WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/62
1 June 1999
(99-2218)
Committee on Market Access
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
Since the last periodic report to the Council for Trade in Goods (G/MA/61 dated
23 March 1999), the Committee on Market Access has met once, formally, on 31 May 1999.  The
minutes of this meeting will be circulated in document G/MA/M/18.
At that meeting the Committee considered the following issues:  "Dissemination of the
Integrated Data Base",  "Periodic Report to th e Council  for Trade in Goods" and "Election of
Chairperson".
As concerns "Dissemination of the Integrated Data Base (IDB)", the Committee considered
document G/MA/IDB/W/4.  Pursuant to the agreement reached by the Committee at its meeting of
27 November 1998, the Chairman has held four open-ended informal consultations of the Committee
(23 February, 10 March, 5 May and 21 May 1999) to address the question of the operation and
modalities of the IDB, in particular submission to and dissemination of the IDB.   During theseconsultations, the Committee was informed of the situation regarding submissions to the IDB and
requests for technical assistance. Members were encouraged by the trend in submissions and by the
number of requests for technical assistance, both informal and formal.  During these consultations, the
Committee also undertook further discussions concerning the dissemination of the IDB.  These
discussions provided a basis for agreement on guidelines concerning the dissemination of the IDB,
which are contained in document G/MA/IDB/W/4.  This document was adopted by the Committee at
this meeting and re-issued as document G/MA/IDB/3 (annexed).
Under "other business", the Committee took note of the information provided by the
Secretariat on developments concerning the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) Database project.
The Committee was informed that thanks to the support of the United Kingdom, the Secretariat had
obtained the necessary technical co-operation funds to prepare the database for developing countryMembers' schedules.  In addition, the Committee was informed that a letter had been sent to
developed country Members concerning the preparation of their submissions for the CTS database
using the electronic format developed by the Secretariat.
The Committee adopted its periodic report to the Council for Trade in Goods.
The Committee elected Mr. Pedro Miguel da  Costa E Silva of Brazil as Chairman.G/MA/62
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ANNEX
WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/IDB/3
1 June 1999
(99-2202)
Committee on Market Access
DISSEMINATION OF THE INTEGRATED DATA BASE
This document describes the dissemination practices for the Integrated Data Base (IDB), for
the information of users of the IDB.
A. METHODS OF DISSEMINATION
Methods of Dissemination
1. Once the IDB submissions have been processed by the Secretariat, the information
can be distributed as file copies at the tariff line level (in MS Access format or in text-delimited format) or via the IDB CD-ROM.  With the IDB CD-ROM, users have thepossibility to view and print information at the tariff line level or at summary levels.However, it is not possible to transfer information in an electronic format from the CD-ROM,for use with other PC desktop software.  The IDB CD-ROM is the principal dissemination
medium for Members and international organizations.  Before the PC IDB was established,
file copies were distributed only upon request from individual Members and thoseinternational organizations with which the WTO has a formal cooperation agreement, and tothose international organizations that had received written authorization from Members. Withthe IDB Internet File Transfer Facility, IDB users will have the possibility of transferring IDBfiles to their PCs via the Internet.  Furthermore, the Secretariat has begun work on the IDBdissemination database, which will be made available to authorized users via a reportingapplication developed using Internet technology.  The reporting application will providefacilities similar to those provided with the IDB CD-ROM, as well as data extractionfacilities.
Internet File Transfer Facility
2. The PC IDB project includes the establishment of a password-protected Internet site
for file distribution.  This  facility is  operational although access ha s not yet been given to
Members.  The site will be accessed using an Internet browser by entering the address of thesite and a user-identification code and password (hereafter referred to as password).  Thepasswords will be maintained by the Secretariat.
3. The site is composed of four areas and access to each area would be maintained by
passwords.  The first area, the "production" area,  would be available to all authorized users.G/MA/62
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The list of authorized users would be determined according to the dissemination practices
agreed upon by Members (refer to section D – Dissemination Practices).   After the IDBsubmissions have been processed by the Secretariat and approved by Members, they would beposted to this area where authorized users could transfer the files to their PCs using anInternet browser.  The second area would contain "private directories" for individualMembers and acceding countries or territories.   These directories would be accessible onlyby the country concerned and the Secretariat.  They would be used to forward IDBsubmissions to the Secretariat and to receive files from the Secretariat. The third area wouldbe a "provisional" area containing the processed files that had not yet been approved byMembers (refer to section B for further information).  The fourth area would contain anelectronic bulletin board where Members could introduce references to public sources of tariffand trade information (refer to section E for further information).
4. The Internet site address and passwords would be distributed to Members, via the
heads of delegations in Geneva, by the Secretariat.  The Secretariat would ensure a strict
control on the issuing of passwords to delegations.  Each Member would have its ownpassword and it would be possible to establish several passwords for a given Member ifrequired. The passwords would be changed periodically.  The Internet site would also have alogging facility to tr ack files downloaded by i ndividual users.  Furthermore, the information
would be automatically encrypted/decrypted during the transfer operation.
5. Once IDB files have been posted to the production area, the Secretariat would lose
control on the imparting of these files to unauthorized parties, regardless of the securitymeasures established to prevent this.  It woul d then be the re sponsibility of Me mbers to advise
the Secretariat of required changes in passwords, to ensure that the IDB disseminationpractices are respected.  Access rights to the Internet site could be removed at any time bydeleting the password from the list of authorized users.
The IDB CD-ROM
6. The IDB CD-ROM in its present version was developed when the IDB was still
resident on the mainframe computer.  It will henceforth be sourced from the PC IDB.  TheIDB CD-ROM contains tariffs and imports for IDB reporting countries and an application foranalysis. The application contains features for selection of products according to tariff andtrade criteria and for the compilation of seven types of reports.  The CD-ROM files are storedin a binary format that can only be exploited by the CD-ROM application.  With the presentversion of the IDB CD-ROM analysis software, it is not possible to transfer information in anelectronic format from the CD-ROM, for use with other PC desktop software.   The
information can only be viewed or printed screen by screen.
The IDB Dissemination Database
7. The Secretariat has begun work on the IDB dissemination database, which would be
geared towards the production of reports.  It is planned to make this dissemination databaseavailable to users via a reporting application developed using Internet technology.  The IDBprocessed files would be transferred from th e individual MS Access databases (one database
for each reporting country) to the dissemination database, in which data for all reportingcountries would be stor ed.  The Internet reporting applica tion would provide facilities for the
user to define and submit a query and retrieve the results.  As with the IDB File TransferFacility, access to the dissemination database would be password-protected and data would beG/MA/62
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encrypted during transfer.  The application would contain facilities similar to those now
available with the IDB CD-ROM, with additional enhancements to provide greater flexibilityin the selection of data and creation of reports.  Facilities to extract the IDB information foruse with other PC desktop software, either at tariff line level or summary levels, would beintroduced.
Internet Technical Considerations
8. The efficiency of using Internet technology for IDB data transfer operations and IDB
data analysis would depend on the type and speed of the client's Internet connection, as wellas the number of concurrent clients accessing the IDB server.  As the number of concurrentclients on the server grows, the performance could decrease.  The Internet traffic at the timeof the operation could also affect response time.   Those IDB users with a slow Internetconnection might have to rely on alternatives, such as file copies distributed on CD-ROM's orthe use of the IDB CD-ROM to conduct analyses of the IDB information.
Conclusions
9. Access rights to the File Transfer Facility, the IDB CD-ROM and the IDB
Dissemination Database would be established according to dissemination practices agreedupon by Members (refer to section D).  To avoid complex password administration, the sameaccess rights and passwords would be used for both the IDB File Transfer Facility and the
IDB Dissemination Database. The IDB information would be distributed according to themethods described in this note.
B. MEMBERS' APPROVAL OF PROCESSED SUBMISSIONS
10. Members have suggested that there should be a period of sixty days for the reporting
Member to approve the files processed by the Secretariat.  In order to be efficient and provideMembers with timely IDB information, pending the receipt of Members' approval, theprocessed files would be disseminated via the Internet File Transfer Facility with a"provisional" status, meaning that they may be subject to revision. These provisional fileswould be distributed to all WTO Members and also to those acceding countries or territoriesthat have provided IDB submissions.  All such provisional files would be automaticallydeemed approved if the Member had not submitted revisions within sixty days.  In addition,when provisional files had been revised, the Secretariat would post a note on the InternetFile Transfer Facility indicating on a broad level the changes that had been made and thedegree of change (i.e. minor/significant changes to nomenclature, trade data, tariffs, etc).Furthermore, Members would be able to transmit changes to their files at any time afterformal approval had been notified to the Secretariat.
C. DISTRIBUTION OF ORIGINAL SUBMISSIONS
11. Members have offered differing opinions as to whether submissions received from
Members, before their processing by the Secretariat and defined as "original" submissions,should be distributed. Some Members have suggested that original submissions be circulated
to those Members who have also provided subm issions, possibly by means of the Internet File
Transfer facility, where a private "library" might be established to store the originalG/MA/62
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submissions.  Other Members have stated that the Secretariat should not undertake any
distribution of original submissions, that is, be fore they are processed by the Secretariat. The
original submissions received thus far for fifty-eight Members and three acceding countries orterritories comprise more than three thousand three hundred individual files.  These originalfiles are sometimes incomplete or are later replaced with revised data. Sometimes, hard-copydocumentation provided with the submissions is required to interpret the electronicinformation.  Furthermore, in posting files to the Internet File Transfer Facility, they must betransferred one at a time and a description must be entered for each file. Therefore, theadministrative effort on the part of the Secretariat associated with distribution of originalsubmissions, via whatever medium (Internet, di skette copies, etc), would be substantial.
Another consideration in circulating original submissions relates to non-mandatory IDBinformation in original submissions. Some Memb ers have already advised the Secretariat that
they do not wish for this information to be included in the IDB, thus precluding the circulationof these submissions to others .
12. In view of these considerations, original submissions would not be distributed as a
general practice.  However, original submissions could be distributed by the Secretariat withthe written authorization of the Member that had provided the data .
D. DISSEMINATION PRACTICES
Background
13. The GATT Council launched the original (mainframe) IDB in its decision of 10
November 1987 (BISD 34S/66, L/6290) and established the Informal Advisory Group (IAG)on the IDB, in which experts from all Contracting Parties were invited to participate.  TheIAG's mandate was to provide guidance to the Secretariat in the preparation of the IDB and toreport to the GATT Council on the progress of the work.  With respect to the disseminationof the information, the Council Decision stipulated that all Contracting Parties would have fullaccess to the database. However, during the Uruguay Round, most countries did not supplyannual IDB submissions on a regular basis.  They supplied base and offered duties and theirupdates for the market access negotiations.  These trade negotiation files were exchangedamong Contracting Parties only with authorization of the countries concerned.  The IDB tradenegotiation files were not made available to all WTO Members until the first version of theIDB CD-ROM was distributed in June 1995. In October 1995, the Committee agreed toallow international organizations access to the IDB for internal use. Annex 1 lists theinternational and regional organizations that have been provided IDB information in thepast. Furthermore, the WTO has entered into formal cooperation agreements with the IMFand the World Bank (refer to document WT/L/195).  These agreements state that theseorganizations are granted access to the IDB.  Annexes 2 and 3 contain extracts of theagreements pertaining to the IDB.
Current dissemination practices
14. The current dissemination practices are a continuation of those followed in the past.
In June 1997, the Committee adopted a document (G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1), which sets out the
modalities and operations of the IDB.  With respect to dissemination of the IDB, thedocument states:G/MA/62
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"The IDB contains information already in the public domain – customs tariffs
published in the national tariff schedules, concessions available in the WTO list of
concessions and import statistics available from national statistical authorities.  This
IDB information had been available to all WTO Members and to international
organizations for their internal use.  This is the present policy followed by the
Secretariat in the dissemination of the IDB on the CD-ROM, but it may need to bereviewed."
On 2 December 1997, the Committee on Market Access took a decision to allow acceding
countries to have access to the IDB (G/MA/ IDB/1/Rev.1/Add.1) .  Access is conditional on
the acceding country having provided its submission to the IDB as described in document
G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1, within respect of the agreed-upon deadlines.
Types of Information for Distribution
15. While IDB information can be distributed through various methods (refer to section
A), access to tariff line level data should be distinguished from access to the present versionof the IDB CD-ROM.  Tariff line level data can be further analyzed using PC desktopsoftware, while the IDB CD-ROM only permits the viewing and printing of tariff line andsummary data.
Members' Access to the IDB
16. In light of the GATT Council Decision of 10 November 1987 (BISD 34S/66,
L/6290), the Committee on Market Access Decisions of 27 June 1997 (G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1)
and 2 December 1997 (G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1/Add.1) and the Decision of the General Councilof 16 July 1997 (WT/L/225), access to the IDB is available to all WTO Members and also tothose acceding countries or territories that have provided IDB submissions.
17. Some Members have expressed concern with respect to the level of compliance by
Members to the IDB notification requirement thus far, and have noted that technical assistancecontinues to be available to all Members to help them fulfil this obligation.  These Membershave recognized that this non-compliance is generally due to limited resources available indelegations and national capitals to deal with the many WTO notification obligations, or to
limited technical capacity.
18. In view of these considerations,
 Members considered that efforts to encourage such
Members that have not been able to make IDB submissions should be stepped up.Accordingly, such Members would be requested to convey the nature of difficulties facedby them in making IDB submissions so that they could be assisted in dealing withdifficulties faced by them either through technical assistance or other steps consideredappropriate by Members.
19. In light of the need to assure the broadest possible participation of Members in the
IDB and full compliance with the 16 July 1997 Decision of the General Council(WT/L/225) concerning supply of information to the IDB, Members agreed that the MarketAccess Committee would undertake prior to 1 June 2000 a review of the operation of theIDB and of IDB related technical assistance activities. If, at the time of the review,participation of Members in the IDB falls substantially below the current level ofparticipation, access to the IDB data will be temporarily suspended until adequateG/MA/62
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participation is secured again, unless other steps considered appropriate by Members are
agreed.
Members Use of the IDB Information
20. It is understood that Members are free to use and distribute their own processed IDB
files as they wish.  However, the files of other Members can only be used internally bygovernments.
WTO Secretariat's Access to the IDB and use of the IDB Information
21. The WTO Secretariat would have full access to the IDB files for internal use. The use
of IDB information in WTO publications usually covers market access, regional agreements,agriculture, economic analyses, trade policy reviews, etc. When IDB information at thedetailed tariff line level is to be published, agreement would be sought from the concernedparties.  
Data to be Distributed
22. The Secretariat would make available to authorized users any processed information
that was ready for dissemination regardless of whether the submission had fully complied withthe notification requirements.
Other Organizations' Access to the IDB
23. At the Committee's meetings of March and June 1998, Members presented their
preliminary views on the distribution of IDB data to international organizations for theirinternal use.  Members favoured the drawing up of a list of organizations that would begranted access.  Annex 1 lists the international organizations that have been given access inthe past.  In this context, the Secretariat noted the WTO's undertaking with regard to theformal agreements with the World Bank and the IMF.
24. With respect to the definition of "internal use", the understanding in the past was that
these organizations could not under any circumstances distribute the detail files outside theirorganization and could not publish any information at the tariff line level.  However, it wasunderstood that they could publish certain aggregated information with the proviso that theWTO was cited as the source of the original data.  It has been suggested that the most detailedlevel of aggregated information that could be published would be at the level of HS four-digitheadings.  In the future, a condition of providing IDB information to internationalorganizations would be the publishing of a standard disclaimer associated with any use of theIDB data.  This disclaimer would state that any conclusions or analyses were theresponsibility of the authors and did not necessarily represent the opinion of the WTO.
25. In view of the formal co-operation agreements with the World Bank and the IMF
(refer to Annexes 2 and 3), special arrangements apply to these two institutions.  The formal
agreement reached with the World Bank provides the World Bank with access to processed
IDB files at the tariff line level once those files had been approved by Members. TheSecretariat would recommend giving the Bank access to the Internet File Transfer Facility to
reduce the Secretariat's administrative work.  With respect to the IMF, similar arrangements
as those afforded to the World Bank would be made, should the IMF request IDB information
at the tariff line level.  All international and other organizations would be provided withG/MA/62
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access according to the terms described in the following paragraph.  If the IMF or World
Bank intends to publish IDB data, it must obtain advance approval, like other international
organizations, as set out in paragraph 26.
26. The Committee on Market Access must approve requests for access to the IDB by
international organizations and by other organizations.   As a contingency of acquiring access,all organizations must agree to inform the Committee on Market Access, through the WTOSecretariat, of any intended publication of IDB aggregated data (i.e. at the level of HS four-digit headings or more aggregated) or analyses derived from IDB data, prior to publication.All organizations must also agree to obtain the individual Member's approval for thepublication of any information more detailed than the level of HS 4-digit headings.Furthermore:
(1) Organizations would be given access only to the IDB CD-ROM in its present version
(without extraction facilities) for internal use, under the explicit understanding that theinformation was the copyrighted material of the WTO, and that redistribution of tariffline level data beyond the staff of these organizations was prohibited.   A disclaimeras described above would be an additional condition of using or publishinginformation, analyses or conclusions that have been derived from the data containedin the IDB.
(2) The World Bank would continue to have access to the processed IDB files at the tariff
line level once those files had been approved by Members, and in future via theInternet, in view of the existing formal cooperation agreement between the WTO andthe Bank, subject to the provisions described above on the use and publication of IDBdata.
(3) The IMF would be accorded the same arrangements as the World Bank, should it
request access to the IDB information, in view of the existing formal cooperationagreement between the WTO and the IMF, subject to the provisions as describedabove on the use, publication and distribution of IDB data.
(4) Any requests for IDB information not covered above would require the written
authorization of Members concerned.
(5) Those organizations that previously had access to the IDB would be accorded access
in accordance with the table in Annex 1.
Distribution of the IDB Database Design and Software
27. The distribution of the IDB database design and software to international and/or
regional trade organizations for internal use should take place only when it benefits the IDBand the WTO.  In preliminary discussions with Members on this issue, it has been suggestedthat such transfer should be an integral part of a joint effort of both organizations to collectand disseminate the trade and tariff data of the countries concerned. Before suchcooperation is initiated, most if not all of the organization's membership should haveprovided their outstanding submissions to the IDB.  Furthermore, cost-recovery could wellbe an issue.   It has also been pointed out that should such coopera tion be initiated, it would
be the responsibility of individual WTO Members to furnish their processed IDB files to thesecretariat of the regional organization. As such, any legal, copyright or intellectualG/MA/62
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property rights issues would be the responsibility of the WTO Member and not the WTO
Secretariat.
E. ELECTRONIC INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC SOURCES
28. Some Members have suggested that electronic tariff and trade-related information,
already available from public sources, could be supplied by Members to the Secretariat forinclusion in an electronic library.  Members have also stated that the Secretariat should notundertake any undue administrative work to accomplish this.  The Secretariat believes thatthere could be substantial administrative work on its part to maintain this library.  However,several alternatives could be envisaged.  One alternative would be to incorporate links in theInternet File Transfer Facility  or in the WTO public Web S ite to the Internet sites of
organizations or other bodies where such information is available.  Another alternative couldbe to create an electronic bulletin board where Members and the Secretariat could introducereferences to sources of public information relating to tariffs and trade.  This could be doneby posting the Internet address or indicating how to otherwise contact any national orinternational organizations as well as public or private institutions from which the data inquestion is available.
29. In order to minimize the administrative work of the WTO Secretariat while at the
same time providing a vehicle for identifying public sources of information on tariffs andtrade, an electronic bulletin board would be set up at the WTO where Members and theSecretariat could introduce references to sources of public information on tariffs and trade.G/MA/62
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Annex 1
International Organizations that have been given access to the IDB in the past
Organization Current Access / Remarks Proposed Access
International
Monetary FundThe IMF receives the IDB CD-ROM. A formal
cooperation agreement (see Annex 2) was approvedby the General Council and then signed with the IMFin December 1996, entitling the IMF to receive tariffline level files.CD-ROM for
internal use only,and access to tariffline files for internaluse only
World Bank The World Bank receives the IDB CD-ROM.  A
formal cooperation agreement (see Annex 3) wasapproved by the General Council and then signedwith the Bank in April 1997, entitling the Bank to
receive tariff line level files.CD-ROM for
internal use only andaccess to tariff linefiles for internal useonly
UN Conference forTrade andDevelopmentBefore the Uruguay Round, UNCTAD regularly
received copies of the Tariff Study files.  During theRound, it received the trade negotiation files of thoseMembers who gave their formal approval to theSecretariat.CD-ROM for
internal use only
UN Statistics Division The Secretariat and UNSD have exchanged import
files for many years, with the approval of Membersconcerned.  However, this has not included
submissions for the PC IDB.Import files with the
permission of theMember concerned
Organization forEconomicCooperation andDevelopmentThe OECD was given the trade negotiations files for
those Members who gave their formal approval to theSecretariat.  The OECD also receives the IDB CD-ROMCD-ROM for
internal use only
Food and Agricultural
OrganizationThe FAO receives the IDB CD-ROM CD-ROM for
internal use only
Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank
(IaDB)The IaDB has received the IDB CD-ROM to assist
them in assessing their analytical requirements for the
FTAA negotiations.CD-ROM for
internal use only
World CustomsOrganizationThe WCO has received the IDB CD-ROM CD-ROM for
internal use only
Other Aggregated information from the IDB that has
already appeared in WTO publications is sometimes
provided upon request.Aggregated
information fromWTO PublicationsonlyG/MA/62
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Annex 2
Extracts from the formal cooperation ag reement between the WTO and the IMF1
Paragraph 9
" For the purpose of this Agreement, the Director-General of the WTO and the
Managing Director of the Fund shall ensure cooperation between the staffs of the two
institutions and, to that end, shall agree on appropriate procedures for collaboration, including
access to databases, and exchanges of view s on jurisdictional and policy issues.
Comment: This general provision affirms the practice of cooperation between the staffs of the
two institutions.  The details of staff contacts can be determined by the Director-General of
the WTO and the Managing Director of the Fund pu rsuant to their author ity to implement the
Agreement (see below, paragraph 14 on implementation).
Issues for discussions may include the balance-of-payments implications of the
Uruguay Round on least-developed and net-food-importing developing countries and othermatters of interest to both organizations that either may propose for consideration.
On access to databases, the Fund’s staff will make available to the WTO Secretariat
upon request the publications files, in print, tape or other appropriate form, of the
International Financial Statistics (IFS), Bal ance of Payments Statistics (BOPS), Government
Financial Statistics (GFS), Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) on the following
understanding: (a) these are the copyrighted work of the Fund and redistribution beyond the
WTO Secretariat is prohibited; and (b) at least three copies each will be provided on a
complimentary basis.  The Fund's staff will also make available to the WTO Secretariat upon
request historical data and aggregate projections in the WEO [World Economic Outlook].Sympathetic consideration will be given to specific additional requests pertaining to the IFS,
BOPS, GFS and DOTS databases, as well as requests for projections of individual country
data to be used in the WEO and for other statistics, subject to confidentiality requirements
restricting the release of the information requested.
The WTO Secretariat will provide to the Fund’s staff access to the Integrated
Database of the WTO and to final schedules of commitments of WTO Members on the
understanding that the material provided is the copyrighted work of the WTO and
redistribution beyond the Fund’s staff is prohibited.  In addition, six complimentary copies of
the WTO annual International Trade report will be provided to the Fund’s staff.  The WTOSecretariat will give sympathetic consideration to requests by the Fund’s staff for other
statistics.
It is understood that any information provided under paragraph 9 may be subject to a
confidentiality constraint under paragraph 13.  "
                                                     
1 The texts following "Comment:" are an integral part of the agreement.G/MA/62
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Paragraph 13
" Each party to this Agreement shall ensure that any information communicated under
this Agreement shall be used only within  the limits specified by the other party.
Comment: This paragraph commits each institution to preserve the confidentiality of material
received from the other organization.  Because of the general wording of the paragraph, the
obligation extends to use of the information whether within or outside the institution.  "G/MA/62
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Annex 3
Extracts from the formal cooperation agreement between the WTO and the World Bank2
Paragraph 7
" For the purposes of this Agreement, the Pr esident of the World Bank and the Director-
General of the WTO shall ensure cooperation between the staffs of the two institutions who, to
that end, as appropriate, shall share access to databases, undertake joint research and technical
cooperation activities and exchange views on policy issues.
Comment: This general provision affirms the practice of cooperation between the staffs of the
two institutions.  The details of staff contacts can be determined by the President of the World
Bank and the Director-General of the WTO pu rsuant to their authority to implement the
Agreement (see below, paragraph 11 on implementation).   
Issues for discussion may include the implications of the Uruguay Round on least-
developed and net-food-importing developing countries, the roles of trade and trade policy in
enhancing economic growth in Africa, and other matters of common interest that either
organization may propose.
The World Bank will provide the WTO Secretariat access to the Bank Economic and
Social Database (BESD), as well as three complimentary copies in appropriate form (print,
diskette or CD-ROM), of the World Debt T ables, World Bank Atlas, World Development
Indicators, Trends in Developing Economie s and African Development Indicators.  The
World Bank staff will also make available upon request the Statistical Annex of the GlobalEconomic Prospects and the Developing Countr ies.  The World Bank staff will give
sympathetic consideration to requests by the WTO Secretariat for other statistics.  Any
material provided to the WTO will be on the understanding that it is the copyrighted work of
the World Bank and redistribution beyond the WTO Secretariat is prohibited.
The WTO Secretariat will continue to provide the World Bank staff access to the
Integrated Database of the WTO and to final schedules of commitments of WTO Members onthe understanding that the material provided is the copyrighted work of the WTO and that its
redistribution beyond the World Bank's staff is prohibited.
It is understood that any information provided under paragraph 7 may be subject to a
confidentiality constraint under paragraphs 9 and 10.
This paragraph also provides for the institutions to develop joint research and
technical assistance projects in areas of common interest. "
                                                     
2 The texts following "Comment:" are an integral part of the agreement.G/MA/62
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Paragraph 9
" Subject to such limitations as may be necessary for safeguarding of confidential
material, the World Bank and the WTO shall a rrange the timely exchange of information,
reports and other documents of mutual interest.
Comment:  This provision provides for a regular exchange of documentation between the two
Institutions.
The WTO will provide the World Bank with the Trade Policy Review Reports,
Summary Records and Reports of Councils, Committees or other bodies, and reports of WTO
Members to these organs.  In addition, six complimentary copies of the WTO annual
International Trade report will be provided to the World Bank's staff.  The WTO Secretariatwill give sympathetic consideration to requests by the World Bank's staff for other
information, publications and statistics.
The World Bank will provide the WTO with six complimentary copies of World
Development Report, and Global Economic Prospects and the Developing Countries.  TheWorld Bank staff will give sympathetic consideration to other requests for information and
publications by the WTO Secretariat.
Within this provision it is understood that, in cases where a policy framework paper
(PFP) is being prepared, and in the context of discussions on recipients of the PFP, theWorld Bank's staff will suggest to its missions to indicate to the country concerned the WTO's
interest in receiving such documents.
It is understood that any information provided under this Paragraph may be subject
to a confidentiality constraint under this Paragraph and Paragraph 10. "
Paragraph 10
" Each party to this Agreement shall ensure that any information communicated under
this Agreement shall be used only within  the limits specified by the other party.
Comment: This paragraph commits each institution to preserve the confidentiality of material
received from the other organization.  The general wording of the paragraph entails the
possibility that restrictions may be placed on the use of the information either inside or
outside the institution. "
__________