OVERVIEW
OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
17 February
2014
Chairperson:
H.E. Mr Joakim Reiter (Sweden)
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON
1.
I would like to
welcome you to this meeting of the TPRB, which was convened by Airgram WTO/AIR/4241
on 30 January 2014. The purpose of this meeting is for Members and Observers to
undertake their annual overview of trade developments in the international
trading environment which are having an impact on the multilateral trading
system in accordance with Paragraph G of Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement. As
mentioned in the Airgram, today's discussion is assisted by the Director‑General's
Overview of Developments in the International Trading Environment, including
trade monitoring, which was circulated in document WT/TPR/OV/16 on 31 January 2014
in English. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the TPRB,
the Director‑General's Report was issued as an unrestricted document.
2.
At the outset,
let me briefly recall the purpose of the TPRM according to Annex 3 of the
Marrakesh Agreement, i.e. to achieve greater transparency in, and understanding
of Members' trade and trade-related policies and measures. It is not intended
to serve as a basis for the enforcement of obligations under WTO Agreements,
for dispute-settlement purposes or to impose new policy commitments on Members.
These fundamental principles apply fully to the trade monitoring exercise.
3.
Secondly, I would
like to say a few words on the timing of today's meeting. As many of you will
know, the TPRB normally meets to discuss the Director-General's Overview at the
end of the calendar year. However, as a result of intense preparations for
Bali, and the Bali Ministerial itself, it was decided to post-pone the meeting
until today. Thinking back, somewhat involuntarily, to our level of activity
and number of late-night meetings in November and early December last year, I
am sure most of you will agree this was a wise decision.