Ms Irene Young (Hong Kong, China)

Bangladesh

9 FOLLOW-UP TO THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

179. We are grateful for the initiatives taken by developed countries, which help us in many areas. The question is, first, whether the measures to which they have referred are all measures that facilitate technology transfer. We need to know what types of incentives they are providing to the enterprises and institutions in their territories. While notifications may amount to more than 5,000 pages, we see technical assistance projects but not incentives provided to the enterprises and institutions in their territories. The second question is that there is no specificity regarding to LDCs. 180. You provide incentives to importers by exempting importers from custom duties when you import from LDCs or developing countries. That is the type of incentive we are talking about. That's why we request Members to have a discussion to bring clarity in the incentives mechanism.

The Council took note of the statements made.

27. The Chairperson recalled that the Council had held its annual review of developed country Members' reports on the implementation of Article 66.2 in October 2017. At that meeting, she had indicated that delegations would be provided an opportunity at the present meeting to make further comments on the information submitted for that meeting that they had not yet been able to study.

28. Since then, Cambodia, on behalf of the LDC Group, had submitted a "Proposal on the Implementation of Article 66 of the TRIPS Agreement" (IP/C/W/640).

29. The representatives of Haiti, on behalf of the LDC Group; Bangladesh; the United States; Japan; Switzerland; the European Union; Australia; Benin; Brazil; and India took the floor.

30. The Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/88, IP/C/M/88/Add.1