RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/C/W/300/Rev.2
7 November 2001
(01-5506)
Council for Trade in Goods Original:  Spanish
REQUEST BY EL SALVADOR FOR A WAIVER UNDER ARTICLE IX
OF THE WTO AGREEMENT FOR MINIMUM VALUES UNDER
THE AGREEMENT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE VII
OF THE GATT 1994
Revision
The following communication, dated 29 October 2001, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of El Salvador.
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The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the World Trade Organization presents its
compliments to the Market Access Division and has th e honour to notify that it wishes to renew its
request contained in document G/C/W/300/Rev.1, submitted to the Council for Trade in Goods under
Article IX, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Marrakesh Agreement, to apply minimum values.
Indeed, the extension with respect to the application of the Agreement on Customs Valuation,
granted in document G/VAL/30 of 6 July 2000 indicated that El Salvador would have to apply the
Agreement as from 7 September 2001.  Accordingly, we are requesting a further extension of
six months from 7 September 2001, during which time we wish to apply minimum values pursuant to
the above-mentioned paragraphs.
Reasons for the renewed request
We all know that El Salvador suffered two very serious earthquakes at the beginning of this
year, which made it necessary to reschedule its activities and commitments to meet the social
priorities involved in assisting the affected population.
The adoption of customs legislation has therefore been delayed;  indeed, El Salvador has had
to review its priorities and pursue social schemes to respond to the needs of the population affected bythe earthquakes.
Despite this, El Salvador has made great efforts to fulfil its commitments;  for example:- The progress report on the work plan for the implementation of Article VII of the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, contained in document G/VAL/N/4/SLV/1
dated 26 June, submitted to the WTO on 28 May.  By then, the draft law had already
been submitted to the corresponding institutions with a view to speeding up the
process of approval before September 2001, as stipulated in document G/VAL/30.
- The application of paragraph 2 of the Decision on the Valuation of Carrier Media-
Bearing Software for Data-Processing Equipment.G/C/W/300/Rev.2
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- Internal training activities related to the Agreement.
- Consolidation and updating of databases.
Minimum values
The application of minimum values refers exclusively  to the detailed list of products annexed
hereto, and aims at stabilizing the collection of duties affected not only by the situation referred to
above, but also by criminal activities such as smuggling and under-invoicing, which have recently
been on the increase, exacerbated by the world economic slowdown currently affecting our main
trading partners.
In the light of these considerations, negotiations have already taken place with the countries
involved, and are at a relatively advanced stage .
Conclusion
We call on Members, in considering whether to approve this request, to refer to Annex III,
paragraph 1 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade 1994 which states:  "Members will give sympathetic consideration to such a request in
cases where the developing country Member in question can show good cause."  The twoearthquakes, which came within one month of each other and which have caused a rise in poverty
from 48 to 52 per cent, do not, per se , constitute the reason for the request.  Rather, the request is
being made in response to the new order of priorities that has had to be established to meet the
requirements of the population.  We count on the understanding of Members in this respect.
The current request is made without prejudice to the rights and obligations of El Salvador
under the WTO Agreements, of which our country is a loyal signatory.  We would be grateful if this
request could be circulated to the Members, for discussion in the next meeting of the Council for
Trade in Goods.G/C/W/300/Rev.2
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ANNEX FROM EL SALVADOR:  LIST OF PRODUCTS TO WHICH
MINIMUM PRICES ARE APPLIED (REVISED VERSION
OF 23 OCTOBER 2001)
No. Trade name Item heading
1 Worn clothing and other
worn related articlesEx 6309.ex 6310.10 and ex 6310.90
2 Used televisions Excl 8528.12.10, ex 8528.12.90, ex 8528.13.10,
ex 8528.13.90
3 Pneumatic tyres,
retreaded or usedExcl 4012.10.00, ex. 4012.20.00
4 Sound equipment Ex. 8520.32.90, ex.8520.90.00
5 Articles of apparel Ex. 6101.10.00 to 6117.90.00, 6201.11.00 to
6217.90.00
6 Sacks and bags, of a
kind used for thepacking of goodsEx.6305.10.00
7 Articles of apparel,
made-up6301.10.00 to 6304.99.00
8 Footwear 6402.19.00 to 6405.90.00
9 Vehicles other than
railway or tramwayrolling stock, and parts
and accessories thereof,
of Chapter 87 (used),
except for vehicles used
for travelling on snowclassified under tariff
subheading 8703.10,
self-propelled works
trucks classified under
tariff heading 8709 and
tanks classified under
subheading 8710 (usedvehicles)Ex. Chapter 87, except 8703.10, ex 8709 and ex
8710
10 Used aircraft Ex 8802.11.00 to 8802.40.00
11 Used boats Ex 8901.90.10 to 8903.99.00
12 Cement 2523.2100 to 2523.29.00
13 Cookers for liquid fuel Ex 7321.11.10G/C/W/300/Rev.2
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No. Trade name Item heading
14 Electric cookers 8516.60.00
15 Refrigerators 8418.21.00, 8418.22.00, 8418.29.00, 8418.30.00,
8418.40.00, 8418.50.00
16 Clocks and watches and
parts thereof9101.11.00 to 9102.99.00
17 Cigars and cigarettes 2402.10.00, 2402.20.00, 2402.90.00
18 Dairy products 0401.10.00 a 0406.90.00
19 Arms 9302.00.00, 9303.10.00, 9303.90.00
20 Woven fabrics of cotton 5208.11.00 to 5212.25.00
21 Woven fabrics of
synthetic filaments5407.41.10 to 5408.34.00
22 Woven fabrics of
synthetic fibres5512.11.00 to 5516.94.00
23 Used video decks Ex. 8521.10.10, ex. 8521.10.90, ex. 8521.90.00
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