. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/SE/W/15/Rev.2
18 July 2006 
 (06-3452) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Dedicated Session Original:   English 
 
 
 
AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE:   
DESIGNATION OF A REGIONAL BODY 
 
Communication from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji,  
Grenada, Jamaica, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands,  
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines  
 
Revision  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 14 July 2006, is being circulated at the request of the above delegations.  
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This revised paper sets out some proposals to address certain specific concerns of the 
co-sponsors as it relates to the Agreement  on Technical Barriers to Trade.  The 
multilateral trading system needs to identify  and implement responses to the issues 
identified in this submission to overcome the inherent economic disadvantages faced 
by these  small, vulnerable economies.  
The revised submission takes into account the deliberations on the 
WT/COMTD/SE/W/15/Rev.1 which took place in the Committee on Trade and Development in Dedicated Session and in  the Committee on Technical Barriers to 
Trade. 
1. Introduction  
1. As small, vulnerable economies (SVEs), the co-s ponsors of this proposal suffer from a severe 
lack of adequate financial, technical and administ rative capacities to fulfil their obligations under the 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  
2. These countries have to prepare, adopt and a pply technical regulations and conformity 
assessment systems, which are necessa ry to ensure the quality of exports; to protect human, animal 
and plant life; safeguard the environment and to ga in access to export markets.  Given the small size 
of their economies, the unit costs associated with implementation of the TBT Agreement is higher in 
these countries than in most other WTO Member countries.  
2. Relevant WTO provisions 
3. Article XX GATT 1994 and Articles 2, 5, 6 & 9 of the Agreement on the Technical Barriers 
to Trade. WT/COMTD/SE/W/15/Rev.2 
Page 2  
 
  3. Proposals 
4. Recognising the contribution that international standards and conformity assessment systems 
can have in improving efficiency of production and facilitating the conduct of international trade, the 
General Council is to recommend that there shal l be explicit recognition of Members' rights to 
designate a regional body to provide technical support
1 as is necessary to assist them in implementing 
the provisions of the TBT Agreement.  
5. Members and the WTO, within its competen ce, when providing technical and financial 
assistance to support small, vulnerable economies in fulfilling their rights and obligations under this 
Agreement, shall consider the advantages of pr oviding that assistance to the regional body, where 
such exists. 
4. Issues for Consideration 
6. The co-sponsors of this proposal are of the vi ew that this explicit recognition of regional 
bodies would lead to greater legal certainty.  In add ition, it would lead to an improvement in levels of 
transparency and predictability thereby enhancin g the ability of SVEs to fulfil their legal and 
notification obligations arising out of the TBT Agreement.  
7. It should be further noted that this proposal does not seek to change the legal architecture of 
the TBT Agreement nor would it impact on the balance of rights and obligations of any WTO Member.  In addition, the individual Members be nefiting from this proposal will continue to be 
legally responsible and accountable for their individual obligations which include notifications. 
5. Final Remark 
8. This proposal is without prejudice to individua l country positions and to the rights of the 
co-sponsors to submit additional proposals in future Dedicated Sessions or, otherwise, in other WTO 
bodies on any issues contained in this paper a nd/or on any other issues not included here. 
 
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1 Such technical support could include the developmen t of TBT measures;  assistance in the preparation 
of TBT notifications;  assistance with the response to any queries received on  the notifications;  and any analysis 
or research that would enhance the understanding of the TBT obligations.