WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/113
5 October 2001
(01-4805)
Committee on Market Access
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 26 September 2001 and examined the following issues:
2. The Committee took note of the factual inform ation 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 I of this  report.  The Committee agreed to forward the draft
decisions contained in documen ts G/C/W/298+Corr.1, G/ C/W/299, and G/C/W/306 to the Council for
Trade in Goods for further action.
3. The Committee examined the situation related to the submission of HS96 documentation set out
in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.26.  The submissions of twenty-one Members, whether they had
requested an extension of waivers or not, remain ed pending due to ongoing consultations and/or
negotiations. The Committee noted the two informal meetings held on the matter and agreed to have
further special sessions of the Committee dedicated to the review of the situation of HS96 submissions
based on a revision of the informal list prepared  by the Secretariat detailing the situation.
4. The Committee took note of the Chairperson's overview of the HS2002 situation.  It was
noted that the General Council had approved the new procedures for Members to implement HS2002
changes to their schedules at their meeting of 18 July 2001.  To date, there had been no submissions
by Members.  The Committee would keep the matter under review.
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.12.  As of
26 September 2001, 85 Members and 6 acceding count ries had provided IDB submissions.  The
Secretariat presented an oral report on the proc essing of IDB submissions, the status of software
development, use of IDB information, information obtained from the Trade Policy Review Division,IDB reporting tools, IDB internet analysis facil ity, and the technical assistance activities.  The
Committee took note of the Chairperson's report on the multilateral appraisal of the IDB, including
the outcome of the four regional meetings as summarized by the Secretariat in document
G/MA/IDB/W/12.  The Committee discussed the outcome of the multilateral appraisal process and
the next steps to be taken in this respect.
6. The Secretariat reported on the status of the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database Project
which included the status of CTS files for both the tariff and agricultural commitments for Members.It was noted that most of the database had been completed but there were still a number of
outstanding issues.G/MA/113
Page 2
ANNEX I
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 26.01.1998 28.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Twelve:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
1
04.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.2001Two One Nicaragua is keen to
complete these
negotiations as
rapidly as possibleand requests a
further extension ofthe waiver to do so.- Extension requested
G/L/481
G/C/W/299G/MA/113
Page 3Country 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
2. Sri Lanka 08.11.1988 12.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty-three:
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
15.06.1999
1
04.11.199903.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001Five Three Sri Lanka continues
to make every effortto conclude
negotiations under
Article XXVIII.The negotiations
with the European
Union and theUnited States are
still continuing.Sri Lanka has had
bilateral negotiationswith the European
Union and the United
States in respect ofSri Lanka's Schedule.
These negotiations
are still continuing.Sri Lanka assures its
trading partners that
every effort will bemade to conclude the
negotiations
satisfactorily, and inthe mutual interest of
all concerned, as soon
as possible.Extension requested
G/L/477
G/C/W/298 + Corr.1
3. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Eleven:
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
1
04.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.2001Two - Process is slow. The EC and US have
not responded to therevised schedule.Extension requested
G/L/482G/C/W/306
__________
                                                     
1 Granted with retroactive effect to 30 April 1999.