I. Opening Remarks by the Director General of the WTO, Mr Pascal Lamy

1.  Mr Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO, opened the 15 th Geneva Week which he referred to as a unique opportunity for non-resident members to interact with other WTO members. The 15 th edition was timely since it was held at a time when the negotiations were intensifying and coincided with the first Aid for Trade Global Review and the Seminar on South-South Co-operation on Cotton Sector Development.

2.  On the Doha Work Programme negotiations, important progress has been made since the draft modalities for NAMA and agriculture were circulated last July. Revised texts would shortly be issued and would enable modalities in these two key areas to be adopted. Members’ political commitment had assisted in securing concrete results, not only in agriculture and NAMA but also in other areas of the negotiations.

3. Current negotiations took into account the particular situation of the small and vulnerable economies by granting them appropriate flexibilities. On the issue of preference erosion, a trade solution should be found within the draft modalities texts on NAMA and agriculture. Other issues addressed included duty-free-quota-free market access for least-developed countries (LDCs) (Annex F), special and differential treatment, as well as the processes under way for Aid for Trade and the Enhanced Integrated Framework. Finally, on the subject of accession negotiations, the accession process of Cape Verde to the WTO would soon be finalised, at the meeting of the General Council in December 2007.

II. Introductory Remarks by the Chairman of the General Council – HE Mr Muhamad Noor (Pakistan)

4. Ambassador Muhamad Noor, Chairman of the General Council, highlighted the importance of the Geneva Week as a tool that promotes transparency and that enables non-resident members to take an effective part in the work of the WTO.  

5. The General Council was in charge of monitoring and assessing periodically the activities of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC). In this regard, the next meeting of the General Council, due to take place on 18 and 19 December 2007, will be the opportunity to take stock of the negotiations.

III. Briefing on the Committee on Trade and Development (Regular and Dedicated Sessions on Small Economies) — HE Mr S.B. Naresh Servansing (Mauritius), Chairman of the Committee

6. Several regional trade agreements (RTAs) have been notified by members under the Enabling Clause to the RTA Transparency Mechanism since the 14 th Geneva Week. The speaker noted that the Mechanism would be further discussed in the briefing on the Committee on RTAs. A decision on transparency for preferential trade agreements (PTAs), as mandated by the General Council on 14 December 2006, had not yet been reached. Members will address the issue at the CTD’s upcoming meeting on 4-5 December 2007, but it will probably not be finalised at this stage. Brazil and India have tabled their proposals in a non-paper, [note 1] a revised copy of which would soon be available. A new decision is not expected to change the existing procedures for PTAs notification.

7. The CTD circulated the third revision of the document [note 2] describing the development aspects of the DWP in pursuance of paragraph 51 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.

8. Concerning the participation of LDCs in the multilateral trading system (MTS), the Secretariat released a paper [note 3] highlighting recent trends and features in trade by developing countries. LDC exports grew faster than both world exports and developing country exports, at an average annual growth rate of 32 per cent during the period 2003 to 2006, thus increasing their share of world trade from 0.6 per cent to 0.9 per cent. Fuels and mining products were the most important export commodities, followed by clothing and agriculture.

9. Regarding the work programme on small economies, a new compilation paper [note 4] incorporates reports by the various Chairs of the negotiating groups and the relevant excerpts from the minutes of the meetings where the small economy proposals had been discussed.

10. A General Council [note 5] decision extended the transition period for the elimination of export subsidies of certain developing countries [note 6] for six more years, i.e. until 31 December 2013, added to the final two-year phase-out remaining period, thereby making the final deadline the end of 2015. These extensions are subject to transparency requirements, as well as a mid-period assessment. Countries in Annex 7b of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (i.e. countries with GDP less than USD 1000 per year) that graduate from this category before the end of the transition period will still be eligible to use these procedures until the end of the period.

11. The General Council had recognised regional bodies’ authority to submit notifications and to receive technical assistance funding on behalf of their members. The sub-committee on LDCs had prepared a background paper [note 7] reviewing duty free, quota free market access (DFQF) conditions, focusing specifically on rules of origin and SPS requirements as potential barriers to trade for LDCs.

IV. Briefing on the Enhanced Integrated Framework — HE Mr Anthony Mothae Maruping (Lesotho), Chairman of the Integrated Framework interim Board

12. Ambassador Maruping described the enhanced IF on the basis of the guidelines [note 8] endorsed on 1 May 2007 by the IF governing bodies and of the consultations that he has led since then.

13. Following the recommendations of the IF Task Force, [note 9] Tier 1 includes coverage for sustainable human resource capacity building, preparation and updating of a diagnostic trade integration study (DTIS), provision of support to the national implementation unit and key institutions, and assistance to facilitate integration into the national development plan. Tier 2 covers activities (project preparation, feasibility studies, funding of smaller projects and seed projects) identified in the Action Matrix, taking into account the availability of funding and, importantly, the quality of the project.

14. To reinforce the in-country IF structure, members of the Task Force have designed the following mechanisms: i) a high level inter-ministerial committee to encourage senior-level engagement, coordination and, most importantly, political commitment; ii) a National Steering Committee to provide broad policy support; iii) an IF Focal Point to be assisted by a National Implementation Unit to address the practical aspects and; iv) a local Donor Facilitator to ensure coherence while IF agencies contribute to mainstreaming trade into national development plans. Several Geneva-based bodies will ensure smooth governance of the IF process: the Steering Committee for overall direction, a Board to provide oversight and policy direction and an Executive Secretariat to integrate management functions at the global level. This Secretariat will be headed by an Executive Director who will be accountable to the Board. Finally, the IF Trust Fund Manager should accelerate disbursement procedures and thereby improve assistance delivery.

15. The Remaining issues have been forwarded to the interim decisional body of the IF, i.e. the enhanced IF Interim Board and include inter alia, the accountability framework for and the selection of the enhanced IF Trust Fund Manager, monitoring and evaluation of enhanced IF activities, funding and replenishment as well as outreach. Regarding funding, a donor conference took place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 25 September 2007 which ensured full financing for the first two years of the EIF, amounting to USD 108 million. The accountability framework is scheduled to be finalised by the end of November, and the selection of the Trust Fund Manager is to start immediately after. The Executive Director is expected to be selected in January 2008, followed by the rest of the staff of the Executive Secretariat. The enhanced IF will hopefully be operational by the first quarter of 2008.

16. Tier 1 will be funded through the multilateral trust fund created as part of the IF enhancement. Beyond the resources available in the trust fund, complementary resources will be raised bilaterally to finance Tier 2.

17. The enhancement of the IF puts LDCs in the driving seat in the implementation of the IF in their respective countries. Countries were enthusiastic following the success of Vanuatu, where the IF is currently under implementation. The enhanced IF is restricted to LDCs and is intended to introduce the basic structure for receiving aid in preparation for AFT.

V. Briefing on the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) — Mr Julian Metcalfe, Chairman

18. Mr Metcalfe began his presentation by reviewing statistics on RTAs and some characteristics of the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs, which he distributed in a handout. [note 10] The Mechanism has been implemented on a provisional basis since January 2007. The WTO Secretariat prepares factual presentations on all RTAs notified to the WTO. A system of “early announcements” requests members to inform the Secretariat at the earliest of any RTA they have signed, even if it is not yet in force, or of any RTA being negotiated. Members are also requested to provide the WTO with updates on any changes to existing RTAs as soon as possible after they occur.

19. An initial review of the Mechanism was intended to take place a year after its adoption; however there is a consensus among interested members that it would be premature to go forward with this review at this time. The members will conduct a review once they feel they have sufficient experience with the Mechanism to do so.

20. The agreements notified under the Enabling Clause followed in essence the same procedures as those notified under Article XXIV of the GATT, except that they were subject to longer periods with regards to the submission of information.

VI. Briefing on the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) — Mr Melvin Spreij, Economic Affairs Officer, Agriculture and Commodities Division

21. Mr Spreij first recalled the strategic aims of the STDF, which were: (i) to enhance developing countries’ expertise and capacity to analyse and implement sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, and (ii) to facilitate coordination of SPS technical cooperation.

22. The recent and ongoing efforts to strengthen STDF coordination were: i) improving reporting on SPS-related technical assistance (through the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS)): ii) thematic workshops; iii) preparing a compendium on technical assistance providers; iv) regional AFT reviews (September-October 2007); and v) taking advantage of synergies with donor programmes and the enhanced IF. The STDF played a crucial role at the project development stage. Project funding was composed of project preparation grants and project funding grants. The latter amounted to a maximum of USD 600,000. The recipient country contribution must be 10 per cent for LDCs and other low-income economies, and at least 30 per cent for other developing countries, which in both cases may be complemented with in-kind contributions such as provision of facilities, staff working hours, etc.

23. The proliferation of private standards is of concern to developing countries exporters because they are likely to become de facto requirements in excess of public sector ones and push developing countries out of markets. While the debate has not yet been clarified at the SPS Committee, developing countries have a pressing need to address this question through initiatives such as the STDF.

24. Participants were invited to use the SPS Information Management System (IMS), [note 11] an important information source for searching and reporting on the WTO’s SPS-related information. The STDF was an important part of the AFT initiative, as illustrated by increased commitments in this area.

VII. Briefing on the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture — Ms Anabel Gonzalez, Director, Agriculture and Commodities Division

25. Ms Gonzalez explained the major developments in the Agricultural negotiations since the 14 th Geneva Week on the basis of the Revised Draft Modalities for Agriculture. [note 12] The paper proposed a number of new flexibilities for developing countries in domestic support and market access. In addition to progress on the structure of the text in some areas, the revised modalities included a narrowing of the ranges for domestic support. Some especially sensitive areas remained, which were not yet fully developed in the Chairman’s text, notably on special and differential treatment (S&D) provisions (e.g. tariff escalation and special products).

26. More specific S&D provisions contained in the Modalities referred to very recently acceded members (RAMs) which would not be obliged to make any new commitments under market access, while other RAMs would be allowed extended implementation periods and the ability to moderate the cuts under the tiered formula. In addition, developing countries would be ready to accept more flexibilities on sensitive products (available to both industrial and developing countries) provided that in return they benefited from additional flexibility on the number of special products (exclusively for developing countries). Under current proposals, developing countries would have the right to designate up to one third more tariff lines as sensitive products than developed countries and they would also be allowed to deviate between a third and two thirds from the reduction required by the tiered formula.

27. LDCs will not be required to make reductions in bound duties. It has already been agreed that LDCs will benefit from the decision on DFQF, [note 13] but unresolved questions, such as the simplification of rules of origin, are crucial to ensure that they will truly benefit from the DFQF decision.

28. The pillar on export competition has been revised with four new working documents issued by Chairman Falconer in November 2007. [note 14] These documents contain detailed discussions and clarifications on the structure of several articles of an amended Agreement on Agriculture. On export financing, the current discussion mostly bears on the definition of S&D provisions. As to agricultural exporting state-trading enterprises (STEs), the structure of the text is well-advanced but members have not yet reached a decision on prohibiting state monopolies. LDCs and SVEs will be permitted to have STEs with export monopoly powers. Regarding food aid, members have made efforts to move towards a more cash-based approach, with the objective of preventing commercial displacement. The text also contains additional specifications for food aid during emergency situations (in the Safe Box), requiring a needs assessment by a relevant UN agency, and also for non-emergency situations (outside the Safe Box). The text also calls for more rapid implementation of elimination by developed countries of export subsidies for cotton by the start of the implementation period (developing countries shall complete the elimination of such subsidies by the end of the first year of implementation).

29. Revised draft modalities will be issued in January 2008 in line with those for NAMA.

VIII. Briefing on the Negotiating Group on Market Access (NAMA) — HE Mr Don Stephenson (Canada), Chairman of the Negotiating Group

30. Ambassador Stephenson began by stressing the link between and the need to balance the ambition of the negotiations between agriculture and NAMA. He expected to issue a revision of his July text [note 15] in January 2008. It will be reviewed in the Negotiating Group on NAMA before a horizontal negotiation across NAMA, agriculture and other selected issues takes place in the Trade Negotiations Committee.

31. Ministers have agreed on using a specific version of the Swiss formula, including special and differential treatment (S&D) through less than full reciprocity and longer implementation periods. There has no been no consensus nor real negotiation on the coefficients so far; rather the focus has been on formula flexibilities, on which there is no consensus either. In general, developing country members want to increase the share of the total value of industrial goods imports to which paragraph eight flexibilities would apply, due to the rise in commodity prices since the start of negotiations and the concomitant lower subsidies. The speaker assessed that the flexibilities would probably not be decided in NAMA, but during the horizontal negotiations. There is agreement for a non-linear mark-up for unbound tariffs to establish the base rate for tariff reductions, and the Chairman’s July text suggests a constant mark-up of 20 percentage points. Although there is wide support for this proposal, consensus is still a long way off.

32. It has been broadly agreed that countries with less than 0.1 per cent of world NAMA trade are eligible for treatment as small, vulnerable economies (SVEs) and need not apply the formula, but should reduce tariffs to a target average. New proposals from SVEs include higher average tariffs, capped tariff reductions and longer implementation periods. [note 16] There should also be special flexibilities for countries with less than 35 per cent binding coverage (paragraph 6 countries [note 17] in the July 2004 framework) not to undertake tariff reduction commitments under the Swiss formula approach. A new proposal from Kenya seeks to have the binding proposed in the Chairman’s text lowered from 90 per cent to the 70-80 per cent range, but it has not achieved consensus in the group. The Chairman’s July text calls for consideration of RAMs’ specific needs, which is widely accepted, but there is still no consensus on exact numbers. RAMs have proposed an increase in the paragraph 8 flexibilities and a longer implementation period. [note 18]

33. LDCs will not be required to make tariff reductions, but will be expected (although not legally bound) to increase their level of bindings. There is wide support for the Chairman’s suggestion to fully implement the Hong Kong Declaration and provide technical assistance and capacity building support. On DFQF, LDCs seek time-bound commitments from industrial countries to increase the scope of implementation of the decision from 97 to 100 per cent of tariff lines. They also requested more transparent and simpler rules of origin and stronger commitments on AFT.

34. To mitigate the effects of preference erosion, the Chairman suggested that a limited number of relevant tariff lines in preference-granting markets (i.e. the EC and US) be liberalised more slowly. [note 19] Divergences have arisen among members on this subject because this provision has been interpreted as “reverse S&D” in favour of developed countries. Alternative proposals include increasing the number of tariff lines, a longer implementation period and a special provision for the “most disproportionately” affected countries.

35. Negotiations on non-tariff barriers (NTBs) have moved forward with text-based negotiations, but more proposals are still needed. The proposals that will be the subject of final negotiations are to be decided in the NAMA modalities text to be issued in January 2008, but those most likely to be incorporated include horizontal mechanisms and textile labelling. Participation in sectoral agreements will be voluntary and decisions to join in will be taken once the formula for the sectorals has been established. The sectors garnering the widest support include chemicals and selected ones proposed by developing countries (toys, jewellery, bicycles, etc); the more problematic sectors include fish and fish products and forestry.

IX. Lunch hosted by the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (AITIC)

36. In the context of the 15th Geneva Week, instead of its usual session, AITIC hosted a luncheon meeting on 22 November 2007 due to the fact that non-residents had other important meetings to attend, in particular the Ninth Round of Consultations on the Development Assistance Aspects of Cotton taking place that day. Since its creation, AITIC has contributed to assist non-residents, through personalised assistance and the AITIC Non-Residents’ Unit and by raising the awareness of the international community to the particular plight of those WTO members or observers without a permanent representation in Geneva.

37. The subject of AITIC’s luncheon session was the potential benefits for LDCs through their involvement in the WTO. Keynote speakers were HE Mr Jean Feyder, Ambassador of Luxemburg and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on LDCs, who briefed participants on the main issues dealt with in this WTO body, namely QFDF market access, trade-related technical assistance and capacity building (which included the activities of the STDF) and the implementation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework.   The other keynote speaker was HE Mr Bruce Gosper, Ambassador of Australia and Chairman of the Accession Working Party of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, who informed participants on the progress made by Lao PDR in its accession process.

38. On this occasion, AITIC launched the Portuguese version of its Glossary of Commonly Used International Trade Terminology with Particular Reference to the WTO. It was presented by Mr. Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Brazil to WTO, thanks to which the translation of the Glossary had been possible. Mr Lopes Parola referred to the usefulness of the AITIC Glossary as a practical reference and guide which assisted the less-advantaged countries (and the newcomers to Geneva to work on WTO issues) to understand the particularly obscure terminology and acronyms of the WTO. This is the latest version of the Glossary, which is already available in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Macedonian.

X. Special and Differential Treatment — Mr S.I.M. Nayyar, Counsellor, Development Division, Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD-SS)

39. Mr Nayyar informed that Ambassador Gafoor from Singapore has been replaced by Ambassador Sophastienphong from Thailand as Chairman of the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD-SS).

40. The status of the 88 proposals on making special and differential (S&D) provisions in WTO agreements more precise, effective and operational was explained. [note 20] Members have given priority to seven of the 16 remaining Category I proposals, and good progress has been made since the suspension of the talks in July 2006 as a result of formal meetings held in 2007 (three since the last Geneva Week) and a number of informal consultations. In 2007, members revised the texts on four proposals relating to SPS and GATT Article XVIII and reached a fair degree of convergence on the three proposals relating to Import Licensing. On the other nine, fresh ideas from members will be needed in order to reach text-based negotiations.

41. Discussions on the scope and structure of a monitoring mechanism for the effectiveness of S&D provisions have been elaborated on the content of a non-paper presented by the Chairman of the Special Session. [note 21] This proposal is that the monitoring, through a technical review, should take place in the dedicated sessions of the CTD. The General Council would take decisions at a political level on the basis of the reports of these sessions. In line with paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the S&D provisions that are part of the existing agreements, shall be reviewed by this mechanism. Future flexibilities resulting from the negotiations under the Doha Work Programme (DWP) will also be monitored. The African Group’s proposal, [note 22] according to which an ad hoc sub-committee could be created to monitor S&D provisions, was not agreed to by members that were concerned about the creation of a new bureaucratic structure in the WTO. The first option, i.e. holding the technical reviews at the dedicated sessions of the CTD is more likely to be agreed to by members. Consultations in the next few weeks will be crucial in ensuring that the outcome of these discussions can be finalised for the tabling of a text in January 2008, simultaneously with the new Agriculture and NAMA modalities.

42. Members continued discussions in the CTD-SS on the implementation of the decision on DFQF for 97 per cent of LDC exports, which is generally addressed at the regular session of the CTD. The LDC Group last year submitted two proposals, one on rules of origin and the other on market access. [note 23] Several developed countries including the EC, New Zealand, Australia and Norway have taken steps to implement this decision. Among others, Japan notified its revised GSP for LDCs. A number of developing countries such as Brazil, China and India have indicated that they are considering ways to implement the decision.

43. This mechanism responded to clearly different needs compared to the AFT monitoring. Nevertheless, it might be of interest to consider monitoring arrangements made on AFT and trade facilitation to stimulate further debate. The next meeting of the CTD-SS will be held on 7 December 2007.

XI. Briefing on the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services — HE Mr Fernando de Mateo y Venturini, Chairman of the Council

44. Current negotiations in services focus on commitments (Article XIX of the GATS), MFN exemptions (Annex on Article II), and the regulatory framework (Articles VI.4, X, XIII, and XV). The negotiations follow the existing structure and principles of the GATS using a request and offer method of negotiation. Since 2002, members have signed approximately thirty preferential trade agreements in services and recently-acceded members (RAMs) have undertaken ambitious commitments to liberalisation in most sectors. Members have stressed the need to continue discussing the rule-making areas relating to disciplines on domestic regulation and to emergency safeguards, government procurement and subsidies.

45. Under market access, as of September 2007, members had tabled 71 initial offers and thirty revised offers, for the most part in the tourism sector. Approximately forty MFN exemptions had been proposed for withdrawal, resulting mainly from EC accessions and the reorganisation of the preferential relations of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

46. The slow progress in the negotiations was noted in spite of positive discussions in the plurilaterals. This might be due to a variety of factors, including the strong focus given to Agricultural and NAMA negotiations, the difficulties of negotiating in capital with the various services-related institutions, the complexity of the GATS structure and the increasing weight of regional agreements. Services should be considered as equally important, if not more important, than NAMA and agriculture, as they represent over 50 per cent of the world’s GDP.

47. Services should not be an obstacle to the conclusion of the Round. A number of services modes of delivery (e.g. mode 4) had a great potential in stimulating growth in developing countries. At the 15 November 2007 meeting, the Special Session of the Council began discussions on preparing a text to be issued simultaneously with the NAMA and Agriculture modalities in January 2008, including a timeline for tabling revised offers once full modalities for NAMA and Agriculture are completed.

XII. Briefing on the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation, Ms Nora Neufeld, Secretary of the Negotiating Group, and Ms Sheri Rosenow, Counsellor, Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation Division

48. Since the TF negotiations are part of the DWP, the Single Undertaking process applies to it. Its mandates were set up by the “July package” (Annex D of the General Council, 1 August 2004), which creates an advantage for the Trade Facilitation negotiations vis-à-vis the other areas, like agriculture, where the modalities are yet to be agreed on. The TF modalities refer to the clarification of articles V, VIII and X of the GATT 2004 and the improvement of customs cooperation. Clarifications aimed refers to the minimum requirement on trade goods (article V); the limiting and reducing the feeds and formalities of trade transactions, and reaching a certain level of predictability (article VIII), and; the improvement of transparency on publication of national regulations (article X). Nevertheless, a lack of transparency and cooperation are the main bottlenecks in the current negotiations.

49. “One-size does not fit all” for TF, as the capabilities of countries vary tremendously. Technical assistance and capacity building offered by the WTO and other international organisations can play a critical part. The proposals made so far relate to the lowering of transaction costs, the fight against budgetary expenses and harmonisation. Most proposals have been sponsored by a mix of developed and developing countries, including LDCs.

50. National needs assessments are conducted in parallel to the negotiations. A specific guide on needs assessment developed by the WTO Secretariat was available in a booklet and on the Internet. Two web pages on Trade Facilitation: one with official documents and another with support documentation, were also available. Technical assistance on the National Needs Assessment is provided upon request and is therefore not automatically available to every member and observer of the WTO.

51. To receive this assistance, the first step is an official request sent to the Trade Facilitation Division clearly specifying the demand for “WTO Trade Facilitation National Needs Assessment”. The country needs to notify its contact persons or coordinators. The coordinators (one in capital and the other Geneva/Brussels- based) are key persons, with whom the WTO Secretariat will be able to maintain direct contact. Although the same Notification form requires a list to stakeholders that will participate in the needs assessment, the country can send the Notification with the coordinators only and the WTO can help the country identify the stakeholders in a latter stage. The absolute importance of those two steps were highlighted whilst the application to the TF National Needs Assessment were encouraged.

52. The technical assistance is based on a self assessment of TF needs, reason why it requires participation of all national stakeholders, such as representatives from the private sector, customs officials and government agents. The international organisations will act as facilitators by sending experts in order to provide all the necessary information to the stakeholders. So far, 57 requests have been received. Countries were encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The more requests, the easier it will be to ask donors for more funds.

XIII. Briefing on the Negotiating Group on Rules, including Fisheries Subsidies, Mr Jesse Kreier, Counsellor, Rules Division

53. The Doha Mandate on Rules is mainly to clarify and improve existing disciplines; to preserve basic concepts, principles and effectiveness and; to take into account needs of developing and least-developed countries. At the moment, there are 52 proposals in the 3 areas of negotiations: anti-dumping; subsidies and countervailing measures (including fishery subsidies) and RTAs. There was no changes on the RTAs since the last Geneva Week.

54. Regarding general subsidies there are two important issues: horizontal subsidies and the many proposals on export credits, related to export competitiveness.

55. Members have focussed on fishery subsidies in these negotiations, due to the economic and social importance of this sector. Many questions were still open, particularly on transfer rights, the definition of small scale fisheries and the related disciplines. Other issues include subsidies to ship-building, illegal unreported fishing, trade and environment, poverty reduction and population nourishment and countries’ food security.

56. In the fishery sector, access fees are of particular importance to small, vulnerable economies, since these represent a significant share of their revenues, and small scale fishing employs a large proportion of the population. It is believed that there is room for growth in the fishery sector. Brazil and Argentina have presented a proposal for sustainability and management for developing countries, which will not apply to developed countries.

57. A consolidated text on antidumping and fishery subsidies will soon be issued [note 24] and discussions are scheduled to start mid December 2007.

XIV. Consultations on the WTO’s Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan 200 8-2009 — Mr Maarten Smeets, Counsellor, Institute for Technical Cooperation and Training, WTO Secretariat

58. Mr Smeets commented on the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2008-2009. The plan highlights an increasing emphasis on e-learning activities. A new trade capacity building web page containing detailed information on how countries can obtain technical assistance on a national or regional level would soon be added on the WTO website. The Biennial Plan also presents several capacity building programmes, including the Netherlands Trainee Programme, the WTO Regional Coordinator Internship and the WTO Mission Internship. [note 25]

59. LDCs have priority for assistance, benefiting from almost half of the WTO’s capacity building activities. They are encouraged to work with regional partners to strengthen the provision of technical assistance, as well as to use the IF Action Matrix to help identify their needs.

60. Interested countries should be specific about their priorities when formulating a request. There had been efforts to include members’ technical assistance needs in their TPRs. Twenty four countries have already performed their needs assessment.

61. Regarding the usefulness of e-training courses, completing an e-training course was generally a prerequisite to be selected for a trade policy course. Several participants expressed concerns about the lag in communications to non-residents, something that the availability of all information online should help reduce in the future. The need for technical assistance related to TRIPS, SPS and the training for parliamentarians was particularly noted.

XV. Closing Session and Evaluation of the 15th Geneva Week — Mr Shishir Priyadarshi, Director, Development Division

62. Mr Shishir Priyadarshi officially closed the 15 th Geneva Week. The main goal of this event was to update non-resident members and observers of the WTO on the latest developments arising in the negotiations under the DWP. The Geneva Week had enabled participants to attend both the first Aid for Trade Global Review and the Seminar on South-South Cooperation in the cotton sector. As a result, less time was allotted for other issues usually presented as part of the Geneva Week, such as accessions and SPS/TBT. In the future all documentation would be compiled in a CD-ROM for distribution to the participants.

63. Participants seemed pleased with the structure and timing of the event, which allowed them to participate in and contribute to the discussion held in the General Council meeting on Aid for Trade. Some delegates proposed that a video conference be organised for the next Geneva Week to ensure an optimal participation of Brussels delegates.

List of Acronyms

Note 1: See Committee on Trade and Development - Transparency for Preferential Trade Arrangements - Non-Paper by Brazil and India, WTO, JOB(07)/142, 26 November 2007. (return to text)

Note 2: See Developmental Aspects of the Doha Round of Negotiations, Note by the Secretariat, WTO, WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev.3, 22 May 2007. (return to text)

Note 3: See Participation of Developing Economies in the Global Trading System, WTO, WT/COMTD/W/162, 27 November 2007. (return to text)

Note 4: See Work Programme on Small Economies, Compilation paper prepared by the Secretariat, WTO, WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.1, 26 November 2007. (return to text)

Note 5: See Article 27.4 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, WTO, WT/L/691, 31 July 2007. (return to text)

Note 6: See eligibility criteria in Procedures for Extensions under Article 27.4 for certain Developing Country Members, WTO, G/SCM/39, 20 November 2001. (return to text)

Note 7: See Market Access for Products and Services of Export Interest to Least-Developed Countries, Note by the Secretariat, WTO, WT/COMTD/LDC/W/41, 16 October 2007. (return to text)

Note 8: See Draft Guidelines for the Implementation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (IF) for LDCs, Geneva, 1 May 2007. (return to text)

Note 9: See An Enhanced Integrated Framework – Report by the Chairman of the Task Force on an Enhanced Integrated Framework including Recommendations, WTO, WT/IFSC/W/15, 29 June 2007. (return to text)

Note 10: Developments in the Transparency Mechanism on RTAs, Notes for the Chairman of the CRTA, Geneva Week. (return to text)

Note 11: See http://spsims.wto.org/default.aspx. (return to text)

Note 12: See Revised Draft Modalities for Agriculture, WTO, TN/AG/W/4, 1 August 2007 and NAMA takes Centre Stage – The Draft Modalities, AITIC, 20 September 2007. These Modalities represent a considerable improvement on the previous chair draft text from 2006: See Members’ Participation in the Normal Growth of World Trade in Agricultural Products – Article 18.5 of the Agreement on Agriculture, WTO, G/AG/W/3, 2 October 2006. (return to text)

Note 13: See section of the report on the CTD-SS. (return to text)

Note 14: See documents available for download on: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_workdoc_nov07_e.htm. (return to text)

Note 15: See Negotiating Group on Market Access – Chairman’s Introduction to the Draft NAMA Modalities, WTO, JOB(07)/126, 17 July 2007. (return to text)

Note 16: See Submission by Small, Vulnerable Economies on Modalities to apply in NAMA, WTO, JOB(07)/154, 17 October 2007. (return to text)

Note 17: Developing Members concerned are: Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ghana, Kenya, Macao, China, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Zimbabwe. (return to text)

Note 18: See Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products, Proposal from Jordan and Panama for paragraph 13 of the draft NAMA Modalities text, WTO, JOB(07)/173, 7 November 2007. (return to text)

Note 19: See Annex 2 and 3 of the Revised Modalities for a list of such tariff lines. (return to text)

Note 20: The 88 proposals have been categorised into three groups i) Those where agreement seems possible, ii) those that touch upon areas currently under negotiation in other WTO bodies and iii) those on which divergences remain wide. (return to text)

Note 21: See Annex 3 of Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development, Report by the Chairman, Ambassador Burhan Gafoor (Singapore), to the General Council, WTO, TN/CTD/19, 7 May 2007. (return to text)

Note 22: See Monitoring Mechanism for Special and Differential (S&D) Treatment Provisions, Joint Communication from the African Group in the WTO, WTO, TN/CTD/W/23, 11 December 2002. (return to text)

Note 23: See Least-Developed Countries' Proposal on Rules Of Origin, Communication from Zambia on behalf of the LDC Group, WTO, TN/CTD/W/30, 12 June 2006 ; Duty-Free and Quota-Free Market Access, Implementation of the Decision on Measures in favour of Least-Developed Countries of Annex F of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration of December 2005; and Communication from Zambia on behalf of the LDC Group, WTO, TN/CTD/W/31, 30 June 2006. (return to text)

Note 24: TN/RL/W/213 issued on 30 November 2007 http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/rulesneg_e/rules_chair_text_nov07_e.doc. (return to text)

Note 25: See http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/train_e/trainee_programmes_e.htm. (return to text)