TRIPS &
Public Health

3.   We welcome the decision on implementation of paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health set out in document WT/L/540.
 

Agriculture negotiations

4.   We reaffirm our commitment to the mandate on agriculture as set out in paragraph 13 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. We take note of the progress made by the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture in this regard and agree to intensify work to translate the Doha objectives into reform modalities. To this end, we adopt the framework set out in Annex A to this document concerning the further commitments and related disciplines on key outstanding issues on market access, export competition and domestic support as the basis for concluding the work in these areas. We direct the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture to conclude its work on establishing modalities for the further commitments, including provisions for special and differential treatment, by [...]. We agree that participants will submit their comprehensive draft Schedules based on these modalities no later than [...] and confirm that the negotiations, including with respect to rules and disciplines and related legal texts, shall be concluded as part and at the date of conclusion of the negotiating agenda as a whole.
 

NAMA negotiations

5.   We reaffirm our commitment to the mandate for negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products as set out in paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. We take note of the progress made by the Negotiating Group on Market Access in this regard and agree to intensify work to translate the Doha objectives into modalities for these negotiations. To this end, we adopt the framework for modalities for negotiations on non-agricultural products set out in Annex B to this document. We direct the Negotiating Group to conclude its work on establishing modalities by [...] and to take the necessary further steps to ensure the conclusion of negotiations by the agreed date.
 

Services negotiations

6.   We are committed to intensifying our efforts to bring the negotiations on specific commitments to conclusion. We stress the importance of full engagement by all participants, inter alia through the continuous exchange of requests and offers with a view to concluding the negotiations by the agreed date. With a view to providing effective market access to all Members, due regard shall be given to the quality of offers, particularly in sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries. We call upon those participants who have not yet submitted their initial offers to do so as soon as possible. Improved offers should be submitted by [horizontal date]. We are also committed to intensifying our efforts to conclude the negotiations on rule-making under GATS Articles VI:4, X, XIII, and XV in accordance with their respective mandates and deadlines, noting the deadline of 15 March 2004 for emergency safeguard measures. The Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services shall review progress in these negotiations by 31 March 2004. We reaffirm that the negotiations shall aim to achieve progressively higher levels of liberalization with no a priori exclusion of any service sector or mode of supply and shall give special attention to sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries. We note the interest of developing countries, as well as other Members, in Mode 4. In accordance with GATS provisions, there shall be due respect for the right of Members to regulate and to introduce new regulations in pursuance of national policy objectives. We welcome the adoption of the Modalities for the Special Treatment for Least-Developed Country Members in the Negotiations on Trade in Services and look forward to their implementation by all participants.
 

Rules negotiations

7.   We instruct the Negotiating Group on Rules to accelerate its work on anti-dumping and subsidies and countervailing measures, including fisheries subsidies, with a view to shifting its emphasis from identifying issues to seeking solutions. We note the progress that has been made in the negotiations on improving transparency in Regional Trade Agreements and encourage the Group to reach a provisional decision soon on its work on transparency and to accelerate its work on the clarification and improvement of RTA disciplines under existing WTO provisions, taking into account the developmental aspects of RTAs.
 

TRIPS negotiations

8.   We take note of the progress made in the negotiations on the establishment of a multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications for wines and spirits and instruct the Special Session of the Council for TRIPS to continue the work as mandated in Article 23.4 of the TRIPS Agreement and paragraph 18 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. We agree that the negotiations shall be completed by [horizontal date].
 

Environment negotiations

9.   We take note of the progress made by the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Environment in developing a common understanding of the concepts contained in its mandate in paragraph 31 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. We reaffirm our commitment to these negotiations.

10.   We agree that the Committee on Trade and Environment Special Session continue to invite to its meetings, in accordance with its current practice, the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) invited thus far and of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This invitation shall be for the duration of the negotiations. It shall be without prejudice to any additional invitations that the Committee on Trade and Environment Special Session extends in future, and to paragraph 31 negotiations
  

DSU negotiations

11.   We take note of the progress that has been made in the negotiations on dispute settlement. We renew our determination to pursue these negotiations with the aim of completing them not later than May 2004. Further negotiations shall be carried out on the basis of work done thus far, including the Chairman's text of 28 May 2003 and other proposals by participants.
  

S&D treatment

12.   We reaffirm that provisions for special and differential treatment are an integral part of WTO Agreements. We recall our decision in Doha to review special and differential treatment provisions with a view to strengthening and making them more precise, effective and operational. We note the progress that has been made towards meeting these objectives and adopt the decisions in Annex C to this document. We instruct the General Council to continue to monitor closely work on the proposals referred to negotiating groups and other WTO bodies, and direct these bodies to report to the General Council no later than [...]. We instruct the Committee on Trade and Development in Special Session to pursue expeditiously, within the parameters of the Doha mandate, the work on remaining agreement-specific proposals and other outstanding issues referred to in TN/CTD/7 and report with recommendations, as appropriate, to the General Council by [...]. The General Council shall submit a report on all these issues to our next Session.
  

Implementation

13   We note that, while some progress has been made under the mandates we gave at Doha concerning implementation-related issues and concerns, a number of the issues and concerns raised in this context remain outstanding. We reaffirm the mandates we gave in paragraph 12 of our Doha Ministerial Declaration and our Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns, and we renew our determination to find appropriate solutions to these issues. We instruct the Trade Negotiations Committee, negotiating bodies and other WTO bodies concerned to redouble their efforts to find appropriate solutions as a priority, and we request the Director-General to continue the consultations he has undertaken on certain issues, including issues related to the extension of the protection of geographical indications provided for in Article 23 of the TRIPS Agreement to products other than wines and spirits. The General Council shall review progress and take any appropriate action no later than [...].
 

Investment

14.   We note with appreciation the valuable work that has been carried out in the Working Group on the Relationship between Trade and Investment under paragraphs 21 and 22 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.

In accordance with relevant provisions of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, we commit ourselves to provide strengthened and adequately resourced technical assistance to developing and least-developed countries to respond to their needs for enhanced support in this area.

We agree:

• to intensify the clarification process called for in paragraph 22 of the Doha Declaration, covering the elements listed in that paragraph as well as other elements raised by Members, including the elements identified in WT/MIN(03)/W/4;
• to convene the Working Group in Special Session to elaborate procedural and substantive modalities on the basis of paragraphs 20, 21 and 22 of the Doha Declaration, and other elements raised by Members. We reiterate that the special development, trade and financial needs of developing and least-developed countries should be taken into account as an integral part of any framework, which should enable Members to undertake obligations and commitments commensurate with their individual needs and circumstances. Consideration should be given to the relationship of the negotiations to the Single Undertaking;
• modalities that will allow negotiations on a multilateral investment framework to start shall be adopted by the General Council no later than [date] (1)

Competition

15.   We note with appreciation the discussions that have taken place in the Working Group on the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy since the Fourth Ministerial Conference. We decide that further clarification of the issues be undertaken in the Working Group, including consideration of possible modalities for negotiations based on the elements contained in paragraph 25 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, and that the Working Group shall report to the General Council on this work by [date] (2). In accordance with relevant provisions of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, we commit ourselves to continue to provide strengthened and adequately resourced technical assistance to developing and least-developed countries to respond to their needs for enhanced support in this area.
  

Government Procurement

16.   Taking note of the work done by the Working Group on Transparency in Government Procurement under the mandate in paragraph 26 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, we decide to commence negotiations on the basis of the modalities set out in Annex D to this document.
  

Trade Facilitation

17.   Taking note of the work done on trade facilitation by the Council for Trade in Goods under the mandate in paragraph 27 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, we decide to commence negotiations on the basis of the modalities set out in Annex E to this document.
 

Small Economies

18.   We reaffirm our commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies and urge Members to adopt specific measures that would facilitate the fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system. We take note of the report of the Committee on Trade and Development in Dedicated Session on the Work Programme on Small Economies to the General Council and the recommendations made therein. We instruct the Committee on Trade and Development, under the overall responsibility of the General Council, to continue the work in the dedicated sessions with the aim of completing it as soon as possible but no later than 1 January 2005. We instruct the General Council to report on progress and action taken, together with any further recommendations as appropriate, to our next Session.
 

Trade, Debt & Finance

19.   We take note of the report transmitted by the General Council on progress in the examination of the relationship between trade, debt and finance and agree that this work shall continue on the basis of the mandate contained in paragraph 36 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and the progress made in the Working Group to date, including consideration of any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate and competence of the WTO. The General Council shall report further to our next Session.
 

Trade & Transfer of Technology

20.   We take note of the report transmitted by the General Council on progress in the examination of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology and agree that this work shall continue on the basis of the mandate contained in paragraph 37 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and the progress made in the Working Group to date, including consideration of any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries. The General Council shall report further to our next Session.
 

CTE report

21.   We take note of the report transmitted by the General Council on the work undertaken by the Committee on Trade and Environment pursuant to paragraphs 32 and 33 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. We agree that this work shall continue on the basis of the progress made thus far and instruct the General Council to report to our next Session.
 

TRIPS non-violation

22.   We take note of the work done by the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights pursuant to paragraph 11.1 of the Doha Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns and direct it to continue its examination of the scope and modalities for complaints of the types provided for under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII of GATT 1994 and make recommendations to the first Ministerial Conference to be held after 1 August 2004 (3). It is agreed that, in the meantime, Members will not initiate such complaints under the TRIPS Agreement.
 

E-commerce

24.   We take note of the reports from the General Council and subsidiary bodies on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, and agree to continue the examination of issues under that ongoing Work Programme, with the current institutional arrangements. We instruct the General Council to report on further progress to our next Session. We declare that Members will maintain their current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until that Session.
 

Technical Cooperation

25.   We welcome the report by the Director-General on the implementation and adequacy of the commitments on technical cooperation and capacity building we made in our Doha Ministerial Declaration and request him to report further to our next Session. We note with satisfaction the establishment of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund since our last meeting and encourage Members to ensure adequate financing for future technical cooperation and capacity building programmes. We direct that in the planning of such programmes, consultations should be undertaken with beneficiary countries and priority given to their individual needs through both regional and national activities. We welcome the improved collaboration and coordination with other agencies, including under the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance for the Least-Developed Countries and Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme. We commend the work undertaken in this respect by the Director-General and the Secretariat, and encourage the continuation of these and other efforts so as to facilitate the greater participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system. We also recognize the successful efforts of the International Trade Centre to involve the business communities of the developing and transition economies in the context of the Doha Development Agenda and encourage it to continue in the same direction.
 

LDCs

26.   We welcome the report by the Director-General on issues affecting Least-Developed Countries (LDCs). We reaffirm our commitment to effectively integrate LDCs into the multilateral trading system. In this regard, we acknowledge the seriousness of the concerns of the LDCs, as expressed in the Dhaka Declaration, adopted by their Ministers in June 2003. We take note that issues of interest to LDCs are being addressed in all areas of the negotiations. Building upon our commitment in the Doha Declaration we shall continue to expeditiously pursue the objective of duty-free and quota-free market access for products originating from LDCs. We urge Members to adopt and implement rules of origin so as to facilitate exports from LDCs. In this regard, we appreciate the improved market access measures adopted by several Members. Furthermore, in accordance with our commitment in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, we shall take additional measures for progressive improvements in market access, both at the border and otherwise. In services, we shall give priority to the sectors and modes of supply of export interest to LDCs, particularly in regard to movement of service providers under Mode 4. We further commit ourselves to provide effective trade-related technical assistance and capacity building to LDCs on a priority basis in helping to overcome their weak human, institutional and trade-related capacity. In this regard, we reiterate our endorsement of the Integrated Framework (IF) and agree that it can truly become a viable model for LDCs' trade development if it effectively contributes to reducing supply-side constraints including through mainstreaming trade into their national development and poverty reduction strategies. We welcome the joint communiqu?adopted by the six IF core agencies at their Third Heads of Agency meeting and urge them to intensify their assistance in trade-related infrastructure, private sector development and institution building to help countries expand and diversify their export base. We also urge cooperation with other bilateral and multilateral development partners. We request the Director-General to report to our next Session on further developments.
 

Sectoral Initiative on Cotton

27.   We recognise the importance of cotton for the development of a number of developing countries and understand the need for urgent action to address trade distortions in these markets. Accordingly, we instruct the Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee to consult with the Chairpersons of the Negotiating Groups on Agriculture, Non-Agricultural Market Access and Rules to address the impact of the distortions that exist in the trade of cotton, man-made fibres, textiles and clothing to ensure comprehensive consideration of the entirety of the sector. The Director-General is instructed to consult with the relevant international organizations including the Bretton Woods Institutions, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Trade Centre to effectively direct existing programmes and resources toward diversification of the economies where cotton accounts for the major share of their GDP. Members pledge to refrain from utilizing their discretion within Annex A, paragraph 1 to avoid making reductions in domestic support for cotton.
 

Commodity Issues

28.   Taking into account the dependence of many developing countries on a few commodities and the problems created by long-term declines and sharp fluctuations in the prices of these commodities, we instruct the Committee on Trade and Development, within its mandate, to continue with its work on this issue in cooperation with other relevant international organizations and report on progress to the General Council before our next Session. We recognize also that various trade-related aspects of this issue could be addressed in the ongoing negotiations, particularly in the framework of the negotiations on agriculture and non-agricultural market access.
 

Coherence

29.   We appreciate the efforts that have been made by the Director-General to strengthen the WTO's collaboration with the IMF and the World Bank in the context of our Marrakesh mandate on achieving greater coherence in global economic policy-making. We encourage the Director-General and the General Council to follow up on the General Council meeting on Coherence that was held in May 2003. We emphasize the importance of promoting, without cross-conditionalities or additional conditions, consistent and mutually supportive policies. We note the new trade initiatives announced by the IMF and World Bank at this Session to work with the WTO to address problems that some developing country Members may encounter in adjusting to a more liberal trade environment, and we invite the Director-General to report to us at our next Session on initiatives that he is taking in cooperation with the Executive Heads of the IMF and World Bank in this area.
 

Accessions

30.   We note with particular satisfaction that this Conference has completed the accession procedures for Cambodia and Nepal. This marks the entry of the first two LDCs into the WTO under Article XII of the WTO Agreement. In this regard, we take the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Guidelines on the Accession of LDCs adopted by the General Council on 10 December 2002, and to facilitate and accelerate their accession. We also welcome Armenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as new Members since our last Session. We confirm that these accessions, as those of the 25 governments now negotiating accession, will greatly strengthen our multilateral trading system. We shall therefore continue to give our attention and priority to concluding the ongoing accession proceedings as rapidly as possible.