./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/350
11 October 1999
(99-4250)
General Council Original:  English/
French
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1999 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
WTO and Transparency
Communication from Canada
The following communication, dated 1 October 1999, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Canada.
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Proposal
1. Canada proposes that Ministers, in Seattle, commit themselves to enhancing the transparency
of the WTO, so that:
(a) a portion of the WTO Secretariat budget is allocated to fund regular outreach
initiatives, (such as symposia, workshops and the WTO website), to improve public
and private sector understanding of the WTO and the benefits of trade and investment
liberalization; and,
(b) Secretariat working papers, formal contributions from Members, draft meeting
agendas and minutes will be circulated, with very limited exceptions, as unrestricteddocuments as soon as available in all three WTO languages.
2. Canada further proposes that Ministers, in Seattle, commit themselves to enhancing the
transparency of the WTO Dispute Settlement system. Canada believes the following measures would
do much to bolster public understanding and support for the rules-based system of the WTO, withoutaffecting its inter-governmental nature:
(a) requiring Members to make public their Panel and Appellate Body submissions;
(b) issuing final reports to the parties to a dispute as soon as the “Findings and
Conclusions” portion of the final report is prepared in all three WTO languages.  Atthe same time, the “Findings and Conclusions” portion will be circulated as an
unrestricted document;
(c) making available the “Descriptive” portion of final reports as an unrestricted
document in the language in which it was prepared at the same time as the “Findingsand Conclusions” portion is circulated.
3. Canada is an active participant in the DSU Review process, which is also examining
transparency in WTO dispute settlement.  The Canadian proposals set out above are not intended to
prejudge any possible outcomes in the DSU Review.WT/GC/W/350
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4. As a first step, Canada proposes that Ministers, in Seattle, commit themselves to adopting the
following paragraph in the Seattle Ministerial Declaration:
“Recognizing the need for in creased transparency in order to improve public and
private understanding of the WTO, we agree to improve the transparency of WTO
operations by implementing more regular outreach initiatives and by ensuring thatmore WTO documents are made available to the public, as well as to all members, in
a timely fashion.”
Rationale
5. The success of the GATT and the WTO has heightened public awareness of the linkages
between trade policy and domestic interests, and has raised concerns about the level of transparencyin the operation of the WTO.  We need to do more to build understanding of these linkages, address
these concerns, correct misperceptions and create confidence in the WTO and its processes.
6. Canada believes it is particularly important that our domestic constituents be fully engaged in
the preparation process leading to Seattle and in the launch and conduct of new negotiations.  Public
support for the results of the negotiations will depend, to a large degree, on how inclusive andtransparent are the WTO and its processes.
7. Canada believes there are some practical steps that can be taken towards the shared goal of
greater public support for trade liberalization in general and the WTO in particular.  Adopting at
Seattle a liberalized document derestriction policy will help to inform domestic constituencies in a
more open and timely manner and provide the means for constructive debate.  Agreement at Seattleon implementing a program of Member and Secretariat outreach initiatives will help to clarify the
work of the WTO and improve public perceptions and support.  By establishing regular budget
funding for outreach initiatives, the Secretariat could concentrate its efforts on the content and
effectiveness of such initiatives, rather than on fundraising.
8. The Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) is a vital part of the effective functioning of the
multilateral trading system.  Enhancing the transpar ency of the DSU will increase the confidence of
all our stakeholders in WTO dispute settlement.  Transparency is also an important part of the
ongoing DSU Review process, and Canada’s proposal is not intended to prejudge any outcomes in
that forum.
9. This proposal is in no way meant to change th e intergovernmental nature of the WTO.  The
goal is to demystify the workings of the WTO to th e greatest extent possible in order to avoid public
disillusionment and the impairment of our ability to continue to make progress together.  Greatertransparency of WTO activities is central to building and reinforcing the support necessary for
maintaining and improving the multilateral trading system.
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