WTO COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
Draft Programme
WORKSHOP ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL AND
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE TBT AGREEMENT
At its meeting of 25 February 2000, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade agreed to
hold a Workshop on Technical Assistance and Special and Differential Treatment in the context of theTBT Agreement.  The Secretariat was requested to prepare a draft programme, taking into account
discussions held at the First Triennial Review, meetings, workshop, symposium, relevant submissions
by Members since the First Review and the information obtained from the questionnaire on the
Workshop (G/TBT/W/127).
This note has been prepared in response to that request.  Delegations are invited to submit
comments, if any, to the Secretariat (Ms. Vivien Liu, tel:  739 54.55) by 5 May 2000, so that enough
time would be provided for the preparation of the Workshop.
00-1626RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/SPEC/15
20 April 2000
(00-1626)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
Draft
WORKSHOP ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL AND
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE TBT AGREEMENT
I. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP
1. At the First Triennial Review of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (1997), the
TBT Committee held discussions on technical assistance and special and differential treatment.  The
Committee noted that certain Members, especially developing country Members, encountered
difficulties in the implementation and operation of the Agreement.  Technical assistance should beprovided to requesting Members, particularly least developed country Members, on the preparation of
technical regulations, the establishment of national standardizing bodies, regulatory bodies, or bodies
for assessment of conformity, the methods by which technical regulations of other Members could
best be met, the participation of such Members in the international standardizing bodies, and the
access to systems for conformity assessment, with a vi ew to increase the overall effectiveness of the
TBT Agreement.  The Committee noted that technical assistance activities of the WTO should be
coordinated with other international and intergovernmental organizations.  In this respect, specialattention should be given to the development of human and institutional resources, in particular, with
respect to conformity assessment procedures.
2. The Committee agreed to invite Members to exchange information regarding the
implementation of the provision on technical assistance, including to communicate to the Committeeannually any information concerning their national and regional technical assistance programmes.
Members that required technical assistance were invited to inform the Committee of any difficulties
they encountered in the implementation and operation of the Agreement and the kind of technical
assistance they would need.  Other Members were invited to contribute to the technical assistance
process by sharing their experience in the implementation and operation of the Agreement.
3. In order to follow up what has been discussed and agreed by the Committee at the
First Triennial Review, as well as to promote information exchange, and to facilitate discussion on
technical assistance in the lead-up to the Second Triennial Review (to be conducted before the end of
year 2000), at its meeting of 25 February 2000, the Committee agreed to hold a Workshop onTechnical Assistance and Special and Differential Treatment.
4. The Workshop would provide the opportunity for Members that require technical assistance
to inform other Members and relevant organizations of any difficulties they encounter in the
implementation and operation of the Agreement, and the kind of technical assistance required.  At the
same time, Members and international organizati ons which provide technical assistance in the
TBT area could make use of this occasion to communicate with the Committee any informationconcerning their technical assistance programmes.  The objective is to help better targeting technicalG/TBT/SPEC/15
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assistance, avoid duplication and promote further cooperation and coordination among donor
Members and organizations, aiming at developing efficient and effective technical assistance
programmes on the various areas related to the TBT Agreement.
5. Speakers will be invited from both developed and developing country Members from
different regions and relevant organizations.  Topics of the presentations will focus on problems and
needs with respect to the implementation and operation of the Agreement by developing country
Members, in particular the least-developed country Members, and their participation in international
standardizing bodies, access to systems for conformity assessment, development of human and
institutional resources and other capacity building issues.
II. DATE AND VENUE
6. The Workshop will be held in the Centre William Rappard on 19-20 July 2000, back to back
with the Committee meeting.
III. STRUCTURE OF THE WORKSHOP
7. There will be four sessions in the Workshop, dealing with matters concerning the following
items:  (i) implementation and administration of the TBT Agreement;  (ii) international standards;
(iii) conformity assessment procedures;  and (iv) capacity building.
8. Each session will contain presentations, comments from the floor and round table discussions.
Speakers giving presentations will be from the fo llowing groupings:  (i) developing country Members;
(ii) developed country Members;  and (iii) relevant international and regional bodies.
9. At each session, after the presentations, time will be allocated for comments from the floor.
The moderator of the Session will then sum up the presentations and comments concerning the
problems, needs, existing technical assistance activities and suggestions for solutions, before leading
the discussions of the round table in question to seek practical solutions and ways on how best to
target technical assistance.
10. The idea is to have the results of the Workshop report back to the Committee for
consideration and possible further actions which may be included in the Second Triennial Review ofthe TBT Agreement at the end of year 2000.
IV. PROGRAMME OF THE WORKSHOP
FIRST DAY
OPENING STATEMENT
Chairman of the TBT Committee
SESSION ONE: Implementation and Administration of the TBT Agreement
This Session will focus on the difficulties and needs faced by developing country Members
concerning:  (i) submission of the statements on  implementation and administration of the Agreement
under Article 15.2;  (ii)  notification obligations;  (iii) setting up of national enquiry points;(iv) implementation of the Code of Good Practi ce for the Preparation, Adoption, and Application of
Standards;  and (v) preparation of technical regulations, establishment of national standardizing
bodies,  regulatory bodies or bodies for assessment of conformity.G/TBT/SPEC/15
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Moderator:
Speakers:
- Two to three speakers from developing countr y Members, including least developed country
Members, which may experience difficulties in the implementation and administration of the
Agreement.
- A speaker from a developed country Member to share experience in the implementation and
administration of the Agreement.
- A speaker from the WTO Secretariat on technical cooperation programmes aim at meeting
the needs of Members.
- A speaker from a regional  body on their technical assistance activities aiming at resolving
the relevant  problems and meeting the needs of developing country Members in this respect .
SESSION TWO: International Standards Matters
This Session will focus on issues relating to:  (i) the possible difficulties encountered in
relation to the use of certain international standards/guides;  and (ii) the participation ininternational standardization activities.
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Two to three speakers from developing country Members addressing their relevant problems,
needs and experience in this area..
- A speaker from a developed country Member on their relevant national and regional
technical assistance programmes and their experience in this area.
- Speakers from international and regional standardizing bodies on their technical assistance
programmes and activities aiming at resolving th e relevant problems and meeting the needs
of developing country Members.
SECOND DAY
SESSION THREE: Conformity Assessment Procedures Matters
This Session will focus on issues relating to:  (i) acceptance of conformity assessment results;
(ii) the development of operational conformity assessment procedures;  (iii)  access to
regional/international systems for conformity assessment;  and (iv) capacity building in relation to
conformity assessment procedures.
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Two to three speakers from developing country Members addressing their relevant problems,
needs and experience in this area.G/TBT/SPEC/15
Page 4
- A speaker from a developed country Member on their relevant national and regional
technical assistance programmes and their experience in this area.
- Speakers from international, regional conformity assessment systems and relevant
international organizations on their technical assistance programmes and activities aiming atresolving the relevant problems and meeting the needs of developing country Members.
SESSION FOUR: Capacity building
This Session will focus on the following item s:  (i) development of human and institutional
resource;  (ii) ways by which technical regulations and standards of markets could best be met;   and(iii) other capacity building matters.
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Two to three speakers from developing country Members, including least developed country
Members, and/ or regional bodies on the relevant problems and needs.
- A speaker from developed country Member on their national and regional technical
assistance programmes in this regards.
- Speakers from international and regional bodies  on their technical assistance programmes
and activities aiming at resolving the relevant problems and meeting the needs of developing
country Members.
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