Proposed Agenda

The Proposed Agenda can be found in document WT/GC/W/650 and contains the following items:

 

1. China — Transitional Review under Section 18.2 of the Protocol of Accession to the WTO Agreement

Under this Agenda item, the General Council will consider the reports of subsidiary bodies on China’s implementation of the WTO Agreement and of the related provisions of the Protocol (WT/GC/136, G/L/977, S/C/37, IP/C/60, WT/BOP/R/103, G/TBT/30); and will address the development of China’s trade with WTO Members and other trading partners, and recent developments and cross-sectoral issues regarding China’s trade regime.

2. Report by the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee

This is a standing Item on the Agenda. The Director-General will report, in his capacity as Chairman of the TNC, on activities in this area since his last report in October.

3. Work Programme on Small Economies — Report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the Committee on Trade and Development

Under this standing Item, the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the CTD will report on the progress of work in the Work Programme on Small Economies, and the Council will consider the report of the Committee (WT/COMTD/SE/7 and Add.1).

4. Work Programme on Special and Differential Treatment — Report by the Chairman of the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (TN/CTD/27)

Under this Item, the Chairman of the Special Session of the CTD will report on the progress of work on consideration of the outstanding Agreement-specific proposals.

5. The Development Assistance Aspects of Cotton — Periodic Report by the Director-General

The Director-General will introduce his report on the development assistance aspects of cotton in document WT/GC/137 — WT/CFMC/DG/4 — WT/MIN(11)/4.

6. Food Export Barriers and Humanitarian Food Aid by the WFP (World Food Programme) — Communication from the European Union

This Item that is included on the Council’s Agenda at the request of the European Union (WT/GC/138).

7. Improving the Record of Notifications — Communication from the European Union

This Item that is included on the Council’s Agenda at the request of the European Union (WT/GC/139 and Add. 1).

8. The WTO Responses to the Impact of the Food Crisis on LDCs and NFIDCs — Communication from the NFIDCs, African and Arab Groups

This Item is included on the Council’s Agenda at the request of Egypt on behalf of the NFIDCs, African and Arab Groups (WT/GC/140/Rev.1).

9. Eighth Session of the Ministerial Conference

(a) Statement by the Chairman

The Chairman will report on the consultations he has undertaken in preparation for the Eighth Ministerial Conference (MC8), which will take place in Geneva on 15-17 December, and on other organizational matters.

(i) TRIPS Non-Violation and Situation Complaints

The General Council will consider the Addendum to the Annual Report of the Council for TRIPS referring to Non-Violation and Situation Complaints (IP/C/59/Add.1).

(ii) E-Commerce

The General Council will consider the report on the Work Programme on E-Commerce (WT/GC/W/645).

(b) Election of Officers

The Chairman will report on his consultations on the election of Officers for MC8.

(c) Request for Observer Status by Palestine to the Eighth Session of the Ministerial Conference

The General Council will revert to the request by Palestine in WT/L/822.

(d) Attendance of Observers from International Governmental Organizations

At its last meeting, the General Council agreed to revert to this matter.

(i) Request by the League of Arab States

The General Council will revert to the request of the League of Arab States for Observer Status at MC8.

10. Review of the Exemption Provided under Paragraph 3 of GATT 1994 (WT/L/810 and Corr.1, WT/GC/W/648, WT/GC/W/651)

The Council will conduct the two yearly-cycle review of the United States’ exemption under Paragraph 3(a) of GATT 1994. Paragraph 3(a) of GATT 1994 provides an exemption from Part II of GATT 1994 for measures under specific mandatory legislation — enacted by a Member before it became a contracting party to GATT 1947 — which prohibits the use, sale or lease of foreign-built or foreign-reconstructed vessels in commercial applications between points in national waters or waters of an exclusive economic zone.

11. WTO Accessions: 2011 Annual Report by the Director-General — Statement by the Director-General

The Director-General will introduce his report on accession contained in WT/ACC/15— WT/GC/135 — WT/MIN(11)/3 and Corr.1.

12. TRIPS Council Matters

(a) Review under Paragraph 8 of the Decision on the Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health — Report of the Council for TRIPS (IP/C/61)

The Chairman of the TRIPS Council will report on its annual review on the functioning of the system set out in the Decision on the Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health.

(b) Proposal for a Decision on an Extension of the Period for the Acceptance by Members of the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement

The General Council will consider the proposal submitted by the Council for TRIPS contained in IP/C/58.

13. Amendment to the Procedures leading to the Certification of HS 2007 Changes — Draft Decision

The General Council will be invited to adopt the draft decision contained in document G/MA/W/108 regarding proposed amendments to the procedures for the introduction of Harmonized System 2007 changes to schedules of concessions using the CTS Database.

14. Procedure for the Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes to Schedules of Concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) Database — Draft Decision

The General Council will be invited to adopt the draft decision contained in document G/MA/W/109 regarding the procedures for the introduction of Harmonized System 2012 changes to schedules of concessions using the CTS Database.

15. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement

The following waivers will be before the General Council for consideration:

(a) Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions — Draft Decision (G/C/W/653/Rev.1)

(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions — Draft Decision (G/C/W/654/Rev.1)

(c) Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions — Draft Decision (G/C/W/655/Rev.2)

(d) Canada — CARIBCAN — Extension of the Waiver — Draft Decision (G/C/W/657)

(e) European Union — Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the Western Balkans — Extension of the Waiver — Draft Decision (G/C/W/658/Add.1)

(f) Review of Waivers Pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement:

(i) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, granted on 15 December 2006 until 31 December 2012 (WT/L/676)

(ii) Canada — CARIBCAN, granted on 15 December 2006, from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2011 (WT/L/677, WT/L/828)

(iii) Cuba — Article XV:6 of GATT 1994, granted on 15 December 2006 until 31 December 2011 (WT/L/678, WT/L/826)

16. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration — Report on meetings of October and November 2011

The Chairman of the Budget Committee will introduce the report of the October and November 2011 meetings of the Committee, contained in WT/BFA/128.

17. Review of WTO Activities

The General Council will conduct its annual review of WTO activities, in line with the Decision concerning procedures for an annual overview of WTO activities and for reporting under the WTO (WT/L/105).

— Reports of:

(i) General Council (WT/GC/W/647), Dispute Settlement Body (WT/DSB/54 and WT/DSB/54/Add.1), and Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/284)

(ii) Sectoral Councils (G/L/978, S/C/36, IP/C/59 and IP/C/59/Add.2)

(iii) Committees on Trade and Development (WT/COMTD/74), Trade and Environment (WT/CTE/18), Balance-of-Payments Restrictions (WT/BOP/R/104), Budget, Finance and Administration (WT/BFA/127) and Regional Trade Agreements (WT/REG/21)

(iv) Working Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance (WT/WGTDF/10) and Trade and Transfer of Technology (WT/WGTTT/13)

(v) Committees under the Plurilateral Trade Agreements (GPA/110, WT/L/827)

18. Appointment of Officers to WTO Bodies — Announcement by the Chairman pursuant to Paragraph 7.1(A) of the Guidelines

In line with the Guidelines for the Appointment of Officers to WTO bodies (WT/L/510), the Chairman will announce that he will be starting consultations on the appointment of officers to WTO bodies, assisted by the serving Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body and former Chairs of the General Council.