RESTRICTED
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE PC/M/8
FOR THE 15December 1994
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
(94-2798)
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
MINUTES OFMEETING
Held on30November 1994
1. ThePreparatory Committee fortheWorld Trade Organization (WTO) helditseighth meeting
under theChairmanship ofMr.Peter D.Sutherland.
A. Review ofwork under theSub-Committees
2. TheChairman recalled thatatthe23November meeting oftheCommittee, theChairmen of
theSub-Committees hadpresented comprehensive oralreports onareas ofwork under theircharge.
They hadalsolisted thequestions thatremained outstanding andtheprocesses andtime-tables they
hadestablished foraddressing them. Heinvited theChairmen toinform theCommittee ofdevelopments
since 23November.
3. Mr.Szepesi(Hungary),ChairmanoftheSub-CommitteeonBudget,FinanceandAdministration,
saidthattheSub-Committee hadnotmetsince theprevious meeting ofthePreparatory Committee.
However, theWorking Group under theSub-Committee hadmeton25and29November, atwhich
thefollowing issues, inparticular, hadbeenconsidered: transfer oftheassets, liabilities, records,
staff, andfunctions oftheDirector-General, fromtheICITO/GATT totheWTO; personnel aspects
ofthetransition from theGATT Secretariat totheWTO Secretariat; financial rules andregulations
fortheWTO; andtherelationship between theITCandtheWTO. From thediscussion oftheseissues,
proposals were emerging forconsideration intheSub-Committee thatwould hopefully leadto
recommendations tothePreparatory Committee, including arecommendation onthe1995 Budget.
However, iftheSub-Committee wasnotinaposition tomake recommendations onsome oftheseissues
before theendoftheyear, itwould propose thatthese betaken overbytherelevant WTO bodies early
in1995.
4. With regard tothenegotiations ontheWTO Headquarters Agreement, herecalled thatwork
wasbeing carried outonthree different fronts, namely, thephysical facilities, thefacilities forthe
least-developed country Members, andthecomplex issue ofprivileges andimmunities. With regard
tothephysical facilities, progress hadbeenmade onmostofthetechnical aspects. Perhaps themost
important element forwhich ananswer from theSwiss authorities wasstillawaited concerned a
commitment forthelong-term accommodation oftheWTO, ifandwhen theCentre William Rappard
became inadequate. Asregards thepossible division ofthenewconference room intotwosmaller
roomsofsome300seats,thecarparksandmaintenancecosts,onecoulddetectfromtheSwissdelegation
awishtotakecareoftheconcerns raised. Withregard totheaccommodation tobeprovided toleast-
developed country Members, thepositions ofthetwosideswerestillsubstantially different. Further
informal meetings hadbeenscheduled, andareasonable compromise would hopefully bereached.
Astoprivileges andimmunities, progress remained slowandlimited. Arevised draftheadquarters
agreement hadbeensubmitted bytheSwiss authorities. Although thechanges hadaddressed somePC/M/8
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oftheissues raised bytheteamnegotiating onbehalf ofthePreparatory Committee, theyhadgenerally
fallen short ofitsproposals andexpectations. Detailed replies were stillawaited from theSwiss
authorities onsome ofthemajor sticking points, namely taxation, residence permits andwork permits.
Onthelatter point, theSwiss authorities hadprovided some further information, which, however, had
served onlytoconfirm theirprevious position. Discussions would continue oncetheoutstanding replies
hadbeenreceived, anditwashoped thatsome convergence ofpositions would thenbegin toappear.
Itwasclear thatconsiderable work remained tobedoneontheHeadquarters issue. Inthecoming
days, expert levelmeetings would beheldwhich would befollowed byaplenary negotiating session
scheduled for15December.
5. Mr.Kesavapany (Singapore), Chairman oftheSub-Committee onInstitutional, Procedural
andLegal Matters, saidthatatameeting heldon28November, theSub-Committee hadapproved
three reports onnotification formats andprocedures submitted bytheContact Groups onAgriculture,
onAnti-dumping, Subsidies andSafeguards, andonTRIPS withrespect toTRIMs. With this,the
Sub-Committee hadcompleted work onthepartofitsmandate relating toterms ofreference andrules
ofprocedure. Thismeant, ineffect, thattheWTO anditsmainorgans would beready tostartwork
on1January 1995, if,asallhoped, theWTO entered intoforce onthatdate. Consultations wereon-
going onproposed rulesofethical conduct inthesettlement ofdisputes. Mr.Armstrong (New Zealand)
planned toadvance work tothegreatest extent possible. Asregards theAppellate Body, agreement
hadbeenreached thenightbefore, atthedrafting group level, onallaspects related toitsestablishment.
Apaper reflecting thisagreement would besubmitted tothenextmeeting oftheSub-Committee.
6. OntheWTO 'srelations withtheIMF, theSub-Committee hadapproved thedraftofaletter
tobesentbytheChairman oftheGATT 1947Committee onBalance-of-Payment Restrictions tothe
appropriate authority attheIMF. Pending theconclusion ofamore definitive arrangement regarding
theWTO 'srelations withtheIMF, thisinterim arrangement would ensure thattheworking relationship
currently inplace between theGATT 1947 andtheIMFwould continue into1995 andbeextended
tobalance-of-payments matters intheareaofservices.
7. TheSub-Committee hadtwooutstanding issues before it.Thefirstwastheimportant and
pressing issueoftransitional arrangements. Intensive bilateral andplurilateral meetings would beheld
overthenextfewdays, andtheiroutcome would bereported totheSub-Committee andconsequently
tothePreparatory Committee. Thesecond wasthequestion ofcomposition oftheTextiles Monitoring
Body. TheChairman oftheContact Group established toexamine thismatter hadindicated thathe
would intensify hisconsultations over thenextfewdays. Depending ontheoutcome ofthese
consultations, thequestion ofproceeding further onthismatter would beaddressed. Thiswould also
takeintoaccount thequestion oftheChairmanship oftheTMB. Ameeting oftheSub-Committee
tobeconvened atshort notice might benecessary toconsider proposals onthetwooutstanding issues,
aswellasonanyother matters asnecessary.
8. TheChairmansaidthat,asmemberswereaware,theSub-CommitteesonTradeandEnvironment
andonServices weresomewhat different inthattheirmandates andworkprogrammes extended beyond
thelife-time ofthePreparatory Committee. However, inthecontext ofupdating thedraftreport to
theWTO, itwould beappropriate fortheChairmen ofthese Sub-Committees toprovide information
regarding developments since 23November.
9. Mr.Lampreia (Brazil), Chairman oftheSub-Committee onTrade andEnvironment, saidthat
sincehehadreported lasttothePreparatory Committee, theSub-Committee hadheldafurther meeting,
atwhich thefocus ofattention hadbeenthesixth itemoftheMinisterial work programme ontrade
andenvironment, namely theeffect ofenvironmental measures onmarket access, especially inrelation
todeveloping countries andinparticular totheleastdeveloped among them, andenvironmental benefits
ofremoving trade restrictions anddistortions. Delegations hadhighlighted forfurther examinationPC/M/8
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issues suchastheeffects oftariff escalation, non-tariff barriers andtrade-distorting subsidies onthe
environment,exportdiversificationanditsrelationshiptoenvironmentalprotection,marketopportunities
forenvironmentally friendly products particularly from developing countries, andtheimportance of
technology transfer andtechnical andfinancial assistance inthepursuit ofsustainable development.
Many delegations hadnoted thatthiswasacross-cutting issue related toother items ofthework
programme, including transparency andcharges, taxes andproduct requirements which served
environmental purposes. Several delegations hadalsofound itappropriate torevert totwoother items
ofthework programme which hadbeenselected forinitial focus, inparticular theitemdealing, inter
alia,withtheuseoftrade measures pursuant tomultilateral environmental agreements.
10. Since thishadbeenthefinalscheduled meeting oftheSub-Committee, hewished tosaythat,
inhisview, animpressive starttotheMinisterial work programme ontradeandenvironment hadbeen
made. Theissues hadbeentaken upsubstantively, agreatdealofeffort hadbeeninvested bydelegations
inthework programme, bothinGeneva andincapitals, andthere wasaclear commitment across
theboard tomaking themaximum progress possible before thefirstbiennial meeting oftheMinisterial
Conference aftertheentry intoforce oftheWTO, when thework andterms ofreference oftheWTO
Committee onTrade andEnvironment would bereviewed inthelight oftheCommittee 's
recommendations. Thework oftheCommittee overthefollowing twoyears heldoutgreat promise
formeeting theobjective ofensuring thatpolicies inthefieldoftradeandenvironment wereproperly
coordinated.
11. Finally, hewasstillconsulting informally onthepossible input thattheSub-Committee could
provide tothePreparatory Committee inrespect ofappropriate arrangements forrelations with
intergovernmental andnon-governmental organizations referred toinArticle VoftheWTO Agreement.
Hehoped tobeabletoconclude these consultations successfully intheverynearfuture, inwhich case
hewould convene ashort meeting oftheSub-Committee toendorse theresults ofhisconsultations
andhavethem forwarded tothePreparatory Committee.
12. Mr.Manhusen (Sweden), Chairman oftheSub-Committee onServices, saidthattheSub-
Committee hadhelditsfifthmeeting on29November. Ithadfinalized draftguidelines fornotifications
undertheGATS,whichwouldnowbeissuedasaformaldocumentoftheSub-Committeeandtransmitted
totheCouncil forTrade inServices foritsconsideration andapproval. Also, hehadreported tothe
Sub-Committee oninformal consultations hehadheldontheoutstanding issues relating tothescope
oftheGATS. TheSub-Committee hadalsodiscussed thequestion ofverification ofschedules of
commitments. Inthisregard, hehaddrawn attention toAngola 'sschedule ofcommitments, which
hadrecently beencirculated toMembers ofthePreparatory Committee. Ithadbeenagreed tohold
aninformal meeting on15December fortheverification ofschedules, tobefollowed bythefinalformal
meeting oftheSub-Committee on16December.
13. Theoutstanding work oftheSub-Committee consisted oftwomain items. Thefirstwasthe
outstanding issues relating tothescope oftheGATS. There werestilldivergences among Members
oncertain points, andhewould continue hisinformal consultations onthose issues withaview to
reaching solutions acceptable toallMembers, keeping inmind thatthedeadline forthiswork was
15December. Thesecond itemwastheverification ofschedules. Thus far,fourschedules of
commitments inservices hadbeencirculated toMembers ofthePreparatory Committee, namely those
ofSt.KittsandNevis, theUnited Arab Emirates, MaliandAngola. With regard totheverification
oftheseschedules, hedrewattention toapotential timing problem. According totheprocedures agreed
bythePreparatory Committee, theverification ofservices schedules hadtofollow theconclusion of
bilateral negotiations between Members ofthePreparatory Committee andthegovernment concerned.
Atthemeeting oftheSub-Committee on29November, some Members hadindicated thatnegotiations
ontheschedules hadnotyetbeenconcluded andthatmoretimewasneeded. Theprocess ofverification,
therefore, could notbestarted. Heunderlined thatifthegovernments concerned weretobecome originalPC/M/8
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members oftheWTO, negotiations onthese schedules should beconcluded andtheschedules verified
bytheSub-Committee andapproved bythePreparatory Committee before thelatterconcluded itswork
attheendoftheyear. Thatwould require thatallbilateral negotiations ontheseschedules beconcluded
by15December, which wasthedatesetbytheSub-Committee fortheverification ofschedules.
14. TheChairmansaidthat,withregardtoworkunderparagraph8(b)(i)oftheDecisionestablishing
thePreparatory Committee, theschedules ongoods ofAngola andGrenada hadbeenreceived and
Membersdulyinformed.Also,Angola'sscheduleonserviceshasbeencirculatedindocumentPC/W/10.
Hehoped thatnegotiations were continuing ontheother pending schedules, andbelieved thatwith
therequisite goodwill, itshould bepossible toconclude theprocess under paragraph 8(b)(i) bymid-
December.
15. Therepresentative ofQatar, referring totheremarks concerning thepending schedules ongoods
andservicesfromanumberofcountries,saidthathisdelegationhadbeenincontactwiththeSecretariat's
Technical Cooperation Division, andhoped tocomplete work onQatar'sschedules veryshortly. He
hoped thatthese schedules would becirculated toMembers andverified asrapidly aspossible.
16. TheChairman welcomed thepositive indication fromQatar. Heproposed thattheCommittee
takenoteoftheprogress reports bytheChairmen oftheSub-Committees. Inrespect ofoutstanding
areas ofwork, heproposed thattheCommittee takenoteoftheconclusions andagreements reached
onspecific questions asreported atthepresent meeting, withtheunderstanding thattheywould be
incorporated, inappropriate textual form, intothefirstrevision ofthedraftreport totheWTO which
would beavailable tothePreparatory Committee atitsnextmeeting.
17. TheCommittee soagreed andtooknoteofthestatements.
18. TheChairman stressed thatthere wasstillagreat dealofwork tobedoneandverylittletime
inwhich todoit.Inthecoming days, hewould beworking closely withtheChairmen ofthe
Sub-Committees toresolve asmany pending issues aspossible. Heurged delegations toaccelerate
work intheperiod between thenand7December. Asallwere aware, itwasvital thatthe
Implementation Conference beinaposition toadopt anumber ofkeydecisions on8December as
aresultofworkdoneintheSub-CommitteesonBudget,FinanceandAdministrationandonInstitutional,
Procedural andLegal Matters. Thepending issue oftransitional arrangements wasacaseinpoint.
Aclear picture inrespect ofthese decisions should, therefore, emerge atthenextmeeting ofthe
Committee, when theChairmen concerned reported onresults ofwork donesincethepresent meeting.
B. Derestriction ofdocuments
19. TheChairman recalled thatattheCommittee 'smeeting on23November, theChairman of
theSub-Committee onInstitutional, Procedural andLegal Matters hadsuggested thattheCommittee
consider thepossibility ofadopting adecision toprovide forthefuture derestriction ofitsdocuments
andthose ofitssubsidiary bodies, similar tothattaken bytheUruguay Round Trade Negotiations
Committee priortotheMarrakesh Ministerial Meeting (MTN.TNC/42). Inresponse, hehadsaidthat
hewould submit adraftdecision tothiseffect atthepresent meeting. Members would havereceived
thisdraftdecision indocument PC/W/9, thetextofwhich wasanadaptation oftheearlier TNCdecision
toadjust tothecurrent situation. Heproposed thattheCommittee adopt thedraftdecision inPC/W/9.
20. TheCommittee soagreed (PC/4).PC/M/8
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C. Ratification
21. Therepresentative ofEgypt saidthatasoneapproached theimplementation oftheWTO
Agreement, Egypt hoped toseealarge number ofcountries ratifying theAgreement. Heenquired
astothepresent situation withregard toratification.
22. TheChairman saidthatthirty-six governments hadeither formally ratified orcompleted their
domestic processes inregard toratification asofthatdate. Onthebasisofinformation received, there
wasreason tobeveryoptimistic thatthenumber ofgovernments thatwould beinaposition toaccept
theWTO Agreement on1January 1995 would besubstantially greater thanthefigure hehadjust
mentioned. Indeed, onlyafewgovernments hadindicated thattheymight notbeinaposition toaccept
theWTO onthatdate. Avirtual avalanche ofratifications wasexpected intheverynearfuture, and
heknew hehadthesupport ofallintrying toensure thataverylargenumber ofgovernments accepted
theAgreement by1January 1995.
23. TheCommittee tooknoteofthestatements.
D. Other Business
24. Therepresentative ofKorea saidhewished todrawattention toSection 267ofthedraftUruguay
Round Implementing BilloftheUnited States andtherelated partoftheStatement ofAdministrative
Action. Section 267stipulated thattheterm"developing countries" intheSubsidies Agreement meant
acountry designated bytheUSTR, andthesecond lastparagraph inpage270oftheStatement of
Administration Action stated thattheUSTR would notdesignate Hong Kong, Korea orSingapore as
developing countries. HisGovernment wasseriously concerned bythis.Throughout theentire process
oftheUruguay Round negotiations, from Punta delEsteuntilMarrakesh, Korea hadparticipated as
adeveloping country. IftheUnited States hadwished totreatKorea otherwise, aconsensus tothat
effect should havebeenreached before theconclusion ofthenegotiations. That, however, wasclearly
notthecase. TheUruguay Round package reflected abalance ofrights andobligations among
participants, andspecial treatment fordeveloping countries waspartofthepackage. Korea hadagreed
totheUruguay Round package withthelegitimate expectation thatitwould benefit fromthatspecial
treatment. Denial ofthose benefits through anyunilateral andarbitrary determination onthepartof
oneparticipant astothestatus oftheothers wastherefore notonlyinconsistent withthelong-standing
practice of"self-election", butalsowentagainst thebona fidenature ofthenegotiations. Hewished
toregister thestrong concern ofhisGovernment inthismatter, andurged theUnited States toaddress
Korea 'sconcern. Hereserved Korea 'srightunder theWTO totakeappropriate action, ifnecessary.
25. TherepresentativeofHongKongassociatedhisdelegationwithKorea'sstatement.Self-election
inrespect ofdeveloping country status hadbeenalong-standing practice under theGATT, which had
notinanywaybeenchanged asaresult oftheUruguay Round negotiations. Hong Kong, likeall
other parties, hadcompleted thenegotiations ingood faith, andnoneoftheagreements hadprovided
fordesignation ofdeveloping- ordeveloped-country status. Hong Kong wasconcerned thatifthe
provision intheImplementing Billreferred tobyKorea wasenacted initspresent form, Hong Kong's
rightsundertheSubsidiesAgreementwouldbeimpaired.Moreimportantly,theprincipleofself-election
would havebeendisregarded andthusseriously undermined. Hong Kong wasalsoconcerned that
suchaunilateral designation bytheUnited States could beextended toother areascovered bytheWTO
Agreement andthatthiscould create anundesirable precedent. There wasanapparent self-serving
nature tothisexercise. While thethreecountries concerned wereevidently tobeconsidered asdeveloped
inthecontext ofsubsidies, noonehadyetsuggested thatHong Kong, Korea andSingapore were
developed countries inthecontext oftrade intextiles. Itwaswellknown thatrestrictions ontrade
intextiles werenotapplied between developed economies. Thefactthatsuchrestrictions continuedPC/M/8
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tobeapplied toHong Kong'sexports presumably meant thattheUnited States stillregarded Hong Kong
asdeveloping inthatcontext. Heurged theUnited States toaddress hisGovernment 'sconcerns as
amatter ofurgency. Hong Kong reserved itsrights under theWTO Agreement totakeappropriate
action torestore thecarefully negotiated balance ofrights andobligations ifthiswere upset bythe
proposed legislation.
26. Therepresentative ofSingapore saidthattheprovisions intheUnited States 'proposed
implementing legislation wentagainst thespirit andletter oftheUruguay Round Agreement. These
provisions hadbeen included even though theUnited States recognized thatthedesignation of
developing-country status intheGATT/WTO wasbytheprocess ofself-election. TheUnited States '
justification forthisaction wastheself-serving argument thatusing self-election inthecontext of
countervailing dutyproceedings wasinappropriate given theunacceptable riskofabuse. TheWTO
Agreementwasamultilaterallynegotiatedagreementofrightsandobligations.NeithertheUnitedStates,
noranyother government, could arbitrarily impose itsunilateral interpretations ofwhatconstituted
acorrect balance ofrights andobligations under thatAgreement. Singapore hadnegotiated theWTO
Agreement asadeveloping country andtherefore hadjustifiable expectations tobeabletoinvoke the
provisions available todeveloping countries therein. Singapore would honour allitscommitments
under theUruguay Round, andexpected itstrading partners todothesame. Singapore reserved the
right, under theWTO Agreement, totakeanynecessary action toredress anyimpairment ofitsrights
thatmight result from theUnited States 'proposed legislation.
27. Therepresentative ofMalaysia, speaking onbehalf ofInformal Group ofdeveloping countries,
recalled hisstatement atthemeeting oftheUruguay Round Trade Negotiations Committee on
15December 1993, uponthesuccessful conclusion oftheUruguay Round, that:"Developed countries,
therefore, haveacommitment toensure thattherules oftheplaying fieldareobserved, andmost
important ofall,thatweplayfair,andthattherules arenotsubject toarbitrary orunilateral
interpretations tosuitcircumstances. Towards thisend,thedeveloping countries areputting theirhopes
andaspirations intheneworganization aswellasinthenewrulesanddisciplines." Thathadsummed
upthedeveloping countries 'expressions ofhope, expectation and,ofcourse, anticipation ofamore
certain future intheenvironment ofinternational trade. From therecent developments, asindicated
byKorea, Hong Kong andSingapore, onewould notbeabletoachieve thatsituation ofcertainty.
TheprovisionsreferredtointheUnitedStates'draftimplementinglegislation,togetherwiththeStatement
ofAdministrative Action, pointed towards unilateralism andthecreation ofuncertainties forthe
developing country status ofcountries which hadallalong participated inthenegotiation oftheUruguay
Roundpackage–andhencetherightsandobligations–onthebasisofsuchstatus.Somehadundertaken
more obligations commensurate withtheirlevels ofeconomic development. Itwastherefore unfair
anddisheartening thattherules ofthegame were changed midstream, andunilaterally, forsome
developing countries, thereby effectively undermining therights andobligations negotiated under the
Uruguay Round. Without doubt, neither theGATT northeWTO Agreement hadanyprovision for
thedesignation ofdeveloping-country status, andthelong-standing practice andspirit intheGATT
hadalways beentorelyonself-election bytheparty concerned. Clearly, thislongestablished practice
hasneither beennegotiated, normodified, intheUruguay Round. Infact,theentire Uruguay Round
package hadbeenagreed withthisestablished practice inthebackground. Theissueraised byKorea,
Hong Kong andSingapore waspertinent totheimplementation oftheresults oftheRound, andhad
ramifications forthemultilateral trading system. Suchactions, which hadtheeffect of,either directly
orindirectly, disturbing theoverall balance ofrights andobligations contained intheUruguay Round
Final Act,were bestavoided. Hehoped thattheUnited States would giveserious consideration to
thisissue andcontribute toasuccessful Implementation Conference, tobeheldinlessthantendays'
time.
28. Therepresentative ofBrunei Darusalam, speaking onbehalf oftheASEAN countries, expressed
thesupport oftheASEAN countries asagroup forthestatements byKorea, Hong Kong, SingaporePC/M/8
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andMalaysia. Theunilateral designation ofdeveloping-country status bytheUnited States was
inconsistent withtheGATT practice ofself-election. Ifunchecked, suchunilateral designation could
beextended toother areas oftheWTO Agreement, andwould encourage similar action byother
countries. TheUnited States 'action wastantamount toaunilateral andarbitrary determination ofthe
"correct" balance ofrights andobligations among theparties oftheWTO Agreement, andwas
unacceptable inamultilaterally-negotiated agreement. Finally, withtheWTO expected tocome into
forceinthecomingweeks,theASEANcountriesjoinedthepreviousspeakersinurgingtheUnitedStates
totakeappropriate action torectify thesituation.
29. Therepresentative ofBrazil saidthatalthough Malaysia hadspoken inthename ofdeveloping
countries, hewastaking thefloor incaseitwasconsidered thatthismatter wasofconcern onlyto
Asian countries since theyhadbeentheonlyonestospeak thusfar.Heunderlined thatthismatter
wasofgreatconcern alsotoBrazil. Self-election wasabasic notion asfarasthelabelling ofacountry
asdeveloped ordeveloping wasconcerned. Ithadalways beenso,andtochange thiswould beto
tamper withaveryimportant operational principle intheGATT/WTO. More generally, tochange
therulesaposteriori constituted adangerous precedent which should notbeencouraged. There were
anumber ofareas inwhich thiscould bedone, anditwould betothedetriment ofthesystem asa
whole ifthispractice werestarted byanycountry. Furthermore, countries thathadnegotiated ingood
faithshould nothavetheircommitments andtheirexpectations frustrated bydecisions taken ona
unilateral basis. Thebalance ofthenegotiations intheUruguay Round Agreement could notbeaccepted
onthisbasis. Ifthiswere allowed tohappen, anessential pillar ofthesystem would bedamaged,
which would bedangerous. Brazil therefore supported theprevious speakers 'statements.
30. Therepresentative ofChina supported theprevious speakers 'statements, inparticular those
ofMalaysia, Egypt andBrazil.
31. Therepresentative ofMexico shared theviews expressed byMalaysia, aswellasthose ofothers
totheeffect thatthesystem ofself-election applied intheGATT should bemaintained. Many ofthe
issues thatwere partoftheoverall Uruguay Round package andwhich formed partofspecial and
differential treatment hadbeenaccepted precisely because theyhadpermitted abalance tobeachieved
intheresults which hadobtained anoverall consensus. Toattempt tochange thatbalance atthistime
would beinappropriate. Anychange thatmight come about inthefuture asaresult ofconsideration
atthemultilateral levelwould alsoapply inthefuture rather thanretroactively inanyway.
32. Therepresentative ofBangladesh associated hisdelegation withthestatement byMalaysia.
33. TheCommittee tooknoteofthestatements.