RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/10
5 March 1999
(99-0881)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 11 March 1999 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 groupedinto one single decision.  These waivers were extended by successive decisions by the General
Council until 30 April 1999 (WT/L/281).  At its meeting of 11 March 1999, the Committee took note
of the requests for further extension of, or inclusion in, the waiver to carry out possibleconsultations/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.]
4. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.18.  It was noted that out of the [...] Members under waivers, only
[…..] schedules had been finalized and [...]  Members had not yet submitted the required
documentation.]
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.4. As of11 March 1999, [....] Members and […] acceding countries had provided IDB submissions.  TheChairman reported on the open-ended consultations he had undertaken on the matter of thesubmission to and dissemination of the IDB.  The Secretariat presented an oral report on the status ofprocessing of IDB submissions, the status of software development and the technical assistanceactivities that had been carried out thus far.]
6. [The Secretariat gave a status report on the Loose-Leaf Schedule Project.]G/MA/SPEC/10
Page 2
7. [The Committee took note of the tariff informati on available in the Secretariat as contained in
document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.4.]
The report will be completed in light of the discussion that will take place at the
Committee's meeting on 11 March 1999.G/MA/SPEC/10
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
ARGENTINA1/30 4
AUSTRALIA /19 + Corr.1 2 Extension required as still engaged in Article
XXVIII consultations/negotiations on this
matter.
BOLIVIA Extension needed to finalize documentation
BRAZIL /36 + Corr.1 + 2 5 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
BRUNEI
DARUSSALAM/14 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
BULGARIA Extension needed to finalize documentation and
to allow for consultations.
CANADA /7 1 Extension needed to enable Member holding
reservation to conclude consideration of
Canada's response.
COSTA RICA /37 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
two Members.
EGYPT G/MA/TAR/RS/50/Rev.122 Extension needed to continue the process of
consultations with Members having submitted
questions and comments.
EL SALVADOR Extension needed as certain technical problems
have been encountered in the presentation of the
documentation.
GUATEMALA1/41 1
HONDURAS Extension needed to finalize documentation,
which has not been submitted due to technical
problems.
ICELAND /38 + Corr.1 +  Add.1 2 Extension needed  to conclude consultations and
possible negotiations under Article XXVIII, and
because additional documentation was submitted
only recently.
INDIA /8 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
                                                     
1 Extension of waiver not requested by 3.03.1999.
2 Contains also rectifications to the schedule.G/MA/SPEC/10
Page 4
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
ISRAEL /26 +  Add.1 4 Extension needed to complete necessary
procedures.
KOREA /4 + Corr.1 + 2 + Rev.1 +
Add.11 Extension needed to enable Member holding
reservation to conclude consideration of Korea's
response.
MALAYSIA /31 + Rev.1 3 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
MALDIVES Waiver requested for the purpose of introducing
HS96 changes.
MALTA /39 + Rev.1 + 2 1 Extension requested to complete procedures
following submission of revised documentation.
MEXICO Extension requested due to technical difficulties
in completing documentation and to conclude
relevant consultations or  negotiations.
MOROCCO Extension requested as technical difficulties
have been encountered in the implementation ofthe procedures for the introduction of HS96
changes. Documentation is under preparation.
NEW ZEALAND /20 + Corr.1 2 Extension requested to allow more time to
resolve questions raised on New Zealand's
schedule by two Members.
NORWAY /11 2 Extension requested to complete procedures and
consultations.
PAKISTAN /40 Extension need ed to complete necessary
procedures.
PANAMA Extension requested because HS96 implemented
in February 1998 and Government has not yetbeen able to submit the necessary
documentation.
PARAGUAY /29 4 Extension requested to conclude negotiations.
SLOVENIA /23 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with one Member.
SOUTH AFRICA1/15(preliminary information)2
SWITZERLAND /10 1 Extension needed to conclude ongoing
consultations.
THAILAND /17 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed as there are still on-going
consultations with two Members.
TUNISIA /25 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations with
one Member.
UNITED STATES /9 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations.G/MA/SPEC/10
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Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
URUGUAY /28 3 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations.
VENEZUELA /12 + Rev. 1 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations with
one Member.G/MA/SPEC/10
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ANNEX 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.  Bangladesh 18.07.199806.12.1990
SECRET/HS/29Nineteen:
24.07.198905.12.1989
16.07.1990
13.12.199012.08.1991
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
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998Four Three Response awaited
from one Member.Working to conclude
negotiations as soon
as possibleExtension requested
G/L/298
G/C/W/142
2. Nicaragua 26.01.199828.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Seven:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998Two One Still awaiting a
substantiated
request from one
Member.- Extension requested
G/L/297
G/C/W/141G/MA/SPEC/10
Page 7Country 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. Sri Lanka 08.11.198812.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Eighteen:
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
14.10.1998Five One Is continuing to
make every effort to
conclude
negotiations underArticle XXVIII.  It
has made offers to
two Membersrecently in the
interest of finalizing
negotiations.Intends to conclude
negotiations as soon
as possible.Extension requested
G/L/296
G/C/W/140
4. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Six:
13.12.199518.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998
14.10.1998Two None Negotiations were
held with the
Members concerned.Outlook is good for
concluding  the
process.Extension requested
G/L/295G/C/W/139
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