Resumen de la reunión del Consejo General 26 de julio de 2017

Report by the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee

The Chairman referred to the Director-General's report at the 25 July Informal TNC meeting.  At the TNC meeting, the Chairs of negotiating bodies provided reports on work in their respective areas, and over 50 delegations intervened.

Report by the Director-General on the Informal Heads of Delegation Meeting

The Chairman referred to the Director-General's report on his recent activities at the 25 July HODs meeting, where 18 delegations intervened. In the discussion that followed, 16 delegations took the floor. The Chairman then spoke.

Aid for Trade - Report by the Director-General on the Sixth Global Review

In his report on the Sixth Global Review on Aid for Trade, the Director-General noted that the Review was a success. The issues covered in the review, discussed through the lens of capacity-building, included trade facilitation, connectivity infrastructure, e-commerce, gender, investment, LDCs, MSMEs, trade finance, and the SDGs. 7 delegations intervened.

Implementation of the Bali and Nairobi Outcomes – Statement by the Chairman

The Chairman reported on the work taking place in WTO regular bodies to fulfil the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial mandates. His full statement can be found in JOB/GC/134.

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

The CTD Chair reported that the sectoral discussions and reviews of Global Value Chains had been completed and that the SVEs had circulated an outcome document in WT/COMTD/SE/W/35 which was discussed at the CTD Dedicated Session. The Secretariat also presented at that meeting its paper in WT/COMTD/SE/W/34. Guatemala intervened.

Amendment of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism – Draft Decision

The General Council adopted the draft decision on the Amendment of the Trade Policy Mechanism contained in WT/TPR/399. Hong Kong, China, as the former TPBR Chair, spoke.

Work Programme on Electronic Commerce 

The Chairs of the CTS, CTG, TRIPS Council and CTD reported on developments under the work programme on e-commerce since the last periodic review in December. The communications in JOB/GC/130 to 132 were also presented. 39 delegations intervened.

Trade Restrictive Measures by Certain Members – Statement by Qatar

Qatar made a statement on this matter. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (on behalf of its delegation, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt) intervened.

Eleventh Session of the Ministerial Conference

1. Election of officers – The General Council elected H.E. Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria; H.E. Mr. Todd McClay, Minister of Trade of New Zealand; and Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, China to be the Vice Chairs for MC11.
2. Attendance of observers from international intergovernmental organizations – The Chairman said that while he was ready to continue consulting on that matter, including the recently received request from the League of Arab States, he was fully aware of the difficulties in resolving the issue.
3. Request for Observer Status by Palestine – The General Council agreed to grant Palestine Observer Status at MC11 on an ad hoc basis.

Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement

The General Council conducted the review of four multi-year waivers. Barbados (CARICOM), Cambodia (LDCs) and Haiti intervened.

Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration – Report on meetings of February, May and June 2017

The General Council adopted the Reports of the Budget Committee in WT/BFA/161, 163 and 164/Rev.1 and approved the specific recommendations in paragraphs 7.6 and 8.2 of WT/BFA/161 and paragraph 4.14 of WT/BFA/164/Rev.1.

WTO Pension Plan

The General Council approved the specific recommendation in paragraph 5 of WT/L/1010; took note of the reports in WT/L/1008 and 1009 and elected the Chairman, Members and Alternates of the WTO Pension Plan Management Board (WT/L/1015).

Under Other Business, the Chairman made a statement on Members and Observers in Arrears.