./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/BFA/43
25 October 1999
(99-4624)
ANNUAL REPORT (1999)
1. In accordance with the procedures for an annual overview of WTO activities and for reporting
under the WTO, adopted by the General Counc il on 15 November 1995 (WT/GC/M/8, item 11), a
report on the activities of the WTO Committee on Budget, Finance and Ad ministration in 1999 is
hereby submitted.
2. It will be recalled that the Committee met on a number of occasions and has presented reports to
the General Council on a regular basis.1  This report will then cover the major areas the Committee has
dealt with in the course of the year to date.
I. ON-GOING RESPONSIBILITIES
3. The Committee monitored on a regular basis the financial and budgetary situation of the
Organization, the receipt of contri butions including the implementation of the related schemes and
measures pertaining to receipt of  contributions.  It examined the Final Position of the 1998 Budget and
the Director-General's Financial Report on the 1998 Accounts and Report of the External Auditor as
well as the Director-General's budget proposals for 2000.2  In addition, it considered the personnel
management situation and the developments on the establishment of the WTO Secretariat.
II. MAJOR AREAS OF ACTIVITIES
A. NEW WTO M EMBER
4. In the course of 1999, the Committee formulated recommendations to the General Council on
assessment to the budget and advance to the Wo rking Capital Fund upon the accession to the WTO of
Latvia on 10 February 1999.
B. MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION TO THE WTO B UDGET
5. The Committee continued the debate on the level of the minimum contribution to the WTO
budget in the course of 1999.  The Chairperson had pr esented a proposal that the level of the minimum
contribution be reduced from 0.03 per cent to 0.015 per cent from the year 2000.  After extensive
discussions and consultations, th e Committee noted that a consensus to pass from 0.03 per cent to 0.015
per cent as the minimum contribution, with exception of the reservation expressed by one Member, was
                                                     
1Reports: WT/BFA/39 covering the meetings of 19 March and 22 April 1999; and WT/BFA/40
covering the meeting of 16 June 1999.
2At the time of writing the present report, discussions on the 2000 budget proposals, as well as
on the other items contained in WTO/AIR/1175, were continuing.WT/BFA/43
Page 2
reached and that the Secretariat should use the minimum contribution of 0.015 per cent for preparation
of the 2000 budget estimates and proposed Members’ assessments.
C. UN/WTO C O-OPERATION WITH REGARD TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE 'S (ITC)
BUDGETARY ARRANGEMENTS
6. The Committee recalled that, following the decision of the General Council on 3 April 1995
(WT/GC/M/3) the International Trade Centre UNC TAD/WTO presented its budget in compliance with
the requirements of both the UN and the WTO i.e. both in  US dollars and in Swiss francs.  However, the
presentations of budget for two different systems creat ed considerable technical difficulties and resulted
in inefficient use of existing resources.  The Chairm an of the Committee together with the Secretariat of
the WTO and the ITC had met with the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative andBudgetary Questions (ACA BQ) in 1998 in order to identify a solution.  In December 1998, the United
Nations General Assembly endorsed the revised ad ministrative arrangements (document A/53/7/Add.3).
The new administrative arrangements establishes that a budget outline should be submitted by the ITC
to the WTO and the United Nations in spring of th e year preceding the budget biennium of the United
Nations.  Furthermore, the annualized requirements ar e to be presented in Swiss francs in conformity
with the WTO budget process.
D. D
OCUMENTATION
7. The Committee examined the policy with regard  to the provision of WTO documents to WTO
Member Missions, Observers, Libraries, Journalists, as well as individuals during the course of 1999.
The Secretariat would undertake an exercise to (i) pr ovide information on the availability of electronic
sources of documents and (ii) verify addresses with a view to lowering document reproduction and
mailing costs.
E. PUBLICATIONS
8. In the course of 1999, the Committee examined the policy with regard to the provision of WTO
publications (printed or electronic), free of charge, for sale.  It is recalled that the policy consists of
providing to each WTO Member delegation two free copi es of print publications destined to be sold.
Thereafter, delegations receive a 30 per cent discount  on all publications purchased.  With regard to
electronic publications, the policy has been to provid e two free copies only to LDCs delegations.  The
Committee was of the opinion that , upon request, developing countri es could receive one copy of
publications in electronic form, free of charge.  The matter would be reviewed in a year’s time toevaluate new procedure.
F. J
OINT INFORMAL MEETING
9. A joint informal meeting of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration with the
Committee on Trade and Development was held on 14 September 1999 on Technical AssistanceActivities (TAA).  Information regarding the financial aspect of TAA in 1999 as well as the evolution
of TAA since 1995 was presented.  The Committees were informed on the activities by geographical
areas, modes of delivery, and planning and programming functions. It was noted that the basic
concerns of the Secretariat relate to putting TAA on a financially sound and sustainable basis and to
enhance the capacity of the Secretariat to respond to ever-expanding requirements.
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