Introduction

1. At the 54th Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) on 5 October 2005, Members undertook a review of the developmental aspects of the Doha Round of negotiations based on a background paper prepared by the Secretariat (WT/COMTD/W/143). Discussions continued at the 55th Session on November 28 2005 and the 58th Session on July 6 2006 based on revised versions of the background paper (WT/COMTD/W/143/Rev. and Rev. respectively). The usefulness of periodic updates to the paper has been widely recognized by Members.

2. The present chapter addresses the developmental aspects in all the subject areas under negotiation in the Round. In addition to providing a brief summary of the status of the negotiations in each area, the chapter attempts to highlight the broad parameters of the development dimension, to identify specific issues of interest to developing countries and to describe the potential gains which could accrue to developing countries from the conclusion of the negotiations. This revised chapter has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and by no means claims to provide an exhaustive coverage of all the developmental aspects raised in the course of the negotiations. Nor should the chapter be seen as an attempt to prioritize issues, subjects or concerns raised by individual Members or groups of Members. Finally, this paper does not prejudice the right of any Member to raise other concerns or views related to paragraph 51 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration or the presentation below concerning the areas currently under negotiation in the Doha Development Agenda.