   
  
WT/COMTD/103  
 
27 November  2023 
(23-8008) Page: 1/9 
   
 
 
REPORT  (2023) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE  AND DEVELOPMENT  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This report covers the work of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) in 20 23. 
An overview is provided of the work of the CTD's Regular Session, the Dedicated Session on the 
Monitoring Mechanism  (MM) on Special and Differential Treatment  (S&D) , the Dedicated Sessions 
on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs) and 
Small  Economies, the  CTD's work on Aid  for Trade, and the  work of the Sub -Committee on 
Least  Developed Countries  (LDCs) .1 
2  REGULAR SESSION  
2.1.  The CTD in Regular Session held three formal meetings in 202 3, on 5 April (120th Session), 
11 July (121st Session) and 17 and 24 November (1 22nd Session). The minutes of these meetings 
are contained in documents WT/COMTD/M/1 20, WT/COMTD/M/ 121 and WT/COMTD/M/1222, 
respectively. The 120th Session was chaired by Ambassador Usha Chandnee Dwarka -Canabady 
(Mauritius) . At the end of that meeting, Ambas sador Erik Brøgger Rasmussen (Denmark) was elected 
Chairperson of the Sub -Committee on LDCs for 2023 and Ambassador José R. S ánchez -Fung 
(Dominican Republic) was elected Chairperson of the CTD for 2023. Ambassador S ánchez -Fung 
subsequently chaired the 121st and 122nd Sessions.  
2.2.  Members agreed to continue to invite a number of intergovernmental organizations on an 
ad hoc meeting -by-meeting basis. A full list of intergovernmental organizations with observer status 
in the Committee is contained in document WT/COMTD/W/22/Rev.8 . The CTD continues to have 
outstanding requests for observer status from the League of Arab States, the Organization of the 
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), 
the Organisation Internationale  de la Francophonie, the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), 
the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Groupe de la 
Banque  Africaine de Développement.  
2.3.  At the 121st Session , a presentation was made by the Secretariat on the Global Trade Data 
Portal  (https://globaltradedata.wto.org/ ). At the 122nd Session , the Secretariat presented an update 
on the participation of developing  economies in the global trading system. This was done in the 
context of work under paragraph 2 of the CTD's terms of reference. Members also shared views on  
any other work that could be undertaken under this paragraph.  
2.4.  At the 12 2nd Session, a communication from the United States titled "Highlights of Activities on 
Better Integration of Developing Countries in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade" (WT/COMTD/W/285 ) 
was considered.  
2.5.  The principal areas addressed by the CTD in Regular Session during the period covered in this 
report included the following:  
 
1 The Special Session of the CTD, dealing with the issue of S&D, has its own reporting channel . 
2 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  • Developmental aspects of WTO reform;  
• Technical cooperation and training;  
• Market access for developin g and least developed countries;  
• Report of the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
(ITC); 
• Food security ; 
• Policy space for industrial development;  
• Ministerial Declaration from the Twelfth Ministerial Conference  (MC12)  on the WTO response 
to the C OVID -19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics;  
• Trade and development - work in the Committee on the basis of the Chairman's concluding 
statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  (MC8); 
• Special and differential treatment provisions in WTO Agreements and Decisions – note by 
the Secretariat ; 
• Work Programme on Electronic Commerce;  
• Duty-free and quota -free (DFQF) market access for least developed countries (LDCs) . 
 
2.1  Developmental aspects of WTO reform  
2.6.  Following the  informal General Council meeting on WTO reform  focused on development , which 
was held on 2-3 February 2023 , the Chair of the General  Council proposed that the reform discussion 
on development take place under the aegis of the CTD. The  CTD Chairperson , who  was requested 
to structure this work going forward , followed up on th e matter  by holding  bilateral meetings with 
any Member that so wished, in order to hear thoughts on what should constitute the WTO reform 
discussion on development, and what the CTD could be doing in this regard. In the context of reform, 
he also welcomed any thoughts from Members on what could be done to improve the functioning of 
the CTD.  Following an informal open -ended CTD meeting held on 26 June 2023  dedicated  to the 
developmental aspects of WTO reform , the Chairman made a statement at the 121st Regular Session 
on the informal discussions held  (JOB/COMTD/2 ). A communication from t he United Kingdom , titled 
"Improving the Functioning of the Committee on Trade and Deve lopment" ( WT/COMTD/W/276 ), was 
also considered. At the 122nd Session, the Chairperson  made a further statement under the agenda 
item concerning the developmental aspects of WTO reform  (JOB/COMTD/7 ). In taking note of the 
statement, the Committee also took note of the measures outlined by the Chairperson that have 
been put in place to im prove the functioning of the CTD. A communication  from India , titled 
"A Reflection on the Discussions Held in the Development Retreat (Informal Meeting on WTO Reform 
Focused on Development) in February 2023" ( JOB/COMTD/4 ), was considered.  
2.2  Technical cooperatio n and training  
2.7.  At the 120th Session, the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) outlined the 
ongoing preparations for the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan (TA Plan) 2024 -2025. 
Members w ere briefed on the new e-learning platf orm. An update was provided on the 
Technical  Assistance  (TA) Dashboard and the Single TA and Training Portal . At the 121st Session, 
the Committee took note of the WTO TA Annual Report 2022 ( WT/COMTD/W/272 ). The report 
indicates that , during a year of transition, the WTO moved towards blended TA activities which mix 
online, face -to-face, and virtual components to maximize impact and efficiency. Face -to-face 
TA activities progressively made their long -expected return in the second half of the year, increasing 
the number of activities organi zed to train TA beneficiaries compared to the previous biennium. This 
resulted in an increase in both the number of participants and the geographical and l inguistic 
distribution compared to the previous year. For the first time , more women (51%) than men 
participated in WTO TA activities which is key in increasing women's  participation in global trade. 
While the overall WTO results declined compared to the p revious year, several potential areas for 
improvement were highlighted by the report. These included enhancing the participation of LDCs in 
TA activities, an increased engagement of Observers in the WTO accession process and participation 
in advanced activ ities. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted the TA Plan 2024 -2025 
(WT/COMTD/W/273 )3 and took note of the TA Monitoring and Evaluation Plan 2024 -2025 
(WT/COMTD/W/261/Rev.1 ). At the 122nd Session, the ITTC made a presentation on new 
functionalities in the TA Management System.  
 
3 A corrigendum to the TA Plan 2024 -2025 was subsequently circulated in document 
WT/COMTD/W/273/Corr.1 . WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  2.3  Market access for developing and least developed countries  
2.8.  With regard to RTAs, a  number of documents were submitted by Uruguay o n behalf of the 
member countries of the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA). These included a 
communication circulated in document WT/COMTD/RTA/W/14  concerning the notifications to the 
WTO of instruments concluded by the LAIA member co untries under the 1980 Treaty of Montevideo 
(TM80) in 2021. Following from this communication, 26 notifications were circulated in accordance 
with the document symbols specified in document WT/COMTD/RTA/W/14 .4  
2.9.   A reference to the RTA notification concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs 
Union remained on the agenda. The communication from China, Egypt and India titled "Systemic 
and Specific Issues arising out of the Dual Notification of the GCC Cust oms Union" 
(WT/COMTD/W/175 ) also remained on the agenda.  
2.10.  As regards PTAs, notifications were made concerning the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) scheme of Japan ( WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.19 )5, and the United Kingdom's Developing Countries 
Trading Scheme ( WT/COMTD/PTA6/N/1 ).6 
2.4  Report of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO  
2.11.  The JAG held its 57th Session on 20 July 2023. The report on that meeting is contained in 
document  ITC/AG(LVII)/292.  Ambassador Nadia Theodore (Canada), the Chairperson of the JAG, 
presented the report to the CTD at its 122nd Session. The Committee took note of the report and 
forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.  
2.5  Food security  
2.12.  A number of communication s from Members relating to food security were circulated  in 2023. 
At the 121st Session, a communication from Argentina titled " International Technical Cooperation on 
Global Food Security Provided by the Argentine Republic in 2012 -2022" ( WT/COMTD/W/275 ), was 
considered . At the same meeting, Members considered a communication from the United States 
titled "The World Trade Organization's Role in Enhancing Fo od Security" ( JOB/COMTD/1 ). Another 
communication from the United States , titled " Voice s from the Field: Digital Solutions and 
Innovations to Empower Farmers  and Food Security Event" ( JOB/COMTD/3 ), was subsequently 
circulated. At the 122nd Session, a communication from Br azil, titled " Enhancing Food Security 
Through the Reform in Agriculture and the Use of Current Flexibilities" ( JOB/COMTD/5 ) was 
considered . 
2.6  Policy space for industrial development  
2.13.  A number of communications from the African Group under the theme  of policy space for 
industrial development  were circulated in 2023.  At the 120th Session, the Committee considered the 
comm unication titled " Policy Space for Industrial Development  – A Case for Rebalancing Trade Rules 
to Promote Industrialisation and to Address Emerging Challenges Such as Climate Change, 
Concentration of Production and Digital Industriali sation" (WT/COMTD/W/270 ). This communication 
remained as an item on  the agenda for the 1 21st Session . A sub -item under this agenda item at the 
121st Session reflected the communication titled " A Case for Rebalancing the Agreement on Subsidies 
and Countervailing Measures (ASC M) – Policy Space to Promote Industrialisation in Developing 
Countries"  (WT/COMTD/W/274 ). The same agenda item and sub -item were reflected on the agenda 
of the 122nd Session. At this meeting, t he Committee also considered the communications listed 
under two additional sub -items. One of these sub -items was titled " The Role of Transfer of 
Technology in Resilience Building: Reinvigorating the Discussions in the WTO on Trade and Transfer 
of Technology " (WT/COMTD/W/277 , WT/COMTD/W/278 , WT/COMTD/W/ 279, WT/COMTD/W/280 , 
WT/COMTD/W/281 , WT/COMTD/W/282 ). The other sub -item was titled "A Case for Rebalancing the 
 
4 The documents submitted by Uruguay on behalf of the LAIA member countries were reflected on the 
agenda of the CTD's 19th Dedicated Session on RTAs, which was held on 5 April 2023.  
5 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD's 12th Dedicated Session on PTAs, which was 
held on 11 July 2023.  
6 This notification was reflected on the agenda of the CTD's 1 3th Dedicated Session on PTA s, which was 
held on 17 November 2023. WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  Agreement on Trade -Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) - Policy Space to Promote 
Industria lisation and Structural Transformation in Developing Countries"  (WT/COMTD/W/284 ). 
2.7  Ministerial Declaration from the Twelfth Ministerial Conference on the WTO response 
to the COVID -19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics  
2.14.  An item concerning the MC12 Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the 
COVID -19 pandemic and preparedness for future pandemics ( WT/MIN(22)/31 - WT/L/1142 ) was 
listed on the agenda of the 120th, 121st and 122nd Sessions. Members shared information on th e 
impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on their trade and economies. Suggestions were made on possible 
work that could be done by the CTD in the context of the MC12 Ministerial Declaration . The 
Chairperson  encouraged Members to continue to engage and to conside r submitting written 
proposals on work that the CTD could do on this matter.  
2.8  Trade and Development - Work in the Committee on the basis of the 
Chairman's  concluding statement from the Eighth Ministerial Conference  
2.15.  At MC8, Ministers, inter alia , reaffirmed the positive link between trade and development and 
called for focused work in the CTD. Ministers called on Members to fully operationalize the mandate 
of the CTD as a focal point for development work. The Committee continued its discussions in the 
course of 2023 on the outstanding proposals for work under the MC8  mandate. One proposal 
– by Barbados, Belize, China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and the African Group , and contained in 
document  WT/COMTD/W/208  – is for the CTD to report on development -related ac tivities and 
development issues raised in other WTO  bodies. The other remaining proposal – by China, Cuba, 
Ecuador, India and the African Group , and contained in document WT/COMTD/W/192  – is for the 
CTD to make a recommendation for the parties to RTAs to submit their notification and information 
requirements jointly. The two documents containing these proposals were listed on the agendas of 
the 120th, 121st and 122nd Sessions.  The Chai rperson  encouraged continued engagement among 
Members in order to make progress on these proposals.   
2.9  Special and Differential Treatment Provisions in WTO Agreements and Decisions – 
note by the Secretariat  
2.16.  An updated Secretariat report on S&D  provisions in the WTO Agreements and Decisions 
(WT/COMTD/W/271 ) was reflected on the agenda of the 120th Session. In addition to containing 
updated information on the implementation of S&D provisions in the WTO Agreements, the report 
contained a section whi ch listed various relevant Ministerial and other Decisions, along with any 
updated information available on their implementation in the S&D context. The Committee took note 
of the updated Secretariat report.  
2.10  Work Programme on Electronic Commerce  
2.17.  The item c oncerning the Work Programme on E -Commerce was listed on the agenda of the 
120th, 121st and 122nd Sessions. Discussion took place on a communication from India and 
South  Africa titled "Global Electronic Commerce for Inclusive Development" 
(WT/COMTD/W/264/Rev.1 ). At the 122nd Session, the  Committee considered a communication from 
the African Group titled "Reinvigorating the Work under the 1998 Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce: A Development Approach to the Work Programme o n E -Commerce" 
(WT/COMTD/W/283 ). 
2.11  Duty -free and quota-free market access for LDCs  
2.18.  An item concerning DFQF market access for LDCs was listed on the agendas of the 120th and 
121st Sessions. A number of delegations  took the floor . The LDC Group  thanked  all Members that 
were a lready offer ing DFQF market access to LDCs  and encourage d those that ha d not yet done so 
to do their best to implement the provisions adopted in Hong Kong and Bali in favour of LDCs . It was 
recalled by the Chairperson in the  course of the year that informal consultations had not found a 
way forward that would allow the Secretariat to update its report for the CTD's annual reviews  of 
the steps taken to provide DFQF market access to LDCs, as instructed in the Bali Ministerial D ecision 
(WT/MIN(13)/44  – WT/L/919 ). Members  were invited  to consider the matter and provide guidance . 
In the meantime, it was indicated that the CTD would continue with its annual DFQF reviews even WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  without a Secretariat report, as it had been doing since 2017.  At the 122nd Session, the Committee 
conducted its annual DFQF review for 2023 . 
3  DEDICATED SESSION ON THE MONITORING MECHANISM ON SPECIAL AND 
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT  
3.1.  The Dedicated Session on the MM on S&D held two formal meetings during 202 3, on 11 July 
and o n 17 November, both chaired by Ambassador  José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic) . The 
minutes of these meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/1 8 
and WT/COMTD/MMSDT/M/197, respectively. At the July Session, the Chairperson noted that, 
according to the Decision establishing the MM ( WT/MIN(13)/45  - WT/L/920), the monitoring of 
special and differential provisions is to be undertaken on the basis of written inputs or submissions 
made by Members, as well as on the basis of reports from other WTO bodies to which submissions  
by Members could also be made. It was  observed in this regard that there were still no written 
submissions in the MM. Reference was also made  to paragraph 12 of the Decision establishing the 
MM, which states that "The Mechanism shall be reviewed three yea rs after its first formal meeting, 
and thereafter as necessary, taking into account its functioning and evolving circumstances". It was 
recalled in this regard that delegations had expressed different perspectives on the question of the 
review. It was also  noted  that, during the informal discussions held by the Chairperson o n the 
developmental aspects of WTO refor m, a number of Members had raised concerns that the MM had 
still not been operationalized . Discussion on these issues continued at the November se ssion.  The 
Chairperson urged Members to come to a common understanding on how to move forward with the 
MM. 
4  DEDICATED SESSION ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
4.1.  Three meetings of the CTD's Dedicated Session on RTAs were held in 2023. 
The 19th Dedicated  Session on RTAs was held on 5 April 2023 and was chaired by 
Ambassador  Usha Chandnee Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius). The general minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/19 . At the meeting, the Committee took note of a number 
of documents submitted by Uruguay on behalf of the LAIA member countries8, and of the 
Chairperson's report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations of RTAs 
(WT/COMTD/RTA/W/15 ). The Committee then considered two agreements, as per the provisions of 
the 14 December 2006 General Council Decision on a Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (RTA TM).9 
The two agreements considered were: the Agreement on Trade, Commer ce and Transit Between 
India and Bhutan (Goods) ( WT/COMTD/RTA25/N/1 , WT/COMTD/RTA25/1 )10; and the 
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and 
Mauritius (Goods) ( WT/COMTD/RTA19/N/1 , WT/COMTD/RTA19/1 , WT/COMTD/RTA19/2 , 
WT/COMTD/RTA19/3 ) 11. 
4.2.  The 20th and 21st Dedicated Sessions on RTAs were held on 11 July 2023 and 
17 November  2023, respectively and were chaired by Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung 
(Dominican  Republic). The minutes of the 20th Dedicated Session on RTAs are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA/M/20 . At this meeting, the Committee took note of the Chair person 's report on the 
status of the preparation of factual presentations of RTAs ( WT/COMTD/RTA/W/16 ). The minutes of 
the 21st Dedicated Session on RTAs meeting are contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/21 .12 . 
At this meeting, the Committee took note of the Chair person 's report on the status of the preparation 
of factual presentations of RTAs (WT/COMTD/RTA/W/17 ). 
5  DEDICATED SESSION ON PREFERENTIAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS  
5.1.  Three meetings of the CTD's Dedicated Session on PTAs were held in 2023. 
The 11th Dedicated  Session on PTAs was held on 5 April 2023 and was chaired by 
 
7 To be issued.  
8 The description of these documents can be found in paragraph 2. 8 above.  
9 WT/L/671 . 
10 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA25/M/1 .  
11 The minutes relating to the consideration of this agreement are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA19/M/1 .  
12 To be is sued.  WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  Ambassado r Usha Chandnee Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius). The minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/11 . At the meeting, the Committee took note of the 
Chairperson's report on the status of the preparation of factual presentations o f PTAs 
(WT/COMTD/PTA/W/9 ).  
5.2.  The 12th and 13th Dedicated Sessions on PTAs were held on 11 July 2023 and 
17 November  2023, respectively and were chaired by Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung 
(Dominican  Republic). The minutes of the 12th Dedicated Session on PTAs are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/PTA/M/12 . At this meeting, the Committee took note of a notification concerning 
Japan's  GSP scheme ( WT/COMTD/N/2/Add.19 ) and of the Chair person 's report on the status o f the 
preparation of factual presentations of PTAs ( WT/COMTD/PTA/W/10 ). The minutes of the 
13th Dedicated Session on PTAs are contained in document WT/COMTD/PTA/M/13 .13 At this meeting, 
the Committee took note of a notification concerning the U nited Kingdom's Developing Countries 
Trading Scheme ( WT/COMTD/PTA6/N/1 ), and of the Chair person 's report on the status of the 
preparation of factual presentations of PTAs ( WT/COMTD/PTA/W/11 ). 
6  DEDICATED SESSION ON SMALL ECONOMI ES 
6.1.  Three meetings of the CTD's Dedicated Session on Small Economies were held in 2023. 
The CTD's 4 4th Dedicated Session on Small Economies was held on 30 March  2023 and was chaired 
by Ambassador Usha Chandnee Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius ). The minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/ 44. At the meeting, the Dedicated Session considered  a 
background note by the Secretariat on the topic of "integrating small economies into the post 
COVID -19 economy: effects of the pandemic, challenges and opportunities " 
(WT/COMTD/SE/W/45 ).14  
6.2.  The 45th Dedicated Session on Small Economies w as held on 19 October 2023 and was  chaired 
by Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican  Republic). The minutes of this meeting are 
contained in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/45 . Discussions  at the meeting  focused on the challenges 
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 C onference on Trade  
and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank. Presentations were also made by Ecuador , 
El Salvador  and Sri  Lanka – members of the SVE Group.   
6.3.  The 46th Dedicated Session on Small Economies , which  met on 16 Novem ber 2023 , was c haired 
by Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican  Republic) . 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 ). Discussion then took place on  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/46 ). The meeting was 
suspended , as Members needed more time to c onsider the proposal. The 46th Dedicated Session was 
reconvened on 24 November  2023. The delegation of Guatemala introduced a revised version of the 
proposal (WT/COMTD/SE/W/46/Rev.1 ). The meeting was suspended  once again. Discussions will 
continue in the Dedicated Session. The Dedicated Session's report to the General Council , which will 
be circulated in document WT/COMTD/SE/1215, will be submitted to the General Council once 
discussions on the SVE Group 's proposal are concluded.  The minutes of the 46th Dedicated Session 
will be circulated in document WT/COMTD/SE/M/46 .16 
 
13 To be issued.  
14 In the MC12 Ministerial Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies ( WT/MIN(22)/25  - 
WT/L/1136 ), instructions were given for work to be undertaken on this topic. In particular, the  Secretariat was 
instructed " to provide relevant information and factual analysis for discussion among Members in the 
CTD's  Dedicated S ession on Small Economies, inter alia , in the areas identified in item k of paragraph 2 of the 
Work Programme on Small Economies and, in particular, to work on integrating small economies into the post 
COVID -19 economy: effects of the pandemic, challenges and opportunities ". The Secretariat background note 
was prepared on the basis of an outline proposed by Guatemala on behalf of the Group of Small, Vulnerable 
Economies (SVEs) ( WT/COMTD/SE/W/44 ) which was agreed at  CTD's  43rd Dedicated Session on S mall 
Economies held on 20 May 2022.  
15 To be issued.  
16 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  7  AID FOR TRADE  
7.1.  The CTD held its 57th, 58th, and 59th Sessions o n Aid for Trade on 10 February, 12 May, and 
14 November 2023, respectively. The meetings were chaired by 
Ambassador  Usha Chandnee  Dwarka -Canabady (Mauritius) in February and by 
Ambassador  José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic) in May and November. The m inutes of the 
meetings are contained in documents WT/COMTD/AFT/M/57 , WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58 , and 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/5917, respectively. In addition, a series of thematic workshops were organized in 
proximity to each formal CTD Aid -for-Trade meeting. A workshop on boosting agricultural production 
and agribusiness, f ood security, livelihoods and trade was held on 11 May 2023, followed by another 
webinar held on 23 June to explore how South -South Trade and Triangular Cooperation supports 
developing economies.  
7.2.  At each formal CTD Aid -for-Trade meeting, Members reviewed t he implementation of work 
activities within the framework of the 2023 -2024 Work Programme on "Partnerships for Food 
Security, Digital Connectivity and Mainstreaming Trade"( WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95 ) and provided 
updates on their Aid -for-Trade activities. Updat es were also provided by a number of international 
organizations, multilateral development banks and other agencies, including 
the African  Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian  Development Bank (AsDB), the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF), the European Ban k for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 
the Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB), the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), 
the  ITC, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Standards and 
Trade Development Facility (STDF), UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development 
Organization (UNIDO) and the World Bank. During the meetings, the  Secretariat provided briefings 
on various aspects of the Aid-for-Trade initiative , including reports of the corresponding 
Aid-for-Trade workshops, as well as on preparations for the 9th Global Review of Aid for Trade  and 
on the launch of the 2023 -2024 joint OECD -WTO Aid -for-Trade Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) 
exercise .18 
7.3.  The Committee also met in informal sessions on 4 April, 28 June, 9 and 22 September, and 
3 October to discuss the Aid -for-Trade M&E exercise. The self -assessment questionnaire formats 
were agreed at an informal meeting on 9 October and a deadline of 30 Nov ember set for responses. 
Findings from the M&E exercise will be featured in the forthcoming "Aid for Trade at a Glance" 
publications and will play a critical part of the preparations for the next Global Review of Aid for  Trade 
scheduled for the end of June  2024. The reports will also include analysis of M&E indicators - a 
further topic of discussion during formal and informal Committee sessions. More information on the 
events and the publications can be accessed at  www.wto.org/aidfortrade . 
8  SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
8.1.  Three formal meetings of the Sub -Committee on Least Developed Countries (hereafter the 
Sub-Committee) were held in 2023. These meetings took place on 20 February (95th Session), 
31 May (96th Session) and 5 October (97th Session). The minutes of these meetings are contained 
in documents WT/COMTD/LDC/M/95 , WT/COMTD/LDC/M/96  and WT/COMTD/LDC/M/97 , 
respectively. The delegation of Djibouti acted as the LDC Coordinator throughout the year.  
8.2.  The Sub -Committee meeting of 20 February was chaired by Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi 
(Finland). At the CTD meeting held on 5 April, Ambassador Erik Brøgger Rasmussen (Denmark) was 
elected as the new Chairperson of the Sub -Committee. Ambassador Erik Brøgger Rasmussen chaired 
the Sub -Committee meeting held on 31 May. Ambassador Rasmussen relinquished his 
responsibilities on 15 September. Since then, pending the election of the new Chairperson, 
Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic), the Chairperson of the CTD, has been 
overseeing the work of the Sub -Committee. Ambassador Sánchez -Fung chaired the Sub -Committee 
meeting held on 5 October.  Under the aegis of the  Sub-Committee, two informal experience -sharing 
sessions on LDCs' participation in global supply chains (20 February) and preferential rules of origin 
(5 October) were held in 2023.  
 
17 To be issued.  
18 The joint OECD -WTO Aid -for-Trade M&E exercise for the 9th Global Review can be found in document 
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97 . WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  8.3.  The Sub -Committee considered the following subjects: (i) LDCs' trade trend s; 
(ii) Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs (LDC5); (iii) strengthening productive capacity in LDCs; and 
(iv) LDCs' integration into global trade - preferential rules of origin.  In addition, the Sub -Committee 
held informal sessions on the LDC graduation propos al (WT/GC/W/807/ Rev.2 ). 
8.1  LDCs ' Trade Trends  
8.4.  At the 95th Session, a video was presented to highlight LDCs' performance in goods and services 
trade.19 The annual note prepared by the Secretariat contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/70  
highlighted that LDCs' share in global exports remained static at 0.93 % in 2021. While WTO Members 
provided generous trade preferences to LDCs, it was also highlighted that more efforts were required 
to boost LDCs' capacity to trade.  
8.5.  The LDCs noted that these trends were still marked by the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic 
which had weakened their production and exports capacities. The initiatives including Aid for Trade 
and the EIF in supporting LDCs in achieving structural transformation were highlighted. Members 
highlighted the support provided to LDCs through various preference programmes.   
8.2  Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs (LDC5)  
8.6.  At the 95th Session, the United Nations Office of the High  Representative for the 
Least  Developed Countries, Landlo cked Developing Countries and Small  Island Developing States 
(UN-OHRLLS) provided an update on the preparations for the LDC5 Conference held in Doha, Qatar, 
in March 2023. The  LDC5 was expected to adopt the Doha Political Declaration and take stock of the 
implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs for the decade 2022 -2031.20 
The LDCs noted the need for international support measures to help eradicate poverty, promote 
sustainable development, assist in a smooth graduation from the LDC catego ry and the challenges 
posed by climate change. Members noted the role of LDC5 in accelerating LDCs' achievement of 
sustainable development.  
8.3  Strengthening Productive Capacity in LDCs  
8.7.  At the 96th Session, the Sub -Committee had a thematic discussion focused on ongoing efforts 
in strengthening productive capacity in LDCs. Representatives from UNCTAD, OECD's Development 
Centre, the World Bank and UNIDO explored the tools available for measuring productive capacity, 
examined the linkages between trade and produc tion transformation in LDCs, and shared 
perspectives from practice. During the session, capital -based representatives from Angola, Ethiopia 
and Rwanda shared their experiences.  
8.8.  The LDCs stressed the need to encourage the participation of LDCs in regional v alue chains, 
and called on the WTO and other relevant institutions to provide targeted assistance to LDCs to help 
them achieve transformation of their production capacity. Members noted the importance of 
technology transfer, increased investment, improved business climate and strengthening of 
institutional capacities for LDCs.  
8.4  Integration of LDCs into Global Trade: Preferential Rules of Origin  
8.9.  At the 97th Session, the Sub -Committee held a thematic discussion on preferential rules of 
origin. The Session bene fited from the participation of representatives from UNCTAD, the 
WTO Secretariat, as well as Tanzania and the United States. The Session offered an opportunity to 
provide an update on the work of the WTO's Committee on Rules of Origin. It also allowed for a 
discussion on various factors affecting LDCs' exports. The LDCs underlined the importance of simpler 
and more predictable rules of origin to facilitate their exports.  
 
19 The video can be accessed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TagES32qu -Y 
20 https://www.un.org/ldc5/doha -programme -of-action  WT/COMTD/103  
 
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  8.5  LDC Graduation Proposal  
8.10.  At the July 2023 General Council meeting, Members instructed the Sub -Committee to examine 
Annex 2 of the LDC graduation proposal , contained in document WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2 , and report 
back to the General Council by 30 November 2023 with any recommendations.  
8.11.  The Sub -Committee began the ex amination of Annex 2 of the LDC graduation proposal with 
a first informal session held on 20  September  2023. In the meeting, t he LDC Group suggested to 
organize four informal sessions to examine the 17 S&D provisions identified in Annex 2 of the 
proposal. Members had encouraged LDCs to prioritize the provisions contained in Annex 2. Following 
the submission of a proposed work plan by the LDC Group, Members reached an understanding on 
the sequencing of the thematic topics at the informal session held on 16 O ctober. Thereafter, the 
Sub-Committee met in informal sessions to discuss the provisions identified in Annex 2 on the 
following dates: 8, 20 and 22 November. A report in this regard will be issued to the General  Council 
by 30 November  (WT/COMTD/LDC/30 )21. 
__________  
 
21 To be issued.  