Implementation of the Development Assistance Aspects of the Cotton-Related Decisions in the July Package - Second Periodic Report by the Director-General

World Trade Organization WT/CFMC/DG/2* 16 April 2008 (08-1783) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASPECTS OF THE COTTON-RELATED DECISIONS IN THE JULY PACKAGE Second Periodic Report by the Director-General TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 2 II. BACKGROUND: COTTON SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS 3 III. IMPLEMENTATION ACTION 5 A. ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL/THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS 5 B. ACTION BY COTTON PROPONENTS AND OTHERS 5 C. ACTION BY BILATERAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 7 D. ACTION BY MULTILATERAL/REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 10 E. THE INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (IF) 13 F. JOINT INTEGRATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (JITAP) 14 IV. joint wto/oecd TRADE Capacity building database 14 ________________ * This document has previously been issued under the symbol WT/GC/97. INTRODUCTION The cotton sector is of considerable social and economic importance to a number