WORLD TRADE G/MA/59
9April 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1456)
Committee onMarket Access
PERIODIC REPORT OFTHE COMMITTEE ONMARKET ACCESS
TOTHE COUNCIL FOR TRADE INGOODS
1. TheCommittee meton26March 1998 andexamined thefollowing issues:
2. On13December 1995several Members weregranted individual waivers fortheintroduction
ofHS96 changes (WT/L/124 +Corr.1); foroperational reasons thewaivers weregrouped intoone
single decision. These waivers wereextended bysuccessive decisions bytheGeneral Council until
30April 1998(WT/L/243). Atitsmeeting of26March 1998, theCommittee tooknoteoftherequests
forfurther extension of,orinclusion in,thewaiver tocarry outpossible consultations/negotiations
under Article XXVIII aftertheintroduction ofHS96 changes innational tariffs. Thisinformation is
summarized inAnnex Iofthereport.
3. TheCommittee tooknoteofthefactual information provided bytheMembers under current
waivers regarding thetransposition intotheHarmonized System ortherenegotiation oftheirschedules.
Thisinformation issummarized inAnnex IIofthisreport. Atthemeeting of26March 1998, the
Committee tooknoteoftherequests forextension ofthewaivers.
4. TheCommittee examined thesituation related tothesubmission ofHS96 documentation set
outindocumentG/MA/TAR/2/Rev.13.Itwasnotedthatoutofthe39Memberscurrentlyunderwaiver,
onlythree schedules hadbeen finalized andeight Members hadnotyetsubmitted therequired
documentation. TheChairman recalled thestatement made bytheChairman oftheCouncil forTrade
inGoods anditsmeeting of6October 1997regarding theshort-term approach related tothereservations
made onthedocumentation totheextent that"Delegations thathaveentered unspecified reservations
todocumentation submitted fortheintroduction ofHS96 changes, undertake tospecify theirreservations
before 30April 1998, byidentifying thetariff lineand/or description forwhich theyconsider thatthe
proposed change alters thescope ofaconcession. Itisfurthermore agreed that,where reservations
havenotbeenspecified bythatdate,theywillbedeemed tobewithdrawn". Anumber ofdelegations
tookthefloor tonotetheprogress thathadbeen made withrespect tolifting orspecifying the
reservations. Furthermore, thecommitment tospecify reservations bythe30April 1998deadline was
reaffirmed.
5. With reference tothemodalities andoperation oftheIntegrated DataBaseandonthebasis
ofdocument G/MA/IDB/2, theCommittee examined thepresent status ofIDBsubmissions. Atthe
dateofthemeeting, twenty-three countries hadprovided IDBsubmissions. Several Members stressed
theneedfortheothercountries tosupply IDBsubmissions inorder tofulfiltheirnotification obligations.
6. TheSecretariat presented anoralreport onthestatus ofprocessing ofIDBsubmissions and
onthestatus ofsoftware development. Themajority ofIDBsubmissions received hadbeenprocessed.
However,mostsubmissionsweremissinginformation,inparticularboundduties,referenceinformation,
product descriptions andcorrelations pertaining tochanges inthetariff nomenclature from oneyear
tothenext. With respect tothedevelopment ofIDBsoftware, theSecretariat reported thattheIDB
Internet FileTransfer facility wasnowoperational, butrequired some changes tomake itmoreG/MA/59
Page2
user-friendly before distributing passwords toMembers andcreating theFrench andSpanish versions
oftheinterface tothesite.
7. With respect totechnical assistance fortheIDB, theCommittee examined document
G/MA/IDB/W/3/Rev.1, which described themodalities andincorporated thesuggestions proposed
byMembers during themeeting oftheCommittee on2December 1997. Themain points ofthe
documentconcerned:softwareforthepreparationofIDBsubmissions;participationintrainingseminars
organized bytheWTO; organization ofIDBseminars developed according toregional requirements
andthose ofindividual Members; establishment ofcontacts withmissions andcapitals; collaboration
withother international organizations andregional secretariats; andproviding technical assistance via
theInternet. TheSecretariat indicated thatthePCsoftware developed forthepreparation ofsubmissions
fortheFreeTrade oftheAmericas database onMarket Access could beusedinthecontext oftechnical
assistance fortheIDB.
8. TheCommitteealsoconsideredpracticalmattersconcerningthedisseminationoftheinformation
contained intheIDB, onthebasis ofaninformal paper dated 16March 1998 (JobNo.1483). The
paper, circulated toallWTO Members attherequest oftheChairman, raised several points thatneeded
tobeclarified. Delegations noted thatthere should beaminimum levelofinformation provided in
thesubmissions, before thefileswere distributed. They favoured theestablishment ofalistof
international organizations thatwould haveaccess totheIDB. These organizations should haveaccess
onlytotheIDBCD-ROM. Delegations indicated thattheywished toapprove theirprocessed files
before theirdistribution toother Members, andthattheapproval should benotified totheSecretariat
within thirty-five toforty-five days. Opinions differed astowhether theoriginal IDBsubmissions
should remain confidential. Itwasagreed thatthedissemination policy fortheIDBwould bediscussed
further ininformal consultations andthattheSecretariat would revise thenoteonthebasisofMembers
comments.
9. Another issue discussed atthemeeting related tothepreparation ofconsolidated loose-leaf
schedules ongoods. Aninformal notebytheSecretariat dated 16March 1998 (Job. No.1484), had
beencirculated toallWTO Members, attherequest oftheChairman. Thenotesummarized thepractical
problems faced inthepastandidentified possible solutions regarding thepreparation oftariffschedules,
theirconsolidation andverification. Itdescribed potential means ofestablishing adatabase ofMembers '
consolidated tariff concessions andhowthisinformation could beincorporated intotheIDB. The
database would beestablished asaworking toolwithout implications astothelegal status ofthe
informationcontainedtherein,butwouldaccuratelyreflectMembers'concessions.Delegationssupported
theideas raised inthenote, inparticular theapproach, which separated thelegalissues frompractical
issues. They observed thatsuchadatabase could beaveryuseful andimportant toolforthefuture
activities oftheCommittee andMembers. Moreover, theapproach described inthepaper demonstrated
howanumber ofproblems concerning HSchanges andpreparation andverification ofschedules might
besolved. Delegations supported theideaofcarrying outapilotproject fortheschedules oftwo
Members. Thiswould provide abasisforestimating theresources thatmight berequired toestablish
thedatabase forallMembers. Itwould alsopermit theidentification ofproblems thatmight be
encountered andwould helptodetermine theextent ofMembers 'involvement intheexercise.
10. While noting thattheCouncil forTrade inGoods hadagreed tothenomination of
Mr.OleLundby (Norway) asChairman oftheMarket Access Committee, itwasagreed thattheissue
ofelection oftheChairperson would bepostponed until thenextmeeting oftheCommittee as
confirmation ofhisavailability wasstillpending.G/MA/59
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ANNEX I
REQUESTS FOR INCLUSION INAND EXTENSION OFTHE HS96 WAIVERS
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96
series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons forrequesting waiver
orextension ofwaiver
ARGENTINA /30 4 Extension needed tofinalize consultations
andnegotiations under Article XXVIII.*
AUSTRALIA /19+Corr.1 5 Extension needed because more time is
required tocomplete consultations anddueto
ageneral reservation byoneMember.*
BOLIVIA Waiver requested inorder topresent the
necessary documentation forHS96.
BRAZIL /36 1 Extension needed toconclude consultations
andnegotiations.*
BRUNEI
DARUSSALAM/14+Rev.1 3 Extension needed because ofgeneral
reservations received.*
BULGARIA Extension needed tofinalize documentation
andtoallow forconsultations.
CANADA /7 3 Extension needed tocomplete consultations.
COSTA RICA /37 1 Extension needed duetoageneral
reservation byoneMember*.
CZECH REP. /5 2 Extension needed tocomplete negotiations
andconsultations.
EGYPT Extension needed tofinalize the
documentation, andtoconduct consultations.
ELSALVADOR Extension needed ascertain technical
problems have been encountered inthe
presentation ofthedocumentation.
EUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES/3 5 Extension needed tofinalize consultations
andnegotiations.
GUATEMALA Waiver requested tocontinue theprocedures
necessary tointroduce thedocumentation.
HONDURAS Extension needed tofinalize documentation,
which hasnotbeen submitted dueto
technical problems.
HUNGARY /22+Corr.1 1 Extension needed duetoageneral
reservation byoneMember.*
ICELAND /38 2 Extension needed toallow forfinalization of
consultations andpossible negotiations under
Article XXVIII.*
INDIA /8+Corr.1 3 Extension needed asmore time isnecessary
toresolve issues related tothereservations
made.G/MA/59
Page4
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96
series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons forrequesting waiver
orextension ofwaiver
INDONESIA /33 3 Extension needed duetounfinished
negotiations.
ISRAEL /26 4 Extension needed duetotechnical difficulties
infinalizing detailed documentation.
KOREA /4+Add.1 +
Corr.1-2/Rev. 11 Extension needed because ofanoutstanding
reservation.
MALAYSIA /31+Rev.1 5 Extension needed tocomplete consultations.
MALTA /39 Waiver requested because documentation
wassubmitted recently.
MEXICO Extension duetotechnical difficulties in
completing documentation andtoconclude
relevant consultations ornegotiations.
MOROCCO Waiver requested because HS96
implemented inFebruary 1998 andhasnot
yetbeen abletosubmit thenecessary
documentation.
NORWAY /11 2 Extension needed tocomplete procedures
andconsultations.
PAKISTAN Extension needed because formalities
regarding theintroduction ofHS96 changes
intotheWTO schedule have notbeen
completed.
PANAMA Waiver requested because HS96
implemented inFebruary 1998 andhasnot
yetbeen abletosubmit thenecessary
documentation.
PARAGUAY /29 3 Extension duetoageneral reservation andto
finalize consultations andpossible Article
XXVIII negotiations.*
PHILIPPINES /16+Add.1 +
Corr.1-22 Extension needed tofinalize consultations
withtwoMembers.
SLOVAK REP. /6 2 Extension needed tocomplete consultations
andnegotiations.
SLOVENIA /23+Corr.1 1 Extension needed tocomplete consultations
andnegotiations withoneMember.
SOUTH AFRICA /15
(prelimin. inf)2 Extension needed because, while progress
hasbeen made, hasnotyetbeen ableto
submit thenecessary documentation.
SWITZERLAND/
LIECHTENSTEIN/10 3 Extension because theformal certification of
theproposed modification totheschedule to
implement HS96 didnottakeplace yet.G/MA/59
Page5
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96
series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons forrequesting waiver
orextension ofwaiver
THAILAND /17+Rev.1 2 Consultations areexpected tobeconcluded,
butintheevent theyarenot,arequest for
anextension ofthewaiver ismade.
TUNISIA /25 2 Extension needed duetotwogeneral
reservations thathave notbeen specified or
justified tofinalize negotiations.*
TURKEY /27 2 Extension needed because received two
reservations ofageneral nature, onewhich
wasfurther specified, andareawaiting
specific concerns bythisMember.*
UNITED STATES /9 6 Extension needed because more time is
needed tocomplete consultations.
URUGUAY /28 1 Extension tofinalize consultations and
negotiations.*
VENEZUELA /12+Rev. 1 1 Extension needed duetoageneral
reservation byoneMember.*
ZIMBABWE Extension duetodifficulties infinalizing the
documentation.
*Awaiting specific comments from Members whohave made general reservations.G/MA/59
Page6ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TOTHE EXTENSION OFWAIVERS
RELATED TOTHE TRANSPOSITION OFSCHEDULES INTO THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM
Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission
ofHS
documentationNof
extensions
anddatesNofcountries
withwhich
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been
initiatedNof
countries
withwhich
Article
XXVIII
negotiations
have been
concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding
theprocessRequest
for
extension
anddraft
decision
1.Bangladesh 18.07.1988 06.12.1990
SECRET/HS/29Seventeen:
24.07.1989
05.12.1989
16.07.1990
13.12.1990
12.08.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.1992
03.12.1992
19.07.1993
17.01.1994
21.07.1994
09.12.1994
31.08.1995
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.1997Four Three Agreement stillpending
withoneMember.Intention isto
conclude
negotiations as
soonaspossible.Extension
requested
G/L/227
G/C/W/107/Rev.1
2.Nicaragua 26.01.1994 28.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Five:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.1997Two None Stillawaiting asubstantiated
request from oneMember.Extension
requested
G/L/230
G/C/W/110 +
Corr.1G/MA/59
Page7Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission
ofHS
documentationNof
extensions
anddatesNofcountries
withwhich
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been
initiatedNof
countries
withwhich
Article
XXVIII
negotiations
have been
concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding
theprocessRequest
for
extension
anddraft
decision
3.SriLanka 08.11.1988 12.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Sixteen:
24.07.1989
16.07.1990
07.12.1990
01.07.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.1992
03.12.1992
19.07.1993
17.01.1994
21.07.1994
09.12.1994
31.08.1995
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
16.07.1997
22.10.1997Five One Negotiations havebeen
delayed byseveral
constraints: themost
important being thesecurity
situation which prevails in
thecountry; needto
consult withallrelevant
agencies concerned andwith
thenewly established
Commission onTrade and
Tariffs. Awaiting report
from theCommission in
order topursue the
negotiations.Intends to
conclude
negotiations inthe
shortest possible
time.Extension
requested
G/L/229/Rev.1
G/C/W/109
4.Zambia 26.11.1993
(2years)12.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Four:
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.1997Three One Contacts havebeenmade
withtheMembers
concerned.Expects tofinalize
theprocess before
theendoftheyearExtension
requested
G/L/228
G/C/W/108
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