The Negotiating Committee supervises the over-all conduct of the Third Round of negotiations under the chairmanship of Ambassador Alberto J. Dumont, Permanent Representative of Argentina in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the special session of the GSTP Committee of Participants at ministerial level held on 22 April 2008 in Accra, Ghana, the Ministers adopted a Joint Communique calling for the conclusion of the Third Round by the end of 2008. The Ministers also approved the report of the Negotiating Committee covering modalities of market access negotiations and a program of work for concluding the negotiations.

Modalities of Market Access Negotiations

GSTP Participants agreed to carry out negotiations on the basis of across-the-board, line-by-line, linear cut of 20 to 40 percent on dutiable tariff lines, to be combined with request-and-offer and/or sectoral negotiations. They further agreed to assume commitments on at least 70 percent of their dutiable tariff lines.

Work Program

To conclude the Third Round by the end of 2008, the Negotiating Committee will further develop the details of market access negotiations, consider special measures in favor of the least-developed countries and settle outstanding rules of origin issues. In the coming months, the Negotiating Committee will establish deadlines for the submission of tariff offers and finalization of schedules of tariff concessions.