This assistance is intended to build the capacity of developing and least developed countries to negotiate effectively within the WTO and help implement WTO agreements and international standards. These are areas that are key to protecting the trade interests and development needs of the world’s poorest countries.

A first donation of EUR1 million (about CHF1.5 million) was offered to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. This contribution will be used to finance WTO technical assistance activities targeted especially at the needs of developing and least-developed countries, as well as economies in transition. The aim is to enhance their ability to participate effectively in the WTO negotiations and ensure they fully benefit from the results achieved during these negotiations. Over the last 7 years, The EC has continuously supported the DDAGTF and its contribution to this fund has now reached CHF6.3 million (about EUR4.1 million)

A second donation of EUR250,000 (about CHF380,000) was provided to the Standards and Trade Development Facility. This contribution will assist developing countries in improving their expertise and their capacity to analyze and implement international sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) thus enhancing their human, animal and plant health situation and ability to gain and maintain market access. This is the second contribution of the EC to this fund.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy declared “I welcome the EC’s donations to the WTO trust funds. These contributions will allow developing countries to expand their markets mainly through our technical assistance programmes. Complying with international standards is also a major step in securing market access. ”

EC Ambassador Eckart Guth stated “These latest donations are a concrete illustration of our constant commitment to help developing and least-developed countries under our comprehensive Aid for Trade strategy. The WTO has a key role in providing technical assistance to help developing countries acquire a better understanding of international trade rules and procedures. Through our Aid for Trade strategy we aim to support all developing countries, and particularly Least Developed Countries, to better integrate into the rules-based world trading system and to use trade more effectively in promoting the overarching objective of sustainable development. ”