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WT/COMTD/SE/W/47  
 
3 November  2023 
(23-7449) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Dedicated Session    
 
  
DRAFT  
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT  
IN DEDICATED SESSION TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  In paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, Members agreed to a work programme 
with the objective of framing responses to the trade -related issues identified for the fuller integration 
of small, vulnerable economies (SVEs) into the multilateral tr ading system. Members were instructed 
not to create a sub -category of WTO Members and to report to the General Council which, in turn, 
was to review the work programme and make recommendations for action. Since then, eight such 
reports have been issued: WT/COMTD/SE/1  in July 2003; WT/COMTD/SE/4  in November 2005; 
WT/COMTD/SE/6  in October 2009; WT/COMTD/SE/7  in October 2011; WT/COMTD/SE/8  in 
November 2013; WT/COMTD/SE/9  in November 2015; WT/COMTD/SE/10  in November 2017; and 
WT/COMTD/SE/11  in October 2021.  
1.2.  In the framework and procedures for the conduct of the Work Programme on Small Economies, 
the General Council agreed that the Work Programme would be a standing item on its agenda and 
that the Committee on Trade and Devel opment (CTD) would report regularly to the General Council 
on the progress of work in the Dedicated Sessions. Since the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference 
(MC12 ), progress reports have been made by the CTD Chairpersons at each regular General Council 
meeti ng.  
2  SUBMISSIONS AND PROCEEDINGS  
2.1.  There have been [three] formal meetings of the CTD in Dedicated Session on Small Economies 
since MC12 in June  2022. In line with the instructions given by Ministers in the MC12 Ministerial 
Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies (WT/MIN (22)/25 – WT/L/1136 ), the first two 
of these meetings focused on the topic of "integrating small economies into the post COVID -19 
economy: effects of the pandemic, challenges and opportu nities".  
2.2.  At the 44th Dedicated Session on 30 March 20231, discussions took place on the basis of a 
background note prepared by the Secretariat on this topic  (WT/COMTD/SE/W/45 ).2 The Chairperson 
noted that, moving forward, Members were agreeable to have experience -sharing presentations and 
to hear from relevant agencies.  
2.3.  At the 45th Dedicated Session on 19 October 20233, discussions focused on the chall enges and 
opportunities for small economies in the post COVID -19 recovery phase. Presentations were made 
by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the South Centre, the United Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development and the World Bank. Presentations were also m ade by Ecuador , El Salvador  and 
Sri Lanka – members of the SVE  Group . 
 
1 The minutes of this meeting are containe d in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/ 44. 
2 This background note was based on  an outline  proposed  by Guatemala on behalf of the Group of 
Small, Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) (WT/COMTD/SE/W/44 ) which was agreed at the 43rd Dedicated Session 
held on  20 May 2022. The minutes of this meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/43 . 
3 The minutes of this meeting are contained in do cument WT/COMTD/SE/M/ 45 (to be issued ). WT/COMTD/SE/W/47  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2.4.  [At the 46th Dedicated Session on 16 November 20234, the Dedicated Session took note of an 
updated compilation paper on the Work Programme on Small Economies, prepared by the Secretariat 
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/22/Rev.11 ). The Dedicated Session then considered a proposal  submitted by 
Guatemala on behalf of  the SVE Group for a Ministerial Decision at the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial 
Conference (MC13) on the Work Programme on Small Economies (WT/COMTD/SE/W/4 6). […]]  
3  FUTURE WORK  
3.1.  Pursuant to the mandate contained in th e Doha Ministerial Declaration, the Framework and 
Procedures for the Work Programme on Small Economies and the General Council Decision of 
1 August 2004, the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong,  China,  the Seventh and 
Eighth  Ministerial Confere nces in Geneva , the Ninth  in Bali, Indonesia, the Tenth in Nairobi, Kenya, 
the Eleventh in Buenos Aires, Argentina,  and the Twelfth in Geneva,  issues relating to the trade of 
small economies have been examined in the Dedicated Sessions of the CTD and propo sals for 
responses have been made . However, there is a need for further work in order to fully achieve the 
mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.  
3.2.  […] 
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4 The minutes of this meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/46 (to be issued ). 