WTO news: what’s been happening in the WTO
WTO NEWS: 2000 NEWS ITEMS

23 October 2000

Delegations welcome progress report on implementation issues

Delegations, at the General Council's Second Special Session on Implementation on 18 October 2000, welcomed a progress report on consultations by the Chairman, Ambassador Kare Bryn (Norway), and Director-General Mike Moore on implementation issues as an important first step from which to build on.

The report concerned the results so far of consultations regarding concerns expressed by developing countries on implementation of the following WTO Agreements: sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, agriculture, customs valuation, rules of origin, subsidies, services and trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPS).

Delegations welcomed the spirit of constructive engagement by all parties in the consultations, and expressed confidence in the transparent and inclusive manner in which the Chairman and the Director-General were conducting the process. Many looked forward to a fuller package of results in December.

Several developing countries underlined the importance of also dealing with implementation issues in other agreements, including on anti-dumping, textiles and clothing and trade-related investment measures (TRIMs).

At the end of the meeting, the General Council took note of the report and referred to the relevant WTO bodies issues identified in the report as being appropriate for their action. It invited the Chairman and the Director-General to continue their consultations and report to members in advance of the next Special Session scheduled for 18-19 December 2000.