RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/IT/SPEC/13
20January 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-0187)
Original: English Committee ofParticipants ontheExpansion ofTrade
inInformation Technology Products
PROPOSED ADDITIONS TOPRODUCT COVERAGE
Submission bytheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 16January 1998, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission oftheUnited States.
_____________
Submission oftheUnited States ofAmerica
Regarding theInformation Technology Agreement (ITA)
TheUnited States ofAmerica submits itsproposals toITAparticipants regarding expansion
andimprovement oftheITAwhich entered intoforceonJuly1,1997. Theattached submission, divided
intothreeparts, istheresult ofextensive domestic consultations. Thesubmission includes: (I)aspecific
product listforconsideration; (II)landscape approaches tocertain products andinputs specifically used
forproducts intheITsector; and(III)aproposal thattheCommittee explore thepossibility of
accelerating tariffreductions onitems ofmutual interest agreed byITAparticipants toachieve duty-free
treatment incertain ITAproducts inadvance ofthepreviously agreed timeframe.
TheUnited States continues tohavestrong interests intheareaofnon-tariff measures andlooks
forward tothecontinued constructive work ofITAparticipants, particularly inthediscussions which
havebeeninitiated intheareaoftechnical barriers totrade. Weanticipate thatfurther consultations
willbenecessary before tabling proposals inthisareafortheITACommittee ’sconsideration.
./.G/IT/SPEC/13
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EXPANSION OFPRODUCT COVERAGE OFTHE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT
U.S.SUBMISSION, PART I
Description HS#
Parts andAccessories forAutomatic Teller Machines (ex8472.90) ex8473.40
"Hands Free carkit"forcellphones ex8518.30
Discs forlaser reading systems forreproducing sound only 8524.32
Other discs forlaser reading systems notcurrently included inITA ex8524.39
Other recorded magnetic media notcurrently included inITA ex8524.99
Other radio navigational aidapparatus 8526.91
Coaxial connectors ex8536.69.
Cylindrical andmulti contact connectors ex8536.69.
Rack &panel connectors ex8536.69
Printed circuit connectors ex8536.69
Ribbon orflatcable connectors ex8536.69
I/Obackplane board ex8537.10
Coaxial cable andother coaxial electric conductors ex8544.20
Spacecraft (including satellites) andsuborbital andspacecraft launch vehicles 8802.60
Parts of8802.60 ex8803
Lasers, other thanlaser diodes 9013.20
Apparatus based ontheuseofX-rays orofalpha, betaorgamma radiation 9022
Gasorsmoke analysis apparatus 9027.10
Microtomes andparts thereof ex9027.90
Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers andother instruments andapparatus formeasuring or
checking electrical quantities, excluding meters ofheading 9028; instruments and
apparatus formeasuring ordetecting alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray, cosmic orother
ionizing radiations; parts andaccessories thereof, excluding items currently covered in
theITA[9030.82 andparts thereof]ex9030
Measuring orchecking instruments, appliances andmachines, notspecified orincluded
elsewhere inthischapter; profile projectors; parts andaccessories thereof, excluding
items currently covered intheITA[9031.41, ex9031.49 andparts thereof]ex9031
Automatic regulating orcontrolling instruments andapparatus; parts andaccessories
thereof9032G/IT/SPEC/13
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SUBMISSION OFTHE UNITED STATES, PARTS IIAND III
TheUnited States alsoproposes coverage under theInformation Technology Agreement for
thefollowing:
-- Manufacturing Equipment specifically designed fortheproduction ofPrinted Circuit
Boards.
-- Manufacturing Equipment specifically designed fortheproduction ofCapacitors
With regard toprinted circuit board manufacturing equipment andcapacitor manufacturing
andtestequipment, two"product landscapes" areattached. Forthese products, consultations with
theprivate sector andseveral ITAparticipants haverevealed situations where there areclassification
differences anduncertainties among ITAparticipants. The“product landscapes ”aresubmitted with
indicative tariff classifications, rather thanasaspecific all-inclusive listofHarmonized System tariff
numbers.
TheUnitedStatesalsoproposesthatITAparticipantsundertakeconsultationsleadingtocoverage
forgoods specifically usedasparts orinputs ofproducts covered bytheITA.
"Product Landscape": Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing andTestEquipment
Item
No.Equipment Description EX Indicative HS
classification
1. Laser Photo Plotter Alowpower CNC laser toexpose silver-halide
emulsions withaminimum accuracy of±25ì and
aresolution of>2000 dpiex 9070.20
2. Registration
EquipmentMechanical/optical equipment toalign Printed
Circuit Boards/Printed Wiring Boards
(PCB/PWB 's)during photographic/mechanical
processing.ex 8477.80
3. Cleaning
EquipmentApparatus using abrasive impregnated brushes or
pads withorwithout theaddition ofvolcanic
pumice toclean andtexture thesurface ofcopper
foilduring PWB/PCB 'sprocessing.ex 8479.89
8460.90
3A. Cleaning
EquipmentApparatus forcleaning PCB/PWB 'sduring
assembly process.ex
4. Horizontal Wet
Processing
EquipmentConveyorized equipment toapply various
chemicals/electrochemical solutions viaspray or
immersion during PCB/PWB 'sprocessing.ex 8424.89
5. DryFilm
Laminators
(Coaters)Rolllaminators toapply dryfilmphoto resist to
oneortwosides ofaPCB/PWB.ex
6. Roller Coating
equipmentApplies viaaroller liquid photo-sensitive materials
toPCB/PWB 'sduring processing.ex 8479.89
7. Screen Printing
equipmentPrints defined/non-defined liquids during
PCB/PWB processing.ex 8443.59
7A. Screen Printing
equipmentApparatus forapplication orcoating orlaminating
PCB/PWB 'swithsolder orsolder fluxorother
materials.ex 8479.89G/IT/SPEC/13
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Item
No.Equipment Description EX Indicative HS
classification
8. Precision spot
application
equipmentApparatus forapplication ofliquids, solder pastes
oradhesives orsealants toselected components.ex 8479.89
9. Curtain Coating
equipmentApplies anon-defined coating viaflooding during
PCB/PWB processing.ex 8424.89
10. Exposure
EquipmentProjects light energy through amask toform an
image onaPCB/PWB.ex 9010.50
11. Chemical
Regeneration
EquipmentMetering/mixing equipment toextend thelifeof
solutions used during processing ofPCB/PWB 's.ex 8421.29
12.Automatic Optical
Inspection
EquipmentScans viaCCD cameras thesurface(s) ofa
PCB/PWB andcompares image withinputted data.ex 9031.49
12A. Automatic Optical
Inspection
EquipmentApparatus orequipment forvisual inspection of
bareandassembled PCB/PWB 'sex 9031.49
12B. Automatic Optical
Inspection
EquipmentX-ray Apparatus forphysical inspection of
concealed solder joints onPCB/PWB 'sex 9031.49
13. Error Verification
andRepair
EquipmentErrors identified viaautomatic optical inspection
equipment arehighlighted andmarked toallow
repair orrejection.ex 9031.49
9031.80
14. Incircuit test
equipmentFormeasuring orchecking electrical quantities in
PCB/PWB 'sAssembliesex 9030.83
15. Handling
EquipmentAutomatic material handling machines fortransport
handling andstorage ofbareorassembled
PCB/PWB 'sandtheir electronic componentsex 8428.33
8428.39
8428.90
16. Vertical Wet
Processing
EquipmentProcesses PCB/PWB 'sinavertical position
through chemical orelectrochemical operations.ex 8543.30
17. Vacuum Frames Aprecisely made boxtohold, inregister, inner
layers, pre-preg, andcopper foilunder avacuum
while itisbeing laminated.ex
18. Lamination Presses Temperature/pressure-controlled lamination press
used tobond layers intomultilayer PCB/PWB ’s.ex 8479.89
19. Drilling Equipment Single ormultiple spindle CNC mechanical drilling
machines withspindle speed >50,000 rpmand
accepting drills 6.25 mmindiameterex 8465.95
20. Routing Equipment Performs internal andexternal profiling during
PCB/PWB processing.ex 8465.92
21. Laser Hole
Formation
EquipmentCreates holes viaablation during PCB/PWB
processing.ex 8456.10G/IT/SPEC/13
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Item
No.Equipment Description EX Indicative HS
classification
22. Plasma Equipment Acontainer ofvarying size, capable ofholding a
number ofPWB/PCB 'spanels. Inaddition tothe
container, theunitincludes avacuum system and
anRFgenerator. Various gases canbeinjected
intothecontainer toallow different plasmas to
form andaccomplish different processes onthe
PWB/PCB 's.ex 8456.99
23. Heating Equipment
andovensApparatus andequipment forheating byinfrared
radiation, ultraviolet andthermal energy during
PCB/PWB processing.ex
23A. Heating Equipment
andovensOvens forcuring solder oradhesives during
PCB/PWB 'sex
24. Finger Plating
EquipmentWetprocessing equipment used toclean, strip and
plate theedge connectors during PCB/PWB
processing.ex
25. HotAirSolder
Leveling EquipmentCoater used toapply molten solder during
PCB/PWB processing. Canbehorizontal or
vertical.ex 8424.89
8479.89
26. Reflow soldering
equipmentEquipment forsoldering PCB/PWB 'sAssemblies ex
27. Wave soldering
equipmentBrings molten solder intocontact withassembled
PCB/PWB 'sex 8515.19
28 Scoring Equipment Cutting equipment tocreate a"V"groove in
PCB/PWB 'stoenable separation ofindividual
PCB/PWB 'sfrom alarger panel.ex 8465.91
8465.99
29. Electrical Bare
Board Test
Equipment (Flying
Probe)Used todetermine continuity/non-continuity ofa
finished PCB/PWB.ex 9030.83
30. Electrical Bare
Board Test
Equipment
(Fixture)Used todetermine continuity/non-continuity ofa
finished PCB/PWB.ex 9030.83
31. Anti-Static
EquipmentPWB/PCB 'spassover acharged barorwire
which neutralizes astatic charge. Thisisfollowed
byabrush toremove dustparticles.ex
32. Drill Sharpening
EquipmentApparatus toprecisely re-point solid carbide drill
bitofsizes 6.25 mm. Unitincludes anoptical
inspection system toallow automatic ormanual
inspection ofthenewpoint.ex
33. Direct Imaging
EquipmentForms animage without amask during PCB/PWB
processing.ex 9010.50
34. Automated
component
placement systemsApparatus andequipment forplacement of
components orcontact elements onsemiconductor
materials orPCB/PWB 'sorceramic substrates or
other substrate materials.ex 8479.89G/IT/SPEC/13
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Item
No.Equipment Description EX Indicative HS
classification
34A. Automated
component
placement systemsApparatus andequipment forremoval of
components orcontact elements onsemiconductor
materials orPCB/PWB 'sorceramic substrates or
other substrate materials.ex 8479.89
35. Encapsulation /
covering equipmentEquipment andmachinery toenclose or
hermetically sealPCB/PWB 'sassemblies.ex
"Product Landscape": Capacitor Manufacturing andTestEquipment
Product description Indicative HSclassification
Metal CanSealing Machines forcapacitor manufacturing ex8424.89
Paper Masking Machines forcapacitor manufacturing ex8424.89
Automatic Resin Mixer-Doser forcapacitor manufacturing ex8424.89
Capacitor Assembly Machines ex8424.89
ex8479.89
Sorting andPre-Flattening Machines/Capacitor Winding Machines ex8424.89
Registration Systems forcapacitor manufacturing ex8477.80
Winders forCapacitor manufacturing ex8479.81
III.TARIFF ACCELERATION
TheUnited States isready toexplore, withother ITAmembers, possible acceleration ofduty
reductions inselected ITproducts. Appropriate participation byITAparticipants would benecessary
toensure thatthebalance secured intheinitial ITAnegotiations istaken intoaccount. Wesuggest
thatinformal consultations onthepossibility oftaking suchactions beundertaken atanearly dateto
enable aCommittee discussion ofthefeasibility ofsuchanapproach.
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