report (2015) 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 2015. 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 five formal meetings on 16 March (93^rd Session), 28 May (94^th Session), 9 June (95^th Session), 23 September (96^th Session) and 13 November 2015 (97^th Session). The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/93, WT/COMTD/M/94, WT/COMTD/M/95, WT/COMTD/M/96 and WT/COMTD/M/97^[2], respectively.

2.2.  At the 93^rd Session, the Committee elected Ambassador Roderick van Schreven (Netherlands) as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries for 2015. Ambassador Bassirou Sene (Senegal) was elected Chairman of the CTD. Members were subsequently informed, at the General Council meeting of 5 May 2015, of Ambassador Sene's departure from Geneva. The 94^th Session of the CTD was accordingly convened in order to elect a new CTD Chairperson. At that meeting, Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay) was elected Chairman of the CTD.

2.3.  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.

2.4.  At the 95^th Session, the Committee was informed under "Other Business" of simplifications to the preferential rules of origin in Japan’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme with respect to knitted apparel.^[3] Also under "Other Business", the delegation of the Philippines reported on the outcomes of the May 2015 meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT).

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;

·         participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system.

2.1  Technical cooperation and training

2.6.  At the 95^th Session, the Committee took note of the 2014 Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/209). According to the report, close to 14,700 participants were trained during the year, representing an increase of 7% relative to 2013. The volume of activities and the related expenses remained stable during the year. Participation in face-to-face activities was lower, but this reduction was more than compensated for by the growth in on-line courses, which for the first time accounted for more than 50% of the participants. Progress continued on the implementation of the new technical assistance result-based management system. The Secretariat worked to further improve the substantive content of its technical assistance offer. An assessment of the Advanced and Regional Trade Policy Course programmes was conducted in 2014 and several recommendations for improvement were made. In terms of results, the report showed that the technical assistance activities remained successful in 2014: the success rate in e-Learning courses stood at 61%, whilst that rate was significantly higher in face‑to-face activities (up to 97% in Regional Trade Policy Courses). Other results measured during the year included those concerning support provided to the accession process, to the production of improved services statistics and to the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). At the 97^th Session, the Committee adopted the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2016 and 2017 (WT/COMTD/W/211). In addition, a statement providing information on the external evaluation of the WTO's trade-related technical assistance was made by Norway, on behalf of the Steering Committee of the evaluation. The draft Terms of Reference for the evaluation were circulated in document JOB/DEV/30.^[4]

2.2  Notifications regarding market access for developing and least developed countries

2.7.  In 2015, notifications under the Enabling Clause were made concerning the GSP schemes of the European Union (EU) (WT/COMTD/N/4/Add.7) and Japan (WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.16). In addition, Thailand notified to the CTD its DFQF market access scheme for LDCs (WT/COMTD/N/46),^[5] and India circulated updated information relating to its Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme for LDCs (WT/COMTD/N/38/Add.1).^[6] With regard to regional trade agreements (RTAs), notifications under the Enabling Clause were made concerning the Agreement between Singapore and the Gulf Cooperation Council (WT/COMTD/N/45/Rev.1), and the Agreement between Mauritius and Pakistan (WT/COMTD/N/47).

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 2015. 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 49^th Session on 26 June 2015. The report on that meeting is contained in document ITC/AG/(XLIX)/260. Ambassador Patricia O'Brien (Ireland), the Chairperson of the JAG, presented the report to the CTD at its 97^th Session. She said, inter alia, that JAG members had expressed appreciation for the ITC's renewed focus on innovation, effectiveness, and pragmatic results on the ground. Support for the ITC's new strategic direction, as laid out in the Strategic Plan for 2015-2017, was confirmed. The Committee took note of the JAG 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 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. At the 93^rd Session, the Committee considered a new proposal for work under the MC8 mandate, circulated by Barbados, Belize, China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group (WT/COMTD/W/208). It was noted that the proposal, which is for the CTD to report on development-related activities and development issues raised in other WTO bodies, was a joint effort by the proponents of two previous proposals with broadly similar aims, contained in documents WT/COMTD/W/192 (circulated by China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group) and WT/COMTD/W/202 (circulated by Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho and Mauritius). Also at the 93^rd Session, the Committee continued its consideration of the outstanding proposal in document WT/COMTD/W/192, which is for the CTD to make a recommendation for the parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information requirements jointly, and of the proposal by Ecuador contained in document WT/COMTD/W/204, which is for the Secretariat to periodically update its document on the implementation of S&D provisions. At the 95^th and 97^th Sessions, consideration of the outstanding proposals in documents WT/COMTD/W/192 and WT/COMTD/W/208 continued. The Committee also continued its consideration of the proposal in document WT/COMTD/W/204 at the 95^th Session and, at the 97^th Session, agreed to a revised version of the proposal, contained in document WT/COMTD/W/204/Rev.1. The Chairman encouraged Members to consider ways in which the CTD could advance in its work relating to the MC8 mandate. 

2.5  Duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs

2.11.  An item concerning DFQF market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 93^rd, 95^th and 97^th Sessions. In addition, a special meeting of the CTD (the 96^th Session) was convened specifically to discuss DFQF-related issues. At the 93^rd Session, a number of Members provided updates on the implementation of their DFQF schemes. At the 95^th Session, Bangladesh, the LDC Coordinator, made a request for a CTD meeting devoted to the matter of DFQF market access for LDCs. The Ambassador of Bangladesh subsequently circulated two communications - contained in documents WT/COMTD/W/210 and WT/COMTD/W/210/Add.1 – providing the background and rationale for such a meeting.  The 96^th Session was convened to discuss DFQF market access for LDCs. The meeting provided an opportunity for Members to have an in‑depth exchange on the issues involved with the implementation of DFQF market access for LDC products. Discussion on a possible way forward focused on a "clinical examination" of the issues involved and possible impact arising from the implementation of DFQF market access for LDCs, on the basis of a study prepared by the Secretariat. The Chairman subsequently undertook informal consultations with interested delegations in order to define the parameters of such a study. He reported at the 97^th Session that his consultations had not succeeded in finding convergence on the parameters of the study. Nonetheless he encouraged Members to take forward the DFQF discussion in the context of the Tenth Ministerial Conference (MC10). Also at the 97^th Session, the Committee conducted its annual DFQF review on the basis of the Secretariat report circulated in document WT/COMTD/W/214, which was prepared in the context of the mandate given in the Bali Ministerial Decision on DFQF market access for LDCs (WT/MIN(13)/44 - WT/L/919).

2.6  Participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system

2.12.  In order to assist the Committee with its requirement to keep under continuous review the participation of developing country Members in the multilateral trading system, the Secretariat prepared a report (WT/COMTD/W/212) highlighting salient features concerning the participation of developing economies in the global trading system. The findings of the report were presented to the Committee at its 97^th Session. The Committee took note of the report.  

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 2015, on 9 June and on 13 November 2015, both chaired by Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay). The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/3 and WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/4^[7], respectively. At the June Session, the Chairman made a statement which recalled key elements of the Bali Ministerial Decision which established the Monitoring Mechanism (WT/MIN(13)/45 - WT/L/920). At the November Session, the Chairman reminded Members that, according to the Decision, 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 once again called on Members to make written submissions.

4  dedicated session on preferential trade arrangements

4.1.  The 2^nd Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade Arrangements was held on 9 June 2015 and was chaired by Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay). The minutes of the meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/2. The Committee considered Chile's DFQF scheme for LDCs (G/C/W/695-WT/COMTD/N/44, G/C/W/695/Add.1/Rev.1-WT/COMTD/N/44/Add.1/Rev.1, WT/COMTD/PTA/2/1, WT/COMTD/PTA/2/2, WT/COMD/PTA/2/3), as per the provisions of the 14 December 2010 General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for Preferential Trade Arrangements (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 (SVEs) 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 2015, the CTD in Dedicated Session held two formal meetings on the Work Programme on Small Economies on 5 June and 29 October, chaired by Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay). The minutes of these meetings are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/29 and WT/COMTD/SE/M/30.^[8] At the 29^th Dedicated Session, the Secretariat presented its research paper on "Challenges and Opportunities experienced by Small Economies when linking into Global Value Chains in Trade in Goods and Services" (WT/COMTD/SE/W/31). Members exchanged initial views on the paper and its findings. At the 30^th Dedicated Session, Members addressed the research paper prepared by the Secretariat in greater detail and focused on challenges small economies encounter when linking into global value chains (GVCs) in the agri-food and seafood sectors. Presentations were made by the ITC and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). Members also took note of a revised compilation paper in WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.7, which monitors progress of the proposals submitted by the SVEs to the negotiating groups and other WTO bodies. Also at the 30^th Session, Members adopted the Dedicated Session's report to the General Council and agreed to forward it as document WT/COMTD/SE/9 to the General Council for proposed action by Ministers at MC10.

6  AID FOR TRADE

6.1.  The CTD held three sessions on Aid for Trade in 2015, on 17 February, 29 May, and 30 October. The February meeting was exceptionally chaired by Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda). The other meetings were chaired by Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez (Paraguay). The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/33, WT/COMTD/AFT/M/34, and WT/COMTD/AFT/M/35, respectively. The Fifth Global Review of Aid for Trade (5GR) was held on 30 June to 2 July 2015. Aid for Trade was also included as an agenda item for discussion at the General Council on 27 to 28 July 2015, and the Chairman of the General Council made a statement on Aid for Trade at the Council meeting of 8 October 2015.

6.2.  Three dedicated thematic workshops were held under the auspices of the CTD as follows: Workshop on Aid for Trade and Infrastructure: Bridging the Gap on 16 February which served to illustrate how poor infrastructure negatively impacts developing countries' trade performance and economic growth; Workshop on the 2015 Aid-for-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Exercise and Aid for Trade at a Glance publication on 28 May at which, based on the results of the Aid for Trade M&E exercise were presented and an overview given of the main conclusions of the Aid for Trade at a Glance publication; and Workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Aid-for-Trade Initiative on 29 October at which discussions focused on the implications for the Aid-for-Trade Initiative of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Reports on the workshops were given at the CTD Aid-for-Trade formal sessions.

6.3.  At the CTD's 33^rd Session, the Director-General and the Secretariat provided information on the preparations for the 5GR on "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth" and on the Aid for Trade M&E exercise. The Director-General outlined his thoughts on the 5GR and noted that engagement by Members in the M&E exercise demonstrated continuing demand for the Aid‑for-Trade Initiative. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provided preliminary data on the 2013 Aid-for-Trade flows. The African Development Bank (AfDB), Canada, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the World Bank Group (WBG) all reported on their Aid-for-Trade-related operations and support. Chinese Taipei and the Secretariat of the General Treaty on Central American Economic Integration shared information on their regional Aid-for-Trade‑related projects in Central America. Pursuant to its Trade Policy Review (TPR), the United States (US) provided information on its support to trade capacity building and trade facilitation. The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) reported on progress in the implementation of its work in supporting trade mainstreaming and informed the Committee of the conclusions and recommendations of the Comprehensive Evaluation of the EIF conducted in 2014. The ITC provided an update on its technical assistance activities, including in relation to trade facilitation, and informed of future ITC events.

6.4.  At the CTD's 34^th Session, the Director-General and the Secretariat updated the Committee on the preparations for the 5GR. The Director-General highlighted the importance and relevance of the event for the global community and for the UN's Post-2015 Development Agenda. Japan and Australia updated the Committee on their Aid-for-Trade-related activities and support pursuant to their TPRs, and the EIF reported on the Programme Framework of Phase Two (2016-2022) of the EIF. The Asian Development Bank (AsDB) presented a draft of the publication "Aid for Trade in Asia and the Pacific 2015" that would be launched at the 5GR and the ITC reported on its ongoing technical assistance support, notably in connection with the TFA. The Secretariat provided reports on an Expert Group Meeting organized by ECOWAS and on a Regional Review Seminar organized by the Islamic Development Bank.

6.5.  The 5GR took place from 30 June to 2 July 2015.^[9] A total of 52 Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Heads and Deputy Heads of IGOs, and 20 Heads of private sector enterprises, participated in the event. Various reports were launched for the 5GR, including the joint OECD-WTO publication "Aid for Trade at a Glance 2015: Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth".^[10] The 18 plenary sessions were structured around the theme "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth" with Trade Facilitation being a main focus over the three-day event. Twenty‑eight side events were also organized by WTO Members, IGOs, and non-governmental organizations. In the opening plenary session, keynote speeches delivered by WBG President Jim Yong Kim, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, AsDB President Takehiko Nakao, and UNCTAD Deputy Secretary‑General Joakim Reiter, underscored how action on reducing trade costs and support to more inclusive trade can promote developing country – and particularly LDC – economic growth and poverty reduction, a message that was also echoed by the representatives of the regional development banks and the ITC. Another plenary session was dedicated to MC10, where Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and Kenyan Ambassador and Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed offered thoughts on how the WTO could map a way forward to MC10. 

6.6.  Other sessions were tailored to discuss the issue of trade costs in relation to, inter alia, gender, services, SVEs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, South-South trade, e‑commerce, and LDCs' services and merchandise trade development. A funding commitment was made by Norway to Phase Two of the EIF, an announcement of funding for the STDF was made by Sweden, and Japan recalled its substantial funding commitment to infrastructure investment in Asia over the next five years. Key messages that emerged from the 5GR included: the development benefits of the implementation of the TFA; the economic opportunity of e-commerce, and the negative impact of non-tariff measures on raising costs for trade in goods. In the closing plenary session, 25 Members and five IGOs took the floor to make individual or group statements. Many delegations noted the relevance and focus of the 5GR and suggested themes that could be addressed by the Aid-for-Trade Initiative in future, together with issues of access to Aid-for-Trade funding. In his closing remarks, the Director-General underlined the clear message emerging from the Global Review that trade costs matter and that trade connectivity would be a key element in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aid for Trade was delivering but Members needed to remain flexible and open‑minded about how the Initiative could do more and what future priorities should be. He highlighted the importance of, and benefits from, implementation of the TFA.

6.7.  Aid for Trade was discussed at the General Council on 27 to 28 July 2015. In his report of the 5GR, the Director‑General noted its timely focus, particularly given the ongoing work to implement the TFA, and how the 5GR had defined how trade could contribute to the development outcomes all Members were seeking. He also noted the profile that had been given to the Pacific, a region particularly challenged by high trade costs due to its geographical remoteness. The Director‑General underlined that the outcomes of MC10 would need to be factored into the process for moving the Initiative forward and that Members should "keep it going and remain creative". The report of the July General Council debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/158. In his statement to the General Council on 8 October 2015, the General Council Chairman echoed the points made by the Director-General and recalled that the 5GR had provided an opportunity to discuss the economic and development impact of high trade costs – notably on the poorest countries and citizens, and on achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda. He noted that a new biennial Aid-for-Trade work programme would be developed after MC10. The report of the October General Council debate is contained in document WT/GC/M/159.^[11]

6.8.  At the CTD's 35^th Session, the EIF and WBG provided information on their Aid‑for‑Trade‑related activities, in particular the joint WBG-WTO publication "The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty". The EU provided information on its Accountability Report 2015 on Financing for Development, TFA implementation support and informed of the recently-published new EU trade strategy "Trade for All". China reported on its South-South cooperation support highlighting the newly-established South-South Cooperation Fund, its China‑LDC Accession Programme, and its aim to increase investment in developing countries. Guatemala (on behalf of the SVEs) called for further study and analysis of the challenges faced by SVEs in accessing GVCs. A number of Members reported on their Aid-for-Trade-related activities and support pursuant to their TPRs. India updated on its development assistance and noted several new initiatives aimed at scaling up its development partnership with Africa. Canada provided information on its global, regional, bilateral and civil society level support, as well as its TFA support, and New Zealand outlined its Aid-for-Trade support, in particular for Pacific Island countries, and on its recently-launched Aid Programme Strategic Plan for 2015-2019. Angola called for increased technical assistance support for diversification of export products, development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and for enhancing business data availability. The ITC also reported on its activities.

6.9.  Under "Other Business", the Chairman provided initial thoughts on how to take forward the Aid-for-Trade Initiative and suggested that a new work programme be elaborated on the basis of discussions with Members in informal and formal sessions, as necessary, with the aim of submitting a work programme – under his own responsibility – to the General Council before its second meeting in 2016. The Chairman also recalled the Bali Ministerial Decision on Aid for Trade and noted that, if Members were so minded, a similar decision on Aid for Trade could be agreed for MC10. Such a decision, if required, could recall that: Members take note of the deliberations and outcomes of the Fifth Global Review of Aid for Trade on Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive Sustainable Growth, reaffirm the continuing need for Aid for Trade, and recommend the development of a new Aid-for-Trade work programme for 2016-2017. He also encouraged Members to feed in elements they deemed appropriate on Aid for Trade into the on-going process of consultations on a Ministerial Declaration for MC10. No comments were made by Members.

7  sub-committee on least developed countries

7.1.  In 2015, the Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the Sub-Committee) held three formal meetings on 2 April (74^th Session), 18 September (75^th Session) and 12 October (76^th Session), chaired by Ambassador Roderick van Schreven (Netherlands). The minutes of the meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/74, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/75 and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/76^[12], 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 subjects considered included: follow-up to Ministerial Decisions/Declarations; a report by the LDC Coordinator on the LDC Group Retreat held in February; and a briefing by the Secretariat on the arrangements for LDCs' participation at MC10. At all meetings, the delegation of Bangladesh acted as the Coordinator of the LDC Group.

7.2.  As part of the commemoration of the WTO's 20^th anniversary, the Secretariat organized an LDC event titled "Twenty Years of Supporting the Integration of Least Developed Countries into the Multilateral Trading System". The event took place under the aegis of the Sub-Committee on 12 October 2015. A Secretariat Note (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/61) was prepared as an input to the event, which was opened by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and UNCTAD Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi. Two panel sessions reviewed the progress made in integrating the LDCs into the multilateral trading system since the establishment of the WTO in 1995 and discussed how the WTO could help LDCs overcome the remaining challenges. The report on the event, by the Chairman, is contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/24.

7.1  Market access for LDCs

7.3.  At the 74^th Session, the Secretariat provided an update on trends in LDC trade, building on the information and analysis provided in the 2014 market access review Note (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/59). Members welcomed the update. Some LDCs requested more disaggregated regional and country-specific data to be included in future editions. At the 75^th Session, Members considered the DFQF market access scheme of Thailand (WT/COMTD/N/46). The LDCs expressed appreciation to Thailand for adopting the scheme, which provides DFQF market access on 73.2% of Thailand's tariff lines. At the 76^th Session, Members considered the 2015 market access review Note by the Secretariat (WT/COMTD/LDC/W/60), which had a special focus on developments of LDC trade since the establishment of the WTO in 1995. Members considered the Note useful. The LDCs, as well as other Members, suggested some elements for possible inclusion in future editions of the Note.

7.2  Trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives for LDCs

7.4.  At the 74^th Session, the Secretariat gave an overview of technical assistance and training provided to the LDCs in 2014. The LDCs were associated with 48% of technical assistance activities undertaken by the Secretariat in 2014. The LDCs welcomed the continued prioritization of LDCs in the delivery of the 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 status of implementation of the EIF. The LDCs reiterated the usefulness of the programme for their trade capacity building and encouraged development partners to support the second phase of the EIF. At the 76^th Session, the EIF Secretariat provided an update on Phase Two of the EIF as well as the preparations for the EIF Pledging Conference to be held on 14 December 2015, prior to MC10. The LDCs welcomed Phase Two of the EIF and called upon donors to contribute to the replenishment of the EIF Trust Fund.

7.3  Accession of LDCs

7.5.  At the 75^th Session, the Secretariat briefed Members on some key accession-related activities being undertaken and on the state of play in the eight accession working parties of the LDCs, including that Liberia's accession process had been concluded and that the accession of Afghanistan was nearing conclusion. The LDCs urged for expeditious conclusion of ongoing LDC accessions and suggested a systematic review of the results of accessions vis-à-vis the LDC accession guidelines.

7.4  Other matters considered by the Sub-Committee

7.6.  At the 75^th Session, the LDCs requested that the Sub-Committee consider once a year the item concerning follow-up to Ministerial Decisions/Declarations. The LDC Coordinator also made a proposal for the Secretariat to prepare a report on the progress made in the implementation of Ministerial Decisions and Declarations in favour of LDCs. At the 76^th Session, Members agreed that the Secretariat would prepare a factual compilation of the progress made in the implementation of Ministerial Declarations and Decisions in favour of LDCs since the establishment of the WTO.

7.7.  At the 74^th Session, the LDC Coordinator briefed the Sub-Committee on the LDC Retreat held in Montreux, Switzerland from 17-19 February 2015, where LDCs discussed various issues of LDC interest, including on how to build on the Bali Decisions towards MC10.

7.8.  At the 75^th Session, the Secretariat provided a briefing on the administrative and logistical arrangements by the Secretariat to facilitate the participation of LDCs at MC10. As per past practice, provisions had been made to fund three officials from each eligible LDC. The LDCs thanked Members for their contributions to the LDC Trust Fund established for this purpose.

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