Report of the Canadian Delegation to the 21st Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament

1. Background

The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is a joint undertaking of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament. Its primary objective is to enhance the external transparency of the WTO and make it accountable to legislators as elected representatives of the people. The sessions of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO are held once a year and on the occasion of WTO Ministerial Conferences.

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is responsible for all matters relating to the organization of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.

2. Agenda

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO met on June 24 and 25, 2010, at IPU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The session included the following agenda items:

·         Presentation on recent WTO developments with Mr. Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director-General of the WTO;

·         Presentation and discussion about the WTO Aid-for-Trade campaign;

·         Presentation and discussion on the successful settlement of the banana dispute;

·         Preparations for the WTO public forum 2010; and

·         Suggestions for the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in 2010 and beyond.

3. The Canadian delegation

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is composed of representatives of the following parliaments and international organizations: Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, European Parliament, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the World Trade Organization.

The Steering Committee meeting welcomed 32 participants from 16 national parliaments and regional parliamentary assemblies. The Honourable Mac Harb, Senator, on behalf of the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Senator, Q.C., was Canada’s representative at this meeting.

4. The meeting

The discussions are summarized in the attached appendices, which include:

·         a summary of the presentations to the Steering Committee,

·         a summary of the decisions, and

·         the final statement taken by the Steering Committee.

Respectfully submitted,