WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/43
29 January 2001
(01-0462)
Original:  English
SITUATION REGARDING WORK IN THE COMMITTEE ON
REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
Communication from Australia, Indi a, Japan, Korea, New Zealand,
Pakistan and Hong Kong, China
The following communication addressed to the Chairman of the General Council and dated
26 January 2001, has been received from the delegations of Australia, India, Japan, Korea, New
Zealand, Pakistan and Hong Kong, China with the request it be circulated to Members.
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1. At its regular December 2000 meeting, the General Council received the annual report of the
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.  This report was usefully supplemented by the Committee
Chair’s statement of introduction, which set out his assessment of the serious situation facing the
Committee in respect to the two key aspects of the Committee’s mandate: namely, the examination of
individual Regional Trade Agreements and systemic issues.
2. During the ensuing General Council discussion a number of concerns were expressed by
Members about the situation faced in the Committ ee.  The importance of the Committee progressing
its work was emphasized.
3. Although time was not available at the December meeting for a full exploration of the views
of Members, the Chair of the Committee indicated that he would be consulting further with Members
on ways to progress matters under the Committee’s mandate.
4. Against this background, we believe it would be useful for the General Council at its
8 February 2001 meeting to further discuss this situation.
5. Accordingly, we therefore would like to propose the above item for inclusion on the
provisional agenda of the 8 February 2001 General Council meeting.
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