WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
6 December 2004  
 
(04-5348) 
Negotiating Group on Market Access 
  
 
 
 
NON -TARIFF BARRIER NOTIFICATIONS  
 
Addendum  
 
 
 
 
I. KOREA.......................................................................................................................... ..........  2  
 
  TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
Page 2  
I. KOREA 
 The attached list is indicative and by no means represents a complete list of the NTBS  affecting our exporters. We reserve the  right to raise additional 
issues or submit further items in the course of negotiations.  
Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Automobiles, 
electric and 
electronic products 
(PCs, 
communication 
equipment, 
cellular phones 
and CCTV 
system) Certification procedures  
 - Complex and unreasonable 
certification procedures Unduly long time and 
excessive fees are required in 
acquiring certification marks. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Automobiles, 
chemicals, 
fertilizers,  
pharmaceutical 
products Certification procedures  
 - Complex and unreasonable 
certification procedures For some product groups, 
special certification 
procedures are required for 
each item instead of general 
procedures for the product 
group. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Automobiles Certification procedures  
 - Complex and unreasonable 
certification procedures Different test and certification 
requirements are imposed by 
different member countries 
(different provinces) 
belonging to the same 
regional trading agreements 
(the same countries). Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Food containers 
made from 
polyethylene and 
polypropylene Certification procedures  
 - Complex and unreasonable 
certification procedures Sanitary certification 
procedures are too 
complicated and costly.  Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 
 
 
 
         TN/MA/W/46/Add.10
 Page 3Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Majority of 
products Technical regulations and 
standards  
 - Excessive technical 
regulations and standards Frequent amendment of 
technical regulations and 
standards, abrupt expansion 
of the scope of the products 
subject to certification, and 
arbitrary enforcement of 
conformity assessment 
procedures. Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Chemical 
fertilizers Technical regulations and 
standards  
 - Excessive technical 
regulations and standards The water solution standards 
for triple super-phosphate of 
lime(TSP) are stricter than 
necessary.  Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Textiles Technical regulations and 
standards  
 - Excessive technical 
regulations and standards. Mandatory requirement for 
indication of origin on both 
ends of imported textiles 
which are over  30 meters in 
length is too onerous to meet.  Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Fish Technical regulations and 
standards  
 - Excessive technical 
regulations and standards Due to prohibition of special 
vehicles such as a live fish 
carrier as a result of the 
vehicles' high gas emissions 
products should be 
transshiped into other 
vehicles after customs 
clearance.  Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Majority of 
products Technical regulations and 
standards  
 - Excessive technical 
regulations and standards Quality guarantee period is so 
short (from 1 month to 1 
year) that it easily expires 
during transportation and 
results in  frequent delays in 
customs clearance.  Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Automobiles Testing and inspection  
 - Overly strict test standards 
and excessive expense Unduly high cost for tests for 
imported automobiles of 
small quantities (under 2,000 
per annum). Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 
 
 
        TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
Page 4 Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Majority of 
products Testing and inspection  
 - Overly strict test standards 
and excessive expense Discriminatory and 
excessively strict standards 
only for imports Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Electric products  Testing and inspection  
 - Overly strict test standards 
and excessive expense Requirement for a prior test 
of energy efficiency for 
electric products such as 
electric motors. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Cosmetics Testing and inspection  
 - Overly strict test standards 
and excessive expense Unduly high cost for 
trademark inspection 
 - Even in cases where 
trademark inspection can be 
conducted with documents 
submitted for the sanitary 
test, the same documents 
should be handed in for 
trademark inspection. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Wood Testing and inspection  
 - Overly strict test standards 
and excessive expense Certification of heat treatment 
for conifer palettes requires 
heat treatment of even 
shoring and skid wood used 
to fasten the cargo. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Technical 
equipment, 
communication 
equipment, 
hazardous 
chemicals. Labelling             
 - Mandatory labelling and 
strict labelling system Excessively strict labelling 
requirements for security 
reasons. Part V - K 
Requirements concerning 
marking, labelling and 
packaging Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Electric home 
appliances Labelling             
 - Mandatory labelling and 
strict labelling system. Mandatory requirements for 
energy labelling  that must 
contain information on 
manufacturer, model, 
capacity, energy efficiency 
and noise level.  Part V - K 
Requirements concerning 
marking, labelling and 
packaging Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Food products 
(including fish) Labelling             
 - Mandatory labelling and 
strict labelling system Requirement for the labelling 
in a specific language of the 
importing country on 
imported food products.   Part V-K 
Requirements concerning 
marking, labelling and 
packaging Agreement on TBT (d) 
         TN/MA/W/46/Add.10
 Page 5Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Automobile. Excessive and unreasonable 
technical restrictions Levying a fine on the 
manufacturer when the fuel 
efficiency of an imported car 
model does not meet the 
manufacturer's corporate 
average fuel efficiency. Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Automobiles Excessive and unreasonable 
technical restrictions Manufacturers are responsible 
for collecting and recycling 
scrapped automobiles. Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Electric home 
appliances: TV, 
refrigerator, 
washing machine, 
air conditioner  Excessive and unreasonable 
technical restrictions The charges for recycling 
electric home appliances are 
the same regardless of energy 
efficiency or size of products. Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) or (a) 
 Chemicals Excessive and unreasonable 
technical restrictions  The risk assessment 
requirements incur high costs 
for manufacturers. Part III - B 
Technical regulations and 
standards Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Medical devices Complex and unclear 
registration procedures Complicated procedures for 
registration of medical 
instruments and supplies  
-Even products based on an 
already-approved device 
should be re-registered.  Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Pharmaceutical 
products Complex and unclear 
registration procedures Unclear import procedures 
cause delays in time and 
excessive costs. Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements. Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Pharmaceutical 
products Complex and unclear 
registration procedures Requirement for a prior 
quarantine certificate 
discourages importation.  Part III - C 
Testing and certification 
arrangements Agreement on TBT (d) 
 Automobiles, 
electronic products Import and tariff quota Enforcement of an import 
quota without legitimate 
grounds.  Part V - A 
Quantitative restrictions.  GATT Article XI  (a) 
 Automobiles, 
petro-chemicals Import and tariff quota Arbitrary administration and 
distribution of import quotas.  Part V - A 
Quantitative restrictions GATT Article XIII (a) 
 Automobiles, 
leather products, 
footwears Import and tariff quota TRQ : High tariffs imposed 
on out-quota imports. Part V - I  
Tariff quotas GATT Article XIII (a) 
        TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
Page 6 Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Automobiles, 
ethylene, used 
clothing, 
information 
technology 
products Import prohibition  Import prohibition to protect 
domestic industries Part V - B 
Embargoes and other 
restrictions of similar effect GATT Article XI (a) 
 Automobiles, 
heavy equipment, 
machinery Import prohibition  Requirement for completion 
of customs clearance in the 
year of importation  
- Otherwise products should 
be shipped back to the export 
country or to a third country  
for resale.. Part V - B 
Embargoes and other 
restrictions of similar effect GATT Article XIII (a) 
 Automobiles Import prohibition Importation of automobiles is 
not allowed in case of no 
local production facilities.  Part V - B 
Embargoes and other 
restrictions of similar effect GATT Article XI  (a) 
 Automobiles, tires Import prohibition  Discriminatory restrictions on 
importation of the used cars 
and recyclable tires for 
security reasons depending on 
exporting countries.  Part V - B 
Embargoes and other 
restrictions of similar effect GATT Article XI, XX (a) 
 Leather products Import prohibition  Import prohibition of animal 
skins and related products for 
reason of inhumane hunting 
methods Part V - B 
Embargoes and other 
restrictions of similar effect GATT Article XI, XX (a) 
 Electric and 
electronic 
products, data 
processing 
machines, IT 
products, iron and 
steel, 
petrochemicals, 
automobiles, 
pharmaceutical 
products, 
cosmetics, diesel 
generators Import licensing Excessively strict import 
licensing system to protect 
domestic industries and for 
reasons of public security, 
health, etc Part II - H 
Import licensing Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures (d) or (a) 
         TN/MA/W/46/Add.10
 Page 7Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Pharmaceutical 
products, medical 
devices, cosmetics Import licensing Excessive requirements for 
qualification as an importer. Part II - H 
Import licensing Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures (d) 
 Automobiles, 
motorcycles Import licensing Ambiguous standards for 
import licensing. Part II - H 
Import licensing Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures (d) 
 Carbon steel, 
special steel Import monitoring Import monitoring program to 
protect domestic industries; 
unfair competition. Part V - L 
Others  (c) 
 Majority of 
products Complex customs procedures  Complex, unclear and 
inconsistent customs 
procedures. Part II - G 
Customs formalities GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Complex customs procedures Levying excessive fines in 
case of discovering errors in 
documentation for customs 
procedures  
- maximum US$25,000.  Part II - G 
Customs formalities GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Complex customs procedures Delayed clearance due to 
inaccurate task management, 
adjustment of import price 
and short office hours. Part II - G 
Customs formalities GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Complex customs procedures  Complicated inspection 
procedures and requirement 
for inspection of the whole 
shipment of samples. Part II - E 
Samples GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable preshipment 
inspection Requirement for customs 
inspection in addition to 
complicated mandatory 
preshipment inspection leads 
to unduly high cost and long 
time.  Part II - G 
Customs formalities 
Part II - I 
Preshipment inspection GATT Article VIII (a) 
 Majority of 
products Complex customs procedures Requirement for prior 
consultation with the local 
trade association even in the 
case of simple changes in the 
working conditions of cargo 
work. Part II - G 
Customs formalities GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
        TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
Page 8 Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Majority of 
products Ambiguous legislation and 
frequent amendment of rules Ambiguous regulation on 
customs procedures, frequent 
amendment of rules and lack 
of prior notice of the 
amendment.  Part II - D 
Consular formalities and 
documentation GATT Article X (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable preshipment 
inspection Requirement for confirmation 
on the state of the export 
product by importing 
country's consular service in 
the exporting country leads to 
high costs and cumbersome 
procedures. Part II - D 
Consular formalities and 
documentation 
Part II - I 
Preshipment Inspection. GATT Article VIII  
Agreement on Preshipment 
Inspection (a) 
 Automobiles, 
motorcycles, 
electric product Restrictions on bonded 
transportation Due to the restriction on 
bonded transportation, subject 
products should be cleared 
directly at the port, which 
requires high costs and an 
unduly long time.  Part II - G 
Customs formalities  GATT Article VIII b) or a) 
 Majority of 
products Unduly high cost Excessive customs use fee 
and harbour maintenance fee. Part VI - B  
Surcharges,  port taxes, 
statistical taxes, etc. GATT Article VIII (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable preshipment 
documentation Requirement for Bill of 
Lading 24 hours before 
shipment : the same applies 
even when the final 
destination is a third country.  Part II - D 
Consular formalities and 
documentation. GATT Article V (b) or (a) 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable customs 
valuation and delayed customs 
refund Unreasonable customs 
valuation and arbitrary 
enforcement of the system. Part II - B 
Customs Valuation Agreement on 
implementation of Article 
VII of the GATT 1994 (d) or (a) 
 Iron and steel, 
textiles, footwears, 
fertilizers Unreasonable customs 
valuation and delayed customs 
refund The certificate of price is 
required when the price of 
importing products is at or 
below an official price. Part II - B 
Customs Valuation Agreement on 
implementation of Article 
VII of the GATT 1994 (d) 
 
 
 
 
         TN/MA/W/46/Add.10
 Page 9Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable customs 
valuation and delayed customs 
refund Customs deposit required 
with the amount of difference 
between the official quotation 
price and the actual import 
price if the actual import 
price is lower than the official 
quotation price. Part II - B 
Customs Valuation Agreement on 
implementation of Article 
VII of the GATT 1994 (d) or( a) 
 Majority of 
products Unreasonable customs 
valuation and delayed customs 
refund Excessive filling burden for 
customs refunds and delay in 
refund. Part II - B 
Customs Valuation Agreement on 
implementation of Article 
VII of the GATT 1994 (d) or (a) 
 Textiles Application of strict rules of 
origin Stricter rules of origin apply 
on items under quantitative 
restriction in terms of change 
of physical structure, 
manufacturing process and 
value added. Part II - F 
Rules of Origin. Agreement on Rules of 
Origin (d) 
 Majority of 
products Application of strict rules of 
origin Arbitrary and unclear 
interpretation of rules of 
origin  by customs officer 
delays customs clearance and 
causes additional costs.   Part II - F 
Rules of Origin Agreement on Rules of 
Origin (d) or (a) 
 Duplicators Application of strict rules of 
origin Use of a negative list in 
determining the origin, which 
is inconsistent with the WTO 
Agreement for a positive 
standard. Part II - F 
Rules of Origin. Agreement on Rules of 
Origin (d) or (a) 
 Textiles, footwears Application of strict rules of 
origin A special certificate of origin 
is required for some items in 
addition to the general one. Part II - F 
Rules of Origin Agreement on Rules of 
Origin (d) 
 Majority of 
products Restrictions on settlement 
methods  Deferred payment for 
settlement is not allowed. Part VI - D 
Discriminatory credit 
restrictions  (a) 
 Majority of 
products Restrictions on settlement 
methods  Opening a counter L/C(Letter 
of Credit) is required to open 
L/C. Part VI - D 
Discriminatory credit 
restrictions  (a) 
 Automobiles, 
electronic products  Requirements for local 
contents High tariff rates are imposed 
on products under a certain 
level of local contents rate. Part I - D 
Restrictive practices 
tolerated by governments GATT Article I  (d) or (a) 
        TN/MA/W/46/Add.10 
Page 10 Maintaining 
Participant 
 
1 Products affected 
by the barrier 
 
2 Nature of the barrier 
 
 
3 Trade effects of the barrier 
 
4 Inventory category 
 
 
5 Relevant WTO 
Provisions 
 
6 Treatment 
of the 
barrier 
7 
 Fertilizers 
 Import substitution policy  Exemption or discount of 
VAT on domestic fertilizers 
discourages importation.  Part I - D 
Restrictive practices 
tolerated by governments GATT Article I (a) 
 Automobiles and 
parts Government support for auto 
industry Reduction/exemption of 
tariffs for manufacturers that 
have local production 
facilities when importing cars 
and parts thereof.  Part I - D 
Restrictive practices 
tolerated by governments GATT Article I (a) 
 Majority of 
product State trading system  The government or other 
designated agencies have an 
exclusive right over the whole 
imports or imports of certain 
products. Part I - E 
State trading, government 
monopoly practices, etc. GATT Article XVII (a) 
 
__________