WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/70/Add.1
5 September 2003
(03-4636)
GENERAL COUNCIL
Annual Report (2002)
Addendum
At its meeting in February 2003, the General Council agreed that its report to the Fifth Session
of the Ministerial Conference would consist of th e Annual Report for 2002 together with a brief update
report which would describe developments since December 2002.
The present Addendum to the Annual Report of 2002 sets out the actions taken by the General
Council since the beginning of 2003.  The General Council has held 5 meetings since December 2002.
The minutes of these meetings, which remain the r ecord of the General Council's work, are contained in
documents WT/GC/M/78 – 82.1
The following subjects are included in this Addendum:
1. Matters resulting from the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference..........................4
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Re ports...................................................................................4
(b) Committee on Trade and Development – Reports by the Chairman of the Committee
on Trade and Development in Special Session on Special and Differential Treatmentin Pursuance of Paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and Paragraph 12.1
of the Doha Ministerial Decision on Impl ementation-Related Issues and Concerns..................4
(c) Committee on Agriculture – Implementation-Related Issues - Report to the General
Council........................................................................................................................ ................6
(d) Committee on Customs Valuation – Report on the Identification and Assessment of
Practical Means to Address Members' Concerns Regarding Accuracy of Declared
Values Pursuant to Paragraph 8.3 of the Doha Ministerial Decision on
Implementation-Related I ssues and Concerns ............................................................................6
(e) Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative
Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Net Food-ImportingDeveloping Countries – Follow-up to the report of the Inter-Agency Panel on Short-
Term Difficulties in Financing Normal Levels of Commercial Imports of Basic
Foodstuffs ..................................................................................................................... ..............7
(f) Council fo r TRIPS ........................................................................................................... ...........7
(i) Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement
and Public Health .............................................................................................................. .........7
                                                     
1 WT/GC/M/82 to be issued.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 2
(ii) Report by the Chairman on Examination of Scope and Modalities for Non-Violation
and Situation Complaints under Article XXIII of GATT 1994....................................................9
(g) Work Programme on Electronic Commerce – Reports from Subsidiary Bodies and on
the Dedicated Discussions on Cross-Cutting Issues under the auspices of the General
Council........................................................................................................................ ................9
(h) Work Programme on Sma ll Economies – Reports ...................................................................10
(i) Review of Progress on the Implementation Issues Referred to WTO Bodies under the
Decision of 14 November 2001 on Implementation-Related issues and Concerns ..................10
(j) Review of progress on development-relate d issues of the Doha Work Programme.................10
(k) Negotiations on Improvements and Clarifications of the DSU - Extension of
Timeframe...................................................................................................................... ...........11
(l) Reports of the Working Groups on the Relationship between Trade and Investment,
the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy, and Transparency in
Government Procurement, and of the Council for Trade in Goods on Trade
Facilitation Timeframe......................................................................................................... .....11
(m) Reports of the Working Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance, and on Trade and
Transfer of Technology......................................................................................................... ....12
(n) Committee on Trade and Environment – Report Pursuant to Paragraphs 32 and 33 of
the Doha Ministeria l Declaration..............................................................................................1 2
(o) Rules of Origin – Harmoni zation Work Programme ................................................................12
(p) Implementation and Adequacy of Technical Cooperation and Capacity-Building
Commitments in the Doha Ministerial Declaration – Report by the Director-General
Pursuant to Paragraph 41 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration ................................................13
(q) Issues affecting Leas t-Developed Countries.............................................................................14
(i) Report by the Director-General Pursuant to Paragraph 43 of the Doha Ministerial
Declaration .................................................................................................................... ...........14
(ii) Report by the Director-General on Impl ementation of the Commitment by Ministers
to Facilitate and Accelerate Accession of LDCs ......................................................................14
2. Review of the exemption provided under paragraph 3 of GATT 1994 .............................14
3. Proposal to remove and avoid inconsistencies in the texts of the WTO
Agreements..................................................................................................................... .........15
4. Accession matters............................................................................................................ ........15
(a) Bhutan...................................................................................................................... .................15
(b) Ethio pia.................................................................................................................... .................15
(c) Iran........................................................................................................................ ....................16
(d) Yemen....................................................................................................................... ................16
5. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration ...........................................................16
(a) Reports..................................................................................................................... .................16
(b) Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund – Situation as at 30 June 2003.......................17
6. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement..............................................................18
(a) Kimberley Process Certificat ion Scheme for Rough Diamonds...............................................18WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 3
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff
Concessions .................................................................................................................... ..........18
(i) Argentina, El Salvador, Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Thailand and
Venezuela...................................................................................................................... ............18
(c) Transposition of Schedule in to the Harmonized System..........................................................19
(i) Sri Lanka................................................................................................................... ................19
7. Preparations for the Fifth Sessio n of the Minister ial Conf erence ......................................19
(a) Administrat ive ma tters...................................................................................................... ........19
(i) Annual report of the General Counc il to the Minister ial Conference ......................................19
(ii) Attendance of  observers.................................................................................................... ........19
(iii) Attendance of Non-Govern mental Organizations.....................................................................21
(iv) Election of Officers for the Fift h Session................................................................................. .22
(v) Administrative arrangements................................................................................................. ...23
(vi) Extension of deadline for registration of participants to the Fifth Session of the
Ministerial Conference ......................................................................................................... ....23
(b) Updates to the 2002 Annual Reports ........................................................................................23
(c) Draft Mini sterial Text ...................................................................................................... .........24
(d) Poverty Reduction – Sectoral In itiative in Favour  of Cotton....................................................25
(e) Communication from the Kyrgyz Republic..............................................................................25
8. Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference .........................................................................26
9. Coherence in Global Ec onomic Policy-Making....................................................................26
10. Trade in Textiles and Clothing .............................................................................................. 27
(a) Developing Members' concern about potential reduction in market (quota) access in
2004 ........................................................................................................................... ...............27
(b) Anti-dumping actions in the area of textiles and clothing – Proposal for a specific
short-term dispensation in favour of developing Members following full integration
of the sector into GA TT from January 2005.............................................................................27
11. Ongoing improvements to the services provided by the Secretariat to Members ............27
12. Possibility of a summer break prior to  the Fifth Ministerial Conference .........................27
13. Closure of the WTO premises during the meeting of the G-8 in Evian.............................28
14. Traffic congestion in  the WTO p remises ..............................................................................28
15. International Trade Centre UNCT AD/WTO.......................................................................28
16. WTO Pension Plan............................................................................................................ ......29
(a) Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan.........................................................................29
17. Appointment of office rs to WTO bodies...............................................................................29
18. Chairmanships of the WTO bodies under the TNC ............................................................31
19. Election of Chairperson..................................................................................................... .....31WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 4
1. Matters resulting from the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference
(a) Trade Negotiations Committee – Reports (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman of the Trade
Negotiations Committee reported on the TNC's meeting on 4-5 February.
The representative of Botswana (on behalf of the ACP Members) spoke.
The General Council took note of the report by the TNC Chairman and of the statement.At the General Council meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations
Committee reported on the TNC's activities since the last report to the General Council in February.
The representative of Cuba and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report by the TNC Chairman and of the statements.At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, at the Chairman's suggestion, the report
by the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee was taken up together with the draft
Ministerial text (in Point 7(c) below), and the discussion is reflected accordingly in this Report and in
the Minutes of the meeting.
(b) Committee on Trade and Development – Reports by the Chairman of the Committee on Trade
and Development in Special Session on Special and Differential Treatment in Pursuance of
Paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and Paragraph 12.1 of the Doha Ministerial
Decision on Implementation-Related Issu es and Concerns (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the General Council considered a report from the CTD in
Special Session in document TN/CTD/7.
The Chairman of the CTD in Special Session, in introducing the Committee's report, noted
that the report consisted of a factual summary of proceedings of the Special Session since July 2002,
as well as the following recommendations on the way forward:  (i) that the General Council take note
of the agreement in principle that had been reached on 12 agreement-specific proposals, and revert to
the question of the adoption of these proposals at a la ter date;  (ii) that the General Council "provide
clarification, as it considers appropriate, regarding Paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declarationand Paragraph 12 of the Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns, and the means to
give effect to the mandate";  and (iii) that in the intervening period, the CTD in Special Session
suspend further work.  He went on to provide a brief background to these recommendations.
The representatives of Pakistan, Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), Cuba, Brazil, China,
Paraguay, European Communities, Morocco (on beha lf of the African Group), Kenya, Venezuela,
Canada, Argentina, Indonesia, Colombia, Uganda, Hungary, Japan, Switzerland, United States,
Australia, Norway, Haiti, Korea and India, and the Chairman of the CTD in Special Session and the
Chairman spoke.
Following a proposal by the Chairman, the General Council agreed to suspend consideration
of this item, and to revert to it following the lunch break.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 5
Upon resumption of the discussion, the representatives of Bangladesh (on behalf of the
LDCs), Chile, Morocco (on behalf of the African Group), European Communities, Cuba, India, Japan
Hungary, Venezuela, New Zealand and Kenya, and the Director of the Council and TNC Division and
the Chairman spoke.
The General Council agreed to the Chairman's proposal that the General Council revert to this
matter, after having taken note of the report and of the statements, and invite its incoming Chairman,
in coordination with the Chairman of the CTD in Special Session, to undertake consultations
immediately on how to take this very important matter forward.
At the General Council meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman reported that on the basis of
the consultations he had carried out, he had put forward a paper on 7 April (JOB(03)/68) outlining
what he believed to be the best way to enable Members to move forward on this issue.  Based on the
approach suggested in that paper, and following careful examination of all the agreement-specific
proposals, he had circulated on 5 May an informal listing of these proposals in three broad categories
(Job 3404), which he went on to describe.  He indicated his intention to start an intensive series of
informal consultations with Members as from th e following week, which would begin with the
Agreement-specific proposals listed in Category I.  He also indicated, inter alia , the understandings
on the basis of which he would request relevant WTO bodies to address the agreement-specific
proposals listed in Category II of his paper, and that he would be writing to the Chairpersons of these
bodies specifically in this regard during the course of  the week.  He then indicated that he would make
a further progress report to the General Council at its next meeting.
The representatives of Kenya, India, Botswana, Zambia, Morocco and Bangladesh (on behalf
of the LDCs), and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman and of the statements, and also
that the Chairman would submit a further progress report to the General Council at its next meeting.
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman reported, inter alia , on the
progress of his consultations with Members at th e level of Heads of Delegation on the Agreement-
specific proposals listed in Category I of Job 3404, in which he had been assisted by a group of Heads
of Delegation acting as "Friends of the Chair".  He announced his intention to work intensively with
delegations immediately following the short summer break in order to make further progress towardsa meaningful package for the Cancún Ministerial Conference.  He invited Chairpersons of the bodies
to which the Agreement-specific proposals in Category II had been referred to make brief reports on
the status of work on these issues in their respective bodies.
The Chairpersons of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture, the Special Session
of the Dispute Settlement Body, the Special Session of Council for Trade in Services, the Negotiating
Group on Rules, the Council for TRIPS , the Committee on Safeguards, the Committee on Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Measures and the Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures, and the
representative of Egypt on behalf of the Chairman of  the Committee on Agriculture reported on the
status of work on the Agreement-specific proposals relevant to the work of their respective bodies.
The representatives of Kenya, Zambia, United States, Cuba, Botswana, Malaysia, European
Communities, Paraguay, India and Norway, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the reports by the General Council
Chairman and the Chairpersons of subsidiary  bodies in documents TN/AG/11, TN/DS/9, TN/S/12,
G/AG/17, G/SG/64, G/SPS/27, G/L/638, Job(03)/171, TN/RL/7-G/L/640, and that the reports would
be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.WT/GC/70/Add.1
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(c) Committee on Agriculture – Implementation-Related Issues - Report to the General Council
(WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha approved a recommendation that the Committee on Agriculture, following
its regular meeting in September 2002, should report to the General Council on its examination of
possible means to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the Marrakesh MinisterialDecision regarding the least-developed and net food-importing developing countries; and on the
implementation of Article 10.2 of the Agriculture Agreement.  Ministers also endorsed a decision by
the Agriculture Committee to keep under review the administration of tariff rate quotas and the
submission by Members of addenda to their no tifications (WT/MIN(01)/17, paragraph 2). The
Agriculture Committee last reported to the General Council on these matters in October 2002.
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a further report on these
matters from the Committee on Agriculture in G/AG/16, which also provided a follow-up to the
recommendation of the Inter-Agency Panel on Short-Term Difficulties in Financing Normal Levels of
Commercial Imports of Basic Foodstuffs regarding the establishment of an ex ante financing
mechanism aimed at food importers.
The representative of Egypt on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture
introduced the report.
The General Council took note of the statement and of the report of the Committee on
Agriculture in G/AG/16, approved the Committee's recommendations in paragraph 19 of the report,and took note that the report would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
(d) Committee on Customs Valuation – Report on the Identification and Assessment of Practical
Means to Address Members' Concerns Regarding Accuracy of Declared Values Pursuant to
Paragraph 8.3 of the Doha Ministerial Decision on Implementation-Related Issues andConcerns (WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha recognized the legitimate concerns expressed by the customs
administrations of several importing Members on the ac curacy of the declared value, and directed the
Committee on Customs Valuation to identify and assess practical means to address such concerns and
to report to the General Council by the end of 2002 at the latest (WT/MIN(01)/17, paragraph 8.3).  In
December 2002, the General Council considered a report from the Committee on Customs Valuation,
and authorized the Committee to continue its work under the existing mandate and to report back to
the General Council once its work had been completed.
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman said, inter alia , that he had
been informed by the Chairman of the Committee th at, despite intensive efforts in recent days, the
Committee had been unable to conclude its work, and that as agreed by the General Council inDecember, the Committee would report to the General Council once its work had been completed.
The General Council took note of the statement and agreed to revert to this matter at a future
meeting.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 7
(e) Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the
Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Ne t Food-Importing Developing Countries –
Follow-up to the report of the Inter-Agency Panel on Short-Term Difficulties in Financing
Normal Levels of Commercial Impor ts of Basic Foodstuffs (WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council heard a report by the Chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture on the Committee's consideration of the Inter-Agency Panel's
recommendation regarding an ex-ante financing mechanism aimed at food importers.
The representative of Egypt on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture
reported, inter alia , that the Committee had agreed to convene a Roundtable with the task:  (i) to
explore, in the context of the Marrakesh Decision, the need for a safety net to be established to assist
the LDCs and NFIDCs during the reform process leading to greater liberalization of trade inagriculture, including an examination of objectiv e criteria and trigger mechanisms to determine a
need;  and (ii) to identify, in the light of (i) a bove, appropriate mechanisms within the framework of
the Marrakesh Decision, taking into account their technical feasibility, as well as their financial and
institutional implications on potential donors and beneficiaries.  The following organizations had been
invited to nominate experts to participate in the Roundtable:  FAO, International Fund for AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD), International Grains C ouncil, IMF, UNCTAD, WFP and the World Bank.
Members were also invited to participate in the Roundtable, which was scheduled to take place on
19 May.
The representatives of Cuba, Kenya, Djibouti, Morocco and Tunisia spoke.The General Council took note of the report by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the
Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and of the statements, and invited the Chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture to keep the General Council in formed of progress in this regard following
the Committee's meeting in June.
2
(f) Council for TRIPS
(i) Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public
Health (WT/GC/M/78, 82)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the General Council considered this matter.
The Chairman of the Council for TRIPS reported on the Council's further consideration of
this matter, and requested that, under the circumstances, the General Council consider providing an
additional period for further deliberations in capitals and consultations in Geneva.  His aim was to
have something more concrete to report to Members by the end of the TRIPS Council meeting
scheduled for the week of 17 February.
The Chairman spoke.
                                                     
2 A further follow-up report on this matter is carried under Point 1(c) – Committee on Agriculture –
Implementation-Related Issues – Report to the General Council.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 8
The General Council took note of the progress report by the Chairman of the TRIPS Council
on the status of his further consultations, and agreed to suspend discussion on this item and to revert
to it at a reconvened meeting to be held shortly. 3
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council again considered this
matter.
On 27 August, the Chairman of the Council for TRIPS reported on developments in recent
consultations on this matter.
The Chairman proposed, in the light of the report, that the General Council suspend its
discussion on this item and agree to reconvene at short notice with a view to taking action on the basis
of any recommendations that would be forthcoming from the Council for TRIPS.
The General Council took note of the statements and so agreed.At the resumed meeting on 30 August, the Chairman of the Council for TRIPS reported on
the Council's consideration of this matter, and said that the Council had approved a draft Decision indocument IP/C/W/405 and had forwarded it to th e General Council for adoption.  The TRIPS Council
had also approved forwarding to the General Council the text of a statement, contained in
Job(03)/177, to be read out by the Chairman of the General Council prior to adoption of the draft
Decision.
The Chairman spoke, and invited any Members that wished to make statements with respect
to paragraph 1(b) of the Draft Decision to do so.
The representatives of Israel; Hong Kong, China; Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Mexico,
Turkey, Korea and Poland (also on behalf of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,Lithuania, Malta, Slovak Republic and Slovenia) spoke.
The Chairman then read out for the record the statement forwarded to him by the TRIPS
Council, contained in Job(03)/177 and filled in the 11 Members to be mentioned in the last paragraph
of that statement.
The General Council took note of the statements, and in the light of the statement read out by
the Chairman, and in accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of
the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), adopted the draft Decision in document
IP/C/W/405.
4
The Director-General and the representatives of Morocco (on behalf of the African Group),
Mauritius, Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Djibouti, Barbados, Kenya, Argentina, Venezuela, India,
Jamaica, Guinea, El Salvador, Benin, Nicaragua, Uganda, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, China, Norway,
Switzerland, Senegal, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuado r, Philippines, Malaysia, Chile, Australia,
Bangladesh, Colombia, Rwanda, Zambia, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, United States, Slovak Republic,
European Communities and Nigeria, and the Holy See (as an Observer), and the Chairman of theTRIPS Council and the Chairman spoke.
                                                     
3 In a communication dated 3 March 2003 (JOB(03)/46) the Chairman informed Members that for
reasons indicated therein, and in light of a letter addressed to him from the Chairman of the TRIPS Council, theGeneral Council meeting of 10 February would be considered closed unless any delegation informed him by5 March of its wish to have the General Council reconvene in the coming days.  No such communication wasreceived, and the meeting was considered closed.
4 The Decision was subsequently circulated as WT/L/540.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 9
The General Council took note of the statements.
(ii) Report by the Chairman on Examination of Scope and Modalities for Non-Violation and
Situation Complaints under Articl e XXIII of GATT 1994 (WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha directed the TRIPS Council to continue its examination of the scope and
modalities for complaints of the types provided for under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) ofArticle XXIII of GATT 1994 and make recommendati ons to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial
Conference (WT/MIN(01)/17, paragraph 11.1).
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman of the Council for TRIPS
reported on the Council's consideration of this matter.
The representative of Peru spoke.The General Council took note of the statement and of the report on this matter contained in
IP/C/27 and Add.1, and that the report would be  forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
(g) Work Programme on Electronic Commerce – Reports from Subsidiary Bodies and on the
Dedicated Discussions on Cross-Cutting Issues under the auspices of the General Council
(WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha agreed to continue the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, and
instructed the General Council to consider the mo st appropriate institutional arrangements for
handling the Work Programme, and to report on further progress to the Fifth Session.  Ministers alsodeclared that Members would maintain their current practice of not imposing customs duties on
electronic transmissions until the Fifth Session (paragraph 34 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration).  In
October 2002, the General Council agreed to maintain, for the duration of the work until the Fifth
Session, the current institutional arrangements fo r handling the Work Programme, i.e. that the
Councils for Trade in Services, Trade in Goods and TRIPS, and the Committee on Trade andDevelopment would examine and report on aspects of electronic commerce relevant to their
respective areas of competence, and that the General Council would play a central role in the entire
process, would keep the Work Programme under continuous review and would consider any trade-
related issue of a cross-cutting nature.
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered reports on the Work
Programme on Electronic Commerce from subsidiary bodies and on the dedicated discussions on
cross-cutting issues under the auspices of the General Council (G/L/635, S/C/18, IP/C/29,
WT/COMTD/47, WT/GC/W/505 and Corr.1).
The Chairmen of the Council for TRIPS and of the Committee on Trade and Development,
and Deputy Director-General Mr. Yerxa introduced their respective reports.
The representative of Cuba spoke.The General Council took note of the reports of  the Council for Trade in Goods, the Council
for Trade in Services, the Council for TRIPS, the Committee on Trade and Development and theDedicated Sessions on Cross-cutting Issues in  documents G/L/635, S/C/18, IP/C/29, WT/COMTD/47,
WT/GC/W/505 and Corr.1, and of the statements, a nd that the reports would be forwarded to the
Ministerial Conference.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 10
(h) Work Programme on Small Economies – Reports (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, Deputy Director-General
Mr. Thompson-Flôres, on behalf of the Chairman  of the Dedicated Sessions of the Committee on
Trade and Development, reported on the Committee's activities on the Work Programme on Small
Economies.
The General Council took note of the report  by Deputy Director-G eneral Mr. Thompson-
Flôres on behalf of the Chairman of the Dedicated Sessions of the CTD.
At the General Council meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman of the Dedicated Sessions of
the Committee on Trade and Development reported on the Committee's work since the last report to
the General Council in February.
The representatives of the United States and Mauritius spoke.The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the Dedicated Sessions of the
CTD and of the statements.
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman of the Dedicated Sessions
of the Committee on Trade and Development introduced the Committee's report on the work under
the Work Programme on Small Economies (WT/COMTD/SE/1).
The General Council took note of the report of the Dedicated Sessions of the Committee on
Trade and Development in WT/COMTD/SE/1 and of the statement, and that the report would be
forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
(i) Review of Progress on the Implementation Issues Referred to WTO Bodies under the
Decision of 14 November 2001 on Implementation-Related issues and Concerns5
(WT/GC/M/80)
and
(j) Review of progress on development-related issues of the Doha Work Programme4
(WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council considered communications from India
on the review of progress on the implementation issues referred to WTO bodies under the Decision of
14 November 2001 on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns (WT/GC/W/494), as well as from
Tanzania on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries on the review of progress on
development-related issues of the Doha Work Programme (WT/GC/W/495).
The representatives of India, Tanzania (on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing
Countries), Cuba, Botswana (on behalf of the AC P Group), China, United States, Kenya, Senegal,
Zambia, Japan, European Communities, Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, Djibouti, Argentina, Malaysia,
Philippines, Barbados, Thailand, Paraguay and Canada, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
                                                     
5 At the Chairman's suggestion the matters under Points 1(i) and (j) were taken up together and the
discussion thereof is reflected accordingly in the minutes of the meeting.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 11
(k) Negotiations on Improvements and Clarifications of the DSU - Extension of Timeframe
(WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha agreed "to negotiations on improvements and clarifications of the Dispute
Settlement Understanding.  The negotiations should be based on the work done thus far as well as any
additional proposals by Members, and aim to agree on improvements and clarifications not later thanMay 2003 ... " (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, paragraph 30).
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman recalled that at the TNC
meeting on 10 June, the TNC Chairman had suggested that any decision about a new timeframe for
the DSU negotiations was for the Ministerial Conference, or the General Council under its delegated
authority, to take and that it might well be possible to resolve this at the General Council level.  He
had given some thought to this matter in light of the discussions at the TNC meeting, and had alsodiscussed it with the Chairman of the Special Session of the DSB, as well as with delegations.  He
was also aware that a number of delegations had emphasized that an important consideration in any
decision on this matter was the fact that these negotiations were outside the single undertaking, and
therefore that any decision on the timeframe for completion of work in this area should take this into
account.  Bearing in mind these elements, and having consulted with delegations, most recently at themeeting of Heads of Delegation on 21 July, he proposed that the General Council agree as follows:
(i) that the timeframe for conclusion of the negotiations on clarifications and improvements of the
DSU be extended by one year, i.e., to aim to conclude the work by May 2004;  (ii) that this continued
work build on the work done to date, and take into account proposals put forward by Members as well
as the text put forward by the Chairman of the Special Session of the DSB;  and (iii) that the firstmeeting of the Special Session of the DSB when it resumed its work be devoted to a discussion of
conceptual issues.
The representatives of the United States and Japan spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to the Chairman's proposal.
(l) Reports of the Working Groups on the Relationship between Trade and Investment, the
Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy, and Transparency in Government
Procurement, and of the Council for Trade in Goods on Trade Facilitation Timeframe
(WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered reports of the Working
Groups on the Relationship between Trade and Investment (WT/WGTI/7), the Interaction between
Trade and Competition Policy (WT/WGTCP/7), and Transparency in Government Procurement
(WT/WGTGP/7), and of the Council for Trade in Goods (G/L/637).
The Chairpersons of the Working Groups on the Relationship between Trade and Investment,
and on Transparency in Government Procurement, and of the Council for Trade in Goods on Trade
Facilitation, and the Secretariat on behalf of the Chairman of the Working Group on the Interaction
between Trade and Competition Policy introduced the respective reports.
The representatives of the Philippines and the European Communities, and the Chairman
spoke.
The General Council took note of the reports of the Working Groups and the Council for
Trade in Goods in documents WT/WGTI/7, WT/WGTCP/7, WT/WGTGP/7 and G/L/637, and of the
statements, and that the reports would be forwarded to the Ministerial ConferenceWT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 12
(m) Reports of the Working Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance, and on Trade and Transfer of
Technology (WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha agreed to an examinati on, in Working Groups under the auspices of the
General Council, of the relationship between trade,  debt and finance and of the relationship between
trade and transfer of technology, respectively, and of any possible recommendations, and instructedthe General Council to report on progress in these respective examinations to the Fifth Session of the
Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, paragraphs 36 and 37).
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered reports of the Working
Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance (WT/WGTDF/ 2), and on Trade and Transfer of Technology
(WT/WGTTT/5).
The Chairpersons of the respective Working Groups introduced the reports.
The General Council took note of the reports of the Working Groups in documents
WT/WGTDF/2 and WT/WGTTT/5 and of the statements, and that the reports would be forwarded to
the Ministerial Conference.
(n) Committee on Trade and Environment – Report Pursuant to Paragraphs 32 and 33 of the
Doha Ministerial Declaration (WT/GC/M/81)
Ministers at Doha instructed the Committee on Trade and Environment to give particular
attention to (i) the effect of environmental measures on market access, especially in relation to
developing countries, (ii) the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement, and (iii) labellingrequirements for environmental purposes, and to report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial
Conference and make recommendations, where appropriate, with respect to future action, including
the desirability of negotiations (WT/MIN(01) /DEC/1, paragraph 32). Furthermore Ministers
recognized the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of trade and
environment to developing countries and encouraged the sharing of expertise and experienceregarding environmental reviews at the national level, and instructed the Committee to prepare a
report on these activities for the Fifth Session (WT/MIN(01)/D EC/1, paragraph 33).
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a report of the Committee
on Trade and Environment on these matters (WT/CTE/8).
The Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Environment introduced the report.The General Council took note of the report of the Committee on Trade and Environment in
WT/CTE/8 and that the report would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
(o) Rules of Origin – Harmonization Work Programme (WT/GC/M/81)
In December 2002, the General Council agreed to extend to July 2003 the deadline for
completion of negotiations on the core policy issues identified in the CRO Chair's report to the
General Council of 15 July 2002, and also that, foll owing resolution of these core policy issues, the
Committee on Rules of Origin complete its remaining technical work by 31 December 2003.
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman recalled that since the
December 2002 meeting of the General Council, both the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Committee
on Rules of Origin had been pursuing informal consultations at his request and on his behalf, with a
view to resolving all the 94 core policy issues before the present meeting.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 13
The Chairman of the Committee reported on these consultations.
The Chairman said, inter alia,  that in the light of the report from the Chairman of the
Committee, and recognizing the need for discussing a possible new working methodology in order to
facilitate the negotiations, and considering the CRO Chairman's proposals contained in documentJOB(03)/132 as a good basis for further work, he would propose that the General Council extend to
July 2004 the deadline for completion of negotiations on the core policy issues identified in the CRO
Chair's report to the General Council of 15 July 2002.  He also proposed that following resolution of
these core policy issues, the Committee on Rules of Origin complete its remaining technical work,
including the work referred to in Article 9.3(b) of the Agreement on Rules of Origin, by
31 December 2004.
The representatives of Brazil, India, Pakistan and Bulgaria, and the Chairman of the
Committee and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to extend to July 2004 the
deadline for completion of negotiations on the core policy issues identified in the CRO Chair's reportto the General Council of 15 July 2002.  It also agr eed that following resolution of these core policy
issues, the CRO would complete its remaining technical work, including the work referred to in
Article 9.3(b) of the Agreement on Ru les of Origin, by 31 December 2004.
(p) Implementation and Adequacy of Technical Cooperation and Capacity-Building
Commitments in the Doha Ministerial Declaration – Report by the Director-General Pursuantto Paragraph 41 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration (WT/GC/M/81, 82)
Paragraph 41 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration calls on the Director-General to report to
the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference on the implementation and adequacy of the
commitments on technical cooperation and capacity building identified in paragraphs 16, 21, 24, 26,
27, 33, 38-40, 42 and 43 of the Doha Declaration.
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Director-General made a substantive
oral presentation highlighting the main elements from his report, which he said would be circulated
shortly.
The General Council took note of the statement and that there would be an opportunity for
delegations to comment on the report by the Director-General on Implementation and adequacy oftechnical cooperation and capacity-building commitm ents in the Doha Ministerial Declaration
following its circulation. 
6
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council considered the report from
the Director-General in WT/MIN(03)/3.
The representatives of the United States, Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), Mauritius,
Kenya, Canada, Djibouti, South Africa and Barbados spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the report in WT/MIN(03)/3, and that
it would be updated and forwarded to the Ministerial Conference. 7
The Director-General spoke.
                                                     
6 Subsequently circulated as WT/MIN(03)/3.
7 Subsequently circulated as WT/MIN(03)/3/Add.1.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 14
The General Council took note of the statement.
(q) Issues affecting Least-Developed Countries
(i) Report by the Director-General Pursuant to Paragraph 43 of the Doha Ministerial
Declaration (W T/GC/M/81, 82)
(ii) Report by the Director-General on Implemen tation of the Commitment by Ministers to
Facilitate and Accelerate Accession of LDCs (WT/GC/M/81)
Paragraph 43 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration calls on the Director-General, following
coordination with heads of the other agencies in the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related
Technical Assistance to LDCs, to provide a full report to the Fifth Session on all issues affecting
LDCs.  Paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration instructs the Sub-Committee for
Least-Developed Countries to report on an agreed work programme to the General Council at its firstmeeting in 2002.  Paragraph 18(v) of the WTO Work Programme for LDCs adopted by the General
Council in February 2002 mandates that a status report be submitted by the Director-General to the
Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference on the "Implementation of the Commitment by Ministers
to Facilitate and Accelerate the Accession of the LDCs".
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Director-General made a substantive
oral presentation highlighting the main elements of these reports, and said that his report pursuant to
Paragraph 43 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration on all issues affecting LDCs would be circulated
shortly.
The representative of Zambia spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements a nd of the report  by the Director-General on
Implementation of the Commitment by Ministers to Facilitate and Accelerate the Accession of the
LDCs in WT/MIN(03)/2, and that the report would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.  It
also took note that there would be an opportunity for delegations to comment on the Director-
General's report on all issues affecting LDCs following its circulation. 8
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council considered the Director-
General's report on all issues affecting LDCs in WT/MIN(03)/1.
The representatives of Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), Djibouti and Burkina Faso spoke.The General Council took note of the statements and of the report in WT/MIN(03)/1, and that
it would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
2. Review of the exemption provided under paragraph 3 of GATT 1994 (WT/GC/M/78)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled the procedure to
be followed for the conduct of the review of the exemption provided under Paragraph 3 of
GATT 1994 under the review cycle starting in 2003, which the General Council had agreed in
December 2002.  In connection with the review, he drew attention to an annual report circulated by
the United States in WT/L/512.
The representatives of the United States, Panama, Chile, Australia, Japan, European
Communities and Hong Kong, China spoke.
                                                     
8 Subsequently circulated as WT/MIN(03)/1.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 15
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this item at a future
meeting.
3. Proposal to remove and avoid inconsiste ncies in the texts of the WTO Agreements
(WT/GC/M/78)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the General Council considered a communication on this
matter from Chile in WT/GC/W/489.
The representatives of Chile, Argentina, Cuba, United States, Australia and Norway, and the
Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this item at a future
meeting, and that in the meantime the Chairman would consult with Members on the most efficient
way forward.
4. Accession matters
(a) Bhutan (WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman informed the General Council that
Mr. Petritsch (Austria) had agreed to replace Mr. Kreid (Austria) as chair of the Working Party on the
Accession of Bhutan.
The General Council took note of this information.
(b) Ethiopia (WT/GC/M/78, 80)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the General Council considered a communication from
Ethiopia (WT/ACC/ETH/1) concerning its interest in acceding to the WTO Agreement pursuant to
Article XII.
The representatives of Ethiopia (as an observer), Morocco (on behalf of the African Group),
Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), European Communities, India, Israel, Kenya, Pakistan, China,
United States, Peru (on behalf of GRULAC), Japa n, Indonesia (on behalf of the ASEAN Members),
Bahrain, Botswana, Canada, Turkey and Slovenia  (also on behalf of Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and of the expressions of welcome and
support, and agreed to establish a working party to examine the application of Ethiopia, and
authorized its Chairman to designate the Chairperson of the Working Party in consultation with
representatives of Members and with the representative of Ethiopia.
The Chairman invited the representative of Ethiopia to consult with the Secretariat as to
further procedures, in particular regarding the basic documentation to be considered by the Working
Party.
The representative of Ethiopia (as an observer) spoke.The General Council took note of the statement.At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman informed the General Council that
Mr. McMillan (United Kingdom) had agreed to chair the Working Party.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 16
The General Council took note of this information.
(c) Iran (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81, 82)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the General Council again considered Iran's request for
accession to the WTO Agreement.
The representatives of the United States and Malaysia (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council again considered this matter.
The representatives of the United States and Tanzania (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council again considered this matter.
The representatives of the United States and Tanzania (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council again considered this
matter.
The representatives of the United States and Tanzania (on behalf of the Informal Group of
Developing Countries) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter at its next
meeting.
(d) Yemen (WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman informed the General Council that Mr. Röben
(Germany) had agreed to chair the Working Party on the Accession of Yemen.
The General Council took note of this information.
5. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration
(a) Reports (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81, 82)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman of the Budget Committee
reported on the Committee's progress on the review of methodologies for future pay adjustments for
WTO staff, and also informed the General Council on the situation with regard to resources availableWT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 17
for WTO technical activities in 2003 and on the cash position of the Doha Development Agenda
Global Trust Fund.
The General Council took note of the statement by the Chairman of the Budget Committee.
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council considered reports by the Committee on
Budget, Finance and Administration on matters cons idered at its meetings held from October to
December 2002 as well as on the Committee's review of methodologies for future pay adjustments for
WTO staff (WT/BFA/63 and 64 respectively).
The Chairman of the Committee introduced the reports.
The General Council took note of the statement by the Committee Chairman and adopted the
report in WT/BFA/63.  The General Council then approved the Budget Committee's specific
recommendations in paragraph 27 (a) to (g) of its report in WT/BFA/64, and adopted that report.
The representatives of Chile and Cuba, and the Director-General and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a report by the Committee
on Budget, Finance and Administration on matters considered at its meetings held from January to
May 2003 (WT/BFA/65).
The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.The General Council took note of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific
recommendations in paragraphs 17, 31, 33, 35 and 39 of the report in WT/BFA/65 and adopted the
report.
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council considered a report by the
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration on recommendations following its meetings of
11 July and 14 August 2003 (WT/BFA/67).
The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.
The General Council took note of the statement, approved the Budget Committee's specific
recommendations in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the report in WT/BFA/67, and adopted the report.
(b) Doha Development Agenda Glob al Trust Fund – Situation as at 30 June 2003 (WT/GC/M/81)
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman of the Committee on
Budget, Finance and Administration reported on the cash situation of the Doha Development Agenda
Global Trust Fund as at 30 June 2003 and urged donors who had not yet done so to transfer their
promised contributions as quickly as possible.
The representative of Korea spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 18
6. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement
(a) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds (WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council considered a request by Australia,
Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and
the United States for a waiver from their respective obligations under Article I.1, Article XI.1,  andArticle XIII.1 of GATT 1994 (G/C/W/431 and Corr.1 and 2), and the related draft Decision
(G/C/W/432/Rev.1).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The representative of Poland spoke.The Chairman then noted that in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of the draft
Decision, the European Communities, Switzerland and the Czech Republic had notified the Goods
Council of their wish to also be covered by the waiver, and that, accordingly, these Members would
be covered by the provisions of the waiver when adopted.  He added that it was open to any otherWTO Member which was not currently listed in the Annex to the draft Decision and which wished to
be covered by the waiver, to notify the CTG in a similar way in due course in accordance with
paragraph 3 of the draft Decision.
The General Council took note of the report of the Chairman of the Council for Trade in
Goods and of the statements and, in accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures under
Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement ag reed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), adopted the
Decision (WT/L/518).
The representatives of Canada, Chinese Taipei and the United States spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.
(b) Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions
(i) Argentina, El Salvador, Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Thailand and
Venezuela (WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered requests from Argentina
(G/L/606), El Salvador (G/L/608), Israel (G/L/620), Malaysia (G/L/615), Morocco (G/L/616),
Pakistan (G/L/612), Panama (G/L /607), Thailand (G/L/611 and Corr.1) and Venezuela (G/L/609) for
waivers or extensions of waivers for the introduction of the Harmonized System 1996 changes into
schedules of tariff concessions, and related draft Decisions (Argentina – G/C/W/452, El Salvador –
G/C/W/454, Israel – G/C/W/462, Malaysia – G/ C/W/460, Morocco – G/C/W/461, Pakistan –
G/C/W/458, Panama – G/ C/W/453, Thailand – G/C/W/457 and Venezuela – G/C/W/455).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of these
requests by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the Decisions (WT/L/523 – Argentina, WT/L/525 – El Salvador, WT/L/531 – Israel,
WT/L/529 – Malaysia, WT/L/530 – Morocco, WT/L/528 – Pakistan, WT/L/524 – Panama, WT/L/527
– Thailand and WT/L/526 – Venezuela).WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 19
(c) Transposition of Schedule into the Harmonized System
(i) Sri Lanka (WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a request by Sri Lanka
(G/L/610) for an extension of its waiver previously granted in connection with its implementation of
the Harmonized System, and a draft Decision to this effect (G/C/W/456).
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods reported on the consideration of this request
by that Council.
The General Council took note of the report and, in accordance with the Decision-Making
Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93),
adopted the Decision (WT/L/532).
7. Preparations for the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference
(a) Administrative matters
(i) Annual report of the General Council to the Ministerial Conference (WT/GC/M/78)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled, inter alia , the
procedures for an annual overview of WTO activities, adopted by the General Council in
November 1995 (WT/L/105), and proposed that the General Council submit to the Fifth Session a
brief update to its annual report for 2002 which would describe developments since December 2002.
He noted that he was referring only to the routine annual reports of a factual nature that all WTO
bodies were required to make under existing procedures, and not to any specific reports that Ministersat Doha had requested to be submitted to them.  The Ministerial Conference would therefore have
before it, as the annual report of the General Council, a compilation of the 2002 Annual Reports of all
the WTO bodies, together with an update report concerning developments in 2003.  He proposed that
the General Council take note of his statement and ag ree to follow the procedure he had just outlined,
as had been done for the Second Ministerial Conference.
The General Council so agreed.
(ii) Attendance of observers
- Governments (WT/GC/M/78, 82)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled that 39
Governments had participated as observers at the D oha Ministerial Conference in accordance with the
Guidelines in Annex 2 of the General Council's Rules of Procedure (WT/L/161).  Out of these 39
Governments, 3 had since acceded to the WTO Agreement and thirty-one currently had observer
status in the General Council and were therefore automatically invited to attend the Ministerial
Conference in that capacity, pursuant to the Guidelines.  Five other Governments had, at their request,previously been accorded observer status only at Ministerial Conferences:  Comoros, Eritrea, Liberia,
Libya and San Marino.  He proposed that these Governments also be invited to attend the Cancún
Ministerial Conference as observers in keeping with the agreed Guidelines.  Requests from any other
Governments for observer status, either at the General Council or at the Ministerial Conference,
would have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the Guidelines when they werereceived.
The General Council took note of the statement and so agreed.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 20
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council considered requests for
observer status at the Fifth Ministerial Conferen ce from the Governments of Niue, the Cook Islands
and Afghanistan (WT/L/534, 535 and 538 respectively).
The General Council agreed to grant observer status at the Fifth Ministerial Conference to the
Governments of Niue, the Cook Islands and Afghanistan.
- International Intergovernmental Organizations (WT/GC/M/78, 80, 81, 82)At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled, inter alia , the
Guidelines for observer status for IGOs in Annex 3 of the General Council's Rules of Procedure
(WT/L/161) and also that prior to each of the past sessions of the Ministerial Conference, the GeneralCouncil had agreed to invite IGOs as observers to the Ministerial Conference on the basis of the
following elements:  (i) organizations that were observers to the General Council would be
automatically invited;  (ii) organizations that were  observers to subsidiary bodies would be invited if
they requested to attend;  and (iii) consultations would be held to determine which other organizations
that were not observers to the WTO, and who requested attendance at the Ministerial Conference,should be invited.  A list of the IGOs that had been invited to attend the Doha Ministerial Conference
on the basis of these elements was set out in WT/MIN(01)/INF/5/Rev.3.  He proposed that these
organizations also be invited to the Ministerial Conference in Cancún as observers, in keeping with
the agreed Guidelines.  Requests from any other IGOs that had not already been observers at the
Ministerial Conference in Doha, and who were neither  observers in the General Council nor in other
WTO bodies, would of course have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the Guidelines
when they were received.  None had so far been submitted.  If such requests were received in the
future, the General Council would revert to them at a subsequent meeting.  He noted that one
delegation had suggested to him that there should perhaps be a deadline for the consideration of any
such requests from other organizations, which might be set at three months prior to the date of theConference, and suggested that Members reflect on this and return to it at a subsequent meeting if
necessary.
The representative of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Members) spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to follow the procedure outlined
by the Chairman.
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the General Council considered a request for observer status
at the Fifth Ministerial Conference from the League of Arab States.
The Chairman proposed that with regard to this request the General Council proceed in
exactly the same way it had in the past with regard to requests from IGOs for observer status atMinisterial Conferences who were neither observers  in the General Council nor in other WTO bodies.
Accordingly, he proposed that, unless any objection was received by the Secretariat from any Member
by 15 June 2003, the League of Arab States be granted observer status to the Cancún Ministerial
Conference.  As in the past, he would inform the General Council at its next meeting of the situation
with regard to this request.
The representatives of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Members), Kuwait (also on behalf of
Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates), Jordan, Djibouti, Tunisia, Morocco,
Mauritania, Canada and the United States, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this item at its next
meeting.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 21
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council reverted to the request for observer
status at the Fifth Ministerial Conference from the League of Arab States.
The representatives of Israel, United States, Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Members) and
Jordan spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this request at its next
meeting.
The General Council then considered requests for observer status at the Fifth Ministerial
Conference from the Council of Europe Deve lopment Bank, the North American Commission for
Environmental Cooperation, and United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
The Chairman proposed that with regard to these requests, the General Council proceed in
exactly the same way it had in the past on requests from other IGOs for observer status at Ministerial
Conferences who were neither observers in the General Council or in other WTO bodies.
Accordingly, he proposed that, unless an objection was received by the Secretariat from any Memberby 15 August, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the North American Commission for
Environmental Cooperation, and United Nations Human Settlements Programme be granted observer
status to the Cancún Ministerial Conference.  As in the past, he would inform the General Council at
its next meeting of the resulting action with rega rd to these requests.  The shorter timeframe was
being proposed in order to allow these Organizations to make the necessary travel andaccommodation arrangements in order to be able to attend the Ministerial Conference.
The representative of Egypt and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to these requests at its
next meeting.
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council again considered the
request from the League of Arab States for observer status at the Fifth Ministerial Conference.
The representatives of Israel, United States, Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Members), Jordan
and Cuba, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.The General Council then considered the reque sts for observer status from the Council of
Europe Development Bank, the North American  Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and
United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
The representatives of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Members), Kenya, Canada, Morocco and
Djibouti, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and agreed to revert to the broader issue of
observership of international intergovernmental organizations in WTO bodies at a future meeting.
(iii) Attendance of Non-Governmental Organizations (WT/GC/M/78)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman proposed, with regard to
attendance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the Fifth Ministerial Conference, that
Members adopt similar criteria to those which had been adopted by the General Council for the four
previous Ministerial Conferences.  Following this practice, NGOs that wished to attend the FifthWT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 22
Ministerial Conference would be requested to supply, in detail, all the necessary information
indicating how they were concerned with matters related to those of the WTO.  In order to facilitate
the registration process for NGOs and the WTO Secretariat, he proposed that the detailed presentation
of activities be waived for those NGOs who had been duly registered for at least two previous
Ministerial Conferences, and that registration for them be granted automatically.  NGOs that qualifiedwould still be obliged to officially request regist ration and would be subject to all other procedures
and deadlines that applied to  NGOs requesting to attend the Fifth Ministerial Conference.
9  Based on
the information provided, the Secretariat would process a list of registered NGOs.  He proposed that
in line with past practice, this list be circulated to all WTO Members for information during the
course of July.  Confirmation of registration would then be sent to the NGOs as from 1 August.  He
proposed that Members agree to follow the procedure he had outlined in order to allow sufficient time
for the NGOs to be informed and to make the necessary arrangements for their attendance at the FifthMinisterial Conference.
The General Council took note of the statement and so agreed.
(iv) Election of Officers for the Fifth Session (WT/GC/M/78, 81)
Ministers at Doha requested the General Council to hold consultations with a view to
determining the presiding officers, namely, the Chairperson and three Vice-Chairpersons of the
Ministerial Conference, who would hold office until the end of the Fifth Session.
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman said that in keeping with
customary practice, the General Council would elect a representative of the host government – in the
present case, Mexico – to chair the Conference.  He proposed that his successor hold consultations
with regard to the election of the three Vice-Chairpersons of the Conference, and that the General
Council revert to this matter at a future meeting in order that the full slate could be agreed at the same
time.
The General Council took note of the statement and so agreed.At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman informed the General Council that on the
basis of consultations with representatives of broad regional groupings, who had themselves
suggested consensus candidates to him, he was in a position to propose that the General Council elect
the following slate of presiding officers for th e Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference:
Chairperson: Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
Vice- Chairpersons: Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst,
Minister of Economic Affairs, Netherlands
Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, MP,
Minister for Commerce, Bangladesh
Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali,
Minister of Foreign Trade, Egypt
The General Council agreed to elect the above presiding officers for the Fifth Session of the
Ministerial Conference.
                                                     
9 These procedures were subsequently circulated in WT/MIN(03)/INF/1.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 23
(v) Administrative arrangements (WT/GC/M/82)
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the Chairman informed
delegations about arrangements for meetings at the Ministerial Conference.  As regards arrangements
for plenary meetings, a proposed order of business for these meetings had been circulated in
WT/MIN(03)/5, providing an outline of how work at these sessions was proposed to be organized.
Also, an Information Note regarding the delivery of statements and the distribution of the texts of
statements had been circulated in document WT/MIN(03)/INF/10.  As regards arrangements for
informal consultative meetings that would be organized throughout the Conference by the Chairman
of the Ministerial Conference, he informed delegations that the latter had indicated to him his
intention to advise all delegations about the overall organization of the informal process as early as
possible.  In broad terms, the informal consultative process at Cancún would mirror the Geneva
preparatory process – in order to ensure both tran sparency and a sense of continuity – and would be
conducted in open-ended informal meetings of all Heads-of-Delegations.  Delegations would be kept
informed of these meetings through every means possible at the Conference centre.  Building on
practice at Doha, on each day of the Conference, an  hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon
would be set aside during which no informal meetings will be scheduled, in order to allow delegations
the time they required to consult among themselves and in regional groupings as necessary.   TheChairman of the Ministerial Conference would provide greater details on the scheduling and
organization of all meetings in the informal process.
The representatives of Mexico, Canada and Chile, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
(vi) Extension of deadline for registration of participants to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial
Conference (WT/GC/M/81)
At the General Council meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the Chairman informed Members that in
response to requests from delegations, the deadline for registration of participants to the Fifth Session
of the Ministerial Conference had been extended to 15 August.  Delegations were requested to register
as soon as possible and not to forget to communicate in writing to the WTO Conference Office the list
of their participants at the Conference, whose deadline for submitting it was also 15 August.
The General Council took note of the statement.
(b) Updates to the 2002 Annual Reports (WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered updates to annual reports
for 2002 from the General Council (WT/GC/W/504);  Dispute Settlement Body (WT/DSB/34);  Trade
Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/134);  Sectoral  Councils (G/L/637, S/C/ 17/Rev.1, IP/C/27/Add.1);
Committees on Trade and Development (WT/COMT D/46);  Balance-of-Payments Restrictions
(WT/(BOP/R/70);  Budget, Finance and Administ ration ((WT/BFA/66);  Regional Trade Agreements
(WT/REG/12);  and Trade and Environment (WT/CTE/9);  and Committees under the Plurilateral
Trade Agreements (GPA/75, Job(03)/146).  The Chairman suggested that exceptionally, and in the
interests of allowing the General Council meeting to conclude on schedule, the Chairpersons of the
various Councils and Committees not introduce their updating reports orally at the meeting unlessthey wished to draw particular attention to some aspect of the work carried out in their bodies, or to
add anything to their updating reports.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 24
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Goods informed Members that further to the report
from that Council in G/L/637, updating reports had also been circulated by subsidiary bodies of that
Council in documents which he read out.
Following a suggestion by the Chairman at the outset of the meeting, the General Council
then considered a communication from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania regarding the crisis situation
created by the long term trend towards decline in prices of primary commodities on the trade and
development of developing countries heavily dependent on their exports, which contained a draft text
on commodity issues for inclusion in the Declaration or other instrument that might be adopted at
Cancún (WT/GC/W/508 and Corr.1).
The representative of Kenya (also on behalf of Uganda and Tanzania) introduced the
communication in WT/GC/W/508 and Corr.1.
The representatives of India, Paraguay, Malaysia, Morocco, China, Zambia, Uganda,
Australia, Colombia, Rwanda, Indonesia, United St ates, Jamaica, Botswana, Japan, Canada, Pakistan,
Norway, Benin, European Communities, Bangladesh, Mali and Kenya, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and that this matter would be included in the
consultations in the process towards Cancún.
The General Council then took note of the updating reports from WTO bodies in documents
WT/DSB/34, WT/TPR/134, G/L/637, S/C/17 /Rev.1, IP/C/27/Add.1, WT/COMTD/46,
WT/BOP/R/70, WT/BFA/66, WT/REG/12, WT/CTE/9, GPA/75 and Jo b(03)/146, and also that these
reports would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
The General Council then adopted its draft report in document WT/GC/W/504 updating its
annual report for 2002, on the understanding that the Secretariat would make the necessary
adjustments to that report so as to include matters considered at the present meeting and the next.  The
report would then be circulated and also forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
(c) Draft Ministerial Text (WT/GC/M/81, 82)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a draft Ministerial text
circulated by the Chairman, on his own responsibility and in close cooperation with the Director-
General, in JOB(03)/150.  At the Chairman's suggestion, the draft Ministerial text was taken up
together with the report by the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee (referred to in
Point 1(a) above), and the discussion is reflected accordingly in this Report and in the Minutes of the
meeting.
The Chairman of the Trade Negotiation Committee introduced a report, made on his own
responsibility, on the activities of the Trade Negotiation Committee (TN/C/3).
The Chairman then introduced the draft Ministerial text, and gave an indication of how he
intended to proceed with regard to the further consideration of this text from 11 August, following theshort summer recess.
The representatives of Morocco (on behalf of the African Group), Brazil, Canada, India,
Colombia, Nigeria, European Communities, Japan, Argentina, Switzerland, China, United States,
Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), Paraguay, Czech Republic, Korea, Bulgaria, Chile, Venezuela,
Norway, Kenya, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Jamaica,
Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Namibia, Hung ary, Cuba, Turkey, Chinese Taipei, Senegal,
Mauritius, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Romania, Pakistan and Peru spoke.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 25
The General Council took note of the report by the Chairman of the TNC in document
TN/C/3 and of the draft Ministerial text in Job(03)/ 150.  It also took note of the statements and that
the report by the TNC Chairman would be forwarded to the Ministerial Conference.
At its meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the General Council considered a revised draft
Ministerial text circulated in Job(03)/150/Rev.1 and Corr.1.
The representatives of the Philippines, Mexico, Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs),
Argentina, European Communities, Bulgaria, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Morocco (on
behalf of the African Group), Botswana (on beha lf of the ACP Group), Hungary, Japan, Bolivia,
Australia, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Venezuela, Unit ed States, Uruguay, Brazil, Canada, Jamaica (also
on behalf of Barbados, Belize, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago), Costa Rica, Mauritius;  Hong
Kong, China; Egypt, Turkey, Korea, El Salvador, Honduras, China, Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Slovak Republic, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, Nigeria,  Colombia, Peru, Gabon, Romania, Thailand, Czech
Republic, Barbados, Uganda (also on behalf of th e LDCs), Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Lesotho, Kyrgyz
Republic, Lithuania, Switzerland, Croatia, Icela nd, Zimbabwe, Israel, Oman, Bahrain, Panama and
South Africa, and the Director-General and the Chairman spoke.
In the light of the discussion, the Chairman stated his intention to forward the text to the
Chairman of the Ministerial Conference under his own responsibility together with a covering letter.
The representatives of Brazil, Japan, India, Argentina, Norway, Canada, European
Communities, Kenya, Australia, United States, Bulgaria, India and Malaysia then spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.On 30 August, prior to the close of the meeting, the Chairman invited the Chairman of the
Council for Trade in Services to provide an update on his consultations regarding the modalities for
the special treatment of least-developed country Members to be included in Paragraph 6 of the draft
Ministerial text.
The Chairman of the Council for Trade in Services provided an update report.The representative of Bangladesh spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.
(d) Poverty Reduction – Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (WT/GC/M/82)
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the representative of Benin,
also on behalf  Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, introduced a draft Decision in document WT/GC/W/511
concerning specific measures in favour of cotton with a view to poverty alleviation.
The representatives of  Bangladesh (on behalf of the LDCs), Morocco (on behalf of the
African Group) and Uganda spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
(e) Communication from the Kyrgyz Republic (WT/GC/M/82)
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the representative of the
Kyrgyz Republic introduced a communication in document WT/MIN(03)/W/3 outlining its interest in
seeking recognition as a developing newly-acceded Member.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 26
The representative of Turkey spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
8. Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference (WT/GC/M/82)
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the representative of Hong
Kong, China introduced a communication his Government in document WT/GC/72 in which it
offered to host the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference.
The Chairman proposed that the General Council take note with appreciation of the offer
from the Government of Hong Kong, China and that, since the date and venue of the next Ministerial
was an item on the Agenda of the Cancún Ministerial Conference, he hold informal consultationsurgently on the question of the venue of the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference and report
back to the Chairman of the Cancún Ministerial Conference at the earliest opportunity, with a view to
assisting him in preparing this item for consideratio n at the Conference.  The Chairman also invited
any other Member Government wishing to host the next Ministerial Conference to so inform him in
order that he might take this into account during his consultations.
The General Council so agreed.
9. Coherence in Global Economic Policy-Making  (WT/GC/M/78, 79)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled that the General
Council had met from time to time in the past on the subject of Coherence in Global Economic
Policy-making, most recently in January 2001, and informed Members that the Director-General
considered that a further meeting in the spring woul d be timely, and that it would be valuable for the
latter to inform Members of his consultations with the Managing Director of the IMF and the
President of the World Bank, both of whom would be invited to participate.  The date in mind for this
meeting was 13 May.
The General Council took note of the statement.
At its meeting on 13 May 2003, the General Council held a discussion on coherence in global
economic policy-making and cooperation between the WTO, IMF and World Bank.  The General
Council had before it a Note by the Secretariat on this subject, prepared in cooperation with staff of
the IMF and the World Bank (WT/TF/COH/S/7).
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the President of the World Bank
and the Director-General made statements.
The representatives of Morocco (on behalf of the African Group), Bangladesh, United States,
India, Argentina, Canada, Japan, Gabon, Switzerland, China, Kenya, Australia, Jamaica, Indonesia,European Communities, Korea, Cuba, Paraguay, Pakistan, Chile, Barbados, Egypt, Oman and
Colombia, and the representatives of the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank, and the
Director-General and the Chairman spoke.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 27
10. Trade in Textiles and Clothing
(a) Developing Members' concern about potential reduction in market (quota) access in 2004
(WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a communication from
Bangladesh; Brazil; Costa Rica; Egypt; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Macao,
China; Maldives; Pakistan; People’s Republic of China; Sri Lanka; Thailand and Vietnam on their
concerns about potential reduction in market (quota) access in 2004, and requesting that the General
Council consider the matter and recommend that developed Members take steps to ensure that there
was no diminution of quota access for developing Members on account of quota carry forward in
2004 (WT/GC/W/503).
The representatives of India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Brazil,
China, United States, European Communities and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and that it was the Chairman's intention to
hold consultations as to the best way to deal with this matter.
(b) Anti-dumping actions in the area of textiles and clothing – Proposal for a specific short-term
dispensation in favour of developing Members following full integration of the sector into
GATT from January 2005 (WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered a communication from
Costa Rica; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Indi a; Indonesia; Macao, China; Maldives; Pakistan;
People’s Republic of China; Thailand and Vietnam concerning anti-dumping action in the area of
textiles and clothing, and proposing a specific short-term dispensation in favour of developing
Members following full integration of the sector into GATT from January 2005 (WT/GC/W/502).
The representatives of India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Costa Rica, Chile, Canada,
United States, Japan, European Communities and Hong Kong, China, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements.
11. Ongoing improvements to the services provided by the Secretariat to Members
(WT/GC/M/78, 80)
At its meeting on 10 February 2001, the Chairman informed the General Council of the
Secretariat's work over the past few months on several possible approaches to using new and existing
technologies to improve the services provided to  WTO Members, and in particular to enable the
increased involvement in the WTO's work of smaller delegations.
The General Council took note of the statement.
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, Deputy Director-General Mr. Abbott reported on ongoing
improvements to the services provided by the Secretariat to Members using new and existing
technologies.
The General Council took note of this information.
12. Possibility of a summer break prior to the Fifth Ministerial Conference (WT/GC/M/78)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman said that a number of
Members had raised with him the importance of deciding sooner rather than later whether to designateWT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 28
a one to two-week period prior to the Cancún Minist erial as a summer break.  He therefore asked that
his successor, together with the Director-General and Deputy Director-General Mr. Abbott, reflect on
this matter, and hoped that an understanding could be reached relatively soon.
The General Council took note of the statement.10
13. Closure of the WTO premises during the meeting of the G-8 in Evian (WT/GC/M/80)
At its meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman informed the General Council that since access
to the WTO premises was likely to be difficult during the G-8 meeting in Evian, he had agreed with
the Director-General following consultations with the Geneva authorities and the police that the WTO
buildings should be closed on 2 and 3 June 2003.  Consequently, delegates and staff should not come
to the WTO during these two days and planned meetings would be rescheduled.
The General Council took note of this information.
14. Traffic congestion in the WTO premises (WT/GC/M/82)
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the representative of Chile
expressed concern regarding traffic congestion in the WTO premises and urged the Secretariat to look
into this matter.
The General Council took note of the statement.
15. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (WT/GC/M/81)
At its meeting on 24-25 July 2003, the General Council considered the report of the Joint
Advisory Group of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on its Thirty-sixth Session
(ITC/AG(XXXVI)/195).
The Chairman recalled that in keeping with customary practice, this report had been
considered initially by the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) at its meeting on 22 May,
and was before the General Council for formal adoption.
The Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Development reported on the Committee's
consideration of this report.
The representatives of Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Canada, Venezuela, Morocco (on behalf of
the African Group) and Côte d'Ivoire, and the Chairman spoke.
The General Council took note of the statements and adopted the report of the Joint Advisory
Group in ITC/AG(XXXVI)/195.
                                                     
10 In a letter dated 24 March 2003, the Chairman of the General Council informed delegations, inter
alia, that his consultations indicated that the most practical option would be not to convene major negotiating
meetings for a two-week break, between 28 July to 10 August.  He added that while all would try to respect thatbreak, it might not be possible to do so absolutely, in view of the limited time available to prepare theMinisterial.  He therefore recommended that delegations  retain sufficient flexibility in their planning to cope
with such eventualities.WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 29
16. WTO Pension Plan
(a) Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan (WT/GC/M/78, 80)
At its meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman recalled that his intention to propose the
candidature of Ms. Rachel Schub (United States) to replace Mr. Linscott (United States) as alternate
on the WTO Pension Plan Management Board had be en communicated to all Members in a fax sent
on his behalf by Deputy Director-G eneral Mr. Abbott in January.  Accordingly, he proposed the
election of Ms. Schub to hold the office of alternate on the Board during the remainder of the three-
year term, expiring on 7 July 2005.
The General Council so agreed.The Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statement.At the General Council meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman said that given that the Chair,
a member and an alternate were no longer available to serve on the Pension Plan Management Board,
he wished to inform Members, as indicated in his communication in WT/GC/W/496, that the
following representatives had agreed to have th eir names put forward for election to these posts,
respectively:
Chairman: Amb. Stefán Jóhannesson (Iceland), for a period of one yearMember: Mr. Thomas Chan (Hong Kong, China)Alternate: Mr. Mathias Francke (Chile)
The General Council took note of the statement and agreed to the election of the proposed
candidates to the Management Board of the WTO Pension Plan (WT/L/517).
17. Appointment of officers to WTO bodies (WT/GC/M/78, 80
11)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman said that in accordance
with the Guidelines for appointment of officers to WTO bodies approved by the General Council in
December 2002 (WT/L/510), he and his two colleagues, Mr. Bryn (Norway) and Mr. Pérez delCastillo (Uruguay) had conducted consultations on this matter, on the basis of which he considered
that there was a consensus on the following slate of names:
General Council H.E. Mr. Carlos Pérez del Castillo
(Uruguay)
Dispute Settlement Body H.E. Mr. Shotaro Oshima
(Japan)
                                                     
11 Carried in the 15 May General Council minutes as "Chairmanship of the Committee on Trade and
Development".WT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 30
Trade Policy Review Body H.E. Mrs. Mary Whelan
(Ireland)
Council for Trade in Goods H.E. Mr. Milan Hovorka
(Czech Republic)
Council for Trade in ServicesH.E. Mr. Ousmane Camara
(Senegal)
Council for TRIPS H.E. Mr. Vanu Gopala Menon
(Singapore)
Committee on Trade and
  EnvironmentH.E. Mr. Peter Br ňo
(Slovak Republic)
Committee on Trade and
  DevelopmentH.E. Mr. Mohamed Saleck Ould Mohamed Lemine
(Mauritania)
Committee on Balance-of-
  Payments RestrictionsH.E. Dr. Manzoor Ahmad
(Pakistan)
Committee on Regional Trade
  AgreementsH.E. Mr. Jaynarain Meetoo
(Mauritius)
Committee on Budget, Finance
  and  AdministrationMr. Joshua C.K. Law (Hong Kong, China)
Working Group on the Relationship
  between Trade and InvestmentH.E.Mr. Luiz Felipe De Seixas Corrêa
(Brazil)
Working Group on the Interaction
  between Trade and Competition
  PolicyProf. Frédéric Jenny
(France)
Working Group on Transparency in
  Government ProcurementH.E. Mr. Ronald Saborío Soto
(Costa Rica)
Working Group on Trade and
  Transfer of TechnologyH.E. Mr. Stefán Haukur Jóhanesson
(Iceland)
Working Group on Trade, Debt and
  FinanceH.E. Mr. Hernando José Gómez
(Colombia)
The General Council took note of the statement and of the consensus on the slate of names.
The Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statement.At the General Council meeting on 15 May 2003, the Chairman said he understood that
H.E. Mr. Ould Mohamed Lemine (Mauritania), who had been nominated to the post of Chairmanship
of the Committee on Trade and Development, was unfortunately unable to serve in that capacity at theWT/GC/70/Add.1
Page 31
present time.  In the light of this situation, and following consultations with delegations, he informed
the General Council that there was a consensus on the appointment of H.E. Mr. Habib Mansour
(Tunisia) to this post.  It was his understanding that the formal election of Mr. Mansour would be the
first item on the agenda of the CTD's next meeting, which was scheduled for 22 May.
The General Council took note of the statement and of the consensus on this appointment.
18. Chairmanships of the WTO bodies under the TNC (WT/GC/M/82)
At its meeting in January and February 2002, the Trade Negotiations Committee adopted a
structure and established a number of bodies to undertake work on the various elements of the Doha
Development Agenda under its supervision.  The TNC also endorsed certain principles and practices
to guide its work, including that the Chairman of the General Council would consult on the
chairmanships of the individual bodies, and that the Chairpersons of these bodies would be appointedto serve up to the Fifth Ministerial Conference, at which time all the appointments would be reviewed.
The Chairpersons of the bodies under the TNC were subsequently appointed by the General Council
at its meeting in February 2002, following consultations undertaken by the General Council
Chairman.
At the General Council meeting on 26-27 and 30 August 2003, the Chairman said although
appointments of Chairpersons of the bodies under the TNC were to be reviewed at the time of the
Ministerial Conference, he considered that, given the heavy workload in connection with the
Ministerial Conference, Members would be better placed to conduct this review at the next meeting of
the General Council, scheduled for 21-22 October.  This would also allow Members more time forconsultations as necessary.  In the meantime, and keeping in mind the need for maintaining continuity
in the process, he proposed that the Chairpersons of these bodies be requested to continue in office
until the General Council's review at its meeting in October.
The representative of Brazil and the Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.
19. Election of Chairperson (WT/GC/M/78)
At the General Council meeting on 10 February 2003, the Chairman, as the outgoing
presiding officer of the General Council, made a brief statement.
The General Council then unanimously elected Mr. Pérez del Castillo (Uruguay) to the Chair.
The newly-elected Chairman spoke.The General Council took note of the statements.
__________