RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/8
18 September 1998
(98-3570)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 18 June and on 22 September 1998 and examined the following
issues:
2. On 13 December 1995 several Members were granted individual waivers for the introduction
of HS96 changes (WT/L/124 + Corr.1); for operational reasons the waivers were grouped into one
single decision.  These waivers were extended by successive decisions by the General Council until
31 October 1998 (WT/L/268).  At its meeting of 22 September 1998, the Committee took note of therequests for further extension of, or inclusion in, the waiver to carry out possibleconsultations/negotiations under Article XXVIII after the introduction of HS96 changes in nationaltariffs.  This information is summarized in Annex I of the report.
[to be completed in light of the discussion at the meeting of 22 September 1998]
3. [The Committee took note of the factual information provided by the Members under current
waivers regarding the transposition into the Harmonize d System or the renegotiation of their schedules.
This information is summarized  in Annex II of this report.]
[to be completed].
4. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.15.  It was noted that out of the [...] Members under waivers, only
[…..] schedules had been finalized and [...] Memb ers had not yet submitted the required documentation.
[to be completed]
5. With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions at its mee tings of  18 June and [22 September] on the basis of
documents G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.2.  At the meeting of  18 June, several Members expressed concern thatG/MA/SPEC/8
Page 2
many Members had not provided their IDB submissions  and stressed the need for all Members to supply
this data in order to fulfil their notification obligati ons. It was further noted that technical assistance was
available to assist Members in the submission of da ta to the IDB. As of 22 September, [....] Members
had provided IDB submissions.
[to be completed]
6. [At the meeting of 22 September, the Secretaria t presented an oral report on the status of
processing of IDB submissions, th e status of software developm ent and the technical assistance
activities that had been carried out thus far].
[to be completed]
7. At the meeting of 18 June the Committee consid ered matters concerning the dissemination of
the information contained in the IDB, on the basis of a revised informal paper dated 28 May 1998 (Job.No 1483/Rev.1). This matter had been discussed at the Committee's meeting of 26 March.  The paper,circulated to all WTO Members at the request of th e Chairman, raised several points that needed to be
clarified. Delegations noted that the IDB was a very important tool and needed to become operational as
rapidly as possible. Delegations noted that there s hould be a minimum level of information provided in
the submissions, before the files were distributed.  They favoured the establishment of a list ofinternational organizations that would have access to the IDB and according these organizations access
only to the IDB CD-ROM.  An exception would be  those organizations with which the WTO had
entered into formal cooperation agreements, who would receive IDB files at the tariff line level for their
internal use.  Many delegations indicated that they wished to approve their processed files before their
distribution to other Members, and that the approv al should be notified to the Secretariat within a
maximum of sixty days. Opinions differed as to whether the original IDB submissions should remain
confidential and as to whether the Secretariat shoul d set up an electronic library of tariff and trade
information that was already available from public sources.  Delegations supported the dissemination of
IDB files via a password-protected Internet site.  It was agreed that the dissemination policy for the IDB
would be discussed further in informal consultations and that the Secretariat would revise the note on the
basis of Members' comments.
[to be completed].G/MA/SPEC/8
Page 3
8. [At the meeting of 22 September, the Secretariat presented an oral report on the status of the
pilot project to establish a database of Members' consolidated tariff concessions and to incorporatethis information into the IDB].
[to be completed]
9. At its meeting of 18 June 1998, the Committee t ook note of the nomination of Mr. Ole  Lundby
of Norway as Chairman of the Committee for the current year and elected him by acclamation.
[Election of the Vice-Chairperson] [to be completed]The report will be completed in light of the discussion that will take place at the Committee
meeting on 22 September 1998.G/MA/SPEC/8
Page 4
ANNEX I
REQUESTS FOR INCLUSION IN AND EXTENSION OF THE HS96 WAIVERS
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
ARGENTINA /30 4 Extension needed to finalize consultations and
negotiations under Article XXVIII.
AUSTRALIA /19 + Corr.1 4 Extension needed to respond to questions raised
and awaiting further information from some
delegations.
BRAZIL /36 4 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations.
BRUNEIDARUSSALAM/14 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to finalize consultations.
BULGARIA Extension needed to finalize documentation and
to allow for consultations.
CANADA1/7 1
COSTA RICA /37 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
two Members.
CZECH REP. /5 1 Extension needed to complete negotiations and
consultations with one Member.
EGYPT G/MA/TAR/RS/50/Rev.12Extension needed to conduct consultationsfollowing the recent submission of the
documentation.
EL SALVADOR Extension needed as certain technical problems
have been encountered in the presentation of thedocumentation.
EUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES1/3 2
GUATEMALA Waiver requested to continue the procedures
necessary to introduce the documentation.
HONDURAS Extension needed to finalize documentation,
which has not been submitted due to technical
problems.
ICELAND /38 2 Extension needed  to finalize consultations and
possible negotiations under Article XXVIII.
INDIA1/8 + Corr.1 1
INDONESIA /33 1 Extension needed due to unfinished negotiations.
                                                     
1 Extension of waiver not requested by 15.09.1998.
2 Contains also rectifications to the schedule.G/MA/SPEC/8
Page 5
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
ISRAEL /26 4 Extension needed due to technical difficulties in
finalizing detailed documentation.
KOREA /4/Rev.1 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations.
MALAYSIA /31 + Rev.1 5 Extension needed to complete consultations.
MALTA /39 + Rev.1 1 Extension requested because revised
documentation was submitted recently.
MEXICO Extension due to technical difficulties in
completing documentation and to conclude
relevant consultations or  negotiations.
MOROCCO Waiver requested because HS96 implemented in
February 1998 and has the necessary
documentation is under preparation.
NORWAY /11 2 Extension needed to complete procedures and
consultations.
PAKISTAN Extension needed because formalities regarding
the introduction of HS96 changes into the WTOschedule have not been completed.
PANAMA Waiver requested because HS96 implemented in
February 1998 and Government has not yet been
able to submit the necessary documentation.
PARAGUAY1/29 3
PHILIPPINES /16 + Add.1 + Corr.1-2 1 Extension needed to finalize consultations with
one Member.
SLOVAK REP. 1/6 1
SLOVENIA /23 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to complete consultations and
negotiations with one Member.
SOUTH AFRICA1/15(prelimin. inf)2
SWITZERLAND /10 3 Extension needed in order to conclude process
of certification.
THAILAND /17 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to pursue consultations.
TUNISIA /25 2 Extension needed due to two reservations and in
order to finalize negotiations.
UNITED STATES /9 2 Extension needed because more time is needed
to complete consultations.
URUGUAY /28 1 Extension to finalize consultations and
negotiations.
VENEZUELA /12 + Rev. 1 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations with
one Member.G/MA/SPEC/8
Page 6
ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF WAIVERS
RELATED TO THE TRANSPOSITION OF SCHEDULES INTO THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM
Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of countries
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of countries with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for
extension and draft
decision
1.  Bangladesh 18.07.199806.12.1990
SECRET/HS/29Eighteen:
24.07.198905.12.1989
16.07.1990
13.12.199012.08.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.199203.12.1992
19.07.1993
17.01.199421.07.1994
09.12.1994
31.08.199513.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998Four Three Agreement still
pending with one
Member.Intention is to
conclude negotiations
as soon as possibleExtension requested
G/L/255
G/C/W/118
2. Nicaragua 26.01.199828.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Six:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998Two None Still awaiting a
substantiated
request from one
Member.Extension requested
G/L/256G/C/W/119G/MA/SPEC/8
Page 7Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of countries
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of countries with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for
extension and draft
decision
3. Sri Lanka 08.11.198812.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Seventeen:
24.07.198916.07.1990
07.12.1990
01.07.199104.12.1991
20.07.1992
03.12.199219.07.1993
17.01.1994
21.07.199409.12.1994
31.08.1995
13.12.199518.07.1996
16.07.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998Five One Negotiations have
been delayed by
several constraints:
the most importantbeing the security
situation which
prevails in thecountry;  need to
consult with all
relevant agenciesconcerned and with
the newly
establishedCommission on
Trade and Tariffs.
Awaiting reportfrom the
Commission in
order to pursue the
negotiations.Intends to conclude
negotiations in the
shortest possible time.Extension requested
G/L/257
G/C/W/120
4. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Five:
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.1998Three One Contacts have been
made with theMembers concerned.Expects to finalize the
process before the endof the yearExtension not yet
requested
G/L/G/C/W/
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