General Council: Proposed agenda
Federal Republic of Somalia and Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste — Requests for accession pursuant to Article XII
The General Council agreed to establish the working parties to examine the requests for accession of Somalia and Timor-Leste, with standard terms of reference and composition as the Chair read out in the meeting. Amb. Faduma Abdullahi Mohamud (Somalia) and Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva (Timor-Leste) addressed the Council. The DG and 26 delegations expressed support to the two requests.
Report by the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee
The Director-General referred to his report at the 1 and 5 December HODs meeting where a discussion on Members’ negotiating work had taken place and more than 40 delegations had intervened. His full statement at that meeting can found in JOB/GC/111. He encouraged delegations to advance and refine their proposals. Morocco (African Group), Uganda and Fiji (Pacific Group) 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. Among other things, he reported on discussions in the Committee on Agriculture concerning the implementation of the Export Competition decision; the LDCs continued to consult on their submission on the draft terms of reference for a Secretariat study on DFQF implementation; and, TFA acceptance instruments had reached 102. His statement can be found in JOB/GC/112. Benin (LDCs) and Uganda intervened.
Work Programme on Small Economies — Report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the Committee on Trade and Development
The CTD Chairperson reported on the Dedicated Session held on 4 November, where discussions had focused on IT and BPO services and logistics and maritime transport services. In relation to the Nairobi mandate, Members agreed to a revised proposal introduced by Guatemala (SVEs) in WT/COMTD/SE/W/33/Rev.1. Honduras (SVEs) intervened.
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce — Review of Progress
The Chairman reported on the work taking place on the work programme on e-commerce and drew attention to the reports submitted by the Chairs of the CTS (S/C/51) and the CTG (G/C/58). He said that Members should identify issues that could be discussed at the WTO and proceed incrementally in an inclusive and transparent way. 28 delegations intervened.
The Development Assistance Aspects of Cotton — Statement by the Director-General
DDG Shark, on behalf of the Director-General, commended delegations for their constructive engagement in the Consultative Framework and highlighted contributions on the South-South Cooperation platform. He urged Members to continue to strengthen its development assistance for the LDCs’ cotton sector. Benin (LDC) intervened.
WTO Accessions: 2016 Annual Report by the Director-General — Statement by the Director-General
DDG Shark, on behalf of the Director-General, introduced the Annual Report on Accession and noted that there were 19 ongoing accessions and 2 newly established working parties. Accessions of two LDCs — Comoros and Sudan — had registered good progress in 2016. He also highlighted the post-accession support provided by the WTO. 5 delegations intervened.
Date of the Eleventh Session of the Ministerial Conference
The General Council formally agreed that the Eleventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference will take place from 11 to 14 December 2017.
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
The TRIPS Council Chair reported 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 and called upon Members who have not yet accepted the Protocol to do expeditiously do so. Canada and Morocco (African Group) intervened.
Procedure for the Introduction of HS 2017 changes to Schedules of Concessions using the tariff schedules (CTS) database — draft decision
The General Council adopted the draft decision contained in G/C/W/732.
Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement
The Council adopted 8 waivers: Introduction of Harmonized System 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions; US — Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; US — Trade Preferences granted to Nepal; EU — Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the Western Balkans; and Cuba — Article XV:6 of GATT 1994. Montenegro, Nepal and Fiji (Pacific Group) intervened. The Council also conducted the review of four waivers pursuant to Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement.
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration — Reports on meetings of November 2016
The Council adopted the Report of the Budget Committee in WT/BFA/158 and WT/BFA/160 and approved the specific recommendations in paragraphs 2.5 and 3.15 of WT/BFA/158.
International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO — Report of the Joint Advisory Group on its 50th session
Following a statement by the CTD Chair on that body’s consideration of the report at its 24 November meeting, the General Council adopted the JAG’s report. Benin (LDC) intervened.
WTO Pension Plan
The General Council approved the amendment to the Administrative Rules of the WTO Pension Plan and of Rules of Procedure of the Management Board in WT/GC/W/725. The Chairman made a statement regarding the Chairmanship of the Management Board.
Review of WTO Activities
The General Council conducted its annual review of WTO activities in line with WT/L/105. New Zealand intervened.
Appointment of Officers to WTO bodies
The Chairman reported on his consultations on the Guideline for the Appointment of Officers and announced that he would be starting the selection process pursuant to paragraph 7.1(a) of the Guidelines. 2 delegations intervened.
Under “Other Business”, the US made a statement on the African Union Levy where 3 delegations intervened; the Director-General provided an update on the WTO Young Professionals Programme; Ambassador Madenoğlu (Turkey) was appointed to Chair the Working Party on the Accession of Belarus; and the Chairman made an announcement regarding the Members and Observers in arrears.
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