WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/GC/131 
8 February 2011 
 (11-0636) 
  
 
  
GENERAL COUNCIL 
 
Annual Report (2010)
 
   The present report has been prepared in pursu ance of the Procedures for an Annual Overview 
of WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).   
 Since its previous annual report
1, the General Council has held fi ve meetings, on 22 February, 
4 May, 29 July, 21 October and 14 December 2010.   The minutes of these meetings, which remain the 
record of the General Council's work, ar e contained in documents WT/GC/M/125-129.2 
  The following subjects are included in the report: 
 
1. Work under the Doha Work Programme...............................................................................3  
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports...................................................................................3  
(b) Work Programme on Small Economies......................................................................................3  
(i) Reports ....................................................................................................................... ................3  
(ii) Graduation of the Maldives from LDC status on 1 January 2011 - Communication 
from the Maldives .............................................................................................................. .........5  
(c) Aid for Trade .................................................................................................................. ............5  
(d) Follow-up to the August 2004 General Council Decision and the Hong Kong 
Ministerial Declaration on the Doha Work Programme – Report by the Director-General on the development assistance aspects of cotton...........................................................5  
2. Transparency for Preferent ial Trade Arrangements ............................................................6  
3. Work Programme on E-Commer ce – Review of Progress....................................................6  
4. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration – Reports and 
recommendations ................................................................................................................ ......7  
5. TRIPS Council matters – Review under Paragraph 8 of the Decision on 
Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement – Report of the Council on TRIPS.......................................................................8  
6. Information on EU Schedule CXL – Statement by the European Union ............................8  
7. Amendment to the procedures leading to the certification of HS 2002 changes.................8  
8. Accession matters.............................................................................................................. ........8  
(a) Belarus ........................................................................................................................ ................8  
                                                     
 
1 The annual report of the General Council for 2009 was circulated in WT/GC/121 and Add.1. 
2 To be issued. WT/GC/131 
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  (b) Ethiopia....................................................................................................................... ................9  
(c) Samoa.......................................................................................................................... ................9  
(d) Syria.......................................................................................................................... ..................9  
(e) Accession of developing countries – Co mmunication from Gabon on behalf of the 
Informal Group of Developing Countries...................................................................................9  
(f) Accession of LDCs .............................................................................................................. .....10  
(i) Accession of LDCs – Statement by Za mbia on behalf of the LDC Group ................................10  
(ii) Accession priorities for 2010 in respect of LDCs – Communication from Zambia on 
behalf of the LDC Group ........................................................................................................ ..10 
(g) WTO Accessions: 2010 report by the Director-General...........................................................10  
9. Waivers ........................................................................................................................ ............11  
(a) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Argentina........................................................................................................ ...11  
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Draft Decision................................................................................................... 11 
(c) Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Draft Decision................................................................................................... 11 
(d) Review of waivers pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement ......................................12  
10. The financial and economic crisis and the role of the WTO – Communication 
from Argentina, Ecuador and India......................................................................................13  
11. Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements – Implementation on 
a permanent basis – Communication from China, India and Pakistan.............................13  
12. Harmonization Work Programme under the Agreement on Rules of Origin...................14  
(a) Harmonization Work Programme under the Agreement on Rules of Origin – the Way 
Forward – Communication from China, India and Pakistan.....................................................14  
(b) Statement by the Chairman...................................................................................................... .14 
13. Consultations on Members' priorities for 2010 – Statement by the Chairman ................14
 
14. Eighth Ministerial Conference – Statement by the Chairman ...........................................14  
15. Administrative Measures fo r Members in Arrears .............................................................15  
16. WTO Pension Plan............................................................................................................... ...15  
17. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO.......................................................................15  
18. Review of WT O activities....................................................................................................... 15 
19. Appointment of offi cers to WTO bodies...............................................................................16  
20. Election of Chairperson........................................................................................................ ..18 
 
  WT/GC/131 
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  1. Work under the Doha Work Programme 
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports (WT/GC/M/125-129) 
1. Ministers at Doha established a Trade Negotiations Committee under the authority of the 
General Council to supervise th e overall conduct of the negotiati ons (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1).  In 
accordance with the Principles and Practices endor sed by the Trade Negotiations Committee at its 
first meeting in 2002 (TN/C/M/1), the TNC reports to each regular meeting of the General Council. 
2. At the General Council meetings in February , May , July , October  and December  the Director-
General, as Chairman of the Trade Negotiati ons Committee, reported on each occasion on the TNC's 
activities since his previous report to the General Council.3 
3. At the February  meeting, the representatives of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group); Gabon 
(on behalf of the African Group); Zambia (on be half of the LDC Group); Colombia; Mexico; Japan; 
Nepal; European Union; India; Bangladesh; Hong K ong, China; Turkey; Cuba; Switzerland; Chinese 
Taipei; Norway; United States; China; and Pakist an spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
Director-General's report and of the statements. 
4. At the May  meeting, the representatives of Australia;  Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group); 
Gabon (on behalf of the African Group); Chad (on be half of the C-4); Korea;  Japan; Chinese Taipei 
(on behalf of the Recently Acceded Members (RAM s) Group); European Union; South Africa; United 
States; Bangladesh; Mexico; Norway; China; Tu rkey; India; Brazil; and Barbados spoke.  The 
General Council took note of the Director-G eneral's report and of the statements. 
5. At the July  meeting, the representatives of Costa Rica; India; Zambia (on behalf of the LDC 
Group); Gabon (on behalf of the African Group); Moro cco (on behalf of the Arab Group); European 
Union; Brazil; Burkina Faso (on behalf of the C-4) ; Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Informal 
Group of Developing Countries); Cuba; Ecuador; Argentina; South Africa; Norway; Pakistan; 
Switzerland; and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
Director-General's report and of the statements. 
6. At the October  meeting, the representative of the Dominican Republic (on behalf of the 
Informal Group of Developing Countries and on his delegation's own beha lf) spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the Director-General's report and of the statements. 
7. At the December  meeting, the representatives of Gabon (on behalf of the African Group); 
European Union; Zambia (on behalf of the LD C Group); Chile; Brazil (on behalf of the G-20); 
Switzerland; Mauritius (on behalf of the ACP Group); Peru; Norway; Kenya; Sri Lanka; Cuba; 
Jamaica; Mexico; India; Turkey; and Nepal spoke.  The General Council took note of the Director-
General's report and of the statements. 
(b) Work Programme on Small Economies  
(i) Reports (WT/GC/M/125-129) 
8. In 2002, the General Council took note of a framework and procedures for the conduct of the 
Work Programme on Small Economies, which had been agreed by Ministers at Doha 
(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, paragraph 35), under which th is Work Programme would be a standing item 
on the General Council's agenda and which al so provided that the Committee on Trade and 
                                                      
3 The Director-General's statements were subseque ntly circulated as JOB/GC/1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, 
respectively. WT/GC/131 
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  Development (CTD) would report regularly to th e General Council on the progress of work in its 
Dedicated Sessions on this subject.  Ministers at Hong Kong instructed the CTD, under the overall responsibility of the General Council,  to continue the work in the Dedicated Session and to monitor 
progress of the small economies' proposals in the nego tiating and other bodies.  In 2006, on the basis 
of a report by the Chair of the CTD in Dedicat ed Session, the General Council took note that 
Members would be pursuing the substantive work under this work programme. 
9. At the February
 General Council meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD, reporting on developments in this area, said inter alia  that the latest report on the Work 
Programme on Small Economies in document WT/COM TD/SE/6 had been circulated to the Seventh 
Ministerial Conference.  A proposal (TN/RL/GEN/1 62) had been made on additional flexibilities for 
Small, Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) under Article III of  the draft Chair's text on fisheries subsidies, 
and had been discussed in the Rules Negotiating Gr oup.  The Dedicated Session would continue to 
monitor any future proposals made by SVEs and include them in the compilation document circulated as WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.4. 
10. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
11. At the May
 meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session, reporting on developments in 
this area, said inter alia  that proponents were continuing to follow the negotiations and the regular 
work of the WTO, and were planning to make new proposals in some of the negotiating groups.  
These would be added to the document (WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.4) which compiled all the proposals made to date by the proponents and provided a detailed record of their work.   
12. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
13. At the July
 meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session, reporting on developments in 
this area, said the proponents were continuing to part icipate in the negotiations and to monitor issues 
of their concern, in particular with respect to Agriculture, NAMA, Services, Aid-for-Trade and 
Fisheries Subsidies.  Proponents were also engage d in a process of internal reflections regarding 
future work in these and other areas.   
14. The representative of El Salvador (on behalf of the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
15. At the October  meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session, reporting on developments in 
this area, said that proponents of SVEs continued to  be active in the DDA negotiations and that they 
had also been following the recent consultations and work on the Aid-for-Trade initiative.  The 
Secretariat was revising a paper which compiled all the proposals made by the proponents of SVEs.   
16. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
17. At the December  meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session, reporting on developments 
in this area, noted that Members had recently discu ssed the latest revision of the Secretariat paper 
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.5) compiling all propo sals concerning SVEs and the Small Economies 
Work Programme.  The proponents of SVEs had indicated that they would continue to seek 
flexibilities in agriculture, NAMA and services, trade facilitation and fisheries subsidies. 
18. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement.  WT/GC/131 
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  (ii) Graduation of the Maldives from LDC status on 1 January 2011 - Communication from the 
Maldives (WT/GC/M/129) 
19. At the December  meeting, the representative of Maldives noted that the item had been placed 
on the agenda at his delegation's request (WT/GC/ 130) and informed the Council that Maldives would 
graduate from the UN list of Least-Developed Countri es from 1 January 2011.  Despite its graduation, 
Maldives remained a vulnerable economy and theref ore wished to call for Members' understanding 
with respect to flexibilities accorded to sma ll economies in the various areas of the DDA. 
20. The representatives of the European Union;  Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group); 
Bangladesh; and Barbados (on behalf of the SVEs) spoke.  The Council took note of the statements. 
(c) Aid for Trade (WT/GC/M/128) 
21. At the October  meeting, the Director-General highlighted the question "Is Aid for Trade 
working?", which had been asked in letters sent  to Members in conjunction with the OECD, and 
introduced the joint WTO-OECD monitoring and ev aluation exercise which would underpin the Third 
Global Review of Aid for Trade, scheduled for Ju ly 2011, the focus of which would be to assess the 
impact and outcome of Aid for Trade on the ground.  He called on Members to submit self-
assessment questionnaires and case stories as the main input for the Review. 
22. The representatives of Turkey; Zambia (on beha lf of the LDCs); United States; European 
Union; Australia; Japan; Korea; China; Tanzania ; and Chinese Taipei spoke.  The General Council 
took note of the statements.  
(d) Follow-up to the August 2004 General Council Decision and the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration on the Doha Work Programme – Report by the Director-General on the 
development assistance aspects of cotton (WT/GC/M/129) 
23. In Paragraph 1.b of the 1 August 2004 Decisi on on the Doha Work Programme (WT/L/579), 
the General Council , inter alia , instructed the Secretariat to con tinue to work with the development 
community and to provide the Council with periodi c reports on relevant de velopments.  The Council 
also instructed the Director-General to consult w ith relevant international organizations, including the 
Bretton Woods Institutions, the Food and Agricultu re Organization and the International Trade 
Centre, to direct effectively existing programmes and any additional resources towards development 
of the economies where cotton has vital importan ce.  Ministers at Hong Kong reaffirmed the 
2004 mandate, and asked the Director-General to pr ovide updates at appropriate intervals to the 
General Council, while keeping the Sub-Comm ittee on Cotton fully informed of progress. 
24. At the December  meeting, the Director-General recalled that the Doha mandate on cotton 
proceeded on two tracks: the trade policy aspect and the development assistance aspect.  On the latter, 
a recent round of consultations ha d taken place in which Members had considered the tenth version of 
the Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistan ce (WT/CFMC/6/Rev.9), which showed that the 
value of specific development assistance to cotton stood at US$ 570 million.  On the trade policy 
aspects, progress was linked to overall progress in the ag riculture negotiations, in the context of which 
intensified consultations were taki ng place, which had reaffirmed the consensus that cotton should be 
resolved building on the December 2008 draft modalities.  
25. The representatives of Zambia (on behalf of th e LDC Group) and Egypt spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements. WT/GC/131 
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  2. Transparency for Preferential Trad e Arrangements (WT/GC/M/127-129) 
26. In December 2006, the General Council adopted a Decision on Transparency for Preferential 
Trade Arrangements (WT/L/672) inviting the Co mmittee on Trade and Development to consider 
transparency for preferential trade arrangements under paragraph 2 of the Enabling Clause – other 
than RTAs – and to report back within six months  for appropriate action by the General Council.  
Subsequently, in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the General Council agreed to extend the deadline for the CTD 
to consider this matter and to report back for a ppropriate action by successive six-month periods, i.e. 
until July 2010. 
27. At the July
 General Council meeting, the Chairman of the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD), reporting on the CTD's consid eration of this matter, said that significant 
progress had been made in the discussion on the est ablishment of a transparency mechanism for PTAs 
and that a text was now well stabilized, and was close to being in a form that the CTD could agree on.  
In order to be able to conclude this work, the CTD had agreed to request that the General Council 
allow it until December 2010 to consider the matter further and report back to the General Council. 
28. The representatives of India; Brazil; China; Ecuador; Dominican Republic; United States; 
Mexico; El Salvador; and Turkey spoke.  The General Council took note of the report by the 
Chairman of the CTD and the statements and agreed  that the deadline for th e CTD to consider this 
matter and to report back for appropriate  action be extended to December 2010. 
29. At the October  meeting, the Chairman of the CTD re ported that delegations had eventually 
been able to bridge the gaps in their positi ons, and that the CTD had approved the text on a 
Transparency Mechanism for Prefer ential Trade Arrangements and had agreed to transmit the text, 
contained in WT/COMTD/71, to the General C ouncil with a recommendation for adoption by the 
Council.  The CTD's consideration of transparency  for preferential arrangements, which had begun in 
early 2007 based on the mandate given by the Ge neral Council, had now been concluded.  Some 
Members were completing their internal procedures in  order to allow the Mechanism to be adopted in 
the near future.   
30. The representatives of Brazil; United States; Cana da; Japan; European Un ion; China; Chinese 
Taipei; and Egypt spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
31. At the December  meeting, the Chairman noted that the internal procedures to allow the 
Transparency Mechanism to be adopted had been  completed, and proposed that General Council 
adopt the draft Decision establishing a Transparen cy Mechanism for Prefer ential Trade Arrangements 
in WT/COMTD/71. 
32. The representatives of the European Union; Indi a; China; El Salvador; Egypt; Switzerland; 
Japan; Brazil; Korea; United States; Mexico; Cana da; St. Lucia; and Cuba spoke. The General 
Council took note of the statements and adopted the Decision (WT/L/806). 
3. Work Programme on E-Commerce – Review of Progress (WT/GC/M/129) 
33. In December 2009, at the Seventh Ministerial Conference, Ministers adopted a Decision on 
the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WT/L/782) which called, inter alia , for intensive 
reinvigoration of work under the Work Programme , and instructed the General Council to hold 
periodic reviews of the progress on the Work Progra mme in preparation for the following Ministerial 
Conference. 
34. At the December  meeting, DDG Singh, who had been dealing with the Work Programme on 
behalf of the General Council Chairman a nd his predecessors since 2005, reporting on the  WT/GC/131 
 Page 7 
 
 
  consultations he had recently held on the matter in  line with the Ministerial Decision, said that no 
work on E-Commerce had been done in 2010 under  the Work Programme, but noted that some 
delegations had reported that wo rk related to E-Commerce had been done in certain areas.  
Delegations had called for a re-i nvigoration of the Work Programme  and some had signalled their 
intention to submit proposals to take it forward. 
35. The representatives of Chinese Taipei; Cuba; and China spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the statements. 
4. Committee on Budget, Finance and Admini stration – Reports and recommendations 
(WT/GC/M/126-129) 
36. At its meetings in May , July , October  and December,  the General Council considered reports 
by the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administ ration on its meetings of March (WT/BFA/115), 
May and July (WT/BFA/116 and 117), October (WT/BFA/118) , and November and December 2010 
(WT/BFA/119, 120 and 121) respectively.  At ea ch meeting, the Chairman of the Committee 
introduced the reports. 
37. At the May  meeting, the representatives of China;  Côte d'Ivoire; and Mali spoke.  The 
General Council took note of the statements , approved the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendation in paragraph 25 of its report in document WT/BFA/115, and adopted the report.   
38. In addition, the Director-General provide d an update to the General Council on the 
Secretariat's efforts to find solutions with Memb ers that had long-standing arrears.  The General 
Council took note of the statement. 
39. At the July  meeting, the representatives of Togo; China; Ecuador; United States; and the 
Director-General spoke.  The General Council t ook note of the statements, approved the Budget 
Committee's specific recommendations in paragraphs 20, 23 and 25 of its report in WT/BFA/116, and 
adopted the reports. 
40. At the October  meeting, the Director-General encour aged delegations to  download documents 
directly from the Members' website and to use electr onic versions of documents.  This was part of the 
Secretariat's efforts to reduce paper circulation, cu t costs and contribute to the collective endeavour of 
making the WTO carbon neutral.  The General C ouncil took note of the statements, approved the 
Budget Committee's specific recommendations in pa ragraphs 19 and 21 of its report in document 
WT/BFA/118, and adopted the report. 
41. At the December  meeting, the General Council appr oved the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendations contained in para graphs 14 and 16 of its report in  document WT/BFA/119, and in 
paragraphs 14 and 18 in documen t WT/BFA/120 – including the draft Resolution referred to in 
paragraph 14.  The General Council also adopted th e draft Resolution on the Revised Expenditure of 
the WTO in 2011 and the Ways and Means to Meet Such Expenditure, in paragraph 14 of WT/BFA/120.  Finally, the Council adopted the Co mmittee's reports in WT/B FA/119, 120 and 121. 
42. In addition, the Director-General update d the Council on the improvements concerning 
Members in arrears, which had reach ed the lowest level since 1995.   
43. The representative of Niger spoke.  The Ge neral Council took note of the statements. WT/GC/131 
Page 8  
 
  5. TRIPS Council matters – Review under Paragraph 8 of the Decision on Implementation 
of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement – Report of the 
Council on TRIPS (WT/GC/M/129) 
44. In August 2003, the General Council adopt ed a Decision on the Implementation of 
Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Ag reement and Public Health.  Paragraph 8 of that 
Decision provides that the TRIPS Council shall revi ew annually the functioning of the system set out 
in the Decision with a view to ensuring its e ffective operation, and shall annually report on its 
operation to the General Council. 
45. At the December
 meeting, the Chairman of the TRIPS Council introduced the report by the 
TRIPS Council (IP/C/57 and Corr.1) on its seventh a nnual review of the functioning of the system set 
out in the Decision on the Implementation of Para graph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement and Public Health.  He  said that the report also provided an update on the status of 
acceptances of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement. 
46. The representatives of Brazil; Cuba; India; Ec uador; Zambia (for the LDC Group); Canada; 
Switzerland; China; and United States spoke.  Th e General Council took note of the report of the 
TRIPS Council (IP/C/57 and Corr.1) and of the statements. 
6. Information on EU Schedule CXL – Statement by the European Union (WT/GC/M/125) 
47. At the February  General Council meeting, the Europ ean Union provided information on the 
certification of the EU's revised schedule upon its enlargement to 15 members States in 2005.  The 
EU explained that, when the then EC had propo sed a new schedule CXL in 1996, reservations had 
been raised by several Members and that the sched ule had remained non-certified since then.  The 
Members concerned had now lifted their reserva tions, and the EU understood that the Director-
General would circulate the Schedule as certified.   
48. The representatives of Australia; New Zealand; Canada; United States; Argentina; and 
Switzerland spoke.  The General C ouncil took note of the statements. 
7. Amendment to the procedures leading to the certification of HS 2002 changes 
(WT/GC/M/129) 
49. At the December  meeting, the General Council consid ered a draft Decision in document 
G/MA/W/104 on proposed amendments to the procedures for the introduction of Harmonized System 2002 changes to schedules of concessi ons using the CTS Database.   
50. The representative of India spoke.  The Gene ral Council took note of the statement and 
adopted the Decision (WT/L/807). 
8. Accession matters 
(a) Belarus (WT/GC/M/125) 
51. In January 1995, the General Council decided to transform the GATT 1947 Working Party on 
the Accession of Belarus into a WTO Working Party. 
52. At the February
 meeting, the Chairman informed Memb ers that following consultations with 
members of the Working Party and the authoriti es of Belarus and in keeping with usual WTO 
practice, it had been agreed that Mr Aran (Turkey)  would serve as Chairperson of this Working Party,  WT/GC/131 
 Page 9 
 
 
  replacing Ms Horn (Sweden), who had resigned as Ch airperson.  The General Council took note of 
the statement. 
(b) Ethiopia (WT/GC/M/128) 
53. The Working Party on the Accession of Ethiopia was established in February 2003. 
54. At the October  meeting, the Chairman informed the Council that, following consultations and 
in keeping with WTO usual practice, it had been agreed that Mr Smidt (Denmark) would serve as 
Chairman of this Working Party.  The represen tatives of Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group); 
Denmark; and Ethiopia (as an Observer) spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
(c) Samoa (WT/GC/M/127) 
55. The Working Party on the Accession of Sa moa was established in July 1998. 
56. At the July  meeting, the Chairman informed the C ouncil that following consultations and in 
keeping with WTO usual practice, it had been agr eed that Mr Kitajima (Japan) would serve as 
Chairman of this Working Party, replacing Ms Sa to (Japan), who would no longer be available to 
serve in this capacity.  The repr esentatives of Turkey and Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group) 
spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
(d) Syria (WT/GC/M/126) 
57. At the May  meeting, the representative of Egypt, on behalf of the Arab Group, introduced the 
communication in document WT/GC/127 concerning  the request by Syria for accession to the WTO 
(WT/ACC/SYR/1, 3 and 4).   
58. The representatives of Turkey; Dominican Repub lic (on behalf of the IGDC); Gabon (on 
behalf of the African Group); India; Pakistan; Malaysia; Indonesia; Cuba ; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela; China; Djibouti; Bangladesh; Brazil; Bolivia; and Mauritius spoke.  
59. The Chairman proposed that the General Counc il agree to establish a Working Party with 
standard terms of reference and membership, which he read out.  The General Council so agreed. 
60. The Chairman then invited the representative of Syria to consult with the Accessions Division 
of the Secretariat as to further procedures, in par ticular with regard to the basic documentation to be 
considered by the Working Party.  He also invited Syria, on behalf of the General Council, to attend 
meetings of the General Council and, as appropria te, meetings of other WTO bodies as an Observer 
during the period when the Working Party was carryi ng out its work.  The representative of Syria (as 
an Observer) spoke.  The General C ouncil took note of the statements. 
(e) Accession of developing countries – Communica tion from Gabon on behalf of the Informal 
Group of Developing Countries (WT/GC/M/125) 
61. At the February  General Council meeting, the representative of the Dominican Republic (on 
behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Coun tries) noted that the item had been placed on the 
agenda at the request of Gabon on behalf of  the Informal Group of Developing Countries 
(WT/GC/126).  On behalf of the IGDC, he thanked the Director-General for his 2009 annual report on 
WTO accessions in document WT/ACC/13, which pr ovided a review of the processes of current 
initiatives and of the state-of-play of the individual accession cases. WT/GC/131 
Page 10  
 
  62. The representatives of Nigeria; Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group); Pakistan; Turkey; 
Bangladesh; Chinese Taipei, Bolivarian Republic of Ven ezuela; Paraguay; China; Egypt (on behalf of 
the Arab Group); United States; Argentina; Europ ean Union; Japan; and India spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements. 
(f) Accession of LDCs 
(i) Accession of LDCs – Statement by Zambia on behalf of the LDC Group (WT/GC/M/126) 
63. At the May
 General Council meeting, the representa tive of Zambia (on behalf of the LDC 
Group) said that the Group hoped that the forthcom ing dialogue on LDC accession to the WTO would 
allow all Members to better understand and appreciate the particular situation of acceding LDCs, with 
a view to expediting the conclusion of the accession pr ocess for LDCs that were at an advanced stage 
of accession.  The General Council took note of the statement. 
(ii) Accession priorities for 2010 in respect of LDCs  – Communication from Zambia on behalf of 
the LDC Group (WT/GC/M/128-129) 
64. At the October  meeting, the representative of Zambia  (on behalf of the LDC Group) noted 
that the item had been placed on the Agenda at the request of the LDC Group (WT/GC/128).  He 
stressed that accessions of LDCs ne eded to be conducted in accordance with the letter and the spirit of 
the 2002 General Council Decision on Accession of th e Least-Developed Countries.  The accession 
priorities for LDCs in 2010 were Vanuatu, Yemen and Samoa. 
65. The representatives of Tanzania; Australia; Eur opean Union; Dominican Republic (on behalf 
of the IGDC); Japan (on behalf of the Chairman of the Working Party on the Accession of Samoa and 
on behalf of his own delegation); Bangladesh; Chinese Taipei (on behalf of the RAMs); Turkey; New 
Zealand; Morocco (on behalf of the Arab Gr oup); Nepal; United States; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela; Ukraine; Korea; Ch ina; Colombia; Cuba; Norway; Switzerland; and Yemen (as an 
Observer) spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
66. At the December  meeting, at the suggestion of the Ch airman, this item was taken up together 
with the item on WTO Accessions: 2010 report by the Director-General, referenced in point (g) 
below.   
67. The representative of Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group) noted that the item had been 
placed on the Agenda at the request of the LD C Group (WT/GC/129) and updated the Council on the 
state-of-play of the three prioritized LDC accessions (Vanuatu, Samoa, and Yemen).4 
(g) WTO Accessions: 2010 report by the Director-General (WT/GC/M/129) 
68. At the December  Council, at the suggestion of the Chairman, this item was taken up together 
with the item on Accession Priorities for 2010 in resp ect of LDCs, referenced in point (f)(ii), above. 
69. The Director-General introduced his 2010 Report on Accessions (WT/ACC/14).  He 
explained that 2010 had seen significant developmen ts on accessions, with the re-activation of a 
number of Working Parties and progress on many individual accessions and that work was also advancing on the completion of an Accession Co mmitments Database.  He also stressed that 
particular attention was accorded to LDCs' accessions. 
                                                     
 
4 The discussion under this item is reflected in paragraph 70.  WT/GC/131 
 Page 11 
 
 
  70. The representatives of the Dominican Republic (on behalf of the IGDC); Australia; Pakistan; 
Nigeria; Paraguay; India; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Turkey; United States; 
Venezuela; China; Brazil; New Z ealand; Canada; Cuba; Zambia ( on behalf of LDC Group); Oman; 
Chinese Taipei; Colombia; Yemen (a s an Observer) and Iran (as an Observer) spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements. 
9. Waivers5 
(a) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions – Argentina (WT/GC/M/127) 
71. At its July  meeting, the General Council considered  a draft decision in document G/C/W/632 
providing for a waiver from the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 until 30 April 2011 for 
Argentina, to enable it to implement the HS 1996 changes into its Schedule of Concessions.  The 
Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of the draft decisions by that Council. 
72. The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the Decision (WT/L/801). 
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 chang es into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions 
– Draft Decision (WT/GC/M/129) 
73. At its December
 meeting, the General Council consid ered a draft decision (G/C/W/637) 
providing for a waiver to suspend the application of the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 until 
31 December 2011 to enable Members to implemen t domestically the recommended amendments to 
the Harmonized System nomenclature pending incorporation of such changes into their Schedules of 
Concessions.  The Chairperson of the Council for Trad e in Goods reported on the consideration of the 
draft decision by that Council. 
74. The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WT O Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/808). 
(c) Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 chang es into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions 
– Draft Decision (WT/GC/M/129) 
75. At its December  meeting, the General Council consid ered a draft decision (G/C/W/638)  
providing for a waiver to suspend the application of the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 until 
31 December 2011 to enable Members to implemen t domestically the recommended amendments to 
the Harmonized System nomenclature pending incorporation of such changes into their Schedules of 
Concessions.  The Chairperson of the Council for Trad e in Goods reported on the consideration of the 
draft decision by that Council. 
76. The General Council took note of the report a nd, in accordance with the Decision-Making 
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WT O Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), 
adopted the draft decision (WT/L/809). 
                                                      
5 A list of waivers granted by the General Council in  2010, as well as waivers previously granted and 
still in force in 2010, is contained in document WT/GC/W/629. WT/GC/131 
Page 12  
 
  (d) Review of waivers pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/127, 129) 
77. Under Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement "[a]ny  waiver granted for a period of more than 
one year shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Conf erence not later than one year after it is granted, 
and thereafter annually until the waiver terminates." 
78. At its July
 meeting, the General Council considered  the following waivers for review under 
Article IX:4: 
(i) LDCs – Article 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to pharmaceutical 
products, granted on 8 July 2002 until 1 January 2016 (WT/L/478) 
(ii) Preferential treatment for least-developed countries, granted on 27 May 2009 
until 30 June 2019 (WT/L/759) 
(iii) European Union – Preferences for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, 
Serbia and Montenegro, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, granted on 28 July 2006 until 31 December 2011 (WT/L/654, WT/L/799 and Corr.1)  
(iv) European Union – Application of autonomous preferential treatment to 
Moldova, granted on 7 May 2008 un til 31 December 2013 (WT/L/722, 
WT/L/800 and Corr.1) 
(v) Mongolia – Export duties on raw cashmere, granted on 27 July 2007 until 
29 January 2012 (WT/L/695) 
(vi) United States – Former Territory of the Pacific Islands, granted on 27 July 2007 
until 31 December 2016 (WT/L/694, WT/L/798) 
(vii) United States – Caribbean Basin Econom ic Recovery Act, granted on 27 May 
2009 until 31 December 2014 (WT/L/753, WT/L/794) 
(viii) United States – African Growth and Opportunity Act, granted on 27 May 2009 
until 30 September 2015 (WT/L/754, WT/L/795) 
(ix) United States – Andean Trade Preference Act, granted on 27 May 2009 until 31 
December 2014 (WT/L/755, WT/L/796) 
79. In so doing, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers submitted by the European Union (WT/ L/799 and Corr.1, WT/L/800 and Corr.1) and the 
United States (WT/L/798, WT/L/794, WT/L/795, WT/L/796). 
80. The representatives of Bolivia; Ecuador; Brazil; Cuba; Chile; Dominican Republic; Zambia 
(on behalf of the LDC Group); Bangladesh; Bolivaria n Republic of Venezuela; Argentina; Nicaragua; 
Colombia; and Jamaica (on behalf of CARICOM) spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
above-mentioned reports and of the statements. 
81. At its December
 meeting, the General Council consider ed the following waivers for review 
under Article IX:4: 
(i) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, granted on 
15 December 2006 until 31 December 2012 (WT/L/676)  WT/GC/131 
 Page 13 
 
 
  (ii) Canada – CARIBCAN, granted on 15 December 2006, from 1 January 2007 
until 31 December 2011 (WT/L/677, WT/L/804) 
(iii) Cuba – Article XV:6 of GATT 1994, granted on 15 December 2006 until 
31 December 2011 (WT/L/678, WT/L/803) 
82. In so doing, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers submitted by Canada (WT/L/804) and Cuba  (WT/L/803).  The representatives of Jamaica and 
Trinidad and Tobago spoke.  The General Council t ook note of the above-men tioned reports and of 
the statements. 
10. The financial and economic crisis and the role of the WTO – Communication from 
Argentina, Ecuador and India (WT/GC/M/125-127) 
83. At the February  meeting, the Council continued to discuss the communication from 
Argentina, Ecuador and India in WT/GC/W/617 and Add.1.6   
84. The representatives of Argentina; Ecuador; Indi a; China; Turkey; United States; Brazil; 
Bolivia; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Cana da; European Union; Cuba; Dominican Republic; 
Japan; Mexico; Paraguay; Chile; Switzerland; and Chinese Taipei spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the statements and agreed that the Ch airman would recommend to his successor that he 
undertake consultations on the best way forward concerning this proposal, without prejudice to the position of any Member, and report back to  the Council at its next meeting. 
85. At the May
 meeting, the Chairman reported on the c onsultations he had recently held on the 
best way forward concerning the proposal c ontained in WT/GC/W/617 and Add.1, which had 
involved over 30 interested delegations.   
86. The representatives of Argentina; Chile; Eu ropean Union; Hong Kong, China; Chinese 
Taipei; United States; Japan; Switzerland; India; Brazil; Ecuador; China; Cuba; Mexico; Norway; and 
Bolivia spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
87. At the July  meeting, the Chairman reported on the consultations he had recently held, at 
which Argentina, Ecuador and India had introduc ed a proposal regarding the organization of a 
symposium covering the possible trade effects of measures taken by Members in response to the 
financial crisis, in both the goods and services area s, under the auspices of the Trade Policy Review 
Body (TPRB), while avoiding any overlap with the work already conducted by the Committee on 
Trade in Financial Services.  He noted that th ere appeared to be consensus on holding such 
symposium under the auspices of the TPRB, in line with the proposal, and that he would therefore 
refer the matter to the Chairman of the TPRB.   
88. The representatives of European Union; Argen tina (also on behalf of  Ecuador and India); 
Korea; Hong Kong, China; Brazil; and El Salvador  spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statements. 
11. Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements – Implementation on a 
permanent basis – Communication from China, India and Pakistan (WT/GC/M/126) 
89. At the May  General Council meeting, the representatives of India and China introduced their 
joint communication (WT/GC/W/621), which called on the General Council to ask the Chairman of 
the Negotiating Group on Rules to begin immediat e consultations aimed at reviewing, and if 
                                                      
6 This communication was first considered by the General Council at its meeting in December 2009. WT/GC/131 
Page 14  
 
  necessary modifying, the Transpar ency Mechanism in the light of  the experience gained from its 
provisional operation, and replacing it by a permanent mechanism. 
90. The representatives of Argentina; Australia ; Chile; New Zealand; Mexico; Switzerland; 
Mauritius; Gabon (on behalf of the African Group) ; Canada; Brazil; United States; Japan; El 
Salvador; Hong Kong, China; European Union; Norway; Korea; Ecuador; Turkey; Saint Lucia; 
Morocco and Chinese Taipei spoke.  The Chairman  noted that the proponents could submit their 
proposal to Negotiating Group on Rules and said he w ould inform the Chair of that group about the 
discussion that had taken place in the General Council.  The General Council took note of the 
statements. 
12. Harmonization Work Programme under the Agreement on Rules of Origin  
(a) Harmonization Work Programme under the Agreement on Rules of Origin – the Way 
Forward – Communication from China, India and Pakistan (WT/GC/M/126)  
91. At the May
 General Council meeting, the representatives of India, Pakistan and China 
introduced their joint communication on the Harmonization Work Programme (WT/GC/W/622 and Add.1), which sought to accelerate the work mandated by Ministers in the Uruguay Round. 
92. The representatives of Indonesia; Philippines; Sri Lanka; Australia; Brazil; New Zealand; 
Colombia; Canada; Guatemala; United States; Hong Kong, China; Turkey; Switzerland; El Salvador; 
European Union; Norway; Chinese Taipei; Chile ; Japan; Ecuador; and Barbados spoke.  The 
Chairman said that given the different perspectives,  he would consult with Members on how best to 
proceed.  The General Council took note of the statements.  
(b) Statement by the Chairman (WT/GC/M/127) 
93. At the July
 meeting, the Chairman noted that the newly-appointed Chair of the Committee on 
Rules of Origin had made some suggestions on how to advance work in this area, and suggested that 
the Council revert to this matter at a later stage.   The General Council took note of the statement. 
13. Consultations on Members' priorities for 2010 – Statement by the Chairman 
(WT/GC/M/126) 
94. At the May  meeting, the Chairman reported on the in formal consultations he had held with 
Members on their priorities for the General Council in  2010.  The General Council took note of the 
statement.  
14. Eighth Ministerial Conference – Statement by the Chairman (WT/GC/M/128 - 129) 
95. At the October  General Council meeting, the Chairm an recalled that at the Seventh 
Ministerial Conference, Ministers had agreed that the next regular session of the Conference would be 
held at the end of 2011.  On the basis of contact s he had had with delegations, there seemed to be 
wide acceptance that the next Ministerial Conference should be held in Geneva.  In light of a number 
of factors, it appeared that the most suitable dates for the Conf erence were 15-17 December 2011.  In 
due time, other aspects of the Conference, such as its format and programme, would need to be 
discussed and he and his successor as General Counc il Chair would consult with delegations on these 
issues.  The General Council took note of the statement. 
96. At the December  meeting, the Chairman announced that, in  the interests of using time 
efficiently, he intended to use his consultations on the Appointment of Officers to WTO bodies to 
start discussing various aspects of the Eighth Ministerial Conference, such as its format and  WT/GC/131 
 Page 15 
 
 
  programme.  This would only be the start of this particular process, and further consultations on these 
issues would be necessary. 
15. Administrative Measures for Members in Arrears (WT/GC/M/125-129) 
97. At its meeting in May 2006, the Genera l Council approved a recommendation from the 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration w ith regard to revised Administrative Measures 
for Members in Arrears (WT/BFA/86) under which, inter alia , at each meeting of the General Council 
the Chairman of the Budget Committee would provide information with regard to which Members were under Administrative Measures in Categories II through IV, and the General Council Chairman 
would request Members in Categories III and IV to inform him before the next Council meeting as to 
when the payment of arrears might be expected. 
98. At the February
, May , July , October  and December  General Council meetings, in pursuance 
of the revised Administrative M easures, the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration provided information with regard  to which Members were under Administrative 
Measures in Categories II through IV.7  Also in pursuance of the revised Administrative Measures, the 
General Council Chairman requested Members in Categories III and IV to inform him before the next 
meeting of the Council as to when their payment of arrears might be expected.  The General Council 
took note of the statements. 
99. In addition, at the October  meeting, the Director-General noted that in the previous 
20 months, the total number of Members subject to administrative measures had been reduced.  The General Council took note of the statement.
8 
16. WTO Pension Plan (WT/GC/M/128) 
100. At the October  Council meeting, the Chairman of th e WTO Pension Plan Management Board 
introduced the Annual Report of the Management Board for 2009 (WT/L/802).  The General Council 
took note of the Annual Report and of the statement. 
17. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (WT/GC/M/127) 
101. At its July  meeting, the General Council considered a report of the Joint Advisory Group of 
the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Forty-third Session (ITC/AG(XLIII)/232).  The 
Chairman recalled that, in keeping with customary practice, this report had been considered initially 
by the Committee on Trade and Development at its m eeting on 28 June 2010.  The Chairman of the 
CTD reported on the Committee's cons ideration of the report.   
102. The representatives of Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group) and Japan spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements and adopted the report of the Joint Advisory Group.  
18. Review of WTO activities (WT/GC/M/129) 
103. At its December  meeting, the General Council consid ered annual reports for 2010 from WTO 
bodies that had been drawn up in pursuance of the Decision concerning procedures for an annual overview of WTO activities and for reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).  The Chairman drew the 
Council's attention to the letters he had receiv ed from the Chairmen of the Committee on Regional 
                                                     
 
7 At the December meeting, Mr J.M Mignon (France) made the statemen t on behalf of the Chairman of 
the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration. 
8 See also paragraphs 38 and 42, above. WT/GC/131 
Page 16  
 
  Trade Agreements and of the Committee on Trade and Development
9 which informed him that their 
Committees had been unable to adopt their respective reports in time for the General Council meeting. 
104. The Chairman of the Committee on Government  Procurement and the Chairman of the 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
105. The representatives of Cuba; India; Egypt; European  Union; China; Zambia (on behalf of the 
LDC Group); and United States spoke.  The General C ouncil took note of the statements and of the 
reports of the WTO bodies, including the reports of the bodies under the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, in documents WT/DSB/51 and Add.1,  WT/TPR/269, G/L/947/Rev.1, S/C/34, IP/C/56, 
WT/CTE/17, WT/BOP/R/101, WT/BFA/122, WT/WGTDF/9,  WT/WGTTT/12, GPA/106 and WT/L/805. 
106. The General Council then adopted the draft annual report for 2009 of the General Council 
(WT/GC/W/627 and Corr.1), on the understanding that the Secretariat would make the necessary 
adjustments to it so as to include ma tters considered at that meeting. 
19. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies (WT/GC/M/125-126 and 129) 
107. At the February
 meeting, the Chairman said that in  accordance with the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510) , he and his colleague, Mr Gero (Canada), the 
serving Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, had co nducted consultations  with delegations on a slate 
of names for the appointment of Chairs to the bodies lis ted in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the 
Guidelines.  In line with what had been agreed at the October 2009 Council meeting, they had also 
been consulting with delegations on the appointment of Chairs to the bodies established by the TNC.   
108. With regard to the appointments to WTO bodies other than those under the TNC, and on the 
basis of these consultations, there was a c onsensus on the following slate of names: 
General Council H.E. Mr John Gero (Canada) 
Dispute Settlement Body H.E. Mr Yonov Frederick Agah (Nigeria) 
Trade Policy Review Body H.E. Mr Bozkurt Aran (Turkey) 
Council for Trade in Goods H.E. Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping  
(Lesotho) 
Council for Trade in Services H.E. Mr s. Elin Østebø Johansen (Norway) 
Council for TRIPS Mr Martin Glass (Hong Kong, China) 
Committee on Trade and Development H.E. Mr Erwidodo (Indonesia) 
Committee on Balance-of- Payments 
 Restrictions Mr Raimondas Ališauskas (Lithuania) 
Committee on Budget, Finance and 
 Administration Mr Pasi-Heikki Vaaranmaa (Finland) 
Committee on Trade and Environment H.E. Mr Eduardo Muñoz Gómez 
(Colombia) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements H.E. Mr Alfredo Suescum (Panama) 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance H. E. Mr Federico A. González (Paraguay) 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of 
 Technology H.E. Mr Hisham M. Badr (Egypt) 
                                                      
9 JOB/GC/5 and 6, respectively.  WT/GC/131 
 Page 17 
 
 
   
109. Appointments for these bodies would be for one year , in keeping with the general rule in the 
Guidelines.  They would be made formally by the WTO bodies concerned at their subsequent meetings in 2010. 
110. With regard to the appointments to bodies under the TNC, and on the basis of these 
consultations, there was a consensu s on the following slate of names: 
Special Session of the  
 Committee on Agriculture H.E. Dr. David Walker (New Zealand) 
Special Session of the  
 Council for Trade in Services H.E. Mr Fernando De Mateo Y Venturini (Mexico) 
Negotiating Group on 
 Market Access H.E. Mr Luzius Wasescha (Switzerland) 
Special Session of the  
 Council for TRIPS H.E. Mr Darlington Mwape (Zambia) 
Negotiating Group on Rules H.E. Mr Guillermo Valles Galmés (Uruguay) 
Special Session of the 
 Dispute Settlement Body H.E. Mr Ronald Saborío Soto (Costa Rica) 
Special Session of the  
 Committee on Trade and 
 Environment H.E. Mr Manuel A.J. Teehankee (Philippines) 
Special Session of the  
 Committee on Trade and   Development H.E. Mr Thawatchai Sophastienphong (Thailand) 
Negotiating Group on 
 Trade Facilitation H.E. Mr Eduardo Ernesto Sperisen-Yurt (Guatemala) 
 
111. In addition, Mr Valles Galmés (Uruguay), Chair of the Rules Negotiating Group, would 
shortly be recalled to capital, and the Council Chair would be undertaking consultations on finding a 
new Chair for the Rules Negotiating Group in due co urse.  These chairpersons, with the exception of 
the Rules Negotiating Group, would serve until the next Session of the Ministerial Conference, in 
keeping with the term of office establis hed by the TNC and the General Council. 
112. The General Council took note of the statement and of the consensus on the two slates of 
names for the appointment of officers.  The Chai rpersons of the Genera l Council, the Council for 
Trade in Goods and the Council for Trade in Services  spoke and the General C ouncil took note of the 
statements.
  
113. At the May  meeting, the Chairman reported that consultations were proceeding to find a 
replacement for the departing Chair of the Negotia ting Group on Rules.  The General Council took 
note of the statement.10 
114. At the December  meeting, the Chairman said that in accordance with the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510), he would be starting the selection process for the appointment of chairpersons to the WTO bodies listed in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the Guidelines.  In accordance with paragraph 7.1(b) he  would be assisted in this process by the serving 
                                                     
 
10 In a fax dated 18 June 2010, the Chairman informed delegations that consultations he had undertaken 
with Mr Agah had shown a consensus among Members to appoint of Mr Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago) as the successor of Mr Valles Galmés (Uruguay) and that  Mr Francis would be formally elected Chair at the 
following formal meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules. WT/GC/131 
Page 18  
 
  Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, Mr Agah (N igeria) and by the former Chair of the General 
Council, Mr Matus (Chile).   
115. The General Council took note of the statement. 
116. In addition, he recalled that he had recen tly carried out consultations regarding the 
appointment of a successor to Mr Thawatchai Sophastienphong (Thailand), Chairman of the Special 
Session of the Committee on Trade and Development, w ho had informed him that  he would shortly be 
leaving Geneva.  In these consultations, consensus ha d emerged to appoint Mr Bashir (Pakistan) as 
Mr Sophastienphong's successor. 
117. The General Council took note of the statement. 
20. Election of Chairperson (WT/GC/M/125) 
118. At the February
 Council meeting, the Chairman, as the outgoing presiding officer of the 
General Council, made a brief statement. 
119. The General Council then unanimously elected  Mr John Gero (Canada) to the Chair. 
120. The Director-General, the newly-elected Chairm an, and the representatives of El Salvador (on 
behalf of GRULAC); Gabon (on behalf of the African Group); Viet Nam (on behalf of ASEAN); 
Mauritius (on behalf of the ACP); Egypt (on beha lf of the Arab Group); Dominican Republic (on 
behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Co untries); Zambia (on behalf of the LDC Group); 
Turkey; United States; European Union; and Mexi co spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statements. 
 
__________