LDC Group Coordinator Ambassador Eloi Laourou (Benin) emphasized, in particular, the need to address domestic support in agriculture, including cotton and implement preferential treatment for LDC services. The coordinator drew attention to these and other priorities contained in the submission WT/GC/W/717, which the group had prepared based on deliberations they undertook at a retreat in April.

Effective implementation of the Nairobi decisions is needed, said the coordinator. He also reiterated that the LDC group would be revisiting proposals on special and differential treatment raised in the run-up to the ministerial conference in Nairobi. These proposals aimed  to build on the rights for LDCs and developing countries to be treated more favourably in consideration of their level of development.

Meanwhile, discussions on how to review the implementation of ministerial declarations and decisions meant to favour LDCs will have to continue, as the Sub-committee chair Ambassador Roderick van Schreven (Netherlands) reported that consultations with members have so far not yielded an agreement.

The LDC group coordinator also drew members' attention to specific trade and investment measures meant to help LDCs achieve the objectives of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for LDCs, such as to double their share in global exports to 2% by 2020. Last year, the LDCs' share in global exports stood at just  below 1%. Recommended measures, which included a call for donor countries to allocate 0.2% of their gross national income as official development assistance to LDCs, are contained in the 'Political Declaration' made at the midterm review of the IPoA in May.

The Sub-Committee also heard an update on technical assistance and training provided to LDCs as well as plans and funding for the second phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, a multi-donor program which helps LDCs play a more active role in the global trading system.

 Finally, the European Union reminded members of its new system for certifying the origin of goods from exporters that participate in its Generalized Scheme of Preferences, which allows developing countries to pay lower  or no duties on their exports to the EU. The new 'registered exporter (REX)' system will allow exporters to self-certify their shipments' origin starting 1 January 2017.