Trade monitoring

The TRIPS Council continued its discussion on topics such as access to medicines for the poorest countries, promotion of transparency and least-developed countries’ needs for assistance as part of its regular review of intellectual property (IP) matters. The Council also exchanged information on and debated a number of policy issues raised by individual countries, such as national innovation strategies and the role of IP in fostering market-based innovation.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is situated in north-west Africa, covering an area of 1,031,000 km2 - four fifths of which are desert - and has a population of 3.2 million. Population density is around three inhabitants per square kilometre. The annual rate of demographic growth is approximately 3 per cent, life expectancy is 56.6 years and the literacy rate among adults (over 15 years old) is 55.8 per cent.

This third Trade policy reciew of EI salvador has given way to an excellent exchange of views among Members, contributing to a better understanding of its trade and investment policies and practices. This has been made possible by the clear and comprehensive presentations by the salvodoran delegation, led by Deputy-minister Hernandez, the comments by our discussant, Mr Lin, and by the active participation of many Members.