./.  
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/L/706 
3 November 2004 
 
 (04-4679) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2004) OF THE COMMITTEE OF  PARTICIPANTS ON  THE EXPANSION 
OF TRADE IN INFORMAT ION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS  
 
 1. The Committee of Participants  on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products, 
hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", was establ ished pursuant to the prov isions of the Ministerial 
Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN( 96)/16), hereinafter referred to as 
"the Ministerial Declaration", and the provisions for the Implementati on of the Ministerial Declaration 
on Trade in Information Technology Products (G/L/ 160), in order to carry out the provisions of 
paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the Annex to the Declaration. 
 
2. The Committee has held three formal meetin gs thus far in 2004:  on 26 February, 4 June
1, and 
19 October.  The minutes of these meetings are contained in documents G/IT/M/38 to G/IT/M/402.  It is 
foreseen that a fourth formal meeting would be convened on 9 December 2004.  Mr. F. Seppey 
(Canada) was elected Chairman  of the Committee for 2004. 
 
3. The total number of participants to the Minister ial Declaration is sixty-three.  After the issuance 
of the last report at the end of last year, the sche dule of Morocco was circulated and approved by the 
Committee.  Furthermore, as a result of the EU Enlargement on 1 May 2004, Hungary and Malta 
became participants to the Ministerial Declaration upon joining the European Union.  The Committee's rules of procedure provide for observer status  in the Committee for WTO Members which are not 
participants to the Ministerial Declaration and Governments that are observers to the Council for Trade 
in Goods.  Requests for observer status by internat ional intergovernmental orga nizations are considered 
on a case-by-case basis.  The International Tr ade Centre (ITC) and Organization for Economic 
Cooperation and Development (OECD)  have been granted observer status; and the World Customs 
Organization (WCO) has been granted observer status to meetings where the issues of HS classification and HS amendments are included in the agenda. 
 
4.  The Committee continued work on the Non- Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work Programme.  It 
took note of the Secretariat's papers on  the subject (G/IT/SPEC/Q2/11/Rev.1 and 
G/IT/SPEC/Q4/19/Rev.2) which provided an overview of the submissions and an overview of the 
survey responses.  The Committee proceeded with its work on the EMC/EMI Pilot Project with a 
contribution by one participant concerning 'best practices' for EMC/EMI conformity assessment 
procedures (G/IT/24 + Corr.1
3).  As part of this work, the Co mmittee examined the draft "Guidelines" 
for EMC/EMI conformity assessment procedures, wh ich it took up at its meeting of 19 October 2004.  
It is expected that work would cont inue on the Guidelines later this year. 
 
5.   The Committee continued its work on classi fication divergences.  In this respect, the 
Committee continued with the last report from th e customs experts (G/IT/14/Rev.1/Add.1) and the 
compilation document, as revised by the Secretariat (G /IT/W/6/Rev.2), as the basis for its discussions.  
In particular, the Committee focused on Lists I(A) a nd I(B) of this document as the first stage, and 
                                                      
1 One agenda item carried forward to 28 June 2004. 
2 To be issued. 
3 In English only. G/L/706 
Page 2  
 
progress was made in that the Committee was able to endorse the classifications listed in List I(A) on 
an ad referendum basis.  Furthermore, initial discussions commenced on List V of this document, 
which was further expanded upon in G/IT/W/11.  Discussions were expected to continue on this 
subject matter in the Committee later this year.  
6.  At its meeting in June, the Committee agreed  to hold an IT Symposium in order to update 
ITA and other WTO Members on developments in  information technology, to elicit updated 
information on the nature of non-tariff barriers to tr ade in IT products, and to assess the role of IT 
trade in supporting development in those markets where liberalization has occurred.  After some 
funding was secured for 2004, the Symposium was he ld for a day and a half on 18-19 October 2004.  
The Symposium was well appreciated by the attendees and a number of elements that the Committee 
may take forward and integrate into  its work programme were noted. 
7. The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which 
is provided in document G/IT/1 and its revisions.  The document noted that most participants had 
submitted the formal documentation for rectificat ion and modification of their WTO schedules in 
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration and most had been 
certified by the Director-General.  Three particip ants were still awaiting the completion of domestic 
legal procedural requirements or had not yet submitted the necessary do cumentation.  During the year, 
two implementation/classification matters were raised under this agenda item by two participants in 
respect of the practices of two other participants. 
8. The Chairman regularly informed the Comm ittee under "other business" that participants 
continued to consult among themselve s on review of product coverage.  He encouraged delegations to 
continue their efforts.     
__________