Trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building

Page under revision, May-June 2024

A number of mechanisms are in place to support LDCs through technical assistance and capacity-building related to trade. 

• The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), an Aid for Trade mechanism dedicated specifically to LDCs and recent graduates, supports LDCs through analytical work, institutional support, and productive capacity-building projects
• Under the WTO:
  • LDCs benefit from specific courses tailored to their needs, are entitled to participate in a greater number of national activities per year than other developing countries,and are the main beneficiaries of WTO and mission internship programmes.  See the information on LDC priority on the WTO's technical assistance and training page.
  • The LDC Group benefits from the support of a dedicated resource person in the LDC unit of the WTO’s Development Division.   
  • “China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme”, facilitates participation of LDCs in WTO discussions and builds capacity for accession negotiations. It provides financial support to an internship programme; annual round tables on accession-related themes; the participation of LDC coordinators in selected meetings; and a South-South dialogue on LDCs and development, among other forms of support.
  • Several WTO Agreements contain provisions on technical assistance to LDCs:
    • LDCs are to be given priority in technical assistance under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (article 11.8).
    • The WTO agreement's Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3) allows for longer periods between Trade Policy Reviews for LDCs and states that the WTO Secretariat shall make available technical assistance on request to developing country Members, "and in particular to the least-developed country Members", for the preparation of the reviews.
    • A Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) has been created to deliver support to LDCs and developing countries so that they may fully benefit from the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
    • The Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement establishes that developed country members shall provide technical and financial cooperation in favour of LDCs and other developing countries (article 67).  Developed country Members were to provide incentives to encourage the transfer of technology to LDCs (Article 66.2) (Developed country members are required to submit annual reports on actions taken or planned pursuant to their commitments under Article 66.2. For more information, see the e-TRIPS section on Reports by Developed Country Members on the implementation of TRIPS Art. 66.2 (re. Technology Transfer to LDCs)).
  • The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), a global partnership supporting developing countries to implement sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, especially those under the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, has a target of dedicating at least 40% of total project financing allocated to LDCs or other low-income countries (OLICs). There is also a lower co-financing requirement for technical assistance. The minimum required contribution from LDCs and OLICS is 10%, as opposed to 20% for lower middle-income countries and 60% for upper middle-income countries.
• The Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) provides legal advice on issues related to WTO, WTO dispute settlement support and capacity-building, and LDCs do not have to join as members in order to benefit from its services.
• The ePing notification alert system provides countries with timely access to notifications under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and facilitates dialogue among the public and private sector in addressing potential trade problems at an early stage. It is available to all countries but especially geared towards meeting the needs of LDCs. It is a joint product of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), WTO and International Trade Centre (ITC).
• The International Trade Center (ITC) works to build the capacity of private actors in LDCs so they can take advantage of the global trading system.  ITC's LDC Trade Tracker allows users to monitor the trade of LDCs through thematic reports and interactive indicators.

What happens when countries graduate?

• Graduated countries continue to have access to selected EIF benefits for 5 years following graduation.
• There are currently no smooth transition periods for most of the LDC-specific provisions under WTO agreements.  Countries continue to benefit from training and other opportunities available to non-LDC developing countries. However, the Ministerial Decision on WTO Smooth Transition Support Measures In Favour of Countries Graduated from the LDC Category, adopted at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in 2024, established that a "Member that graduates from the LDC category shall continue to be eligible for LDC-specific technical assistance and capacity building provided under WTO's Technical Assistance and Training Plan for a period of three years after the date on which the decision of the UN General Assembly to graduate that Member from the LDC category becomes effective. The participation of existing LDCs shall be prioritized in activities under this plan."
• The STDF has a transition mechanism which allows countries that graduate to continue to benefit from the 10% contribution requirement for LDCs for a period of 3 years following graduation. 
• To continue to use the services of the ACWL, countries need to join with a one-time contribution.
• ePing is available to any interested country or person
• ITC has support programmes for non-LDC developing countries