WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/WGTTT/4
10 December 2002
(02-6805)
REPORT (2002) OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TRADE AND
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology (WGTTT) was established at the
4th Ministerial Conference in Doha in No vember 2001, with the following mandate:1
"We agree to an examination, in a Working Group under the auspices of the General
Council, of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology, and of any
possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate of the
WTO to increase flows of technology to de veloping countries.  The General Council
shall report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference on progress in theexamination."
II. WORK OF THE WGTTT
2. The WGTTT has held four formal sessions, on 16 April, 11 June, 10 October and
28 November.  The Minutes of these meetings  are contained in documents WT/WGTTT/M/1,
WT/WGTTT/M/2, WT/WGTTT/M/3 and WT/WGTTT/M/4.
2  The sessions were chaired by
Ambassador Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson (Iceland).  Ten informal meetings were also held during this
period on 1 March, 6 March, 16 April, 30 May, 31 May, 3 June, 6 June, 11 June, 25 September and
14 November.
3. Requests for observer status were received by the WGTTT from the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO).  Observer status was granted to these organizations. Observer status was alsogranted to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank pursuant to the cooperation
agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund concluded in November 1996.
3
4. The principal themes addressed by the WGTTT during the year 2002 were the following:
A. Presentations on trade and transfer of technology by intergovernmental organizations
and academia;
B. Presentations on country experiences relating to trade and transfer of technology by
Members;
C. Background papers on trade and transfer of technology prepared by the Secretariat;
D. Submissions by Members;
E. Work being done in other WTO Bodies on trade and transfer of technology;  andF. Way Forward.
                                                     
1 Paragraph 37 of WT/MIN/(01)/DEC/W/1.
2 WT/WGTTT/M/4 to be issued.
3 WT/L/195.WT/WGTTT/4
Page 2
A. PRESENTATIONS ON TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY BY OTHER
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACADEMIA
5. At the first session of the WGTTT on 16 April, representatives from UNCTAD and the
Institute for New Technologies of the United Nations Univers ity (UNU/ INTECH) introduced the
subject of trade and transfer of technology and explained what they were doing in the area of trade
and transfer of technology.4  At the third session of the WGTTT on 10 October, a presentation was
made by the Programme Manager of the Industr ial Promotion and Technology Branch of UNIDO.5
He outlined the work that UNIDO has been doing to facilitate transfer of technology and explained
the services offered by UNIDO's International Technology Centres and Investment and Technology
Promotion Offices.  The Lead Economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank
made a presentation of the work that the World Bank is doing in the field of trade and transfer oftechnology at the fourth session of the WGTTT on 28 November.
6
B. PRESENTATION OF COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
6. At the second session of the WGTTT on 11 June , national experts from Brazil and China
made presentations relating to the sharing of country experiences on technology transfer.  The Head
of Brazil's Science and Technology Division presen ted his country's experience and highlighted some
of the key issues that his Government had addressed in trying to ensure the flow of appropriate
technology.  The Deputy Director of China's Depa rtment of Science and Technology also highlighted
some of the critical issues relating to technology transfer, including in the context of foreign direct
investment flows and intellectual property rights regimes.7  The Director of Strategic Alliances,
Industrial Research Assistance Program, Canada made a presentation at the third session of theWGTTT held on 10 October.  He explained the function and operation of the Industrial Research
Development Program and other Canadian technology development models and programmes.
 8
C. BACKGROUND PAPERS ON TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY PREPARED BY THE
SECRETARIAT
7. The Secretariat assisted the work of the WGTTT by producing background papers on trade
and transfer of technology.  The first background paper "Trade and Transfer of Technology"9 and a
bibliography10 of reference materials on the subject of trade and technology transfer were introduced.
This paper was discussed at the first session of the WGTTT on 16 April11 and at the second session of
the WGTTT on 11 June.12  The second background paper prepared by the Secretariat, "A Taxonomy
of Country Experiences on International Technology Transfers"13 was circulated to Members on 8
November.  A discussion of the paper will ta ke place at the next session of the WGTTT.
D. SUBMISSIONS BY MEMBERS
8. A submission made jointly by the delegations of Bangladesh, Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Egypt, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Keny a, Mauritius, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
                                                     
4 WT/WGTTT/M/1.
5 WT/WGTTT/M/3.
6 WT/WGTTT/M/4 to be issued.
7 WT/WGTTT/M/2.
8 WT/WGTTT/M/3.
9 WT/WGTTT/W/1.
10 WT/WGTTT/W/1/Add.1.
11 WT/WGTTT/M/1.
12 WT/WGTTT/M/2.
13 WT/WGTTT/W/3.WT/WGTTT/4
Page 3
Uganda, and Zimbabwe14 regarding the objectives and possible terms of reference for the WGTTT
was introduced at the first session on 16 April.  It stressed that the terms of reference of the WGTTT
should reflect the emphasis in the Doha Ministerial Declaration on the relationship between trade and
transfer of technology and possible steps that might be taken, within the mandate of the WTO, to
increase flows of technology to developing countri es, with a view to ensuring that the latter
participate in, and implement more adequately, international trade disciplines established in the
context of the WTO.15  This paper was discussed at the first and second session of the WGTTT.16
9. A submission received from the delegation of the European Communities17 was introduced at
the second session of the WGTTT on 11 June.  The European Communities stated that in its
examination of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology, the WGTTT should focus
on (1) developing a common understanding of the definition of technology transfer;  (2) an
identification of the various channels of transfer of technology;  and (3) the conditions under whichthose channels could be most effective.  Particul ar attention was given to the importance of  FDI,
trade in goods and services, licensing of technology subject to intellectual property rights, government
procurement, development co-operation, multilateral environment agreements, and private and public
partnerships in facilitating transfer of technology.
18  This paper was discussed at the second and third
session of the WGTTT.19
10. A joint communication was introduced at the third session of the WGTTT on 10 October by
the delegations of Cuba, Egypt, Honduras, India, I ndonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Pakistan and
Zimbabwe on "Provisions Relating to Tran sfer of Technology in WTO Agreements".20  I n  t h e
introduction of the paper, it was stated that as a first step in fulfilling the WGTTT's mandate it would
be important to examine the extent to which the existing WTO provisions relating to technologytransfer had been effectively implemented, the difficulties experienced in utilising these provisions,
and then to come up with concrete proposals in the context of the Doha mandate.
21  This paper was
discussed at the third and fourth session of the WGTTT.22
11. The delegation of Canada introduced its submission on "Technology Transfer – the Canadian
Experience"23 at the third session of the WGTTT on 10 October.  The paper provided an overview of
factors that Canada had identified as crucial to the development and growth of Canada's technology
transfer system.  It looked at technology transfer within the context of Canada's new innovation
strategy and then reviewed the Canadian experience of technology transfer from a number of different
perspectives, including Canada as recipient and provider of technology.24  This paper was discussed at
the third and fourth session of the WGTTT.25
E. COMPLEMENTARITY OF WORK IN OTHER WTO B ODIES
12. At the third session of the WGTTT on 10 October  it was decided to request information from
other WTO bodies regarding any work that they may have done or that they plan to carry out in
relation to trade and transfer of technology.  The responses were made available to Members.
                                                     
14 WT/WGTTT/W/2.
15 WT/WGTTT/M/1.
16 WT/WGTTT/M/1 and WT/WGTTT/M/2.
17 WT/WGTTT/1.
18 WT/WGTTT/M/2.
19 WT/WGTTT/M/2 and WT/WGTTT/M/3 .
20 WT/WGTTT/3/Rev.1.
21 WT/WGTTT/M/3.
22 WT/WGTTT/M/3 and WT/WGTTT/M/4 to be issued.
23 WT/WGTTT/2.
24 WT/WGTTT/M/3.
25 WT/WGTTT/M/3 and WT/WGTTT/M/4 to be issued.WT/WGTTT/4
Page 4
F. WAY FORWARD
13. At the fourth session of the WGTTT held on 28 November, the work programme for 2003
was adopted.  This work programme is attached to this report as an Annex.  The Chairman will
continue consultations on the number of meetings to be held in 2003.WT/WGTTT/4
Page 5
ANNEX
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology
Work Programme 2003
A. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
B. WORK BY OTHER INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACADEMIA
C. SHARING OF COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
D. IDENTIFICATION OF PROVISIONS RELATED TO TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE WTO
AGREEMENTS
E. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON STEPS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN THE MANDATE
OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
F. OTHER TOPICS RAISED BY MEMBERS
__________