RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/17
9 March 2001
(01-1150)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 21 March 2001 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 groupedinto one single decision.  These waivers were extended by successive decisions by the General
Council until 31 October 2000 (WT/L/379).  At its meeting of 21 March 2001, the Committee took
note of the requests 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.]
3.  [The Committee took note of the factual info rmation 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.]
4. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.24.]
5. [The Committee took note of the Chairman's report on the informal consultations held on a
possible procedure to introduce future HS 2002 changes to schedules of concessions.]
6. [With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions on the basis of the document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.10. As of[… ] March 2001, [....] Members and […] acceding countries had provided IDB submissions. The
Secretariat presented an oral report on the status of processing of IDB submissions and the status of
software development.  The Committee took note of the Chairman's report on the multilateralappraisal of the IDB and the IDB technical assistance activities. ]G/MA/SPEC/17
Page 2
7. [The Secretariat reported on the status of the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database
Project.]
8. [The Committee considered a proposal contained in document G/MA/NTM/QR/W/1
regarding certain notifications of quantitative restrictions.]
9.  [The Committee took note of the status of notifications under the Decision on Reverse
notification of non-tariff measures on the basis of a Secretariat document G/MA/NTM/W/3/Rev.1.]
10. [The Committee took note of the report by the Chairman on the seminar on tariff matters.]
11. [The Committee took note of the tariff informati on available in the Secretariat as contained in
document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.6.]
12. [The Committee elected the Chairperson for 2001.]
The report will be completed in light of the discussion that will take place at the
Committee's meeting on 21 March 2001.G/MA/SPEC/17
Page 3
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 + Corr.1 2 Extension needed to finalize consultations and
negotiations with Members having generalreservations.
BRAZIL /36 + Corr.1 + 2 5 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
Members having raised specific reservations.
EGYPT G/MA/TAR/RS/50/Rev.111 Egypt seeks a further extension of the waiver.
EL SALVADOR /44 3 Extension needed to finalize consultations with
Members who have raised reservations.
GUATEMALA /41 1 Extension needed to prepare and submit
corrections to Guatemala's schedule resultingfrom consultations held with Members having
raised reservations.
ICELAND /38 + Corr.1 +  Add.1 1 Extension needed  to conclude consultations and
possible negotiations with one Member.
ISRAEL /26 +  Add.1 + Add.1/Corr.1 1 Extension needed as Israel needs to examine the
specific concerns raise n the last reservationwhich was specified only in October 2000.
MALAYSIA /31 + Rev.1 1 Extension needed to notify amendments to the
schedule, which could go beyond 30 April 2001.
MEXICO /45 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with Members.
NEW ZEALAND /20 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to allow more time to resolve
the few remaining questions raised on New
Zealand's schedule by one Member.
NORWAY /11 1 Extension needed for more time to consult with
one Member.
PAKISTAN /40 1 Extension needed as bilateral consultations are
still continuing.
PANAMA Extension needed to finalize the correlation
tables.
PARAGUAY /29 3 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with Members having raisedgeneral reservations.
SOUTH AFRICA /15 2 Extension needed to complete the transposition
of documentation, and to verify the information
prepared and supplied by the Secretariat.
                                                     
1 Contains also rectifications to the schedule.G/MA/SPEC/17
Page 4
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
THAILAND /17 + Rev. 1 2 Extension needed as consultations are still
ongoing with two Members.
URUGUAY /28 1 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with one Member having aspecified reservation on 20 December 2000.
National authorities are examining these
questions.
VENEZUELA,BOLIVARIANREPUBLIC OF/12 + Rev. 1 1 Extension needed to consult and conclude
negotiations with one Member having a generalreservation.G/MA/SPEC/17
Page 5ANNEX 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. Nicaragua 26.01.199828.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Eleven:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
1
04.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000Two One Nicaragua is keen to
complete these
negotiations as
rapidly as possibleand requests a
further extension ofthe waiver to do so.- Extension requested
G/L/442
G/C/W/251G/MA/SPEC/17
Page 6
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
2. Sri Lanka 08.11.198812.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty-two:
24.07.1989
16.07.1990
07.12.199001.07.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.1992
03.12.1992
19.07.199317.01.1994
21.07.1994
09.12.199431.08.1995
13.12.1995
18.07.199616.07.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
1
04.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000Five Three Sri Lanka continues
to make every effortto conclude
negotiations under
Article XXVIII.The negotiations
with the European
Union and theUnited States are
still continuing.Sri Lanka has had
bilateral negotiationswith the European
Union and the United
States in respect ofSri Lanka's Schedule.
These negotiations
are still continuing.Sri Lanka assures its
trading partners that
every effort will bemade to conclude the
negotiations
satisfactorily, and inthe mutual interest of
all concerned, as soon
as possible.Extension requested
G/L/440G/C/W/250
3. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Ten:
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
1
04.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000Two - Process is slow. The EC and US have
not responded to therevised schedule.Extension requested
G/L/443G/C/W/252
                                                     
1 Granted with retroactive effect to 30 April 1999.
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