Implementation of the development assistance
aspects of the
cotton-related dECISIONS in the 2004 july package and
paragraph 12 of the hong kong ministerial declaration
Report of the 41st Round of the
Director-General's
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton[1]
held on 7 MAY 2024
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1. The 41st round of
the Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC)
took place on 7 May 2024 under the chairpersonship of Deputy
Director‑General (DDG) Jean-Marie Paugam, on behalf of Director-General Dr
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
1.2. The meeting was held in a hybrid
format (with in-person and virtual participation) and was attended by the
Cotton 4 (C-4)[2],
other WTO Members, relevant partner organizations, the private sector, and
key experts from the global cotton community.
1.3. The Chair welcomed the participants. He acknowledged the
previous series of consultations on cotton development assistance and extended gratitude
to those who travelled to attend the meeting of the day, especially the focal
points from the C-4 countries. He thanked Mr. Eric Trachtenberg, Executive Director of the
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and his colleagues at ICAC,
for their presence in the room.
1.4. He extended his compliments and
best wishes to H.E. Mr Abdoulaye Tounkara, Ambassador of Mali to the WTO
as the new C-4 coordinator, as well as to his predecessor, Ambassador Jean-Pierre
Baptiste of Chad, for the impressive work he has done as coordinator of the C-4
and their close cooperation with the Secretariat.
1.5. He also thanked the participants and
the organisers of a side event held on 6 May 2024, titled "Empowering the
Sustainability of the OACPS Cotton Producers", and invited participants to
share their thoughts and experiences at the appropriate time.
1.6. The Chair moved to the adoption of the agenda and opened the
floor for comments and suggestions to it. There being no requests for the
floor, the agenda was adopted.
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own
responsibility and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their
rights and obligations under the WTO.
[2] Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali. Côte d'Ivoire is an observer
member of the C-4.