RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/IDB/W/4
28 May 1999
(99-2170)
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 proce ssed by the Secretariat, the information can
be distributed as file copies at the tariff lin e level (in MS Access format or in text-delimited
format) or via the IDB CD-ROM.  With the IDB CD-ROM, users have the possibility 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 thos e international organizations with which
the WTO has a formal cooperation agreement, and to those international organizations that had
received written authorization from Members. With the IDB Internet File Transfer Facility, IDB
users will have the possibility of transferring IDB files to their PCs via the Internet.
Furthermore, the Secretariat has begun work on  the IDB dissemination database, which will be
made available to authorized users via a reporting application developed using Internet
technology.  The reporting application will provid e facilities similar to t hose provided with the
IDB CD-ROM, as well as data extraction facilities.
Internet File Transfer Facility
2. The PC IDB project includes the establishmen t of a password-protected Internet site for
file distribution.  This facility is operational although access has not yet been given to Members.
The site will be accessed using an Internet browser by entering the address of the site and a
user-identification code and password (hereafter  referred to as password).  The passwords 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.
The list of authorized users would be dete rmined according to the dissemination practices
agreed upon by Members (refer to section D – Dissemination Practices).   After the IDB
submissions have been processed by the Secret ariat and approved by Members, they would be
posted to this area where authorized users could tr ansfer the files to their PCs using an Internet
browser.  The second area would contain "priva te directories" for individual Members and
acceding countries or territories.   These dir ectories would be accessible only by the country
concerned and the Secretariat.  They would be used to forward IDB submissions to the
Secretariat and to receive files from the Secretar iat. The third area would be a "provisional" area
containing the processed files that had not yet b een approved by Members (refer to section B for
further information).  The fourth area woul d contain an electronic bulletin board whereG/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 2
Members could introduce references to public sources of tariff and trade information (refer to
section E for further information).
4. The internet site address and passwords woul d be distributed to Members, via the heads
of delegations in Geneva, by the Secretariat.  Th e Secretariat would ensure a strict control on the
issuing of passwords to delegations.  Each Me mber would have its ow n password and it would
be possible to establish several passwords for a given Member if required. The passwords
would be changed periodically.  The Internet site would also have a logging facility to track
files downloaded by individual users.  Furthe rmore, 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 loose
control on the imparting of these files to una uthorized parties, regardless of the security
measures established to prevent this.  It would then be the responsibility of Members to advise
the Secretariat of required changes in passwords , to ensure that the IDB dissemination practices
are respected.  Access rights to the Internet site could be removed at any time by deleting 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.  The IDBCD-ROM contains tariffs and imports for ID B reporting countries and an application for
analysis. The application contains features for se lection of products according to tariff and trade
criteria and for the compilation of seven types of reports.  The CD-ROM files are stored in a
binary format that can only be exploited by th e CD-ROM application.  With the present version
of the IDB CD-ROM analysis software, it is not pos sible to transfer information in an electronic
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 database
available to users via a reporting application developed using Internet technology.  The IDB
processed files would be transferred from the i ndividual MS Access databases (one database for
each reporting country) to the dissemination database, in which data for all reporting countries
would be stored.  The Internet reporting app lication would provide facilities for the user to
define and submit a query and retrieve the results.  As with the IDB File Transfer Facility,access to the dissemination database would be pa ssword-protected and data would be encrypted
during transfer.  The application would contain facilities similar to those now available with the
IDB CD-ROM, with additional enhancements to pr ovide greater flexibility in the selection of
data and creation of reports.  Facilities to ex tract the IDB information for use with other PC
desktop software, either at tariff line level or summary levels, would be introduced.
Internet Technical Considerations
8. The efficiency of using Internet technolo gy for IDB data transfer operations and IDB
data analysis would depend on the type and speed of the client's Internet connection, as well as
the number of concurrent clients accessing the IDB server.  As the number of concurrent clients
on the server grows, the performance could decrease.   The Internet traffic at the time of the
operation could also affect response time.   T hose IDB users with a slow Internet connection
might have to rely on alternatives, such as file copies distributed on CD-ROM's or the use of the
IDB CD-ROM to conduct analyses of the IDB information.G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 3
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 agreed upon
by Members (refer to section D).  To avoid complex password administration, the same access
rights and passwords would be used for both the IDB File Transfer Facility and the IDB
Dissemination Database. The IDB information w ould be distributed according to the methods
described in this note.
B. MEMBERS' APPROVAL OF PROCESSED SUBMISSIONS10. 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 provide
Members with timely IDB information, pending  the receipt of Members' approval, the
processed files would be disseminated via the Internet File Transfer Facility with a
"provisional" status, meaning that they may be subject to revision. These provisional files would
be distributed to all WTO Members and also to those acceding countries or territories that have
provided IDB submissions.  All such provisional files would be automatically deemed
approved if the Member had not submitted re visions within sixty days.  In addition, when
provisional files had been revised, the Secretariat would post a note on the Internet File
Transfer Facility indicating on a broad level the changes that had been made and the degree 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 after formal 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 Secret ariat and defined as "original" submissions,
should be distributed. Some Members have suggeste d that original submissions be circulated to
those Members who have also provided submi ssions, possibly by means of the Internet File
Transfer facility, where a private "library" might be established to store the original
submissions.  Other Members have stated th at the Secretariat should not undertake any
distribution of original submissi ons, that is, before they are processed by the Secretariat. The
original submissions received thus far for fi fty-eight Members and three acceding countries or
territories comprise more than three thousand three hundred individual files.  These original
files are sometimes incomplete or are later replaced with revised data. Sometimes, hard-copy
documentation provided with the submissions is required to interpret the electronic information.
Furthermore, in posting files to the Internet File  Transfer Facility, they must be transferred one
at a time and a description must be entered for each file. Therefore, the administrative effort on
the part of the Secretariat associated with di stribution of original submissions, via whatever
medium (Internet, diskette copies, etc), woul d be substantial.  Another consideration in
circulating original submissions relates to non-mandatory IDB information in original
submissions. Some Members have already advised the Secretariat that they do not wish for this
information to be included in the IDB, thus precluding the circulation of these submissions to
others .G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 4
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 with the
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 establis hed the Informal Advisory Group (IAG) on
the IDB, in which experts from all Contracting Pa rties were invited to participate.  The IAG's
mandate was to provide guidance to the Secretaria t in the preparation of the IDB and to report to
the GATT Council on the progress of the work.  With respect to the dissemination of the
information, the Council Decision stipulated that  all Contracting Parties would have full access
to the database. However, during the Uruguay Round, most countries di d not supply annual IDB
submissions on a regular basis.  They supplied base and offered duties and their updates for themarket access negotiations.  These trade negotiation files were exchanged among Contracting
Parties only with authorization of the countries  concerned.  The IDB trade negotiation files were
not made available to all WTO Members until the first version of the IDB CD-ROM was
distributed in June 1995. In October 1995, the Committee agreed to allow international
organizations access to the IDB for internal use. Annex 1 lists the international and regionalorganizations that have been provided IDB information in the past. Furthermore, the WTO
has entered into formal cooperation agreements with the IMF and the World Bank (refer to
document WT/L/195).  These agreements state that these organizations are granted access to
the IDB.  Annexes 2 and 3 contain extracts of the agreements 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, the
document states:
“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 th rough various methods (refer to section A),
access to tariff line level data should be distin guished from access to the present version of the
IDB CD-ROM.  Tariff line level data can be further analyzed using PC desktop software, whilethe IDB CD-ROM only permits the viewing and printing of tariff line and summary data.G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 5
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/ID B/1/Rev.1) and 2
December 1997 (G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1/Add.1) and th e Decision of the General Council of 16
July 1997 (WT/L/225), access to the IDB is available to all WTO Members and also to those
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 assistance
continues to be available to all Members to he lp them fulfil this obligation.  These Members
have 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 ma ke IDB submissions should be stepped up.
Accordingly, such Members would be requested to  convey the nature of difficulties faced by
them in making IDB submissions so that they could be assisted in dealing with difficulties
faced by them either through technical assistance or other steps considered appropriate 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 Market Access
Committee would undertake prior to 1 June 2000 a review of the operation of the IDB and of
IDB related technical assistance activities. If, at the time of the review, participation ofMembers in the IDB falls substantially below the current level of participation, access to the
IDB data will be temporarily suspended until adequate 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 by
governments.
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 review s, etc. When IDB information at the detailed
tariff line level is to be published, agreement would be sought from the concerned parties.  
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 with
the 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 their internalG/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 6
use.  Members favoured the drawing up of a list of organizations that would be granted access.
Annex 1 lists the international organizations that  have been given access in the past.  In this
context, the Secretariat noted the WTO's undertakin g with regard to the formal 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 circumst ances distribute the detail files outside their
organization and could not publish any information at the tariff line level.  However, it was
understood that they could publish certain aggreg ated information with the proviso that the
WTO was cited as the source of the original data.  It has been suggested that the most detailed
level of aggregated information that could be published would be at the level of HS four-digit
headings.  In the future, a condition of providin g IDB information to international organizations
would be the publishing of a standard disclaimer associated with any use of the IDB data.  This
disclaimer would state that any conclusions or analyses were the responsibility 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. The
Secretariat 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 arrangementsas 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 with
access according to the terms described in the following paragraph.
26. The Committee on Market Access must approve requests for access to the IDB by
international organizations and by other organi zations.   As a contingency of acquiring access,
all organizations must agree to inform the Committee on Market Access, through the WTO
Secretariat, of any intended publication of IDB aggr egated data (i.e. at the level of HS four-digit
headings or more aggregated) or analyses de rived from IDB data, prior to publication.  All
organizations must also agree to obtain the i ndividual Member's approval for the publication of
any information more detailed than the leve l 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 the
information was the copyrighted material of the WTO, and that redistribution of tariff
line level data beyond the staff of these orga nizations was prohibited.   A disclaimer as
described above would be an additional c ondition of using or publishing information,
analyses or conclusions that have been derived from the data contained in 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 the
Internet, in view of the existing formal  cooperation agreement between the WTO and
the Bank, subject to the provisions descri bed above on the use and publication of IDB
data.
(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 cooperation
agreement between the WTO and the IMF, subject to the provisions as described aboveon 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.G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 7
(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 desi gn and software to international and/or
regional trade organizations for internal use should take place only when it benefits the IDB and
the WTO.  In preliminary discussions with Me mbers on this issue, it has been suggested that
such transfer should be an integral part of a joint effort of both organizations to collect and
disseminate the trade and tariff data of the countries concerned. Before such cooperation is
initiated, most if not all of the organization's membership should have provided theiroutstanding submissions to the IDB.  Furthermore, cost-recovery could well be an issue.   It
has also been pointed out that should such cooperation be initiated, it would be the
responsibility of individual WTO Members to furnish their processed IDB files to the
secretariat of the regional organization. As such, any legal, copyright or intellectual 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 for
inclusion in an electronic library.  Members ha ve also stated that the Secretariat should not
undertake any undue administrative work to accomplish this.  The Secretariat believes that there
could be substantial administrative work on its part  to maintain this library.  However, several
alternatives could be envisaged.  One alternativ e would be to incorporate links in the Internet
File Transfer Facility or in the WTO public Web Site to the Internet sites of organizations or
other bodies where such information is availabl e.  Another alternative could be to create an
electronic bulletin board where Members and the Secretariat could introduce references to
sources of public information relating to tariffs and trade.  This could be done by posting the
Internet address or indicating how to othe rwise contact any national or international
organizations as well as public or private institutions from which the data in question 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 and
trade, an electronic bulletin board would be set up at the WTO where Members and the
Secretariat could introduce references to sources of public information on tariffs and trade.G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 8
Annex 1
International Organizations that have b een 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 approved by
the General Council and then signed with the IMF inDecember 1996, entitling the IMF to receive tariff linelevel files.CD-ROM for
internal use only,
and access to tariff
line files for internal
use 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 signed with
the Bank in April 1997, entitling the Bank to receive
tariff line level files.CD-ROM for
internal use only and
access to tariff line
files for internal useonly
UN Conference forTrade andDevelopmentBefore the Uruguay Round, UNCTAD regularly
received copies of the Tariff Study files.  During the
Round, it received the trade negotiation files of those
Members 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 includedsubmissions for the PC IDB.Import files with the
permission of the
Member concerned
Organization for
EconomicCooperation 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 AgriculturalOrganizationThe 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 theFTAA negotiations.CD-ROM for
internal use only
World Customs
OrganizationThe 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 providedupon request.Aggregated
information from
WTO Publications
onlyG/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 9
Annex 2
Extracts from the formal cooperation agreement 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 other
matters 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.  "
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.
                                                     
1 The texts following "Comment:" are an integral part of the agreement.G/MA/IDB/W/4
Page 10
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/IDB/W/4
Page 11
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 Economies and African Development Indicators.  TheWorld Bank staff will also make available upon request the Statistical Annex of the Global
Economic 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 on
the 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/IDB/W/4
Page 12
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 annualInternational Trade report will be provided to the World Bank's staff.  The WTO Secretariat
will 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.  The
World 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, the
World 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. "
__________