WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/MA/W/2
3 July 2002
(02-3720)
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:  English
TARIFF AND TRADE DATA NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Communication from the United States
The following communication, dated 1 July 2002, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United States.
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I. INTRODUCTION
The United States proposes that the Market Access Negotiating Group follow up on the April
Tariff Seminar with a more detailed discussion on the tariff and trade data needs of Members.  An
early exchange of views on data needs is important for practical reasons in order to carry out the Doha
mandate on Non-Agricultural Market Access.  As part of the work envisioned, Members will want to
assess the current availability of both tariff and trade information as well as the software “tools” toanalyze the underlying data.   In this submission, the United States sets out its views on data
requirements for future work of the negotiating group, including establishing a common set of data for
use in tariff negotiations as well as addressing data shortfalls.  We also have provided a preliminary
analysis of the types of software tools available, in order to facilitate a discussion of their respective
benefits and deficiencies.
II. DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS
In order to begin the necessary analytical work to support the negotiations and for
governments to assess interests, opportunities, and priorities, it is important that Members have access
to a common, consolidated source of current applied and bound tariffs and trade statistics.  To this
end, the United States applauds the WTO Secretariat’s preparation and Members’ decision in June to
disseminate the tariff bindings or Consolidated Tariff Schedule (CTS).
Importantly, paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration states that “modalities to be
agreed will include appropriate studies and capacity building measures to assist least developed
countries to participate effectively in the negotiations.”  Such work will require data on current market
access conditions, i.e., current applied tariffs, in addition to bound rates and recent import statistics.Securing authorized tariff and trade data from national sources is necessary so that Members may
examine market opportunities, disparities between  bound and applied rates, and their own tariff
profiles.
Members should also discuss a common set of data for use in tariff negotiations.  As a starting
point for this discussion, Members should have a data set containing tariffs and trade for the most
recent period that reflect as nearly as possible current market conditions.  Therefore, the United States
recommends the negotiating group discuss and set a deadline for submission of year 2000 applied
tariffs and 2000 import data.TN/MA/W/2
Page 2
III. SOFTWARE TOOLS
Several international organizations have developed analytical tools for different functions and
audiences, including identifying export interests and potential export markets, and analyzing the
domestic economic impact of tariff reductions.  To facilitate Members’ review of the various software
tools currently available, the United States has co mpiled a list and preliminary assessment of their
uses (see attached survey). While this list is not exhaustive, it is a starting point from which Members
might take stock and determine which tool or set of tools best serves their needs.  To make full use of
the various software programs already undertaken, we propose that the WTO Secretariat prepare a
short background document for the Negotiating Group’s consideration at its next meeting on the
availability and application of software tools.
We encourage the WTO Secretariat to take advantage of existing software tools.  These tools
would be useful in the evaluation of modalities but are not a substitute for the research and trade
negotiating data required when Members move on to exchanging tariff schedules.  While these
systems may serve analytical needs as the Negotiating Group examines modalities, their utility is
linked to the comprehensiveness of the underlying data.  It is for these reasons that the WTO
Secretariat should concentrate its efforts on collecting and updating the Integrated Database (IDB),the linchpin in the effectiveness of the other tools.
IV. ADDRESSING DATA SHORTFALLS
Members need to take action to fill the data gaps in the IDB so that our work can progress.
As of June 2002,  the official IDB data set is incomplete.  There were tariff and/or import submissionsfrom 92 Members and four acceding countries.  In some cases, both recent tariff and trade data have
been provided, but in many cases only one or the other is available, or the import and tariff data vary
in a year.
Some of the missing tariff and trade data are available in regional data banks or other sources
but require action by the WTO Member before the WTO Secretariat can serve as a collection point.
In some instances, it merely requires a Member to make or authorize the legal transfer of data.  This
may include a Member formally and expeditiously authorizing the FTAA or APEC Secretariat or
other international organization to release its tariff and trade data to the WTO.  The WTO Secretariat
identified many of these organizations in the four regional analyses it did in 2001 (see
G/MA/IDB/W/10).  Building on the WTO Secretariat’s experience, this transfer process can be
facilitated by designating an in-country point of c ontact.  The lack of data submitted by Members will
only serve to slow down the analytical work that is required to advance the negotiations, which is an
area of work identified as a priority by developing country trading partners.
In some cases, Members’ tariff schedules and trade data have been collected by the Trade
Policy Review (TPR) Division, and despite a request to these governments from the StatisticsDivision to authorize the transfer of the data to the IDB, some Members have not acted.  To close this
gap, we propose that the Chair, aided by the Secretariat, compile information on TPR data available,
with the aim of adding such data to the IDB before the end of the year.
As the focal point for the market access commitm ents and repository of tariff information
legally required by Members, the WTO is well poised to house the most comprehensive official tariff
and trade data available.  Not only are the data necessary to provide developing countries with the
appropriate analytical tools needed to conduct detailed negotiations, but they also are an obligation of
all WTO Members.  If Members face legitimate technical assistance problems such as translation,
technical capacity, etc., the United States is committed to exploring how it may help, but Membersshould define the specific problem as well as identify a capital-based contact  for direct interaction
with the Secretariat.TN/MA/W/2
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V. CONCLUSION
Members are well positioned to take advantage of the plethora of software tools available.
However, there remain critical gaps in recent tariff and trade data submissions by Members to the
IDB, which ultimately affect the usefulness of software tools available.  For all Members to actively
participate in the negotiating process, it is our respon sibility to ensure that all 144 Members’ tariff and
trade data are made available as soon as possible.  To that end, the WTO Secretariat should take stock
of the various software programs developed by international institutions, but focus its efforts on
processing and updating the IDB.  The quality of the debate surrounding market access negotiations is
certain to be enhanced if the best data are collected and disseminated to all Members.
The United States proposes the following actions:
1)  That the Negotiating Group discuss and set a deadline for submission of a common data set
for the most recent period, e.g., 2000 tariff data to include bound and applied rates, in addition
to 2000 import data.
2) That Members agree to address data shortfalls before the end of 2002 by (1) providing legal
authorization to other organizations to release data to the WTO where it is available, and (2)
asking the Chair to facilitate the expansion of the IDB by working with Members to add their
TPR data.
3) That the WTO Secretariat prepare a short background document for the Negotiating Group’s
consideration at its next meeting on the availability and application of software tools and
focus its efforts on data collection.TN/MA/W/2
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Data Systems Agency or
InstitutionSummary Cost/Public Availability/
WTO "Official" Data
StatusData Type & Source HS Product
DetailCountry
CoverageDelivery
System
World TradeAtlasGlobal Trade
InformationService (Private
Sector)Trade value and volume viewing
system** for a limited set ofcountries each purchased
separately. Very user-friendly and
contains some built-incalculations such as shares andgrowth.This is a trade data only
system, which does not useofficial WTO data. The
system is publicly available at
a cost.(Individual Country
Imports & Exportdata)National Tariff
Line Detail(Greater than
HS6)Up to 44
countries(purchased
separately).CDs or Web
Global Trade
AtlasGlobal Trade
InformationService (PrivateSector)Trade value and volume viewing
system** for a "global" set ofcountries. Very user-friendly andcontains some built-in
calculations such as shares and
growth.Does not have tariff data.
Trade data is not officialWTO. The system is publiclyavailable at a cost.(Individual Country
Imports & Exportdata)National Tariff
Line Detail(Greater thanHS6)COMTRADE
covers up to 150countries,usually there are
100 reporting
countries forany given year.CDs or Web
Market Access
MapsInternational
Trade Centre(ITC-Geneva)This is a point and click web-
based system for bilateral tariffand trade value and volumeanalysis. The system usesUNCTAD's list of NTMs which
includes measures such as SPS,
TBT, environment, and anti-dumping.Does not use official WTO
data nor contain bindings.The system is available to thepublic for a cost.COMTRADE
(Imports & Exports)National Tariff
Line Detail(Greater thanHS6)223 exporting
countries, 137importingcountries.Stand-alone
tool
Trade Map International
Trade Centre(ITC-Geneva)Primarily a tool for identifying
trade interests and for tradepromotion. The user chooses acountry of origin and HS product
to examine target export markets.Does not use official WTO
data. The system is availableto the public for a cost.  Thepackage includes training but
timing is an issue.Imports and Exports
from COMTRADEHS 6-digit Over 180
countries andterritories.Web
TRAINS UNCTAD This is primarily an applied tariff
rate viewing** system.  Thesystem can calculate tariff
averages and create aggregations
across countries.  Trains canoutput its data.Does not contain official
WTO tariff or trade data. Theapplied tariffs in this system
are used as an input to WITS
and ITC's products. Thesystem contains no bindings.Trains is available to the
public at a cost.Imports and Tariffs,
including preferencesImports - HS 6-
digit; Tariffs -national line levelCDs, limited
system isavailable on the
Web.CDs or WebTN/MA/W/2
Page 5Data Systems Agency or
InstitutionSummary Cost/Public Availability/
WTO "Official" Data
StatusData Type & Source HS Product
DetailCountry
CoverageDelivery
System
APEC Database APEC This is an easy to use Web-based
system for viewing a particular
tariff line for countries in theAPEC region.  The system cannotcalculate tariff averages or create
aggregations across countries.
The APEC system cannot outputits data.Does not have official WTO
data but is free to the public.Imports and Tariffs
including preferencesNational Tariff
Line Detail
(Greater thanHS6)All APEC
Members.Web
FTAA's
Hemispheric
Data BaseThe Inter-
American
DevelopmentBankThis a data viewer** to look at
tariffs and trade values and
volume in the WesternHemisphere. Would be veryhelpful in detailed tariff
negotiating phase. www.ftaa-
alca.orgDoes contain official FTAA
data but will only cover the
hemisphere. Website versionis free to the public.Imports and Tariffs,
including preferencesNational Tariff
Line Detail
(Greater thanHS6)Maximum 34
FTAA
participantswhen complete.Currently
between 20 and
30 reporters.At one time
data was
available onthe Web.
Consolidated
Tariff SchedulesWTO This is WTO's official tariff
binding database. It has recently
been released to WTO Members.CTS is free for Members but
not publicly available.Tariff Bindings, Ag
Commitments in
TRQ, price supports,export subsidiesNational Tariff
Line Detail
(Greater thanHS6)All WTO
members.Web provides
downloadable
Accessdatabases
The Integrated
Data Base or
"IDB"WTO This is the WTO's official applied
tariff database. The IDB site
disseminates Access files bycountry with tariff rates, tradevalues and volumes. The WTO
recently created new "user
friendly" dataview to allownovice users to look at tariff linesand averages for a particuliar
country and year.IDB is free for Members, but
is primarily a series of
country by country files. It isnot publicly available.Imports, Exports, and
TariffsNational Tariff
Line Detail
(Greater thanHS6)Fifty percent of
all WTO
members, notall submissionsare current.Web provides
downloadable
Accessdatabases
WITS World Bank This is a research and negotiation
software tool with both tariff rate
and trade data .The system is free for WTO
Members. It has official IDB
data and will include WTO
bindings.  Access is limited toMembers and the WorldBank.Imports and Exports
from COMTRADE;
Plus tariffs including
preferences fromTrainsImports - HS 6-
digit; Tariffs -
national line levelCOMTRADE
covers up to 150
countries,
usually there are100 reportingcountries for
any given year.CDs or WebTN/MA/W/2
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Data Systems Agency or
InstitutionSummary Cost/Public Availability/
WTO "Official" Data
StatusData Type & Source HS Product
DetailCountry
CoverageDelivery
System
OECD query
and reporting
systemOECD This is a research and software
tool with both tariff rate and trade
value information data. Query andreporting system at aggregatedchapter level.Available to OECD Members.
Intention to extend to non
members in future. Notpublicly available.OECD Foreign Trade
Statistics database
with UNCTADtariffs. No preferencesbut intention to do so.Imports- 98 trade
flows, applied and
bound rates postUR, productaggregation at
HS2,4 and 6Does not
contain official
IDB data.Covers OECDcountries' trade
with world.
Countrygroupings.CD rom
Data Web U.S.
International
TradeCommissionData Web provides several tools
including a query-output* system
for U.S. trade value and volumedata with the ability to createcustom aggregates. Dataweb also
provides a downloadable tariff
database (HS-8 digit) and a U.S.legal text of tariffs in adataviewing system**.USG is the primary user, but
Dataweb is publicly available.U.S. data on imports,
exports, and tariffs
(includingpreferences)Down to the HS
10-digit
(statistical) forU.S. tariffnomenclatureUnited States
only.Web-based
Query Output
*  A query-output system allows the user to "request" a particuliar grouping of data (by countries/regions, product groups, tim e period).  The system then returns a listing of the data
requested.
**A data viewing system allows the user to pick a data item, su ch as a product item, and the system lists to the screen the cor responding information, such as a tariff rate by country.
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