RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/M/69 
17 June 2008 
 
 (08-2835) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Sixty-Ninth Session  
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 5 MAY 2008 
 
Chairman:  H.E. Mr. Shree B.C. Servansing (Mauritius) 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA .........................................................................................................2  
B. OBSERVERS ............................................................................................................................... ...2 
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers ...............................................................................2  
(ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab 
States, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Internationale de la 
Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab 
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and th e Groupe de la Banque Africaine de 
Développement.................................................................................................................. ..........3
 
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE .........................................................................3  
- COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.1)....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD/57/A DD.2)....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD/57/A DD.3)....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.4)....................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD/57/A DD.5)...............................................................................................................4  
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES ON THE NOTIFICATION BY CHINA OF THE 
AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AGREEMENT ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AMONG 
DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES OF TH E ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR 
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (BANGKOK AGREEMENT ) (WT/COMTD/62/A DD.1) .................................5  
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA – RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE 
UNITED STATES ON THE ASIA -PACIFIC TRADE AGREEMENT (APTA ) 
(WT/COMTD/62/A DD.2)...............................................................................................................5  
- GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES – NOTIFICATION BY NORWAY 
(WT/COMTD/N/6/A DD.4).............................................................................................................6  
- SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (SAFTA ) (WT/COMTD/N/26 ) ........................................7  
D. DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO 
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES ........................8  WT/COMTD/M/69 
Page 2  
 
  E.
 DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672 ) ...........8  
F. REVIEW OF STEPS T AKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS 
TO LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES .............................................................................................9  
G. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING ................................................................................11  
(i) Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training, 1 January to 31 December 
2007 ........................................................................................................................... ...............11  
(ii) Technical Cooperation Audit Report for 2007 ( WT/COMTD/W/166 ).........................................11  
H. OTHER BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................12  
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairman  said that the draft agenda for the 69th Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development (CTD) was contained in document WTO/AIR/3173/Rev.1 issued on 30 April 2008.  He 
drew Members' attention to item G of the agenda  concerning technical cooperation and training.  
While there were two reports reflected under this agenda item, he informed the Committee that only 
the Technical Cooperation Audit Report for 2007 would be considered at the present meeting.  He 
explained that the Annual Report on Technical Assist ance and Training for 2007 had yet to be issued, 
and would therefore be considered at the next CTD meeting.  He inquired whether any Member 
wished to raise any matter under "Other Business". 
2. The representative of the European Communities  said that her delegation wished to raise a 
matter under "Other Business" concerning a change in the notification status of the Gulf Cooperation 
Council (GCC) Customs Union from Article XXIV of GATT 1994 to the Enabling Clause.   
3. The agenda was adopted  as amended. 
B. OBSERVERS  
(i) Request for attendance of ad hoc observers 
4. The Chairman  recalled that at previous sessions of th e CTD, Members had agreed to invite a 
number of intergovernmental organizations on an ad  hoc, meeting-by-meeting basis.  These included 
the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), th e Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the 
Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation, th e Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the African 
Union (AU), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the South Centre, the Pacific Islands Forum, the United Nations Environment Progra mme (UNEP), the West African Economic and 
Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the World Intellectua l Property Organization (WIPO).  He said that, 
following the decision taken at the previous meeti ng of the Committee, these organizations had been 
invited to the present meeting.  He proposed that the organizations be invited to the next formal 
meeting of the CTD. 
5. It was so agreed
.  WT/COMTD/M/69 
 Page 3 
 
 
  (ii) Further consideration of the requests for observer status by the League of Arab States, the 
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Organisation Int ernationale de la Francophonie, the Common 
Fund for Commodities, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de Développement 
6. The Chairman
 said that at previous meetings, the Committee had had before it a number of 
requests for observer status.  If there was no change in  positions to extend observer status to any of 
those applicants, then the Committee w ould take note and revert to those requests at the next meeting.   
7. It was so agreed . 
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ENABLING CLAUSE  
8. The Chairman  said that he wished to provide Members with an update on a number of matters 
concerning recent notifications of regional trade agreements (RTAs) under the Enabling Clause, and 
their consideration in the CTD.  He recalled that the CTD had agreed at its 67th Session on 
4 December 2007 to follow the procedures bei ng used by the Committee on Regional Trade 
Agreements (CRTA) to consider newly-notifie d RTAs, in line with the provisions of the 
Transparency Mechanism for RTAs.  In this re gard, he informed Members that the CTD – in 
dedicated session – was scheduled to consider two RTAs in October 2008.  These were the 
Egypt-Turkey Agreement – the notification of  which had been circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/N/23 – and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union – the notification of which had been circulated in document WT/COMTD/N /25.  They were the first two RTAs under the 
Enabling Clause that would be considered within the framework of the Tran sparency Mechanism for 
RTAs, on the basis of a factual presentation prepared by the Secretariat. 
9. With regard to the Egypt-Turkey Agreement,  it was his understanding that the Secretariat's 
preparation of the factual presentation was proceedi ng according to schedule.  However, he informed 
the Committee that the Secretariat had still not recei ved the required data from the member countries 
of the GCC.  Until the data was received, the Secretariat would not be in a position to prepare the 
factual presentation of the GCC Customs Union.  He urged the members of the GCC to provide the 
data to the Secretariat as soon as possible, to en sure that consideration of this RTA remained on 
schedule and was completed within the one-year pe riod required under the Transparency Mechanism 
for RTAs.  
10. As for the recently-notified Pakistan-Malaysia Agreement, he said that this agreement had 
been notified under both the Enabling Clause and Ar ticle V of the GATS, with document references 
WT/COMTD/N/24 and S/C/N/440.  It was expected that in March 2009 the goods component of the 
Pakistan-Malaysia Agreement would be considered  in a dedicated session of the CTD, while the 
services component of the agreement would be considered in the CRTA.   
11. The Chairman next referred to the notifica tion concerning the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area 
(PAFTA) Agreement.  Further to the briefing he had provided at the last CTD meeting, he said that 
the notification had still not been circulated, in view of some missing information.  As he had 
mentioned at the last meeting, he had been in touc h with the Saudi Arabian delegation on this matter.  
The notification would be circulated as soon as possi ble.  He also referred to the procedure being 
followed by the CRTA for RTAs to which non-WTO Memb ers were parties, noting in particular that 
the consideration of these RTAs in the context of the Transparency Mechanis m was currently on hold. 
He explained therefore, that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement – the notification of which  was 
on the agenda for the present Regular Session – would not be considered in a dedicated session of the 
CTD on the basis of a factual presentation.  Th e same would apply to the PAFTA Agreement 
notification, once it was circulated. WT/COMTD/M/69 
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  - 
COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.1) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.2) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.3) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM PAKISTAN ON TH E REVISED GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF 
PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (WT/COMTD/57/A DD.4) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 
SUBMITTED BY BRAZIL , CHINA , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON THE REVISED GENERALIZED 
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(WT/COMTD/57/A DD.5) 
12. The Chairman  recalled that the EC had notified its revised Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) scheme at the 57th Session of the CTD.  Communications raising questions on the EC's revised 
GSP scheme had been received from Brazil, China, India and Pakistan and were circulated in 
documents WT/COMTD/57/Add.1 to Add.4, respectivel y.  The EC's responses to the questions were 
circulated in document WT/COMTD/57/Add.5.  As agreed to at the last meeting, he said that he had continued his informal consultations.  These consulta tions had indicated that more time was required 
before this item could be taken off the CTD's ag enda.  He inquired whether any Member wished to 
take the floor.  
13. The representative of Pakistan
 said that in February 2008, th e EC had provided her delegation 
with responses to a second set of questions raised by  Pakistan.  She informed the Committee that her 
delegation had now submitted to th e EC its reactions to the responses, and was waiting for a reply 
from the EC.  In the meantime, she wished to pose a question to the EC  at the present meeting 
concerning one of the criteria for eligibility for th e EC's special incentive arrangement for sustainable 
development and good governance ('GSP-plus') that would be implemented fr om 1 January 2009.  In 
particular, she wished to know the date by whic h potential beneficiary countries needed to have 
ratified the stipulated number of conventions.  She also inquired whether the EC had given adequate 
notice to allow interested countries the opportunity  to ratify the conventions, and how the EC had 
made the information known.  She requested that th is item remain on the agenda for the CTD's next 
meeting. 
14. The representative of Brazil  regretted that the EC had not  responded satisfactorily to the 
questions that had been posed by his delegation.   He noted that Brazil and the EC had been 
communicating bilaterally on this matter, with the l ast such bilateral exchange having taken place in 
January 2008.  His delegation expected the EC to abid e by its stated commitment to transparency.  He 
believed that this included a commitment to pr oviding complete information concerning trade 
statistics – not only bilaterally, but also on a multilater al basis.  His delegation wished to keep this 
item on the agenda for the next CTD meeting, as it considered that the issue had not yet been 
resolved.   
15. The representative of India  said that the relevant authorities in India were in the process of 
examining the information that had been provided by the EC in document WT/COMTD/57/Add.5.  A 
preliminary consideration, however, indicated that the information did not fully respond to India's 
questions.  India sought certain clarifications, whic h would be conveyed to the EC shortly.  He too 
requested that this item remain on the agenda for the CTD's next meeting.   WT/COMTD/M/69 
 Page 5 
 
 
  16. The representative of th e European Communities  said that the EC was aware of the concerns 
that had been raised on its GSP scheme by some Members, and had been having bilateral meetings 
and information exchanges with these Members.  In this regard, the EC looked forward to receiving 
any further requests for trade data from Brazil.  She also noted that an EC-Pakistan bilateral sub-group 
on trade would meet on 15 and 16 May 2008, and that the GSP scheme was one of the items on the 
agenda for that meeting.  With regard to the EC 's new GSP scheme, which would enter into force on 
1 January 2009, she informed the Committee that the EC was currently completing its internal 
procedures.  A notice would subsequently be issued to importers and exporters to inform them of the 
new scheme.  The scheme would also be notified to  the WTO.  In connection with the new GSP-plus 
arrangement, she said that interested countries woul d have to submit a request by 31 October 2008, 
providing comprehensive information on the rati fication and implementation of the required 
conventions.  After an assessment of the requests, a list of the countries eligible for benefits under the 
GSP-plus arrangement would be published before the end of 2008.  Her delegation would inform 
Pakistan bilaterally about the timing and procedur es to put forward an application.       
17. The representative of Brazil  said that his delegation had submitted several requests to the EC.  
In response to these requests, only partial informa tion had been provided by the EC.  While Brazil 
would shortly be submitting another bilateral request  concerning trade data for 2007, he stressed that 
in the view of his delegation a bilateral excha nge of information was not enough.  A multilateral 
sharing of information was far more preferable.  
18. The representative of the European Communities , in follow-up to her earlier intervention, said 
that countries interested in applying for the new GSP-plus arrangement would have until the end of 
October 2008 to ratify the required conventions.   
19. The Chairman  said that he would continue with his informal consultations, and would report 
back to the CTD at the next meeting.  The present ite m would, therefore, remain on the CTD's agenda.   
20. It was so agreed . 
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES ON THE NOTIFICATION BY CHINA OF THE 
AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AGREEMENT ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AMONG 
DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 
(BANGKOK AGREEMENT ) (WT/COMTD/62/A DD.1) 
- COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA – RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE 
UNITED STATES ON THE ASIA -PACIFIC TRADE AGREEMENT (APTA ) 
(WT/COMTD/62/A DD.2) 
21. The Chairman  recalled that China, on behalf of the Participating States of the Asia-Pacific 
Trade Agreement (APTA), had introduced a notification at the 65th Session of the CTD concerning 
the Amendment to the First Agreement on Trade Negotiations Among Developing Member Countries 
of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok Agreement).  A communication from the United States raising questi ons on the notification had subsequently been 
circulated in document WT/COMTD/62/Add.1.  R esponses from China to the questions had now also 
been circulated in document WT/COMTD/62/Add.2.   He inquired whether any Member wished to 
take the floor. 
22. The representative of the United States
 said that her delegation had two follow-up questions 
with respect to the coverage of APTA.  She noted that paragraph 3(a) of the Enabling Clause stated 
that any differential or more favourable treatment  provided would be designed to facilitate and 
promote the trade of developing countries.  However,  given that the percentage of trade covered by 
APTA was relatively low, it was not clear how the agre ement satisfied this paragraph.  In particular, WT/COMTD/M/69 
Page 6  
 
  her delegation sought clarificati on on how APTA facilitated and prom oted the trade of developing 
countries when it covered less than 15 per cent of total import value for three of the parties to the 
agreement, and no more than 38 per cent for any pa rty.  Her delegation also requested confirmation 
that the agreement's coverage reflected con cessions but not necessarily elimination.     
23. The representative of China
 said that the follow-up questions had just been received by his 
delegation, and responses could therefore not be prov ided at the present meeting.  He added that his 
delegation would appreciate if the US could provide the questions in written form.  He looked forward 
to the CTD concluding its consideration of th e APTA notification as soon as possible.    
24. The Chairman  proposed that the US provide China with the follow-up questions in written 
form.  The item would remain on the ag enda for the next CTD meeting.   
25. It was so agreed . 
- GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES – NOTIFICATION BY NORWAY 
(WT/COMTD/N/6/A DD.4) 
26. The Chairman  said that a notification concerning Norw ay's GSP scheme had been circulated 
in document WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.4.  He invited the representative of Norway to introduce the 
notification. 
27. The representative of Norway  said that Norway had implemented several changes to its GSP 
scheme on 1 January 2008.  These changes were th e result of a comprehensive government review, 
initiated with the aim of increasing Norway's impor ts from developing countri es, and in particular 
from least-developed countries (LDCs) and other low-income countries.  The review was based on a study from an independent consultant, selected afte r public tender in line with the WTO's Government 
Procurement Agreement.  As part of the review, a working group – with representatives from relevant 
ministries and directorates – issued a report in April 2007, containing 15 recommendations for improvement of the GSP scheme.  After a public h earing of this report, including with relevant 
institutions and civil society organizations, th e government endorsed the recommendations.  The 
parliament then took the necessary decisions as part of the state budget for 2008.  
28. He explained that a basic consideration of the review was to develop a consistent GSP scheme 
based on objective criteria for selecting the count ries included in the scheme, as well as for 
differentiating between countries given duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) ma rket access and those 
countries given ordinary GSP treatment .  In this regard, it had been d ecided that the GSP list would be 
based on the list of recipients of official development assistance (ODA) from the OECD's 
Development Assistance Committee (DAC).  Base d on the DAC list, 11 new countries were included 
in Norway's GSP scheme from 1 January 2008.  It ha d also been decided that the preference margin 
for ordinary GSP beneficiary countries would be increased by 20 percentage points within the WTO 
minimum access quotas for agricultural products.  Furthermore, the provision of DFQF market access was extended to an increased number of countries.  Previously – since 1 July 2002 – DFQF market 
access for all goods from all LDCs had been provided as part of Norway's GSP scheme.  From 
1 January 2008, however, this provision had been extended to include 14 low-income countries that 
were not part of the LDC group.  This meant that  64 countries were now being provided with DFQF 
market access into Norw ay for all their goods.  
29. It had also been decided that a country en tering into a free trade agreement (FTA) with 
Norway in accordance with GATT Article XXIV would normally be taken out of Norway's GSP list 
when the FTA entered into force.  In addition, with a view to simplifying the system, the two 
safeguard provisions of Norway's GSP scheme had b een merged into one.  He added that efforts 
would be made to assist GSP beneficiary countries, a nd in particular those countries that were given  WT/COMTD/M/69 
 Page 7 
 
 
  DFQF market access, in meeting the requirements to qualify for GSP treatment.  Initiatives to provide 
information would include improved and more accessi ble internet pages, printed material, and the 
organization of meetings or semina rs in LDCs and other low-income countries.  Norway's Action Plan 
on Aid for Trade would play a role  in trying to increase the use of  the possibilities created by DFQF 
market access.  Further information on Norway's  GSP scheme could be found on the website of the 
Government of Norway.  
30. The representative of Brazil  said that the notification by Norway had been circulated quite 
recently.  His delegation wished to have more time  to study the notification, and also have the 
possibility of coming back to it at the next CTD meeting should any questions arise.  
31. The Chairman  proposed that the Committee take note of the notification by Norway.  He 
further proposed that the Secretariat remain in contact with the Brazilian delegation to ascertain 
whether Brazil would have any questions on the notif ication.  If so, the present item would appear on 
the agenda of the next CTD meeting. 
32. It was so agreed .   
- SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (SAFTA ) (WT/COMTD/N/26 ) 
33. The Chairman  said that the notification concerning the South Asian Free Trade Agreement 
(SAFTA) – which could be found in document WT /COMTD/N/26 – had been circulated at the 
request of India.  He invited the representa tive of India to introduce the notification.  
34. The representative of India  said that, as the current Chair of  the South Asian Association for 
Regional Cooperation (SAARC), India had notified SAFTA under the Enabling Clause in accordance 
with the 14 December 2006 General Council Decisi on establishing a Transparency Mechanism for 
RTAs – contained in document WT/L/671.  He said that SAFTA  was signed on 6 January 2004, and 
entered into force on 1 January 2006.  The Contr acting States of the agreement were Bangladesh, 
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  Afghanistan – an LDC – was in the process 
of becoming a Contracting State.  SAFTA was  expected to provide stimulus  to the  strengthening of 
SAARC economies.  The agreement recognized that LDCs in the region n eeded to be accorded 
special and differential treatment commensurate with their development needs.  The Trade 
Liberalization Programme (TLP) under SAFTA went in to effect from 1 July 2006 for all Contracting 
States except Nepal and Sri Lanka, for which it did so from 1 August 2006  and 16 September 2006  
respectively.  Article 7 of the agreement provided for a phased TLP for the reduction of tariffs to 
between zero and 5  per cent within ten years of the entry into  force of the agreement.  The TLP would 
cover all tariff lines except those relating to items kept in the Sensitive List by each Contracting State.  
35. He went on to say that the objectives of the ag reement, as contained in Article 3, were to 
promote and enhance mutual trade and econom ic cooperation among Contracting States by, inter alia :  
(i) eliminating barriers to trade in, and facilitati ng the cross-border movement of goods between, the 
territories of the Contracting States;  (ii) promoting conditions of fair competition in the free trade area, and ensuring equitable benefits to all Cont racting States, taking into account their respective 
levels and pattern of economic  development;  (iii) creating effective mechanisms for the 
implementation and application of the agreement, fo r its joint administration and for the resolution of 
disputes;  and (iv) establishing a framework for further regional cooperation to expand and enhance 
the mutual benefits of the agreement.  He said that India accorded high importance to SAFTA, and 
believed that SAFTA would provide impetus to regional economic coope ration and give effect to the 
shared aspirations of a more prosperous South Asia. 
36. The Committee took note
 of the notification concerning SAFTA. WT/COMTD/M/69 
Page 8  
 
  D. 
DECLINING TERMS OF TRADE FOR PRIMARY COMMODITIES , AND ITS IMPLICATION TO TRADE 
AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES   
37. The Chairman  recalled that it had been agreed at the last CTD meeting that he would continue 
his informal consultations with Members to get a better idea as to how the Committee could continue 
to add value in its discussion on commodities.  In this regard, he informed the Committee that some 
Members had been working to explore ways in which the CTD could contribute to the commodities 
issue, particularly in light of the outcome of the recently-concluded UNCTAD XII Conference.  The 
Coordinator of the African Group had also contacted  him to request that the present item remain on 
the CTD's agenda.  He added that he generally encouraged proposals from Members in this regard, 
either at the present meeting or after the meeting.  
38. The representative of the European Communities  said that she wished to signal the interest of 
her delegation in reviving the commodities agenda item in the CTD.  She observed that many of the 
assumptions that were originally behind the inclus ion of this item on the CTD's agenda might have 
changed.  With regard to the recent increases in  food prices, her delegation had been following with 
interest the recent meeting in Bern of the Unite d Nations' Chief Executives Board for Coordination.  
She believed that it might be useful for the CTD to  consider – and raise unde rstanding of – the latest 
developments in commodity prices.  
39. The Chairman  proposed that he continue his informal consultations with a view to 
concretizing a way forward for the CTD on this matter.   
40. It was so agreed .   
E. DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY FOR PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (WT/L/672 ) 
41. The Chairman  said that the 14 December 2006 Gene ral Council Decision on "Transparency 
for Preferential Trade Arrangements" – contai ned in document WT/L/672 – invited the CTD to 
consider transparency for preferential arrangement s under paragraph 2 of the Enabling Clause – other 
than RTAs – and report back within six months fo r appropriate action by th e General Council.  The 
Council had extended the deadline to its July 2008 meeting.   
42. He recalled that at the last CTD meeting, he  had informed the Committee that the proponents 
had prepared a draft text on the issue of transpar ency for preferential trade arrangements (PTAs).  
This text had undergone revisions based on the co mments made by some Members in a number of 
informal consultations.  His understanding was that another revision of the text was now ready – or 
close to being ready.  It was his intention to have  the proponents' draft text considered informally in 
an open-ended format as soon as possible.  He inqui red whether any Member wished to take the floor. 
43. The representative of China  said that transparency was a core principle of the WTO. China 
attached great importance to transparency, and w as taking measures within its capacity to fulfil its 
responsibilities in this regard.  He informed th e Committee that after examining the proposal by 
Brazil, India and the US on a transparency mech anism for PTAs, China had decided to join as a 
co-sponsor.  He expressed hope that the CTD coul d accelerate its work on this matter and achieve a 
satisfactory result as soon as possible.   
44. The representative of Brazil  welcomed China's announcement to co-sponsor the proposal.  He 
confirmed that a revised version of the text proposal  was currently being finalized by the proponents.  
He also welcomed the Chairman's initiative to ha ve the proponents' draft text considered in an 
informal, open-ended format as soon as possible.  Finally, he encouraged all Members to embrace the 
legitimate objectives of transparen cy envisaged by the proposed mechanism, which would apply to 
every type of preferential scheme apart from RTAs.        WT/COMTD/M/69 
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  45. The representative of India  welcomed China's decision to co-sponsor the proposal for a 
transparency mechanism for PTAs.  This would broaden the base of co-sponsorship, which already 
covered some of the largest beneficiaries of GSP schemes, and also included a country which provided one of the largest GSP schemes.  His dele gation was confident that this would lend both 
weight and value to the proposal currently under di scussion.  He said that more time and more work – 
in both formal and informal settings – woul d be required before the CTD could come 
to a decision on 
this matter.  He expressed appreciation for the c onstructive engagement by Members in the informal 
consultations that had been called by the Chairman , and remained hopeful of closing the gaps soon.  
His delegation welcomed the Chairman's initiative to have the proposal discussed in an open-ended 
format, and  looked forward to working with Me mbers to establish an appropriate transparency 
mechanism for PTAs very soon.   
46. The representative of the United States  also welcomed China as a co-sponsor of the proposal.  
Her delegation looked forward to advancing the work on this matter towards a positive outcome.  
47. The Chairman  encouraged the proponents to expedite the revision of the text, so that it could 
be considered in an open-ended format as soon as po ssible.  He said that this item would remain on 
the agenda for the next CTD meeting. 
48. It was so agreed . 
F. REVIEW OF STEPS T AKEN TO PROVIDE DUTY -FREE AND QUOTA -FREE MARKET ACCESS TO 
LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
49. The Chairman  said that an item concerning the Hong Kong Decision on duty-free and 
quota-free (DFQF) market access for LDCs had been on the CTD's agenda since early 2006.  Under 
this item, delegations had provided information on the steps they we re taking, or had already taken, to 
provide DFQF market access to LDCs.  Written co mmunications by some Members had also been 
considered.  He recalled that the CTD had to date  undertaken two of its mandated annual reviews of 
the implementation of the Hong Kong Decision.   
50. The representative of India  recalled that his delegation had informed the Committee at its 
63rd Session that India would introduce, in a phased ma nner, a scheme for LDCs in fulfilment of the 
mandate contained in para graph 47 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration as it related to DFQF 
market access for LDCs.  In this regard, he referred to the Prime Minister of India's inaugural address 
at the India-Africa Forum Summit  in New Delhi on 8 April 2008, in which India's Duty Free Tariff 
Preference (DFTP) Scheme for LDCs had been an nounced.  The scheme was available to all LDCs, 
whether or not they were WTO Members.  The objective of the scheme was to grant tariff preferences 
on the exports of products originating in LDCs in  order to help improve their trading opportunities 
and to allow them to use trade as a tool for development.  
51. Tariff concessions would start with a fixed margin of preference from the beginning of the 
implementation of the scheme, covering 92.5 per cent of LDCs' global exports.  It was envisaged that 
85 per cent of total tariff lines at the 6-digit leve l of the Harmonized System would become duty-free 
within a five year time frame.  The rules of orig in under the scheme were designed to be simple, and 
preferential safeguards had adequate support for the exporting countries.  Technical assistance would 
also be provided to maximize the utility of the scheme.  He added that the Government of India's nodal point had already been notified, and that c onsultations could be held to address specific 
problems.  Though implemented unilaterally and c ontemplated before the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Conference, the scheme was in line with the re levant sections of the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration.  He added that on 16 April 2008 his delegation had made a presentation on India's 
scheme to the Ambassadors of the LDC Group.  Copi es of that presentation had been made available 
to delegations at the present meeting.  He c oncluded by urging develo ped countries and other WT/COMTD/M/69 
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  developing countries that had not yet announced thei r DFQF market access schemes for LDCs, to do 
so in an expeditious manner.   
52. The representative of Lesotho
, on behalf of the LDC Group, said that trade had become an 
important tool for most LDCs in their efforts to attain their development goals, including the 
reduction of poverty among their citizens.  For the Doha Round to be successfully concluded, the 
interests of the LDCs needed to be taken on board .  Granting meaningful and realistic market access 
to products of export interest to LDCs would be the barometer in th e move towards this end.  The 
LDCs, therefore, continued to call upon develope d country Members to live up to the commitment 
made at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference to provide DFQF market access to LDCs as one of the 
deliverables of the Round.  The LDCs acknowledged the efforts made by some countries to translate 
commitments into reality, in particular the practi cal steps being taken to provide enhanced market 
access to the LDCs.  In this regard, the notifi cation made by Norway at the present meeting was 
acknowledged with appreciation.  He also expresse d appreciation for the information provided by 
India on its DFTP Scheme for LDCs.  He hoped that  this move by India would not only encourage 
other developing countries to come forward with a complete package, but would also send an 
appropriate message to the developed countries that it was time that they placed concrete offers on the  
negotiating table.  He added that clarity of conten t and the timing of implementation were pivotal in 
giving true meaning to the offers made. 
53. The LDCs also wished to urge Members to ensure that there was parallel progress in the 
simplification of preferential rules of origin.  Th e intended benefits of DFQF market access would 
otherwise not be realized.  In this regard, the LDCs  were pleased to report that bilateral consultations 
were continuing with relevant Members on simple  and transparent rules of origin to accompany 
DFQF market access, with the aim of reaching an agreement on modalities to facilitate the 
implementation of the commitment on rules of origin  made at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.  
It was hoped that other non-tariff barriers would not frustrate the results.  He emphasized that time 
was of the essence if the provision of DFQF market access was to be meaningful to LDCs.  The value 
of DFQF market access would otherwise be minimal a nd not sufficient to translate into the desired 
benefits, particularly in view of preference erosion and competition from economically stronger 
countries.  It was on this basis that LDC Trade Ministers – meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, in February 2008 – had urged developed countries to provide at least 97 per cent DFQF market access 
by the end of the year, and to additionally outline the process by which DFQF market access would be 
provided on the remaining tariff lines.  He said that in order to attain a mutually beneficial outcome, it 
was necessary for transparency and predictability to be the dr iving forces of the process.  
54. Supporting the intervention by Lesotho, the representative of Benin
 expressed appreciation 
for India's initiative to offer enha nced market access to LDCs, and noted that issues concerning rules 
of origin and the strengthening of LDCs' productive ca pacities were addressed in  the Indian initiative.  
His delegation encouraged other WTO Members – de veloped and developing – to follow India's 
example.     
55. The representative of Bangladesh  supported the intervention by Lesotho, and expressed 
appreciation for India's announcement of its scheme to  provide enhanced market access to LDCs.  He 
said that DFQF market access was of little use to LDCs if it was not accompanied by simple, 
transparent and realistic rules of origin.  He enc ouraged the Indian Government to ensure that the 
rules of origin in the Indian sch eme satisfied these criteria.  With regard to the implementation of 
DFQF market access for LDCs, he emphasized that time was of the essence.  When the Doha Round 
would be completed, Members' ta riffs would be reduced very quickly.  A long period for the 
implementation of DFQF market access would, theref ore, not be beneficial to LDCs.  He urged India 
and other delegations to provide DFQF market acce ss to LDCs at the earliest, and without staging.  
He also invited other developing countries to fo llow India's example in providing enhanced DFQF 
market access to LDCs.  Finally, he requested deve loped country Members that were yet to implement  WT/COMTD/M/69 
 Page 11 
 
 
  the Hong Kong Decision to complete their internal procedures as soon as possible to ensure that the 
DFQF market access provided to LDCs was truly meaningful.    
56. The representative of Zambia  also supported the intervention by Lesotho.  She commended 
the announcements by India and Norway concerning  DFQF market access to LDCs, and encouraged 
them to adopt rules of origin that would provid e effective market access to LDCs.  Her delegation 
looked forward to further discussions with them in bilateral meetings. 
57. The representative of the European Communities  expressed appreciation for the steps being 
taken by India to provide enhanced market a ccess to LDCs.  She called on developed country 
Members and those developing country Members in a position to do so, to live up to the commitment 
made at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.  She recalled that at the last CTD meeting her 
delegation had welcomed China's announcement of the provision of DFQF market access to African 
LDCs.  At that meeting, the EC had also raised a number of questions on China's initiative which – at 
the suggestion of the Chinese delegation – had been submitted bilaterally to China.  While a response 
had subsequently been received, the EC neverthe less hoped that there would be further opportunities 
to obtain clarification on the preferences granted by China to African LDCs.      
58. The representative of China , recalling the mandate in the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, 
said that the developed countries should take the lead  in the provision of DFQF market access, in 
particular by expeditiously fulfilling the commitment  made at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.  
He also welcomed India's announcement of its ne w scheme for LDCs.  He added that China, as a 
developing country, had made every e ffort to provide enhanced market access to LDCs.  In particular, 
DFQF market access was being provided to 41 LD Cs, covering 92.5 per cent of export volume to 
China.  He said that China, with in its capacity, was committed to contin uing its efforts to assist LDCs.   
59. The Committee took note  of all interventions. 
G. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING  
(i) Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training, 1 January to 31 December 2007 
(ii) Technical Cooperation Audit Report for 2007 (WT/COMTD/W/166) 
60. The Chairman  recalled that he had mentioned at the beginning of the meeting that the 2007 
Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training w ould not be considered at the present meeting.  
He proposed that the Committee move on to cons ider the Technical Cooperation Audit Report for 
2007, which had been circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/166.  He invited the Secretariat to introduce the report. 
61. The Head of the Technical Cooperation Audit Unit (TCAU)
 said that two major ex-post 
evaluations had been undertaken in 2007, namely of the Geneva-based trade policy courses and of the 
WTO Reference Centre Programme, de tails of which could be found in  the report.  Annex 1 of the 
report listed all the evaluations – on site and ex-post – that had been undertaken in the course of the 
year.  It was hoped that the results of an ex-pos t evaluation of the regional trade policy courses would 
be contained in next year's report.  
62. The representative of Benin  said that there were some encouraging and positive signals in the 
Audit Report.  The evaluations a nd comments indicated that the WT O's technical assistance activities 
were useful and pertinent, and should be continued.  He expresse d the full support of his delegation 
for these activities.  He observed that there had be en 19,000 beneficiaries, and noted that both the 
providers and the beneficiaries of technical assistan ce had expressed a high ra te of satisfaction with 
the activities.  He also appreciat ed that the proportion of women pa rticipants had increased – from WT/COMTD/M/69 
Page 12  
 
  37 per cent in 2006 to 39 per cent in 2007 – and expr essed confidence that the participation rate of 
women would increase even further in the future.      
63. The representative of the European Communities
 said that her delegation had noted the high 
satisfaction rate of the participants in the WTO's technical assistance activities.  At the same time, her 
delegation shared some of the concerns raised in  the Audit Report.  She cited as examples issues 
relating to the number of activities, as well as the appropr iate number of participants per activity.  As 
the Audit Report had been circulated only recentl y, she said that her delegation would appreciate 
having more time to consider it.  She also suggested  that it would be useful to consider the Audit 
Report in conjunction with the 2007 Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training.   
64. The representative of Canada  said that his delegation had noted the effectiveness of the 
WTO's technical assistance activities, but also wished to explore certain issues further.  For example, 
one concern was that more might be done to im plement the recommendations from previous Audit 
Reports, as suggested in paragraph 78.  He also be lieved that Members should be kept abreast of the 
types of developments in technical assistance products that were referred to in  paragraph 77.  He said 
that his delegation had not yet had a chance to go through the Audit Report in detail, and may 
therefore come back with further co mments at the next CTD meeting.  
65. The Chairman  invited the Secretariat to respond to the comments made. 
66. The Head of the TCAU  said that Members may wish to ha ve more time to consider the 2007 
Audit Report.  He said that he could respond in deta il at the next CTD meeting to the comments and 
questions raised on the report.  
67. The Chairman  noted that Members wished to continue their discussion on the 2007 Audit 
Report at the next CTD meeting, when the 2007 Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training 
would also be considered.  He proposed that the Co mmittee take note of the interventions made at the 
present meeting concerning the 2007 Audit Report. 
68. It was so agreed .   
H. OTHER BUSINESS  
69. The representative of the European Communities  referred to the communication from 
Saudi Arabia circulated in document WT/REG222/N/1/ Corr.1, requesting a change in the notification 
status of the GCC Customs Union from Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and th e Understanding thereon 
to Paragraph 4(a) of the Enabling Clause.  The EC asked the delegation of Saudi Arabia to elaborate on the reasons for having requested this change.  She said that the EC would also appreciate if the delegation of Saudi Arabia c ould explain the legal justific ation of a customs union under 
paragraph 2(c) of the Enabling Clause, and under what basis it considered that a customs union fell 
within that paragraph. 
70. The representative of the United States
 supported the intervention by the EC.  Her delegation 
believed that the GCC Customs Union notification ra ised questions that merited further review.   
71. The representative of Japan  expressed support for the intervention by the EC.  
72. The representative of Canada  said that his delegation also shared some of the concerns raised 
by the EC.  WT/COMTD/M/69 
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  73. The representative of Brazil  said that his delegation appreciated the request for clarification 
that had been made by the EC.  He added, however , that it was for Members to notify the agreements 
they entered into under the provisions th ey understood to be most appropriate. 
74. The Chairman  observed that there was no representative of the GCC present in the meeting 
room to respond.  He proposed, therefore, that the Co mmittee revert to this matt er at its next meeting, 
at which he hoped a GCC representative would be present. 
75. It was so agreed . 
76. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
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