Report of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation to the Seventeenth 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 to 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 organisation of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.

2.    Agenda

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO met on 3-4 April 2008 at IPU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.  The session included the following agenda items:

·         Update on recent developments at WTO

·         Long-term prospects of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

·         Preparation of the annual 2008 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

o   Dates and venue of the session

o   Subject items to be included in the agenda

o   Format of the debate, including side events

o   Rapporteurs and panellists

o   Expected outcome of the session

o   List of international organizations and others to be invited as observers

o   Calendar of preparations

·         Trade-related capacity-building measures targeted at parliaments of developing countries

3.    The Canadian Delegate

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

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

Senator Harb’s report, which includes a summary of decisions taken by the Committee, may be found in the attached Appendix.

 

Respectfully submitted,