WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/107
28 March 2000
(00-1260)
Committee on Market Access
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 23 March 2000 and examined the following issues:
2. On 13 December 1995, several Members were granted individual waivers for the introduction
of HS96 changes (WT/L/124 + Corr.1); for operational reasons the waivers were grouped into one
single decision.  These waivers were extended by successive decisions by the General Council until
30 April 2000 (WT/L/338).  At its meeting of 23 March 2000, the Committee took note of the
requests for further extension of, or inclusion in, the waiver to carry out possible
consultations/negotiations under Article XXVIII after the introduction of HS96 changes in nationaltariffs.  This information is summarized in Annex I of the report.
3. The Committee took note of the factual info rmation provided by the Members under current
waivers regarding the transposition into the Harmonize d System or the renegotiation of their schedules.
This information is summarized in Annex II of this  report.  In this connection, the Committee noted that
Bangladesh had completed its Article XXVIII negotiations.
4. The Committee examined the situation related to the submission of HS96 documentation set out
in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.21.  It was noted that the submissions of  twenty-one Members, whether
the Member concerned had requested an extension of its waiver or not, remained pending due to
ongoing consultations and/or negotiations.  It was also noted that five Members under waivers had not
yet submitted the required documentation. The Committee took note of the Vice-Chairman's report on
the informal consultations that had been held on the subject of the HS96 transposition exercise.
5. With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions on the basis of the document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.7. As of
8 March 2000, 69  Members and 2 acceding countries had provided IDB submissions. The Secretariat
presented an oral report on the status of pro cessing of IDB submissions, the status of software
development and technical assistance activities.  The Committee began  its review of the operation of
the IDB and IDB technical assistance activities on  the basis of document G/MA/IDB/W/5.  Following
a preliminary discussion, the Committee agreed that the Vice-Chairman would hold informal
consultations on this subject.   The Committee also agreed that a seminar on the IDB would be
organized by the Secretariat for representatives of developing country Members based in Geneva.
6. On the review of paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the Interpretation of  Article XXVIII of
GATT 1994, the Committee agreed, in light of comments made by some delegations, to retain the
item on the agenda of the next Committee meeting.
7. The Secretariat gave a progress report on the preparation of schedules of concessions of
developing country Members for the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database Project. Certain
developed country Members also provided a status report on their work in the preparation of their
consolidated schedules of concessions.   The Committee agreed that informal consultations should be
held to provide an opportunity for delegations to raise questions in connection with this work.G/MA/107
Page 2
8. Under "other business", the US and EC drew the Committee's attention to the forthcoming
changes of the Harmonized System to be implemented in 2002 and the need to review existing
procedures to implement such changes to WTO schedules of concessions.  The Vice-Chairman
informed the Committee that he had held informal consultations on the request from the International
Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) for the release of the PC IDB CD-ROM Release 3, and from thediscussions it had appeared that consensus would not be possible on granting this request. The
Committee agreed that the Secretariat send a reply along these lines to the Organization.  The
Committee took note of document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.5 and Corr. 1 setting out an updated list of
national tariffs available in the Secretariat.G/MA/107
Page 3
ANNEX I
REQUESTS FOR INCLUSION IN AND EXTENSION OF THE HS96 WAIVERS
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
ARGENTINA /30 4 Extension needed to finalize consultations and
negotiations with various Members havinggeneral reservations.
BOLIVIA /42 1 Extension needed to finalize consultations with
one Member having raised objections.
BRAZIL /36 + Corr.1 + 2 5 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
Members having raised specific reservations.Additionally, one general reservation has not
been specified.
BRUNEIDARUSSALAM/14 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed in view of the general
reservations received from two Members.
BULGARIA Extension needed to finalize documentation and
to allow for consultations with interested
Members as may be necessary.
COSTA RICA /37 + Add.1 Extension needed to finalize consultations, if
necessary, on documentation circulated recently.
EGYPT G/MA/TAR/RS/50/Rev.112 Extension needed to continue the process of
consultations with Members who have alreadyreceived replies from Egypt to their questions
and comments.
EL SALVADOR /44 (to be issued) Extension needed as documentation has just
been submitted to the Secretariat for verification.
HONDURAS /43 Extension needed as additional time may be
required for consultations with Members, as
necessary.
ICELAND /38 + Corr.1 +  Add.1 1 Extension needed  to finalize consultations and
possible negotiations under Article XXVIII.
ISRAEL /26 +  Add.1 3 Extension needed as consultations need to be
finalized with one Member.  Additionally,earlier reservations which were general in their
nature have neither been specified or lifted.
MALAYSIA /31 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
MALDIVES Extension needed to follow procedures
regarding the introduction of HS96 changes.
                                                     
1 Contains also rectifications to the schedule.G/MA/107
Page 4
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
MEXICO Extension needed due to technical difficulties
encountered in completing documentation whichis required for any relevant consultations or
negotiations.
MOROCCO Extension needed as technical difficulties have
been encountered in the implementation of the
procedures for the introduction of HS96changes.  Documentation is under preparation.
NEW ZEALAND /20 + Corr.1 2 Extension needed to allow more time to resolve
questions raised on New Zealand's schedule by
two Members.
NORWAY /11 2 Extension needed to complete consultations.
PAKISTAN /40 3 Extension needed to complete bilateral
negotiations.
PANAMA Extension needed as technical problems have
been encountered in the preparation of
correlation tables between HS92 and HS96.
PARAGUAY /29 4 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with Members having raised
general reservations.
SWITZERLAND /10 1 Extension needed to conclude ongoing
consultations.
THAILAND /17 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to finalize consultations.
URUGUAY /28 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
Members having general reservations.
VENEZUELA /12 + Rev. 1 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations with
one Member having a general reservation.G/MA/107
Page 5ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF WAIVERS
RELATED TO THE TRANSPOSITION OF SCHEDULES INTO THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM
Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of countries
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of countries with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for
extension and draft
decision
1. Nicaragua 26.01.199828.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Nine:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.1999Two One Nicaragua gave the
information
requested by the
interested Memberand also presented a
proposal which is
being studied by this
Member.In constant
consultations with the
Member concerned in
order to conclude assoon as possible the
negotiations.Extension requested
G/L/351
G/C/W/189
2. Sri Lanka 08.11.198812.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty:
24.07.198916.07.1990
07.12.1990
01.07.199104.12.1991
20.07.1992
03.12.199219.07.1993
17.01.1994
21.07.199409.12.1994
31.08.1995
13.12.199518.07.1996
16.07.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999Five Two Following its most
recent initiative,
clarification and
finalization ofdocuments remain to
be completed with
one Member.Sri Lanka has
sought clarification
on the status of thereservations made
by the remaining
two Members.Continues to make
every effort to
conclude
negotiations.Extension requested
G/L/350
G/C/W/188G/MA/107
Page 6
Country Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of countries
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of countries with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for
extension and draft
decision
3. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Eight:
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.1999Two - Waiting to receive
responses from thetwo Members
regarding a modified
schedule sent tothem by Zambia.Bright Extension requested
G/L/352G/C/W/190
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