Excerpt: "Proposal on graduated LDCs
Members discussed again the LDC Group proposal on measures to allow graduated LDCs with a gross national product (GNP) below USD 1,000 to be granted benefits pursuant to the provision of Article 27.2 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, i.e. exemption from the provision on export subsidies (WT/GC/W/742-G/C/W/752).
On behalf of the LDC Group, Chad said that an agreement on this decision would make an important contribution to remedying the difficult circumstances that graduating LDCs were encountering, particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. It would also contribute to the further integration of LDCs in the multilateral trading system.
Some developed country members acknowledged the challenges that LDC members were facing as a result of two consecutive and overlapping global crises but also noted gaps remaining in the information that is needed for this proposal to be workable from a technical perspective. Nevertheless, they stood ready to consider ideas and proposals with the LDC Group as to how to address those gaps."