Background and objective of the workshop Back to top

1. At the First Triennial Review of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (1997), the TBT Committee held discussions on technical assistance and special and differential treatment (G/TBT/5). The Committee noted that certain Members, especially developing country Members, encountered difficulties in the implementation and operation of the Agreement. Technical assistance should be provided to requesting Members, particularly least developed country Members, on the preparation of technical regulations, the establishment of national standardizing bodies, regulatory bodies, or bodies for assessment of conformity, the methods by which technical regulations of other Members could best be met, the participation in the international standardizing bodies, and the access to systems for conformity assessment, with a view to increasing the overall effectiveness of the TBT Agreement. The Committee noted that technical assistance activities of the WTO should be coordinated with those of other international and intergovernmental organizations. In this respect, special attention should be given to the development of human and institutional resources, in particular with respect to conformity assessment procedures.

2. The Committee agreed to invite Members to exchange information regarding the implementation of the provision on technical assistance, including to communicate to the Committee annually any information concerning their national and regional technical assistance programmes. Members that required technical assistance were invited to inform the Committee of any difficulties they encountered in the implementation and operation of the Agreement and the kind of technical assistance they would need. Other Members were invited to contribute to the technical assistance process by sharing their experience in the implementation and operation of the Agreement. The Committee also agreed to consider including in its work programme, which could be taken up and reviewed during the Second Triennial Review, the following matter: “the use of measures to engender capacity building in developing country Members, including the consideration of measures relevant to transfer of technology to these countries, for the purpose of preparation and adoption of technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures, taking into account their special development, financial and trade needs”.

3. In order to follow up on what has been discussed and agreed by the Committee at the First Triennial Review, as well as to promote information exchange, and to facilitate discussion on technical assistance in the lead-up to the Second Triennial Review (to be conducted before the end of year 2000), at its meeting of 25 February 2000, the Committee agreed to hold a Workshop on Technical Assistance and Special and Differential Treatment.

4. The Workshop would provide the opportunity for Members that require technical assistance to inform other Members and relevant organizations of any difficulties they encounter in the implementation and operation of the Agreement, and the kind of technical assistance required. At the same time, Members and international organizations which provide technical assistance in the TBT area could make use of this occasion to communicate with the Committee any information concerning their technical assistance programmes. The objective is to help better target technical assistance, avoid duplication and promote further cooperation and coordination among donor Members and organizations, aiming at developing efficient and effective technical assistance programmes in the various areas related to the TBT Agreement.

5. Speakers will be invited from both developed and developing country Members from different regions and relevant organizations. Topics of the presentations will focus on problems and needs with respect to the implementation and operation of the Agreement by developing country Members, in particular least-developed country Members, and their participation in international standardizing bodies, access to systems for conformity assessment, development of human and institutional resources and other capacity building issues.

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Structure of the workshop  

6. There will be four sessions in the Workshop, dealing with matters concerning the following items:

(i) implementation and administration of the TBT Agreement;
(ii) international standards;
(iii) conformity assessment procedures; and
(iv) capacity building.

7. Each session will contain presentations, comments from the floor and round table discussions. Speakers and participants at the round table discussions will be from the following groupings:

(i) developing country Members;
(ii) developed country Members; and
(iii) relevant international and regional bodies.

8. The first day of the Workshop will focus on fact-finding concerning problems and needs encountered by developing country Members. In each session, after presentations by representatives of developing country Members, time will be allocated for comments from the floor. At the end of day one, moderators will sum up the presentations and comments made under each session on relevant problems and needs of developing country Members.

9. The second day will focus on solution-seeking to address the relevant problems and needs expressed. Based on the summing up of the first day, at each round table, participants will be invited to provide information on existing technical assistance activities addressing the problems and needs identified, assess those problems and needs, comment on existing technical assistance programmes, and suggest possible solutions. Discussions in each round table will then take place to seek practical solutions and ways on how best to target technical assistance.

10. The results of the Workshop are intended to be fed back to the Committee for its information. Members will be free to propose and consider possible further actions which may be included in the Second Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement at the end of the year 2000.

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Content of the workshop  

Session one: Implementation and Administration of the TBT Agreement

This session will address the difficulties faced by developing country Members and their needs concerning the implementation and administration of the Agreement, including also the following elements:

(i) submission of statements under Article 15.2;
(ii) notification obligations;
(iii) setting up of national enquiry points;

(iv) implementation of the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption, and Application of Standards; and
(v) preparation of technical regulations, establishment of national standardizing bodies, regulatory bodies or bodies for assessment of conformity.(1)

Session two: International Standards

This session will address issues relating to:
(i) the possible difficulties encountered in relation to the use of certain international standards/guides; and
(ii) the participation in international standardization activities(2).

Session three: Conformity Assessment Procedures

This session will address issues relating to:
(i) the acceptance of conformity assessment results;
(ii) the development of operational conformity assessment procedures;
(iii) access to regional/international systems for conformity assessment; and
(iv) capacity building in relation to conformity assessment procedures(3).

Session four: Capacity Building

This session will focus on:
(i) the development of human and institutional resources;
(ii) ways by which technical regulations and standards of export markets could best be met; and
(iii) other capacity building matters(4).

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Programme of the workshop  

For more information:

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The Chairman's summary report
Session reports of the moderators