WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/403
9 November 2000
(00-4738)
REPORT (2000) OF THE COMMITTEE ON IMPORT LICENSING
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (the Agreement) which entered  into force on
1 January 1995, establishes disciplines on users of import licensing systems with the principal
objective of ensuring that the procedures applied for granting import licences do not in themselvesrestrict trade.  It aims to simplify, clarify and minimize the administrative requirements necessary to
obtain import licences.
2. The Committee on Import Licensing (the Committee) was established to afford Members the
opportunity of consulting on any matters relating to the operation of the Agreement or the furtherance
of its objectives.  The Committee's Rules of Procedure, which were approved by the Council forTrade in Goods, are contained in document G/L/147.
3. All Members of the WTO are ipso facto  members of the Committee.  Observer governments
in the General Council of the WTO have observer status in the Committee.  In addition,
representatives of the IMF, UNCTAD and the World Bank are invited to attend meetings of the
Committee in an observer capacity.
4. The Committee held two meetings on 11 April and 11 October 2000 (G/LIC/M/11 and 12, to
be issued).  The Committee at its meeting in October 2000 elected Mr. Albert Wright of Denmark as
Chairman and Ms. Fonny Shek of Hong Kong, China as Vice-Chairperson for 2000.
5. Pursuant to Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) of the Agreement, all Members are required to notify
their laws, regulations and administrative procedures relevant to import licensing.  Since the entry into
force of the WTO Agreement, 66 Members (the European Communities and its member States
counted as one) have notified their legislation and/or publications under these provisions.  During theperiod covered by this report, the Committee dealt wi th notifications from the following ten Members:
Bangladesh, Chad, the Czech Republic, Estonia, the European Communities, Guatemala, Hungary,
the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar and Singapore. It also received notifications from Jordan,
Liechtenstein and Switzerland which will be taken up at the next formal meeting.  All these
notifications may be found in document series G/LIC/N/1/-.
6. Article 7.3 of the Agreement requires all Members to provide replies to the Questionnaire on
Import Licensing Procedures
1 by 30 September each year.  Since the entry into force of the WTO
Agreement, 67 Members (the European Communities and its member States counted as one) have
made notifications under this provision.  This includes replies to the Questionnaire from 11 Members
in 1995,  22 Members in 1996, 25 Members in 1997, 25 Members in 1998, 20 Members in 1999 and26 Members in 2000.  During the period covered by this report, the Committee dealt with
notifications from Canada, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bo livia, Chad, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland,
Jamaica, the Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, Namibia, Norway, the Philippines and the United Arab
Emirates.  The Committee also received notifications from Estonia; the European Communities;
Hong Kong, China; India; Jordan; Liechtenstein; Singapore; South Africa; Switzerland; United States
                                                     
1 Annexed to document G/LIC/3.G/L/403
Page 2
and Zimbabwe which will be taken up at the next formal meeting.  These notifications may be found
in document series G/LIC/N/3/-.
7. The Committee also received, pursuant to Article 5 of the Agreement, notifications relating to
the institution of new import licensing procedures or changes in these procedures from Liechtenstein,
Singapore, Switzerland and Venezuela.  These notifications may be found in document seriesG/LIC/N/2/-.
8. At the meeting on 11 April 2000 and again on 11 October 2000, the European Communities
reiterated their concerns regarding the compatib ility with the Agreement of certain modifications
introduced by Brazil in August 1998 to its non-au tomatic import licensing (G/LIC/M/11, paragraph 2
and G/LIC/M/12 to be issued).  At that meetin g and again on 11 October 2000, Brazil stated that
replies had been sent directly to the EC;  they concerned issues subject to bilateral consultations under
the Dispute Settlement Understanding of the WTO and would therefore not be circulated at this stageto the Committee.  Since 1998 its non-automatic import licensing system has been under review by
the Brazilian authorities.
9. The Committee has provided a regular forum for the discussion of specific notifications
submitted by Members and of concerns regarding notifications.  As evident in the Annex of thisreport, there is a lack of compliance with the mandatory notification requirements under
Articles 1.4(a), 8.2(b) and 7.3 and with the voluntary notification obligation under Article 5.  In light
of this situation, the Chairperson, recognizing th e importance of notifications for the effective
implementation and functioning of the Agreement, urged Members to fulfil their notification
obligations.
10. At the 11 October meeting, the Committee discussed the matter of the lack of compliance
with notification obligations.  The Chairman stated that, in spite of numerous reminders and urging
from the Committee, the situation had not improved.  Several Members suggested possible ways of
remedying the problem.  One proposed that all Members, which had not done so yet, make a specialcommitment to bring themselves fully up to date regarding the notification of their legislation as
requested under Article 1 of this Agreement.  For the annual questionnaire, the option of making a
single "best efforts" notification covering all of the time periods for which a notification was due
could be envisaged.  Another Member suggested that the Secretariat and other Members provide
assistance to the newest Members of the Committee and those that had never notified to encourage
compliance for the next meeting.  In particular, Members that used licensing to operate tariff rate
quotas on agricultural goods should be encouraged to comply.  Also, Members should participatemore fully in reviewing the notifications that were made.  A third Member encouraged those who had
difficulties in notifying to inform the Committee or the Secretariat to see how assistance could be
provided.  Finally, a fourth Member drew a parallel with the situation regarding the integrated
databases where great efforts had been made to enable countries to comply with their obligations.
Perhaps it would be necessary to give new impetus in the area of import licensing by being moreproactive, for example, by sending letters to delegations indicating what their notification obligations
were.  The Committee took note of the suggestions and agreed that the item would be on the agenda at
its next meeting with a view to agreeing how to ensure full compliance with all Members' obligations
to notify import licensing procedures.
11. At its meeting on 11 October 2000, the Committee conducted its third biennial review of the
implementation and operation of the Agreement under Article 7.1 on the basis of a factual report
prepared by the Secretariat (G/LIC/W/14).G/L/403
Page 3
ANNEX
Notifications
Member Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation – First
notification upon WTO
Membership, ad hoc thereafter
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
Albania Not notified Not notified
Angola Not notified Not notified
Antigua & Barbuda Not notified Not notified
Argentina G/LIC/N/1/ARG/1-2
(19.12.97)G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1 + Corr.1
& ARG/2 (19.12.97)G/LIC/N/2/ARG/1-6 +
ARG/2/Rev.1 (26.11.99)
Australia G/LIC/N/1/AUS/1 & Add.1
(28.4.97)G/LIC/N/3/AUS/1 & Rev.1
(28.4.97)
Bahrain G/LIC/N/1/BHR/1 (27. 5.97) G/IC/N/3/BHR/1 (5.9.00)
Bangladesh G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/BGD/1 (31.3.00) G/LIC/N/3/BGD/1 (31.3.00)
Barbados G/LIC/N/1/BRB/1 (4.10.96) G/LIC/N/3/BRB/1 (15.9.95)
Belize Not notified Not notified
Benin G/LIC/N/1/BEN/1 (18.12.96) Not notified
Bolivia G/LIC/1/Add.2
(13.9.95)G/LIC/N/1/BOL/1 (29.5.97) G/LIC/N/3/BOL/1-2 +
Corr.1, BOL/3 (20.6.00)
Botswana Not notified Not notified
Brazil G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/BRA/1 (24.4. 98) G/LIC/N/3/BRA/1 (24.4.98) G/LIC/N/2/BRA/1
(24.4.98)
Brunei Darussalam Not notifie d G/LIC/N/3/BRN/1 (4.3.97)
Bulgaria G/LIC/N/1/BGR/1 (20.3.97) G/LIC/N/3/BGR/1 (20.3.97)
Burkina Faso G/LIC/1/Add.1
(3.6.95)G/LIC/N/1/BFA/1 (8.1.97) G/LIC/N/3/BFA/1 (8.1.97)
Burundi Not notified Not notified
Cameroon G/LIC/1/Add.3
(13.12.95)Not notified Not notified
Canada G/LIC/N/1/CAN/1 (29.1.96) G/LIC/N/3/CAN/1-3
(2.9.99)
Central African Rep. Not notified Not notified
Chad G/LIC/N/1/TCD/1-2 (18.7.00) G/LIC/N/3/TCD/1 (18.7.00)
Chile G/LIC/N/1/CHL/1 (16.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/CHL/1 &
Adds.1-2 (3.2.99)
Colombia G/LIC/1 (30.4.95) G/LIC/N/1/COL/1 (12.1.96) G/LIC/N/3/COL/1 & Add.1
(2.11.96)
Congo Not notified Not notified
Congo, Dem. Rep.
ofNot notified Not notified
Costa Rica G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/CRI/1 (21.11.95) G/LIC/N/3/CRI/1-2 (7.5.98)
Côte d'Ivoire G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Cuba G/LIC/N/1/CUB/1 (11.1.96) Not notified
Cyprus G/LIC/N/1/CYP/1 (30.5.96) G/LIC/N/3/CYP/1+ Rev.1 &
CYP/2 (28.8.98)
Czech Republic G/LIC/N/1/CZE/1 + Add.1
(24.1.00)Not notified
Djibouti Not notified Not notified
Dominica Not notified Not notified
Dominican Rep. G/LIC/1/Add.2
(9.3.95)Not notified Not notified
Ecuador Not notified G/LIC/N/3/ECU/1 (1.8.95)
Egypt Not notified Not notified
El Salvador G/LIC/1 (7.5.95) Not notified Not notified
Estonia G/LIC/N/1/EST/1 + Add.1
(10.5.00)G/LIC/N/3/EST/1 (5.10.00)G/L/403
Page 4
Member Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation – First
notification upon WTO
Membership, ad hoc thereafter
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
EuropeanCommunitiesG/LIC/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.2
&Adds.1-2 & EEC/2 +Adds.1-2  (10.1.00)G/LIC/N/3/EEC/1 + Add.1;
EEC/2 + Adds.1-27EEC/3 + Adds.1-26
(6.10.00)G/LIC/N/2/EEC/1-2
(4.7.97)
Fiji G/LIC/N/1/FJI/1 (30.7.97) G/LIC/N/3/FJI/1 (1.4.97)
Gabon G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Gambia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/GMB/1
(31.10.97)
Georgia Not notified Not notified
Ghana Not notified G/LIC/N/3/GHA/1 (28.4.99)
Grenada Not notified Not notified
Guatemala G/LIC/1/Add.1
(21.7.95)G/LIC/N/1/GTM/1-2 (20.1.00) G/LIC/N/3/GTM/1 (20.1.00)
Guinea Not notified Not notified
Guinea Bissau Not notified Not notified
Guyana Not notified Not notified
Haiti G/LIC/N/1/HTI/1 (8.10.99) G/LIC/N/3/HTI/1-2
(27.4.00)
Honduras G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/HND/1 (31.10.96) Not notified
Hong Kong, China G/LIC/N /1/HKG/1-4 (20.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/HKG/1 + Rev.1-
2, HKG/2-3+Corr.1 &HKG/4 (29.9.00)G/LIC/N/2/HKG/1-2
(27.1.98)
Hungary G/LIC/N/1/HUN/1-3 (7.3.00) G/LIC/N/3/HUN/1-3
(7.3.00)G/LIC/N/2/HUN/1
(19.1.98)
Iceland G/LIC/N/1/ISL/1 (8.1.99) G/LIC/N/3/ISL/1-2 (5.6.00)
India G/LIC/N/1/IND/1/Rev.1 +
IND/2 (6.9.99)G/LIC/N/3/IND/1-4
(24.10.00)G/LIC/N/2/IND/1-2
(6.9.99)
Indonesia G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/IDN/1 (27.10.98) G/LIC/N/3/IDN/1 (27.10.98)
Israel Not notified Not notified
Jamaica G/LIC/N/1/JAM/1 (1.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/JAM/1 + Add.1
(14.3.00)
Japan G/LIC/N/1/JPN/1 &
JPN/2/Rev.1 (7.1.97)G/LIC/N/3/JPN/1 + Corr.1
(2.4.98)G/LIC/N/2/JPN/1-2
(18.8.98)
Jordan G/LIC/N/1/JOR/1 (2.10.00) G/LIC/N/3/JOR/1 (2.10.00)
Kenya G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/3/KEN/1 (10.11.97) G/LIC/N/3/KEN/1
(10.11.97)
Korea G/LIC/N/1/KOR/1-3 (3 .4.98) G/LIC/N/3/KOR/1-2
(6.4.98)
Kuwait Not notified Not notified
Kyrgyz Republic G/LIC/N/1/KGZ/1 (6 .1.00) G/LIC/N/3/KGZ/1 (11.4.00)
Latvia G/LIC/N/1/LVA/1 (18.5.99) G/LIC/N/3/LVA/1 (18.5.99)
Lesotho Not notified Not notified
Liechtenstein G/LIC/N/1/LIE/1-2 (17.10.00) G/LIC/N/3/LIE/1 + Add.1-
LIE/2 (17.10.00)G/LIC/N/2/LIE/1-2
(17.10.00)
Macau, China Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MAC/1-2
(16.11.99)
Madagascar G/LIC/N/1/MDG/1-2
(31.3.00)Not notified
Malawi G/LIC/N/1/MWI/1 (10.5.99) G/LIC/N/3/MWI/1 (10.5.99)
Malaysia G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified G/LIC /N/3/MYS/1 (4.12.97) G/LIC/N/2/MYS/1-2
(21.7.99)
Maldives Not notified Not notified
Mali Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MLI/1 (9.5.97)
Malta G/LIC/N/1/MLT/1 (29.5.96) G/LIC/N/3/MLT/1-2 +
MLT/2/Corr.1 + Add.1(6.6.00)G/L/403
Page 5
Member Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation – First
notification upon WTO
Membership, ad hoc thereafter
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
Mauritania Not notified Not notified
Mauritius G/LIC/N/1/MUS/1 &
Adds.1-3  (4.5.98)G/LIC/N/3/MUS/1 (2.11.95)
Mexico Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/MEX/1
(16.10.98)
Mongolia Not notified Not notified
Morocco G/LIC/N/1/MAR/1 (3.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/MAR/1-2 +
MAR/2/Add.1 (18.2.99)
Mozambique Not notified Not notified
Myanmar G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Namibia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1-3
(30.3.00)
New Zealand G/LIC/N/1/NZL/1 (2.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/NZL/1 + Add.1
(24.3.98)
Nicaragua G/LIC/N/1/NIC/1 (18.7.96) Not notified
Niger G/LIC/N/1/NER/1 (10.12.97) Not notified
Nigeria G/LIC/N/1/NGA/1 (16.2.98) G/LIC/N/3/NGA/1-2
(16.2.98)G/LIC/N/2/NGA/1-2
(16.2.98)
Norway G/LIC/N/1/NOR/1-2 (3.11.97) G/LIC/N/3/NOR/1 + Corr.1
& NOR/2 + Adds.1-2
(7.4.00)
Pakistan G/LIC/N/1/PAK/1 (6.5.96) Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PAK/1
(6.5.96)
Panama G/LIC/N/1/PAN/1-2
(19.10.98)G/LIC/N/3/PAN/1 (22.1.99) G/LIC/N/2/PAN/1
(21.7.98)
Papua New Guinea Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PNG/1
(6.2.98)
Paraguay Not notified Not notified
Peru G/LIC/N/1/PER/1 (13.2.96) G/LIC/N/3/PER/1-2 +
Add. 1 (4.10.99)
Philippines G/LIC/N/1/PHL/1 (6.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/PHL/1-3 +
PHL/3/Corr.1 (11.1.00)
Poland Not notified G/LIC/N/3/POL/1 (7.10.97)
Qatar G/LIC/N/1/QAT/1 (24.3.98) G/LIC/N/3/QAT/1 (24.3.98)
Romania G/LIC/N/1/ROM/1-2 (1.3.99) G/LIC/N/3/ROM/1-2
(6.7.99)G/LIC/N/2/ROM/1-2
(6.7.99)
Rwanda Not notified Not notified
St. Kitts & Nevis G/LIC/N/1/K NA/1 (17.7.98) Not notified
St. Lucia Not notified Not notified
St. Vincent &
GrenadinesNot notified Not notified
Senegal Not notified G/LIC/N/3/SEN/1 (20.1.97)
Sierra Leone Not notified Not notified
Singapore G/LIC/N/1/SGP/1-3 (23.2.00) G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1-3
(13.10.00)G/LIC/N/2/SGP/1
(2.11.98)
Slovak Republic Not notified Not notified
Slovenia G/LIC/N/1/SVN/1 (27.11.96) G/LIC/N/3/SVN/1 (6.6.97)
Solomon Islands Not notified Not notified
South Africa Not notified G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/1-3
(16.10.00)G/LIC/N/2/ZAF/1
(9.7.97)
Sri Lanka G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Suriname Not notified Not notified
Swaziland G/LIC/N/1/SWZ/1 (19.8.96) Not notified
Switzerland G/LIC/N/1/CHE/1-2 (21.9.00) G/LIC/N/3/CHE/1-3
(21.9.00)G/LIC/N/2/CHE/1-2
(21.9.00)
Tanzania Not notified Not notifiedG/L/403
Page 6
Member Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation – First
notification upon WTO
Membership, ad hoc thereafter
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
Thailand G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Togo Not notified Not notified
Trinidad & Tobago G/LIC/N/1/TTO/1 (28.10.98) G/LIC/N/3/TTO/1-2
(28.10.98)
Tunisia G/LIC/1 (29.3.95) G/LIC/N/1/TUN/1 +  Add.1
(21.1.99)G/LIC/N/3/TUN/1-3
(23.11.99)
Turkey G/LIC/1 (26.3.95) G/LIC/N/1/TUR/1,
TUR/2/Rev.1 & TUR/3
(29.6.99)G/LIC/N/3/TUR/1-2 +
TUR/2/Corr.1 & TUR/3
(29.6.99)
Uganda G/LIC/N/1/UGA/1 (16.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/UGA/1 (17.6.97)
United ArabEmiratesG/LIC/1/Add.3
(10.4.96)G/LIC/N/1/ARE/1 (19.3.97) G/LIC/N/3/ARE/1 (11.4.00)
United States G/LIC/N/1/USA/1 & Rev.1
(1.10.96)G/LIC/N/3/USA/1-3
(6.11.00)
Uruguay G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/URY/1 (4.9.96) G/LIC/N/3/URY/1 + Add.1
(27.1.99)
Venezuela G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not no tified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/VEN/1
(28.2.00)
Zambia Not notified Not notified
Zimbabwe G/LIC/N/1/ZWE/1-2 (21.9.98) G/LIC/N/3/ZWE/1 + Add.1
(22.9.00)
TOTAL
MEMBERS = 123224 66 67 19
__________
                                                     
2 The European Communities and its member States counted as one Member.