WORLD TRADE G/L/188
24September 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3980)
Original: English Council forTrade inGoods
6October April 1997
SRILANKA -ESTABLISHMENT OFANEW SCHEDULE VI
Request forExtension ofTime-Limit
Thefollowing communication, dated 19September 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofSriLanka.
_______________
Irefer toyourfaxof16September 1997 ontheabove subject. Ifurnish below thefactual
information being requested withregard toSriLanka 'srequest foranextension ofthetime-limit for
thecurrent waiver.
1. Dateoforiginal waiver: 8November 19881.
2. Dateofsubmission ofdocuments relevant totheHSimplementation: 12January 19902.
3. Number ofextensions anddates when granted: fifteen extensions, asfollows: 24/07/89;
16/07/90; 07/12/90; 01/07/91; 04/12/91; 20/07/92; 03/12/92; 19/07/93; 17/01/94;
21/07/94; 09/12/94; 31/08/95; 13/12/95, 18/07/96 and16/07/97.
4. Number ofcountries withwhich Article XXVIII negotiations have been initiated: four
(Australia, European Union, NewZealand andUnited States).
5. Number ofcountries withwhich Article XXVIII negotiations havebeenconcluded: none.
6. Status ofoutstanding Article XXVIII negotiations aswellasageneral outline ofrelevant
problems, ifany:
Thepresent situation isthatSriLanka hasreceived counter proposals fromtwocountries with
which ithasalready initiated Article XXVIII negotiations. These proposals arebeing examined by
theappropriate authorities inSriLanka anditisenvisaged thatfurther consultations would benecessary
withthemtoarrive atanacceptable solution. Insofarasthenegotiations withtheremaining trading
partners areconcerned, SriLanka hopes toenter intoconsultations shortly withoneonthebasis of
theproposal ithadreceived from them sometime backwhile theother would becontacted shortly
requesting forspecific proposals, ifany,forconsideration bySriLanka. While every effort isbeing
made toconclude these negotiations asearly aspossible, itisunlikely thattheywould becompleted
by31October 1997.
1BISD, 35S/22.
2SECRET/HS/26.
./.G/L/188
Page2
7. Outlook forconcluding theprocess:
Asithasbeenindicated onprevious occasions, itistheintention ofSriLanka toconclude
itsArticle XXVIII negotiations withtheleastpossible delay. However itsefforts sofarunfortunately
havebeenhampered byseveral constraints, themostimportant ofwhich continues tobethesecurity
situation which prevails inthecountry which hasconsumed vasthuman andfinancial resources for
safeguarding theterritorial integrity ofthecountry. Meanwhile, some oftheproposals which SriLanka
hasreceived fromitstrading partners havealsonotbeenparticularly helpful owing totheextremely
sensitive nature ofsuchrequests politically andmore so,atatimewhen thecountry isexperiencing
much economic hardship onaccount oftheongoing ethnic conflict. Furthermore, itisalsofeltthat
theauthorities inSriLanka would equally require some more timetoengage inconsultations with
allrelevant agencies concerned withregard tothelatest proposals received following theprogress of
these consultations sofar.Inthiscontext, itisworthwhile noting thattherecent establishment of
Commission onTrade andTariff inSriLanka withtheresponsibility oflooking intoananomalies
andchanges concerning tariff matters, henceforth, willalsoneed tobeconsulted onwhatever
recommendations concerning anyfuture changes tothecountry 'stariff structure arising outofthese
negotiations.
Inviewoftheabove circumstances, SriLanka willrequire afurther extension ofsixmonths
toconclude these negotiations.
SriLanka wishes toextend itsappreciation tothecountries concerned fortheunderstanding
shown andassures themthatthesenegotiations willbefinalized tothesatisfaction ofallparties concerned
within thestipulated time.