIVE OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE DE VELOPMENT APPROPRIATELY REFLECTED 
(WT/COMTD /W/143/ REV.3) 
40. The Chairman  said that, under this agenda item, the Committee had since its 54th Session been 
undertaking a review of the developmental aspects of the negotiations based on a periodically updated 
background paper prepared by the Secretariat.  It ha d been agreed at the last meeting that discussion 
would continue under this agenda item at the presen t meeting, based on the third revision of the 
Secretariat paper, contained in document WT/C OMTD/W/143/Rev.3.  He inquired whether any 
Member wished to take the floor. 
41. No Member took the floor.  
42. The Chairman  proposed that the Committee revert to this agenda item at the CTD's last 
meeting of the year.  
43. It was so agreed . 
H. REVIEW OF STEPS T AKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS TO 
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
44. The Chairman  said that this agenda item was cons idered by the Committee at the three 
meetings of the CTD already held in 2007.  It w as on the agenda once again for the present meeting, 
in line with the CTD's 2007 work programme – found in document WT/COMTD/61.  He said that at the CTD's final meeting of 2007, the Committee w ould undertake its mandate d annual review of the 
Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and quota-free (DFQ F) market access for LDCs.  He inquired 
whether any Member wished to take the floor. 
45. The representative of Bangladesh
 said that the CTD had heard several reports in past sessions 
from developed countries, as well as some developing countries, about the steps they had taken, or 
steps they planned to take, to provide DFQF market  access to the LDCs.  The LDCs were appreciative 
of these reports, and urged Members to continue to report back to the CTD about the initiatives taken 
by them to facilitate the access of LDC products into their markets.  
46. He emphasized the importance of taking into consideration the words "facilitating market 
access", which were specifically mentioned in the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.  In this regard, 
he indicated that declarations by developed coun tries, as well as developing countries, of DFQF 
market access for the LDCs would bring no benefit to the poorest countries of the world if they could 
not utilize these packages.  To ensure  that the preferential market acc ess offered to the LDCs really 
helped them to boost their exports, and thus help them integrate with more confidence into the 
multilateral trading system, it was the responsibility of the developed and developing Members of the 
WTO to support the LDCs in their endeavours.  DF QF market access would bring real benefits to the 
LDCs when this group of countries would have such a ccess for all of their products, thus being able to 
widen their export baskets.  Until and unless DFQF ma rket access for all products from all LDCs was 
ensured, LDCs would continue to face the challenge of uncertainty and unpredictability with regard to 
their exports.  In this connection, he requested th at developed countries, and developing countries in a 
position to do so, update the Committee on the progr ess of their internal processes to provide DFQF 
market access to LDCs, as per the Hong Kong Decision.  
47. He went on to say that LDCs had very limited capacities in all areas.  It was, therefore, 
important that Members provide sufficient support an d assistance to LDCs to allow them to become 
competitive.  He noted that at the start of the im plementation period after the conclusion of the Doha  WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Round, the preferences enjoyed by the LDCs would erode quickly.  To address that challenge, the 
LDCs needed DFQF market access to the devel oped and developing countries from day one, without 
staging.  At the same time, they needed fe asible technical assistance and capacity-building 
programmes to help them build strong export bases.  He urged Members to continue to support the 
LDCs in their efforts. 
48. The Committee took note  of the intervention by Bangladesh. 
I. PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM  
 - STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN  
49. The Chairman  said that the CTD had a mandate to keep under continuous review the 
participation of developing country Members in  the multilateral trading system.  The Committee's 
2007 work programme included an item concerning th e participation of developing countries in the 
multilateral trading system, which was scheduled to be considered at the present meeting.  It had also 
been agreed at the last meeting that, as on previo us occasions, this agenda item would be discussed on 
the basis of a background paper that the Secretariat would prepare. 
50. He informed Members that the Secretariat had started working, early this year, on its 
background paper on the basis of the most recent data available at the time, namely for the year 2005.  
Early in September 2007, however, when quite a bit of work on the paper had already been 
completed, data for 2006 became available.  The Se cretariat considered that it would be more useful 
to Members if the paper contained analysis based  on the most recent data.  For this reason, the 
finalization of the Secretariat paper had been slightly  delayed.  He understood that the paper would be 
ready shortly, and would be circulated in time for the next CTD meeting in 2007.  In view of these 
developments, he proposed that the Committee post pone its discussion under this agenda item to its 
last meeting of the year, by which time the Secretariat paper would be ready. 
51. It was so agreed . 
J. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
- BIENNIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN – 2008-2009  
 ( WT/COMTD /W/160  – TO BE ISSUED ):  INFORMATION BY THE SECRETARIAT  
- SEMI -ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMP LEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES 
(1 JANUARY  - 30 JUNE  2007)  (WT/COMTD /W/161) 
52. The Chairman  invited a representative of the Institute  for Training and Technical Cooperation 
(ITTC) to provide information and updates on a nu mber of issues relating to technical assistance 
(TA), including the latest Technical Assistance and Training Plan (TA Plan) – which was a biennial 
plan and would be circulated as document WT/C OMTD/W/160 – and the Semi-Annual Review of the 
Implementation of Activities for the period 1 Janua ry to 30 June 2007 – circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/W/161.   
53. The representative of the ITTC  said that he would provide a brief summary of the discussions 
that had taken place at the informal consultati on on TA issues held on 27 September 2007.  He 
recalled the decision taken at the previous inform al consultation – held on 14 June 2007 – to move 
towards creating more coheren ce between the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration 
(CBFA) and the CTD in preparing all aspects of the TA Plan, so as to provide more time for Members 
to anticipate the budgetary implications.  In this  regard, he informed Members that the relevant 
officers responsible for the CTD and the CBFA had b een invited to the 27 September consultation, in WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 12  
 
  which the Chairman of the CBFA also participated.  The four items on the agenda for the informal 
consultation were: the financial situ ation and the state of play in the implementation of the TA Plan 
for 2007;  the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2008 and 2009;  the Secretariat 
issues paper on financing the WTO's Biennial TA  Plan;  and the Semi-Annual Review of the 
Implementation of Activities for the period 1 January to 30 June 2007. 
54. He said that, following a brief introduction by the Secretariat on the status of implementation 
of TA activities, Members had been briefed on the curre nt financial situation.  It was pointed out that 
the amount that had been received (CHF 22.5 million) came very close to the target amount for the 
year (CHF 24 million) for the Doha Devel opment Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF).  
Outstanding pledges amounted to CHF 2.5 million, but Members were reminde d that further pledges 
would be required to meet the target amount of CHF 6 million to start implementing activities as of 
January 2008. 
55. On the Biennial TA Plan for 2008 and 2009, he explained that it had been the Secretariat's 
intention to hold an initial discussion of the Plan at the 27 September informal consultation, followed 
by a formal discussion at the present CTD meeting.  However, the Plan was still in the process of 
finalization and could, therefore, not be circulated  in time for these meetings.  He explained that the 
delay was due mainly to the many events that we re scheduled in September and early October 2007 
that required the Secretariat's full attention, in cluding the Aid for Trade Regional Round Tables, the 
Integrated Framework pledging conference in St ockholm and the WTO Public Forum.  Informal 
consultations on the Plan would be held after its fi nalization, and before its formal consideration by 
the CTD.  
56. He said that the Biennial TA Plan was evolutionary, building on experience and the 
recommendations contained in the Strategic Revi ew of WTO-Provided Tr ade-Related Technical 
Assistance (TRTA) Activities, as well as those cont ained in the evaluation reports prepared by the 
Technical Cooperation Audit Unit.  The Plan aimed at further improving the quality of the products and the coordination of activities with partner or ganizations.  One of the key objectives of the 
Biennial Plan was to allow for cumulative and su stainable capacity building and to create more 
predictability in terms of financing.  The enhan ced transparency in the delivery of TRTA activities 
would be achieved through the trade capacity building webpage and the use of e-Training as a cost-effective tool in the delivery of TRTA.  In the absence of the Plan itself, the Secretariat had been 
requested to prepare a short summary of  the Plan for the present CTD meeting.
1 
57. With regard to the issues paper on financing the Biennial TA Plan – which the Secretariat had 
been asked to prepare and which had been circul ated as document JOB(07)/140 – he said that a lively 
discussion had taken place at the informal consultati ons.  It had been noted that the paper addressed 
all the issues that had been raised in previous consultations, and support was given to four out of the five options presented in the paper.  These four op tions were:  moving towards a Biennial TA Plan; 
coherence between the CBFA and the CTD;  pr oviding more visibility to donors' contributions 
through the trade capacity building webpage;  and developing a marketing campaign.  It was further 
observed that these four options were already bein g implemented.  It was additionally noted that 
enhancing visibility did not only entail the provision of  information on donors' contributions, but also 
meant that information should be provided on performance indicators, as well as the practical benefits 
and effectiveness of TRTA.  He said that some donors had indicated that they might be in a position to make multi-year pledges, while others stated th at they would not be in a position to do so.  The 
Secretariat had reiterated that the main objective of the biennial approach was to create predictability 
in financing the TA Plan, and that the inten tion was not to ask Members to make biennial 
contributions at once.  He also informed the Co mmittee that the general feeling in the informal 
                                                     
 
1 The summary was made available in the meeting room.  WT/COMTD/M/65 
 Page 13 
 
 
  consultation had been that the fifth option – the proposal to transfer part of the DDAGTF to the 
regular budget – would need further reflection. 
58. In introducing the Semi-Annual Review of th e Implementation of Activities for the period 
1 January to 30 June 2007, he said that the Review  mainly provided a quick quantitative overview of 
the delivery of TRTA in the first six months of the year.  It showed that the e-Training mode had 
increasingly found ground as a tool for the effective de livery of TRTA and to generate cost savings.  
It also noted, however, that national seminars had ra ther frequently been postponed or cancelled at the 
very last minute by the beneficiary, often without  justification, which undermined the Secretariat's 
delivery of TRTA.  At the 27 September informal cons ultation, questions were raised with regard to 
the underutilization of entitlements to TRTA by LDCs , and Members had been particularly interested 
in knowing the source of funding for different pr oducts and/or activities, including which ones were 
financed from the Regular Budget, the DDAGTF or other trust funds.  It had been specifically 
suggested that a report on the status of the utili zation of funds be included in future semi-annual 
reviews. 
59. The representative of Bangladesh  expressed appreciation for the technical assistance provided 
by the WTO.  He informed the Committee that, with the assistance of the WTO, a trade facilitation 
needs assessment seminar would be held in Dhaka in October 2007.  His delegation was also 
appreciative for the funding of an intern in the Ba ngladeshi mission.  The intern had made valuable 
contributions to the work of the mission and he, th erefore, requested that the WTO continue to fund 
interns to work in his mission.    
60. The representative of the European Communities  said that his delegation was in favour of 
moving towards a biennial TA Plan, but also noted that this need not stop donors from making 
contributions on an annual basis.  He said that it w ould be useful if future TA Plans contained more 
details of budgetary implications , as this would help donors in th eir planning.  On the DDAGTF, he 
was pleased to note that the funding situation seeme d satisfactory.  He announced that the EC would 
be contributing a further 1 million euros in the coming weeks.  On the Semi-Annual Review, his 
delegation had noted with concern the underutilization problem and the late cancellation of activities.  
He urged concerned parties to ensure that the u tilization rate remained hi gh and that TA activities 
could be implemented according to plan.  
61. The representative of Burkina Faso  said that his country continued to benefit from WTO 
technical assistance activities, including e-Training activities.  He expressed his appreciation to the 
donors and to the Secretariat.   
62. The representative of Zambia  thanked the donors and the Secretariat for their support.  She 
expressed appreciation for a recent national workshop held in Zambia, which had been of great value 
to stakeholders in gaining a better appreciation of issues relating to the TRIPS Agreement, in 
particular those issues of interest and concern to LDCs.  She also expressed appreciation for an 
upcoming national workshop on agriculture. 
63. The Chairman  said that the item concerning the Biennial TA Plan for 2008 and 2009 would 
be placed on the agenda of the next CTD meeting.  He proposed that the Committee take note of the 
Semi-Annual Review of the Implementation of  Activities, and of all interventions. 
64. It was so agreed .   WT/COMTD/M/65 
Page 14  
 
  K. 
OTHER BUSINESS  
65. No matter was raised under "Other Business" 
66. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
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