78. The Chair turned to the last agenda item, namely "election of the Chairperson".
79. He noted that the rules of procedure provided that "[t]he election shall take place at the first meeting of the year and shall take effect at the end of the meeting", and that "[t]he Chairperson […] shall hold office until the end of the first meeting of the following year". He recalled that, at its meeting on 6-7 March 2023, the General Council had noted consensus on the Chairpersons for regular and negotiating WTO bodies. On the basis of the understanding reached by the General Council, he proposed that the Council for TRIPS elect H.E. Mrs Pimchanok Pitfield, Ambassador of Thailand, as its chairperson for the coming year.
80. The Council so agreed.
81. The representatives of Thailand; the European Union; Bangladesh; Nepal; the United Kingdom; Tanzania, on behalf of the African Group; Japan; the United States of America; Indonesia; Cambodia; Canada; Kenya; Egypt; Korea, Republic of; Brazil and the Secretariat took the floor.
82. The Chair thanked delegations for their trust and cooperation during his term as TRIPS Council Chair during the past year and expressed his hope that they would also support the efforts of his successor in addressing the items on the Council's agenda. He wished delegations and the new Chair much success in that endeavour.
83. The meeting was closed.
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