WT/GC/W/879  
 
22 May 2023  
(23-3502) Page: 1/3 
General Council  Original: English  
 
SMALL STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE  
COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA  
The following communication, dated 18 May 2023, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of China.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Ministers committed at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) that we should work towards 
necessary reform of the WTO to improve all its functions1. As part of WTO reform, improving the 
monitoring and deliberative function has gained momentum and broad convergence among 
members. A numbe r of proposals have been put forward and substantial work in certain WTO bodies, 
such as CTG, is also ongoing.  
 
Improving the monitoring and deliberative function of WTO will not only enhance the efficiency and 
effectiveness of WTO bodies, but also facilit ate members ' participation in WTO 's daily work, 
especially for small delegations. The proposals submitted, including those under discussion in 
relevant WTO bodies , share a number of commonalities, which lays a good basis for actions to be 
taken for immedia te outcome. For this purpose, this document is submitted as a contribution to the 
ongoing discussions with suggestions mainly on the process.  
 
1  WORKING PROCESS  
1.1.  To have a meaningful discussion on improving the monitoring and deliberative function of the 
WTO, the June informal meeting on WTO reform suggested by the Chairperson of General Council 
should, rather than brainstorming, be focused and targeted on the issu es raised by members while 
open to new ideas, and assess the suggestions with a view to their implementation. In this regard, 
it is suggested that the Secretariat should compile all the proposals submitted by members and 
categorize the suggestions included  to facilitate the discussions. In the meantime, it will be helpful 
if the Secretariat could also give an indication on each suggestion listed in the categorized 
compilation, such as "partially implemented ", "implemented already ", "could be implemented ", 
"need further discussion among members ", etc. 
1.2.  In the whole process, discretion should be given to the Secretariat to take steps on those 
improvements which could be implemented within the Secretariat 's mandate and capabilities. At the 
same time, a correctio n mechanism should be built. This means that whenever problems are 
identified, members should be able to raise them, so that necessary correction and recalibration can 
be made. It is expected that such a mechanism could help build confidence and trust thro ugh small -
step reform. For some procedural improvements which may not be appropriate to apply to all WTO 
bodies at the beginning, they could start from the bodies in the position to do so.  
1.3.  The Secretariat is also requested to compile relevant background do cuments to facilitate 
members ' discussions, such as relevant guidelines, decisions and discussion histories. The approach 
used by CTG and its subsidiary bodies can be a good reference2. 
 
1 WT/MIN(22)/24 - WT/L/1135 "MC12 Outcome Document", paragraph 3.  
2 The Secretariat has prepared 15 reports on the current function of CTG  and 14 subsidiary bodies. The 
approach has significantly facilitated members ' discussion and is delivering good results.  WT/GC/W/879  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2  MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE  
2.1.  WTO has a special character, which is both a l egally binding intergovernmental treaty of rights 
and obligations among its members and a forum for negotiations3. The topmost decision -making 
body of WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which has to meet at least once every two years4.  
Therefore, enhanc ing the decision -making function of Ministerial Conference is key to strengthening 
the rule -making nature of WTO. In the meantime, Ministerial Conference should be de -dramatized 
and should not be an overburdened negotiation platform.  
2.2.  For this purpose, inte rsessional Vice -Ministerial level Senior Official Meetings or Thematic 
Ministerial Meetings could be convened at an appropriate time to help Senior official/Ministers better 
engage, and to give necessary and timely instructions and authorizations to their negotiation teams. 
To make such meetings meaningful and substantial, there should be explicit objectives and Senior 
official/Ministers should be able to have real dialogues rather than reading statement.  
2.3.  Given that sometimes authorizations come at the very  last minute before the Ministerial 
Conference, and frequently, they are interlinked across various issues, a Vice -Ministerial level Senior 
Official Meeting held 2 or 3 days prior to the Ministerial Conference could help make a final push. 
With such a meet ing, members will also be in a better position to decide on what should be finally 
submitted to the Ministerial Conference for consideration and what should not.  
3  GENERAL COUNCIL  
3.1.  The General Council  (GC) has the authority to act on behalf of the Ministerial Conference and 
is the WTO 's highest -level decision -making body in the intervals between Ministerial Conferences5. 
3.2.  To enhance GC 's decision -making function and make the meetings effective and efficient, 
improvements could be made to the agenda and the conduct of meetings.  
3.3.  As suggested in other proposals, an annotated agenda with explanation and indication on 
actions required by members for each item will help Members better prepare for the discussion. On 
the agenda, new submissions should come f irst, among which, priorities should be given to those 
requiring decisions. Any new submission within the purview of a relevant council/ committee should 
first be taken up and considered in that council/committee. With regard to the conduct of meeting, 
previously discussed proposals that have not garnered consensus and have been resubmitted, 
should only be considered through the progress report by one proponent. This will assist in efficient 
management of the agenda and avoid repetition of well -known positi ons. If need be, other 
cosponsors and non -cosponsors could provide complementary and additional information in order to 
give a full picture of the status quo. To assist in having efficient discussions on the resubmitted 
proposals, the GC Chairperson should  consider consulting the proponents in order to identify an 
outcome -oriented approach rather than repetitive discussions at regular GC meetings, such as 
discussions among interested members, informal meetings or dedicated sessions.  
4  EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT  
4.1.  WTO needs to be better understood and supported by external stakeholders. Effective external 
engagement could be a useful way to ensure WTO 's relevance. For this purpose, a review and 
evaluation of current external stakeholders ' engagement could be a good star t for further 
improvements.  
4.2.  In the meantime, some principles should be adhered to throughout the whole process. It is 
important to ensure that the engagement of external stakeholders is balanced and all voices are 
heard. The decision -making process should always remain member -driven and should not be 
extended to external stakeholders. While cooperation with other international organizations is well 
recognized , especially in light of global challenges, the WTO should play the role on its own merits 
and withi n its mandate. The WTO should synergize rather than duplicate others ' work or overburden 
 
3 WT/L/162.  
4 Article IV :1, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.  
5 Article IV :2, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.  WT/GC/W/879  
 
- 3 - 
 
  its own agenda. Existing guidelines and practices of the WTO should be the basis for any 
improvements to external engagement.  
4.3.  We look forward to engaging with all Memb ers on improving the monitoring and deliberative 
function of WTO. We hope with small but concrete steps, Members could collectively make a 
difference to the WTO and achieve a meaningful and ambitious WTO reform agenda.  
 
__________