DRAFT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS for 2024

Chairpersons: H.E. Clare Kelly (New Zealand) and
H.E. Salomon Eheth (Cameroon)

1  INTRODUCTION

1.1.   At its first meeting in April 2024, the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) elected, by acclamation, Ambassador H.E. Mr. Salomon EHETH (Cameroon) as its Chairman.

1.2.  During 2024, the Committee held three sessions (in April, July and November), in person and through the Interprefy platform. The minutes of those meetings are listed in the Attachment.

1.3.  Figures provided in this report cover the period from 16 October 2023 to 15 October 2024.

2  Observer Status

2.1.  No decision was taken with respect to the requests for observer status listed in document _WT/REG/W/11/Add.4/Rev.2.

3  EARLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

3.1.  Two early announcements were received from Members.[1]

4  Notifications

4.1.  The CRTA received 24 notifications of new regional trade agreements (RTAs), sixteen on trade in goods notified under Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and eight on trade in services notified under Article V of GATS.[2] The CRTA also received additional notifications concerning seven RTAs that are already notified.[3]

4.2.  In an effort to encourage the notification of non-notified RTAs, the Chair with the help of the Secretariat continued to draw up and circulate in advance of CRTA meetings a list of non‑notified RTAs which have been verified by their parties as being in force and appeared in factual presentations.[4] The most recent list, circulated in June 2024, contains 55 RTAs. [to be updated upon the circulation of _WT/REG/W/190]

5  considerATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

5.1.  Fifteen factual presentations were distributed in the period under review, all of which were used as the basis for consideration of RTAs in the CRTA in 2024 (see Attachment). An additional factual presentation was distributed and will be considered at a future CRTA meeting.[5]

5.2.  The Committee continues to experience difficulties in adhering to its work programme, due in particular to delays in the receipt of statistical data from parties, data discrepancies in Members' submissions and delays in the receipt of comments from parties. The Chair continued to encourage parties to collectively improve transparency in RTAs by providing outstanding information as soon as possible.

5.3.  At the CRTA's 110^th Session, the Chair informed the Committee that documents listing RTAs facing delays under the Transparency Mechanism^[6] would be discontinued since this information was now included in the interactive dashboard on the CRTA work programme.

6  subsequent notification and REPORTING

6.1.  Eight notifications of changes were received and posted on the RTA Database.[7]

6.2.  The Secretariat circulated a list of RTAs subject to end of implementation (EOI) reports as of 1 March 2024 (_WT/REG/W/184). At the end of 2024, EOI reports would be due for 221 RTAs, taking into account one report circulated in the period under review.[8] The EOI for 107 RTAs is from 2025 onwards, while for one RTA the EOI year is not available.

7  DATabase on RTAs and interactive tools

7.1.  The Secretariat continues to update the RTA Database, in accordance with the requirements of the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs.

7.2.  The Secretariat also continues to update the CRTA calendar on the consideration of RTAs and the interactive dashboard on the CRTA work programme.

8  technical assistance

8.1.  [At the 111^th Session of the Committee, the Secretariat gave an account of the RTA-related technical assistance activities it had undertaken in 2024 and those planned for 2025.]

9  Improvements to the functioning of the CRTA to better serve Members

9.1.   A number of procedural improvements were implemented by the Secretariat following Members suggestions. These include the interactive tools referred to in paragraph 7.2. above; an annual information session on the CRTA work; a redesigned airgram; and providing RTAs Parties with tentative deadlines for the consideration of their RTA under the Transparency Mechanism at an early stage of the process. [The eAgenda platform became operational for Members as of the Committee's 111^th session in November.]

9.2.  [At its 111^th Session, the Committee agreed to reduce the number of meetings to three sessions per year, and to shorten their duration to one morning, with the possibility of extending the meeting to the afternoon in case of long agendas or for informal discussions, for a trial period. The Committee also agreed to include executive summaries in Factual Presentations. The executive summaries will be drafted by the Secretariat under its own responsibility.]

9.3.  Other suggested improvements remain under discussion, such as the content and length of factual presentations, thematic sessions and enhancing the Committee's ability to examine RTAs.

ATTACHMENT

Minutes of the Meetings held in 2024

109^th Session – 8 April 2024

110^th Session – 2 July 2024

111^th Session – 18[-19] November 2024 (to be issued)

__________