 RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/663  
 
11 March  2024 
(24-2181) Page: 1/14 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration  Original: English  
 
 
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
AS AT 31 DEC EMBER 202 3 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This memorandum summarizes the situation with respect to  Members ' and Observers' 
contribution s as at 31 December 20 23. It also provides information and recommendations regarding 
the situation of Members  and Observers  subject to Administrative Measures and Members following 
a payment plan.  
2  MEMBERS' STATUS OF CONTRIBUTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 202 3 
2.1.  The WTO received a total amount of CHF 172.9 million from Members in 202 3. This amount 
comprises the annual contributions for 202 3 and the payment of contributions in arrears from 
previous years , in some cases . As shown in Figure 1, this amount is the lowest level in some time 
and is considerably lowe r than the CHF 207.3 million received in 2022. This trend creates 
uncertainty, affecting the Secretariat's confidence that it will have the ability to utilize its full budget 
allocation.  
Figure 1 Total a nnual receipt  (in MCHF)  
 
Table 1 Members' contributions received in 202 3 
Receipt per contribution year  MCHF  
2023 contributions , representing 85% of assessed contributions  167.1  
2022 contributions  3.2 
Contributions for periods prior to 20 22 2.6 
Total  172.9  
 
198.3
191.1201.8
178.4203.6
197.0
178.5198.3207.3
172.9
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2.2.  As shown in Figure 2 and Table 2, t he outstanding  contributions due from Members amounted 
to CHF 39.3 million at the end of 2023.  
Figure 2 Members' outstanding contributions at year -end (in MCHF)  
 
Table 2 Members' outstanding contributions as at 31 December 2023  
Outstanding contributions per period  MCHF  
Outstanding contributions for 202 3 28.4 
Outstanding contributions for 20 22 2.0 
Outstanding contributions for periods prior to 20 22 8.9 
Total  39.3 
2.3.  The number of Members with outstanding balance s in 2023 was 55, the highest level since  
2016,  amounting to a total of CHF 39.3 million : 
• CHF 27.8 million by 38 Members ;  
• CHF 9.2 million by 12 Members subject to Administrative Measures ; and  
• CHF 2.3 million by 5 Members subject to a Payment Plan . 
 
19.323.7
16.533.8
25.724.241.2
38.4
16.839.3
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Figure 3 Evolution of Members with outstanding contributions at year -end 
 
3  MEMBERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 3 1 DECEMBER 202 3 
3.1.  Fourteen Members were subject to Administrative Measures , for a total amount  outstanding of 
CHF 10.8 million,  representing 27% of the total amount outstanding.  
3.2.  Among these 14 Members, 2 Members were not compliant with payment plan terms and thus 
were again subject to Administrative Measures in category III , as shown in Table 3. Figure 4 shows 
that the number of Members subject to Administrative Measures is rising.  
Table 3 Membe rs under Administrative Measures  as at 31 December 202 3 
Cat. I ( 3) Cat. II ( 5) Cat. III ( 6) 
Afghanistan  Cuba Antigua and Barbuda  
Congo  Dominica  Central African Republic*  
Ghana  El Salvador  Chad*  
  Guinea  Guinea -Bissau  
  Yemen  Papua New Guinea  
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  
* Members not compliant  with payment plan  terms . 
57 5667
4851
4454
48
4455
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Figure 4 Evolution of Members subject to Administrative Measures  
 
Figure 5 Distribu tion of Members by categor y 
 
3.3.  The Members subject to Administrative Measure s in category III are designated as Inactive  
Members  in line with the Administrative Measures . 
3.34.66.7 6.97.9 8.08.910.010.7 10.891213 13 13
12
111617
14
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total Outstanding for Members subject to Administrative Measures in…
Number of Members subject to Administrative Measures
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 202328
56
45
37 7
320
303 1
324
5545
76
6576
6
Number of Members in Category I Number of Members in Category II
Number of Members in Category IIIWT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Figure 6 Evolution of  Members  in category III (Inactive)  
 
4  MEMBERS SUBJECT TO PAYMENT PLANS  
4.1.  The General Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Members in 
Category III that agree to, and abide by, a defined schedule of instalment payments aimed at 
liquidating all arrears.  
4.2.   As at 31 December 20 23, 5 Members have ac cepted a  Payment Plan with total arrears 
amounting to CHF 2.3 million : 
a. 3 Members are compliant  with the agreed Payment Plan terms.  
b. 2 Members are not compliant with their Payment Plan terms and have thus reverted to 
Category III of the Administrative Measur es: Central African Republic and Chad . 
Table 4 Members following a Payment Plan  in 2023 (in kCHF)  
Member s Plan 
duration  
in years  End 
of 
plan Last 
payment  
received  Amount 
Outstanding  
Installments   Total Outstanding 
Contributions  
Burundi  20 2030 16-Jan-23 65,785  321,012  
Central African Republic*  30 2047 15-Oct-20 231,002  935,506  
Chad*  15 2026 13-Feb-20 451,253  683,910  
Niger  7 2026 05-May-23 1,979  149,693  
Sierra Leone  15 2025 09-Mar-22 93,866  222,951  
Total     843,885  2,313,072  
* Members not compliant  with payment plan  terms . 
 
4.3.  Due to the fact that Guinea -Bissau has not respected the terms of its Payment Plan for many 
years, the Payment Plan has been cancelled.  
2.82.63.36.46.9 6.97.18.89.0 9.0
5
457
6 6
57
6 6
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total Oustanding for Inactive Members
Number of Members in Category IIIWT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Figure 7 Evolution of Members  subject to  Payment Plan s 
 
5  OBSERVERS' STATUS OF CONTRIBUTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 202 3 
5.1.  The WTO received a total amount of  CHF 754,076  from Observers in 202 3. This amount 
comprises the annual contributions for 202 3 and the payment of contributions in arrears from 
previous years  in some cases . 
Table 5 Observers' contributions received in 202 3 
Receipt per contribution year  kCHF 
2023 contributions representing 56% of assessed contributions  413 
2022 contributions  119 
Contributions for periods prior to 20 22 222 
Total  754 
 
5.2.  The outstanding  Observers'  contributions amounted to CHF  877,354  at the end of 202 3. 
Table 6 Observers' outstanding contributions as at 31 December 202 3 
Outstanding per contribution year  kCHF 
Outstanding contributions for 202 3 232 
Outstanding contributions for 20 22 94 
Outstanding contributions for periods prior to 20 22 551 
Total  877 
 
• 10 Observers ha d no outstanding balance  as at 31 December 20 23. 
• 15 Observers had an outstanding balance amounting to CHF 877,354 . 
• Among these 15 Observers, 3 were subjected to Administrative Measures in category III 
and were designated as I nactive  Observers  in line with the Administrative Measures.  
3.83.5 3.44.0 4.0
3.53.13.4 3.4
2.38
7 78 8 8
6 6 6
5
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Outstanding in MCHF Number of Members on Payment PlanWT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 7 - 
 
  Figure 8 Observers' outstanding contributions a t year -end (in MCHF)  
 
6  OBSERVERS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 202 3 
6.1.  Six Observe rs were subject to Administrative  Measures for a total amount outstanding of 
CHF 726,776 , representing 83% of the total amount outstanding  among Observers . 
Table 7 Observe rs under Administrative Measures  as at 31 December 202 3 
Cat. I ( 1) Cat. II ( 2) Cat. III ( 3) 
Comoros  Lebanese Republic  Sao Tomé and Principe  
 South Sudan  Somalia  
  Syrian Arab Republic  
   
 
6.2.  With respect  to the Administrative  Measures, the request for annual contributions has been 
suspended for Observers designated as Inactive in category III  in line with the Administrative 
Measures.  
7  RECOMMENDATION  
7.1.  The Committee invites the General Council to urge Members and Observers under 
Administrative Measures to liquidate their arrears.  
_______________  
  
0.520.59 0.58 0.590.650.820.760.910.99
0.88
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 8 - 
 
  ANNEX 1  
STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023  
Members/Membres/Miembros (164)  
Swiss Francs/Francs suisses/  
Francos suizos  Cat. 1982 -
2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Afghanistan/Afganistán  I -  37,140  37,145  74,285  -  
Albania/Albanie    -  -  -  -  -  
Angola    -  -  -  -  -  
Antigua and Barbuda/Antigua -et-
Barbuda/Antigua y Barbuda  III 58,927  27,855  29,325  116,107  -  
Argentina/Argentine    -  636,751  637,330  1,274,081  -  
Armenia/Arménie    -  -  -  -  -  
Australia/Australie    -  -  -  -                        
-  
Austria/Autriche    -  -  -  -  1,979,054  
Bahrain, Kingdom of/Bahreïn, 
Royaume de/Bahrein, Reino de    -  -  -  -  -  
Bangladesh    -  -  -  -  -  
Barbados/Barbade                          
-                        
-                        
-                        
-                        
-  
Belgium/Belgique/Bélgica    -  -  -  -  -  
Belize/Belice    -  -  -  -  -  
Benin/Bénin    -  -  -  -  16  
Bolivia, Plurinational State of/Bolivie, 
Etat Plurinational de/Bolivia, Estado 
Plurinacional de    -  -  7,975  87,975  -  
Botswana    -  -  -  -  -  
Brazil/Brésil/Brasil    -  -  -  -  9  
Brunei Darussalam/Brunéi Darussalam    -  -  -  -  -  
Bulgaria/Bulgarie    -  -  -  -  -  
Burkina Faso    -  -  -  -  18,877  
Burundi (2)   263,832  27,855  29,325  321,012  -  
Cabo Verde    -  -  419  419  -  
Cambodia/Cambodge/Camboya    -  -  -  -  -  
Cameroon/Cameroun/Camerún    -  -  -  -  -  
Canada/Canadá    -  -  -  -  -  
Central African Republic/République 
centrafricaine/República Centroafricana 
(2) III 878,326  27,855  29,325  935,506  -  
Chad/Tchad (2) III 621,061  31,569  31,280  683,910  -  
Chile/Chili    -  47,262  662,745  710,007  -  
China/Chine    -  -  -  -  -  
Colombia/Colombie    -  -  38,574  38,574  -  
Congo  I 12,592  64,995  64,515  142,102  -  
Costa Rica    -  -  -  -  138,333  
Côte d'Ivoire    -  -  3,872  3,872  -  
Croatia/Croatie/Croacia    -  -  -  -  -  
Cuba II 214,849  107,706  101,660  424,215  -  
Cyprus/Chypre/Chipre    -  -  -  -  -  
Czech Republic/République 
tchèque/República Checa    -  -  -  -  -  
Democratic Republic of the 
Congo/République démocratique du 
Congo/República Democrática del 
Congo    -  -  125,120  125,120  -  
Denmark/Danemark/Dinamarca    -  -  -  -  -  
Djibouti    -  -  33,235  33,235  -  
Dominica/Dominique  II 29,325  27,855  29,325  86,505  -  
Dominican Republic/République 
dominicaine/República Dominicana    -  -  6,797  6,797  -  
Ecuador/Équateur    -  -  9,983  9,983  -  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 9 - 
 
  Members/Membres/Miembros (164)  
Swiss Francs/Francs suisses/  
Francos suizos  Cat. 1982 -
2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Egypt/Égypte/Egipto    -  -  -  -  -  
El Salvador  II 160,205  77,994  80,155  318,354  -  
Estonia/Estonie    -  -  -  -  191,136  
Eswatini    -  -  29,325  29,325  -  
European Union/Union 
européenne/Unión Europea (1)   -  -  -  -  -  
Fiji/Fidji    -  -  18  18  -  
Finland/Finlande/Finlandia    -  -  -  -  -  
France/Francia    -  -  -  -  -  
Gabon/Gabón    -  -  46,920  46,920  -  
The Gambia/Gambie/Gambia    -  -  29,325  29,325  -  
Georgia/Géorgie    -  -  -  -  -  
Germany/Allemagne/Alemania    -  -  -  -  -  
Ghana  I 39,038  174,558  189,635  403,231  -  
Greece/Grèce/Grecia    -  -  -  -  -  
Grenada/Grenade/Granada    -  -  27,855  27,855  -  
Guatemala    -  -  -  -  -  
Guinea/Guinée  II 58,178   31,569  43,010  132,757  -  
Guinea -Bissau/Guinée -Bissau  III 766,763  27,855  29,325  823,943  -  
Guyana    -  -  -  -  -  
Haiti/Haïti/Haití    -  -  -  -  -  
Honduras    -  -  -  -  40  
Hong Kong, China/Hong Kong, Chine    -  -  -  -  -  
Hungary/Hongrie/Hungría    -  -  -  -  1,081,113  
Iceland/Islande/Islandia    -  -  -  -  -  
India/Inde    -  -  -  -  -  
Indonesia/Indonésie    -  -  -  -  -  
Ireland/Irlande/Irlanda    -  -  -  -  -  
Israel/Israël    -  -  -  -  983,950  
Italy/Italie/Italia    -  -  -  -  -  
Jamaica/Jamaïque    -  -  -  -  2,646  
Japan/Japon/Japón    -  -  -  -  -  
Jordan/Jordanie/Jordania    -  -  -  -  -  
Kazakhstan/Kazajstán    -  -  -  -  -  
Kenya    -   -  -  -  -  
Korea, Republic of/Corée, République 
de/Corea, República de    -  -  460,835  460,835  -  
Kuwait, the State of/Koweït, État 
du/Kuwait, Estado de    -  -  -  -  -  
Kyrgyz Republic/République 
kirghize/República Kirguisa    -  -  -  -  8,529  
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic/République démocratique 
populaire lao/República Democrática 
Popular Lao    -  -  -  -  -  
Latvia/Lettonie/Letonia    -  -  -  -  -  
Lesotho    -  -  29,325  29,325  -  
Liberia/Libéria    -  -  -  -  -  
Liechtenstein    -  -  -  -  -  
Lithuania/Lituanie/Lituania    -  -  -  -  -  
Luxembourg/Luxemburgo    -  -  -  -  -  
Macao, China/Macao, Chine    -  -  -  -  -  
Madagascar    -  5  33,235  33,240  -  
Malawi    -  -  -  -  53,671  
Malaysia/Malaisie/Malasia    -  -  -   -  -  
Maldives/Maldivas    -  -  -  -  -  
Mali/Malí    -  1,739  41,055  42,794  -  
Malta/Malte    -  -  -  -  -  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 10 - 
 
  Members/Membres/Miembros (164)  
Swiss Francs/Francs suisses/  
Francos suizos  Cat. 1982 -
2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Mauritania/Mauritanie    -  -  -  -  26,399  
Mauritius/Maurice/Mauricio    -  -  -  -  -  
Mexico/Mexique/México    -  -  -  -  -  
Moldova, Republic of/Moldova, 
République de/Moldova, República de    -  -  -  -  41,811  
Mongolia/Mongolie    -  -  -  -  97  
Montenegro/Monténégro    -  -  -  -  29,865  
Morocco/Maroc/Marruecos    -  -  -  -  -  
Mozambique    -  -  60,605  60,605  -  
Myanmar    -  -  20,574  20,574  -  
Namibia/Namibie    -  -  -  -  -  
Nepal/Népal    -  -  1,017  1,017  -  
Netherlands/Pays -Bas/Países Bajos    -  -  -  -  287,728  
New Zealand/Nouvelle -Zélande/Nueva 
Zelandia    -  -  -  -  23,422  
Nicaragua    -  -  -  -  -  
Niger/Níger (2)   92,513  27,855  29,325  149,693  -  
Nigeria/Nigéria    -  -  472,928  472,928  -  
North Macedonia/Macédoine du 
Nord/Macedonia del Norte    -  -  -  -  -  
Norway/Norvège/Noruega    -  -  -  -  -  
Oman/Omán    -  -  304,980  304,980  -  
Pakistan/Pakistán    -  -  -  -  -  
Panama/Panamá    -  -  8,613  8,613  -  
Papua New Guinea/Papouasie -
Nouvelle -Guinée/Papua Nueva Guinea  III 123,165  57,567  60,605  241,337  -  
Paraguay    -  -  6,905  6,905  -  
Peru/Pérou/Perú    -  -  30,817  30,817  -  
Philippines/Filipinas    -  -  -  -  -  
Poland/Pologne/Polonia    -  -  -  -  -  
Portugal    -  -  -  -  -  
Qatar    -  -  -  -  -  
Romania/Roumanie/Rumania    -  -  -  -  -  
Russian Federation/Fédération de 
Russie/Federación de Rusia    -  -  852,650  852,650  -  
Rwanda    -  -  -  -  -  
Saint Kitts and Nevis/Saint -Kitts-et-
Nevis/Saint Kitts y Nevis    -  -  426  426  -  
Saint Lucia/Sainte -Lucie/Santa Lucía    -  -  -  -  1,495  
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines/Saint -Vincent -et-les 
Grenadines/San Vicente y las 
Granadinas    -  6,837  29,325  36,162  -  
Samoa    -  -  -   -  15  
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of/Arabie 
saoudite, Royaume d'/Arabia Saudita, 
Reino de la    -  -  -  -  -  
Senegal/Sénégal    -  -  -  -  43,437  
Seychelles    -  -  -  -  -  
Sierra Leone/Sierra Leona (2)   165,771  27,855  29,325  222,951  -  
Singapore/Singapour/Singapur    -  -  -  -  -  
Slovak Republic/République 
slovaque/República Eslovaca    -  -  -  -  -  
Slovenia/Slovénie/Eslovenia    -  -  -  -  -  
Solomon Islands/Îles Salomon/Islas 
Salomón     -  -  -  -  -  
South Africa/Afrique du Sud/Sudáfrica    -  -  -  -  -  
Spain/Espagne/España    -  -  -  -  -  
Sri Lanka    -  -  -  -  -  
Suriname    -  -  27,855  27,855  -  
Sweden/Suède/Suecia    -  -  -  -  -  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 11 - 
 
  Members/Membres/Miembros (164)  
Swiss Francs/Francs suisses/  
Francos suizos  Cat. 1982 -
2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Switzerland/Suisse/Suiza    -  -   -  -  -  
Chinese Taipei/Taipei chinois/Taipei 
Chino    -  -  -  -  -  
Tajikistan/Tadjikistan/Tayikistán    -  -  -  -  -  
Tanzania/Tanzanie/Tanzanía    -  -  80,155  80,155  -  
Thailand/Thaïlande/Tailandia    -  -  -  -  -  
Togo   -  -  20  20  -  
Tonga    -  -  -  -  -  
Trinidad and Tobago/Trinité -et-
Tobago/Trinidad y Tabago    -  -  -  -  -  
Tunisia/Tunisie/Túnez    -  -  -  -  -  
Türkiye    -  -  -  -  -  
Uganda/Ouganda    -  -  9,351  9,351  -  
Ukraine/Ucrania    -  -  -  -  -  
United Arab Emirates/Émirats arabes 
unis/Emiratos Árabes Unidos    -  -  -  -  -  
United Kingdom/Royaume -Uni/Reino 
Unido    -  -  -  -  -  
United States of America/Etats -Unis 
d'Amérique/Estados Unidos de América    -  -  22,808,985  22,808,985                        
-  
Uruguay    -  -  -  -  -  
Vanuatu    -  -  90  90  -  
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic 
of/Venezuela, République bolivarienne 
du/Venezuela, República Bolivariana de  III 5,330,262  464,250  404,685  6,199,197  -  
Viet Nam    -  -  -  -  -  
Yemen  II 103,156  68,709  62,560  234,425  -  
Zambia/Zambie    -  -  72,335  72,335  -  
Zimbabwe    -  1,109  46,920  48,029  -  
TOTAL  14 8,917,963  2,004,745  28,419,019  39,341,727  4,911,643  
 
(1)  No assessment is made in the European Union as such/Il n'y a pas de contribution mise à la charge de 
l'Union européenne en tant que telle/No hay contribución señalada a la Unión Europea como tal . 
 
(2) Member under payment scheme/Membre soumis à un plan de paiement/Miembro con un plan de pago . 
 
 
Observers/Observateurs/  
Observadores (25)  
Swiss Francs/Francs 
suisses/Francos suizos  Cat. 2001 -2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Algeria/Algérie/Argelia    -  -  -  -  -  
Andorra/Andorre    -  -  -  -  -  
Azerbaijan/Azerbaïdjan/  
Azerbaiyán    -  -  -  -  -  
Bahamas    -  -  1,619  1,619  -  
Belarus/Bélarus/Belarús    -  -  -  -  -  
Bhutan/Bhoutan/Bhután    -  -  -  -  -  
Bosnia and Herzegovina/Bosnie -
Herzégovine/Bosnia y Herzegovina    -  -  29,325  29,325  -  
Comoros/Comores/Comoras  I 4,699  29,325  29,325  63,349  -  
Curaçao/Curazao    -  -  1,391  1,391  -  
Equatorial Guinea/Guinée 
équatoriale/Guinea Ecuatorial    -  6,376  29,325  35,701  -  
Ethiopia/Éthiopie/Etiopía    -  -  29,325  29,325  -  
Holy See/Saint -Siège/Santa Sede    -  -  -  -  -  
Iran/Irán    -  -  -  -  -  
Iraq   -  -  -  -  -  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 12 - 
 
  Observers/Observateurs/  
Observadores (25)  
Swiss Francs/Francs 
suisses/Francos suizos  Cat. 2001 -2021  2022  2023  TOTAL  Advance  
Avance  
Adelanto  
Lebanese Republic/République 
Libanaise/República Libanesa  II 29,325  29,325  29,325  87,975                        
-  
Libya/Libye/Libia    -   n/a  25,896  25,896  -  
Sao Tomé and Principe/Sao Tomé -et-
Principe/Santo Tomé y Príncipe  III 306,529   n/a   n/a  306,529  -  
Serbia/Serbie/Serbia    -  -    -  -  
Somalia/Somalie  III 89,984   n/a   n/a  89,984  -  
South Sudan/Soudan du Sud/Sudán 
del Sur  II 32,314  29,325  29,325  90,964  -  
Sudan/Soudan/Sudán    -  -  26,261  26,261  -  
Syrian Arab Republic/République 
arabe syrienne/República Árabe Siria             III 87,975   n/a   n/a  87,975  -  
Timor -Leste    -  -  -  -  105  
Turkmenistan    -  -  439  439  -  
Uzbekistan/Ouzbékistan/  
Uzbekistán    -  -  621  621  -  
TOTAL  6 550,826  94,351  232,177  877,354  105  
 
n/a:  Annual contribution suspended for Inactive Observer/Contribution annuelle suspendue pour Observateur 
inactif/Contribución anual suspendido por Observador Inactivo ( WT/BFA/W/274 ). 
 
  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
- 13 - 
 
  ANNEX 2 
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR MEM BERS AND OBSERVERS IN ARREARS  
Category  Administrative Measures  
I After one but less than two full years ' assessed contributions remain outstanding 
at the end of the year:  
1. Representatives of Members will not be nominated to preside over WTO 
bodies . 
2. Documentation will not be posted to delegations in Geneva nor to the 
Members' and Observers' capitals.  
3. At the beginning of each year, the Director -General will notify the Ministers 
of the Members and Observers responsible for the WTO of the applicable 
administrative measures.  
4. The D irector -General will contact annually the Minister of the Members' and 
Observers' responsible for the WTO, or any other official at the appropriate 
level emphasizing the question of arrears.  
5. The Secretariat will report annually to the Committee on Budget, Finance 
and Administration on the implementation of administrative measures.  
6. Members and Observers will be subject to specific reporting at the General 
Council meetings.1 
II After two but less than three full years ' assessed contributions remain 
outstanding at the end of the year, in addition to the measures of Category I:  
1. The access of the WTO Members' web site will be discontinued.2 
2. The ability of Members to act on the recommendations by the Committee on 
Budget, F inance and Administration to the General Council on financial 
matters will be removed.  
3. Observers will be denied access to training or technical assistance.  
The Chairs of the accession working group of Observers will remind the delegation of 
Observers, duri ng their working group meeting, of their financial obligations.  
III After three full years ' assessed contributions remain outstanding at the end of the 
year, in addition to the measures of Categories I and II:  
1. Members and Observers will be designated as Inactive Members and 
Inactive Observers, respectively.  
2. Inactive Members will be denied access  to training or technical assistance 
other than that necessary to meet their WTO Article XIV -2 obligations.  
3. The accession working groups do not meet either formally or informally. 
WTO will suspend its request for annual contributions from Inactive 
Observer s. Request for annual contributions will resume the year the 
Observers are not anymore designated as Inactive.3 
4. Inactive Members and Observers taking the floor in the General Council will 
be identified as such.  
 
  
 
1 See General Council procedures.  
2 Applicable to Members and Observers. Under current policy, Observers have a differentiated access to 
documents posted on the Members' Website.  
3 To be enforced starting 1 January 2013.  WT/BFA/W/663  
 
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GENERAL COUNCIL PROCEDURES FOR MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES  
 
At the beginning of each calendar year,  the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration will notify to the General Council the list of Members and Observers under 
Administrative Measures, with a recommendation that these Members and Observers be urged to 
liquidate their arrears.  
 
At the end  of each meeting of the General Council , the Chairman of the Committee on 
Budget, Finance and Administration will provide information with regard to which Members and 
Observers are under Administrative Measures. The Chairman of the General Council will req uest 
Members and Observers in Categories II and III to inform the Secretariat as to when the payment 
of arrears may be expected.  
 
Each year  the Director -General will report on the results of his contacts with Members ' and 
Observers ' authorities on the issue of arrears.  
 
* * * * * * *  
 
 
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES  
FOR INACTIVE MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
 
 
The Ge neral Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Members in 
Category III which agree to, and abide by, a defined schedule of instalment  payments aimed at 
liquidating all arrears.4 
 
Those Members with pre -1988 arrears that were asse ssed at the minimum contribution may 
benefit from a reduction in those arrears to the level of the 1989 minimum contribution. For each 
full payment of an annual contribution between 1988 and 1994, any contracting party with pre -1988 
arrears may cancel an e qual number of assessments for 1987 and earlier years upon payment of 
the 1989 minimum contribution amounting to CHF  19,137. The difference between a pre -1988 
assessment and the payment of CHF  19,137 would be funded by the Miscellaneous Income of 
the WTO.5 
 
The General Council can suspend the application of Administrative Measures for Observers 
that are in Category III on 1 January 2013, which agree to, and abide by, a defined schedule of 
installment payments aimed at liquidating all arrears.  
 
__________  
 
4 Amend earlier decisions of the General Council  in 1988 ( C/M/226 ) and 1994 (C/M/273) to reflect the 
reduced number of categories.  
5 As approved by the General Council in 1994 (C/M/273).  