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WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
4 November  2021 
(21-8367) Page: 1/12 
Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries  
Ninety -First Session    
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 2 JULY 2021  
Chairperson: Ambassador Monique T.G. Van Daalen (Netherlands)  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. ANNUAL REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN FOR 
LDCS: ORAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT  ................................ .............................  1 
C. STATE OF PLAY IN THE ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES OF LEAST DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES: ORAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT  ................................ ..................  3 
D. TOURISM IN THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: PRESENTATION BY THE UN 
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION (UNWTO) ON THE IMPACT OF COVID -19 AND 
RELATED DEVELOPMENTS  ................................ ................................ .......................  7 
E. LDC GROUP RETREAT, 14 -16 JUNE 2021: REPORT BY THE COORDINATOR OF THE 
LDC GROUP  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  10 
F. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 12 
 
A. ADOPTION  OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Chairperson  said that the agenda for the Ninet y-First Session of the Sub -Committee on 
Least Developed Countries (hereinafter the Sub -Committee) was contained in document 
WTO/AIR/COMTD/LDC/ 18/REV.1 . She mentioned that this would be her last meeting as the Chair of 
the Sub-Committee.  
2. The agenda was adopted . 
B. ANNUAL  REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN PREFERENTIAL RULES OF ORIGIN FOR 
LDCS: ORAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT  
3. The Chairperson  recalled that as per Ministerial Decisions, the Secretariat was to provide the 
Sub-Committee with a report on the outcome of the annual review undertaken by the Committee 
on Rules of Origin  (CRO) . She noted that t he annual review for 2020 had taken  place on 
13 November 2020 , while  in 2021  the CRO had held its first meeting on 20 May. She invited the  
Secretary of the CRO to provide a report on the developments in preferential rules of origin for LDCs.  
4. The representative of the Secretariat  (Market Access Division) said that t he report  of the CRO 
to the G eneral Council of the 2020 annual review was contained in document G/RO/91.  He said that 
he would elaborate on  the work of the CRO in 2020 and during the first months  of 2021, which 
concerned : (i) transparency ; (ii) preference utilization ; and (iii) recent developments  as report ed by 
delegations to the CRO . 
5. Regarding transparency, he said that most of the preference -granting Members  had notified 
their preferential rules of origin for LDCs. In addition, Chile and Chin ese Taipei ha d submitted revised 
notifications in 2020 . The almost full availability of notifications provided  a comprehensive overview 
of the rules of origin requirements applicable  to preferential imports from LDCs.  Progress had also 
been made, although to a limited extent, regarding the notification of  preferential  import statistics. 
Full information had been provided by  a number of  preference -granting Members. In addition, since 
the Secretariat's last report to the Sub -Commi ttee, full or partial notifications had been received WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  from China, Iceland, the Russian Federation, Thailand,  and Turkey. Despite these improvements , 
some important data gaps remained, hindering  the ability of the CRO to fully monitor preference 
utilization . 
6. He continued by elaborating on work related to the examination of preference  utilization by 
the LDCs. The Secretariat  had prepared : (i) a revised report on direct consignment obligations ; 
(ii) a new report on metals and minerals  in 2020 ; as well as (iii) a report on trends in  preference 
utilization during 2015-2019.  He said that  on 19 May 2021, the Secretariat had held a webinar on 
the factors that conditioned preference utilization, where speakers from international organizations, 
acade mia and Members  had shared their experiences and work analy sing preference  utilization . He 
invited delegations to visit the WTO website where all the material and a video recording of the 
event could be accessed   
(https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/roi_e/preference_utilization_190521_e.htm ).  
He mentioned that a better understanding of the trends in preference utilization and the impact of 
origin requirements would be useful to advance the work on LDC preferences , including  for other 
Members which were  engaged in regional trade agreement s. He also said  that t he Secretariat w ould 
continue its work in this area, with a focus on the LDCs, to better understand  the low utilization of 
preferences : (i) in agricultural products ; (ii) by landlocked LDCs ; as well as (iii) different trends in 
preference utilization between LDCs.  
7. He continued by elaborating on  recent developments reported  by delegations  to the CRO. 
The European Union had updated Members on the implementation status of  the self-certification 
system for registered exporters (REX system) , which was also being implemented by Norway , 
Switzerland,  and Turkey. A number of  LDCs (Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, Djibouti, Somalia,  and South Sudan ) were currently not receiving preferences in these 
markets because they ha d not yet completed the necessary procedures to transition to the 
REX system.  He noted that t he European Union had confirm ed that these Members would  continue 
receiving preferences as soon as they ha d completed the necessary administrative procedures.  
8. He said  that t he Russian Federation  had highlighted the main elements of the revised 
preferential rules of origin for LDCs of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) , which had been in force 
since January 2019.  The United Kingdom had updated Members on the continuation of its trade 
preferences for LDCs after its withdrawal from the European Union and  had informed on the launch 
of a consultative  process to  review its trade preferences for LDCs, including  preferential rules of 
origin.  Thailand had also initiated stakeholder consultat ions with a view to extending the duration of 
its preference  scheme  and reforming the rules of origin for LDCs.   
9. He concluded by saying that  at the CRO meeting in May  2021, the LDC Group had indicated 
its inte ntion to propose draft language for the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) with 
regard to the implementation of Ministerial Decisions and a possibl e strengthening of the role of the 
CRO in this respect. T he Chairperson of the CRO had encouraged  the LDC Group to propose that 
language as soon as possible so that it could be discussed with Members.  
10. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group, thanked the Secretariat for the report. 
He said that t he effective implementation of Ministerial Decisions on  preferential rules of origin was 
a priority for the LDCs and that the CRO played a  crucial role in this respect. He also  thank ed 
Members for granting preferences to LDCs as well as those Members which  had notified their origin 
requirements . Welcoming the progress that ha d been made  in terms of transparency, he 
underscored the need to close the remaining gaps in terms of import statistics so  that the CRO could 
effectively monitor the utilization of these preferences , and invited Members to explore ways  to close 
these  data gaps.  
11. He commended the Secretariat for the useful work it had been carrying out with regard to the 
examination of preferen ce utilization and  called for strengthening of this work.  He agreed with the 
work being undertaken  to better understand w hy preference utilization was often low for  agricultural 
products, why landlocked LDCs appeared to have particular problems to make use of preferences, 
and what explained the divergence in utilization trends between LDCs. He suggested that in 
upcoming meetings of the CRO , LDC delegations could share their experience s to improve 
Members ' understanding o f these issues.  WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  12. He commended the European Union, the Russian Federation, Thailand,  and the 
United  Kingdom for the recent developments that they had brought to the attention  of the CRO. He 
noted that a number of LDCs were not benefiting from preferences in the European Union, Norway, 
Switzerland,  and Turkey  because they had not yet been able to complete the administrative 
procedures to apply the REX system. Noting the limited institutional capacity of LD Cs, he sought  
support for these LDCs to complete the  necessary  procedures  to access the REX system . 
13. The representative of the European Union  thanked the Secretariat  for the report . She found 
the ongoing work in the CRO useful and  encouraged both the Secretariat and Members to carry this 
forward . The analys is of the utilization of preferences was an important factor in making sure that 
the LDCs c ould make use of the preferences that were available to them. Referring to the 
intervention made by the LDC Coordinator, she expressed her delegation's readiness to engage 
bilaterally with the LDCs that had not yet been able to finalize the administrative formalities required 
for joining the RE X system in order to get them on board as soon as possible.  
14. The representative of the United Kingdom  thanked the Secretariat for the report. He recalled 
that the United Kingdom was  in the process of designing a new trade preference scheme to take 
effect in early 2022. An eight -week public consultation on th is policy reform was being launched . He 
invited the LDCs to take part in this consultation , which would offer respondents the opportunity to 
provid e views on all aspects of the reform, including  the simplif ication of  rules of origin requirements.  
15. The representative of the Secretariat , referring to the intervention by the LDC Coordinator , 
said that the Secretariat had been in touch with delegations which had gaps in their  notification s of 
import statistics. He hoped that those delegations would soon be able to prepare the ir respective 
notifications. He reiterated that these gaps hinder ed the Secretariat's  ability to conduct  a 
comprehensive analysis of the LDCs' preference utilization and preferential trade, as  statistics were 
not available for  a number of big export markets for LDCs. The Secretariat would continue  engag ing 
with these delegations , while continu ing its analy tical work with the available  information . Regarding 
the application of the REX system, he encouraged the concerned LDC delegations to get in touch 
with the delegation of the European Union to see how they c ould complete the  required 
administrative procedure s as quickly as possible.  
16. The Chairperson  thanked the Secretariat for the report and Members for their statements.  She 
noted that p rogress continue d to be made in the area of preferential rules of origin. Special efforts 
were continually made to improve transparency as well as to better understand the factors that 
condition ed the  utilization of preferences granted to the LDCs. She encourage d Members t o continue 
their constructive work in the CRO. She also urge d all preference -granting Members to see how they 
could further facilitate exports from the LDCs.  She suggest ed that the Sub -Committee take note of 
the report provided by the Secretariat, as well as the statements made.  
17. It was so agreed . 
C. STATE OF PLAY IN THE ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES OF LEAST DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES: ORAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT  
18. The Chairperson  said that accession  of LDCs  was a key element of the Work Programme for 
the LDCs  and taken up by the Sub -Committee at least once a year. She noted that eight LDCs were 
at various stages of the accession process to join the WTO. She invited the Director of the Accessions 
Division to brief the Sub -Committee on the state of play in the LDCs' Accession Working Parties.  
19. The representative of  the Secretariat  (Director,  Accession s Division ) said that between 2004 
and 2016 nine LDC accessions  had been concluded , representing a quarter of all WTO a ccessions . 
The Guidelines on LDC Accessions had  facilitated these accessions . Five LDCs (Cambodia, 2004; 
Nepal, 2004; Cabo  Verde, 2008; Samoa, 2012; and Vanuatu, 2012) had joined after the adoption 
of the initial Guidelines in 2002, and four LDCs (Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2013; Yemen, 
2014; Afghanistan, 2016; and Liberia, 2016) joined after the General Council had adopted an 
addendum in 2012 to st rengthen the Guidelines. She mentioned that three LDCs had graduated 
from LDC status following their accession, namely Cabo Verde in 2008, Samoa in 2014, and Vanuatu 
in 2020.  WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  20. She went on to say that the eight LDC s that were currently in the accession proce ss 
represented  more than a third  of the 23 ongoing accession s, and  included six LDCs in Africa 
(Comoros, Ethiopia, Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan,  and Sudan) and two LDCs in 
Asia-Pacific (Bhutan  and Timor -Leste). The longest -running accession process was that of Sudan , 
which had started in 1994, while the most recent  accession process was that of South Sudan, which 
had started in  2017. The eight acceding LDCs  were at different stages in their accession process es, 
which consisted of parallel track s of multilateral negotiations on rules and bilateral negotiations on 
market access. She noted that six out of eight LDC accessions were active, with LDC Governments 
actively engaging with Members or the Secretariat.  
21. She said that three of th e four Accession Working Party meetings that had been held in 2020 
related to LDCs. LDC Accession Working Party meetings had been held on Ethiopia (30 January), 
Comoros (14 September) and Timor -Leste (1 October), with the latter two meetings conducted in 
hybrid format ( in-person and virtual participation ). LDC accessions continue d to be active  and had 
been driving the overall accession agenda. She commended the acceding LDCs for their dedication 
and hard work in spite of the challenges they were facing beca use of the COVID -19 pandemic.   
22. She said that Comoros was the most advanced accession and a priority in 2021 as identified 
in the 2020 Annual Report on Accessions by the Director -General (WT/ACC/38/Rev.1) . At the last 
Working Party meeting in September 2020, the Government  of Comoros  had expressed its objective  
to conclude the accession by MC12. Comoros had recently submitted documentation , and the 
Working Party Chair was currently consulting on the date for the next Working Party meeting.1 She 
mentioned that while it was unlikely that the accession could be concluded by MC12, technical work 
could be finalized by the end of 2021, possibly allowing the conclusion of Comoros'  accession in 
2022.  
23. She went on to say  that Sudan 's accession process  had seen different degrees of activity since 
its start in 1994 reflecting its engagement with the international community. At an informal Working 
Party meeting on 17 March 2021, the Gove rnment had expressed its intention to fully resume the 
accession process. She was glad to report that  Sudan's fifth Accession Working Party meeting was 
scheduled for 26 July 2021.  The Government delegation would be led by the Minister, and 
engagement was p lanned in terms of both multilateral (rules) and bilateral (market access) 
negotiations. The Government's objective was to conclude the accession process under the current 
transitional Government in 2023.   
24. The Accession Working Party o n Timor -Leste , established in 2016,  had held its first meeting 
in October 2020. Despite challenges faced by the COVID -19 pandemic and a severe flooding in spring  
2021, progress had been made on technical work so that the second meeting of the Working Party 
was scheduled for 29 July  2021. 
25. She continued by elaborating on the status of the accessions of Ethiopia, Somalia,  and 
South  Sudan . The Accession Working Party of Ethiopia had met in January 2020, resuming after an 
eight-year break.  Next steps included the  submission of negotiating inputs and planning for the 
Fifth Working Party meeting. The Government of Somalia had submitted its Memorandum of Foreign 
Trade Regime  (MFTR)  in April 2020 and was currently working on replies to Members' questions on 
the MFTR. The Accession Working Party of South Sudan , established in 2017, had held its 
first meeting in March 2019. Next steps include d the submission of negotiating inputs and planning 
for the Second Working Party meeting. She mentioned that the COVID -19 pandemic had added to 
the challenges faced by  Government s, but they were in touch with the Secretariat and working on 
preparing the necessary  documentation.  
26. She also me ntioned that the LDC accession processes of Bhutan and Sao Tomé and Principe 
were currently inactive. She hoped that the G overnments of Bhutan and Sao Tomé and Principe 
could consider reactivating their accessions before their expected graduation s from LDC stat us in 
2023 and 2024, respectively, so that they still could benefit from the LDC Accession Guidelines.  
27. She went on to inform Members on upcoming activities related to  LDC accessions. To celebrate 
the fifth anniversary of WTO membership of Liberia (14 July ) and Afghanistan (29 July), a virtual 
anniversary event would be held as part of the High -Level Political Forum on Sustainable 
 
1 The sixth meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros was held on 
21 September 2021. https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/com_e/a1_comoros_e.htm  WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  Development on 8 July  2021 titled: "Trade for Peace: Addressing Fragility through Economic 
Integration and Shared Prosperity - The Case of WTO membership for Liberia and Afghanistan". 
Furthermore, a dedicated event on "Commemorating Afghanistan's 5th Anniversary of 
WTO membership" would be organized on 29 July 2021 at the WTO. The Fourth Regional Dialogue 
on WTO Accessions for Africa was tentatively scheduled for 23−27 August 2021 in Khartoum , Sudan , 
focusing on the link between WTO  accession and the implementation of the African Continental Free 
Trade Area ( AfCFTA ). The Tenth China Round Table titled "Reflecti ons on LDC  Accessions" would be 
held from 28 to 29 November  2021, which would allow bringing a number of LDC officials to Geneva 
for MC12.  As an input for the China Round Table, a  study had been commission ed to assess  the 
impact of WTO accession for the ni ne LDCs that had joined the WTO since 2004.  
28. She continued b y elaborating on the Trade for Peace (T4P) Programme. She said that as  half 
of the acceding Governments were LDCs including  fragile and conflict -affected states , the 
LDC accession process could contribute to institution  as well as overall state building. The g7+ WTO 
Accession Group, currently coordinated by Liberia and Timor -Leste,  was the driving force behind the  
T4P Programme, whose  focus was to assist countries in using  trade and economic integration for 
promoting peace and security. Trade for Peace activities included : (i) political engagement and 
collaboration among trade, peace,  and humanitarian communities (T4P network) ; (ii) outreach and 
dialogue ( e.g. bi-monthly T4P podcast s); (iii) the T4P Research and Knowledge Hub (first meeting 
to be held on 6 July 2021); as well as (iv) capacity building and training.  
29. The representative of China  thank ed the Secretariat for the comp rehensive report . She 
recalled that China 's accession to the WTO had been  a long and difficult process . At the same time , 
she encouraged  acceding  LDCs to remain actively engaged in the accession process . She recall ed 
that the LDC Accession Guidelines encou raged Members to exercise restraint in seeking market 
access concessions from acceding LDCs. She called on Members  to continue  to follow the Guidelines 
and take concrete actions to accelerate the LDCs' accession processes, which was even more 
important in the context of the pandemic. She highlighted that China's Least -Developed Countries 
and Accessions Programme ( China Programme ) had facilitated the conclusion of six LDC  accession s 
since its establishment ten years ago. She expressed  appreciation for the Secretariat's continued 
cooperation and support under the China  Programme.  
30. She drew Members' attention to two upcoming events to be organized by China in cooperation 
with the Secretariat under  the China Program me. From 16  to 17 Septe mber 2021, a South -South 
Dialogue on LDCs and Development  titled "Reinforcing the Multilateral Trading System for 
Development"  would be held in Montreux , Switzerland . The Dialogue , which aimed to strengthen the 
coordination of LDCs and their South -South pa rtners, would provide an opportunity to discuss 
possible deliverables for MC12, in particular with regard to issues of concern to LDCs  as well as  the 
WTO response to the pandemic. The Tenth China Round Table , which was scheduled for  
28-29 November  2021 would  provide  an opportunity to commemorate the  tenth anniversary of the 
China Programme, reflect on its implementation, take stock of its impact on LDC accessions,  and 
define its future directions. She looked forward to  the active participation of  Members , especially of 
LDC Members,  in the se events . 
31. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group , thanked the Secretariat for the report 
and expressed appreciat ion for its work in support of LDC accessions. He also thanked  Members for 
their suppor t to acceding LDCs, in particular China.  He was encouraged by the progress made in a 
number of LDC accessions and commend ed the efforts of acceding LDCs. He stressed the need for 
utmost flexibility and support by the Secretariat a s well as  Members to expedite and facilitate 
LDC accession processes. The need for flexibility and support had been elevated by the ongoing 
COVID -19 pandemic, which caused significan t difficulties in LDCs and added additional obstacles to 
communication and the preparation of substantive inputs.  He urged  Members  to take into account 
the significant human, financial and institutional constraints faced by the LDCs  when negotiating 
with acceding LDCs. He called on Members to adhere to the LDC Accession Guidelines and seek  
reasonable commitments in line with the development level and capacities of acceding LDCs. He 
underlined that Members should refrain from  seeking market access concession s in goods and 
services , in line with  the benchmarks established in the Guidelines.  
32. He went on to highlight the benefits of WTO membership, including special treatment provided 
to LDCs, and the integration into the multilateral trading system for the socio-economic development 
of LDCs. He noted that LDCs would not be able to draw the same benefits from trade on a purely 
bilateral basis , which was why the acceleration of LDC accession process es was so important.  He WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  expressed concern that the accession o f Sudan had been ongoing for a long time (27  years). As the 
Government of Sudan was determined  to accede to the WTO , he called on Members to show a degree 
of flexibility that would allow Sudan and other LDCs to join within a reasonable time frame.  He 
concluded by asking the Secretariat regarding reasonable time frames for the conclusion of the most 
advanced LDC accessions , and in which area – market access or rules – acceding LDCs would need 
to concentrate their efforts.  
33. The representative of the United States  thanked the Secretariat for the report . Her delegation  
looked forward to continuing its engagement in the upcoming Accession Working Part y meetings . 
She noted that the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) had provided 
support t o Timor -Leste with regard  to its accession  process  and was currently in the process of 
procuring a mechanism that w ould be able to offer additional accession support. Sudan's request for 
technical assistance  was also under consideration . She encourage d other acceding LDCs to express  
their technical assistance needs to implement WTO rules during the ir accession process es.  
34. She highlighted that successful accession candidates had taken advantage of the benefits that 
accrued from  full participation in the ir respective  accession process es, whereby Members worked 
with them in Accession Working Parties to help bring their regime s in line with WTO rules . The 
iterative process of Working Party meetings served as a tool for acceding governmen ts, including 
LDCs, to help push through necessary  reforms and advan ce in the  implementation of WTO rules.  
She emphasized that calls for accelerating the accession process es of LDCs were misplaced as it 
would deprive acceding LDCs from generous technical a ssistance that was provided for achieving 
reforms.  
35. She underlined that the WTO accession process required substantial time and effort, both from 
acceding governments as well as  from Members participating in Accession Working Parties. She 
stressed the impor tance of Members' due diligence with respect to an acceding government's trade 
regime  to identify what reform was needed to bring it in line with WTO rules. Without this due 
diligence, the multilateral trading system would transform towards being less open , less transparent, 
and less predictable. She regretted that too often, in particular for smaller applicants, the 
United  States had found itself nearly alone among Members in Accession Working Parties in 
undertaking the vast amount of  work with applicants, including through the question -and-answer  
process, to help them advance their accessions. She invited other Members to join her delegation  in 
these important efforts.  
36. The representative of the European Union  thanked the Secretariat f or the comprehensive 
report. She r eiterated the European Union's support to countries , and in particular the LDCs, that 
pursued  accession to the WTO. She looked forward to  continuing  working together with acceding 
governments in  the upcoming Working Party meetings. She underlined the importance for countries 
to be part of the  rules-based multilateral trading system , in particular as it protect ed the most 
vulnerable participating in  the system. She reiterated the call of the LDC Coordinator for Members  
to adhere to the LDC Accession Guidelines . She encourage d acceding LDCs to take advantage of 
trade -related technical assistance through the WTO as well as  through the E uropean Union  and its 
member states to fulfil their specific needs regarding accession negotiations. She mentioned  that 
the European Union would continue to  prioritise accession -related support in its bilateral 
programmes . 
37. The representative of the Secretariat  thanked Members for their statements  and words  of 
appreciation.  She said that it was a  challenging , at the same time  rewarding experience  to support 
acceding LDCs, as the accession process was often related to a broader reform agenda or state 
building  process , for instance  in the case of Somalia. She highlighted the important role played by 
Members in the accession process. She thanked Memb ers for their continued technical assistance, 
which allowed addressing  the needs of acceding LDCs in a timely manner. She mentioned the 
usefulness of the support provided by China through the China Programme , as well as the support  
provided by other Member s, especially the European Union and the United States.  
38. Referring to the intervention by  the LDC Coordinator, s he said that while the objective  of the 
Comoros Government  to conclude the accession by MC12 could not be met due to the pandemic, it 
appeared fe asible to finalize the technical work by  the end of the year  which could pave the way for 
concluding the accession in 2022. She mentioned that the Director -General had recently held a 
constructive conversation with the Comoros' Minister to see how to support  them in moving towards 
finalization. She also said that the Governments of Sudan and Timor -Leste could meet their goal of WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  finaliz ing their accessions  in 2023 if the current level of engagement was maintain ed. She reiterated  
the importance of  Members' support in helping LDCs conclude their accession processes . Acceding 
Governments needed to concentrate on  both bilateral market access  negotiations as well as bringing 
their legislati ve and institutional framework in line with WTO  Agreements . The Secretariat was 
provid ing technical support on  both fronts, and especially with regard to rules. She also mentioned 
that the number of Members seeking bilateral market access commitments from LDCs were smaller 
compared to accession negotiations with other countries.  
39. She acknowledged the long duration of Sudan's accession process, but also noted that there 
had been a number of breaks in the process, with the latest restart occurring in 2016. Even though 
a Workin g Party meeting could not be held earlier due to changes in the Government, s he 
commended the engagement of the Sudanese accession team which would be visible in the 
upcoming Working Party meeting on 26 July  2021. Referring to concerns expressed by a numbe r of 
Members regarding Sudan's state -owned enterprises, she said that the Government had indicated 
its intention to use WTO accession as a part of its reform efforts to tackle economic bottlenecks.  
40. She concluded by a cknowledging that the United States was at times alone in engaging in the 
question and reply  process . She encouraged  other M embers  to engage  in and take advantage  of the 
Working Party  process. She said that the  question and reply process in the Working Party was not 
only a good capacity -building  exercise  for the acceding Government s, but also for Members.  
41. The Chairperson  thank ed the Secretariat for the report and Members for their statements. She 
said that a ccession of LDCs to the WTO was central to the inclusiveness of the multilateral trading 
system. Despite the current challenges, it was encouraging to hear that progress was being made 
in the accession negotiations for certain acceding LDCs. It would indeed be an important step forward 
if an LDC accession could be concluded in 2022 . She urged all Members to intensify efforts to 
conclude all the remaining LDC accession negotiations as early as possible. She also  called upon 
Members to adhere to the LDC Accession Guidelines to facilitate a nd accelerate the accession of 
LDCs to the WTO.  She suggest ed that the Sub -Committee take note of the report provided by the 
Secretariat, as well as the statements made.  
42. It was so agreed . 
D. TOURISM IN THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: PRESENTATION BY THE UN 
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION (UNWTO) ON THE IMPACT OF COVID -19 AND 
RELATED DEVELOPMENTS  
43. The Chairperson  said that t ourism was a key export sector in LDCs . The sector ha d been 
hardest hit by the pandemic. LDCs dependent on tourism and related services ha d experienced, and 
were still experiencing, significant falls in their incomes. This agenda item provided  the 
Sub-Committee the opportunity to discuss in more detail the impact of the ongoing pandemic on 
tourism and related developments. She invited the Special  Representative of UNWTO to the UN to 
provide her presentation.  
44. The representative of the UNWTO  said that in 2020, the loss in export revenues from 
international tourism had amounted to USD 1.1 trillion; and the estimated loss in global GDP had 
been USD 2.5 trillion . She noted that globally more than 100 million direct tourism jobs were at risk. 
In LDCs, where around 8 0% of the tourism workforce operated in the informal sector,  many 
livelihoods were at threat . She also underlined the linkages of tourism demand with other economic 
sectors.  
45. She said that globally , international tourist arrivals had declined by 73% in 2020  and by  88% 
in the first quarter of 2021  (over 2019) . For the entire year 2021, UNWTO forecasted a reduction of 
international tourist arrivals of between 63% (positive scenario) and 75% (negative scenario) 
depending on developments with regard to  progress in vaccinations and international mobility.  In 
LDCs, international tourist arrivals had plummeted by 75% in 2020 and by 93% in the first quarter 
of 2021 (over 2019). International tourism receipts in LDCs had dropped by USD 14  billion ( -68%) 
in 2020. Stressing the severe impact of the pandemic on the LDCs, she said that recovery in tourism 
was not only dependent on the containment of the virus and vaccinations, but also on the restoration 
of safe mobility.  WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  46. Referring to a joint EIF -UNWTO -WTO public ation on Tourism for Sustainable Development in 
LDCs (2017) , she highlighted that most (42) LDCs had identified tourism as their first or 
second  trade priority. In 2019, the top ten LDC destinations had accounted for 73% of international 
tourist arrivals to the LDCs, with Cambodia (19%), Lao People's Democratic Republic (12%) and 
Myanmar (12%) being the top three destinations .  
47. She continued by elaborating on the activities by UNWTO to support recovery  from the 
pandemic . The UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Comm ittee, comprising Member States and other 
international agencies, was providing guidance and coordination to the sector in its response to  the 
COVID -19 pandemic . To foster recovery and build resilient and inclusive tourism , UNWTO was 
contributing to: (i)  coordinate at all levels; (ii) monitor socio -economic impacts; (iii) boost 
competitiveness and financing; (iv) enable digitalization of the tourism ecosystem; and (v) foster 
sustainability and inclusive green growth.  UNWTO had produced a number of knowledge tools and 
guidelines , recommendations  for action  and impact assessments. It had also been  engaging with 
international financi al institutions to empower tourism ministries to be part of the conversation with 
finance minist ries regarding financial recovery packages, as financial resources had been  a key 
bottleneck for the sector.  
48. She said that as an immediate response to the pandemic, UNWTO had launched a COVID -19 
tourism recovery and technical assistance package in March 2020, which was structured around 
three pillars (economic recovery, marketing, and institutional strengthening) , and had so far been 
implemented in more than 40 countries . The package provided a planning tool which enabled 
government s to apply a holi stic approach in coordination with the private sector for recovery .  
49. She noted that in August 2020 , the UN Secretary -General had released a policy brief on 
COVID -19 and tourism, which had contributed to raising  the attention of the international  community 
and sensitiz ing UN country teams and development partners on the importance of tourism for society 
and the economy.  She highlighted that on the supply side, aid was not disaggregated for tourism 
and that there was an urgent need for  more financial resources for tourism recovery. On the demand 
side, she stressed the need for harmonized protocols  based on common criteria to allow for  safe 
mobility. She highlighted UNWTO's efforts to build adaptive measures with economic diplomacy  as 
well as to build confidence for workers and markets . 
50. She underscored the importance of : (i) integrating  health and safety at destination s; and 
(ii) using  innovation and digitalisation to move  towards a new business model  for the private sector . 
While tourism was of significant economic importance to LDCs, tourism ministries d id not have the 
authority on safe mobility . That was why  dialogue at the country level with civil aviation and health 
authorit ies was essential. UNWT O had been engaged with the World Health Organization ( WHO) and 
the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO) in drafting guidelines for promoting public health 
corridors as well  as leveraging  support from  relevant  international organizations .  
51. She said that the UNWTO  had recently released recommendations for the transition to a green 
travel and tourism economy , which it had developed jointly with the G20 tourism working group . 
The recommendations  called for engagem ent in the areas of public health, social inclusion, 
biodiversity conservation, climate action, circular economy , as well as  governance and finance.  She 
highlighted that a green travel and tourism economy would constitute an important opportunity for 
LDCs.   
52. She went on to present  UNWTO recommendations across the following four key  areas:  
(a) resume safe cross -border travel; (b) promote safe travel at all points of the journey (through 
safety and security protocols); (c) provide liquidity to companies and pr otect jobs; and (d) restore 
travellers' confidence.  The restoration of safe cross-border mobility relie d on three main pillars : 
(i) common risk assessment criteria; (ii) harmonized travel protocols; and (iii) digitalization of travel 
documents.  She underlined that risk assessment criteria and travel protocols were differing across 
countries and that UNWTO was contributing to efforts to have a dialogue for finding common 
approaches.  She mentioned that the E uropean Union Digital Green Pass was a  good example that 
could be followed.  
53. She continued by underscor ing the importan ce of including safety and tourism both at the 
country and global levels.  She stressed the difficulties that LDCs faced in access ing financ ing, also 
against the background of high debt levels. She mentioned that  UNWTO was currently working with WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  the World Bank on the establishment of a special fund for tourism . So far, around USD 100 million 
had been pledged and more information would be disclosed  in the near future.  
54. She went on to h ighlight the importance of restoring consumer confidence for tourism 
recovery. She said that the UNWTO was developing an International Code for the Protection of 
Tourists. After approval by its General Assembly, t his landmark legal code could then  be 
imple mented at destination level. She also noted  that UNWTO and the International Air Transport 
Association ( IATA) had launched the Destination Tracker, which provided up -to-date information on 
travel protocols and health -related travel requirements to enhance transparency and restore the 
confidence of tourists.  In this regard, s he commended the engagement of the private sector in 
sharing data with UNWTO . She encouraged Members to consult the destination tracker and 
highlighted the importance for destina tions to communicate the measures that were in place.  
55. She concluded by reiterating the priorities for global tourism recovery, which included 
restoring safe international mobility, providing liquidity and protection of jobs, harmonization of 
protocols during travel and at destination, re storing confidence  through safety, public -private 
collaboration, added value jobs through new technologies, innovation and sustainability as the new 
normal, and financial resources and investments for building an inclusive and low -carbon tourism  
sector . She highlighted that as consumer trends had changed, LDCs were presented with a great 
opportunity  to attract  prospective tourists thanks to  their rich natural and cultural assets  which were 
in line with the new tourism demand .  
56. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group , thanked the representative  of the 
UNWTO for the informative presentation. He noted the steep drop in LDCs' goods and services 
exports, with tourism being  particularly affected . He expressed concern that the trade outlook was 
not encouraging  as the share of LDCs in global exports of goods and services was estimated to have 
dropped in 2020. The pandemic ha d illustrated the dependence of the LDCs on tourism , which 
accounted for around 50% of their services exports. He expressed concern about the situation  and 
underscored the need  for the LDCs to come up with new opportunities to export th ese services.  
57. He stressed the need for the international community to pay increased attention to the  impact 
of the COVID -19 pandemic on the tourism sector . He urged the international community  to support 
the tourism sector in LDCs which had collapsed because of the pandemic. It was important to help 
the sector recover so that it could continue  to play an important role for the development of LDCs. 
He emphasized that LDC governments lacked  financial resources to provide necessary sup port to 
the tourism sector. Hotels and travel agencies in LDCs were facing enormous  economic difficulties.  
58. He expressed concern over the emergence and spread of new variants of the virus, which 
could  affect the mobility of tourists as well as the rebuildi ng of the tourism sector. In the current 
situation, potential tourists preferred to stay in their home countries instead of travelling abroad. He 
agreed with the need to take a more holistic approach regarding mobility and tourism policy, which 
included th e private sector, transport agencies and other relevant stakeholders. He asked what could 
be done to ensure  safety for the movement of people and bring back  confidence in travelling so that 
tourists would come again to LDCs. He highlighted the importance o f helping the LDCs to restore  
normality  and get tourists back as they were important for value addition and job creation in their 
economies.   
59. The representative of Nepal  underlined  the difficult situation of the tourism sector in LDCs, 
which was  a key  sector for their socio -economic development. He expressed interest to obtain more 
information  on the impact and possible benefits of e-commerce for the tourism sector in LDCs. He 
was p articularly interested in learning more on the possibilities of utili zing e-commerce for tourism 
development in LDCs. S tressing the digital divide in LDCs , he also asked what could be done to 
bridge the digital divide for the recovery of the tourism sector  in LDCs .  
60. The representative of Mozambique  highlighted the importance of tourism for Mozambique's 
economy and stressed the difficulties  that the LDCs faced, some of which were common to all LDCs 
while others were country -specific. Noting that the situation was improving in some parts of the 
world, she stressed that it was worsening in the majority if not all LDCs. In Mozambique , the number 
of COVID -19 infections were increasing , adding to the difficulties that Mozambique had already been 
facing bef ore the pandemic.  She stressed the need for a targeted technical assistance programme 
to support tourism in LDCs in prepar ing for the post -pandemic recovery and build ing back better to WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  become more resilient . She called on  Members and the international community to help the LDCs at 
this extraordinary time . 
61. The representative of the UNWTO  said that many LDCs had been able to contain the virus for 
a long time. At the same time, the closing of borders and quarantine requiremen ts had been 
hamper ing tourism. She highlighted the importance of vaccinations to control the spread of the 
virus, including the delta variant. Health authorities and the international community played an 
important role for progress in vaccinations as well as for helping countries with regard to protection 
as well as other measures . She also highlighted the importance of aid for trade for providing finance 
to help the tourism sector recover . She was ready to collaborate with the LDCs to mobili ze the 
internat ional community regarding the importance of rebuilding tourism in LDCs for the 
UNLDC5  Conference in Doha, Qatar in January 2022.  
62. She pointed to the opportunities of domestic and intra -regional tourism to offset the impact 
of the pandemic on tourism . Domest ic tourism was a more viable alternative for large countries. 
Intra-regional tourism accounted for 70% of international tourism.  If agreements could be made 
between neighbouring countries regarding safe mobility,  this could allow opening  up tourism among 
them. She highlighted the importance of communicat ing information on possibilities for tourism, 
including security protocols in destinations, through various channels, including  social media. It was 
important to raise the awareness regarding measures taken  to provide secure destinations.  
63. She said that UNWTO estimated that 93% of current purchase s in tourism  were through digital 
platforms, either directly or indirectly through booking companies . She considered e -commerce in 
the context of tourism to be an im mense opportunity . To attract new customers and gain market 
access, it has become less important for companies to be present at tourism or trade fairs; but at 
the same time,  online presence has become indispensable. Companies in the tourism sector need to 
be able to use information and communication technology (ICT) for the promotion and sales of their 
products and services.  She said that UNWTO  had been active in helping  destinations and tourism 
stakeholders with upskilling and enhancing their digital readi ness. For example, on 14 -16 June  2021, 
UNWTO had organi zed a branding conference for Africa 's tourism sector  in Namibia . It was also 
unroll ing masterclasses on digitalization to upskill countries on the opportunity that ICT represent ed. 
64. She reiterated the importance of communication regarding s afety at the destination level. 
Safety protocols need ed to be an integral  part of the new business mode l to be able to build 
confidence in the market. Digitalization and diversification of the tourism offer were other  key 
element s. She said that the  LDCs should take advantage of the opportunity that their  attractiveness 
fitted well the new consumer trends a nd demands . She stood ready to collaborate with LDCs in their 
request, as expressed by Mozambique, to  define a special technical assistance  programme on 
tourism for LDCs . 
65. The Chairperson  thanked  the UNWTO  for the presentation , and Members for their statements.  
She said  that the pandemic continue d to threat one of the promising sectors of LDC economies. 
While a number of other sectors ha d seen some revival, tourism activity remain ed subdued. She 
stressed that t he LDCs predominantly relying on tourism activities required Members' highest 
attention. She encourage d LDCs to make use of the tools and initiatives available in support of 
tourism. She suggest ed that the Sub -Committee take note of the presentation provided by the 
UNWTO, as well as the statement s made.  
66. It was so agreed . 
E. LDC GROUP RETREAT, 14 -16 JUNE 2021: REPORT BY THE COORDINATOR OF THE 
LDC GROUP  
67. The Chairperson  said that the LDC Group had held a Retreat on 14 -16 June 2021 to deliberate 
on their priorities for the work in  the WTO as well as for MC12. The Retreat, which was held in a 
virtual format, had been  attended by the WTO Director -General. She invited the LDC Coordinator to 
provide a report on th e Retreat.  
68. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group, expressed appreciation for the 
participation of the WTO Director -General in the Retreat and for her views on possible deliverables 
for LDCs at MC12, which included : (i) strengthen ing the implementation  of existing decisions in WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  favour of LDCs such as the LDC services waiver and preferential rules of origin ; (ii) special and 
differential treatment  (S&DT) ; (iii) LDC graduation;  and (iv) improving access to vaccines, 
diagnostics and therapeutic products.   
69. He said that t he Retreat had covered a broad range of issues such as: (i) the impact of 
COVID -19 on LDC trade; (ii) fisheries subsidies; (iii) TRIPS issues; (iv) LDC graduation; 
(v) agriculture negotiations including cotton; (vi) S&DT; (vii) preferential rules of origin; 
(viii) services waiver; (ix) WTO refor m; (x) MSMEs and the role of women's entrepreneurship; as 
well as (xi) trade and climate change.   
70. He noted  that the Group had discussed the urgent need to find a solution regarding  the 
extension of the transition period under TRIPS Article 66.1 . He welcome d that, following intense 
negotiations over eight months, a compromise had been found in the TRIPS Council on 29 June 2021 
to extend the transition period for LDCs until 1 July 2034. He said that this flexibility recognize d the 
capacity constraints of LDCs  and their need to build a sound, viable technological base.   
71. He went on to say that the Group had highlighted : (i) the ne ed to have better  access to 
COVID -19 vaccines and medical equipment to contain the spread of the pandemic ; (ii) the need to 
preserve  LDCs'  interests o n artisanal and small -scale fishing in fisheries subsidies negotiations; 
(iii) the need to limit trade -distortive domestic support in agriculture  to have fairer and more 
equitable competition and conditions for farmers in LDCs;  as well as (iv)  the importance of  food 
safety . He also stressed that the COVID -19 pandemic had slowed down progress in the 
implementation of LDC Decisi ons, such as preferential rules of origin  and LDC services waiver.  
72. He said that going forward, the Group would engage in activities for preparing  the 
Ministerial  Declaration of LDC Trade Ministers at MC12 , as well as specific text s for certain areas . He 
noted that the  Group had formulated recommendations regarding the various subjects discussed  
during the retreat  and would  be sharing the conclusions of the Retreat with Members. He concluded 
by reiterating the importance for the LDCs to have an outcome on fisheries subsidies as well as 
agriculture and cotton at MC12.  
73. The representative of the United Kingdom  congratulate d the LDC Group on their successful 
retreat. He noted that  the capacities of  LDC Missions were stretched over a  high number of meetings 
and files , including  at the WTO . He was  delighted that his delegation  was able  to help strengthen 
the voice of LDCs in Geneva  through its  Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2 +), including 
by funding activities like th e Retreat that was held in  June 2021 . He said that the United Kingdom  
had supported the LDC Group through this fund for a decade  and was proud to continue to  support 
the LDC Group through TAF2+ as well as through the  Enhanced Integrated Framework  (EIF). He 
expressed the United King dom's continued  commitm ent to supporting LDCs in international trade 
and ensuring that the interests of LDCs as a whole were at the centre of the WTO.  
74. The representative of Nepal  said that his delegation found the retreat very helpful to develop  
a common understanding among the Group  on some emerging issues in the context of the upcoming 
MC12. Furthermore, it also provided an opportunity to share the concerns of the LDCs , including the 
graduating LDCs, with few developed countr y Members and international organizations. He 
expressed  appreciation for the United Kingdom for funding the retreat , as well as for the 
LDC coordination, LDC focal points and all those who were involved in the successful organiz ation of  
this event . 
75. The Chairperson  thanked the LDC Coordinator for the report and Members for their 
statements. She invite d Members to give special consideration to the priorities of the LDCs in the 
multilateral trading system. The active engagement of LDCs in the WTO demonstrate d their strong 
commitment to the WTO and to benefit from the opportunities provided by the system. She 
encourage d the LDCs to continue their active participation in the WTO and hope d that some concrete 
outcomes c ould be achieved on their priorit y issues at MC12. She said that the beneficial integration 
of LDCs in the multilateral trading system  was a shared objective of all Members. She suggest ed 
that the Sub -Committee take note of the report provided by the LDC Coordinator, as well as the 
statem ents made.  
76. It was so agreed . WT/COMTD/LDC/M/91  
 
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  F. OTHER BUSINESS  
77. The Chairperson  thanked Members for their support and collaboration during her four years 
as the Chair of the Sub -Committee . She highlighted the importance of the Sub -Committee to 
promote the cause of LDCs in the WTO  as it was  the only dedicated Committee to holistically look at 
LDC issues. She thank ed the LDC Coordinator, Ambassador Makaila  of Chad , as well as other 
LDC delegations for their cooperation and active engagement. She also  thank ed the Development 
Division , in particular the LDC Unit,  for guidance and support in discharging  her responsibilities as 
Chair.  She noted that her  visits to Bangladesh , Nepal and Rwanda were enriching experiences and 
thanked the delegations  and authorities in these countries , as well as the Secretariat of the EIF for 
making these visits possible.  
78. The representative of the Secretariat  (Director, Development Division ) expressed appreciation 
for the Chairperson's leadership and enthusiasm in taking the cause of LDCs a step further in the  
Sub-Committee. He commended her for starting a tradition to undertake  some field visits to better  
understand the concerns of LDCs and how trade policies were formulated. He also thanked her for 
her participation in a number of events and  capacity -building activities for LDCs.  
79. The representative of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group , express ed his sincere appreciation 
for the significant contributions  and leadership of the Chairperson in steering the work of the 
Sub-Committee, in particular during these extraordinary times. The constructive and rich 
deliberations in the Sub -Committee ha d advanced Members' understanding of the challenges in 
terms of market access and trade capacity to increase LDCs' participation in global trade. Her field 
visits in LDCs show ed her true dedication to the cause of LDCs. She had also left her mark in Geneva 
beyond the field of trade , including  as a champion for gender equality as well as in her work for the 
Human Rights Council . 
80. The Chairperson  said that the date of the next meeting w ould be communicated in due course 
once her successor was elected.  
81. The meeting was adjourned . 
__________  