129th Session of the Trade Committee - Agenda

Section A:  Core items for discussion

1.    Scope and modalities of further trade liberalisation

This will be the Trade Committee's third informal discussion since the Seattle Ministerial aimed at assisting the process of consensus building on the approach to new global trade negotiations.  A range of issues relating to the prospects for launching a new round and for ensuring smooth and effective functioning of the multilateral trading system will be discussed.  A particular focus will be regionalism and how its development may affect the trading system both in the near term and longer term.

2.    The “new” economy and the multilateral trading system

The concept of the “new” economy gives rise to a number of trade-policy questions.  Delegates will examine some preliminary thoughts on what these could be and where there may be implications for the interrelationship between the “new” economy and the multilateral trading system.  This discussion builds on the initiative introduced in a room document at the 22-23 May 2000 Trade Committee meeting by the Swedish Delegation.

3.    Study on trade and development issues in non-OECD countries

The first draft of the study on this subject contains some sections which are more elaborated than others presented as work in progress.  The intent is to give an overview of the study’s structure while at the same time submitting some sections for the Committee’s discussion.

Section B:  Other items for discussion or decision

4.    Draft report on sustainable development

Delegates will recall that OECD Ministers at their meeting in 1998 requested a report on sustainable development, which will be presented to the 2001 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial level.  An expanded outline of Chapter 5 of the analytical section that is on trade, investment and sustainable development, is available to Delegates for any discussion or comments they may wish to make. 

5.    Recent important developments in trade and trade policy

As at each Trade Committee meeting, Delegates are invited to share information and discuss recent developments in policies or practices that may significantly affect trade relations or the functioning of the multilateral trading system.  If possible, Delegates are encouraged to notify in advance to the Secretariat issues or topics that they wish to address.  Possible topics for an exchange of views could include, for example, the status of current WTO accession negotiations (such as China's) and developments in regional arrangements (such as the proposal recently put forward by Mexico’s President-elect for broadening NAFTA).  This item would also provide an opportunity for a report on the outcome of the ASEM Ministerial meeting the previous week (20-21 October) in Seoul and the meeting of APEC Trade Ministers in Australia last June.

6.   Outcome of the Trade Committee’s informal consultation with NGOs

Delegates are invited to express views assessing the usefulness of the Committee’s informal consultation with non-governmental organisations on 23 October, and in particular whether the exchange yielded further insights on how best to organise relations with stakeholders so as to facilitate trade liberalisation that will be beneficial to all. 

7.    UNCTAD request for observership in the Joint Group on Trade and Competition

Delegates are invited to take a decision on UNCTAD’s request for Observer status in the Joint Group on Trade and Competition. 

Section C:  Items for information or discussion

8.    Capacity development for trade in developing countries

Work is under way in the Development Co-operation Directorate and will in due course be reviewed by the Development Assistance Committee.  A representative from the Development Co-operation Directorate/DAC will give a status report and be available to answer any questions Delegates may wish to pose.

9.    Work in progress

The Secretariat will update Delegates on the status of ongoing projects.  The Working Party Chairman Mr Robert Newton and the Secretariat are at the disposal of the Committee to answer any questions Delegates may raise.