Minutes - TRIPS Council Special Session - View details of the intervention/statement

Ambassador D. Mwape (Zambia)
B NEGOTIATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MULTILATERAL SYSTEM OF NOTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR WINES AND SPIRITS
50. The representative of Guatemala congratulated the Chairman on his election and thanked Ambassador Karen Tan for her work during the past months. She said that the report by Ambassador Tan reflected Members' opinions expressed in this negotiating group. Her delegation noted in particular that the work in this body should be guided by the five guiding principles expressed in the report of Ambassador Clarke (TN/IP/19), and attached particular importance to the fifth principle, which required that the negotiation take up special and differential treatment that was precise, effective and operational. 51. Her delegation also supported that Members continue the dynamics of Members' presentations to which Canada and New Zealand had recently made contributions. It was very important for authorities to have a clear idea of the practical implications of the joint proposal, as this had enabled Guatemala to determine which areas required further technical assistance. Her delegation believed that continuing this exercise would enable progress in the Special Session as it allowed Members to see the shortcomings and strong points of the various proposals for developing countries such as Guatemala. Members needed to ensure that the work of the Special Session remained within the mandate of Article 23.4 of the TRIPS Agreement and paragraph 18 of the Doha Declaration, which referred exclusively to negotiations to establish a multilateral register for GIs for wines and spirits.
TN/IP/M/25