GATT/AIR/3300 6 MARCH 1992

SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES - TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM:

OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE TRADING

SYSTEM

1. AT ITS SPECIAL MEETING ON 11 DECEMBER 1989, THE COUNCIL CONDUCTED THE FIRST ANNUAL OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE TRADING SYSTEM AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CONTRACTING PARTIES' DECISION OF 12 APRIL 1989 ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE GATT SYSTEM (BISD 36S/403). THE SECOND (1990) ANNUAL OVERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED AT THE COUNCIL'S SPECIAL MEETING ON 23 APRIL 1991.

2. AT THEIR FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION IN DECEMBER 1991, THE CONTRACTING PARTIES AGREED THAT THE 1991 OVERVIEW SHOULD BE CONDUCTED AT A LATER DATE TO BE DECIDED ON BY THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN IN CONSULTATION WITH DELEGATIONS AND THE SECRETARIAT. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE 1992 REVIEW, WHICH SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR, WOULD REMAIN UNAFFECTED BY THE CHANGE IN THE 1991 SCHEDULE (SR.47/2).

3. FOLLOWING SUCH CONSULTATIONS, A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD ON TUESDAY, 17 MARCH AT 3 P.M., AT WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL UNDERTAKE THE THIRD ANNUAL OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE TRADING SYSTEM AS SET OUT IN SECTION I.F OF THE DECISION MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 1.

4. THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL MENTIONED IN THE SAME DECISION WILL BE CIRCULATED BEFORE THE MEETING AS DOCUMENT C/RM/OV/3.

5. FOLLOWING THIS SPECIAL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD A REGULAR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH. A SEPARATE AIRGRAM (GATT/AIR/3301) WILL BE ISSUED WITH THE ITEMS PROPOSED FOR THE AGENDA OF THAT MEETING.

6. 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, 16 MARCH.

A. DUNKEL

92-0290