WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG/11
25 November 2002
(02-6517)
REPORT (2002) OF THE
COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL
Chairman:  Mr. Boniface Guwa Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. At its first meeting in 2002, the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) elected
Mr. Boniface Guwa Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe) as Chairman of the Committee.  Ms. Margaret Liang
(Singapore), Mr. Alberto J. Dumont (Argentina), and Dr. Vassili Notis (Greece) retained their
positions as Vice-Chairpersons of the CRTA.  Ms. Margaret Liang and Mr. Alberto J. Dumont
resigned their posts later in the year.
2. During 2002, the Committee held three sessions (in February, June and November).  The
minutes of those meetings are listed in Attachment 1.  The Committee plans to hold two meetings in
2003.
II. OBSERVER STATUS
3. The Committee agreed to continue the granting of observer status in the CRTA to the Latin
American Integration Association (LAIA), on an ad hoc  basis.  No decision was taken with respect to
the requests for observer status listed in do cument WT/REG/W/11/Add.3, pe nding the guidelines to
be defined by the General Council.
III. EXAMINATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
4. As of October 2002, 255 RTAs have been notified to the GATT/WTO.1  Of these, 213
agreements were notified under GATT Article XXIV, of which 131 are still in force today; 20
agreements were notified under the Enabling Clause;2 and 22 under GATS Article V.
5. The Committee has currently under examination a total of 125 agreements.  The examination
of 102 of these agreements has been referred to the Committee by the Council for Trade in Goods, 22by the Council for Trade in Services and one by the Committee on Trade and Development.  For 22
RTAs, the Committee has not yet started the factual examination.  Twenty-seven RTAs are currently
undergoing factual examination.  For the remaining 76 RTAs the factual examination is already
complete (see Attachment 2).  No progress was made, however, on the completion of the examination
reports.
                                                     
1 This figure corresponds to notifications of new RTAs, as well as accessions to existing RTAs.
2 Differential and More Favourable Treatment, Reciprocity and Fulle r Participation of Developing
Countries , Decision of 28 November 1979.WT/REG/11
Page 2
IV. REPORTING ON THE OPERATION OF AGREEMENTS
6. At its Thirty-Third Session, the Committee considered 11 biennial reports on the operation of
agreements out of the 17 scheduled (see Attachment 3).  It was noted that all of these reports were
included in the Schedule for the Submission of Biennial Reports for 2001 and due to be considered by
the Committee during that year.3  Their deferral to 2002 was due to their late submission to the WTO
by the parties concerned, with the exception of four reports which had been submitted in accordance
with the agreed timetable.
7. The Committee reiterated the importance of the regular reporting obligation and invited all
Members concerned to ensure compliance with it and meet the submission deadlines, to ensure that
RTAs continue to operate in a transparent manner vis-à-vis  WTO Members.
8. At that same Session, the Committee decided to shift of one year, to 2004, the next
submission of biennial reports, in particular to take into account the 2003 workload due topreparations for the Ministerial Conference in Cancún.
V. PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE AND FACILITATE THE EXAMINATION PROCESS
9. At the Thirty-Second Session of the CRTA, the Chairman noted the existence of a gap
between the number of agreements notified to the WTO and those actually in force.  He recalled theincreasing emphasis given to the question of transparen cy in terms of the future work and role of the
Committee and urged Members to place considerable effort in ensuring compliance with their
notification obligations.
10. At that same Session, the Chairman drew Members' attention to the recurrent delays in the
submission of the documentation required for the ex amination of agreements and to the bearing that
had on the organization of meetings of the Committee.  He referred in particular to the difficulties in
planning the duration of the Sessions, to the costs incurred by the Organization on unused resources
such as interpretation services, and to the appearan ce of a considerable time-lag for the first round of
examination of an increasing number of RTAs.  He invited Members to make sure that the required
documentation be made available in accordance with the deadlines established for the meetings.
VI. SYSTEMIC IMPLICATIONS OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND
INITIATIVES FOR THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM AND THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM
11. On the basis of a document  entitled Further Work on Systemic Issues  (WT/REG/W/38), in
July 2000 the Secretariat had been instructed to prepare horizontal, thematic surveys on the treatment
of various policy provisions or measures in RTAs.
12. The first two background surveys were distributed in mid-September 2001 and were subject
of a preliminary discussion at the Committee's Thirtieth Session.
4  They received further consideration
at the Committee's Thirty-First Session, where they were discussed at length.  At that Session, many
delegations stressed the importance of the crosscutting surveys as a means to enhancing the
understanding of the impact of RTAs on the multil ateral trading system, and agreed that the two
surveys constituted a solid base for the Committee's further work on systemic issues.  It was
                                                     
3 See document WT/REG/W/42.
4 Rules of Origin Regimes in RTAs , and Coverage, Liberalization Pro cess and Transitional Provisions
in RTAs .WT/REG/11
Page 3
suggested that the surveys might undergo regular reviews and that periodical updates be issued.  At
the same time it was agreed that the two surveys s hould be revised in light of the factual comments
made by delegations before being issued as formal documents.5
VII. OTHER
13. At its Thirty-Second Session, the Committee was presented with a summary of the
proceedings of the WTO Seminar on Regionalism and the WTO which was held in April and touched
upon many of the systemic issues dealt with by the Committee (see Attachment 4).  Many delegations
found the seminar useful in raising awareness on RTAs' systemic issues and in providing a better
understanding of their implications on the functioning of the multilateral trading system.  Some
delegations encouraged the Secretariat to organize a seminar of a similar nature in the not too distant
future.
14. At that same Session, the Committee was also given an account of the technical assistance
activities carried out by the CRTA Secretariat in 2001-2002.6  Upon suggestion of the Chairman, it
was agreed that the Secretariat should provide the Committee with this kind of information on a
regular basis under "Other Business" so as to monitor technical assistance activities and to provide
adequate feedback to the Secretariat in this area.
VIII.  FINAL REMARKS
15. The Committee has pursued its examination work and completed the factual examination of a
number of RTAs, but has been unable to finalize reports on any of the examinations before it.
                                                     
5 Rules of Origin Regimes in RTAs , and Coverage, Liberalization Pro cess and Transitional Provisions
in RTAs  were circulated as documents WT/REG/W/45 and WT/REG/W/46 respectively.  On request of the
CRTA Chairman, the two documents underwent early derestriction in September 2002.
6 This report aimed at fulfilling the requirements of paragraph 41 of the Doha Ministerial declaration
instructing the Director-General to report to the Fifth Ministerial Conference on the adequacy and
implementation of technical assistance/capacity building co mmitments contained therein, with an interim report
to be provided to the General Council in December 2002.WT/REG/11
Page 4
ATTACHMENT 1
Minutes of the Meetings held in 2002
Thirty-First Session – 19-20 February 2002
WT/REG/M/31
WT/REG115/M/2 Turkey and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
WT/REG116/M/2 Turkey and Latvia
WT/REG109/M/2 EC and MexicoWT/REG110/M/1 EC and Isr ael (Euro-Mediterranean)
WT/REG112/M/1 EC and Moro cco (Euro-Mediterranean)
WT/REG117/M/2 EFTA and the Former  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Thirty-Second Session – 3-4 June 2002
WT/REG/M/32
WT/REG38/M/4 Canada and Chile (Services Agreement)
WT/REG110/M/2 EC and Isr ael (Euro-Mediterranean)
WT/REG112/M/2 EC and Moro cco (Euro-Mediterranean)
WT/REG76/M/1 Kyrgyz Republic and Moldova
WT/REG114/M/1 Kyrgyz Republic and Armenia
( Georgia and Russian Federation( Georgia and Armenia
WT/REG/GEN/M/8 ( Georgia and Azerbaijan
( Georgia and Ukraine
( Georgia and Turkmenistan
( Georgia and Kazakhstan
Thirty-Third Session – 12-13 November 2002
WT/REG/M/33
WT/REG129/M/1 EC  and FYROM
WT/REG139/M/1 EC and Czech Republic (Services Agreement)
WT/REG2/M/3 EC and Romania (services Agreement)
WT/REG1/M/3 EC and Bulgaria (Services Agreement)
WT/REG138/M/1 European Economic Area (Services Agreement)
WT/REG127/M/1 New Zealand and Singapore (Goods and Services)WT/REG78/M/2 Poland and the Faroe Islands
WT/REG64/M/3 Estonia and the Faroe IslandsWT/REG/11
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ATTACHMENT 2
List of RTAs Under Examination7
RTAs for which factual examinations have been completed  and the draft examination reports are in
various stages of consultation and finalization (76):
ANZCERTA (services) EFTA-Bulgaria Norway-Faroe Islands
Bulgaria-FYROM EFTA-Estonia Poland-Faroe Islands
Canada-Chile EFTA-FYROM Poland-Latvia
Canada-Israel EFTA-Hungary Poland-LithuaniaCEFTA
8EFTA-Israel Romania-Moldova
Czech Republic-Estonia EFTA-Latvia Slovak Republic-Estonia
Czech Republic-Latvia EFTA-Lithuania Slovak Republic-Latvia
Czech Republic-Lithuania EFTA-Morocco Slovak Republic-Lithuania
Czech Republic-Turkey EFTA-Poland Slovak Republic-TurkeyEC-P. of Andorra EFTA-Romania Slovenia-Croatia
EC-Bulgaria EFTA-Slov enia Slovenia-Estonia
EC-Czech Republic Estonia-Faroe Islands Slovenia-FYROM
EC-Enlargement (goods and
services)Estonia-Latvia-Lithuania Slovenia-Latvia
EC-Estonia Estonia-Ukrai ne Slovenia-Lithuania
EC-Hungary (goods and
services)Hungary-Latvia Switzerland-Faroe Islands
EC-Israel Hungary-Lithuania Turkey-Bulgaria
EC-Latvia Kyrgyz Republic-Moldova Turkey-EstoniaEC- Lithuania Iceland-Faroe Islands Turkey-FYROM
EC-Poland (goods and services) Israel-Czech Republic Turkey-Hungary
EC-Romania Israel-Hungary Turkey-Israel
EC-Slovak Republic (goods and
services)Israel-Poland Turkey-Latvia
EC-Slovenia Israel-Slovak Republic Turkey-Lithuania
EC-Tunisia Israel-Slovenia Turkey-Poland
NAFTA (goods and services) Turkey-Romania
                                                     
7 Unless otherwise indicated, the examinations of RTAs listed below refer to trade in goods only.
8 Including accession of Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia.WT/REG/11
Page 6
RTAs under factual examination (27):
Canada-Chile (services) European Union (services) Kyrgyz Republic-Kazakhstan
EC-Bulgaria (services) European Economic Area
(services)Kyrgyz Republic-Russian
Federation
EC-Czech Republic (services) Georgia-Armenia Kyrgyz Republic-Russian
Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan
and Tajikistan
EC-Faroe Islands Georgia-Azerbaijan Kyrgyz Republic-Ukraine
EC-FYROM Georgia-Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic-Armenia
EC-Mexico Georgia-Russian Federation Kyrgyz Republic-UzbekistanEC-Morocco Georgia-Turkmenistan MERCOSUR
EC-Romania (services) Georgia-Ukraine New Zealand-Singapore (goods
and services)
EC-Turkey Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS)
RTAs for which factual examination has not yet commenced (22):
Chile-Costa Rica (goods and
services)EC-Palestinian Authority EFTA-Mexico (goods and
services)
Chile-Mexico (goods and
services)EC-Slovenia (services) Hungary-Estonia
EC-Estonia (services) EC-South Africa Slovenia-Bosnia and
Herzegovina
EC-Latvia (services) EFTA-Croatia Mexico-Israel
EC-Lithuania (services) EFTA-Jordan Turkey-Slovenia
EC-Mexico (services) EFTA-Palestinian Authority United States-Jordan (goods
and services)WT/REG/11
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ATTACHMENT 3
2001 Schedule for the Submission of Biennial Reports on RTAs
Reports submitted and considered by the CRTA in 2001 (4)
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
EFTA-Czech Republic
EFTA-Slovak Republic
EFTA-Turkey
Reports submitted and considered by the CRTA in 2002 (11)9
Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA)
Czech Republic-Slovak Republic Customs Union
European Communities (EC)-Switzerland AgreementEC-Iceland Agreement
EC-Egypt Cooperation Agreement
EC-Jordan Cooperation Agreement
EC-Lebanon Cooperation Agreement
EC-Syria Cooperation AgreementEC-Algeria Cooperation Agreement
EC-Association of Certain Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)
EC-Norway Agreement
Reports not submitted to the WTO (6)
Australia-Papua New Guinea Agreement (PATCRA)
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
Central American Common Market (CACM)
EC-Cyprus
EC-Malta Association Agreement
United States/Israel
                                                     
9 Reports submitted under the 2001 schedule for the submission of biennial reports on RTAs.WT/REG/11
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ATTACHMENT 4
Seminar on Regionalism and the WTO10
PROGRAMME
Friday, 26 April 2002
Council Room I – Centre William Rappard
09:00-09:15 W ELCOMING WORDS
09:15-09:45 S ESSION ONE
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF THE GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM
/g113 New developments in the WTO and in RTAs
09:45-10:00 COFFEE BREAK
10:00-12:30 S ESSION TWO
RTA M ARKET ACCESS AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS
/g113 Frontiers of trade liberalization in RTAs: the treatment of "sensitive" products
and the role of origin rules
/g113 Significance of standards, technical regulations and SPS provisions in RTAs
/g113 Contingency provisions in RTAs
/g113 Economic integration in trade in services
/g113 Other regulatory provisions in RTAs (investment, competition, trade facilitation)
12:30-14:00 LUNCH BREAK
14:00-16:30 R OUNDTABLE
WHAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM AND
RTA S?
16:30-17:00 COFFEE BREAK
17:00-18:00 G ENERAL DEBATE
18:00 C ONCLUDING REMARKS
__________
                                                     
10 Papers presented at the Seminar can be downloaded at the following address:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/sem_april02_e/sem_april02_e.htm