REPORT (2023) OF THE Working group on trade and transfer
of technology TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL

1  introduction

1.1.  Ministers agreed, at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001, to "an examination, in a Working Group under the auspices of the General Council, of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology, and of any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries".^[1] The Working Group has reported on its work at each WTO Ministerial Meeting, at which the Ministers had reaffirmed their commitment to advance the work of the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology and instructed the General Council to further report to the Ministerial Sessions.

1.2.  The Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology (WGTTT, or the Working Group) held three formal meetings in 2023, on 4 May, on 17 July, and on 13 October. The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents _WT/WGTTT/M/69, _WT/WGTTT/M/70, and _WT/WGTTT/M/71, respectively. Members continued the analysis of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology, as well as considered any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries, the details of which are given below.

1.3.  At the beginning of the May 2023 meeting, the Working Group elected Ambassador Sofia Boza Martinez of Chile as its Chairperson. At the same meeting, the Chairperson invited all Members to participate in the informal consultations that she intended to convene with a view to seeking Members' suggestions to plan and structure future work so that the Working Group can fulfil its mandate.