RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/SPEC/26 
26 March 2004 
 (04-1396) 
Committee on Market Access  
  
DRAFT 
 
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE 
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS   
 
 
1. The Committee met on 2 April 2004 and examined the following issues: 
2. [The Committee took note of the factual info rmation provided by the Members under current 
waivers requesting extensions for the introduction of HS96 changes to their schedules. This information 
is summarized in the Annex to this report.] 
3. [The Committee examined the situation related to the submission of HS96 documentation set 
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.32.]  
4. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the circulation of HS2002 documentation set 
out in document G/MA/TAR/4/Rev.5]  
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.18. The 
Secretariat reported on the status of processing of  IDB submissions, use of IDB information,  the 
status of software development and technical assistance.] 
6. [The Committee noted that the Secretariat document entitled "Tariff Line of Information 
Contained in the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database with Informa tion Contained in the 
Integrated Data Base – Some Technical and Proc edural Issues for Discussion" (Job(03)/217/Rev.1) 
circulated on 23 January 2004 had been approved.   The Committee also took note of the Secretariat's status report on the Consolidated Tariff Schedules database.]   7. [The Committee considered the request for access to the IDB and CTS databases from the 
United Nations Economic and Social Commissi on for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)  
(G/MA/W/53)]  8. [The Committee took note of the status of notifications under the Decision on Notification 
Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions on the basis of a Secretariat document  G/MA/NTM/QR/3] G/MA/SPEC/26 
Page 2  
 
 9. [The Committee took note of the status of notifications under the Decision on Reverse 
Notification of Non-Tariff Measures on the basis of a Secretariat document G/MA/NTM/W/3/Rev.1] 
10. [Under other business, the Committee took note of the tariff information available in the 
Secretariat as contained in document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.9.] 
11. [Under other business, the Committee took no te 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 2 April 2004.   
  G/MA/SPEC/26
 Page 3ANNEX  
 
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF  
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS 
 
Member Date of 
original 
waiver Date of submission of 
HS documentation N° of 
extensions 
and dates N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been initiated N° of Members with 
which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been concluded 
 Status of 
outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations Outlook for 
concluding the 
process Request 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 24.04.1997 
22.10.1997 
24.04.1998 14.10.1998 
15.06.1999 
04.11.1999 03.05.2000 
08.12.2000 
08.05.2001 13.05.2002 
15.10.2002 
24.07.2003 Four Three Israel has to respond 
to two additional questions by the EC.  Israel will do its best 
to provide the requested 
explanations in the 
shortest possible time so that the EC can 
remove its 
reservation.  Requested 6 months. 
G/L/670 G/C/W/482 
2. Malaysia 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS/96/31 
(16.10.1996)  
G/SECRET/HS96/31/
Rev.1 (31.07.1997) Twelve 
18.07.1996 24.04.1997 
22.10.1997 
24.04.1998 14.10.1998 15.06.1999 
04.11.1999 
03.05.2000 08.12.2000 
08.05.2001 
13.05.2002  24.07.2003 
 Five Five All consultations 
regarding the introduction of 
HS96 changes into 
Malaysia’s schedule of tariff concessions have been 
completed All that remains to be 
completed now is to 
notify the corrections 
to Malaysia's 
proposed HS96 tariff 
schedule. Unforeseen 
circumstances 
disabled the 
completion of the 
remaining work by 30 
April 2004 Requested one year. 
G/L/676 G/C/W/485  
 G/MA/SPEC/26 
Page 4 
Member Date of 
original 
waiver Date of submission of 
HS documentation N° of 
extensions 
and dates N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been initiated N° of Members with 
which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been concluded 
 Status of 
outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations Outlook for 
concluding the 
process Request for a waiver 
and draft decision 
3. Panama 24.04.1998 G/SECRET/HS96/48 
(04.04.2001) 
 G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Add.1 
(18.03.2002)   
G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Rev.1 (4 June 2002) 
 
G/SECRET/HS96/48/Rev.1/Corr.1 
(26.02.03) 
  Eight 
14.10.1998 
15.06.1999 04.11.1999 
03.05.2000 
08.12.2000 08.05.2001 13.05.2002 
24.07.2003 
  None (Corrections 
were sought by 
the Members having made 
reservations.  
Currently, of the four, two Members have 
withdrawn their 
reservation.)  - - Panama is waiting for  
two delegations to 
confirm acceptance of 
the documents 
submitted to the 
Secretariat in order to 
formally conclude 
implementation of 
HS96 nomenclature 
changes.  Requested one year. 
G/L/672 
G/C/W/483 
4. Pakistan 24.04.1997 G/SECRET/HS96/40 
(10.12.1998) Ten 
22.10.1997 
24.04.1998 
14.10.1998 15.06.1999 
04.11.1999 
03.05.2000 08.12.2000 
08.05.2001 
13.05.2002 24.07.2003 
 
 Three Two One outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations with the 
US is still being examined in capital.  
The reservation 
made by the US dates back to 1995 
and the specific 
concern was notified on 1 February 2001. Pakistan is hopeful 
that the matter will be 
resolved bilaterally at 
the earliest.  Requested one year 
G/L/673 
G/C/W/484 
  
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