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WT/COMTD/PTA/M/5  
 
7 May 2021 
(21-3898) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Fifth Dedicated Session on Preferential Trade 
Arrangements    
 
  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 29 MARCH  2021 
Chairman: H.E. Dr . Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE TRANSPARENCY MECHANISM FOR PREFERENTIAL 
TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (PTA TM)  ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
(I) Notifications received pursuant to paragraph 1(a) of the PTA TM  ................................ ...... 2 
(a) Generalized System of Preferences – Notification by the United King dom 
(WT/COMTD/PTA4/N/1)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 2 
C. STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE DEDICATED SESSION  ................................ ..............  3 
(I) Status of the preparation of factual presentations  – Report by the Chairman 
(WT/COMTD/PTA/W/3)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  3 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 4 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA    
1. The draft agenda  as contained in Airgram WTO/AIR/COMTD/PTA/4/Rev.1  of 19 March 2021  
was adopted .  
B. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE TRANSPARENCY MECHANISM FOR PREFERENTIAL 
TRADE ARRANGEMENTS (PTA TM)  
2. The Chairman  said, since the last meeting of the Dedicated Session on  Preferential Trade 
Arrangements  (PTAs) of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) , one new notification had 
been received pursuant to paragraph 1(a) of the Transparency Mechanism for PTAs ( PTA TM). This 
notification , which was also a notification under the Enabling Clause,  concern ed the United Kingdom's 
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme. However,  before  turning to th e notification  by the 
United  Kingdom , he indicated that he wished to say a few words on a document that was circulated 
by Chile in December  2020, in the context of its duty -free quota -free (DFQF) market access scheme 
for least developed count ries ( LDCs). The document, which was issued  with the symbol 
WT/COMTD/N/44/Add.1/Rev.2 , was a revision of a previously circulated document. It was his 
understand ing that the Secretariat ha d been in touch with the delegation of Chile regarding this 
document.  The delegation of Chile was of the view that, given the relatively small changes that were 
made in th e revision, there was no particular need to have the document placed on the agenda for 
the present meeting. Nevertheless, he wished  to bring this document  to the attention of the 
Committee . He also explained that he wished to particularly invite the LDCs to consult this revision , 
since the document  provide d updated email addresses to which LDCs , wishing to benefit from 
preferential treatment under the DFQF scheme , needed to  submit the name and official seal of the 
certifying authority as well as the names of officers authorized to issue Certificates of Origin.  WT/COMTD/PTA/M/5  
 
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  (I) Notifications received pursuant to paragraph 1(a) of the PTA TM  
(a) Generalized System of Preferences – Notification by the United Kingdom 
(WT/COMTD/PTA4/N/1)  
3. The Chairman  said that t he notification by the United Kingdom concerning its GSP scheme 
was circulated in document WT/COMTD/PTA4/N/1. He invite d the United Kingdom to introduce the 
notification.  
4. The representative of the United Kingdom  expressed his delegation's commitment to 
supporting developing countries to further integrate  into the rules -based international trading 
system and enjoy the benefits of trade, particularly as Members  faced the challenges of C OVID -19. 
The United Kingdom's generous trade preference scheme provide d the opportunity for 
developing  countries to trade m ore with the U nited Kingdom  and the rest of the world and to 
integrate into global value chains . Through the GSP scheme, the United Kingdom aimed to support 
economic development and poverty reduction, building on broader efforts to promote trade as a 
driver of sustainable economic growth through its comprehensive Aid-for-Trade portfolio, 
Economic  Partnership Agreements, and wider multilateral work . The GSP scheme entered into force 
on 1 January 2021, granting 70 eligible developing countries tariff -free access or reduced tariff 
access to the market of the United Kingdom . These 70 developing countries ha d been trading 
successfully under the GSP scheme since the beginning of 2021. The scheme operate d under 
three  frameworks providing different levels of  market access . The first was the LDC Framework , 
which  provid ed DFQF  market access to LDCs, as classified by the United  Nations , on all goods except 
for arms and ammunition. This was in line with the international commitment in Sustainable 
Development Goal  17 to provide such access to LDCs, a commitment that the U nited Kingdom  had 
enshrined in law.  The second type of access was under the General Framework , which reduce d 
import duties on specific product lines, as set out in the "GSP Specified Goods Table ", contained in 
Schedule 5 of the U nited Kingdom's  Trade Preference Scheme Regulations 2020. This refer red to 
goods originating from countries that ha d not been classifie d as upper middle -income or high -income 
countries by the World Bank for three consecutive years. In other words, it applied to low and 
lower -income countries.  The third type of access was under the Enhanced Framework , which 
remove d import duties on product  lines set out in the "GSP Specified Goods Table " for countries that 
met an economic vulnerability test and the effective implementation of a set of international 
conventions on human rights, labour rights, environment and good governance , as set out in 
Schedule 2 of the U nited Kingdom's  Trade Preference Scheme Regulations 2020.  
5. He said that t he United Kingdom  would  continue to provide a graduation period of at least 
three years once a country was no longer classified as a n LDC, or a low or lower middle -income 
country , as had been done when it was a member State of the European Union. This would  ensure 
that countries were supported as they move d to a higher level of economic development. 
The United Kingdom  would  also continue to apply the same list of product -specific rules to determine 
which goods were eligible for GSP tariff treatment , and many of the general rules of origin provisions 
which it was  applying remain ed unchanged.  The new scheme sought  to provide continuity in 
preferential trading arrangements  for GSP beneficiaries following  the U nited Kingdom 's withdrawal 
from the European Union. His delegation was pleased to announce that the United  Kingdom planned 
to further improve its trade preference scheme by making it more generous for developing countries 
and making it as effective and simple to use as possible.  A public consultation on these improvements 
would be launched in the coming months , which would  invite input from interes ted stakeholders.  His 
delegation looked forward to discussing these changes with beneficiary countries and partners 
through regular engagement and with experts at the WTO.  In closing , he said that targeted trade 
assistance, linked to stable and predictable  rules, allow ed cross-border trade to transform 
economies, unlock growth and reduce poverty. His delegation believed that  
the United Kingdom 's GSP scheme would  help eligible countries to trade more , and would have a 
positive impact on their economic develo pment.  He thank ed the Secretariat for its support in the 
preparation of the factual presentation, and indicated readiness to take any questions from Members 
on the scheme.  
6. The representative of  Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group  said that he had taken note of the 
information provided by the Chairman regarding Chile's DFQF scheme. He stressed the importance 
of DFQF market access for LDCs, and indicated that the LDC Group w ould be  in contact with the 
Chilean delegation . He went on to express the appreciation of the LDC Group for the notification by 
the United Kingdom , and welcome d the fact that , in offering DFQF  market access , the WT/COMTD/PTA/M/5  
 
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  United  Kingdom was returning to conditions equivalent to those applied by the European Union. This 
retention of preferences already granted in the E uropean Union's  framework facilitated  the 
LDC Group's review of the notification.  The United Kingdom's proposal for a transition period of at 
least three years for LDCs to continue to benefit from the LDC sc heme  after graduation  was also 
welcomed . He went on to recall that the LDC Group had submitted a draft Ministerial Decision in 
November 2020 concerning  the treatment of graduating LDCs, and on addressing the sustainability 
needs of their transition to deve loping country status.  In this regard, he expressed interest  in having  
further discussions with the  United Kingdom to see to what extent it would be willing to consider the 
request made by the LDCs in their proposal on graduation.  He also observed  that the  notification by 
the United Kingdom specified that there were 47  LDC beneficiaries of the GSP scheme . Noting that 
Vanuatu had graduated from LDC status on 4  December  2020, he sought clarification as to whether 
Vanuatu was included as an LDC beneficiary  in the GSP scheme . 
7. The representative of the United States  thanked the United Kingdom  for the notification , and 
expressed appreciation for the presentation of the GSP scheme .  
8. The representative of Pakistan  welcome d the notification , and congratulated the 
United  Kingdom for putting in place its PTA  in a timely and effective manner. Pakistan attache d great 
value to the system of preferential trade  for all developing countries and LDCs , given their specific 
needs and c hallenges . He noted that the U nited Kingdom 's regime follow ed closely the established 
criteria in this respect, allowing for further consultations before any changes  were made . 
The United  Kingdom was one of Pakistan 's largest trading partners , and from tha t perspective, the 
arrangements were particularly welcome, and a signal of the continuation of the strong and healthy 
trading ties between the two countries. His delegation wished the United Kingdom  all the best in the 
implementation of th e new scheme, and look ed forward to  a continu ed productive engagement.  
9. The representative of the United Kingdom  thank ed the LDC Group for its intervention.  
The United Kingdom believed that it was important that LDCs were supported as they  moved to a 
higher  level of economic development. His delegation was aware of the LDC Group's proposal on 
graduation , and had taken note of the points raised at the present meeting . The United Kingdom 
welcome d engage ment with the LDC Group  on all important development matters at the WTO , and 
would be willing to discuss this  issue in the context of consultations on the future of the GSP scheme. 
With regard to the question regarding Vanuatu, he explained that Vanua tu was in the transition 
period as it had graduated from LDC status, and was therefore presently  still part of the 
LDC Framework. He also  welcome d the comments made by Pakistan.  
10. The Committee took note  of the notification  by the United Kingdom,  and of the interventions.  
C. STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE DEDICATED SESSION  
(I) Status of the preparation of factual presentations – Report by the Chairman 
(WT/COMTD/PTA/W/3 ) 
11. The Chairman  said that his report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations of 
PTAs was contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/W/3. As indicated in  the report, there were a 
number of PTAs that ha d been notified since the establishment of the PTA TM , for wh ich the 
Secretariat ha d still not received the full set of data or information required for the preparation of 
the factual presentations. He said that he also wished to take the opportunity to note that, in addition 
to statistical data that was missing, it  was his understanding that, for at least some of these PTAs, 
up-to-date regulations in an official WTO language ha d not been notified to the CTD. This was a 
requirement under the PTA  TM. Furthermore, without these regulations, the Secretariat w ould not 
be in a position to complete the factual presentations , even if the statistical data was submitted. He 
therefore urge d the notifying Members to provide all the required data and information as soon as 
possible.   
12. The representative of the United  States  thanked the Chairman for his report, and welcomed 
his remarks and interest in the transparency exercise. She urged all Members that had not yet 
notified their PTAs , to do so promptly. She also urged notifying Members, and those who had not 
yet done so, to provide the Secretariat with the required data and information as soon as possible.  
13. The Committee took note  of the Chairman's report , and of the interventions . WT/COMTD/PTA/M/5  
 
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  D. OTHER BUSINESS  
14. No matter was raised under "Other Business".  
15. The meeting was adjourned . 
 
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