REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TRADE, DEBT
AND FINANCE (2024)
TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL
1.1. It will be recalled that the Working Group on Trade, Debt and
Finance ("the Working Group") was established at the 4th Session of
the Ministerial Conference in Doha (November 2001). Its mandate is set out in
Paragraph 36 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.
1.2. There were meetings of the Working Group on 12 July (formal), 2 October
(informal), and 26 November (informal and formal).
1.3. In 2024, the Working Group has received a request from the Committee
on Agriculture (_G/AG/38,
_WT/WGTDF/W/104)
to undertake, in line with its mandate, a targeted examination of specific
concerns raised by least-developed and net food-importing developing countries
(LDCs and NFIDCs) in relation to the financing of food imports, and in
particular challenges associated in doing so during periods of food instability
and emergencies. There seemed to be broad support for a step‑by-step approach
to examining the request according to the Working Group's mandate, clarifying
the scope of work, and determining what action or discussion, if any, could be
pursued. As a first step, proposals by LDCs and NFIDCs have been presented
orally and in writing (_RD/WGTDF/1).
Also, at the request of Members, a factual summary of concerns expressed thus
far has been circulated as Document _WT/WGTDF/W/106.
Members are considering potential issues of interest falling within the Working
Group's mandate. Further consultations will continue in 2025 on what issues and
under what modalities, can be discussed by the Working Group.
1.4. In 2024, the Working Group has also received a submission by the
delegation of Pakistan focused on the trade and debt nexus (_WT/WGTDF/W/105).
Members emphasized the need for thematic discussions to fall within the mandate
of the Working Group. Members engaged in consultations with a view to
developing a focused and concrete proposal for possible questions and thematic
sessions to be approved. They will continue in 2025.
1.5. On 3 December, the Working Group adopted its Annual Report (2024)
on a lapse-of-time basis.