RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/24
14  October 2003
(03-5432)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 20 October 2003 and examined the following issues:
2. [The Committee took note of the factual information provided by the Members under current
waivers requesting extensions for the introducti on of HS96 changes to their schedules or the
establishment of new schedules. This information is  summarized in Annexes I and II of this report.]
3. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.31.]
4. [The Committee examined the situation related to the circulation of HS2002 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/4/Rev.4]
5. [With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions on th e basis of the document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.17. The
Secretariat reported on the status of processing of  IDB submissions, use of IDB information,  and the
status of software development.]
6. [The Secretariat reported on the status of the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) Database.]7. [The Committee considered the requests for access to the IDB and CTS databases from the
International Textiles and Clothing Bureau (ITCB) (G/MA/W/48)]
8. [The Committee conducted the Transitional Review under Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of
Accession of the People's Republic of China.  Information provided by China under the review wascirculated in document G/MA/W/52.  Questions and/or comments submitted to China by theEuropean Communities, Japan, and the United States, were circulated in documents G/MA/W/49,G/MA/W/50, and G/MA/W/51, respectively.]
9. [The Committee considered the Draft Report (2003) of the Committee to the Council for
Trade in Goods (G/MA/SPEC/25)]G/MA/SPEC/24
Page 2
10. [The Committee elected its Vice-Chairperson for 2003.]
11. [Under other business, the Committee took note of the date of its next meeting.]
The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the
Committee meeting on 20 October 2003.G/MA/SPEC/24
Page 3ANNEX I
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of submission of
HS documentationN° of
extensions
and datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
1. Israel 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96/26
(08.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/26/
Add.1
(05.03.1999)
G/SECRET/HS96/26/
Add.1/Corr.1
(06.07.2000)Thirteen
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.200113.05.2002
15.10.2002
24.07.2003Four Three Israel has to respond
to two additional
questions by the EC.Israel will do its best
to provide the
requestedexplanations in the
shortest possible time
so that the EC can
remove its
reservation.Requested 6 months.
G/L/646
G/C/W/468
2. Thailand 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96/17
(14.03.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/17/
Rev.1
(18.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/17/
Rev.2
(27.11.2001)Thirteen
18.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.200008.05.2001
13.05.2002
15.10.200224.07.2003Four Negotiations had
concluded with all
four Members.
However,negotiations have
been re-initiated
with two of thoseMembers.Thailand has
recently replied to
the questions raised
by the twoMembers.As Thailand has
replied, the request is
made for procedural
reasons.Requested 6 months.
G/L/647
G/C/W/470G/MA/SPEC/24
Page 4
ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF WAIVERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ESTABLISHING A NEW SCHEDULE
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for an
extension and draft
decision
1. Sri Lanka 08.11.1988 12.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty-seven:
24.07.1989
16.07.1990
07.12.199001.07.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.199203.12.1992
19.07.1993
17.01.199421.07.1994
09.12.1994
31.08.199513.12.1995
18.07.1996
16.07.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
31.10.200113.05.2002
15.10.2002
24.07.2003Five Four Sri Lanka continues
to make every effort
to conclude
negotiations underArticle XXVIII.
The negotiations
with the UnitedStates are still
continuing.Sri Lanka has had
bilateral negotiations
with the US in respectof Sri Lanka's
Schedule. These
negotiations are stillcontinuing.
Submissions have
been made to theAdvisory Committee
of the Government of
Sri Lanka seeking itsapproval on tariff
bindings to be made.
Since a response fromthe Tariff Advisory
Committee is yet to
be received, SriLanka requires one
more extension of
time to conclude thesenegotiations.  The
Government of
Sri Lanka, therefore,
will appreciate
granting of a furtherextension of six
months.  The
Government of SriLanka also wishes to
assure its tradingExtension of 6
months requested
G/L/644
G/C/W/469G/MA/SPEC/24
Page 5Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for an
extension and draft
decision
partners that every
effort will be made to
conclude thenegotiations
satisfactorily, and in
the mutual interest ofall concerned, as soon
as possible.
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