00-0287 ENDPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/162
25 January 2000
 GERMANY CONTRIBUTES TO WTO’S GLOBAL TRUST FUND
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany today signed an Arrangement with the
WTO to contribute DM 1 million (approximately CHF 820,000) to the WTO Global Trust Fund.  The
Fund was established in July 1999 to receive extra-budgetary donations from WTO Members to
finance technical cooperation activities carried out by the WTO.
The German contribution, which will be disbursed over a four year period, is to be used to
undertake Trade Policy Reviews for developing countries and to improve the Trade Policy Review
Mechanism and better adapt it to the specific requirements of developing countries. A recentAppraisal of the Mechanism Members drew attention to the technical assistance value of Trade Policy
Reviews, which provide an overview of the releva nt Member's economy and the role of trade policy
in achieving the member's development aims.  The Reviews also facilitate the identification and
prioritization of further technical cooperation requirements.  The Appraisal urged that all Members,
including least-developed countries, be reviewed at least once and as soon as possible.  The Germancontribution to the Global Trust Fund will facilitate this objective, particularly with respect to least-
developed countries.
"I welcome Germany's generous contribution to the Fund", said WTO Director-General
Mike Moore.  "Since the WTO was formed, de mand for technical assistance has increased
dramatically.  We are doing our best to respond to these demands, on our own and in cooperation with
other international organizations."
"The WTO’s regular budget for technical assistance of CHF 741,000 is insufficient to meet
all the demands of developing and least-developed countries, as well as the needs of economies intransition, to enable them to engage more fully in  the trading system.  In recent years, these funds
have largely been supplemented by generous contri butions from countries such as Germany to support
important programmes for development."
The Director-General has called on WTO Member governments to raise the budget for
technical assistance to CHF 10 million to better m eet the demand of developing countries.  A group of
countries have proposed that such a figure shall be included in the regular WTO budget if Members
agree to this.  It is proposed that the figure shall be phased in over a three-year period starting from
the year 2000.