GATT/AIR/3168 9 APRIL 1991

SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES - TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM:

OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT

1. AT ITS SPECIAL MEETING ON 11 DECEMBER 1989, THE COUNCIL CONDUCTED THE FIRST ANNUAL OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CONTRACTING PARTIES' DECISION OF 12 APRIL 1989 ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE GATT SYSTEM (BISD 36S/403). THE SECOND ANNUAL OVERVIEW WAS DUE IN 1990.

2. AT ITS REGULAR MEETING ON 7 NOVEMBER 1990, THE COUNCIL AGREED THAT THE 1990 OVERVIEW SHOULD BE CONDUCTED AT A LATER DATE TO BE DECIDED ON BY ITS CHAIRMAN IN CONSULTATION WITH DELEGATIONS AND THE SECRETARIAT. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE 1991 REVIEW, WHICH SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR, WOULD REMAIN UNAFFECTED BY THE CHANGE IN THE 1990 SCHEDULE (C/M/246, ITEM NO. 21).

3. FOLLOWING SUCH CONSULTATIONS, A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD ON TUESDAY, 23 APRIL AT 3 P.M.

4. AT THIS MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL UNDERTAKE THE SECOND ANNUAL OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING ENVIRONMENT WHICH ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM, AS SET OUT IN SECTION I.F OF THE ABOVE DECISION.

5. THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL MENTIONED IN THE SAME SECTION WILL BE CIRCULATED BEFORE THE MEETING AS DOCUMENT C/RM/OV/2.

6. FOLLOWING THIS SPECIAL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD A REGULAR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL. A SEPARATE AIRGRAM (GATT/AIR/3171) WILL BE ISSUED WITH THE ITEMS PROPOSED FOR THE AGENDA OF THAT MEETING.

7. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES, OTHER GOVERNMENTS WITH OBSERVER STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH OBSERVER STATUS ARE INVITED TO INFORM ME OF THE NAMES OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES BY MONDAY, 22 APRIL.

 

A. DUNKEL