Aid-for-Trade
Work Programme[1]
2014-2015
"Reducing trade costs for inclusive, sustainable
growth"
1 Overview
1.1. At the 9th Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia
on 3-6 December 2013, Ministers agreed the following Ministerial Decision on
Aid for Trade as part of the regular work under the General Council:
"We welcome progress on Aid for Trade and take note of the
deliberations and outcomes of the 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade
held on 8-10 July 2013. We recognize the continuing need of Aid for Trade for
developing countries, and in particular of LDCs.
"We reaffirm our commitment to Aid for Trade and reiterate the
mandate given to the Director-General to pursue actions in support of Aid for
Trade. The new Aid-for-Trade Work Programme should be framed by the post-2015
development agenda." (WT/MIN (13)/34)
1.2. At the 9th Ministerial Conference, Ministers also adopted
a package including an Agreement on Trade Facilitation, Ministerial Decisions
on Agriculture, Cotton, Development and Least‑Developed Countries (LDC) issues,
and Ministerial Decisions on regular work under the General Council. Aid for
Trade is referenced in several of the Ministerial Decisions reached at Bali[2];
the Agreement on Trade Facilitation also contains provisions in Section II of
the Agreement that deal, inter alia,
with assistance for capacity building.
[1] This Work Programme is issued under the responsibility of the Chair
of the Committee on Trade and Development.
[2] Notably the Ministerial Decision on Cotton WT/MIN(13)/41 (and in
particular paragraph 10 thereof) and the Decision on Operationalization of
the Waiver Concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers
of Least-Developed Countries WT/MIN(13)/43.