RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/IDB/W/9
24 April 2001
(01-2052)
Committee on Market Access
A MULTILATERAL APPRAISAL OF THE OPERATION OF THE INTEGRATED
 DATA BASE AND RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES -
WESTERN AND EASTERN EUROPE, THE BALTIC STATES AND THE
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
Note by the Secretariat
A. INTRODUCTION
1. The purpose of this note is to provide factual information to assist Members in their
Multilateral Appraisal of the Integrated Data Base (IDB) and related Technical Assistance Activities(document G/MA/IDB/4 of 22 February 2001 refers).
2. The objectives of the Multilateral Appraisal as set out in paragraph 2 of that document are to
"identify ways of improving IDB participation through a multilateral appreciation of all Members'
experiences in complying with IDB notification requirements. To do this, the Committee will focus
on obtaining a better understanding of:
• why Members have not been able to either provide any submissions at all or achieve
regular reporting patterns;
• how Members have had success in complyin g with IDB information requirements;
• what has been the effectiveness of existing technical assistance activities."
3. The modalities consist of a series of informal meetings organized on a regional basis at which
Members in that region are strongly encouraged to describe their experiences in complying with IDB
notification requirements.
4. This note contains the region-specific information referred to in paragraph 8 of G/MA/IDB/4
to support the second meeting devoted to Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  It is in three parts.  The first part (B), dealing with the
operation of the IDB, focuses on the status of IDB submissions (participation and timeliness),
dissemination details and problems encountered by th e Secretariat in standardizing the information for
inclusion in the IDB. It is based on information contained in IDB administration records and the
guidelines for supplying PC IDB submissions which were reissued as document G/MA/IDB/W/6 on
15 June 2000.  The second part (C) identifies supplementary sources of information which could be of
assistance to delegations in pinpointing institutiona l or capacity related bottlenecks in complying with
the IDB notification requirements.  The third part (D) summarizes the Secretariat  technical assistance
accorded to WTO Members in the region.
5. The cutoff date for information contained in this note was 31 March 2001.G/MA/IDB/W/9
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B. OPERATION OF THE IDB
Participation
6. Table 1 shows that 15 out of the 19 Members in the region have submitted information to the
IDB.  All the leading traders in the region particip ate.  Members that do not yet participate have only
recently acceded to the WTO (three countries became WTO Members in 2000, one in 1998).  For a
detailed region-specific status table, see the Annex.
Table 1:  Integrated Data Base - Status of Responses of WTO Members
Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the CIS
Respondents (total 15) Non-respondents (total 4)
Bulgaria Albania
Czech Re public Croatia
Estonia Geor gia
Euro pean Communities K yrgyz Republic
Hungary
Iceland
Latvia
Malta
Norwa y
Poland
Romania
Slovak Re public
Slovenia
Switzerland
Turke y
  Source:  IDB administrative records
Status of submissions
7. Table 2 summarizes the extent of the information submitted for inclusion in the IDB from the
start of the PC version in 1996.  It should be noted that from a high of 14 submissions in 1999, tariff
submissions declined to ten for 2000 and five by the end of March 2001.  The number of import
submissions for 1999 (the latest applicable year) is below the highest level which was recorded in
1997.
Table 2:  Number of IDB Submissions
Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the CIS
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Tariffs
  Current MFN applied duties 8 9 13 14 10 5
  Current MFN bound duties 3 4 5 7 5 4
Product descriptions 7 7 9 9 8 5
I m p o r t s 91 21 01 0 2- - -
National correlations 1 1 1 2 2 3
Other references 4 8 8 8 3 3
 --- = Not applicable
Source:  IDB administrative recordsG/MA/IDB/W/9
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8. The detailed records presented in the Annex show that for the last four years (1998-2001);
• Five Members have supplied applied tariffs for each of the four years and imports for
each of the two years required;
• Six Members have supplied applied tariffs and imports for at least one year in that period;
• Four Members have supplied applied tariffs but not imports for one or several years.
9. Regarding the material needed to complete the IDB submissions (product descriptions,
national correlations and other references), the information in Table 2 can be clarified as follows:
• Not all tariff submissions were accompanied by product descriptions in one of the official
WTO languages;
• Other reference information is frequently not supplied.  However, in those cases where
reference information of previous years was still considered to be valid, the Secretariatused that information.  Confirmation by Members to do so would be of assistance to the
Secretariat and would be reflected accordingly in the status table as submission ofinformation.
• Correlation tables are needed to track changes in the tariff nomenclature between imports
and tariffs for a given year, and between tariffs from one year to the next (document
G/MA/IDB/W/6 refers).  An analysis of those submissions that have been processed has
shown that in most cases, there are discrepancies both between the tariff and import
nomenclature and the year to year tariff nomenclature.  It should be noted that withrespect to the import to tariff match, the Secretariat generates matching tariff lines in the
import files if no correlation table is received, and informs the Member as part of the
approval process.  The incidence of discrepancies between year to year tariffs implies the
need of a correlation table.  The Secretariat cannot generate the correlation table without
input from Members.  Discrepancies have been flagged in the Member-specific notes.
Timeliness
10. The deadline for submitting tariffs is 30 March of the current year, and for imports,
30 September of the previous year.  As at 31 March 2001, requirements were tariff information
1996-2001 and import statistics 1996-1999.
11. Table 3 provides an overview of the extent to which IDB submissions of applied tariffs and
imports have been made in compliance with the mandated deadlines. For tariffs and imports, the
number of submissions (based on the first date of submission) is counted on a quarterly basis starting
in 1998.  The quarters corresponding to the deadlines have been shaded in grey.G/MA/IDB/W/9
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Table 3:  Number of IDB Submissions by Date Received
Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the CIS
Applied tariffs for year
Submission date
by quarter1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
up to1998 - 1. 66 4
1998 - 2. 14
1998 - 3. 11
1998 - 4. 121
1999 - 1. 1 5
1999 - 2. 3
1999 - 3. 1
1999 - 4. 11
2000 - 1. 2 4
2000 – 2. 3
2000 – 3. 31
2000 – 4 1
2001 – 1. 1 5
All submissions 8 9 13 14 10 5
Imports for year
Submission date
by quarter1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
up to1998 - 1. 8
1998 - 2. 2
1998 - 3. 1 4
1998 - 4. 3
1999 - 1. 1
1999 – 2. 1 3
1999 – 3. 5
1999 – 4. 11
2000 - 1.
2000 – 2. 1 5
2000 – 3. 5
2000 – 4.
2001 – 1. 2
All submissions 91 21 01 0 2 - - -
Source:  IDB administrative recordsG/MA/IDB/W/9
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12. The table illustrates the extent to which resp ondents have been able to comply with these
deadlines.  Generally speaking four to five Members submit tariff information within the required
time-frame.  Ten Members met the import deadline in 1999 compared to eight in 1998 and six in
1997.
Dissemination
13. After successful processing, IDB files are disseminated first through the IDB Internet site.  As
a first step, the files are loaded into the provisional area of the site to await the Member's approval.
Following approval, the files are loaded into the approved area.  Files that are lodged in this area are
potential candidates for the IDB CD-ROM.  Tariffs are the primary requirement for the
IDB CD-ROM software.  Tariffs with or without the corresponding imports are accepted.  Importswithout the corresponding tariffs are not loaded.
Table 4:  Summary of IDB Data Submitted and Disseminated as of 31 March 2001
Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the CIS
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Applied duties
  Communicated to the IDB 8 9 13 14 10 5
  Loaded on the Internet File Transfer Facility 8 9 12 11 9 1
  Included in December 2000 IDB CD-ROM 8 9 11 10 7 ---
Imports
  Communicated to the IDB 9 12 10 10 2 ---
  Loaded on the Internet File Transfer Facility 8 11 9 10 --- ---
  Included in December 2000 IDB CD-ROM 7 8 7 5 --- ---
Note: The last load of the Internet File Transfer  Facility, included in this table, took place on
31 March 2001;  the count of files on the Internet also includes files in the provisional area
Source:  IDB administrative records
14. The above table gives an indication of the "success rate" of IDB submissions by highlighting
discrepancies between the information Members submit to the IDB and the information that is
disseminated on the Internet File Transfer Facility.  The discrepancies can reflect processing problems
and/or delays in processing.  It should be noted that the discrepancies between the files disseminated
on the Internet and the CD-ROM can be explained by  the earlier cutoff date (November 2000) and the
more stringent selection criteria.
Processing
15. The main problem encountered in processing the IDB submissions of Members in the region
is with respect to the integration between the import and tariff nomenclatures.  For example, where,
for a given year, a number of codes in the import nomenclature do not match the tariff nomenclature
(see paragraph 9 above).  Another nomenclature problem identified relates to the data in the import
file  presented at a lower level of detail than in the tariff file (different number of digits in the import
and tariff nomenclatures). The Secretariat addresses the latter and other problems in standardizing thedata supplied by capitals for inclusion in the IDB with delegations on an ad hoc basis.  Problems
identified are described in the Member-specific notes.G/MA/IDB/W/9
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C. IDB INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM SUPPLEMENTARY SOURCES
16. The results of Secretariat research into electronic sources of detailed import and tariff
information that could meet IDB requirements are summarized below. The aim of this research is to
assist delegations in ascertaining whether institutional and/or capacity issues underlie problems in
complying with IDB notification requirements.  Re source constraints precluded exhaustive research.
17. The Secretariat looked at information available first in the Secretariat, notably the Accessions
Division, the Market Access Division and the Trade Po licy Review Division; then in readily available
databases maintained by other international organizations and agencies. The Secretariat also searched
for Websites of national statistical offices, of national customs agencies, and of regional integration
agreements. The search was restricted to imports and national customs tariffs for the last four years
(1998-2001).  The results of this search were brought to the attention of delegations in theMember-specific notes as appropriate.
18. For a number of responding Members, the Secretariat identified tariff information through the
commercial provider WORLD TARIFF and in the UNCTAD TRAINS database; import information
was found in the UNCTAD TRAINS database as well as in the United Nations COMTRADEdatabase. For non-respondents, tariff information has been located in the Accessions and Market
Access Divisions, the UNCTAD TRAINS database as well as through WORLD TARIFF.  Import
data for non-respondents were found in the Accessions Division, the UNCTAD TRAINS database
and the United Nations COMTRADE database.
D IDB RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
19. The General Council decision of 16 July 1997 called for the Secretariat to provide technical
assistance to Members in relation to IDB submissions. The IDB Technical Assistance Programme was
launched in April 1998 following the adoption by the Committee on Market Access of documentG/MA/IDB/W/3/Rev.1 setting out the modalities.
20. A regional IDB seminar for Eastern Europe to be held in Prague is planned for June 2001.G/MA/IDB/W/9
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Annex
Status of PC IDB submissions as of 31 March 2001
Western and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the CIS
Current Tariffs Date of submission
Members Year Imports
Applied BoundProduct
DescriptionsNational
CorrelationsOther
References ImportsApplied
Tariffs
Bulgaria 1997 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 10-98
1998 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 10-98
1999 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 04-99
2000 --- Yes No Yes No Yes 01-00 05-00
Czech Re public 1996 Yes Yes No No --- Yes 12-97 12-98
1997 Yes Yes No No No Yes 12-98 12-98
1998 No Yes No No No Yes 01-00 03-98
2000 --- Yes No No No No 01-00 11-00
Estonia 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 01-98 03-98
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 09-98 09-98
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 09-99 03-98
1999 Yes Yes No Yes --- Yes 09-00 03-00
2000 --- Yes Yes Yes No Yes 01-00 03-00
2001 --- Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 01-00 02-01
European Union 1996 Yes Yes Yes Yes --- Yes 12-97 12-97
1997 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10-98 01-98
1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 05-99 06-98
1999 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 04-00 01-99
2000 --- Yes Yes Yes Yes No 01-00 01-00
2001 --- Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 01-00 02-01
Hungary 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- Yes 05-97 06-98
1997 Yes Yes No No No No 06-98 10-97
1998 Yes Yes No No No No 06-99 06-98
1999 Yes Yes No No No No 05-00 06-99
2000 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 05-00
2001 --- Yes No Yes No Yes 01-00 01-01
Iceland 1996 Yes No No No --- No 08-98 01-00
1997 Yes No No No No No 08-98 01-00
1998 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 05-99 09-98
1999 Yes Yes No Yes No No 06-00 07-00
Latvia 1997 Yes No No No No Yes 03-99 01-00
1998 Yes Yes No No No Yes 08-99 03-99
1999 Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 08-00 03-99
Malta 1996 Yes Yes Yes Yes --- No 01-98 01-98
1997 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 08-98 01-98
1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 07-99 03-98
1999 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 06-00 03-99
2000 Yes Yes No Yes No No 03-01 01-01
2001 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 03-01
Norway 1996 Yes Yes Yes Yes --- No 01-98 01-98
1997 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 12-98 01-98G/MA/IDB/W/9
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Current Tariffs Date of submission
Members Year Imports
Applied BoundProduct
DescriptionsNational
CorrelationsOther
References ImportsApplied
Tariffs
Norway (cont'd) 1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 04-00 05-98
1999 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 08-00 03-99
2000 --- Yes Yes Yes Yes No 01-00 03-00
2001 --- Yes Yes Yes Yes No 01-00 02-01
Poland 1999 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 07-00 07-00
2000 --- Yes Yes Yes No No 01-00 07-00
Romania 1997 Yes No No No No Yes 05-99 01-00
1999 No Yes No No No Yes 01-00 05-99
Slovak Rep. 1998 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 05-98
1999 No Yes No Yes No No 01-00 03-99
2000 --- Yes No Yes No No 01-00 02-00
Slovenia 1997 Yes No No No No Yes 11-99 01-00
1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 11-99 11-99
1999 No Yes Yes Yes No No 01-00 11-99
Switzerland 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- No 06-97 02-98
1997 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 06-98 03-98
1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 08-99 03-98
1999 Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 06-00 01-00
2000 Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 03-01 05-00
2001 --- No Yes No No No 01-00 01-00
Turkey 1996 Yes Yes No Yes --- Yes 01-98 01-98
1997 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 08-98 01-98
1998 Yes Yes No No No Yes 09-99 09-99
1999 Yes Yes No No No No 07-00 07-00
Yes =  information received.
No =  information not received.--- =  not applicable.
In the column National Correlations, "No"  may also indicate that the Secretariat has not yet been able to ascertain
the need for such a correlation table.
__________