RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/L/88
19October 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-3164)
PROVISIONS FOR REVIEW, FUTURE WORK ORNEGOTIATIONS INTHE
WTO AGREEMENT AND RELATED DECISIONS AND DECLARATIONS
Note bytheSecretariat
Thepresent note, prepared attherequest ofanumber ofdelegations, isaninitial compilation
bytheSecretariat ofprovisions intheWTO Agreement, Multilateral Trade Agreements, Plurilateral
Agreements andrelated Decisions andDeclarations which contain elements forreview, future work
ornegotiations inthose Agreements andinstruments. Thetextsinitalics within square brackets have
beenadded forclarification orcompleteness ofthequotes fromtheWTO provisions. Thiscompilation
mayberevised ifnecessary.
_______________
Marrakesh Declaration
".... [Ministers ]agree tokeepunder regular review bytheMinisterial Conference andthe
appropriate organs oftheWTO theimpact oftheresults oftheRound ontheleast-developed countries
aswellasonthenetfood-importing developing countries, withaviewtofostering positive measures
toenable them toachieve theirdevelopment objectives." (Paragraph 5)
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing theWorld Trade Organization
-- "With aviewtoachieving greater coherence inglobal economic policy-making, theWTO shall
cooperate, asappropriate, withtheInternational Monetary Fund andwiththeInternational Bank for
Reconstruction andDevelopment anditsaffiliated agencies." (Article III:5)
-- ".... Aspartofitsfunctions, theCommittee onTrade andDevelopment shallperiodically
review thespecial provisions intheMultilateral Trade Agreements infavour oftheleast-developed
country Members andreport totheGeneral Council forappropriate action." (Article IV:7)
GATT 1994
"TheMinisterial Conference shallreview thisexemption [allowing measures thatprohibit the
use,saleorlease offoreign-built orforeign-reconstructed vessels incommercial applications between
points innational waters orthewaters ofanexclusive economic zone]notlaterthanfiveyears after
thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement andthereafter every twoyears foraslongasthe
exemption isinforce forthepurpose ofexamining whether theconditions which created theneedfor
theexemption stillprevail." (Paragraph 3(b))WT/L/88
Page2
Understanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XVII oftheGATT 1994
"Aworking party shallbesetup,onbehalf oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods, toreview
notificationsandcounter-notifications1.Inthelightofthisreviewandwithoutprejudicetoparagraph4(c)
ofArticleXVII,theCouncilforTradeinGoodsmaymakerecommendationswithregardtotheadequacy
ofnotifications andtheneedforfurther information. Theworking party shallalsoreview, inthelight
ofthenotifications received, theadequacy oftheabove-mentioned questionnaire onstatetrading and
thecoverage ofstatetrading enterprises notified under paragraph 1.... Itshallreport annually tothe
Council forTrade inGoods2."(Paragraph 5)
Understanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XXIV oftheGATT 1994
"Customs unions andconstituents offree-trade areas shallreport periodically totheCouncil
forTrade inGoods, asenvisaged bytheCONTRACTING PARTIES toGATT 1947intheirinstruction
totheGATT 1947Council concerning reports onregional agreements (BISD 18S/38), ontheoperation
oftherelevant agreement ...." (Paragraph 11)
Understanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XXVIII oftheGATT 1994
".... Itishowever agreed thatthisparagraph willbereviewed bytheCouncil forTrade in
Goods fiveyears from thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement withaview todeciding
whether thiscriterion hasworked satisfactorily insecuring aredistribution ofnegotiating rights infavour
ofsmall andmedium-sized exporting Members. Ifthisisnotthecase, consideration willbegiven
topossible improvements, including, inthelightoftheavailability ofadequate data,theadoption of
acriterion based ontheratioofexports affected bytheconcession toexports toallmarkets ofthe
product inquestion." (Paragraph 1)
Agreement onAgriculture
-- "Members undertake towork toward thedevelopment ofinternationally agreed disciplines to
govern theprovision ofexport credits, export credit guarantees orinsurance programmes ...."
(Article 10:2)
-- "Progress intheimplementation ofcommitments negotiated under theUruguay Round reform
programme shallbereviewed bytheCommittee onAgriculture." (Article 18:1)
-- "Recognizing thatthelong-term objective ofsubstantial progressive reductions insupport and
protection resulting infundamental reform isanongoing process, Members agree thatnegotiations
forcontinuing theprocess willbeinitiated oneyearbefore theendoftheimplementation period, taking
intoaccount ...." (Article 20)
1AWorking Party onState-Trading Enterprises wassetupbytheCouncil forTrade inGoods on20February 1995.
2Footnote toParagraph 5oftheUnderstanding: Theactivities ofthisworking party shall becoordinated withthose
oftheworking group provided forinSection IIIoftheMinisterial Decision onNotification Procedures adopted on15April
1994.WT/L/88
Page3
Agreement ontheApplication ofSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
-- "The Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures provided forinparagraphs 1and
4ofArticle 12(referred tointhisAgreement asthe"Committee") shalldevelop aprocedure tomonitor
theprocess ofinternational harmonization andcoordinate efforts inthisregard withtherelevant
international organizations." (Article 3:5)
-- With theobjective ofachieving consistency intheapplication oftheconcept ofappropriate
levelofsanitary orphytosanitary protection against riskstohuman lifeorhealth, ortoanimal and
plant lifeorhealth, eachMember shall avoid arbitrary orunjustifiable distinctions inthelevels it
considers tobeappropriate indifferent situations, ifsuchdistinctions result indiscrimination ora
disguised restriction oninternational trade. Members shallcooperate intheCommittee, inaccordance
withparagraphs 1,2and3ofArticle 12,todevelop guidelines tofurther thepractical implementation
ofthisprovision." (Article 5:5)
-- "TheCommittee shallreview theoperation andimplementation ofthisAgreement threeyears
afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, andthereafter astheneedarises. Where
appropriate, theCommittee maysubmit totheCouncil forTrade inGoods proposals toamend the
textofthisAgreement having regard, interalia,totheexperience gained initsimplementation."
(Article 12:7)
Agreement onTextiles andClothing
"Inorder tooversee theimplementation ofthisAgreement, theCouncil forTrade inGoods
shallconduct amajor review before theendofeachstage oftheintegration process3.Toassist in
thisreview, theTMB shall, atleastfivemonths before theendofeachstage, transmit totheCouncil
forTrade inGoods acomprehensive report ontheimplementation ofthisAgreement during thestage
under review, inparticular inmatters withregard totheintegration process, theapplication ofthe
transitional safeguard mechanism, andrelating totheapplication ofGATT 1994rulesanddisciplines
asdefined inArticles 2,3,6and7respectively. TheTMB'scomprehensive report mayinclude any
recommendation asdeemed appropriate bytheTMB totheCouncil forTrade inGoods." (Article 8:11)
Agreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade
-- "The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofthisAgreement
taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof." (Article 15:3)
-- "NotlaterthantheendofthethirdyearfromthedateofentryintoforceoftheWTO Agreement
andattheendofeachthree-year period thereafter, theCommittee shallreview theoperation and
implementation ofthisAgreement, including theprovisions relating totransparency, withaviewto
recommending anadjustment oftherights andobligations ofthisAgreement where necessary toensure
mutual economic advantage andbalance ofrights andobligations, without prejudice totheprovisions
ofArticle 12.Having regard, interalia,totheexperience gained intheimplementation ofthe
Agreement, theCommittee shall, where appropriate, submit proposals foramendments tothetextof
thisAgreement totheCouncil forTrade inGoods." (Article 15:4)
3Inother words, before theendof1997, 2001 and2004.WT/L/88
Page4
Agreement onTrade-Related Investment Measures
-- "The Committee shallmonitor theoperation andimplementation ofthisAgreement andshall
report thereon annually totheCouncil forTrade inGoods." (Article 7:3)
-- "Notlaterthanfiveyears afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, theCouncil
forTrade inGoods shallreview theoperation ofthisAgreement and,asappropriate, propose tothe
Ministerial Conference amendments toitstext. Inthecourse ofthisreview, theCouncil forTrade
inGoods shallconsider whether theAgreement should becomplemented withprovisions oninvestment
policy andcompetition policy." (Article 9)
Agreement onImplementation ofArticle VIofGATT 1994
"The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofthisAgreement
taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof. TheCommittee shallinform annually theCouncil forTrade
inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreviews." (Article 18:6)
Agreement onImplementation ofArticle VIIofGATT 1994
"The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofthisAgreement
taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof. TheCommittee shallannually inform theCouncil forTrade
inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreviews." (Article 23)
Agreement onPreshipment Inspection
"Attheendofthesecond yearfrom thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement and
every three years thereafter, theMinisterial Conference shallreview theprovisions, implementation
andoperation ofthisAgreement, taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof andexperience gained in
itsoperation. Asaresult ofsuchreview, theMinisterial Conference mayamend theprovisions of
theAgreement." (Article 6)
Agreement onRules ofOrigin
-- "The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofParts IIandIII
ofthisAgreement having regard toitsobjectives. TheCommittee shallannually inform theCouncil
forTrade inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreviews." (Article 6:1)
-- "The Committee shallreview theprovisions ofParts I,IIandIIIandpropose amendments
asnecessary toreflect theresults oftheharmonization work programme." (Article 6:2)
-- "The Committee, incooperation withtheTechnical Committee, shallsetupamechanism to
consider andpropose amendments totheresults oftheharmonization work programme, taking into
account theobjective andprinciples setoutinArticle 9."(Article 6:3)
-- "TheMinisterial Conference shallestablish theresults oftheharmonization work programme
[setoutinArticle 9:1]inanannex asanintegral partofthisAgreement.4TheMinisterial Conference
shallestablish atime-frame fortheentry intoforce ofthisannex." (Article 9:4)
4Footnote toArticle 9:4oftheAgreement: Atthesame time, consideration shallbegiven toarrangements concerning
thesettlement ofdisputes relating tocustoms classification.WT/L/88
Page5
-- "The ongoing responsibilities oftheTechnical Committee shallinclude thefollowing:
(d) toreview annually thetechnical aspects oftheimplementation andoperation ofParts II
andIII." (Annex I,paragraph 1(d))
Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures
-- "TheCommittee shallreview asnecessary, butatleastonceevery twoyears, theimplementation
andoperation ofthisAgreement, taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof, andtherights andobligations
contained therein." (Article 7:1)
-- "TheCommittee shallinform theCouncil forTrade inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod
covered bysuchreviews." (Article 7:4)
Agreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures
-- "Not laterthan18months afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, the
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures provided forinArticle 24(referred tointhis
Agreement as"theCommittee") shallreview theoperation oftheprovisions ofsubparagraph 2(a)
withaviewtomaking allnecessary modifications toimprove theoperation ofthese provisions. In
itsconsideration ofpossible modifications, theCommittee shallcarefully review thedefinitions ofthe
categories setforth inthissubparagraph inthelightoftheexperience ofMembers intheoperation
ofresearch programmes andthework inother relevant international institutions." (Article 8:2(a),
footnote 25)
-- ".... TheCommittee shallreview theoperation ofthisprovision fiveyears fromthedateof
theentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement." (Article 27:6)
-- "Theprovisions ofparagraph 1ofArticle 6andtheprovisions ofArticle 8andArticle 9shall
apply foraperiod offiveyears, beginning withthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement.
Notlaterthan180daysbefore theendofthisperiod, theCommittee shallreview theoperation of
those provisions, withaviewtodetermining whether toextend theirapplication, either aspresently
drafted orinamodified form, forafurther period." (Article 31)
-- "The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofthisAgreement,
taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof. TheCommittee shallinform annually theCouncil forTrade
inGoods ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreviews." (Article 32:7)
-- "Anunderstanding among Members should bedeveloped, asnecessary, onmatters which are
notspecified inthisAnnex orwhich needfurther clarification forthepurposes ofparagraph 1(a)of
Article 6."(Footnote 62,Annex IVoftheAgreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures)
Agreement onSafeguards
"ACommittee onSafeguards ishereby established, under theauthority oftheCouncil forTrade
inGoods, which shallbeopentotheparticipation ofanyMember indicating itswishtoserve onit.
TheCommittee willhavethefollowing functions:
(a) tomonitor, andreport annually totheCouncil forTrade inGoods on,thegeneral
implementationofthisAgreementandmakerecommendationstowardsitsimprovement."
(Article 13:1(a))WT/L/88
Page6
General Agreement onTrade inServices
-- "With aviewtoensuring thatmeasures relating toqualification requirements andprocedures,
technical standards andlicensing requirements donotconstitute unnecessary barriers totradeinservices,
theCouncil forTrade inServices shall, through appropriate bodies itmayestablish, develop any
necessary disciplines. Suchdisciplines shallaimtoensure thatsuchrequirements are,interalia...."
(Article VI:4)
-- "There shallbemultilateral negotiations onthequestion ofemergency safeguard measures
based ontheprinciple ofnon-discrimination. Theresults ofsuchnegotiations shallenter intoeffect
onadatenotlaterthanthree years from thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement."
(Article X:1)
-- "There shallbemultilateral negotiations ongovernment procurement inservices under this
Agreement within twoyears fromthedateofentryintoforceoftheWTO Agreement5."(Article XIII:2)
-- "Members recognize that,incertain circumstances, subsidies mayhavedistortive effects on
trade inservices. Members shall enter intonegotiations withaview todeveloping thenecessary
multilateral disciplines toavoid suchtrade-distortive effects.6Thenegotiations shallalsoaddress the
appropriateness ofcountervailing procedures. Suchnegotiations shallrecognize theroleofsubsidies
inrelation tothedevelopment programmes ofdeveloping countries andtakeintoaccount theneeds
ofMembers, particularly developing country Members, forflexibility inthisarea. Forthepurpose
ofsuchnegotiations, Members shallexchange information concerning allsubsidies related totrade
inservices thattheyprovide totheirdomestic service suppliers7."(Article XV:1)
-- "Inpursuance oftheobjectives ofthisAgreement, Members shallenterintosuccessive rounds
ofnegotiations, beginning notlaterthanfiveyears from thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO
Agreement andperiodically thereafter, withaview toachieving aprogressively higher level of
liberalization. Suchnegotiations shallbedirected tothereduction orelimination oftheadverse effects
ontrade inservices ofmeasures asameans ofproviding effective market access. Thisprocess shall
takeplace withaviewtopromoting theinterests ofallparticipants onamutually advantageous basis
andtosecuring anoverall balance ofrights andobligations." (Article XIX:1)
-- "The Council forTrade inServices shallreview allexemptions granted foraperiod ofmore
than5years. Thefirstsuchreview shalltakeplace nomore than5years aftertheentry intoforce
oftheWTO Agreement." (Annex onArticle IIExemptions, paragraph 3)
-- "The Council forTrade inServices shallreview periodically, andatleastevery fiveyears,
developments intheairtransport sector andtheoperation ofthisAnnex withaviewtoconsidering
thepossible further application oftheAgreement inthissector." (Annex onAirTransport Services)
5TheWorking Party onGATS rules, atitsmeeting on17July1995, decided tostartnegotiations ongovernment
procurement inOctober/November 1995.
6Footnote toGATS Article XV:1: Afuture work programme shalldetermine how, andinwhattime-frame, negotiations
onsuch multilateral disciplines willbeconducted.
7TheWorking Party onGATS rules, atitsmeeting on17July1995, decided thatnegotiations onsubsidies should start
inFebruary/March 1996.WT/L/88
Page7
Agreement onTrade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property Rights
-- "Inorder tofacilitate theprotection ofgeographical indications forwines, negotiations shall
beundertaken intheCouncil forTRIPS concerning theestablishment ofamultilateral system of
notificationandregistrationofgeographicalindicationsforwineseligibleforprotectioninthoseMembers
participating inthesystem." (Article 23:4)
-- "TheCouncil forTRIPS shallkeepunder review theapplication oftheprovisions ofthisSection
[Section 3ofPartIIoftheAgreement ];thefirstsuchreview shalltakeplace within twoyears ofthe
entry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement. Anymatter affecting thecompliance withtheobligations
under theseprovisions maybedrawn totheattention oftheCouncil, which, attherequest ofaMember,
shallconsult withanyMember orMembers inrespect ofsuchmatter inrespect ofwhich ithasnot
beenpossible tofindasatisfactory solution through bilateral orplurilateral consultations between the
Members concerned. TheCouncil shalltakesuchaction asmaybeagreed tofacilitate theoperation
andfurther theobjectives ofthisSection." (Article 24:2)
-- ".... Theprovisions ofthissubparagraph shallbereviewed fouryears afterthedateofentry
intoforce oftheWTO Agreement." (Article 27:3(b))
-- "During thetimeperiod referred toinparagraph 2,theCouncil forTRIPS shallexamine the
scope andmodalities forcomplaints ofthetypeprovided forunder subparagraphs 1(b)and1(c)of
Article XXIII ofGATT 1994 made pursuant tothisAgreement, andsubmit itsrecommendations to
theMinisterial Conference forapproval. Anydecision oftheMinisterial Conference toapprove such
recommendations ortoextend theperiod inparagraph 2shallbemade onlybyconsensus, andapproved
recommendations shall beeffective forallMembers without further formal acceptance process."
(Article 64:3)
-- "TheCouncil forTRIPS shallreview theimplementation ofthisAgreement aftertheexpiration
ofthetransitional period referred toinparagraph 2ofArticle 65.TheCouncil shall, having regard
totheexperience gained initsimplementation, review ittwoyears afterthatdate, andatidentical
intervals thereafter. TheCouncil mayalsoundertake reviews inthelight ofanyrelevant new
developments which might warrant modification oramendment ofthisAgreement." (Article 71:1)
Trade Policy Review Mechanism
-- "TheTPRB shallundertake anappraisal oftheoperation oftheTPRM notmore thanfiveyears
aftertheentry intoforce oftheAgreement Establishing theWTO. Theresults oftheappraisal will
bepresented totheMinisterial Conference. Itmaysubsequently undertake appraisals oftheTPRM
atintervals tobedetermined byitorasrequested bytheMinisterial Conference." (Section F)
-- "Anannual overview ofdevelopments intheinternational trading environment which arehaving
animpact onthemultilateral trading system shallalsobeundertaken bytheTPRB. Theoverview
istobeassisted byanannual report bytheDirector-General setting outmajor activities oftheWTO
andhighlighting significant policy issues affecting thetrading system." (Section G)
Agreement onTrade inCivil Aircraft
-- TheCommitteeshallreviewannuallytheimplementationandoperationofthisAgreementtaking
intoaccounttheobjectivesthereof.TheCommitteeshallannuallyinformtheCONTRACTINGPARTIES
totheGATT ofdevelopments during theperiod covered bysuchreview (Article 8:2).WT/L/88
Page8
-- Notlaterthantheendofthethird yearfrom theentry intoforce ofthisAgreement and
periodically thereafter, Signatories shallundertake further negotiations, withaviewtobroadening and
improving thisAgreement onthebasis ofmutual reciprocity (Article 8:3).
Agreement onGovernment Procurement
-- "Following theconclusion ofthework programme fortheharmonization ofrules ororigin
forgoods tobeundertaken under theAgreement onRules ofOrigin inAnnex 1AoftheAgreement
Establishing theWorld Trade Organization (hereinafter referred toas"WTO Agreement") and
negotiations regarding tradeinservices, Parties shalltaketheresults ofthatworkprogramme andthose
negotiations intoaccount inamending paragraph 1asappropriate." (Article IV:2)
-- "TheCommittee shallreview annually theoperation andeffectiveness ofthisArticle and,after
eachthree years ofitsoperation onthebasis ofreports tobesubmitted byParties, shallcarry outa
major review inorder toevaluate itseffects. Aspartofthethree-yearly reviews andwithaviewto
achieving themaximum implementation oftheprovisions ofthisAgreement, including inparticular
ArticleIII,andhavingregardtothedevelopment,financialandtradesituationofthedevelopingcountries
concerned, theCommittee shall examine whether exclusions provided forinaccordance withthe
provisions ofparagraphs 4through 6ofthisArticle shallbemodified orextended." (Article V:14)
-- ".... Totheextent thatsuchinformation isavailable, eachParty shallprovide statistics on
thecountry oforigin ofproducts andservices purchased byitsentities. With aviewtoensuring that
suchstatistics arecomparable, theCommittee shallprovide guidance onmethods tobeused. With
aviewtoensuring effective monitoring ofprocurement covered bythisAgreement, theCommittee
maydecide unanimously tomodify therequirements ofsubparagraphs (a)through (d)asregards the
nature andextent ofstatistical information tobeprovided andthebreakdowns andclassifications to
beused." (Article XIX:5)
-- "With aviewtoensuring thattheAgreement doesnotconstitute anunnecessary obstacle to
technical progress, Parties shallconsult regularly intheCommittee regarding developments intheuse
ofinformation technology ingovernment procurement andshall, ifnecessary, negotiate modifications
totheAgreement. These consultations shallinparticular aimtoensure thattheuseofinformation
technologypromotestheaimsofopen,non-discriminatoryandefficientgovernmentprocurementthrough
transparent procedures, thatcontracts covered under theAgreement areclearly identified andthatall
available information relating toaparticular contract canbeidentified...." (Article XXIV:8)
-- "The Committee shallreview annually theimplementation andoperation ofthisAgreement
taking intoaccount theobjectives thereof. TheCommittee shallannually inform theGeneral Council
oftheWTO ofdevelopments during theperiods covered bysuchreviews." (Article XXIV:7a)
-- "Not laterthantheendofthethirdyearfrom thedateofentry intoforce ofthisAgreement
andperiodically thereafter, theParties thereto shallundertake further negotiations, withaview to
improving thisAgreement andachieving thegreatest possible extension ofitscoverage among allParties
onthebasisofmutual reciprocity, having regard totheprovisions ofArticle Vrelating todeveloping
countries." (Article XXIV:7b)
Decision onMeasures inFavour ofLeast-Developed Countries
-- "[Ministers agree that:]
Expeditious implementation ofallspecial anddifferential measures taken infavour ofleast-
developed countries including those taken within thecontext oftheUruguay Round shallbe
ensured through, interalia,regular reviews." (Paragraph 2(i))WT/L/88
Page9
-- "[Ministers ]agree tokeepunder review thespecific needs oftheleast-developed countries
andtocontinuetoseektheadoptionofpositivemeasureswhichfacilitatetheexpansionoftrading
opportunities infavour ofthese countries." (Paragraph 3)
Declaration ontheContribution oftheWTO toAchieving Greater Coherence inGlobal Economic
Policymaking
"....TheWorld Trade Organization should therefore pursue anddevelop cooperation with
theinternational organizations responsible formonetary andfinancial matters, while respecting the
mandate, theconfidentiality requirements andthenecessary autonomy indecision-making procedures
ofeachinstitution, andavoiding theimposition ongovernments ofcross-conditionality oradditional
conditions." (Paragraph 5)
Decision onNotification Procedures
"The Council forTrade inGoods willundertake areview ofnotification obligations and
procedures under theAgreements inAnnex 1AoftheWTO Agreement. Thereview willbecarried
outbyaworking group, membership inwhich willbeopen toallMembers. Thegroup willbe
established immediately afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement.
Theterms ofreference oftheworking group willbe...tomake recommendations totheCouncil
forTrade inGoods notlaterthantwoyears aftertheentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement."
(Section III)
Decision onMeasures Concerning thePossible Negative Effects oftheReform Programme onLeast-
Developed andNetFood-Importing Developing Countries
"Theprovisions ofthisDecision willbesubject toregular review bytheMinisterial Conference,
andthefollow-up tothisDecision shallbemonitored, asappropriate, bytheCommittee onAgriculture."
(Paragraph 6)
Decision onAnti-Circumvention
"Ministers,
Noting thatwhile theproblem ofcircumvention ofanti-dumping dutymeasures formed part
ofthenegotiations which preceded theAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIofGATT 1994,
negotiators were unable toagree onspecific text,
Mindful ofthedesirability oftheapplicability ofuniform rulesinthisareaassoonaspossible,
Decide toreferthismatter totheCommittee onAnti-Dumping Practices established under that
Agreement forresolution."
Decision onReview ofArticle 17.6oftheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIofGATT 1994
"The standard ofreview inparagraph 6ofArticle 17oftheAgreement onImplementation
ofArticle VIofGATT 1994shallbereviewed afteraperiod ofthree years withaviewtoconsidering
thequestion ofwhether itiscapable ofgeneral application".WT/L/88
Page10
Decision onTrade inServices andtheEnvironment
-- "[TheCouncil forTrade inServices decides asfollows :]Inorder todetermine whether any
modification ofArticle XIVoftheAgreement isrequired totakeaccount ofsuchmeasures, torequest
theCommittee onTrade andEnvironment toexamine andreport, withrecommendations ifany,on
therelationship between services trade andtheenvironment including theissue ofsustainable
development. TheCommittee shallalsoexamine therelevance ofinter-governmental agreements on
theenvironment andtheirrelationship totheAgreement." (Paragraph 1)
-- "TheCommittee shallreport theresults ofitsworktothefirstbiennial meeting oftheMinisterial
Conference aftertheentry intoforce oftheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade Organization."
(Paragraph 2)
Decision onNegotiations onMovement ofNatural Persons
"The negotiating group shallholditsfirstnegotiating session nolaterthan16May1994. It
shallconclude these negotiations andproduce afinalreport nolaterthansixmonths aftertheentry
intoforce oftheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade Organization." (Paragraph 3)
Decision onFinancial Services
-- "Attheconclusion ofaperiod ending nolaterthansixmonths afterthedateofentry intoforce
oftheWTO Agreement, Members shallbefreetoimprove, modify orwithdraw allorpartoftheir
commitmentsinthissectorwithoutofferingcompensation,notwithstandingtheprovisionsofArticleXXI
oftheGeneral Agreement onTrade inServices. AtthesametimeMembers shallfinalize theirpositions
relating toMFN exemptions inthissector, notwithstanding theprovisions oftheAnnex onArticle II
Exemptions. From thedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement anduntiltheendoftheperiod
referred toabove, exemptions listed intheAnnex onArticle IIExemptions which areconditional upon
thelevelofcommitments undertaken byother participants orupon exemptions byother participants
willnotbeapplied." (Paragraph 1)
-- "TheCommittee onTrade inFinancial Services shallmonitor theprogress ofanynegotiations
undertaken under theterms ofthisDecision andshallreport thereon totheCouncil forTrade inServices
nolaterthanfourmonths afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement." (Paragraph 2)
Decision onNegotiations onMaritime Transport Services
"TheNGMTSshallholditsfirstnegotiatingsessionnolaterthan16May1994.Itshallconclude
these negotiations andmake afinalreport nolaterthanJune1996. Thefinalreport oftheNGMTS
shallinclude adatefortheimplementation ofresults ofthese negotiations." (Paragraph 4)
Decision onNegotiations onBasic Telecommunications
"TheNGBT shallholditsfirstnegotiating session nolaterthan16May1994. Itshallconclude
these negotiations andmake afinalreport nolaterthan30April 1996. Thefinalreport oftheNGBT
shallinclude adatefortheimplementation ofresults ofthese negotiations." (Paragraph 5)
Decision onProfessional Services
-- ".... AWorking Party onProfessional Services shallbeestablished toexamine andreport,
withrecommendations, onthedisciplines necessary toensure thatmeasures relating toqualificationWT/L/88
Page11
requirements andprocedures, technical standards andlicensing requirements inthefieldofprofessional
services donotconstitute unnecessary barriers totrade." (Paragraph 1)
-- "Asamatter ofpriority, theWorking Party shallmake recommendations fortheelaboration
ofmultilateral disciplines intheaccountancy sector, soastogiveoperational effect tospecific
commitments ...." (Paragraph 2)
Decision ontheApplication andReview oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing
theSettlement ofDisputes
"[Ministers ]invite theMinisterial Conference tocomplete afullreview ofdispute settlement
rulesandprocedures under theWorld Trade Organization within fouryears aftertheentry intoforce
oftheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade Organization, andtotakeadecision ontheoccasion
ofitsfirstmeeting afterthecompletion ofthereview, whether tocontinue, modify orterminate such
dispute settlement rules andprocedures."
Decision onTrade andEnvironment
"[Ministers decide ]todirect thefirstmeeting oftheGeneral Council oftheWTO toestablish
aCommittee onTrade andEnvironment opentoallmembers oftheWTO toreport tothefirstbiennial
meeting oftheMinisterial Conference aftertheentry intoforce oftheWTO when thework andterms
ofreference oftheCommittee willbereviewed, inthelightofrecommendations oftheCommittee".
Note: Itwillberecalled that,inhisconcluding remarks attheMarrakesh Ministerial Meeting,
theChairman hadlisted anumber ofissues suggested bydifferent Ministers fordiscussion inthe
Preparatory Committee fortheWTO.8TheCommittee forwarded these issues totheWTO 'sGeneral
Council forconsideration andaction asappropriate (PC/R, paragraph 82).Atitsmeeting of31January
1995 theGeneral Council agreed thatthese issues would betheobject ofinformal consultations by
theChairman oftheGeneral Council foraction asappropriate (WT/GC/M/1, pages 7and8).
8Theissues listed bytheChairman were thefollowing: therelationship between thetrading system andinternationally
recognised labour standards; therelationship between immigration policies andinternational trade; trade andcompetition
policy,includingrulesonexpor tfinancingandrestrictivebusinesspractices;tradeandinvestment;regionalism;theinteraction
between trade policies andpolicies relating tofinancial andmonetary matters, including debtandcommodity markets;
international trade andcompany law; theestablishment ofamechanism forcompensation fortheerosion ofpreferences;
thelinkbetween trade, development, political stability andthealleviation ofpoverty; andunilateral orextra-territorial trade
measures (MTN.TNC/MIN(94)/6).