Communication from the LDC Group

The following communication, dated 7 May 2024, is being circulated at the request of Djibouti, on behalf of the LDC Group.

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Proposed thematic informal sessions in the LDC Sub-Committee on the
LDC-specific provisions listed in Annex 2 of _WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2 not
covered by GC Decision (_WT/L/1172) or MC13 Decision (_WT/L/1189)

Introductory SESSION:

·_        Presentation of the proposal by the LDC group

·_        Initial remarks by the delegations

SESSION-1: Intellectual Property Rights-related provision 

·_        TRIPS Art. 66.1 (Decision: _IP/C/88) and Art. 66.2

·_        TRIPS Art. 70.8 and 70.9 (LDC-specific pharmaceutical decision)

·_        TRIPS Art. 66.1 on pharma related obligations (LDC-specific decision)

SESSION-2: Subsidies-related provisions

·_        ASCM Art. 27.2 (a) and Annex VII

·_        AoA Art. 9.4 (MC10 decision _WT/L/980, paragraph 8 on export competition)

·_        Agriculture domestic support notification frequency (LDC-specific decision of Committee of Agriculture _G/AG/2, page 11)

·_        Fisheries (AFS Art. 8.1, footnote 13) notification frequency

SESSION-3: Market access-related provisions and Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

·_        LDC Services Waiver (Bali and Nairobi MC decisions)

·_        TFA Art. 17, 19.2, 20.3

SESSION-4: Possibility of a peace clause for the transition period after LDC graduation and duration of the transition period.

SESSION-5: Reserved for developing recommendation for the General Council

Modalities of discussion (in each thematic session)

The Secretariat will:

·_        Relate to the provision: what’s in the provisions and the rationale behind their inclusion in existing agreements and subsequent decisions.

The LDC group may explain/propose:

·_        How a possible peace clause would apply to the provisions during the transitional period after graduation.

Delegates/Members are expected to discuss and agree on the transitional arrangement proposed by the LDCs.

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