RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/14
14 March 2000
(00-1001)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 23 March 2000 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 2000 (WT/L/338).  At its meeting of 23 March 2000, 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.21.  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.7. As of23 March 2000, [....] Members and […] acceding countries had provided IDB submissions. TheSecretariat presented an oral report on the status of processing of IDB submissions and the status of
software development.  The Committee began  its review of the operation of the IDB and IDB
technical assistance activities on the basis of document G/MA/IDB/W/4 ]
6. [The Committee began its review of paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the Interpretation of
Article XXVIII of GATT 1994.]G/MA/SPEC/14
Page 2
7. [The Secretariat gave a progress report on the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database
Project.]
8. [The Committee took note of the tariff informati on available in the Secretariat as contained in
document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.5.]
The report will be completed in light of the discussion that will take place at the
Committee's meeting on 23 March 2000.G/MA/SPEC/14
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
ARGENTINA /30 4 Extension needed to finalize consultations and
negotiations with various Members havinggeneral reservations.
BOLIVIA /42 1 Extension needed to finalize consultations with
one Member having raised objections.
BRAZIL /36 + Corr.1 + 2 5 Extension needed to conclude consultations with
Members having raised specific reservations.Additionally, one general reservation has not
been specified.
BRUNEIDARUSSALAM/14 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed in view of the general
reservations received from two Members.
BULGARIA Extension needed to finalize documentation and
to allow for consultations with interested
Members as may be necessary.
COSTA RICA /37 + Add.1 1 Extension needed to finalize consultations.
EGYPT G/MA/TAR/RS/50/Rev.112 Extension needed to continue the process of
consultations with Members who have alreadyreceived replies from Egypt to their questions
and comments.
EL SALVADOR Extension needed as documentation has just
been submitted to the Secretariat for verification.
HONDURAS /43 (to be issued) Extension needed as documentation has to be
circulated  and additional time may be needed
for consultations with Members, as necessary.
ICELAND /38 + Corr.1 +  Add.1 2 Extension needed  to finalize consultations and
possible negotiations under Article XXVIII.
INDIA /8 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed in light of a general
reservation which is still existing on India'sproposed amendments.
ISRAEL /26 +  Add.1 3 Extension needed as consultations need to be
finalized with one Member.  Additionally,earlier reservations which were general in their
nature have neither been specified or lifted.
MALAYSIA /31 + Rev.1 2 Extension needed to conclude consultations.
                                                     
1 Contains also rectifications to the schedule.G/MA/SPEC/14
Page 4
Country Document
(G/SECRET/HS96 series)Reservations
(Number of
countries)Reasons for requesting waiver
or extension of waiver
MEXICO Extension needed due to technical difficulties
encountered in completing documentation whichis required for any relevant consultations or
negotiations.
NEW ZEALAND /20 + Corr.1 2 Extension needed to allow more time to resolve
questions raised on New Zealand's schedule by
two Members.
NORWAY /11 3 Extension needed to complete consultations.
PAKISTAN /40 3 Extension needed to complete bilateral
negotiations.
PANAMA Extension needed as technical problems have
been encountered in the preparation of
correlation tables between HS92 and HS96.
PARAGUAY /29 4 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with Members having raised
general reservations.
SLOVENIA /23 + Corr.1 1 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with one Member.
SWITZERLAND /10 1 Extension needed to conclude ongoing
consultations.
URUGUAY /28 3 Extension needed to conclude consultations and
negotiations with one Member having a general
reservation.
VENEZUELA /12 + Rev. 1 1 Extension needed to conclude negotiations with
one Member having a general reservation.G/MA/SPEC/14
Page 5ANNEX 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. Nicaragua 26.01.199828.06.1995
G/SECRET/HS/3Nine:
09.12.1994
13.12.1995
18.07.199624.04.1997
22.10.1997
24.04.199814.10.1998
15.06.1999
3
04.11.1999Two One Nicaragua gave the
information
requested by the
interested Memberand also presented a
proposal which is
being studied by this
Member.In constant
consultations with the
Member concerned in
order to conclude as
soon as possible the
negotiations.Extension requested
G/L/351
G/C/W/189
2. Sri Lanka 08.11.198812.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty:
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
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
3
04.11.1999Five Two Following its most
recent initiative,
clarification and
finalization ofdocuments remain to
be completed with
one Member.Sri Lanka has
sought clarification
on the status of thereservations made
by the remaining
two Members.Continues to make
every effort to
conclude
negotiations.Extension requested
G/L/350
G/C/W/188G/MA/SPEC/14
Page 6
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
3. Zambia 26.11.199312.03.1996
G/SECRET/HS/8Eight:
13.12.1995
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
3
04.11.1999Two - Waiting to receive
responses from the
two Members
regarding a modified
schedule sent to
them by Zambia.Bright Extension requested
G/L/352
G/C/W/190
_______________