WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/607
13 March 2003
(03-1461)
Original:  Spanish
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM 1996 CHANGES
INTO WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS
Panama – Schedule CXLI
Request for a Waiver
The following communication, dated 3 March 2003, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Panama.
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The Government of Panama hereby requests a waiver from its obligations under Article II of
the GATT 1994 and General Council Decision WT/L/458 of 13 May 2002 in order to implement the
Harmonized System 1996 (HS96) nomenclature and adopt the changes that this entails for Panama'sSchedules of Concessions.
Attached to this request the following documents for consideration by the Committee on
Market Access:
- Draft waiver decision in which it is agreed to suspend the application by Panama of
the provisions of Article II of the GATT 1994 for the purpose of introducing theHS96 changes to Panama's Schedule of Concessions
1;
- factual information concerning the request for a waiver for the purpose of introducing
the HS96 changes to Panama's Schedule of Concessions.
                                                     
1 G/C/W/453.G/L/607
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Factual Information Concerning the Request for a Waiver for the Purpose of Introducing
the HS96 (changes to Panama's Schedule of Concessions
1. Date of original waiver
24 April 1998
2. Date of submission of documents relevant to the HS96 implementation
21 February 2002
Furthermore, on 4 February 2003, Panama submitted to the Committee corrections to the
information provided in the supporting documen tation for the HS96 changes, in response to
verifications requested by the Delegation of Australia.
3. Number of extensions and dates when granted
Panama has been granted six extensions.  The dates are as follows:
WT/L/281 – 14 October 1998
WT/L/303 – 15 June 1999WT/L/338 – 4 November 1999
WT/L/351 – 3 May 2000
WT/L/379 – 8 December 2000
WT/L/400 – 8 May 2001
WT/L/458 – 13 May 2002
4. Number of countries with which Article XXVIII negotiations have been initiated
None.  Corrections requested by Australia and Canada to the information provided in the
supporting documentation for the HS96 changes by Panama have been made.  The European
Communities and the United States should confirm their agreement with the documents supporting
these changes.  The details are as follows:
Canada – Documents G/SE CRET/HS96/48/Add.1 and Rev.1 of 18 March 2002 and
4 June 2002 respectively set out the modifications resulting from the consultations of 28 June  2001
requested by the Delegation of Canada.  On 9 September 2002, Canada gave formal notice that it had
withdrawn its reservation.
Australia – On 4 February 2003, Panama submitted to Australia corrections to the documents
supporting the HS96 changes, as requested.  The verification process is still under way.
European Communities and United States – These delegations are verifying the documents
provided by Panama, circulated as G/SECRET/HS96/48 of 4 April 2001, and
G/SECRET/HS96/48/Add.1 a nd Rev.1 of 18 March 2002 and 4 June 2002 respectively.  Panama is
awaiting confirmation by these two Delegations.
5. Outlook for concluding the process
The Delegation of Panama is currently in the process of completing the data corrections
requested by the Delegation of Australia and is awaiting the withdrawal of reservations by the
Delegations of the European Communities and the United States.G/L/607
Page 3
In the light of the above considerations and bearing in mind that Panama will have to
conclude these consultations or possibly conduct negotiations under Article XXVIII, particularly in
view of the general reservations made by other Members, we expect that a period of 12 months
counted from the date of the waiver decision, will be needed to complete the implementation of these
amendments.
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