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WT/COMTD/RTA/M/18  
 
5 December  2022 
(22-9040) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Eighteenth Dedicated Session on Regional Trade 
Agreements    
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 17 NOVEMBER  2022 
Chairperson: H.E. Ms. Usha Chandnee Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVED  ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
(I) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the United Arab 
Emirates  (GOODS) (WT/COMTD/RTA24/N/1)  ................................ ................................ ..........  1 
C. STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE DEDICATED SESSION  ................................ ..............  2 
(I) Status of the preparation of factual presentations - Report by the Chairperson  
(WT/COMTD/RTA/W/13)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
D. CONSIDERATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  ................................ .............  2 
(I) Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperat ion Council (GCC) Member States and 
Singapore  (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA22/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA22/1, WT/COMTD/RTA22/2)  ...........  2 
(II) Accession of Seychelles to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 
(WT/COMTD/RTA23/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA16/1)  ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
E. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 2 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The draft agenda as contained in Airgram WTO/AIR/COMTD/RTA/ 13/Rev.1  
of 7 November  2022 was adopted .  
B. NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVED  
(I) Comprehensive Economic Partnership A greement between India and the United Arab 
Emirates  (Goods)  (WT/COMTD/RTA 24/N/1)  
2. The Chair person  said that  the goods aspects of the Comprehe nsive Economic Partnership 
Agreement (CEPA) between India and the United Arab Emirates were notified under 
paragraph  4(a) of the Enabling Clause in document WT/COMTD/RTA 24/N/1.  
3. The representative of India said that his country  and the United Arab Emirates traditionally 
had strong bilateral relations , which had been elevated to a comprehensive and strategic partnership 
in August 2015. The countries were important trading partners , and e nhancing the economic and 
commercial ties between th em was a core element of the comprehensive and strategic partnership. 
These bilateral economic and commercial relations ha d been enhance d and deepen ed over time. The 
negotiations for entering into the India-United Arab Emirates CEPA were launched in 
September  2021. The Agreement was signed on 1 8 February 2022 and ha d entered into force on 
1 May 2022. The CEPA entai led liberalization of trade in goods and services within the meaning of 
the Enabling Clause and Article V of the G eneral Agreement on Trade  in Services  (GATS) . It would  
further cement the already deep, close and strategic relations between the two countries . It would  
also create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare 
of the people of the two count ries. WT/COMTD/RTA/M/18  
 
- 2 - 
 
  4.  The representative of the United States  thanked the parties for the notification and for 
participating in the transparency exercise.  
 
5.  The Committee took note  of the notification , and of the interventions.  
C. STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE DEDICATED SESSION  
(I) Status of the preparation of factual presentations - Report by the Chair person  
(WT/COMTD/RTA/W/ 13) 
6. The Chair person  said that her report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations 
of RTAs notified under the Enabling Clause was contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/W/13. The 
report indicated that it was still not possible for the Secretariat to finalize a num ber of factual 
presentations. In some cases, the Secretariat was still awaiting the submission of the full set of data, 
while in others, all comments on the draft factual presentations had not been received. She urged 
all the parties to these agreements to  provide the data and information as soon as possible. She 
also indicated that  she would try to reach out informally to the delegations in question before the 
next meeting to explore whether the submission of the necessary data and information could be 
expedited.  
7. The representative of the United States  thanked the Secretariat for its diligence in advancing 
the preparation of factual presentations for several RTAs.  
8. The Committee took note  of the Chair person 's report , and of the interventions.  
D. CONSIDERATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
9. The Chairperson  said that the Committee would turn to the consideration of the two RTAs that 
were listed on the agenda of the present meeting. She wished to organize the consideration of each 
agreement by first inviting the parties to make their introductory remark s. The floor would then be 
opened for interventions by other Members, including on the factual presentation and  - where 
relevant  - the questions and replies document. The parties could provide responses at any time 
during the discussion to any questions ra ised. Members would also have the opportunity to ask 
follow -up written questions after the meeting was concluded. She would remind Members of the 
timeframes for follow -up questions and responses at the end of the discussion on each agreement.  
(I) Free Trad e Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States and 
Singapore (Goods)  (WT/COMTD/RTA 22/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA 22/1, WT/COMTD/RTA 22/2)1 
(II) Accession of Seychelles to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa  
(COMESA)  (WT/COMTD/RTA 23/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA 16/1)2 
E. OTHER BUSINESS  
10. No matter was raised under "Other Business".  
11. The meeting was adjourned . 
__________  
 
1 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document  
WT/COMTD/RTA 22/M/1.  
2 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA 23/M/1.