The meeting is at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center


SEE ALSO:
> Director-General’s message
> Background
> The WTO agreements and developing countries
> Least-developed countries
> Agriculture (1)
> Agriculture (2)
> Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures
> Services
> Intellectual property (TRIPS)
> Textiles and clothing
> Information technology products
> Trade and environment
> Trade and investment
> Trade facilitation
> Trade and competition policy
> Transparency in government procurement
> Trade and labour standards
> Disputes (1)
> Disputes (2)
> Electronic commerce
> Members and accessions
> Some facts and figures
> Glossary of terms

AND:
> Other ministerial meetings
BUILT-IN AGENDA
Work set out in existing agreements

Many of the accords agreed during the Uruguay Round specify future dates for continuing review or negotiations of specific sectors or subject areas. Below is a list of some of the most important dates and deadlines.

1998 back to top
 

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)

  • Mandate: review of the operation and implementation of the Agreement by 1998
  • Outcome: the report on the review was adopted in March 1999; in this report, the SPS Committee recalls that the review has not been exhaustive and that Members can at any time raise any issue for consideration by the Committee
     

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

  • Mandate: first triennial review of the operation and implementation of the Agreement by 1998
  • Outcome: the review was completed in November 1997; no adjustment of the rights and obligations of the Agreement or amendments to its text were made; however, the Committee adopted a number of decisions, recommendations and arrangements aimed at better operation and implementation of the Agreement
     

Dispute Settlement Understanding

  • Mandate: full review of dispute settlement rules and procedures
  • Outcome: the legal mandate for the review expired on 31 July 1999 without a consensus but informal consultations are still taking place
     

1999 back to top
 

Government Procurement

  • Mandate: further negotiations starting by 1999, with a view to improving the Agreement and achieving the greatest possible extension of its coverage among all Parties on the basis of mutual reciprocity
  • Outcome: further negotiations started end 1998; the third WTO Ministerial is the target for the completion of the negotiations, at least on the simplification and improvement of the Agreement
     

Trade Policy Review Body

  • Mandate: appraisal of the operation of the policy review mechanism by 2000
  • Outcome: the appraisal took place in the course of 1999 and no change was made to the mechanism
     

2000 back to top
 

Agriculture

  • Mandate: negotiations for continuing the process of substantial progressive reductions in support and protection
     

Services

  • Mandate: new negotiations starting in 2000 with a view to achieving a progressively higher level of liberalization
     

Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

  • Mandate: review of the implementation of the Agreement after 1 January 2000
     

Investment Measures (TRIMS)

  • Mandate: review of the operation of the Agreement and discussion on whether provisions on investment policy and competition policy should be included in the Agreement
     

2001 back to top
 

Textiles and Clothing

  • Mandate: review of the implementation of the Agreement by 2001
     

2004 back to top
 

Textiles and Clothing

  • Mandate: review of the implementation of the Agreement by 2004