report (2014) of the committee on
trade and development
1 introduction
1.1. This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and
Development (CTD) in 2014. An overview is provided of the work of the CTD's
Regular Session, the Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special
and Differential Treatment, the Dedicated Sessions on Preferential Trade
Arrangements and Small Economies, the CTD's work on Aid for Trade, and the work
of the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries.[1]
2 regular
session
2.1. The CTD in Regular Session held three formal meetings on 2 April (90th
Session), 7 July (91st Session) and 27 November 2014 (92nd
Session). The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/90,
WT/COMTD/M/91 and WT/COMTD/M/92[2],
respectively. At the 90th Session, Ambassador Pierre Claver
Ndayiragije (Burundi)
was elected Chairman of the CTD.
2.2. Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental
organizations (IGOs) on an ad hoc meeting-by-meeting basis. A full list of
intergovernmental organizations with observer status in the Committee is
contained in document WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.7. The CTD continues to have
outstanding requests for observer status from the League of Arab States, the
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization
for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), the Organisation internationale de la
Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the Organization of Arab
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la Banque Africaine de
Développement.
2.3. At the 90th Session, the Chairman drew Members' attention
to the Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 on the Work Programme on
Electronic Commerce (WT/MIN(13)/32 - WT/L/907), taken at the Ninth Ministerial
Conference (MC9) in Bali. He noted that it was
for Members to determine how to take forward the work on electronic commerce in
the CTD, including whether future work could build on the Workshop on
Electronic Commerce, Development and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
that was held on 8-9 April 2013. He encouraged Members wishing to suggest ways
to take forward work on this matter to consider submitting written proposals.
2.4. Also at the 90th Session, Paraguay, the Coordinator of the Group
of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), made a statement outlining the
preparatory process for the Second United Nations Conference for LLDCs.[3]
2.5. The principal areas addressed by
the CTD in Regular Session during the period covered in this report included
the following:
· technical
cooperation and training;
· notifications regarding market access for developing and least-developed
countries (LDCs);
· report
of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO;
· trade
and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's
concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8);
· duty-free
and quota-free (DFQF) market access for LDCs;
· review
of the Transparency Mechanism for Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs).
2.1 Technical cooperation and training
2.6. At the 91st Session, the Secretariat provided an update
on the status of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. Members were
informed that there was a balance of CHF 18 million at the start of 2014
and that, in the absence of additional contributions, approximately CHF 7
million was expected to be carried forward to 2015. This would be sufficient to
implement activities in the first half of 2015, but contributions would be
required in the second half of the year to ensure the full implementation of
planned activities. At the 92nd Session, the Committee took note of
the 2013 Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/205).
According to the report, a total of 320 activities were undertaken by the
Secretariat in 2013. Overall, close to 14,000 participants were trained during
the year, which was an increase of 9% relative to 2012. This growth was
attributable to online courses, which attracted 40% of participants at a cost
of 5% of the total expenditure on technical assistance. Implementation of the
new technical assistance management system, based on results, began in 2013. Key performance
indicators showed that online and face-to-face technical assistance activities
had a high success rate on average, in particular concerning transmission of
knowledge on WTO matters. An ex-post
evaluation of the advanced sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) programme
established that it had made a notable contribution to a better implementation
of the SPS Agreement by Members, whilst creating a pool of SPS experts in
beneficiary countries.
2.2 Notifications regarding market access for developing and
least-developed countries
2.7. In 2014, a notification under the Enabling Clause was made by Canada concerning
its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme (WT/COMTD/N/15/Add.3). In addition,
Chile
notified to the CTD its DFQF market access scheme for LDCs (WT/COMTD/N/44).[4]
With regard to regional trade agreements (RTAs), the Committee took note of
reports by the Latin American Integration Association covering 2010 and 2011
(WT/COMTD/82), 2012 (WT/COMTD/84) and 2013 (WT/COMTD/85).
2.8. The RTA notifications concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council
Customs Union, the ASEAN‑Korea Agreement and the India-Korea Agreement remained
on the CTD's agenda during 2014. The communication from China, Egypt
and India
titled "Systemic and specific issues arising out of the dual notification
of the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union" (WT/COMTD/W/175) also
remained on the agenda. A number of interventions were made on both substance
and procedure. Divergent views were expressed on how to deal with the issues
relating to the RTAs notified under both the Enabling Clause and GATT Article
XXIV and their implications.
2.3 Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO
2.9. The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) held its 48th
Session on 11 and 12 June 2014. The report on that meeting is contained in
document ITC/AG/(XLVIII)/256.
Ambassador Mariam Salleh (Malaysia),
the Chairperson of the JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 92nd
Session. She said, inter alia, that the Group had expressed support for the
role and vision of the ITC. There was acknowledgement that the ITC had a clear
mandate, as well as the technical expertise, to assist SMEs to enhance their
competitiveness. There was also recognition of the ITC’s potential to expand
the scope of its work within the current mandate, and endorsement of the
organization's new strategic focus areas. The ITC's technical assistance in the
area of trade facilitation, including with regard to the
implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, was welcomed. The JAG Chair
also shared information on the recent independent evaluation of the ITC. She
indicated that the JAG would reconvene in informal session in January 2015 to discuss
the collective response to the evaluation and the progress achieved. The
Committee took note of the report and forwarded it to the General Council for
adoption.
2.4 Trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the
Chairman's concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference
2.10. At the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8), Ministers, inter alia, reaffirmed the positive link between trade and
development and called for focused work in the CTD. Ministers called on Members
to fully operationalize the mandate of the CTD as a focal point for development
work.
2.11. Members continued their consideration at the 90th and 91st
Sessions of two submissions containing proposals for work under the MC8
mandate. One of these submissions - by China,
Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group - is
contained in document WT/COMTD/W/192. The other submission - by Barbados, Belize,
Benin, Botswana, Kenya,
Lesotho and Mauritius - is
contained in document WT/COMTD/W/202. Consideration of the updated Secretariat
paper on the implementation of S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements and
Decisions (WT/COMTD/W/196) also continued at the 90th Session.[5]
At the 91st Session, the Committee considered a new proposal for
work under the MC8 mandate by Ecuador
(WT/COMTD/W/204). Also at the 91st Session, the Secretariat provided
a briefing on the UN's Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Chairman said that it
was important for the CTD to be informed of the discussions on the Post-2015
Development Agenda. He believed that a briefing by the Secretariat could throw
up some ideas which would help in identifying further possible areas of work
for the CTD under the MC8 mandate. At the 92nd Session, Members
continued their consideration of the outstanding proposals in documents WT/COMTD/W/192,
WT/COMTD/W/202 and WT/COMTD/W/204. The Chairman provided an update on the
status of discussions on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and invited Members
to share their thoughts
on how trade-led economic growth could be made an integral part of this Agenda.
2.5 Duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs
2.12. DFQF market access for LDCs
remained a standing item on the CTD's agenda. At the 90th Session,
the Chairman brought to Members' attention the Bali Ministerial Decision of
7 December 2013 (WT/MIN/13/44 - WT/L/919) which, inter alia,
instructed the CTD to continue to annually review the steps taken to provide
DFQF market access to the LDCs and report to the General Council for
appropriate action. To aid in this review, the Decision additionally instructs
the Secretariat to prepare a report on Members' DFQF market access for LDCs at
the tariff line level based on their notifications. Discussion under this agenda item continued at
the 91st Session, at which the LDCs called on Members to provide
DFQF market access for all products originating from LDCs in a manner that
ensures stability, security and predictability. The CTD conducted its annual
DFQF review at the 92nd Session on the basis of the Secretariat
report circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/206.
2.6 Review of the Transparency Mechanism for PTAs
2.13. At the 90th and 91st Sessions, the Chairman
drew Members' attention to paragraph 26 of the Transparency Mechanism for PTAs,
which mentions, inter alia, that Members will
review the Transparency Mechanism after three years, and if necessary, modify
it in light of the experience gained from its provisional operation. Noting
that three years had elapsed since the General Council Decision which
established the Transparency Mechanism, he indicated that Members would need to
consider the question of the review. In order to assist Members in considering
this question, he provided an overview at the 92nd Session of the
status of implementation of the Transparency Mechanism to date.
3 dedicated session on the monitoring mechanism on special and
differential treatment
3.1. The Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and
Differential Treatment held two formal meetings during 2014, on 7 July and on
27 November 2014, both chaired by Ambassador Pierre Claver Ndayiragjie (Burundi). The
minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/1 and
WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/2,[6]
respectively. At the July Session, the Chairman provided an overview of the
Bali Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 which established the Monitoring
Mechanism (WT/MIN(13)/45 - WT/L/920), including its scope, functions and
operations. Several delegations made
preliminary observations on how they perceived the working and usefulness of
the Monitoring Mechanism. At the November Dedicated Session, the Chairman
reminded Members that the monitoring of special and differential provisions is
to be undertaken on the basis of written inputs or submissions made by them, as
well as on the basis of reports received from other WTO bodies, to which
submissions by Members could also be made. In this light, he again called on
Members to make written submissions.
4 dedicated
session on preferential trade arrangements
4.1. The 1st Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade
Arrangements was held on 2 April 2014 and was chaired by Ambassador Pierre
Claver Ndayiragjie (Burundi).
The minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/1. The
Committee considered the European Union's Emergency Autonomous Trade
Preferences for Pakistan
(WT/COMTD/N/41, WT/COMTD/PTA/1/1), as per the provisions of the 14 December 2010
General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for PTAs (WT/L/806).
5 dedicated
session on small economies
5.1. Pursuant to paragraph 35 of the
Doha Ministerial Declaration, the General Council, at its meeting on 1 March
2002, took note of the framework and procedures for the conduct of the Work
Programme on Small Economies. The CTD was instructed to oversee this programme of
work in dedicated sessions. At the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference,
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies
and urged the adoption of specific measures that would facilitate the fuller
integration of small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading
system, without creating a sub-category of WTO Members. At Ministerial
Conferences held in 2009, 2011 and 2013, Ministers instructed the CTD to
continue the work in Dedicated Session and to monitor progress of the small
economies' proposals in the negotiating groups and other bodies.
5.2. In 2014, the CTD in Dedicated
Session held two formal meetings on the Work Programme on Small Economies on 10
October and 27 November. The meetings were chaired by Ambassador Pierre
Claver Ndayiragije (Burundi).
The minutes of the meetings are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/27 and
WT/COMTD/SE/M/28.[7] At
the 27th Dedicated Session on 10 October, Members discussed the
Bali Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/33 - WT/L/908) which
requests the Secretariat to provide relevant information and factual analysis
on the challenges and opportunities experienced by small economies when linking
into global value chains (GVCs) in goods and services. The Chairman informed
Members that the proponents of Small Economies had begun discussing the
follow-up activities to the Bali Decision and had also begun identifying
relevant issues and areas of possible research and analysis concerning the
challenges and opportunities experienced by small economies when linking into GVCs.
He suggested that the outline of the identified issues be circulated in
document WT/COMTD/SE/W/30 for comments by Members.
5.3. At the 28th Dedicated Session held on 27 November,
Members discussed and agreed on a revised outline in WT/COMTD/SE/W/30/Rev.1
concerning relevant information and factual analysis which the Secretariat was
to provide in a report on the challenges and opportunities experienced by small
economies when linking into GVCs in goods and services.
6 AID FOR TRADE
6.1. The CTD held three sessions on Aid for Trade in 2014, on
9 April, 18 June, and 10 October. The meetings were chaired by Ambassador Pierre
Claver Ndayiragije (Burundi).
The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/30,
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/31 and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/32, respectively. Aid for Trade was also
included as an agenda item for discussion at the General Council meeting
of 12 May 2014, and a statement on Aid for Trade was made by the
Director-General under "Other Business" at the General Council
meeting of 21 October 2014.
6.2. The format of each CTD Aid-for-Trade session followed the customary
headings of resource mobilization and implementation activities; mainstreaming;
regional dimension; the private sector; and monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
of implementation and development effectiveness. The sessions provided Members,
Observer Governments and Observer Organizations the opportunity to discuss
their Aid-for-Trade activities.
6.3. A joint ITC-WTO Workshop on Aid for Trade and SME Competitiveness
was held under the auspices of the CTD on 9 October 2014 at which insights were
given as to what was being done to integrate a trade dimension into SME support
and attention was drawn to a number of Aid‑for‑Trade related projects that were
benefitting SMEs.
6.4. The CTD's 30th Session on Aid for Trade focused on the
development of a new Aid-for-Trade Work Programme. The proposed work programme,
to cover the period 2014-2015 and with an organizing theme "Reducing trade
costs for inclusive, sustainable growth", would be framed by the core
mandate on Aid for Trade and the Recommendations of the Aid for Trade Task
Force (WT/AFT/1), the Bali Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(13)/DEC) and the 7
December 2013 Ministerial Decision on Aid for Trade (WT/MIN(13)/34 - WT/L/909),
and by past Aid‑for-Trade Work Programmes. The work programme was finalized on
the basis of inputs provided by Members and submitted to the General Council by
the CTD Chairman.[8]
6.5. Australia provided information about its future aid programming and intention
to give priority to the Indo-Pacific region and China updated the Committee on its
South-South related work which included training activities, trilateral
projects, an LDC accession programme and support to Pacific Island Countries.
Pursuant to its Trade Policy Review, Peru reported on its intensified
national Aid‑for-Trade actions, and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)
provided an update on its recent Aid-for-Trade related activities and work,
including the EIF Strategic Action Plan for 2014‑2015 and the joint EIF-United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) capacity building module. The Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provided an overview of the
Aid-for-Trade flows for 2012. The ITC announced new areas of focus for its Aid‑for‑Trade
related work, noted a new version of its Trade for Sustainable Development
platform, updated on its enhanced outreach activities, and informed of future
ITC events. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
noted its role in integrating economic development and related global economic
issues into the UN-led Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Secretariat presented
findings from an analysis conducted in respect of country fact sheets included
in the joint OECD‑WTO publication Aid for Trade at a Glance 2013: Connecting to
Value Chains, and a report was given with regard to an independent evaluation
of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)'s contributions to the
Aid-for-Trade Initiative in 2013 that had been commissioned as part of OECD's
internal results-based management exercise.
6.6. At the General Council meeting of 12 May 2014, a statement was
delivered by the General Council Chair on behalf of the CTD Chairman
concerning the new biennial Aid-for-Trade Work Programme for 2014-2015 the
organizing theme of which was "Reducing trade costs for inclusive,
sustainable growth" and which was underpinned by an extensive M&E
exercise. A number of delegations made interventions and the General Council
Chair took note of the new Aid‑for-Trade Work Programme. The report of the
General Council debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/151.
6.7. At the CTD's 31st Session on Aid for Trade, the
Secretariat outlined the process for the 2014‑2015 M&E exercise that would
inform the Fifth Global Review (5GR) of Aid for Trade. The M&E exercise
would likely be based on a series of self-assessment questionnaires and a call
for case stories to learn about initiatives to reduce trade costs in developing
countries, and in particular LDCs. The African Development Bank (AfDB) reported
on its Annual Meeting entitled "The Next 50 Years: The Africa We
Want" which had included a side event on "Facilitating Africa's
Trade" at which Deputy Director-General Agah had acted as a panellist, and
provided information on the Africa Trade Fund which was to become the financing
vehicle for the implementation of the Bali package in Africa. The International
Islamic Trade Finance Corporation updated the Committee on the Aid-for-Trade
Initiative for the Arab States. The World Bank informed of a recently‑established
multi-donor funded Trade Facilitation Support Program and of a Trade and
Competitiveness Global Practice, and the OECD presented a study on the regional
perspectives of Aid for Trade. A presentation was given by the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on its work
to strengthen the regional transport connectivity in South and South-West Asia,
and a summary was given of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(UNECA)'s regional projects supporting developing countries' integration in the
global economy. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) presented
an outline of its work and activities in support of capacity building and
technical cooperation, the EIF updated the Committee on its Tier 1 and
Tier 2 related work, and ITC reported on its export development strategies
and activities in the area of public-private partnerships and SME
competitiveness.
6.8. At the CTD's 32nd Session on Aid for Trade, the Chairman
announced the planned timeline and scheduling for the 5GR and Members
considered draft monitoring formats of the self‑assessment questionnaires and
call for case stories to be disseminated as part of the accompanying M&E
exercise. The deadline for submission of the self-assessment questionnaires and
case stories was fixed at 31 December 2014. The EU presented an overview
of its 2014 Accountability Report on Financing for Development, reported on its
Aid for Trade monitoring activities, and informed of a newly‑adopted strategic
framework to boost the private sector's role in inclusive growth in developing
countries. China, Dominica (for Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
WTO Members), and Chinese Taipei updated the Committee on their Aid‑for-Trade
related activities pursuant to their Trade Policy Reviews. The EIF provided
information on its Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects and the work it was
undertaking with respect to mainstreaming which included in particular a
recently-established facility to provide customized support to EIF countries.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) briefed on its
Aid-for-Trade related programmes for the Arab States and Africa and announced
the preparation of a Trade Facilitation strategy. The Secretariat provided
brief reports on the joint ITC‑WTO Workshop on Aid for Trade and SME
Competitiveness held prior to the CTD Aid-for-Trade meeting and on a
recently-held UNESCAP seminar entitled Aid for Trade and South-South Value
Chains. The ITC reported on the September meeting of the World Export
Development Forum and Women Vendors' Exhibition and Forum and announced its
upcoming bi-annual global conference for Trade Promotion Organizations.
6.9. At the General Council meeting of 21 October 2014, under "Other
Business", the Director‑General announced the dates of the 5GR (30 June-2
July 2015), recalled its theme "Reducing trade costs for inclusive,
sustainable growth" which had been set by the 2014-2015 Aid‑for-Trade Work
Programme, and announced the launch of the accompanying M&E exercise that was
central to the Review.[9]
The report of the General Council debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/153.[10]
7 sub-committee
on least-developed countries
7.1. In 2014, the Sub-Committee on Least-Developed-Countries (hereafter
the Sub-Committee) held three formal meetings on 4 April (71st Session),
30 June (72nd Session) and 6 November (73rd Session).
The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/71, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/72
and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/73[11],
respectively. The Sub-Committee took up the following subjects pursuant to the
WTO Work Programme for the LDCs (WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1): (i) market access
for LDCs; (ii) trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building
initiatives for LDCs; and (iii) accession of LDCs. The other item considered
was a report by the Coordinator of the LDC Group on the Workshop it had
organized, in cooperation with UNCTAD, from 4‑5 March 2014 on the
outcome of MC9. At all meetings, the delegation of Uganda acted as the
Coordinator of the LDC Group.
7.1 Market access for LDCs
7.2. At the 71st Session, the Secretariat provided an update
on trends in LDC trade, building on the information and analysis provided in
the 2013 market access review Note (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/58). Members welcomed the
update, including the efforts to monitor the non‑tariff measures (NTMs) faced
by LDC exports. The need for timely and regular notifications was underlined to
further improve transparency and the WTO database.
7.3. At the 72nd Session, Members considered the DFQF market
access scheme of Chile.[12]
The LDCs expressed appreciation to Chile for adopting the scheme which offers
DFQF access to LDCs on 99.5% of its tariff lines, with the exception of wheat,
flour and sugar. The Sub-Committee took note of the scheme.
7.4. At the 73rd Session, Members considered the 2014 market
access review Note by the Secretariat circulated as WT/COMTD/LDC/W/59, which
had a specific focus on LDC trade in commercial services. The Note was
considered useful in reviewing the export performance of LDCs, as well as
market access conditions faced by them. Some Members provided specific comments
on the Note, which will be taken into account in its revised version. At the
same session, the Secretariat provided a report on the first annual review of
preferential rules of origin for LDCs conducted by the Committee on Rules of
Origin on 30 October 2014, pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision
of 7 December 2013 on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs (WT/MIN(13)/42 -
WT/L/917). The LDCs invited the attention of Members to their submission
(G/RO/W/148) made at the Committee on Rules of Origin, outlining the challenges
faced by them in complying with preferential rules of origin.
7.2 Trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives
for LDCs
7.5. At the 72nd Session, the Secretariat gave an overview of
technical assistance and training provided to the LDCs in 2013. The LDCs were
invited to 57% of all technical assistance activities undertaken by the
Secretariat in 2013. The LDCs acknowledged the priority being attached to them
in WTO's technical assistance activities, and made a number of suggestions to
further strengthen their human and institutional capacity-building. At the same
session, the EIF Secretariat provided an update to the Sub-Committee on the
current status of implementation of the EIF. The LDCs reiterated the usefulness
of the programme for their trade capacity-building, and made a few suggestions
to further improve the functioning of the programme. In the context of the
ongoing evaluation of the EIF, the LDCs called for an extension of the
programme beyond 2015.
7.6. At the 73rd Session, the Secretariat of the STDF provided
an update to the Sub-Committee on the STDF's coordination and funding
activities, in particular in favour of LDCs. The importance of investments in
SPS capacity building to meet the SPS requirements of export markets was
highlighted. At present, close to 50% of STDF's project funds are allocated to
the LDCs. The LDCs welcomed the STDF's work and looked forward to its continued
support towards assisting LDCs consolidate their capacity in the area of SPS.
7.3 Accession of LDCs
7.7. At the 71st Session, the Secretariat provided an overview
of the state of play in the accession working parties of the LDCs. The
rationale and purpose of the accession process, as well as transparency and
outreach efforts of the Secretariat to advance LDC accessions were elaborated
to Members. Members reiterated their commitments to LDC accessions, and
underlined the need to explore ways to activate some LDC accessions which
continued to remain at a dormant state for a long period.
7.4 Report by the LDC Coordinator on the Workshop on MC9 outcomes, held
at UNCTAD, 4-5 March 2014
7.8. At the 71st Session, the LDC Coordinator briefed the
Sub-Committee on the Workshop, held at UNCTAD from 4-5 March 2014, to
take stock of the results of MC9 and to define the way forward for the LDC
Group, including in the context of the post-Bali Work Programme.
7.5 Other Business
7.9. At the 72nd Session, UNCTAD briefed the Sub-Committee on
the Workshop it had organized on 9 April 2014, in cooperation with
the Government of the Netherlands, to advance the Bali Decision on Preferential
Rules of Origin for LDCs. At the same session, the World Bank Group announced
that it had established a Trade Facilitation Support Programme to help developing
countries to reform their Trade Facilitation laws and practices consistent with
WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement. The programme is supported by Australia,
Canada, the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.
__________
[1] There were no meetings in 2014 of the CTD's Dedicated Session on
Regional Trade Agreements. The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the
issue of special and differential treatment (S&D), has its own reporting channel.
[3] This Conference was held from 3 to 5 November 2014 in Vienna.
[4] A notification of the scheme was also made to the Council for Trade
in Goods (G/C/W/695). Chile subsequently circulated a communication containing
information relating to the Certificate of Origin requirements in its scheme
(WT/COMTD/N/44/Add.1/Rev.1 and G/C/W/695/Add.1/Rev.1).
[5] The proposal to update the Secretariat paper is found in the
submission by China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group
(WT/COMTD/W/192). The Committee agreed to this proposal at its 87th
Session on 4 March 2013. The updated Secretariat paper was circulated in June
2013 and was considered at the 88th and 89th Sessions
held in July and October of that year.
[8] WT/COMTD/AFT/W/51. The work programme was issued under the
responsibility of the CTD Chairman on 7 May 2014. The General Council
took note of the work programme at its meeting in May 2014.
[9] A joint WTO-OECD communication launching the M&E exercise was
issued on 21 October 2014 (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/54).
[12] As mentioned above, the scheme was notified in 2014 to the CTD and to
the Council for Trade in Goods.