H.E. Ambassador Dr Walter Werner

United States of America

12 LDC GROUP PROPOSAL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT (IP/C/W/640)

303.   The United States appreciates the interest expressed by the LDC Members in the Article 66.2 reports. The United States is proud of the work that US agencies have conducted over the years for promoting and encouraging technologic transfer to LDCs in order to enable the creation of a sound and viable technological base. 304.   Many of the programmes that the United States funds seek to help improve the commercial, legal, and regulatory environments to attract foreign investment and promote private sector-led growth and voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms. By establishing commercial environments that attract and stimulate the creation of technologies that address local needs and development goals, LDCs become more attractive to innovative foreign enterprises and institutions looking to undertake voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, while also creating conditions to stimulate the creation of new technologies. 305.   It is important to the United States that the programmes are as successful as possible, and the United States would be interested in learning from the LDCs that have participated in these programmes to see what policies may have been enacted as a result of the programmes, particularly at the stage of technology absorption. 306.   With respect to an indicative list, such as the one included in the room document, we are concerned about limiting the breadth of the wide range of programmes we already support.

39.   The Chair said that the Central African Republic, on behalf of the LDC Group, had requested the inclusion of the agenda item "LDC Group Proposal on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement". Reference had been made to an earlier communication from the LDC Group, on the same topic, that had already been introduced at the Council's last meeting (circulated in document IP/C/W/640). As requested by Bangladesh on behalf of the LDC Group, he had also facilitated an informal meeting between representatives from the LDC Group and developed country Members, which had taken place the previous week. Those initial discussions of the LDC Group Proposal had focused on the incentives needed to encourage companies to transfer technologies to LDCs and on the reporting mechanism. They had been very constructive.
40.   As follow up to that initial discussion, the LDC Group had also made available an illustrative list of incentives for consideration by Members. Printed copies of the room document RD/IP/24 had been made available for delegations in French and English.
41.   The representatives of Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group; Bangladesh; the United States; India; Norway; New Zealand; the European Union; Canada; Australia; Switzerland; Japan; Brazil; and Nepal took the floor.
42.   The Chair said that he would continue to facilitate consultations amongst Members to find possible solutions.
43.   Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/89, IP/C/M/89/Add.1