WTO members discussed initiatives aimed at advancing integration of developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) into the global trading system, including in electronic commerce, at a meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development on 5 April.
Members also reviewed two regional trade agreements among developing countries and were updated on the status of factual presentations on preferential trade arrangements at separate meetings of the Committee.
Members discussed the Committee's contribution to implementing the Ministerial Declaration adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) on the WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics.
Some ideas were shared on work for the Committee under this declaration. The chair, Ambassador Usha Dwarka-Canabady of Mauritius, encouraged members to submit written proposals to take these ideas forward.
Members also discussed a proposal by the WTO's African Group on providing developing countries and LDCs with flexibility to pursue policies that promote industrial and digital development and address emerging challenges, such as climate change. Examples include policies that protect infant industries and those that diversify production.
They expressed their commitment to helping developing countries and LDCs integrate more fully into the global trading system. Some warned against duplicating work undertaken in other WTO forums.
The Committee was updated on the Secretariat's latest compilation of special and differential treatment provisions contained in WTO agreements and decisions.
The total number of provisions in WTO agreements is currently 157. The document can be found here.
WTO members discussed a revised version of a paper by India and South Africa entitled “Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development”.
The revised paper follows from the decision adopted at MC12 in June 2022 to reinvigorate the development aspect of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.
The MC12 decision also extends the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the 13th Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
