178. The Chairman hoped that, while views continued to differ as to when and how to address these issues, delegations would still want to continue an exchange of views on these areas. On these issues, and in particular on the wider issue of special and differential treatment, experience or comparison with how these issues were dealt with in other WTO areas could provide some inspiration. He said, however, that it would be difficult to force those that argued that the time was not ripe to declare their hands.
179. He further said that developing countries who might have expectations of special and differential treatment should consider that they either might have to participate in a mandatory system, or that they might actually want to join a voluntary system, sooner or later. This was why these questions, even if they were not critical at this time, did bear some relevance. He encouraged Members to give some thought to what form special and differential treatment with regard to GIs could take so that both developed and developing countries could exchange additional views at a next meeting.
180. In concluding the discussion, the Chairman said that the exchanges on legal effects and participation had been substantial, and that it was a good sign that the approach had been focused on substance. Some Members had elaborated in particular on how the consequences of registration under the proposals would play out in their respective national implementation. He said that not enough attention had been paid to the question of how this system would be implemented. While the proponents, notably the European Communities, had given indications about the essential role to be played by national authorities, there were still questions from other Members as to the detail of how these matters would play out. A common understanding of those two sides of the issues could only be achieved through further focused discussions.
