. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/MA/W/6
5 August 2002
(02-4309)
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:  English
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Contribution Paper from Korea
The following communication was submitted by Korea at the Meeting of the Negotiating
Group on 2 August 2002 with the request that it be circulated.
_______________
Preface
1. The history of the international trading system illustrates that negotiations on reducing or
eliminating tariffs and non-tariffs are integral to continuous trade liberalization.  Although such
barriers have been substantially eradicated to date, market access yet remains a paramount concern to
all WTO Members.
2. Korea believes that market access negotiations should be effectively carried out within the
scheduled time, not only for a successful close of the DDA negotiations, but more importantly for
further development of global trade.  Also, lower trade barriers have by and large rendered economic
benefits to all Members via enhanced competition, increased economic efficiency, and economic
growth.  To this end, Korea anticipates an active participation of all WTO Members in these
negotiations.
Modalities
3. In discussing the modalities for the negotiations, inter alia , preceding market access
negotiations, needs and interests of developing countries, and the anticipated complexities of the
negotiations should be taken into consideration.  It would also not prove facile to carry outrequest-offer approaches within the proposed time owing to the large number of WTO Members.
Hence, in order to bring about the greatest comprehensive tariff reduction for all Members, Korea
prefers pursuing a formula approach, with limited use of the request-offer approach, when necessary.
4. The agreed modalities in the Market Access Negotiating Group should deal with the reduction
and elimination of both tariffs, including tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariffs escalation, and non-tariff
barriers as mandated in the Doha Ministerial Declarati on.  In this respect, with the view to effectively
conducting the negotiations, at the outset, the definitions of the terms tariff peak, high tariff and tariffs
escalation should be clarified.  We have also a great concern about tariff peaks or high tariffs which
are levied by way of non- ad valorem  duties.
Environmental Goods
5. We welcome the decision of the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Environment
(CTE) that the Non-Agricultural  Market Access Negotiation Group should conduct negotiations on
environmental goods.  Cognizant that the trade initiative to eliminate or reduce barriers to trade inTN/MA/W/6
Page 2
environmental goods would foster the development of environment industry world-wide, Korea notes
the need for reinforced cooperation with the CT as well as among Members.
Non-Tariff Barriers
6. As non-tariff barriers (NTBs) exist in various forms and the raison d'être of its existence areunconventional, effective ways to reducing or phasing out such barriers as stated in the Ministerial
Declaration should be addressed.  To this end, different categories of non-tariff measures should be
clearly defined and listed up, while ways to iden tify individual non-trade barriers belonging to such
categories should be agreed on at the outset of the negotiations.
Special and Differential Treatment
7. Korea acknowledges the special needs and interests of the developing and least-developed
countries, not to mention the necessity for further studies and capacity-building measures to assist
least-developed countries.  Korea is also mindful of the mandate that the reduction or elimination of
tariff and non-tariff barriers shall be particularly aimed at products of export interest to developing
countries.  In this regard, an active participation of all Members is essential to duly reflect the marketaccess interests of developing countries in the negotiations.
Tariffs and Trade Data
8. Prior to embarking on formal negotiations, Members should take requisite steps so that data
on their current market conditions – applied and bound tariffs and recent trade statistics – are
accessible to other Members.  As a starting-point, Korea proposes that each Member submit updated
data to the Integrated Database (IDB).  In addition, Korea encourages the WTO Secretariat to
continuously collect and update the IDB by using the available software tools.
__________