 RESTRICTED  
  
RD/RTA/ 58* 
10 November  2022 
 Page: 1/3 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements    
 
UNOFFICIAL ROOM DOCUMENT1 
CRTA  
14 NOVEMBER 2022 
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARIAT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN 2022 
AND PLANNED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN 2023 
 
 
Comité des accords commerciaux régionaux  
DOCUMENT DE SÉANCE NON OFFICIEL1 
 
CACR  
14 NOVEMBRE  2022 
DÉCLARATION DU SECRÉTARIAT SUR LES ACTIVITÉS D'ASSISTANCE TECHNIQUE MENÉES EN 
2022 ET LES ACTIVITÉS D'ASSISTANCE TECHNIQUE PRÉVUES EN 202 3 
 
 
 
Comité de Acuerdos Comerciales Regionales  
DOCUMENTO DE SALA NO OFICIAL1 
CACR  
14 NOVIEMBRE 2022 
DECLARACIÓN DE LA SECRETARÍA DE ACTIVIDADES DE ASISTENCIA TÉCNICA REALIZADAS EN 
2022 Y ACTIVIDADES DE ASISTENCIA TÉCNICA PLANIFICADAS PARA 202 3 
 
 
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1 In Original language only/En langue originale seulement/En el idioma original solamente.  
* Documents issued in the RD series are not official WTO documents. They usually appear in their 
language of submission and will not be translated systematically into the working languages of the WTO. They 
are intended for use in WTO meeting rooms and are a ttributed an unofficial symbol for archiving purposes only.  
Les documents de la série RD ne sont pas des documents officiels de l'OMC. Ils ne paraissent 
généralement que dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été communiqués et ne seront pas systématiquemen t 
traduits dans les langues de travail de l'OMC. Ils sont destinés aux salles de réunion de l'OMC et une cote non 
officielle leur est attribuée à des fins d'archivage.  
Los documentos de la serie RD no son documentos oficiales de la OMC. Por lo general se d istribuyen en 
el idioma en que han sido presentados y no se traducen sistemáticamente a los idiomas de trabajo de la 
Organización. Se distribuyen para su uso en las salas de reunión de la OMC y se les asigna una signatura no 
oficial a efectos de archivo ún icamente.  RD/RTA/5 8 
 
- 2 - 
 
  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE SECRETARIAT  
1.1.  The global health situation resulting from the COVID -19 pandemic over the past two years and 
the consequent restrictions and limitations have severely impacted the delivery of training courses 
and technical assistance in the traditional face -to-face manner. With a gradual easing or lifting of a 
number of restrictions on travel and meetings worldwide in 2022, the Secretariat has gradually 
resumed face -to-face training activities. The RTA section provided a number of technical assistance 
program mes virtual ly and in person ; however, some of the courses were cancelled due to low 
participation. The table below summarizes the TA activities conducted by RTA section in 2022. All 
the activities in dicated in the table have been financed by the WTO regular budget  or by the Global 
Trust Fund for activities under the Doha Development Agenda.  
1.2.  The objectives of the activities listed vary from raising awareness on RTA dynamics in global 
trade, to trainin g and advising government officials on WTO rules and procedures on RTAs, in 
particular  the Transparency Mechanism. Most TA activities are addressed to participants from broad 
regional groupings. Their underlying objective is to contribute to the developmen t of RTAs that are 
beneficial to their members and that complement the objectives of the WTO.  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN 2022 
 
(1) TA delivered remotely from Geneva . Location  Date  Type of Activity  Description of Activity  
Geneva -based(1) 16 February (?)  Induction Programme for 
the 2022 Cohort of Young 
Professionals  Presentation  on RTAs and the 
WTO 
Web-based  2 May  Live session with E -
learning participants  Short presentation on RTAs and 
the WTO followed by a live 
question and answer session  
Geneva -based(1) 16 June  WTO ATPC  (English)  Training on RTAs and the WTO  
Web-based(1) 1-5 August  WTO Intermediate level 
activity  (eRTPC)  for Asia 
and Pacific Economies  Training on RTAs and the WTO  
Nepal  12-16 
September  Seminar on the WTO and 
MC12 Outcomes  Presentations on RTAs and the 
WTO 
    
Geneva -based(1) 4 October  WTO Introduction Course 
for LDCs (French)  Training on RTAs and the WTO  
Web-based  18 October  RTAs data dialogues  Presentations on the technicality 
of data required for Transparency 
Mechanism for RTAs  
Geneva -based(1) 16 November  WTO Advance Trade 
Policy Course (Spanish)  Training on RTAs and the WTO   
Kuwait  22-24 
November  IMF-Middle East Center 
for Economics and 
Finance (CEF)  and WTO 
Trainings on RTAs for 
Middle -East and Arab 
Region  Training on RTAs and the WTO  
Web-based  - E-Learning: on -line 
courses  RTAs and the WTO 
(English/French/Spanish)  
Web-based(1) Cancelled due 
to low 
participation  Intermediate level activity  
(eRTPC)  WTO Intermediate level activity 
for Caribbean  countries  
Web-based(1) Cancelled due 
to low 
participation  WTO Intermediate level 
activity (eRTPC) for 
Central and Eastern 
European, Central Asian 
and Caucasus countries  Training on RTAs and the WTO  RD/RTA/5 8 
 
- 3 - 
 
  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES PLANNED AND SCHEDULED FOR 2023 
 
1.3.  At this stage it is difficult to anticipate what type of RTA -related technical cooperation activities 
will take place in 2023. The Secretariat remains committed to adjusting to the evolving environment 
and delivering its mandate in the most appropriate way  and to the highest possible standards. By 
November 2022, we have had no national requests for any specialized activities on the topic of RTAs 
to take place in 2023. 
1.4.  The Secretariat expect s that, as COVID -related limitations are progressively lifted, it wi ll be 
possible to hold face-to-face activit ies in Geneva  including advanced  specialized course on RTAs.  
1.5.  Similarly, i t is expected that, to the extent that  the COVID -related health situation continue s 
to improve , in the course of 2023, it will be possible to hold face-to-face TA activities, at least 
two ITPCs (one in French, one in English), three RTPCs (in three different regions), and three ATPCs , 
each containing a module on RTAs .  
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