WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/23
24 March 2003
(03-1674)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Committee met on 26 March 2003 and examined the following issues:
2. [The Committee took note of the factual information provided by the Members under current
waivers regarding the introduction of HS96 changes to their schedules, the establishment of new
schedules or the renegotiation of schedules. This info rmation is summarized in Annexes I and II of this
report.]
3. [The Committee examined the situation relate d to the submission of HS96 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.30.]
4. [The Committee examined the situation related to the circulation of HS2002 documentation set
out in document G/MA/TAR/4/Rev.3]
5. [With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee
examined the status of IDB submissions on th e basis of the document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.16. The
Secretariat reported on the status of processing of  IDB submissions, use of IDB information,  and the
status of software development.]
6. [The Secretariat reported on the status of the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) Database.]
7. [The Committee considered the requests for access to the IDB and CTS database from the
OECD and FAO.]
8. [Under other business, the Committee took note of the tariff information available in the
Secretariat as contained in document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.8.]
9. [Under other business, the Committee took note of the status of notifications under the
Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions on the basis of a Secretariat
document G/MA/NTM/QR/1/Add.9+Corr.1]G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 2
10. [Under other business, the Committee took note of the date of its next meeting.]
11. [The Committee elected its Chairperson for 2003.]
The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the
Committee meeting on 26 March 2003.G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 3ANNEX I
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of submission of
HS documentationN° of
extensions
and datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
1. Argentina 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96/30
(16.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/30/
Corr.1
(16.05.2000)Twelve
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.200113.05.2002
15.10.2003Four Two Argentina is still
holding
consultations withthe EC and US in
respect of some
tariff lines.- Requested one year.
G/L/606
G/C/W/452
2. El Salvador 18.07.1996 G/SECRET/HS96/44
(01.05.2000)
G/SECRET/HS96/44/
Corr.1(12.02.2002)Eleven
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.200215.10.2003Three Two The United States
should beresponding  to
answers provided by
El Salvador andindicating whether it
has lifted its
reservation.Hopes to conclude
before the expiry of
the time-limit of the
requested waiver.Requested 6 months.
G/L/608G/C/W/454G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 4
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of submission of
HS documentationN° of
extensions
and datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
3. Malaysia 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS/96/31
(16.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/31/
Rev.1
(31.07.1997)Eleven
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Five Five All consultations
regarding the
introduction ofHS96 changes into
Malaysia’s schedule
of tariff concessionshave been
completedAll that remains to be
completed now is to
notify the correctionsto Malaysia's
proposed HS96 tariff
schedule. Unforeseencircumstances
disabled the
completion of theremaining work by 30
April 2003.Requested one year
G/L/615
G/C/W/460
4. Morocco 24.04.1998 G/SECRET/HS96/47
(04.12.2000)
G/SECRET/HS96/47/
Add.1
(28.03.2001)
G/SECRET/HS96/47/
Add.2(28.05.2001)Eight
14.10.1998
15.06.1999
04.11.199903.05.2000
08.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002
15.10.2002Four One Morocco is still in
the process of
negotiating with one
Member.- Requested 6 months.
G/L/616
G/C/W/461
5. Pakistan 24.04.1997 G/SECRET/HS96/40
(10.12.1998)Nine
22.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.2002Three Two One outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiations with the
US is still beingexamined in capital.
The reservation
made by the USdates back to 1995
and the specific
concern was notifiedon 1 February 2001.Pakistan is hopeful
that the matter will be
resolved bilaterally at
the earliest.Requested one year
G/L/612
G/C/W/458G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 5Member Date of
original
waiverDate of submission of
HS documentationN° of
extensions
and datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
6. Panama 24.04.1998 G/SECRET/HS96/48
(04.04.2001)
G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Add.1
(18.03.2002)
G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Rev.1
(4 June 2002)
G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Rev.1/Corr.1
(26.02.03)Seven
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.200008.05.2001
13.05.2002None (Only
corrections were
sought by theMembers having
made
reservations)-- P a n a m a   i s
completing the
corrections sought by
Australia and Canada.
It awaits the lifting of
the reservation by the
US and EC. It hopes
to finish the process
within the time-period
of the requested
waiver extension.Requested one year.
G/L/607
G/C/W/453
7. Thailand 13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96/17
(14.03.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/17/
Rev.1
(18.10.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/17/
Rev.2
(27.11.2001)Twleve
18.07.1996
24.04.1997
22.10.199724.04.1998
14.10.1998
15.06.199904.11.1999
03.05.2000
08.12.200008.05.2001
13.05.2002
15.10.2002Four Negotiations had
concluded with all
four Members.
However,negotiations have
been re-initiated
with two of thoseMembers.Thailand is  now
considering the
questions raised by
the two Members.Thailand hopes to
provide the answers
before the expiry date
of the current waiver.Requested 6 months.
G/L/611+Corr.1
G/C/W/457G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 6
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of submission of
HS documentationN° of
extensions
and datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for a waiver
and draft decision
8. Venezuela,Bolivarian
Republic of13.12.1995 G/SECRET/HS96/12
(16.01.1996)
G/SECRET/HS96/12/
Rev.1
(07.11.1996)Twelve
18.07.1996
24.04.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
13.05.200215.10.2002Three Two One question
remains to be
resolved with theremaining Member.Hopes to conclude
before the time-limit
of the requested
waiver expires.Requested 6 months.
G/L/609
G/C/W/455G/MA/SPEC/23
Page 7ANNEX II
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF WAIVERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ESTABLISHING A NEW SCHEDULE
Member Date of
original
waiverDate of
submission of HS
documentationN° of
extensions and
datesN° of Members
with which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been initiatedN° of Members with
which
Article XXVIII
negotiations have
been concludedStatus of
outstanding
Article XXVIII
negotiationsOutlook for
concluding the
processRequest for an
extension and draft
decision
1. Sri Lanka 08.11.1988 12.01.1990
SECRET/HS/26Twenty-six:
24.07.1989
16.07.1990
07.12.199001.07.1991
04.12.1991
20.07.199203.12.1992
19.07.1993
17.01.199421.07.1994
09.12.1994
31.08.199513.12.1995
18.07.1996
16.07.199722.10.1997
24.04.1998
14.10.199815.06.1999
04.11.1999
03.05.200008.12.2000
08.05.2001
31.10.200113.05.2002
15.10.2002Five Four Sri Lanka continues
to make every effort
to conclude
negotiations underArticle XXVIII.
The negotiations
with the UnitedStates are still
continuing.Sri Lanka has had
bilateral negotiations
with the United
States. Thesenegotiations are still
continuing.  In view
of the fact thatsubmissions have
been made to the
Advisory Committeeof the Government of
Sri Lanka seeking its
approval on tariffbindings to be made,
Sri Lanka may require
one more extension oftime to conclude these
negotiations.  Sri
Lanka also wishes toassure its trading
partners that every
effort will be made toconclude the
negotiations
satisfactorily, and inthe mutual interest of
all concerned, as soon
as possible.Extension of 6
months requested
G/L/610
G/C/W/456
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