RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/W/90
21 September 2001
(01-4487)
Committee on Trade and Development
A NEW STRATEGY FOR WTO TECHNICAL COOPERATION:
TECHNICAL COOPERATION FOR CAPACITY BUILDING,
GROWTH AND INTEGRATION
Note by the Secretariat
I. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: DEFINITION, ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS,
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE
1. The core mandate of the WTO is trade liberalization.  Trade liberalization and reform yield
essential development dividends.  WTO technical as sistance is a key component of the development
dimension of the multilateral trading system.1  It is a core function of the Organization.2  It provides
enabling assistance for Members to undertake trade liberalization.  The delivery of technicalassistance activities is a Secretariat-wide function, not limited to the Technical Cooperation Division
(TCD).  It involves support by the Secretariat (sometimes in partnerships with other development
partners) to Members/Observers
3 to assist them in understanding WTO rules and disciplines, the
obligations of Membership, and in building institut ional capacity for trade policy, and participation in
the multilateral trading system for growth and development.
2. Several means are used in the delivery of WTO technical assistance.  They include routine
advisory services to representatives of Perman ent Missions to the WTO, in Geneva, seminars,
workshops, training courses, and the use of modern technology for disseminating information.
Technical assistance is integral to and a necessary component of the WTO Work Programme.  It is
indispensable for the effective participation of beneficiary countries in the work of the Organization.
3. The Guidelines for WTO Technical Cooperation, adopted by the Committee on Trade and
Development, on 15 October 1996, remain relevant.4  The document states, inter alia , objectives for
WTO technical assistance.  Since its adoption, WTO Membership has increased, the needs and
priorities of Members have become diversified.  Consistently, Members have made clear that their
technical assistance needs and priorities encompass the spectrum of assistance for implementing
                                                     
1 In the second preambular paragraph of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO, Members
recognize that there is a need for positive efforts designed to ensure that developing countries and especially the
least-developed amongst them, secure a share in the grow th in international trade commensurate with the needs
of their economic development.
2 It is to be noted that WTO technical assistance an d training overlap considerably.  They are mutually
supportive with regard to objectives and means.  The Technical Cooperation Division and the Training Institutework closely together.
3 Technical assistance is provided to all Members of the World Trade Organization in particular to
developing countries, transition economies, and the least-developed countries.  From within these groups of
countries, technical assistance focuses priority attentio n on African countries, non-residents, modest and
capacity-constrained missions.  Priority is also accorded  to acceding countries and countries that have expressed
an interest to accede to WTO Membership.
4 WT/COMTD/8 (16 October 1996).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 2
commitments, developing trade policy capacity for participation and negotiation, and support for
national policy objectives for beneficial integration into the trading system and the global economy.
Using the 1996 Guidelines as a starting-point, there are seven broad objectives to the New WTO
Strategy for Technical Cooperation:
(i) coordinate  effectively with key development partners to enable countries and
customs territories, beneficiaries of WTO technical assistance, to participate
and integrate more meaningfully in the multilateral trading system, in order to
increase incomes for growth, poverty reduction and development;
(ii) assist  beneficiary countries to understand their rights, implement their
obligations and improve their capacity to draw on the benefits of an open,rules-based, multilateral trading system.  To this end, technical assistance will
focus on establishing partnerships with beneficiary countries to better
understand and use the rules;
(iii) increase  the volume and quality of the technical assistance that the WTO
delivers in response to significantly increasing demand (from an increasing
Membership);
(iv) provide  a focused response to the priorities expressed by beneficiaries,
within a coherent trade policy framework and companion policies;
(v) support  national efforts and ownership in building durable institutional
capacity for trade policy formulation, advocacy and negotiation;
(vi) ensure  that WTO technical assistance is delivered within a coherent policy
framework (not on a stand-alone basi s) through careful coordination with
bilateral and multilateral development partners.  Delivery of WTO technical
assistance within a coherent policy framework will seek to mainstream  trade
priority areas of action into national development plans and strategies for
poverty reduction, so that trade will more effectively play its role as an
engine for poverty reduction and development; and
(vii) provide  legal advice and assistance in respect of dispute settlement to
developing country Members, pursuant to Article 27.2 of the Dispute
Settlement Understanding.
4. WTO Membership continues to grow.  Since the establishment of the Organization the Work
Programme has also steadily expanded.  More proposals are being made by the Membership for theexpansion of the Work Programme.  As a result, it is necessary to increase the volume and also
improve on the quality of current WTO technical assistance.  Increased and predictable Secretariat
resources are inevitable consequences of the increase in Membership and expansion of the Work
Programme.
5. WTO technical cooperation focuses on developing countries and transition economies.
Priority attention is on the least-developed countries, most of which are in Africa.  A cardinal
consideration is capacity-building to assist these countries to more effectively participate in the
multilateral trading system and the global economy, and derive increased benefits from integration.
The delivery of technical assistance is also directed to institution building through the training of
national professionals involved in the objective of formulating coherent trade policies and the drafting
of WTO-consistent domestic legislation.  In the delivery of technical assistance, capacity-building is
designed to focus, inter alia , on the development of competent trade negotiators on the existing WTO
work programme and in those areas that will be part of an expanded work programme in any future
negotiations.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 3
II. APPROACHES
6. There are several approaches to WTO technical cooperation and capacity-building.  The
principal approaches include the:
(a) Agreement-by-Agreement approach : according to which technical assistance will
focus on individual Agreements, in the WTO Committees that administer theseAgreements;
(b) Country-by-Country approach : according to this approach, capacity-building on
the Multilateral Trade Agreements will be concentrated within one country;
(c) Regional approach : this approach focuses on the delivery of technical assistance on
regional platforms;
(d) Formal inter-agency cooperation agreements/Memoranda of Understanding
(MOUs) : a carefully designed network of formal agreements/MOUs is being
designed between the WTO Secretariat and other specific agencies with relevant,
intersecting or complementary expertise in areas of WTO Agreement.  Such inter-
agency arrangements would focus on geographical regions and specific WTO
areas/agreements.  These arrangements are principally governed by MOUs.  They are
designed to assist beneficiary countries to develop trade policy capacity, and tosupport their efforts to fulfil their implementation requirements.
5 A new Secretariat
policy on MOUs was issued on 13 September 2001 to govern the activities of the
Secretariat in this area.6  Some of the previous MOUs are being consolidated.7 Others
are under negotiation for the delivery of Short Trade Policy Courses (as technical
assistance) in the regions of Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean,and in Europe;
(e) Training and other mutually supportive activities : This includes regular residential
three-month Trade Policy Courses, Short Trade Policy Courses, Geneva Week for
non-residents, specialized courses for newly arrived diplomats accredited to the
WTO;
(f) The Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to LDCs
(IF): an objective of the New WTO Strategy will be to extend the IF to other
developing countries that may wish to benefit from the IF approach; and
(g) The tools box approach : this approach suggests that WTO trade-related technical
assistance should combine all the partial/individual approaches (a) to (e) within anoverall architecture.
                                                     
5 For example, the WTO Secretariat signed a Cooperation Agreement with the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) in 1995.  In June 2001, the Directors-General of the two Organizations signed aJoint Initiative, building on the 1995 Cooperation Agreement, to assist the LDCs to implement their obligationsunder the TRIPs Agreement, which fall due in 2006.  Possible arrangements are being explored with otheragencies such as the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and
international standardizing bodies in the area of standards and technical regulations.  A Cooperation Agreement
was signed between the Office International des Epizootics and the WTO, in 1998.
6 See Annex I.
7 The objective is to replace the bilateral MOUs with tripartite MOUs to be concluded between the
regional UN Agency, the regional development bank, and the WTO Secretariat.  The Legal Affairs Division andthe Administration and General Services Division, shall be involved in the development of these new tripartite
MOUs.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 4
7. These seven approaches are not exclusive.  They are mutually supportive and reinforce each
other. In many instances, the starting-point (appro ach) in the delivery of technical assistance in a
country is determined by the circumstances (needs and priorities) of a particular country or a
particular policy area involved.  Inevitably, the best approach will be an integrated tools box , from
which the most appropriate tool will be used in specific circumstances.
III. CORE ELEMENTS FOR A WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY
8. The core elements in the New Strategy for WTO Technical Assistance are the following:
• First, technical assistance as a mechanism for mainstreaming : in the delivery of activities,
WTO technical assistance will encourage and provide technical support to beneficiary countries to
"mainstream" (integrate) trade priority areas of action (trade integration strategy chapters) intonational development plans and/or strategies for poverty reduction, in particular the Poverty
Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).  The yield from technical assistance delivery will increase to
the extent that it is not delivered on a stand-alone basis, but within plans for economic
development, and strategies for poverty reduction.  The value of mainstreaming extends to
ensuring coordination amongst trade, finance and development departments/Ministries, as well as
with the private sector.  WTO experience, similar to that of other development partners, is that the
impact of technical assistance is minimal and inconsequential to the extent that it is delivered on astand-alone basis. Optimal yields result when technical assistance is delivered within a coherent
policy framework;
• Second, the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to the Least-
Developed Countries (IF) : the IF that was re-vamped in 2001 is now being applied to Pilot
LDCs, as a mechanism for mainstreaming  trade into development plans and strategies for poverty
reduction; and, a mechanism for the delivery of trade-related technical assistance.  The statedvalue of this approach is to go beyond primary focus of WTO technical assistance, which focused
only on teaching implementation requirements (obligations and commitments) of developing
countries and the least-developed countries.  The revamping of the IF was designed to assist
beneficiary countries to actually be able to draw on the benefits of an open, rules-based trading
system by assisting their efforts to become viable trading partners.  It is felt that the approach ofthe IF is the right response to the capacity deficit  and the supply-side constraints  of developing
countries.  To that extent, the IF is considered as an important component of the development
dimension of the multilateral trading system.  This approach would make trade, in reality, the
engine for growth and development.  The re-desig ned IF is not only a mechanism for the delivery
of trade-related technical assistance, but more significantly a mechanism for "mainstreaming"(integrating) trade priority areas of action into national development plans and strategies for
poverty reduction.  This approach is now being implemented in a Pilot Scheme for LDCs by the
six core multilateral agencies: the IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, the World Bank, and the WTO.
A principal value of the IF approach is that it increases the possibility of providing trade-related
infrastructure assistance and capacity, which the beneficiary countries need, which fall outside ofthe mandate and the resources of the WTO, but can be delivered by other IF partners within a
coherent policy framework;
• Third, Integrated National Plans for WTO Implementation : the WTO will work with
beneficiary countries and deliver technical assistance within integrated national plans forimplementing WTO Agreements and linked to development plans and strategies for poverty
reduction.  Randomly delivered technical assistance through missions, workshops, etc., are barelymeasurable and tend not to be cumulative.  In many instances, WTO professionals are invited to
deliver technical assistance by individual national departments, with minimal coordination, and in
the absence of comprehensive national plans for implementation of obligations, and exercise of
rights;WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 5
• Fourth, institutionalized National Contact Points/Coordinating Committees : effective and
functioning national contact or focal points, responsible for WTO matters, are essential for theconsistent absorption of technical assistance with positive cumulative effects.  In the delivery of
technical assistance, the national interlocutors should include all the core economic government
departments/Ministries with trade-related comp etencies; and, where necessary, other competent
bodies, such as in agriculture and health departments.  Exclusive interaction with only onegovernment department has not yielded optimal results.  Greater positive impacts from the
delivery of technical assistance have been more fully realized in interaction with all the key
economic departments/ministries, as is normally the practice in trade policy reviews.  WTO RFCs
is another area where there is a need to widen the composition of participants.  In the installation
and maintenance of RFCs, the WTO will work to widen the composition of nationalrepresentatives that use the RFCs, on a daily basis.  It shall also encourage Commerce Ministries,
where the RFCs are normally installed, to consider ensuring access to members of National Focal
Points/Coordinating Committees;
• Fifth, inter-locking WTO technical assistance, accessions, trade policy reviews and training:
the development of institutional and trade policy capacity are key impacts and effects that resultfrom accessions and trade policy review processes.  Training and technical assistance aredesigned with the common objective of developing such capacity, in the short and long term.  The
New Strategy for WTO Technical Assistance inter-locks WTO accessions, trade policy reviews,
training, and technical assistance.  A carefully designed relationship has been developed with the
Accessions, Trade Policy Review Division, and the Training Institute, to pursue the objectives of
building capacity, improving and making more consistent the participation of beneficiary
countries in the work of the WTO.  The continuous refinement of this relationship will be a
constant feature of the strategy for WTO technical assistance;
• Sixth, bilateral donors in the DAC/OECD: effective and sustained coordination with bilateral
donors is essential for the successful implementation of the objectives of WTO technicalassistance.  Re-designing the relationship with bilateral donors to explicitly involve them in the
delivery of WTO technical assistance, including with in the context of the IF, is critical. The forum
for bilateral donors is the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
8 More effective  coordination with bilateral
donors is being pursued within the Integrated Framework Steering Committee (IFSC).  The
Steering Committee, which effectively began to function on 15 March 2001, looks poised to
prosper and to assist bilateral and multilateral development partners to coordinate the delivery of
technical assistance for capacity-building, integration and development within coherent
macroeconomic and regulatory framework; and
• Seventh, effective Coordination: the WTO Secretariat has a vital role to play in improving
coordination on trade-related technical assistance at several levels.  Improved coordination is anurgent necessity at several levels:
                                                     
8 At the High Level Meeting on 25-26 April 2001, the Development Assistance Committee endorsed,
"Guidelines on Capacity Development For Trade in the New Global Context" (referenceDCD/DAC(2001)5/Final - 23-May-2001).  The Guidelines were issued together with a companion document bythe U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), "Building Trade Policy Capacity in DevelopingCountries and Transition Economies -- A practical Guide to Planning Technical Cooperation Programmes.
These two documents have made important contributions to trade-related technical assistance.  Above all the
Guidelines underscore, inter alia , the contributions of trade liberalizatio n to development; the necessity but also
the requirements for the beneficial integration of develo pment countries into the multilateral trading system; the
stake of trade policy makers in strengthening the trade-related capacities of developing countries; and, the factorof donor support in strengthening the multilateral trading system by addressing the challenges facing developingcountries.  In this context, the integrated value of th e Integrated Framework is highlighted, and the need for its
strengthening.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 6
- amongst multilateral agencies, involved in the provision of technical
assistance, and bilateral donors;
- amongst bilateral donors;
- within individual WTO Committees that are currently defining stand-alone
technical assistance work programmes.  These individual Committee WorkProgrammes require coordination with other WTO Committees; and
- within the WTO Secretariat.  A Technical Assistance Management
Committee (TAMC) became operative on 5 June 2001 to ensure intra-
Secretariat coordination and coherence.  The Committee's Terms of
Reference stipulates that Members and other agencies (development partners)will be invited, as necessary, so as to coordinate better the delivery of trade-
related technical assistance.  The TAMC meets on a regular basis.
• Eighth, auditing, monitoring and evaluation : these are essential components of WTO technical
assistance, which are already well underway, within  the Secretariat, and will be strengthened.
The auditing of technical assistance will ensure that there are optimal results for resources
invested in technical assistance.  The Director-General established a Technical Cooperation Audit
Unit on 1 February 2001, separate from the TCD. The Unit is responsible for on-going monitoring
and evaluation of all technical assistance provided by the WTO.  Through this function, theSecretariat will ensure that the financial and human resources invested in WTO-administered
technical assistance programmes will be optimally utilized.  The Unit selects and observes
technical assistance missions by WTO Divisions, with reports that are circulated within the
Secretariat.  The reports and their recommendations are also discussed at meetings of the
Technical Assistance Management Committee.  Auditing is yet to become fully institutionalized;
• Ninth, Region/Issue-Specific Strategies : Beyond the outlines of WTO technical assistance
strategy that have been identified, region and issue-specific strategies have also been defined tounderscore the necessity of any meaningful technical assistance strategy to be sensitive to
peculiarities.  Particular region/issue-specific strategies have been identified as follow:
- African Countrie s (Annex II);
- Asia and the Pacific Countries (Annex III);
- Arab and Middle East Countries (Annex IV);
- Eastern Europe and Central Asian Countries (Annex V);
- Latin America and the Caribbean Countries (Annex VI);
- The Integrated Framework for Least- Developed Countries (Annex VII); and
- Information Technology/WTO Reference Centres (Annex VIII).
• Tenth, regular budget funding for WTO technical assistance : A sound and effective strategy
requires adequate, predictable resources (funding), which can be flexibly applied.  Currently,funding for WTO technical assistance and capacity-building is irregular and unpredictable.  It is
fitful and earmarked with considerable inflexibility.  Although there is vast and considerable
support for the funding of WTO technical assistance from the regular budget, consensus does not
yet exist in this regard.  The advantages of regular budget funding include predictability offunding, enhanced programming and planning, and efficiency in the use of funds.  There would be
a reduction of the onerous, multiple and increasing reporting obligations under the existing extra-WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 7
budgetary resources.  Regular budget funding of technical assistance will improve flexibility in
the use of available resources, and will reduce the pressure on the Secretariat to spend particular
contributions within specific time limits, with diminished considerations for rational use.  A few
Members have proposed voluntary contributions with in a multi-year framework, as an alternative
to regular budget funding for WTO technical assistance.  An early resolution of the fundingsituation is required.  An increase in the Secretariat personnel resources, including in the
Technical Cooperation Division and the Training Institute, are required to enable it effectively
implement the New Strategy.
WTO Technical Assistance in Geneva
9. A considerable quantum of WTO technical assistance, particularly problem-solving oriented
technical assistance, is provided at the WTO, in Geneva.  This form of technical assistance includes
responding to questions and providing informal drafts to assist delegations, responding to enquiries
from visitors, commenting on documents/notifications received from members, and
telecommunication conference with capital-based delegations and Secretariats of international
organizations.  In agriculture and SPS, more than half of technical assistance activities is delivered in
this way.  Although it is an effective way of assisting consumers of WTO technical assistance inimplementing their commitments, and exercising their rights under the rules, it involves a signficant
deployment of Secretariat resources.
IV. SECRETARIAT ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FOR ADMINISTERING TA
10. The delivery of technical assistance is a Secretariat-wide function.  The function is not limited
to the Technical Cooperation Division (TCD).  The TCD is only in the delivery frontline. It ensuresintra-Secretariat coordination to improve efficiency.  It evaluates materials used in technical
assistance delivery to be sure that they are modernized and up to date.  The TCD also ensures the
balance in technical assistance missions between the necessity of "specialist presentations", as well as
the necessity of "generalist presentations" that explain the overall architecture of Multilateral Trade
Agreements, the vital role of trade in development and, therefore, the necessity for mainstreaming
trade into overall development policies.
11. The TCD has been re-structured.  There are two Sections,  headed by Chiefs.  The two
Sections are the:
• Policy Section ; and the
• Operations Section .
12. The Policy Section  is sub-divided into three Units :
• the Integrated Framework Unit;
• the Unit for Secretaries of Committees; and,
• a third Unit, dealing with a cluster of priority issues.
13. The Operations Section  encompasses seven Units, managed by Heads .  The Units are:
• African Countries and the JITAP Unit;
• Asia and the Pacific Countries Unit;
• Arab and Middle East Countries Unit;WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 8
• Eastern Europe and Central Asian Countries Unit;
• Latin America and the Caribbean Countries Unit;
• Least-Developed Countries and Agence de la Francophonie Unit; and
• WTO Reference Centres Unit.9
14. The two Sectional Chiefs are essentially coordinators .  They ensure coordination and
coherence in the work of the Units.  They also coordinate policy and operational work with other
WTO Divisions involved in the delivery of techni cal assistance.  Unit Heads have full responsibility
for their areas of competence.  They manage and supervise the work of their Units, and advise on
policy on the areas under their competence.
15. In the delivery of technical assistance, the Secretariat takes account of priorities identified by
Members.  Priority issues that have been identified include accessions, trade negotiations capacity,
skills and techniques, support for mandated negotiations in agriculture and services, and any areas of
new negotiations, implementation, standards and t echnical regulations.  Although all developing
countries are entitled to WTO technical assistance, Members, however, have asked for priority to beaccorded to the Least-Developed Countries, African countries, non-residents, and modest and
capacity-constrained Missions.
16. In consultation with Members, identified priorities, and requested needs, the Secretariat will
develop sliding annual plans for technical assistance.  Secretariat experience with the format of the
three-year plan reveals that many variables intervene over a 3-year period.  The experience with the 3-year plans is one of low levels of implementation. As a result of frequently changing requests from
Members, multiple requests from different domestic agencies, limited and unpredictable resources and
limited Secretariat personnel capacity, the rate of implementation has been limited.  Experience has
shown that the three-year plan is impractical, and needs to be adapted to realities in the light of the
experience gained.  Changes are so frequent that the result is a list of activities and not a plan.  It
needs to be recognized that WTO technical assistan ce plans will have to deal with an extraordinarily
dynamic and shifting reality.
17. In the light of experience, the plan has been re-structured.  First, it will now operate on a 12-
month calendar basis.  Plans for any year will be circulated in the preceding year.  Ad hoc requests
will be kept to a minimum.  A well-ordered and structured plan for technical assistance will enable the
Secretariat to organize and pace itself in the delivery of technical assistance.  This is necessary in
order to take account of the increasing workload and commitment of the Secretariat.
10
18. The current plan for technical assistance is divided into 6 Sections:
(i) Section I : Regional: Seminars/Workshops/Multilateral Conferences;
(ii) Section II : Short Trade Policy Courses as Technical Assistance outside
Geneva;
(iii) Section III : National Technical Assistance Missions;
(iv) Section IV : Information Technology Support/WTO Reference Centres;
                                                     
9 Organigramme is attached.
10 The Training Institute operates on the basis of a two-year cycle for its programme of activities.  This
creates no conflict with the 12-month technical assi stance plan.  The two-year programming of Training
Activities is designed to ensure, inter alia , equitable coverage between eligible countries/customs territories.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 9
(v) Section V : Integrated Framework for Least-Developed Countries; and
(vi) Section VI : Technical Assistance Tools Development.
19. Close coordination between the TCD and other Divisions that deliver technical assistance will
be strengthened.  Strong partnerships are required amongst Divisions whose activities have significant
knock-on effects for training and capacity-building in particular the Training Institute, the TradePolicy Review Division, and the Accessions Division.  In training and capacity-building, a strong and
mutually supportive partnership is required with regard to training courses, training of trainers,
distance-learning services and striking the appropriate relationship with selected universities and with
regard for Secretariat capacity for implementation.  The TCD and the Training Institute will together
develop appropriate materials and services for use in technical assistance activities in the field as wellas training in Geneva.
Review Procedure
20. This strategy for WTO Technical Cooperation will be reviewed periodically, in the
Committee on Trade and Development (CTD), with a view to considering any improvements that may
be found necessary.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 10
ANNEXES
ANNEX I
PROCEDURES FOR NEGOTIATING AND IMPLEMENTING
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING (MOUs)
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Technical Assistance Management Committee
Circular N° 1
Procedures for negotiating and implementing MOUs
21. Global Trust Funds MOUs
(a) Global Trust Funds MOUs (GTF MOUs) shall be prepared on the basis of the
memorandum of the Director of Legal Affairs Division (LAD) (12/04/01), setting out
the procedures. To this end, the GTF MOU shall be drafted on the basis of the legal
standard jointly developed by LAD, TCD and the Administration and GeneralServices Division (AGSD), annexed herewith.
(b) The process of negotiating and concluding GTF MOUs shall be the responsibility of
the AGSD, in close consultation with  TCD.
(c) For every GTF MOU, the final copy for signature shall be authorised by the LAD.
22. Regional/Policy/Cooperation MOUs
(a) The TCD shall develop a standard for the Regional/Policy/Cooperation MOUs in
consultation with LAD.
(b) The TCD shall be responsible for the negotiation and the drafting of the
Regional/Policy/Cooperation MOUs, in consultation with LAD, the TC Audit Section
and the competent operational division.
(c) For every Regional/Policy/Cooperation MOU, the final copy for signature shall be
authorised by the TCD, in consultation with LAD.
23. The LAD will be the depositary of all signed MOUs.  Copies shall also be placed in the
Registry.
24. Review Process
(a) The implementation of Regional/Policy/Cooperation MOUs shall be reviewed
annually. The review shall be conducted by the responsible division, examined by the
Technical Assistance Management Committee (TAMC) and reported to senior
management.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 11
(b) The TCD shall establish a database, which will include key information such as:
- Contracting Parties;
- date of signature;
- date of expiration;
- date of extension;
- objectives;
- beneficiary countries/Members;
- activities undertaken during the reporting period;
- WTO obligations (including resources requirements);  and
- a scanned version of the MOU shall be added to the database.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 12
ANNEX II
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES11
Policy
25. The WTO technical assistance strategy/policy for Africa is to support Africa's trade and
economic reform, consolidate Africa's process of integration into the multilateral trading system, andmaintain the momentum for the Continent's sustainable trade and economic development. Liberalizing
trade and investment regimes, rationalizing tariffs and exchange rates, phasing-out prohibited
subsidies and reducing barriers to investment stimulate growth in African countries and translate into
better market access opportunities.  This WTO policy will be implemented through the establishment
of a tripartite MOUs among the WTO, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), and shall take account of the priorities contained in the New African
Initiative , which has been endorsed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit, the Genoa
G-8 Summit, the High Level Segment of ECOSOC that was focused on Africa.  Many bilateral
donors have also endorsed the Initiative as have multilateral agencies.  WTO technical assistance
policy for Africa will include through increased logistic and substantive support for the WTO African
Group in Geneva, that was established in 1995, and has become one of the centres for the
development of trade policy for Africa.
Objectives
26. There are several core technical assistance objectives:
• to build human capacity on trade policy issues;
• to develop institutional capacity for trade policy formulation, advocacy and negotiations;
• to address supply-side constraints in cooperation with other inter-governmental
organizations/multilateral agencies, essentially on the platform of any expanded andenhanced IF; and
• to provide technical support to assist African countries in mainstreaming  trade policy into
macroeconomic and regulatory policy so that trade becomes a true engine for
development.
Strategy/Means
27. In cooperation with other inter-governmental institutions, the WTO is developing a series of
regional and national workshops to build-up African expertise on multilateral trade issues. WTOefforts will yield greater dividends as it continues to be complemented by domestic efforts and
support from other multilateral agencies for revamping productive capacity, increasing access to
markets, strengthening institutional democratic reform , and rule of law.  All these, put together will
help create conditions enabling long-term development in Africa.  Developmental assistance needs to
                                                     
11 Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon , Cape Verde, Central
African Rep., Chad , Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem. Rep., Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,  Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia , Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho , Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda ,
Saharawi Arab Dem. Rep., Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal,  Seychelles, Sierra Leone , Somalia, South Africa,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Morocco  (not a member of the
OAU/AU) (Members are shown in bold) .WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 13
complement trade policy in Africa.  Obviously, the WTO cannot undertake this responsibility alone,
but shall seek to do so with other agencies, such as the IF core agencies, and with regional
organizations in particular the AfDB, and the ECA.
28. Several means will be employed namely, national seminars, training of local trainers,
elaboration and use of case studies and exercises, elaboration of primers on good practices (e.g. draftlegislation on customs valuation, antidumping, safeguards, and subsidies and countervailing
measures), and elaboration of "How-to" booklets (e.g. on SPS and TBT).
• University courses: Given the need to disseminate accurate information on the WTO and the
multilateral trading system as widely as possible, the WTO will establish new links and broaden
relations with universities and research institutions in Africa, which offer international trade
courses;12
• The Role of Regional Economic Secretariats (e.g. ECOWAS13, SADC14 and COMESA15):  The
role of regional economic Secretariats is essential.  Although formal relations through MOUs
cannot be established with the multiplicity of regional economic Secretariats, nonetheless, their
assistance will be sought in the organization of regional seminars and other activities as relevant.
These institutions will be approached to assist in logistics, local organization of seminars, and
organization of briefing sessions for regional bodies, among others;
• Outsourcing: Sometimes, to the extent resources are available, it will be necessary use outside
(when WTO experts are not available) in the ever expanding technical cooperation activities of
the WTO. This would be limited to areas where WTO expertise would need to be complemented
by expertise in other international organizations (e.g. intellectual property rights—WIPO; customs
matters—WCO; standards—ISO/ILAC and sanitary  and phytosanitary issues—Codex, IPPC and
OIE);
• The Role of Trade Policy Courses:   It is intended to broaden the outreach of WTO Agreements,
rights and obligations of Members in the multilateral trading system by periodically organizing 3-
week trade policy courses in Africa on the basis of the proposed tripartite MOU amongst theWTO, the AfDB, and the ECA; and
• Information Technology:   The New Technical Assistance Strategy will increase the use of
information technology tools to disseminate in formation on WTO Agreements, including holding
on-line discussions on future directions in global trade policy.  Such tools as video-conferencing,
CD-ROMs and training books will be utilized more frequently than before to disseminate the
WTO in the field.
Funding
29. The WTO regular budget is a source of funding, but this is limited, at the moment. Resources
are also made available in several Trust Funds.  Extra-budgetary resources require greater flexibility
and predictability to increase efficiency in their use for all WTO beneficiaries, including the Africancountries. Although voluntary extra-budgetary fund ing are valuable and welcome, they present
difficulties for efficient and predictable planning.
                                                     
12 Activities in this area shall be closely coordinated with the Training Institute.  It is useful to mention
that an important focal point for WTO law that is presently emerging in the collaboration between Stellenboschand Windhoek Universities.  This focal point is being subsidized by the Swiss Ministry of DevelopmentCooperation.
13 Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS).
14 South African Development Cooperation (SADC).
15 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 14
Status
30. As at end August 2001, forty-one African countries are Members of the World Trade
Organization.  Six other African countries are either negotiating their accession to the WTO or are
Observers to the organization.  The following twenty -seven African countries have had their national
trade policies reviewed by the WTO Trade Policies Review Body:  Bénin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  In these trade policy reviews, the Trade Policies
Review Body welcomed the thrust and direction of economic and trade reforms underway in manyAfrican countries in spite of significant economic internal difficulties and obstacles to trade in
external markets.
31. There has been a steady increase in WTO technical assistance to African countries since
1990, although the quantum remains insufficient. Overall technical assistance increased from twenty
in 1995 to forty-three in 1996, sixty-six in 1997 and to 103 in year 2000.  The creation of the World
Trade Organization has, in fact, given a boost to WTO's technical assistance for Africa.  These can be
ascribed partly to the launching of the Joint Integrated Programme for African countries (JITAP), andto the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance (IF)), following the conclusion
of the High-Level Meeting on Least- Developed Countries in October 1997.
32. Close to six hundred officials from 51 African countries and five organizations have so far
participated in GATT/WTO Trade Policy Courses. In addition, officials from African countries have
benefitted from a number of short trade policy courses organized in the field and at the WTOSecretariat.  With more resources becoming available in the future, workshops on specific WTO
issues will be targeted to individual countries, and cooperation with other international agencies,
notably the World Bank and UNDP further deepened to provide long-term technical assistance.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 15
ANNEX III
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
COUNTRIES16
Policy
33. WTO technical assistance strategy and policy in this region is focused on providing technical
support to assist many countries in the region, with reasonably developed trade policy capacity andinfrastructure, to consolidate their trade integration efforts.  For some others in the region, in
particular those that are more vulnerable or have small economies or are at stages of developing trade
policy capacity and infrastructure, the policy is to provide all necessary assistance, and where
accepted to consider the application of the formula of the IF.  In pursuit of this policy, the WTO
Secretariat will intensify its collaborative relationship with regional institutions. The Secretariats of
Regional Economic Commissions and Regional Banks have an important role to play in the
identification of the needs and priorities of Members and also in the delivery of technical assistanceeither on behalf of the WTO Secretariat or in concert with it.
34. In the Asia and Pacific Region, the Secretariat has already signed individual/bilateral
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Forum Secretaria t (FORSEC), and Singapore.  However, in order
to streamline WTO technical assistance activities with the establishment at the regional level of aconsolidated and shared work programme, the Secretariat will pursue the preparation of a joint
tripartite MOU amongst ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the WTO Secretariat.  It is
felt that this would be a perfect vehicle for galvanizing the cooperation needed to achieve full
integration of the countries in the region and the optimal utilisation of the scarce resources available
for trade-related technical assistance.  This tripartite  MOU will identify priorities for joint work at the
regional level that the three institutions will implement together.
35.  The negotiations for the accession of China and Chinese Taipei have been successfully
concluded.  Membership, which is now simply a matter of legal formality, will involve increased
technical assistance for these two countries.
Objectives
36. There are several key technical assistance objectives:
• Improving the knowledge of WTO multilateral trade rules and building institutional capacity;
• Advising on the implementation of commitments and use of the opportunities in the
provisions in the WTO Agreements;
• Providing legal advice regarding dispute settlement and the effective use of the DSU
provisions;
• Improving knowledge and capacity in trade negotiations techniques;
                                                     
16 Asian Economies: Afghanistan, Bangladesh , Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam , Cambodia, China, Hong
Kong China , India , Indonesia , Korea (Ref. of) , Korea (Pop. Dem. Rep.), Lao, Macau (China) , Malaysia ,
Maldives, Mongolia , Myanmar , Nepal, Pakistan , Philippines , Singapore , Sri Lanka , Chinese Taipei,
Thailand , Viet Nam. - Pacific Island Countries: Cook  Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea , Samoa, Solomon Islands , Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu. (WTO Member countries are shown in bold).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 16
• Assisting the countries in the region in their economic integration processes (e.g. Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN));
• Supporting the acceding countries of Asia-Pacific in their accession negotiations (Bhutan,
Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Lao, Nepa l, Vietnam, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu);
• Assisting the Trade Policy Review  which and using the process for mainstreaming trade
policies into economic development plans, and the preparation of an agenda of trade-relatedtechnical assistance needs and priorities; and
• Continuing the routine daily assistance of the Geneva-based missions to the WTO through
normal contacts.
Strategy/Means
• A tripartite partnership, based on an MOU, amongst the WTO, ESCAP and ADB.  A newly
negotiated MOU between the three institutions would open up new opportunities for result-oriented-cooperative activities;
• Reinforced partnerships could be exemplified amongst government, business and
university/training institutions.  The WTO Secretariat could play a central rôle in the setting up ofthese "WTO partnerships conferences", where participating agencies would seek to achieve
synergies in collaborative human capacity-building;
• Outsourcing is necessary in areas where WTO expertise needs to be complemented or where
WTO human resources are simply not available due to severe work constraints at WTO;  and
• The number of regional or national trade policy courses would increase, to the extent that
resources are available.  For instance, ESCAP has asked for the regional trade policy course to be
increased.
Funding
37. Currently, the funding of technical assistance activities in the region are covered from the
WTO regular budget and from Trust Funds;
38. Additional and shared funding will be sought, for the implementation of technical assistance
projects, from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the proposed joint tripartite MOU; and
39. Furthermore, a number of acceding countries are considering offering substantial financing of
technical assistance activities, nationally and regionally, once they have acceded to the WTO.
Status
40. Nineteen of the Asia-Pacific countries are WTO Members.  Nine are acceding countries, and
thus observer to the WTO.  The remaining countries have no formal legal relation to the WTO.  The
acceding countries are at various stages in their accession process.  The accession negotiations forChina and Chinese Taipei have been successfully concluded.  Between 1998 and 2000, some 125
technical cooperation activities were held in the Asia-Pacific region.  The imminent Membership of
China and Chinese Taipei would impact considerably on the number of activities to be developed in
these two countries, some of them with a regional participation.  Over the years, a total of some 29
WTO Trade Policies Reviews were held for Asia-Pacific economies.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 17
ANNEX IV
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR THE ARAB AND THE
MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES17
Policy
41. The WTO will strengthen its collaboration with regional Institutions, with a view to
increasing the impact of its technical assistance activities, given the financial and human constraints
of the Secretariat. In the Middle East, in the past, the WTO Secretariat has already signed individualMemoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with, inter alia,  the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
42. In order to streamline WTO technical assistance activities with the establishment at the
regional level of a consolidated and shared work programme, the Secretariat will pursue the
preparation of a joint tripartite MOU. This joint MOU amongst IsDB, ESCWA and the WTO
Secretariat would be a significant vehicle for ga lvanizing the cooperation needed to achieve full
integration of the countries in the region and the optimal utilisation of  the scarce resources availablefor trade-related technical assistance. This tripar tite MOU will identify priorities and formulate
programmes and projects for joint work at the regional level in favour of the Middle East and Arab
countries.
Objectives
43. The Secretariat will pursue the preparation of a joint tripartite MOU. This joint MOU
amongst the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the WTO Secretariat would be a significant vehicle for
galvanizing cooperation.  It would aim at capacity-building, streamlining WTO technical assistance,
and consolidating a shared work programme.
Strategy/means
44. Specific projects and activities will be jointly identified for each of the areas that follow:
• Raising awareness and building institutional capacity in the region on the WTO . It is
essential to explain the key role played by inte rnational trade in economic growth as well as the
functions of WTO;
• Integrating trade into development. Trade priorities, including the implementation of WTO
obligations and commitments, are frequently not integral to overall development plans.  In many
instances, core trade priorities are not taken into account by finance and planning ministries.
Thus, although openness to trade is strongly associated with economic growth and poverty
reduction, trade as an engine for growth is ye t to be mainstreamed into development plans.
However, trade liberalisation and reform are not sufficient to solve all problems of development.
They require complementary and mutually supportive policies on a much broader platform ofeconomic reform, including macroeconomic, regulatory and structural reforms;
• Facilitating the flow of information. A language barrier confronts Arab countries vis-à-vis  the
WTO. This barrier must be addressed through joint efforts to promote the publication of Arab
                                                     
17 Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt , Iraq, Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania , Morocco, Oman ,
Palestinian Auth., Qatar , Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria,  Tunisia , UAE, Yemen (WTO Members are shown
in bold).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 18
authors on the WTO as well as the translation into Arabic of key WTO publications and
documents;
• Assisting Geneva-based mi ssions to the WTO.  Dealing with the WTO is challenging, in
particular for small missions. Appropriate means will be explored at the regional level to assist the
Missions in dealing with their workload;
• Supporting acceding countries.  The accession of the acceding countries in the region is in many
instances still in the initial stages, and governments have difficulty understanding all the technical
details of the WTO system and coping with the accession process. Technical assistance in this
area is vital.  A joint approach will ensure an effective use of scarce resources while keeping the
activities well coordinated and appropriately focussed;
• Assisting in the Trade Policy Review (TPR). The TPR can be used as a mechanism for trade-
related capacity-building, and for mainstreaming a trade integration agenda into national
development plans and poverty reduction strategies.  Technical assistance will ensure that all the
benefits of the examination will be fully realised with the mainstreaming of trade policies into the
economic decision-making structure and the definition of clear priorities for trade-relatedtechnical assistance;  and
• Building trade negotiation capacity/skills.  Several countries in the region are relatively new to
tariff negotiations and have not participated actively in previous trade negotiations. There is,therefore, a need to provide technical assistance to strengthen their negotiating capacity and this
can be organized more efficiently at the regional level.
Funding
45. The funding of trade-related technical assistance activities will need to be addressed in the
tripartite MOU. In broad terms, cost-sharing arrangements amongst the three Institutions and the
beneficiary countries will have to be devised so as to keep the overall cost of the work programme in
line with the funding available to the Secretariat through the regular budget and Trust Funds.
Status
46. Ten countries of the region are WTO Members.  While few were already GATT Contracting
Parties in the 70s, several have joined the GATT in the early 90s or directly the WTO after the
successful conclusion of accession negotiations. In addition, five countries in the region are accedingto WTO and, with the exception of Saudi Arabia, their accession process is still in the initial stages.
The remaining countries have no formal relation to the WTO.
47. Since the establishment of the WTO in 1995, there has been a significant increase in WTO
technical assistance to the Middle East and Arab countries, but it remains insufficient. The Secretariat
will do its outmost to increase the volume and improve the quality of its technical assistance to theregion. In this context, some activities to be executed in the coming months at the regional level in
cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia have already been identified.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 19
ANNEX V
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN
EUROPEAN AND CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES18
Policy
48. WTO's policy is geared to a better and fuller integration and participation of Central and
Eastern European and Central Asian Countries in the WTO. The region comprises 29 countries andincludes inter alia  the Baltic States, the Balkan countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States,
the Caucasus and Central Asian countries. Several countries in the region are relatively 'new' to the
system and lack a GATT/WTO history and thus ha ve little experience with the functioning of the
WTO as an institution and with the operation of its rules. Policy for this region is also geared to
consolidating their trade liberalization and reforms.
Objectives
49. Achieving the key objective of integrating countries in a systematic way into the multilateral
trading system and familiarising them with its basic principles is a major challenge.  The WTO system
has grown increasingly complex, compared to the GATT system that it has replaced.  The rules are
both broader and deeper in scope. Also, through mainstreaming trade into a country's broader policy
framework and particularly into a national development strategy, domestic and international policieswill be more intrinsically related.
Strategy/means
50. A strategy to achieve a fuller and better participation of Central and Eastern European and
Central Asian Countries in the multilateral trading system requires an approach that combinesdissemination of information and knowledge on the WTO Agreements on both a broad and specific
level. Such assistance needs to focus on strength ening institutional capacities to absorb the new
commitments, help beneficiaries become more acqua inted with the intricacies of the WTO rules and
to facilitate the implementation of new obligations. It thus includes a mix of offer and supply-targeted
at various levels of decision-making within national administrations and  across the region, on thebasis of the region's needs, priorities and requests.
51. Technical assistance programme with beneficiary countries will be targeted at specific areas
of expertise, taking into account and building upon the work that has already been done up-to-date at
the country level. Also, the mix of supply and demand will be flexible in order to modulate the
various objectives in the light of the regional and subregional specificities and to address concretenational priorities. The programme is designed in a coherent manner, so that the capacities of
beneficiary countries are built by stages, with each stage building upon the results of the previous one.
Thus, the objectives proceed from the more general to the more specific and specialized areas.  This
does not preclude the pursuit of two or more objectives in parallel and simultaneously, keeping in
mind the national and sub-regional stated priorities.
52. Where possible, collaboration with other international, regional and sub-regional
organizations will be sought, on an ad hoc basis and in accordance with the activities to be developed.
                                                     
18 Albania, Armenia , Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kazakstan , Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia
Frm. Yug. Rep.,  Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation , Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, Fed. Rep. of. (WTO Member countries are
shown in bold).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 20
Such cooperation with regional and sub-regional bodies should ensure a more efficient use of human
and financial resources. Also, it is suggested to actively associate former WTO trainees to the
programmes, thus creating a national 'network' of experts in each country.
53. All WTO Divisions will play a role in the delivery of WTO's technical assistance programme
for Central and Eastern European and Central Asian Countries. It is not an exercise solely conductedby the TCD of the WTO. They will be asked to provide their expertise in the delivery of technical
assistance as part of the work programme. All activities that are proposed are closely coordinated with
each beneficiary, to ensure that they meet their ex pectations, but also with other agencies to develop
synergies and ensure inter-agency coordination.
Funding
54. Previously, Central and Eastern European and Central Asian Countries were largely excluded
from WTO's technical assistance programmes funded under the regular budget, as these funds were
primarily used for developing and least-developed countries. This situation has gradually changed.
With the establishment of the WTO Global Trust Fund for technical assistance, which receives extra-
budgetary contributions from donors, several technical assistance activities (including national
seminars, workshops and conferences) were undertaken in, or with the participation of Central andEastern European and Central Asian Countries. Future activities will be funded from the regular
budget as well as through extra-budgetary resources.
Status
55. Sixteen of the Central and Eastern European and Central Asian Countries are WTO Members.
Many joined recently, following the successful conclusion of their accession process. Only a few were
GATT Contracting Parties prior to the establishment of the WTO. The remaining countries are either
acceding countries, and thus observers to the WTO, or contemplating accession, without any formal
relation to the WTO. The acceding countries are at different stages in their accession process.
56. Several countries in the region have levels of economic development that do not substantially
differ from those of developing countries, with similar per capita incomes and GDP. Their productive
capacity has often been negatively affected by distortive policies of the past, which added to the
difficulties of economic adjustment and pursuing open, market-based economic policies. In fact, many
countries in the region adopted centrally-planned policies, with most sectors in the economy having
been dominated and/or directly controlled by the state, leaving little or no room for the operation ofmarket forces. Moreover, having been isolated from world markets for several decades, many have
effectively been deprived from foreign direct investment (FDI), in ways which could have assisted
their economic development and build their domestic productive capacity.  To correct this situation,
WTO technical assistance will have to effectively function as a mechanism not only for delivering
trade-related technical assistance, but also for mainstreaming  trade priority areas of action into overall
development policies and ensure consistency with companion policies.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 21
ANNEX VI
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES19
Policy
57. WTO strategy for technical assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean countries will
focus on expanding and consolidating institutional capacity for trade policy, ensuring that trade policyis mainstreamed  into macroeconomic and related companion policies, and also ensures compatibility
of regional integration processes with multilateral trade rules.  In order to increase the impact of its
technical assistance activities and given the financial and human constraints of the Secretariat, the
productive relations established with the Inter- American Development Bank (IADB) through its
Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL), with the Organization of
American States (OAS), with the Latin American Economic System (SELA) and with the Inter-
American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) should be pursued and strengthened.
58. Relations could also be enhanced with the regional integration Secretariats such as the Latin
American Integration Association (ALADI), the Andean Community Secretariat (CAN), the
Secretariat for Central American Integration (S IECA) and the Caribbean Community Secretariat
(CARICOM). The ACP Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM)
complete the scenario in the region.
59. Coordination among these institutions is necessary.  In order to attain this objective, an
understanding between WTO, OAS and IADB shoul d be pursued. The three Organizations will
identify the priorities, and jointly undertake technical assistance activities in the region with the
collaboration of the different institutions above-mentioned.
Objectives
60. Relatively, countries in the Latin American and the Caribbean have already established basic
trade policy fundamentals.  In this context, WTO technical assistance policy will seek to build on
these fundamentals and what has already been achieved so as to increase the levels of trade policy
sophistication.  In pursuing this policy, the WTO will work closely with the key regional institutions.Key objectives will include:
• Assisting domestic implementation of WTO Agreements ;
• Assisting in developing negotiating skills;
• Continued dissemination of information; and
• Enhancing collaboration with regional institutions.
                                                     
19 Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina , Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cuba,  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti (LDC), Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru , St. Kitts and Nevis, St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela .(WTO
Members are shown in bold).WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 22
Strategy/Means
61. A mix of strategies and appropriate means are required in achieving the technical assistance
strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean Countries.  The key strategies shall include:
• Enhancing the participation of  the countries in the Region in the MTS.  It is essential the
dissemination of information on the WTO, explanation of the contents of the WTO Agreements,
assistance on implementation issues and building capacities in trade negotiation capacity. Theprincipal partner with the WTO in this area would be the IADB;
• Assisting the countries in their economic integration processes.  This includes preparations
and negotiations on a Free-trade area of the Americas (FTAA), to show to the officials involvedin regional integration negotiations the importance and extent of their countries' multilateral
commitments and the necessity to strive for WTO consistency in regional agreements. The
principal partner with the WTO in this area would be the OAS;
• Continuing to assist Geneva-based missions to the WTO, through normal contacts;
• Supporting the Bahamas  in its  accession process. This is the  only country in the accession
process in the Region and technical assistance should be provided to ensure a smooth process;
• Assisting in the Trade Policy Review. The Trade Policy Review (TPR) can be viewed as a
trade-related capacity-building mechanism, and it can help in the mainstreaming of trade policies
into the economic decision-making structure and the preparation of an agenda of trade-related
technical assistance needs and priorities; and
• Improving the use of distance learning techniques.  The videoconferencing should be extended
so as to facilitate the education process implied in the five objectives mentioned above.
Funding
62. The principal supplier of funds in the region is the IADB.  The WTO will work closely with
the IADB in order to encourage the Bank to maintain its financial and other support for WTO
activities in the region. Spain has pledged a contribution for financing the Short Trade Policy Course
jointly organized with ALADI.
Status
63. The Latin American and Caribbean region can be divided into two broad groups: the Spanish-
speaking continental countries (including Portuguese-speaking Brazil), plus Cuba and the Dominican
Republic in the Caribbean; and the Caribbean-basin English-speaking island countries. All of themare WTO Members, except The Bahamas, whose accession Working Party has already been
established.
64. The region is characterized by a multiplicity of regional and sub-regional integration schemes,
as well as a large number of free trade agreements. The Central American Common Market, the
Andean Community, MERCOSUR and CARICOM are the main regional integration schemes.
NAFTA, which brings together the US and Canada with Mexico is, for its part, the only free-trade
area in the world where two developed countries and one developing country have joined in equal
partnership.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 23
ANNEX VII
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR LEAST-DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES20 - THE INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK
Policy
65. The technical assistance policy of the WTO for LDCs is based on the IF.  The single most
important element of the re-vamped IF is to ensure  its use as a mechanism for "mainstreaming" trade
priority areas of action into the national development plans of LDCs and their strategies for poverty
reduction, and also to ensure that when technical assistance is delivered, it will be within a coherentpolicy framework of consistent companion policies.
21  Problems and challenges facing 49 LDCs in the
area of trade are numerous and complex.  Unless these are addressed within a coherent and
comprehensive framework, the opportunities and benefits offered by the multilateral trading system
cannot be realised for the most vulnerable Members of the global community.  Six multilateral
economic institutions (IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, World Bank and the WTO), with distinct
institutional competence, are mandated to work toge ther, with a view to improving the effectiveness
and efficiency of trade-related technical assistance delivered to the LDCs.
Objectives
66. The IF, as endorsed by the High-Level Meeting in October 1997, "seeks to increase the
benefits that LDCs derive from the trade-related technical assistance available to them from the six
Agencies involved in designing this Framework, as  well as from other multilateral, regional and
bilateral sources, with a view to assisting them  to enhance their trade opportunities, to respond to
market demands and to integrate into the multilateral trading system".22
Strategy/means
67. The IF has been implemented on a pilot basis since the adaptation of the Pilot Phase Work
Programme in February 2001.  The implementation in three pilot countries is being led by the World
Bank, in a three-step process:
• First step: a  diagnostic trade integration study is prepared for each country.  The
study assesses the competitiveness of the economy, and identifies domestic andexternal impediments to effective integratio n into the multilateral trading system and
the global economy;
• Second step:  based on the findings of the study, an Action Plan (i.e. a programme of
trade-related technical assistance) is developed with a view to strengthening the
overall competitiveness of the economy and of the sectors engaged in international
trade.  The Action Plan is then discussed at a trade-specific workshop with the
government and development partners, prior to its inclusion in an updated PRSP;  and
                                                     
20 Afghanistan , Angola, Bangladesh, Benin,  Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi , Cambodia, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,  Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti , Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haïti , Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Lesotho,  Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Nepal, Niger, Rwanda , Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone , Solomon Islands , Somalia,
Sudan, Togo , Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia (WTO Members
are shown in bold).
21 The IF has been remodelled since July 2001 following a review to improve its effectiveness.  See
WT/LDC/SWG/IF/2, for the decisions containing the improvements to the framework.
22 WT/LDC/HL/1/Rev.1.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 24
• Third step: The trade priorities identified in the study and the resulting Action Plan
are submitted to the World Bank Cons ultative Group (CG) or UNDP Round Table
Meetings for financing.  At this stage, the involvement of development partners
(donors, agencies that provide grants, etc) are indispensable for considering the
funding of priority projects.
Funding
68. The IF Pilot Scheme is funded by the IF Trust Fund, managed by UNDP, on behalf of the six
Agencies.23  The implementation is also supplemented by resources of the core agencies in terms of
staff contributions and budgetary outlays.
Status
69. The IF Pilot Scheme is being implemented in Cambodia, Madagascar and Mauritania.24  It is
envisaged that the scheme will be extended to other LDCs at the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference.
Annually, the Director-General, on behalf of the core IF Agencies, circulates an annual report.  This
year, the Director-General will circulate a report on the implementation of the IF Pilot Scheme to the
4th WTO Ministerial Conference, as well as the traditional report on the Follow-up to the October
1997 High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Integrated Initiatives for Least-Developed Countries' Trade
Development.
                                                     
23 As of 1 September, donors' pledges to the IF Trust Fund amounted to US$6.2 million.
24 In addition to the three pilot countries, follow-up activities to the IF Round Tables are underway in
Bangladesh, the Gambia, Haiti, Tanzania, and Uganda.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 25
ANNEX VIII
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY/POLICY FOR INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY - THE REFERENCE CENTRES
Policy
70. In 1997, the WTO Secretariat took a policy decision to establish a network of computerized
information centres in the least-developed and developing countries, irrespective of whether they are
WTO Members or not. The Centres provide access to WTO information and documents through aprint library, a CD-ROM collection and through the Internet to WTO web-sites and databases.
25  The
Centres are located mainly in trade Ministries and in the headquarters of regional and sub-regional
organizations. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is issued for each Reference Centre (RFC)
established by the WTO.  The RFCs have become an important component of the WTO technical
assistance.
Objectives
71. There are four basic objectives.  First, the RFCs deliver support to trade officials in capitals
(or in non-Geneva based missions in Europe).  This support is to enable access to WTO documents,
information and data at the same time and with equal facility as delegations in Geneva.  Second, they
provide a local/regional focus where government officials, business representatives, university
professors, students and the general public can obtain information about the WTO. Third, they linkLDCs, developing and countries in transition to the WTO Web site (both the public and restricted
sites) so that they can obtain access the databases used for trade negotiations, such as documents on
line, the Integrated DataBase, and the Consolidated Tariff Schedule database. Fourth, the RFCs will
also be used to enhance the use of new information technology tools, such as video conferencing and
global distance learning systems.
Strategy/means
72. The WTO provides the hardware, software and support for RFCs in LDCs' RFCs. For non-
LDCs, the WTO does not provide the computer equipment, but training on how to obtain access to the
wealth of information on the WTO Internet site ; databases and digital carriers (e.g. CD-ROMs)
developed by the WTO. Each Centre in non-LDCs provides its own computer equipment and Internet
connection.
73. For the LDCs and small-island developing countries, the establishment of WTO Reference
Centres is preponderantly supply-driven. The Government is required to provide a physical location
for the RFC and identify staff to be trained to operate the Centre. For non-LDCs, such a decision shallnormally depends on the readiness of the country concerned to procure its own computer equipment,
ensure access to the Internet, and pay for the travel, hotel accommodation and terminal expenses of
the WTO resource person(s) designated. The Government is required to provide a physical location
for the Reference Centre and identify staff to be trained to operate the Centre.
74. The recipient Governments provide appropriate office space and infrastructure for the
physical location of a Reference Centre, including shelving, electrical connections. They need to
assign a coordinator and designate government personnel to receive training. They need to assumeroutine operation and maintenance of the WTO-procured computer equipment, as well as the print and
                                                     
25 It is to be noted that WTO Members, in the Committee on Market Access, have not yet approved
dissemination of the CTS database.  On password policy, it is to be noted that the WTO missions of Membershave to decide whether they want to provide officials in the RFCs full access to the IDB, particularly the IDB
internet file transfer facility.  The Secretariat doe s not provide the passwords to the officials at RFCs.
According to present rules, this is a decisi on for the Geneva-based missions of Members.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 26
CD-ROM libraries. Finally, they also need to ensure access to a local telephone line and provide
Internet connection.
75. WTO RFCs in LDCs and small-island developing countries are provided technical assistance
through the WTO RFC Help Desk. WTO RFCs in developing countries and in transition economies
provide their own technical support for hardware and software. WTO provides advice and upgrades ofprint and CD-ROM libraries. Developing countries and Economies in transition are free to use the
WTO Reference Centre Help Desk to obtain technical assistance or clarification of WTO-related
issues from the Secretariat. The RFC Coordination Group reviews request for equipment replacement
and/repair.  Defective equipments are replaced to the extent that resources are available.
Funding
76. Funding is principally from extra-budgetary trust funds. The total average estimated amount
for the installation of a RFCs in an LDCs is about CHF 20,000. Developing countries and countries in
transition procure their own computer equipment and ensure access to the Internet, and in part, pay for
the travel, hotel accommodation and terminal expenses of the WTO resource persons.
Status
77. The establishment of WTO Reference Centres in several developing countries has contributed
to improved information flow between the WTO Secretariat and Ministries of Commerce of WTO
Members, and regional or sub-regional Organizations.  However, domestically within beneficiary
countries, information flow between the WTO RFCs and other bodies with responsibilities for the
implementation of WTO Agreements (such as for the Agreement on Agriculture and the Agreementon Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) is often non-existent or of very limited or deficient.
Information flow between the RFCs and other bod ies with competence and responsibility for WTO
implementation and trade negotiations require institutional streamlining and strengthening as well as
improved national coordination amongst the relevant government departments and ministries.  This is
necessary for coordination and coherence.  There is a need, to the extent resources are available, tobroaden the scope of the mandate for RFCs and widen the composition of participants from other
Ministries and specialized national representatives such as from Agriculture, Finance, Intellectual
Property Rights departments, Customs, etc.  As a result of the multi-sectoral nature of trade policy
issues encompassed in WTO agreements, there is a need for Commerce Ministries, where the RFCS
are installed, to formally widen their access and use for other domestic departments and ministrieswith related competence.
78. At the present time, 104 Reference Centres have been established. WTO RFCs have been
established in 83 countries: 41 LDCs, and 42 non-LDCs. Additional 21 RFCs have been established in
Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations, Ministries other than Trade, and for the Non-residents in
Brussels and London. Seventy-seven (77) Reference Centres still have to be established, 47 in LDCs,49 in the Developing countries and 21 in Countries in transition.
79. Société internationale de télécommunications aéronautiques  (SITA) is a private sector
company which maintains a world-wide telecommunications network used mainly by airports in 158
countries. SITA has the best network available in most LDCs.  The WTO has entered into a contract
with SITA to provide internet connections to a number of WTO Reference Centres.  At the present
time, twenty LDCs have been contacted by the WTO for future connection to the SITA Company
system. A budget equivalent to almost CHF 100,000 has been allocated for their connection. Theservices provided by SITA to WTO RFCs include local dial-up Internet connection with up 30 hours
on-line use per month, e-mail address, and e-mail server access, and the help desk to advise RFCs
experiencing difficulties with Internet connection. WTO will monitor the use of the SITA Network by
the Reference Centres.WT/COMTD/W/90
Page 27TECHNICAL COOPERATION DIVISION
Sue Harrison
Administrative Assistant
and Special Projects
Grade 6
Jennifer Dunn
Secretary
Grade 5Selvarany Reynaud
Secretary
Grade 2
Annie Urbanski
Secretary
Grade 3(Vacant)
Secretary
Grade 3
Maarten Smeets
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Maika Oshikawa
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 8Integrated Framework
Maika Oshikawa
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 8
Sajal Mathur
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 7
Zainab Mchumo
Legal Affairs Officer
Grade 7Secretaries of
Committees
Mariana Gagliardi
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Sajal Mathur
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 7
Isabelle Celestin
Statistical Assistant
Grade 6Databases, Trust Funds,
Market Access, MOUs,Trade
Negotiations, Accessions,
 Customs Valuation, ACPPOLICY SECTION
Sergio Delgado
Chief
Grade 10
Marie-France Riviere
Secretary
Grade 4Muriel Salette
Administrative Assistant
Grade 6
Dickson Yeboah
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Willie Chatsika
Legal Affairs Officer
Grade 8
Zainab Mchumo
Legal Affairs Officer
Grade 7African Countries
and JITAP
Raymond Krommenacker
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Maika Oshikawa
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 8
Sajal Mathur
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 7Asia & the Pacific
Countries
Serafino Marchese
Head of Unit a.i.
Grade 10
Sajal Mathur
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 7Arab and Middle East
Countries
Maarten Smeets
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Gérard Tourette
Counsellor
Grade 9Eastern Europe
and Central Asian
Countries
Primitivo Gomez Toran
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Temporary Professional
Level 7/8Latin America
and Caribbean
Countries
Jean-Marc Fortin
Head of Unit
Grade 10
Willie Chatsika
Legal Affairs Officer
Grade 8
Zainab Mchumo
Legal Affairs Officer
Grade 7Least-Developed Countries,
Agence de la Francophonie
Gerard Tourette
Counsellor
Grade 9
Sajal Mathur
Economic Affairs Officer
Grade 7Reference CentresOPERATIONS SECTION
Serafino Marchese
Chief
Grade 10Chiedu Osakwe
Director
Grade 11
IF Steering Committee
(IFSC)
Maika OshikawaSub-Committee
on LDCS
Sajal MathurIF Inter Agency Working Group
(IF-IAWG)
Maika OshikawaWTO LDCs’
 Consultative Group
Zainab MchumoWTO African Group
Zainab MchumoSecretaries of Committees: WTO Bodies, Secretariat,  Inter-Agency Group, and Informal Groups
Technical Assistance
Management Committee
(TAMC)
Isabelle Celestin
_______________