RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/IDB/W/10
31 May 2001
(01-2724)
Committee on Market Access
A MULTILATERAL APPRAISAL OF THE OPERATION OF THE INTEGRATED
 DATA BASE AND RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES -
AFRICA
Note by the Secretariat
A. INTRODUCTION
1. The purpose of this note is to provide factual information to assist Members in their
Multilateral Appraisal of the Integrated Data Base (IDB) and related Technical Assistance Activities
(document G/MA/IDB/4 of 22 February 2001 refers).
2. The objectives of the Multilateral Appraisal as set out in paragraph 2 of that document are to
"identify ways of improving IDB participation through a multilateral appreciation of allMembers' experiences in complying with IDB notif ication requirements.  To do this, the Committee
will focus on obtaining a better understanding of:
• why Members have not been able to either provide any submissions at all or achieve
regular reporting patterns;
• how Members have had success in complyin g with IDB information requirements;
• what has been the effectiveness of existing technical assistance activities."
3. The modalities consist of a series of informal meetings organized on a regional basis at which
Members in that region are strongly encouraged to describe their experiences in complying with IDBnotification requirements.
4. This note contains the region-specific information referred to in paragraph 8 of G/MA/IDB/4
to support the third meeting devoted to Africa.  It is in three parts.  The first part (B), dealing with the
operation of the IDB, focuses on the status of IDB submissions (participation and timeliness),
dissemination details and problems encountered by th e Secretariat in standardizing the information for
inclusion in the IDB.  It is based on information contained in IDB administration records and the
guidelines for supplying PC IDB submissions which were reissued as document G/MA/IDB/W/6 on
15 June 2000.  The second part (C) identifies supplementary sources of information which could be of
assistance to delegations in pinpointing institutiona l or capacity related bottlenecks in complying with
the IDB notification requirements.  It also contains information on regional organizations' activities of
relevance to the IDB.  The third part (D) summarizes the Secretariat technical assistance accorded to
WTO Members in the region.
5. The cutoff date for information contained in this note was 1 May 2001.G/MA/IDB/W/10
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B. OPERATION OF THE IDB
Participation
6. Table 1 shows that 16 out of the 41 Members in Africa have submitted information to the
IDB.  The majority of Members in Africa have not yet submitted any information to the IDB.
Eighteen of those are LDCs.  Some of the big traders are among the non-respondents.  Non-response
to IDB notification requirements would appear to be more problematic in Africa than in the other
regions so far reviewed in the Multilateral Appraisal.  For a detailed region-specific status table see
the Annex.
Table 1:  Integrated Data Base - Status of Responses of WTO Members
Africa
Respondents (total 16) Non-respondents (total 25)
Egypt Angola
Ghana Beni n
KenyaB o t s w a n a
Mada gascar Burkina Faso
Malawi Burundi
Mali Cameroo n
Mauritania Central African Re public
Mauritius Chad
Morocco Con go
Namibia Côte d'Ivoire
South Africa Democratic Re public of the Con go
TogoD jibouti
Tunisia Gabo n
Uganda Gambia
Zambia Guinea
Zimbabwe Guinea-Bissa u
Lesotho
Mozambi que
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sene gal
Sierra Leone
Swaziland
Tanzania, United Re public o f
  Source:  IDB administrative records
Status of submissions
7. Table 2 summarizes the extent of the information submitted for inclusion in the IDB from the
start of the PC version in 1996.  It should be no ted that as at 1 May 2001, submission rates had peaked
as far back as 1997 for tariffs and for imports.  For more recent years, the number of submissions is
well below the number of Members in the region.  Submissions would not appear to be forthcoming
on a regular basis.  Out of the eleven import submissions for the years 1999 and 2000, six werereceived during the recent seminar in Cape Town.  For tariffs, two out of the seven submissions were
received in that same mission.G/MA/IDB/W/10
Page 3
Table 2:  Number of IDB Submissions
Africa
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Tariffs
  Current MFN applied duties 5 8 7 5 7 1
  Current MFN bound duties 0 1 0 0 0 0
Product descriptions 5 9 7 4 7 1
Imports 11 13 11 6 5 ---
National correlations 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other references 3 2 2 1 1 0
 --- = Not applicable
Source:  IDB administrative records
8. The detailed records presented in the Annex show that for the four years (1998-2001):
• no Member has supplied applied tariffs and imports for each of the four years as required;
• two Members have supplied applied tariffs for three years and imports for two years;
• nine Members have supplied applied tariffs and imports for at least one year in that
period;
• two Members have supplied applied tariffs but not imports for one or several years;
• two Members have supplied imports but not applied tariffs for one or several years;
• one Member has supplied only information for 1996 and 1997;
• twenty five Members have not supplied any information to the IDB.
9. Regarding the material needed to complete the IDB submissions (product descriptions,
national correlations and other references), the information in Table 2 can be clarified as follows:
• not all tariff submissions were accompanied by product descriptions in one of the official
WTO languages;
• other reference information is frequently not supplied.  However, in those cases where
reference information of previous years was still considered to be valid, the Secretariat
used that information.  Confirmation by Members to do so would be of assistance to the
Secretariat and would be reflected accordingly in the status table as submission of
information.
• correlation tables are needed to track changes in the tariff nomenclature between imports
and tariffs for a given year, and between tariffs from one year to the next(document G/MA/IDB/W/6 refers).  An analysis of those submissions that have been
processed has shown that in most cases, there are discrepancies both between the tariff
and import nomenclature and the year to year tariff nomenclature.  It should be noted that
with respect to the import to tariff match, the Secretariat generates matching tariff lines inthe import files if no correlation table is received, and informs the Member as part of the
approval process.  The incidence of discrepancies between year to year tariffs implies the
need of a correlation table.  The Secretariat cannot generate the correlation table without
input from Members.  Discrepancies have been flagged in the Member-specific notes.
Timeliness
10. The deadline for submitting tariffs is 30 March of the current year, and for imports,
30 September of the previous year.  As at 1 May 2001, requirements were tariff information
1996-2001 and import statistics 1996-1999.G/MA/IDB/W/10
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11. Tables 3 provides an overview of the extent to which IDB submissions of applied tariffs and
imports have been made in compliance with the mandated deadlines.  For tariffs and imports, the
number of submissions (based on the first date of submission) is counted on a quarterly basis starting
in 1998.  The quarters corresponding to the deadlines have been shaded in grey.
Table 3:  Number of IDB Submissions by Date Received
Africa
Applied tariffs for year
Submission date
by quarter1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
up to1998 - 1.
1998 - 2. 11
1998 - 3. 1
1998 - 4. 11
1999 - 1. 111
1999 - 2. 111
1999 - 3.
1999 - 4. 3222
2000 - 1.
2000 – 2. 1
2000 – 3. 11
2000 – 4
2001 – 1. 216 1
All submissions 58757 1
Imports for year
Submission date
by quarter1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
up to1998 - 1. 1
1998 - 2. 2 2
1998 - 3. 1
1998 - 4. 2
1999 - 1. 12
1999 – 2. 33 2
1999 – 3.
1999 – 4. 113
2000 - 1. 111
2000 – 2.
2000 – 3. 2 3
2000 – 4. 11 1
2001 – 1. 112 2 5
All submissions 11 13 11 6 5
Source:  IDB administrative recordsG/MA/IDB/W/10
Page 5
12. The table demonstrates the difficulties most re spondents have experienced in complying with
these deadlines.  In 2001, only one Member submitted the tariff schedule within the required
time-frame.  For imports, in general, only two to three Members managed to submit their import data
on time.  Very few Members have established a more or less regular reporting pattern.
Dissemination
13. After successful processing, IDB files are disseminated first through the IDB Internet site.  As
a first step, the files are loaded into the provisional area of the site to await the Member's approval.
Following approval, the files are loaded into the approved area.  Files that are lodged in this area are
potential candidates for the IDB CD-ROM.  Tariffs are the primary requirement for the
IDB CD-ROM software.  Tariffs with or without the corresponding imports are accepted.  Importswithout the corresponding tariffs cannot be loaded.
Table 4:  Summary of IDB Data Submitted and Disseminated as of 1 May 2001
Africa
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Applied duties
  C o m m u n i c a t e d  t o  t h e  I D B 587571
  L o a d e d  o n  t h e  I n t e r n e t  F i l e  T r a n s f e r  F a c i l i t y 342220
  Included in December 2000 IDB CD-ROM 342100
Imports
  Communicated to the IDB 11 13 11 6 5 ---
  L o a d e d  o n  t h e  I n t e r n e t  F i l e  T r a n s f e r  F a c i l i t y 4310 - - - - - -
  Included in December 2000 IDB CD-ROM 1200 - - - - - -
--- = Not applicable
Note: The last load of the Internet File Transfer Faci lity, included in this table, took place on 24 April 2001;
the count of files on the Internet also includes files in the provisional area
Source:  IDB administrative records
14. The above table gives an indication of the "success rate" of IDB submissions by highlighting
discrepancies between the information Members submit to the IDB and the information that is
disseminated on the Internet File Transfer Facility.  The discrepancies can reflect processing problems
and/or delays in processing.  With respect to the tariffs, the table shows that the Secretariat has been
able to successfully process the tariff data for less than half of the submissions.  More problems have
been encountered with respect to imports.  It should be noted that the discrepancies between the filesdisseminated on the Internet and the CD-ROM can be explained by the earlier cutoff date
(November 2000) and the more stringent selection criteria.
Processing
15. The Secretariat addresses problems in standardizing the data supplied by capitals for inclusion
in the IDB with delegations on an ad hoc basis.  The typical problems encountered in the submissions
of Members in the region can be summarized as follows:
a. Nomenclature
1. The import and/or the tariff file contains tariff lines reported in different versions of
the HS (HS92 and HS96).
2. The tariff and/or import files contain invalid HS codes.
3. The tariff and the import files are not in the same version of the HS (HS88, HS92 or
HS96).G/MA/IDB/W/10
Page 6
4. The tariff and the import files are not in the same level of detail (different number of
digits in tariff and import nomenclatures).
b. Incomplete submissions
1. The reference files for the trading partner codes and/or the quantity unit descriptions
are missing.
2. Submissions unreadable electronically or in hardcopy only.
3. The import file does not contain a distribution by trading partner
4. The import file does not contains all the import records for the year (for example,
only some months are included).
5. The import file contains no quantity units.
6. The import values are either too low or too high, when cross-checked against other
sources.
C. IDB INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM SUPPLEMENTARY SOURCES
16. The results of Secretariat research into electronic sources of detailed import and tariff
information that could meet IDB requirements are summarized below.  The aim of this research is toassist delegations in ascertaining whether institutional and/or capacity issues underlie problems in
complying with IDB notification requirements.  Re source constraints precluded exhaustive research.
17. The Secretariat looked at information availabl e first in the Secretariat, notably the Market
Access Division and the Trade Policy Review Division; then in readily available databases maintained
by other international organizations and agencies.  The Secretariat searched for Websites of nationalstatistical offices, of national customs agencies, and of regional integration agreements.  The search
was restricted to imports and national customs tariffs for the last four years (1998-2001).
18. The following data sources have been identified:
19. Trade Policy Review Division (TPRD):  For a number of Members, currently not
participating in the IDB, tariff information was made available to the TPRD.  These data could be
included in the IDB contingent on authorization from the concerned delegations being obtained.
20. South African Customs Tariffs:  The Website of 'Cargo Info Africa and Clearing Support
Services', (http://rapidttp.com/tariff) gives access to the South African Customs Tariffs which
contains information on the applied MFN tariffs at the tariff line level for the South African Customs
Union.  Members of the South African Customs Uni on are Botswana, Lesotho, the Republic of South
Africa, Namibia and Swaziland.  The reference period for the tariff information is not specified.  The
information is updated weekly.
21. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA):  The Website of the
COMESA (http://www.comesa.int/trade/tradasta.htm)  gives access to various trade agreements' tariff
duties at the tariff line level for member countries of that organization.  The reference period for the
tariff information is not specified.  The information available has been compiled from official country
submissions to the COMESA database thr ough the use of UNCTAD's ASYCUDA databases or
TINET tariff data.
22. Other sources:  For some Members, national Websites that contain IDB relevant information
have been identified.  In addition, the UNCTAD TRAINS database, the United Nations COMTRADE
database and the commercial provider WORLD TA RIFF were consulted.  Any information that was
more up-to-date and or more comprehensive has been included in the Member-specific notes.G/MA/IDB/W/10
Page 7
D IDB RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
23. The General Council decision of 16 July 1997 called for the Secretariat to provide technical
assistance to Members in relation to IDB submissions.  The IDB Technical Assistance Programme
was launched in April 1998 following the adoptio n by the Committee on Market Access of document
G/MA/IDB/W/3/Rev.1 setting out the modalities.  Table 5 below summarizes the following technical
assistance activities for the region since that date.
24. The table shows that there has been a range of national and regional seminars in Africa.
Nearly all Members that have participated in dedicated IDB seminars have made submissions to the
IDB.  In several cases submissions were received during or shortly after the missions.  Very few
Members that participated in one or several regional WTO seminars which only included a half-day
IDB component among a range of other topics have contributed submissions to the IDB.
25. A workshop for Brussels-based WTO missions is planned for the autumn and will reach
several of the currently non-participating Members in Africa.  In fact, very few of the non-Genevabased Members have participated in the IDB.  A technical assistance request from Burundi has also
recently been received and funding has been requested from the Secretariat Working Group on the
Integrated Framework and LDC Issues.G/MA/IDB/W/10
Page 8
Table 5:  Summary of IDB Related Technical Assistance Missions
Africa
Location Date Type of Mission Participants
Zambia 16-18/06/1998 Regional on MA and
Textiles with IDB
component1Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania,
Uganda, Zambia2
Djibouti 28/09/1998-
02/10/1998Regional Trade Policy
seminar with IDBcomponentAngola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Central African Republic, Chad,Congo Dem. Rep., Djibouti, Guinea,
Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania
2, Niger,
Rwanda, Togo
CentralAfrican
Republic22-25/02/1999 Regional WTO workshop
with IDB componentCameroun, Chad, Central African
Republic, Rep. of Congo, Equatorial
Guinea, Gabon
Pakistan 08/04/1999 Regional training course
on various subjects
including IDBMembers of the Islamic Development
Bank: Gambia, Mozambique, Sierra
Leone, Uganda
Djibouti 3-6/05/1999 Regional seminar on
Trade and Environment
and IDBAngola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Central African Rep.,
Chad, Rep. of Congo, Democratic Rep.
of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti,Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau,
Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Rwanda, Senegal, Togo
Madagascar 5-8/07/1999 National seminar on IDB
and other subjectsMadagascar2
Mali 13-14/12/1999 IDB National Mali2
Togo 16-17/12/1999 IDB National Togo2
Burkina
Faso17/02/2000 Regional Trade Policy
course with IDB
componentBenin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Chad, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea,
Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Togo
South Africa 26-29/03/2001 IDB Regional Ghana2, Kenya2, Mauritius2, Namibia2,
Nigeria, South Africa2, Swaziland,
Zimbabwe2
South Africa 30/03/2001 ID B National South Africa2
1In the case of Zambia, meetings with national authorities were held to discuss IDB specific issues.
2IDB submissions were received during or shortly after the mission.G/MA/IDB/W/10
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Annex
Status of PC IDB submissions as of 1 May 2001
Africa
Current Tariffs Date of submission
Members Year Imports
Applied BoundProduct
DescriptionsNational
CorrelationsOther
References Imports Tariffs
Egypt 1997 Yes No Yes Yes No No 11-00 01-00
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No No 11-00 12-98
1999 Yes No No No No No 11-00 01-00
Ghana 2000 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 03-01 07-00
Kenya 1996 Yes No No No --- Yes 03-00 01-00
1997 Yes No No No No Yes 03-00 01-00
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 03-00 03-01
1999 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 09-00 06-00
2000 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 03-01
Madagascar 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 02-99 02-99
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 02-99 02-99
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No No 12-99 02-99
2000 Yes Yes No Yes No No 01-01 01-01
Malawi 2000 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 03-01
Mali 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 12-99 12-99
1997 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 12-99 12-99
1998 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 12-99 12-99
1999 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 12-99
Mauritania 1997 Yes No No No No No 12-98 01-00
1998 Yes No No No No No 08-00 01-00
1999 Yes No No No No No 08-00 01-00
Mauritius 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 05-98 05-98
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 05-98 05-98
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No No 02-01 03-01
1999 Yes Yes No Yes No No 02-01 03-01
2000 Yes Yes No Yes No No 03-01 02-01
Morocco 1996 Yes No No No --- Yes 12-97 01-00
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 12-98 12-98
1998 Yes No No No No No 09-00 01-00
1999 Yes No No No No No 09-00 01-00
Namibia 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 06-99 11-99
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 06-99 06-99
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No No 06-99 06-99
South Africa 1996 Yes No No No --- No 06-98 01-00
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 06-98 07-00
1999 Yes No No No No No 05-01 01-00
2000 Yes Yes No Yes No No 03-01 03-01
2001 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 05-01
Togo 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- Yes 05-99 12-99
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 05-99 12-99
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 12-99 12-99
1999 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 12-99G/MA/IDB/W/10
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Current Tariffs Date of submission
Members Year Imports
Applied BoundProduct
DescriptionsNational
CorrelationsOther
References Imports Tariffs
Tunisia 1996 Yes No No No --- No 05-99 01-00
1997 Yes No No No No No 05-99 01-00
1998 Yes No No No No No 05-99 01-00
1999 No Yes No No No No 01-00 05-99
Uganda 2001 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 03-01
Zambia 1996 Yes No No No --- No 07-98 01-00
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No No 03-99 07-98
Zimbabwe 1996 Yes No No No --- No 03-01 01-00
1997 Yes No No No No No 03-01 01-00
1998 Yes No No No No No 03-01 01-00
1999 Yes No No No No No 03-01 01-00
2000 Yes Yes No Yes No No 03-01 03-01
Yes =  information received.
No =  information not received.
--- =  not applicable.
In the column National Correlations, "No"  may also indicate that the Secretariat has not yet been able to ascertain
the need for such a correlation table.
__________