Adoption of biennial technical assistance and training plan 2012-2013

The Director of the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, Ms. Bridget Chilala, presented the biennial plan (WT/COMTD/W/180).  After reviewing the achievements of trade-related technical assistance activities in 2010-2011, she introduced the main areas of technical assistance activities proposed for the period of 2012 to 2013. The biennial plan specifies all activities and budget estimations for technical assistance and training activities for 2012 to 2013.

Members welcomed the new plan and praised the use of Result Based Monitoring (RBM). They also noted the efforts to deliver quality technical assistance programmes within budget constraints. Some members reiterated their commitments to continue funding technical assistance programmes. Developing members thanked the Secretariat for its work on the technical assistance programme and sought more clarification on the needs of specific geographic regions, the mobilization of resources and the criteria applied in selecting trainees.

 

Proposal to consolidate and mainstream development in WTO

The African Group and Arab Group presented a new proposal to consolidate and mainstream development in the World Trade Organization (WT/COMTD/W/182). The proposal aims to revitalize the role of the Committee on Trade and Development "to serve as the focal point for the consideration and coordination of work on all development issues in the multilateral trading system". Kenya (on behalf of the African Group), Saudi Arabia (on behalf of the Arab Group), Egypt, Bangladesh, Jordan, Mauritius (on behalf of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group), Ecuador, Argentina, India and Cuba all supported the proposal. Other members raised concerns that some issues raised in the proposal might overlap with the work of other WTO committees. Work will continue to refine the proposal.

 

Annual review of the duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs

The Committee on Trade and Development conducted its 6th annual review of duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market access for least-developed countries (LDCs). China said that it currently offers 4,700 tariff lines of duty-free quota-free market access for exports from LDCs and that China is currently the largest destination for LDC exports. China reiterated its commitment made at the G-20 Cannes Summit that China would soon grant zero-tariff treatment to 97% of exports from those LDCs which have diplomatic ties with China. India said that its DFQF scheme has been operational since 2008 and that it plans to expand the scheme in the future. The EU and Australia mentioned their current schemes providing full market access for LDCs and welcomed the commitments made by China and India. The United States described its preferential trade scheme under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Haiti Trade Preference Programme and emphasized the need for targeted trade preference programmes.

 

Secretariat report on participation of developing economies in the global trading system

The WTO secretariat presented a report on the trade performance of developing economies in the period 2008-2010 (WT/COMTD/W/181). The report found that South-South trade is playing an increasingly important role especially since the outbreak of the financial crisis. The report states that considerable heterogeneity exists within the trade of developing countries. Members welcomed the report and its in-depth analysis of developing Asia's trade performance.

 

Switzerland notified Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

Switzerland introduced its new, simplified rules of origin scheme and said that a new list of countries and territories now benefit from its Generalized System of Preferences in place since 1 July 2011.  

 

Electronic commerce as a means to combat poverty

Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua introduced their proposal titled "Effective participation of developing countries in E-commerce as a means to combat poverty". The proposal is part of current work under way on E-commerce for further discussion at the WTO's 8th Ministerial Conference.

 

Draft annual report for 2011

A draft annual report of the Committee on Trade and Development for 2011 (WT/COMTD/W/183) was circulated. The meeting will convene later this week to conduct further work on the draft.

 

Other Issues

Egypt, with the support of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, requested observer status for the League of Arab States. Israel and the United States said the request for observer status is still under consultation.