Since its previous meeting in May 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee has made progress on discussions about special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries. The committee’s recent activities included evidence-based discussions, informal thematic sessions, and increased collaboration with technical committees.
Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan of Djibouti, who chairs the committee, reported that an informal session on technology transfer was held in June 2025 with support from the Council for TRIPS. Additional sessions focused on S&DT took place in June and September under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Committees.
According to Mr. Daniel Lim of Singapore, who serves as Facilitator for SPS and TBT within the CTD SS, these joint efforts have helped members engage more effectively: "These collaborative efforts have facilitated members' engagement and contributed to delivering on the mandate of the MC13 Ministerial Declaration on the Precise, Effective and Operational Implementation of S&DT Provisions of the SPS and TBT Agreements."
Côte d'Ivoire represented the G-90 group by presenting new recommendations aimed at improving how S&DT provisions are implemented within SPS and TBT agreements. These suggestions include greater transparency around extending comment periods for new measures as well as better coordination of technical assistance.
Bangladesh also spoke for the G-90 group by introducing a draft list of voluntary incentives that developed WTO members could offer to promote technology transfer to least-developed countries (LDCs), as outlined in TRIPS Article 66.2. The proposed list includes both traditional and innovative approaches intended to help LDCs build technological capacity. Members discussed possible next steps such as continuing talks at future meetings of the Council for TRIPS.
Delegates agreed that negotiations should remain pragmatic and targeted toward addressing specific needs faced by developing members—including LDCs—and noted progress made so far regarding SPS, TBT, and technology transfer under TRIPS Article 66.2. They also recognized cross-committee cooperation as valuable for strengthening implementation of S&DT provisions. Any remaining proposals from G-90 will be addressed after MC14.
Further details about special and differential treatment can be found at https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_special_differential_provisions_e.htm