WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/GC/W/647 
18 November 2011 
 (11-6003) 
General Council 
30 November 2011  
 
  
GENERAL COUNCIL 
 
Draft Annual Report (2011)
1 
 
  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
2, the General Council has held f our meetings, on 22 February, 
3 May, 27 July and 26 October 2011.  The minutes of  these meetings, which remain the record of the 
General Council's work, are contai ned in documents WT/GC/M/130-1333. 
 
 The following subjects are included in the report: 
 
1.  Work under the Doha Work Programme ............................................................................... 3  
(a)  Trade Negotiations Co mmittee - Reports ................................................................................... 3  
(b)  Work Programme on Small Economies - Reports ...................................................................... 3  
(c)  Aid for Trade ................................................................................................................. ............. 4  
2.  Review of the exemption provided und er paragraph 3 of the GATT 1994 ......................... 5  
3.  Work Programme on E-commerce ......................................................................................... 5  
(a)  Effective participation of developing countries in electronic commerce as a means to 
combat poverty – Communication from Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua .................................... 5  
(b)  Review of Progress ............................................................................................................ ......... 6 
4.  Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration - Reports and 
recommendations ............................................................................................................... ....... 6 
5.  Accession matters ............................................................................................................. ......... 7 
(a)  Bahamas ....................................................................................................................... ............... 7  
(b)  Lao PDR ....................................................................................................................... .............. 7  
(c)  Samoa ......................................................................................................................... ................. 7  
(d)  Vanuatu ....................................................................................................................... ................ 7  
6.  Waivers ....................................................................................................................... ............... 8  
                                                      
1 The final version of the report will also reflect the General Council meeting on 30 November 2011 
and items will be renumbered as necessary.   
2 The annual report of the General Council for 2010 was circulated in  WT/GC/131 and Corr.1. 
3 WT/GC/M/133 is to be issued. WT/GC/W/647 
Page 2  
 
  (a)  Cape Verde – Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994 and of the Agreement on 
Customs Va luation ............................................................................................................. ......... 8 
(b)  European Union – Request for a waiver on additional autonomous trade preferences 
granted by the European Union to Pakistan ................................................................................ 8  
(c)  Review of waivers pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement ........................................ 9  
7.  Eighth Ministerial Conference ............................................................................................... 1 0 
(a)  Statement by th e Chairman ..................................................................................................... .. 10 
(b)  Attendance of observers from Government s and International Intergovernmental 
Organizations ................................................................................................................. ........... 10  
(c)  Attendance of non-governme ntal organizations ....................................................................... 11  
8.  Administrative Measures fo r Members in Arrears ............................................................. 12  
9.  WTO Pension Plan .............................................................................................................. .... 12 
(a)  Election of Chairman, Members and Alte rnates to the Management Board ............................ 12  
(b)  Annual Report ................................................................................................................. .......... 13 
(c)  Amendment of Article 30 of the Regula tions of the WTO Pension Plan ................................. 13  
10.  International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO ....................................................................... 13  
11.  Appointment of officers to WTO bodies ............................................................................... 13  
12.  Election of Chairperson ....................................................................................................... ... 15 
  WT/GC/W/647 
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  1. Work under the Doha Work Programme 
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports (WT/GC/M/130-133) 
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, and October, the Director-General, 
as Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee,  reported on each occasion on the TNC's activities 
since his previous report to the General Council.4 
3. At the February meeting, the representatives of Mexico; Dominican Republic (on behalf of 
the Informal Group of Developing Countries); Singa pore; Chinese Taipei (on behalf of the Recently 
Acceded Members (RAMs) Group); Indonesia (on behalf of ASEAN); Turkey; Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDC Group); Colombia; Kenya (on behalf of the African Group); Australia; Barbados (on 
behalf of the SVEs); Chile; Switzerland; Hong Ko ng, China; Korea; European Union; Zimbabwe; 
United States; and Japan spoke.  The General Counc il took note of the Director-General's report and 
of the statements. 
4. At the May meeting, the representatives of Peru  and China spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the Director-General's report and of the statements. 
5. At the July meeting, the representative of Colo mbia spoke.  The General Council took note of 
the Director-General's report and of the statement. 
6. At the October meeting, the representatives of Argentina; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; 
Peru; Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Inform al Group of Developing Countries); Cuba; and El 
Salvador spoke.  The General Council took note of the Director-General's report and of the 
statements. 
(b) Work Programme on Small Economies - Reports (WT/GC/M/130-133) 
7. 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 
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 substan tive work under this work programme. 
8. At the General Council meeting in February, th e Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD, reporting on developments in this area, said that proponents continued to follow developments 
in all areas under negotiation in the Doha Round a nd in the regular WTO bodies, with particular 
attention to those areas where SVEs sought flex ibilities - mainly Agriculture, NAMA, Services, 
Subsidies disciplines, Trade Facilitation and Fisheries Subsidies.  Another area of work important to 
                                                      
4 The Director-General's statements were subse quently circulated as JOB/GC/8, 9, 10, and 13. WT/GC/W/647 
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  the SVE proponents concerned Aid for Trade.  A workshop on SVE and Aid for Trade had been held 
as part of the 2010-2011 Aid-for-Trade Work Programme.   
9. The representatives of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) and Maldives spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the report and of the statements. 
10. At the May meeting, the Chairman of th e Dedicated Session of the CTD, reporting on 
developments in this area, said that the SVEs had made new proposals in some of the Negotiating 
Groups.  Specifically, in the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture, they submitted a 
proposal on "Flexibilities in the Agricultural Moda lities on the Pillars of Domestic Support and 
Export Competition", and a proposal on the special sa feguard mechanism circulated as JOB/AG/17.  
On NAMA, El Salvador on behalf of the SVEs had submitted a document on Special and Differential 
treatment and the technical assistance concerns  in regard to Annex A of the NAMA text on 
Procedures for the Facilitation of Solutions to Non-Tariff Barriers.  In the Negotiating Group on 
Rules, the SVEs had submitted a revised proposal on additional flexibilities for SVEs under Article III 
of the draft Chair's text on Fisheries Subsidies.   In the Committee on Trade and Environment in 
Special Session, the SVEs had circulated a pr oposal on "Views of the Small and Vulnerable 
Economies on the Negotiation of Paragraph 31(iii) of  the Doha Ministerial Declaration".  In the 
Services Council's Working Party on Domestic Regulation, the SVEs had tabled a room document 
concerning paragraph 42 of the Chairman's draft text on time extensions for applying certain 
disciplines.  
11. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
12. At the July meeting, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the CTD, reporting on 
developments in this area, said that proponents continued to follow devel opments in all areas under 
negotiation in the Doha Round and in the regular WTO bodies.  The SVEs had also been following work related to Aid for Trade and were de fining a SVE Framework on Aid for Trade.  
13. The representative of Barbados (on behalf of  the SVEs) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the report and of the statement. 
14. At the October meeting, the former Chair of th e CTD read out a report on behalf of the Chair 
of the CTD Dedicated Session.  The report said that Members had taken note of a further revision of a 
WTO Secretariat paper which compiled all the propos als made by SVEs in the negotiating groups and 
other WTO bodies since the launch of the DDA in 2001 (WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.6).  The CTD in Dedicated Session had also adopted its Report to the General Council on its activities since 2009 
(WT/COMTD/SE/7) for further transmission to the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8).  The SVEs 
proposed that the language which was agreed  in the report WT/COMTD/SE/7 concerning the 
recommendations for continuing the work programme, be  turned into a future Decision by Ministers 
at MC8. 
15. The representatives of Barbados (on behalf of th e SVEs) and El Salvador spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the report and of the statements. 
(c) Aid for Trade (WT/CG/M/132) 
16. At the July General Council meeting, the Dire ctor-General reported on the Third Global 
Review of Aid for Trade which had taken place on  18-19 July 2011.  He said that Members had 
emerged stronger from the two days of experience sharing, and now had an encouraging narrative, 
which recounted how they were building trade capaci ty, including in the long-term.  Members were in 
a better position for the results they had been able to showcase, and for mobilizing so many resources  WT/GC/W/647 
 Page 5 
 
 
  and expertise in the development and business communities.  Members had also debated the 
shortcomings of current approaches and practices,  both with regard to the allocation and the 
implementation of Aid for Trade.  On the way fo rward, he said that the focus of the new work 
programme should be on "Deepening Coherence".  Actions could include exploring how Aid for 
Trade could support areas such as services, standards and IP, and recognizing the intersection of the 
initiative with other areas that were essential to sustainable development, such as food security, 
gender empowerment, climate change adaptation or energy.  He also suggested that the following 
areas be examined: resource mobilization, mainstreaming, engaging the private sector, aid effectiveness, South-South coopera tion and regional integration. 
17. The representatives of Lesotho; Brazil; Domini can Republic; Ecuador; Bangladesh (on behalf 
of the LDC Group); Korea; Peru; Japan; European Union; Turkey; Honduras; United States; Canada; 
and Zimbabwe spoke.  The General Council took note  of the Director-General's report and of the 
statements.   
2. Review of the exemption provided under paragraph 3 of the GATT 1994 
(WT/GC/M/130) 
18. Paragraph 3(a) of GATT 1994 provides an exemption from Part II of GATT 1994 for 
measures under specific mandatory legislation – enacted by a Member before it becomes a contracting 
party to GATT 1947 – which prohibited the use, sale or  lease of foreign-built or foreign-reconstructed 
vessels in commercial applications between points in  national waters or waters of an exclusive 
economic zone.  On 20 December 1994, the United States invoked the provisions of paragraph 3(a) 
with respect to specific legislation that met the re quirements of that paragraph.  Paragraph 3(b) of 
GATT 1994 calls for a review of this exemption five years after the date of entry into force of the 
WTO Agreement – and thereafter every two years for as long as the exemption was in force – in order 
to examine whether the conditions which created th e need for the exemption still prevailed.  The 
General Council last considered this matter at its meeting in December 2009 at which it took note that 
under the two-yearly cycle provided for in paragr aph 3(b) of GATT 1994, the next review would 
normally be held in 2011. 
19. At the February General Council meeting, the Chairman drew attention to the annual report 
circulated by the United States in document WT/L/810  and Corr.1.  For the purposes of the conduct of 
the review in 2011, he proposed that the Council pr oceed in a manner similar to that in 2009, which 
had been based on a procedure agreed by the Gene ral Council in December 2002.  The comments and 
questions to the US submitted by interested dele gations regarding the operation of the legislation 
under the exemption, together with the United St ates' responses and the annual statistical report 
provided by the US under paragraph 3(c) of GATT 1 994 would form the basis for the current year's 
review.   This matter would be on the Agenda of subsequent Genera l Council meetings in the course 
of 2011 as the Chairman deemed appropriate, or at  the request of any Member.  The Council would 
also consider this matter again at its meeting in December 2011. 
20. The representatives of United States; European Union; Australia; Japan; Hong Kong, China; 
Korea; and China spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this 
item at a future meeting. 
3. Work Programme on E-commerce  
(a) Effective participation of developing countries in electronic commerce as a means to combat 
poverty – Communication from Cuba, Ecua dor and Nicaragua (WT/CG/M/132) 
21. At the July General Council meeting, the Ch airman drew attention to the communication 
from Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua in document WT /GC/132 requesting that this item be placed on WT/GC/W/647 
Page 6  
 
  the agenda.  He also drew attention to the communication from these delegations in document 
WT/GC/W/635, G/C/W/650, WT/COMTD/W/179. 
22. The representatives of Cuba; Ecuador; Plurinati onal State of Bolivia; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela; Nicaragua; Japan; Argentina; Switzer land; European Union; United States; Brazil; and 
Chinese Taipei spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements.   
(b) Review of Progress (WT/CG/M/132) 
23. 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. 
24. At the July meeting, Deputy Director-General  Singh, who had been dealing with the Work 
Programme on behalf of the General Council Chai rman and his predecessors since 2005, reporting on 
work in this area, said that since May 2011 a number of initiatives under the Work Programme on 
Electronic Commerce had been undertaken.  In the c ontext of the Services Council, the Secretariat 
had produced a compilation of elements related to  the electronic supply of services (JOB/SERV/78).  
Additionally, the European Union and the United States had made a joint proposal (S/C/W/338), on trade-related principles to support the expansi on of information and communication technology 
networks and services and to enhance the developm ent of e-commerce.  Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua 
had made a joint submission, later co-sponsored by Bolivia,
5 to the General Council, the Council of 
Trade in Goods and the Committee on Trade a nd Development, in triple-symbol document 
WT/GC/W/635, G/C/W/650, WT/COMTD/W/179, on th e Effective Participation of Developing 
Countries in Electronic Commerce as a Means to Combat Poverty.6  
25. The representatives of Australia and Switzerla nd spoke.  The General Council took note of 
the report by Deputy Director-General Singh and of the statements. 
4. Committee on Budget, Finance and Admini stration – Reports and recommendations 
(WT/GC/M/131-133) 
26. At its meetings in May, July, and October, the General Council considered reports by the 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration on its meetings of March (WT/BFA/123), June 
and July (WT/BFA/124 and 125), and October (WT/BFA/126), respectively.  At each meeting, the Chairman of the Committee introduced the reports.   
27. At the May meeting, the representatives of Ch ina and Korea spoke.  The General Council 
took note of the statements, approved the Budge t Committee's specific recommendations in 
paragraphs 33, 34 and 37 of its report in document WT/BFA/123, and adopted the report. 
28. At the July meeting, the Director-General provi ded a brief update on the situation of Members 
subject to Administrative Measures and on the latest  steps undertaken in this respect.  He reported 
that, in just over two years, the number of Memb ers considered inactive under the Administrative 
Measures had gone down from eighteen to seven, i.e. by 60 per cent.  The General Council took note 
of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific recommendations in paragraphs 8 and 13 
of its report in document WT/BFA/125, and a dopted the reports in WT/BFA/124 and 125. 
                                                      
5 The communication is contained in document WT/GC/W/635/Add.1, G/C/W/650/Add.1, 
WT/COMTD/W/179/Add.1. 
6 See also paragraph 21, above.  WT/GC/W/647 
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  29. At the October meeting, the representatives of Guatemala and El Salvador, and the Director-
General spoke. The General Council took note of the statements and adopted the report in document 
WT/BFA/126. 
5. Accession matters 
(a) Bahamas (WT/GC/M/131) 
30. In July 2001, the General Council established a Working Party to examine the request of the 
Bahamas for accession to the WTO Agreement. 
31. At the May meeting, the Chairman informed Members that, following consultations and in 
keeping with usual WTO practice, it had been agr eed that Mr Wayne McCook (Jamaica) would serve 
as Chairman of this Working Party, replacing Mr Peter Black (Jamaica).  The General Council took 
note of the statement. 
(b) Lao PDR (WT/GC/M/132) 
32. In February 1998, the General Council establishe d a Working Party to examine the request of 
Lao PDR for accession to the WTO Agreement. 
33. At the July General Council meeting, the Ch airman informed Members that following 
consultations and in keeping with usual WTO pr actice, it had been agreed that Ambassador Yi 
(China) would serve as Chairperson of this Working Party, replacing Dr. Zhang (China).  The General 
Council took note of the statement. 
(c) Samoa (WT/GC/M/130) 
34. In July 1998, the General Council established a Working Party to examine the request of 
Samoa. 
35. At the February meeting, the Chairman info rmed Members that following consultations and 
in keeping with usual WTO practice, it had been  agreed that Mr Oike (Japan) would serve as 
Chairperson of this Working Party, replacing Mr K itajima (Japan).  The General Council took note of 
the statement.   
(d) Vanuatu (WT/GC/M/131, 133) 
36. In July 1995, the General Council established a Working Party to examine Vanuatu's request 
for accession to the WTO.  In October 2001, a Draf t Accession Package was ad opted by the Working 
Party.  However, at that time, Vanuatu requested mo re time to consider the package.  In 2008, in a 
letter to the Director-General, the Government of  Vanuatu signalled its interest in resuming and 
concluding its accession process and requested the update of its 2001 Draft Accession Package.  The 
Secretariat embarked on the technical update of the p ackage.  At the request of the Chairman of the 
General Council, Deputy Director-General Jara acted  on behalf of the General Council Chairman in 
this process and chaired the meetings of the re-convened Working Party.   
37. At the May meeting, the Chairman informed Members that the re-convened Working Party on 
the Accession of Vanuatu had adopted ad referendum  the draft accession package of Vanuatu, 
circulated in document WT/ACC/VUT/16 and Add. 1 a nd 2.  Deputy Director-General Jara, who had 
chaired the re-convened Working Party on the Accessi on of Vanuatu, reported on this matter to the 
General Council.  The representative of Vanuatu ( as an Observer) spoke.  The General Council took 
note of the statements. WT/GC/W/647 
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  38. At the October meeting, the General Counc il considered the Report of the re-convened 
Working Party in documents WT/ACC/VUT/17 and A dd. 1 and 2 for consider ation and adoption, and 
the letter from the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, circulated as WT/ACC/VUT/18, requesting that the time-limit for acceptance of 15 July 2011 in paragraph 7 of the Draft Protocol be modified to 
31 December 2011.   
39. Deputy Director-General Jara, who had ch aired the re-convened Working Party on the 
Accession of Vanuatu, spoke.   
40. The General Council approved the text of the Draft Protocol on the Accession of Vanuatu, 
with the modification to paragraph 7 mentioned ab ove, and, 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 draft Decision on the Accession of Vanua tu as contained in the Appendix to the report of 
the Working Party.  The General Council then a dopted the report of the Working Party as a whole 
(WT/ACC/VUT/17 and Add. 1 and 2). 
41. The Chairman and the Director-General s poke, following which the representatives of 
Vanuatu (as an Observer); Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDC Group); Australia; Dominican Republic 
(also on behalf of the Informal Group of Developi ng Countries); United States; Barbados (on behalf 
of the SVEs); New Zealand; European Union; Pakist an; China; Japan; Chinese Taipei (on behalf of 
the Recently Acceded Members (RAMs) Group); Canada; Nepal; India; Tunisia; Turkey; and Cuba spoke.  The representatives of Mexico (on behalf of GRULAC); Brazil; Saudi Arabia; Mauritania; 
Philippines; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; El Salvad or; Argentina; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; 
Peru; and Hong Kong, China also wished to be placed on record as welcoming and supporting the 
accession of Vanuatu.  The General Council took note of the statemen ts and of the expressions of 
welcome and support. 
6. Waivers 
(a) Cape Verde – Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994 and of the Agreement on 
Customs Valuation (WT/GC/M/131) 
42. At its meeting in May, the General C ouncil considered a draft waiver decision 
(G/C/W/646/Rev.1) for Cape Verde on the implem entation of Article VII of GATT 1994 and of the 
Agreement on Customs Valuation.  The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the 
consideration of the draft decision by that Council.   
43. 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/812). 
(b) European Union – Request for a waiver on a dditional autonomous trade preferences granted 
by the European Union to Pakistan (WT/GC/M/131) 
44. At its meeting in May, the Chairman referred to  a request for a waiver by the European Union 
in document G/C/W/640 on additional autonomous trade preferences to Pakistan, which had been 
considered by the Council for Trade in Goods.  In  accordance with Article IX:3 of the Marrakesh 
Agreement, the Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods made a statement on the consideration of 
this matter by that Council.   
45. The representatives of European Uni on; Pakistan; and China spoke.   WT/GC/W/647 
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  46. In light of the Goods Council Chair's statement and the request by the Goods Council 
reflected therein, the Chairman proposed that th e General Council agree to  allow the Goods Council 
to continue consideration of the request from the European Union and to report back to the General 
Council once it had completed this work.  The Gene ral Council took note of the statements and so 
agreed. 
(c) Review of waivers pursuant to Article IX :4 of the WTO Agreement (WT/GC/M/132) 
47. 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." 
48. At its July meeting, the General Council cons idered 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 tariff treatment for least-d eveloped 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/814) 
(iv) European Union – Application of autonomous p referential treatment to  Moldova, granted on 
7 May 2008 until 31 December 2013 (WT/L/722, WT/L/815) 
(v) Mongolia – Export duties on raw cashmere, grant ed 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/816) 
(vii) United States – Caribbean Basin Economic R ecovery Act, granted on 27 May 2009 until 
31 December 2014 (WT/L/753, WT/L/817) 
(viii) United States – African Growth and Opport unity Act, granted on 27 May 2009 until 
30 September 2015 (WT/L/754, WT/L/818 and Corr.1) 
(ix) United States – Andean Trade Preference Act, granted on 27 May 2009 until 
31 December 2014 (WT/L/755, WT/L/819 and Corr.1) 
49. In doing so, the General Council considered reports on implementation of the respective 
waivers submitted by the European Union (WT/L/814, WT/L/815) and the United States (WT/L/816, 
WT/L/817, WT/L/818 and Corr.1, WT/L/819 and Corr.1).   
50. The representatives of Barbados (on behalf of CARICOM Members); Trinidad and Tobago; 
Jamaica; Saint Lucia (on behalf of the Members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 
(OECS)); European Union; Plurinational State of  Bolivia; Dominican Republic; Bolivarian Republic 
of Venezuela; Kenya (on behalf of the African Group); Ecuador; Cuba; Brazil; Peru; United States; 
Nicaragua; and Lesotho spoke.  The General Council took note of the above-mentioned reports and of 
the statements. WT/GC/W/647 
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  7. Eighth Ministerial Conference 
(a) Statement by the Chairman (WT/GC/M/130-133)  
51. At the February General Council meeting, the Chairman recalled that the Eighth Ministerial 
Conference (MC8) would take place in Geneva on th e dates fixed by the Council at its October 2010 
meeting, i.e. 15-17 December 2011.  During the c ourse of consultations, there had been convergence 
on the following points.  First, Members would continue  to be guided by the "FIT" principle, i.e. Full 
participation, Inclusiveness, and Transparency.  Second, MC8 should be centred around Plenary 
Sessions in which all Ministers could participate eq ually.  Third, MC8 would need to be a lean and 
economical event, in view of the budgetary and physical space constraints.  Finally, his successor 
would continue the consultations w ith Members in order to develop the more detailed parameters of 
MC8.  The General Council took note of the statement. 
52. At the May meeting, the Chairman announced, inter alia , his intention to continue 
consultations with Members, as announced by his pr edecessor, on both the practical aspects of the 
Conference and its substantive agenda and report b ack to the full membership on the progress of his 
consultations as appropriate .  The General Council took note of the statement. 
53. At the July meeting, the Chairman said7 that he had continued c onsultations on MC8.  The 
Chairman highlighted , inter alia,  the consensus on two organizing principles: the FIT principle and  
the "gentleman's agreement", which meant that any Member pursuing an issue for decision, but not 
achieving consensus on it six weeks before the Ministerial, i.e. 2 November, would not insist on putting the item on the Conference Agenda.  Members ha d also recognized that three issues had to be 
taken up at MC8 under existing mandates: the moratorium on e-commerce duties, the moratorium on 
TRIPS non-violation complaints and the overview of WTO activities.  He would continue his 
consultations, with the aim of completing the "big picture" of the substantive agenda. 
54. The representatives of Brazil; Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDC Group); European Union; 
Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries); Honduras; China; 
and Japan spoke.  The General Counc il took note of the statements.   
55. At the October meeting, the Chairman repor ted on his consultations and on an informal 
meeting of the General Council at the level of H eads of Delegation at which he had reported on the 
areas in which convergence had emerged.8  He announced that he woul d be further intensifying his 
consultations in the coming days. 
56. The representatives of Dominican Republic (on be half of the Informal Group of Developing 
Countries); Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs);  Honduras; Colombia; European Union; India; 
Brazil; and Turkey spoke.  The General Council took note of the statements. 
(b) Attendance of observers from Government s and International Intergovernmental 
Organizations (WT/GC/M/133) 
57. At the October meeting of the General Council,  the Chairman suggested the attendance of 
observers from Governments and IGOs be taken up separately.  With regard to attendance of 
observers from Governments, he recalled that he suggested in his consultations that the General 
Council repeat its past practice.  This meant that  Governments with Observer status at the Seventh 
                                                      
7 The Chairman's statement was ci rculated in document WT/GC/133. 
8 The Chairman's statement at the informal meeting of the General Council at the level of Heads of 
Delegation was circulated in document JOB/GC/12.  WT/GC/W/647 
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  Ministerial Conference would be invited to the Eighth Ministerial Conference.9  In light of the 
convergence around his suggestion which had been a pparent in his consultations, the Chairman 
proposed that the General Council take note of his st atement and agree to follow the procedure he had 
outlined.  The General Council so agreed. 
58. With regard to International Intergovernment al Organization (IGOs), the Chairman recalled 
that he had suggested in his consultations that th e General Council repeat its past practice.  Thus, 
IGOs with Observer status at the Seventh Minist erial Conference would be invited to the Eighth 
Ministerial Conference.  In line with the Guidelin es for Observer Status for IGOs in Annex 3 of the 
General Council's Rules of Procedure, the only ex ception to this would be any IGO which had not 
attended the Seventh Ministerial Conference.  An y new requests would be considered on a case-by-
case basis in the usual way, al so in line with the Guidelines.10  In the light of the convergence around 
his suggestion in the consultations which he had just mentioned, the Chai rman proposed that the 
General Council take note of his statement and ag ree to follow the procedure he had outlined.   
59. The representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (on behalf of the Arab Group) 11 and the 
Chairman spoke.  
60. The General Council took note of the statements a nd that it would revert to this matter at a 
later point.   
61. In light of the procedure he had just set out, the Chairman informed Members that a request 
for observer status at MC8 had been received from th e League of Arab States, which currently did not 
have observer status in any WTO body.  He proposed  that the General Council proceed in exactly the 
same way that it had in the past with regard to requests from IGOs for observer status at Ministerial 
Conferences.  Accordingly, he proposed that, unl ess any objection was received by the Secretariat 
from any Member by 15 November 2011, the League of Arab States be granted observer status to MC8.  As in the past, he would inform the General Council at its next meeting of the status of this 
request.  For transparency purposes, delegations woul d have an opportunity at that meeting to discuss 
this request.  He trusted that th is was acceptable to delegations. 
62. The Chairman also informed Members that a request for observer status at MC8 had been 
received from Palestine and circulated in docume nt WT/L/822.  He was currently undertaking 
consultations on this request and intended to revert to it at the following General Council meeting. 
63. The General Council took note of the Chairman's statement.  
(c) Attendance of Non-Governmental  Organizations (WT/GC/M/133) 
64. At the October meeting, the Chairman recalled that for all previous Ministerial Conferences, 
attendance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) had been governed by a procedure which 
had been agreed by the General Council in July 1996.   This procedure was as follow:  (i) a limited 
number of accredited NGO representatives were allowed to attend only the Plenary Sessions of the Conference, without the right to speak;  (ii) appli cations from NGOs to be registered were accepted 
on the basis of Article V, paragraph 2 of the WT O Agreement, i.e. NGOs "concerned with matters 
                                                      
9 The list of the Observer Governments invited to the Seventh Ministerial Conference can be found in 
document WT/MIN(09)/INF/6/Rev.1 under Category II.   
10 The list of the Observer IGOs invited to the Seventh Ministerial Conference can be found in 
document WT/MIN(09)/INF/6/Rev.1 under Category III.   
11 At the request of the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its statement and the letter to which 
the statement referred were subsequen tly circulated in document WT/GC/134. WT/GC/W/647 
Page 12  
 
  related to those of the WTO"; and (iii) a deadline was established for the registration of NGOs that 
wished to attend the Conference. 
65. The Chairman proposed that the General Counc il continue to follow the procedures he had 
just read out, with a deadline for registration fixe d at 11 November.  The General Council took note of 
the statement and so agreed. 
8. Administrative Measures for Members in Arrears (WT/GC/M/130-133) 
66. 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. 
67. At the General Council meetings in February, May, July, and October the Chairman of the 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration provided information w ith regard to which 
Members were under Administrative Measures in Cate gories II through IV.  Also in pursuance of the 
revised Administrative Measures, the General Counc il 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.12  The General Council took note of the statements. 
9. WTO Pension Plan 
(a) Election of Chairman, Members and Alternat es to the Management Board (WT/GC/M/130, 
131, 133) 
68. Article 4(a) of the Regulations of the WTO Pension Plan provides, inter alia , for the election 
by the General Council of a Chairman, four members and four alternates to the Management Board of 
the Pension Plan, each for a three-year term.   
69. At the February General Council meeting, the Chairman, in a communication circulated to 
delegations in document WT/GC/W/630, indicated that two members previously elected to the 
Management Board by the General Council were no longer available to serve on the Board, and that it 
was therefore necessary for the Council to decide on their replacement.  Accordingly, he proposed 
that the General Council elect Mr Ken Schagrin (U nited States) and Mr Marhijn Visser (Netherlands) 
to serve as members on the Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan for the remainder of the 
Board's term, i.e. until May 2011. 
70. The General Council took note of the statement and so agreed.   
71. At the May meeting, the Chairman recalled that the term of office of the current membership 
of the Management Board would expire on 7 May.  Following consultations on this matter, he had 
circulated document WT/GC/W/632, in which he proposed the names of representatives who had 
kindly agreed to have their names put forward fo r election as chairman, members and alternates.   
72. The General Council agreed to the election of  the candidates whose names were listed in 
document WT/GC/W/632 to serve in these positions on the Pension Plan Management Board for a 
three-year term. The Decision was circulated in document WT/L/813. 
                                                      
12 See also paragraph 28, above.  WT/GC/W/647 
 Page 13 
 
 
  73. At the October meeting, the Chairman, in a communication circulated to delegations in 
document WT/GC/W/640, indicated that a member and an alternate previously elected to the 
Management Board by the General Council were no longer available to serve on the Board, and that it 
was therefore necessary for the Council to decide on their replacement.  Accordingly, he proposed 
that the General Council elect Ms Trudy Witbreuk (Australia) to serve as  member and Ms Annie 
Ouellet (Canada) to serve as alternate on the Mana gement Board for the remainder of the Board's 
term, i.e. until May 2014.13  The General Council so agreed.  
(b) Annual Report (WT/GC/M/133) 
74. At the October meeting, the Chairman of th e Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan 
introduced the Annual Report of the Management Board for 2010 (WT/L/820).  The General Council 
took note of the Annual Report and of the statement. 
(c) Amendment of Article 30 of the Regulations  of the WTO Pension Plan (WT/GC/M/133) 
75. At the October meeting, the Chairman of th e Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan 
introduced the Amendment of Article 30 of the Regu lations of the WTO Pension Plan circulated in 
document WT/GC/W/637 concerning the incorpora tion of a provision for the non-concurrence of 
allowances for child's benefit.  The General Council took note of the statement and approved the 
amendment to the WTO Pension Plan Regulations as set out in document WT/GC/W/637. 
10. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (WT/GC/M/132) 
76. At its July meeting, the General Council consid ered a report of the Joint Advisory Group of 
the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Forty-fourth Session (ITC/AG(XLIV)/238).  
The Chairman recalled that, in keeping with cust omary practice, this report had been considered 
initially by the Committee on Trade and Development at  its meeting on 21 June.  The Chairman of the 
Committee on Trade and Development reported on the Committee's consideration of the report.   
77. The representatives of Jamaica and Canada spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statements and adopted the report of the Joint Advisory Group. 
11. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies (WT/GC/M/130, 132, 133) 
78. At the February meeting, the Chairman reca lled that, in accordance w ith the Guidelines for 
Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies (WT/L/510), he and his colleagues, Mr Agah (Nigeria), the 
serving Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body and Mr  Matus (Chile), the former Chairman of the 
General Council, had conducted co nsultations with delegations on a slate of names for the 
appointment of Chairs to the bodies listed in Groups 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the Annex to the Guidelines.  On the basis of these consultations, there was a consensus on the following slate of names: 
General Council H.E. Mr Yonov Frederick AGAH (Nigeria) 
Dispute Settlement Body H.E. Mrs Elin Østebø JOHANSEN (Norway) 
Trade Policy Review Body H.E. Mr Mario MATUS (Chile) 
Council for Trade in Goods H.E. Mr Jüri SEILENTHAL (Estonia) 
Council for Trade in Services H.E Mr ERWIDODO (Indonesia) Council for TRIPS H.E. Mr Federico A. GONZÁLEZ (Paraguay) 
                                                      
13 The Decision was then circul ated in document WT/L/824. WT/GC/W/647 
Page 14  
 
  Committee on Trade and 
  Development H.E. Dr Anthony Mothae MARUPING (Lesotho) 
Committee on Balance-of- 
  Payments Restrictions H.E. Mr Hisham M. BADR (Egypt) 
Committee on Budget, Finance  
  and  Administration Mr Pasi-Heikki VAARANMAA (Finland) 
Committee on Trade and  
  Environment H.E. Mrs Hiswani HARUN (Malaysia) 
Committee on Regional Trade  
  Agreements Mr François RIEGERT (France) 
Working Group on Trade, Debt and  
  Finance Mr Martin GLASS (Hong Kong, China) 
Working Group on Trade and  
  Transfer of Technology H.E. Mrs Marion Vernese WILLIAMS (Barbados) 
 
79. Appointments for these bodies would be for one year , in keeping with the general rule in the 
Guidelines.  These appointments would be made fo rmally by the WTO bodies concerned at their 
subsequent meetings in 2011.  The General Council took note of the statement and of the consensus 
on the slate of names for the appointment of officers.   
80. The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods and the General Council Chairman on 
behalf of the Chairperson of the Services Counc il spoke.  The General Council took note of the 
statements.   
81. At the July meeting, the Chairman reported th at consultations were proceeding regarding the 
appointment of successors to Amb. Walker (New Ze aland), Chairman of the Special Session of the 
Committee on Agriculture, and Amb. Teehankee (Ph ilippines), Chairman of the Special Session of 
the Committee on Trade and Environment, who had bot h been recalled to their capitals to take up 
other appointments.  The General Council took note of the statement.  
82. At the October meeting, the Chairman said that  his consultations on the chairmanships of the 
Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture, th e Special Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Environment, and the Negotiating Group on Rules14 had shown a consensus among Members on the 
appointment of the following Chairs:   
Special Session of the Committee on 
Agriculture Amb. John Adank (New Zealand) 
Special Session of the Committee on Trade 
and Environment Amb. Hiswani Harun (Malaysia) 
Negotiating Group on Rules Am b. Wayne McCook (Jamaica) 
 
                                                      
14 In a fax dated 23 September sent to all Members, the Chairman noted that he had been informed that 
Ambassador Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago), Chairman of the Negotiating Group on Rules, had also been 
recalled to capital.  It was therefore necessary to include this appointment in the consultations.  WT/GC/W/647 
 Page 15 
 
 
  83. These appointments would be made formally at  the next formal meeting of each of the 
respective bodies.  The representatives of Mexico (a lso on behalf of GRULAC) and Colombia spoke.  
The General Council took note of the statements.  
12. Election of Chairperson (WT/GC/M/130) 
84. At the February Council meeting, the Chairman, as the outgoing presiding officer of the 
General Council, made a brief statement. 
85. The General Council then unanimously elected Mr Agah (Nigeria) to the Chair. 
86. The Director-General, the newly-elected Chai rman, and the representatives of Mauritius (on 
behalf of the ACP Group); Jamaica (on behalf of GRULAC); Indonesia (on behalf of ASEAN); 
Kenya (on behalf of the African Group); Barbados  (on behalf of the SVEs); United States; and 
Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Informal Gr oup of Developing Countries) spoke.  The General 
Council took note of the statements. 
_________