RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/21
20 September 2002
(02-5043)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 23 September 2002 and examined the following issues:
2. [The Committee took note of the factual information provided by the Members under current
waivers regarding the transposition into the Harmoni zed System (HS), the introduction of HS changes to
their schedules,  or the renegotiation of their schedu les. This information is summarized in Annexes I
and II of this report.]
3. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.29.]
4. [The Committee examined the situation related to the circulation of HS2002 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/4/Rev.2]
5. [With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions on th e basis of the document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.15. The
Secretariat reported on the status of processing of  IDB submissions, use of IDB information,  and the
status of software development.]
6. [The Secretariat reported on the status of the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) Database.]7. [The Committee took note of the Chairman's statement under the agenda item:
Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns: Meaning to be given to the phrase "substantial interest"
in paragraph 2(d)  of Article XIII of GATT 1994 (paragraph 1.2 of WT/MIN(01)/17).
8. [The Committee took note of the Chairman's statement under the agenda item: Outstanding
Implementation Issues raised by Members:  Tiret 99 of Job(01)/152/Rev.1 – Measures designed tosecure a redistribution of negotiating rights in favour of small and medium-sized exporting Membersin Trade Negotiations.G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 2
9. [The Committee conducted the transitional review of the People's Republic of China.]
10. [Ecuador introduced the agenda item  "New Panama Canal Transit Tolls].
The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the
Committee meeting on 23 September 2002.G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 3ANNEX I
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
1. Argentina 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96
/30
(16.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/30/Corr.1
(16.05.2000)Eleven
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.200113.05.2002Four Two Still  need to
conclude
consultations andnegotiations with the
two remaining
Members- Requested 6 months.
G/L/559
G/C/W/409 + Corr.1
2. El Salvador 18.07.1996 G/SECRET/HS96
/44(01.05.2000)
G/SECRET/HS96
/44/Corr.1
(12.02.2002)Ten
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Three Two The United States
should beresponding  to
answers provided by
El Salvador.Hopes to conclude
before the expiry of
the time-limit of the
requested waiver.Requested 6 months.
G/L/563G/C/W/413 + Corr.1G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 4
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
3. Israel 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96
/26
(08.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/26/Add.1(05.03.1999)
G/SECRET/HS96
/26/Add.1/Corr.1
(06.07.2000)Eleven
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Four Three Israel has to respond
to two additional
questions by the EC.Israel will do its best
to provide the
requested
explanations in the
shortest possible time.Requested 6 months.
G/L/560 + Corr.1
G/C/W/410 + Corr.1
4. Morocco 24.04.1998 G/SECRET/HS96
/47
(04.12.2000)
G/SECRET/HS96
/47/Add.1
(28.03.2001)
G/SECRET/HS96
/47/Add.2
(28.05.2001)Seven
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Four Two Morocco is still in
the process of
negotiating with theEC.  The US
reservation is based
on the lack of
concordance tables
which have nowbeen submitted.- Requested 6 months.
G/L/568
G/C/W/417
5. Norway 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96
/11(24.01.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/11/Corr.1
(22.03.2001)
G/SECRET/HS96
/11/Add.1
(05.08.2002)Eleven
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.200113.05.2002Six Six Awaiting the expiry
of the 90-day time-period for the
submission of
objections on themost recent
notification by
Norway circulatedas document
G/SECRET/HS96/
11/Add.1.A waiver extension is
being requested in
case objections are
raised in relation to
Norway's most recent
notification.Requested 6 months.
G/L/562G/C/W/412 + Corr.1G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 5Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
6. Thailand 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96
/17
(14.03.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/17/Rev.1(18.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/17/Rev.2
(27.11.2001)Eleven
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Four Negotiations had
concluded with all
four Members.However,
negotiations have
been re-initiatedwith two of those
Members.Thailand is
preparing the
responses toquestions raised by
the two Members.- Requested 6 months.
G/L/564
G/C/W/414 + Corr.1
7. Venezuela,
Bolivarian
Republic of13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96
/12
(16.01.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96
/12/Rev.1
(07.11.1996)Eleven
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.200113.05.2002Three Two One question
remains to be
resolved with theremaining Member.Hopes to conclude
before the time-limit
of the requested
waiver expires.Requested 6 months.
G/L/561
G/C/W/411 + Corr.1G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 6
ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF WAIVERS
RELATED TO THE TRANSPOSITION OF SCHEDULES INTO THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for an
extension and draft
decision
1. Sri Lanka 08.11.1988 12.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty-five:
24.07.1989
16.07.1990
07.12.199001.07.1991
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
16.07.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
31.10.200113.05.2002Five Four Sri Lanka continues
to make every effort
to conclude
negotiations underArticle XXVIII.
The negotiations
with the UnitedStates are still
continuing.Sri Lanka has had
bilateral negotiations
with the United
States. Thesenegotiations are still
continuing.  In view
of the fact thatsubmissions are being
made to the newly
appointed AdvisoryCommittee on Tariffs
of the Government of
Sri Lanka and that itsapproval is required
for tariff bindings to
be made,  Sri Lankamay require one more
extension to conclude
these negotiations. SriLanka 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 of 6
months requested
G/L/565
G/C/W/415/Rev.1G/MA/SPEC/21
Page 7Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for an
extension and draft
decision
2. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Thirteen:
13.12.199518.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.200008.05.2001
31.10.2001
13.05.2002Two - EC and the US have
to respond to the
revised schedule.Hope to conclude
before the end of
2002.Extension requested
G/L567
G/C/W/416
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