TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
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Developmental aspects of WTO reform
The chair, H.E. Dr José R. Sánchez-Fung (Dominican Republic), reported a “high level of engagement” in his informal consultations with members on the developmental aspects of WTO reform. Members shared their expectations in terms of development-related outcomes at the 13th Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in February 2024 in Abu Dhabi as well as on measures to improve the functioning of the Development Committee, he said. A shared view was that development should be at the core of the WTO reform agenda to help developing economies and LDCs bolster their participation in global trade.
In a new communication, the United Kingdom suggested ways of improving the functioning of the Committee. Members expressed support for the suggestions, re-emphasizing the importance of development as an overarching issue.
Earlier this year, members kickstarted an exchange in the General Council on cross-cutting aspects of the development dimension of the WTO reform agenda, with a view to finding mutually acceptable ways forward.
WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics
Members continued discussing the Committee's contribution to implementing the Ministerial Declaration adopted at MC12 on the WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics. The chair encouraged members to submit written proposals to focus the discussions and identify concrete work for the Committee in this area.
Food security
Argentina provided in a communication information on the technical assistance related to food security that it provides to countries, including LDCs and the Net Food-importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs), with a view to building their trade capacities and helping them meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In a communication, the United States outlined the essential role of transparent, predictable and open markets in enhancing food security.It underlined the critical role that full implementation of the WTO agreements could play in meeting domestic and global food security objectives. The United States referred to a thematic session held on 10 July presenting Hello Tractor, a farm equipment sharing application that connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers who need tractor services in East Africa.
Policy space for industrial development
Members continued discussions on “policy space” for developing economies to promote industrial development on the basis of submissions by the WTO's African Group. A first submission, circulated earlier this year, makes a case for rebalancing trade rules to promote industrialization and to address emerging challenges, such as climate change, concentration of production and digital industrialization. A follow-up submission proposes a list of issues to be considered by members to rebalance trade rules and enable industrialization within the framework of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
Electronic commerce
WTO members continued discussing a paper by India and South Africa entitled “Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development”, which follows on from the decision adopted at MC12 to reinvigorate the development aspect of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.
While there was agreement on easing access to the digital trade environment for developing economies under the Work Programme, members expressed different views on the impact and the benefits of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.
Capacity-building activities
The WTO Secretariat gave an assessment of technical assistance and training activities in 2022, with the return of face-to-face activities. This resulted in a 7 per cent increase in participation and a 50 per cent increase in costs compared to 2021. Among the positive results are the greater participation of women in training activities and the recently revamped e-Learning platform. The Annual Report can be accessed here.
Members also adopted the WTO Secretariat's biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2024 and 2025. This outlines the framework under which technical activities will be managed. It sets priorities, anticipates expected results and identifies mechanisms for implementation and sources of funding. Members will consider the budgetary aspects of the Plan in the WTO's Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration.
Furthermore, the Secretariat pointed to the recently-released biennial Technical Assistance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for 2024 and 2025. This aims to monitor the progress and impact of technical assistance activities and to make adjustments where necessary.
More information on technical assistance and training is available here.
Global trade data portal
The WTO Secretariat presented the recently-launched Global trade data portal, a tool intended to complement customs data and enhance market transparency. The portal provides access to real-time data on trade, allowing users to monitor supply chain activities and providing advance warning of potential disruptions.
Monitoring mechanism on special and differential treatment
At a meeting of the Committee's Dedicated Session on the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differential Treatment, the chair indicated that no written submissions had been made to operationalize the mechanism. He urged members to come to a common understanding on how to move forward with the mechanism, which was established at the Bali Ministerial Conference in 2013.
Regional trade agreements and preferential trade arrangements
At a meeting of the Committee's Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements, the chair updated members on the status of factual presentations of regional trade agreements.
Similarly, an update on the status of the preparation of factual presentations of preferential trade arrangements was provided at a meeting of the Committee's Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade Arrangements. At the same meeting, Japan presented a notification of modifications to its Generalized System of Preferences.
The chair urged members that had notified regional trade agreements and preferential trade arrangements to submit the required data and information to allow the WTO Secretariat to prepare the factual presentations. These factual presentations are required under the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements and the Transparency Mechanism for Preferential Trade Arrangements.
Next meeting
The next meetings of the Committee and its dedicated sessions are tentatively scheduled for 17 November.
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